A Nightmare Returned

Chapters

Powerless Prisoner
To Take a Train
Escape or Destruction in Death
Not So Typical Pinkie Party
The Dash Challenge
Still Alive
Late Night Fun and Freedom
An Invitation
A Pleasurable Experience (Clop)
Worst Morning So Far
Not Friends - Just Friends
One Big Apple
A Bite of Chaos
Meeting The Trio of Terror
An Unexpected Message
Come With Me
Being the Stallion (Clop)
The Night of The Gala (part 1)
The Night of The Gala (part 2)
Castle of Nightmares
Back to the Beginning
Professional Assistance
Asking About Some Things
A Line Drawn
Awkward Morning Fun
Nightmare Night (part 1)
Nightmare Night (part 2)
Contemplating Mortality
She Has A Theory
The First Snow
Warm Hearth, Warm Heart
Thoughts of the Past
Winter Wrap-up Troubles
Hide and Seek
Dreams of Power
Eclipse
Nightmares and Necromancers
Memorial Service
Epilogue: Dark Dreams
A Nightmare Reborn
Morning Challenges of Mortality
Once More Into the Abyss
Windigos and Falling Hope

Powerless Prisoner

The ten ponies and one draconequus all stood there, staring at Nightmare Moon. The recently incarnated creature stood in the center of her circle. Her wings were flared at at her sides to their full length. Eyes closed, her head was thrown back, pointing up toward the ceiling. After several seconds passed, she opened her eyes.

"Something's wrong." She looked down at herself. "I can't turn into mist." She raised her head up once more. "I don't feel the night... or the moon."

Turning, she faced Twilight Sparkle. Her eyes narrowed to slits as she took a step forward. Her lips pulled back to reveal her sharp teeth.

"You!" she snarled out. "You're behind this! What did you do to me?"

Bracing herself, Twilight Sparkle straightened up and spread out her wings. Taking a deep breath, she tried to push the fear in her stomach aside enough that her voice would not crack or quiver. Calling on her magic, she began to collect into her horn so that she would be ready to protect herself from an attack.

"Nightmare Moon," she stated, "I highly recommend that you calm yourself before we are forced to restrain you."

"I'll calm myself after I tear out your throat!" With a roar, Nightmare Moon lunged, launching herself into the air. Her jaws were wide as she made her way toward Twilight, ready to tear into her.

Raw magical energy slammed into Nightmare Moon's back, knocking her from the air and slamming into the ground. Her vision went white as the air was knocked from her lungs. In that moment, Nightmare Moon felt something she had never experienced before: pain. It was not something she wished to feel again.

"What..." she wheezed out, "did you.... do to me?!" Her legs shook as she pushed to try and sit up.

"Using magic and an experimental ritual, we managed to create a body for you, separate from a host," Twilight explained.

"I know that," Nightmare Moon growled. "What I want to know is, why can't I access my magic? What did you do to cut me off from my power?"

Twilight closed her eyes and slowly took a deep breath.

"Oh, stop being so dramatic about the whole thing," Discord called out to Twilight. He then turned to Nightmare Moon.

"Moony, you're a pegasus."

"What?!" Nightmare Moon bellowed out, standing back up with her wings flaring at her sides. "A pegasus?"

"Yes," Twilight stated. "Understand this from our side. We couldn't allow you to be an alicorn or unicorn. You would be extremely powerful and dangerous. We had to come up with some way to limit your ability, and giving you a form that did not have direct use of pure magic was the easiest way. We also discussed and concluded that after being an alicorn, being a pegasus would be less traumatic than an earth pony."

"Less traumatic?" Nightmare Moon repeated. "Less Traumatic? So you force me into a body, sever most ties to my powers and my moon, and you think that granting me wings that I will never be allowed to use would make me more compliant while you pass your judgement on me?"

The room turned quiet as she continued to stare at Twilight Sparkle. There was a sense of satisfaction as the unicorn turned princess shifted uncomfortably. As Nightmare watched, Twilight looked away, her ears drooping as she took a step back. In fact, none of her pony friends were willing to look at her either. The other three princesses, the guard captain, and Discord, however, did not seem so swayed by her words. Of course, it was not they who had made the choice of her form, was it? It was not they who were responsible for her form. Certainly they had probably agreed with it, but it would have been Twilight Sparkle who had done the actual work for it.

"So, what is to be my punishment?" Nightmare asked in a cold tone, still staring at Twilight. "I assume that it is not to be summary execution. Even if I believed that you had the courage to do so, I doubt you would since doing so might very well allow me to return to the dream ether until I regain full power and posses another."

She glanced at Discord.

"Am I to be banished in stone? Sealed away for years, immobilized as a mere decoration in some garden?" She looked away from him to Princess Luna. "Perhaps I am to be banished again? Once more locked away in the moon, unable to move but having my form gaze down on you until I am freed once again." She turned to Celestia. "Or maybe you will banish me somewhere closer instead. Force me into exile far out beyond even The Crystal Empire. Although you may not go to such extremes. Perhaps I shall simply be imprisoned. Locked away in some dungeon beneath the royal castle, where I can be watched and guarded until some distant future event brings it to an end." Her attention returned to Twilight Sparkle. "So? What shall it be?"

"Rehabilitation."

"...what?" Did she hear that right? She could not have heard them right. There must have been some sort of mistake.

"Shining Armor," Twilight Sparkle said, "the collar, please."

Silently, Shining Armor stepped forward, moving toward Nightmare Moon. Using his magic, he pulled out a collar and floated it toward Nightmare Moon. As she watched in a kind of frozen fascination, it moved closer until locking around her neck with an audible click.

The collar seemed to be made of a silvery metal. Probably not actual silver since such would be too soft. More than likely some composition metal with a high content of magic mixed in with it. It felt warm. Comfortably so, as though it were already warmed to proper body temperature. In the center of the front was a jewel that looked like her own eye, albeit in an oval shape.

"Nightmare Moon," Twilight Sparkle stated, "you will be coming with me to Ponyville. There you will work to learn how to properly integrate into pony society and culture while working to make amends for your past misdeeds."

She was serious. Nightmare Moon had not misheard. Twilight Sparkle was actually planning to try and rehabilitate her. Did she honestly expect that to work?

"So instead of imprisonment, I am to be placed in bondage? Spending the rest of my days servicing you to your pleasure and being... punished... if I fail to do so?"

The choice of wording had at least part of the intended effect. Twilight was looking anywhere but at her, ears pulled back and cheeks burning a bright pink in color.

"I-it's... It's not... not like...that," Twilight managed to stutter out (much to the amusement of at least one of her friends). "I mean you will be servicin-- serving -- working!...." She coughed and took a deep breath. "Yes, you will be working for me, and you will be monitored and have some of your freedoms restricted. Also, you will be doing some community service to make amends for some of your past crimes and to help you make friends as well as allow Ponyville to become more accustomed to you. You will also be allowed to have your own room, limited access to the kitchen, a small allowance of bits, and -- depending on your behavior -- you will be permitted to explore the town unsupervised for limited amounts of time."

Nightmare Moon blinked, letting the entire statement sink in.

"Are... are you.. serious?" she asked. "Are you serious? Is she serious? This has to be some kind of joke."

"'tis no joke," Princess Luna responded. "Twilight truly wishes to attempt to reform you into a productive member of pony society more than to punish you for your prior misdeeds."

Turning to face Luna, Nightmare Moon narrowed her eyes.

"And what about you? As one of my former hosts, you expect me to believe that you are truly okay with such a soft consequences after what I have done?"

At the question, Princess Luna shifted. Her gaze wandered as she licked her lips.

"Admittedly," she stated, "the question of what to do once you were incarnated had not been one I had considered. The need to be certain that you would be unable to possess other ponies was the primary concern. So much so, we had not thought of what to do until Twilight suggested her plan. Although, had I considered it, I may have been inclined toward petrification. It would be amusing to see your statue outside my balcony when preparing to raise the moon."

Although not what she expected, Nightmare Moon could understand where Luna was coming from. She then turned toward Princess Celestia.

"And what of you?" Nightmare Moon asked. "After trying to overthrow you kingdom twice and plunge the world into eternal night, do you actually expect me to believe that you support this plan?"

Princess Celestia gave a gentle -- and Nightmare Moon felt condescending -- smile.

"It was I who asked Twilight and her friends to reform Discord."

"And that worked out so well," Nightmare Moon cut in, "seeing as he betrayed you and all of Equestria to Tirek."

"You know about that?" Twilight asked.

A grin spread across Nightmare Moon's mouth as she let out a chuckle. She turned her attention back to Twilight.

"Do you think I was merely dormant since our last battle? I may not be able to influence them like Luna, but I do have the power to see when a pony is having a nightmare." Her grin grew wider. "And there were many. Ponies all across Equestria suffering in their sleep, re-living the horror of having their magic drained from them, and fearing that it somehow will happen again." She licked at her lips.

Her glance flicked over to Discord, who she noticed was sagging slightly, trying to make himself smaller. Next to him, Fluttershy moved closer and gave a gentle pat.

"An action for which he has shown genuine remorse," Princess Celestia continued. "He has also made a few friends of his own, and has shown that he is willing to make a genuine effort to be good... even if a little mischievous..."

With a groan, Nightmare Moon rubbed at her forehead.

"I swear to the moon," she growled, "it really does seem like you all are completely insane. I think I would rather be a banished back to the moon instead of have to spend any more time with even one of you."

"Well, I do hope you will change your mind before this is all over," Twilight said. "Now, we should get going. There is much to do, and if we hurry, we might just be able to catch the next train to Ponyville?"

Nightmare Moon eye's went wide as her ears pulled back against her head.

"Train?" she cried out. "You expect me to ride on public transportation?"

To Take a Train

Although it should have been no surprise, Nightmare Moon found that she was not in the castle. Neither the old one in The Everfree, nor the (relatively speaking) newer one in Canterlot. They were not even in the city limits of Canterlot. It turned out that their little ritual had been performed in what was essentially an artificially made cave in the side of a mountain. Turns out it had been made by Starswirl so he could work on his magical experiments without risk of harming any ponies by accident.

Also turned out that -- worse case scenario -- they could collapse the cave in on itself and trap whatever creature they had summoned inside. In a way, it was kind of flattering that they were so worried of what Nightmare Moon might do that they were planning to drop a mountain on her.

While a bit of a hike, it turns out that the cavern was technically within walking distance of Canterlot. There was a path that would lead them to the back of the royal gardens. From there, Nightmare Moon could be taken to the train station, and then to Ponyville.

As soon as the group started their way down the path, Nightmare Moon considered making a break for it right away. She was a pegasus after all. She had wings, she remembered how to use them. It would be easy enough. Unfortunately, it would also be futile for her at this point. Even if she managed to take them by surprise -- which was unlikely seeing as they had a former villain and captain on their side -- and got a head start, she still had little chance, considering: four alicorns, each of which were a hero in their own way and two of which had defeated her before; two former hosts that could probably guess what she was planning; a former captain of the guard turned prince-consort and guard commander: a former villain with reality warping powers; and the bearers (former bearers, she corrected herself) of The Elements of Harmony. Plus, there was also the collar around her neck, and whatever it would possibly do to her should she try anything.

So, for now she would walk, and wait until a better opportunity presented itself. In the meantime, she studied those around her as well as her own new form. She was tall, for a pegasus mare. Not as tall as when she had been at her full power while possessing Luna, nor even as tall as Luna was now. She was, however, slightly taller than Cadance. As near as she could tell, she was about the same height as Shining Armor.

She was not, however, muscular. From what she could see of herself, her build was extremely lean with smooth muscles and little body fat. It was a body that was made to be fast as opposed to strong.

When she had first seen her coat, it had looked like it was black. Now that she could see it better in the sunlight, she could tell that was not the entire case. From the way it reflected light, it seemed to actually be a very dark blue or purple. Overall it still looked black, but the colors showed up in the way her coat shined.

Reaching the castle grounds, the group separated. Princesses Celestia, Luna, and Cadance, Shining Armor, and Discord returned to the castle to get some rest. Meanwhile, Twilight, her friends, and Nightmare Moon continued their way toward the train station, walking through the streets of Canterlot proper.

Nightmare Moon found it very amusing. Every pony they came across seemed to be wary, and it seemed to be of her no less. Most seemed to look away and give the group of them a wide berth. The rare occasion that she managed to catch a pony looking in her direction, they would immediately look away and hurry past once they were caught.

The ponies seemed to be intimidated by her. Perhaps it was simply that she was a dark coated pony. It was uncommon for ponies to have a black coat like her (unless they were seen as evil for some reason). Could that be enough in and of itself to frighten ponies? She did also bare her fangs slightly. Maybe the ponies saw them -- even if they did not realize it -- and stayed away from what could be a predatory creature. At the same time, it may simply be physical. Most of them were unicorns. Perhaps there was an aura of evil and darkness around her that others picked up.

Whatever the case, the fact that they showed signs of fear toward her was thrilling. Despite the loss of most of her power, she was still able to cause such a response in ponies. It was closer to how she preferred it. Even if she could no longer create an eternal night, she still wanted to rule and be feared. At least there was still some opportunity for that. Provided she could escape and come up either with a plan that would work as is, or a sufficiently powerful artifact that shall allow her to compensate for the loss of her abilities.

Speaking of objects with magic.

"So tell me," she said to Twilight Sparkle. "This collar you have placed upon me. What shall it do if I were to make a break for it? Shock me? Cause mind numbing agony of some sort?"

"Nothing--"

Nightmare Moon shot off as fast as her wings would allow her. A laugh escaped her as she flew, feeling the wind against her face and blowing through her mane.

The laugh was cut off in a strained gagging noise as she felt that she was yanked backwards by her neck. Her body continued to try and move forward, swinging like a pendulum until she was essentially on her back in mid-air. The entire event had thrown her off balance and confused her, her wings stopping. There was an audible thud as Nightmare Moon hit the ground, pain exploding along her spine as it struck the stone street, and air being knocked from her lungs with a grunt.

So this is what "pain" feels like, Nightmare Moon considered as she laid there, trying to catch her breath. Until now, pain had always been more of an abstract concept to Nightmare Moon. She was aware of what it was since her hosts had experienced such things before, but she had never done so herself. Her banishment and both exorcisms were unpleasant, but they had not actually been painful. As such, this was the first time she was experiencing it herself.

I do not enjoy it. I can see why ponies wish to avoid it so much.

As she laid there, contemplating the new experience and learning how to breathe again, a shadow moved over her.

"Are you okay?" Twilight asked, looking down at her.

"Fine," Nightmare huffed as she rolled over to stand back up. Her wings gave a flick as she brushed herself off.

"Good," Twilight said. "Now if you had let me finish, I would have said 'nothing so painful or cruel.' It actually serves two functions. What you just experienced is actually one of them. I can set and adjust distance and location of where the wearer can travel, either from a fixed point, or to a relative area. For instance, right now it is set so that you can't get more than twenty feet from me in any direction."

"Wonderful," Nightmare Moon grumbled, ears pulling back. "So if I try to get away, you just give me a hard yank on my leash." She let out a snort and shook her head. "I suppose I should ask what the second function is before finding out in the most unpleasant way possible."

"The second function is a location detection charm built into it," Twilight explained. "When we're in Ponyville and you're allowed to travel further, I will be able to find you wherever you are."

"I see," Nightmare Moon said gently. "In other words, you will be keeping me on a leash while tracking every single move I make. How wonderful."

"It's not like that," Twilight snapped. She shifted, looking away. "Well... I mean... I guess it is sort of like that. But not the way you're making it sound."

"I'm certain," Nightmare Moon said with a grin. "At least, that is what you tell yourself to placate your conscience." She turned her back to Twilight. "That is how so many so called heroes do it, isn't it? Make excuses to themselves about how they are better than the supposed villains they defeat?" She started walking, smiling to herself as she let the statement sink in.

Her pace was slow, waiting to see if the collar would tug at her. If it did, then she would be able to stop dramatically before it was noticeable. Instead, she was able to keep going. In all likelihood, she could not tell one set of hooves from another, but she was more than certain she could hear the specific hoof steps of Twilight behind her.

Alas, her being in the lead could not last. Nightmare Moon was not very familiar with the layout of Canterlot, and as a result, did not know where the train station was located. Daring to ask another pony for directions was out of the question since she did not wish to appear weaker. Instead, she simply slowed her pace more, allowing the others to catch up and get slightly ahead of her. She doubted that any of them would guess the reason behind it.

The rest of the trip to the train station was uneventful. Ponies still continued to give the group a wide berth, allowing them to make it easily. Boarding was not so easy. Although not exactly crowded, there were still lines of ponies waiting to board. From time to time, a pony would look in their direction. It was fascinating that despite having fur, it could be seen when they went pale.

Once on board and walking through the aisle, Nightmare Moon caught sight of a young foal staring at her. It was a colt with a pale blue coat, probably close to the age where he would be getting his cutie mark soon. He stared up at her, eyes wide and mouth hanging open.

Leaning down so they were eye to eye, Nightmare Moon grinned to show her sharp white teeth to the young colt.

"My, my," she purred out. "Aren't you just an adorable little thing. Why I could just eat, you, up." She licked her lips, making a small smacking sound.

The colt's ears pulled back as tears started to fill his eyes. Quick as he could, he scurried backwards. The colt continued to stare at Nightmare Moon as he bumped into the mare he sat beside.

"Excuse me," the mare cried out as she wrapped a foreleg around the colt. "What do you think you are doing to my son?"

Nightmare let her gaze shift from the colt to the mother. Her eyes narrowed as her grin grew wider.

"I assure you that I have done nothing to your foal," she said. "Yet."

"Nightmare," Twilight scolded as she used her magic to pull Nightmare Moon away from the mother and child. "What is wrong with you? Scaring a foal like that. You should be ashamed."

"And yet," Nightmare Moon retorted, holding her head high and nose up, "I am not."

"Clearly," Twilight grumbled as she pulled the mare with her through the train. "Come on. I think there's an empty car in back since I can't seem to trust you with other ponies yet."

Nightmare Moon followed, head high in the air as she made her way past the ponies already seated. More of them were looking at her now, hints of disgust and annoyance on their faces. But there was also curiosity, and possibly fear. She had their attention, and they were not sure what to make of her. It would leave an impression on them. If not for a few days, then at least for the duration of the train ride.

As they moved from one car to the next, a thought suddenly occurred to her.

What did she mean 'yet?'

Escape or Destruction in Death

A strange sound filled the air of Ponyville, echoing in the ears of the residences. Looking up, they tried to figure out what it was, and where it had come from. Most that had heard it would have described it as a massive belch. The problem with that was that -- as far as most knew -- there was only one pony in Ponyville that could have performed such a feat, but she would have been at work. Plus, the ones that were at Sugarcube Corner knew it did not come from there. Pinkie Pie was behind the counter and was staring up just as much as the others.

Back at Twilight Sparkle's crystal castle, Twilight Sparkle and Spike stared at Nightmare Moon.

"Wow," Spike said. "I didn't think anypony but Pinkie Pie could eat that many pancakes. Or belch that loud."

For her part, Nightmare Moon was sprawled out, patting her swollen stomach. She had no idea that eating could be so pleasurable. It was something she would certainly have to experience again.

She would have to it experience again. She was mortal now, and mortal ponies needed to eat to live. Just like they needed to sleep. So long as she was trapped in this vessel, she would be forced to do the same.

Speaking of...

"Sparkle," she stated as she moved to sit up, "it seems that you have created a flawed vessel for my manifestation."

"I already told you," Twilight said in a calm but firm tone, "we couldn't make you a alicorn because it would be too dangerous."

"Not that," Nightmare Moon interjected (although she still was not happy about that and would get them all back for it later). "There are physical defects, which have caused complications this morning. For one, there was extreme discomfort -- bordering on painful -- in my abdominal section."

"Really?" Twilight asked, ears perked and eyes wide. "Do you still feel it?"

"...no..." Nightmare said slowly as she realized that she in fact did not. She looked down toward her midsection. The discomfort had vanished some time while she had been busy consuming pancakes. Now Nightmare Moon felt a sense of satisfaction, and that some of the muscles in her abdomen were being stretched.

"Well, hopefully it was just hunger pangs," Twilight said.

"Hunger pangs?" Nightmare Moon repeated. "You mean to tell me that if I don't eat for long enough, my body will actually make me uncomfortable until I do?"

"Basically," Twilight answered. "Most don't experience since they eat when they first feel hungry." She paused, tapping her chin. "Although, most have also been eating since they were born and are aware of when they are hungry. You, however, have probably never felt the desire to eat directly. Plus, you didn't eat anything at all yesterday." She turned to look back at the plate that had held the pancakes earlier. "Technically, this would have been your first meal ever.

"Hope it doesn't give you indigestion."

"Indigestion" was not a word that Nightmare Moon was familiar with. She would have to look it up another time to find out what it meant. It was not important at the moment.

"That eliminates one issue, but there is still another. The muscles of my limbs are resistant. When I awoke and tried to get up, they felt hard and unwilling to move. It made it difficult for me to rise. They also feel as though I am tensing them when I am not."

"Hard?" Twilight asked. "Tense? Would you be willing to call them 'stiff?'"

Nightmare Moon considered it a moment, considering the word and how it compared to her limbs earlier.

"Yes," she responded. "I suppose that would be an accurate description of how they felt."

"That is probably normal as well," Twilight stated. "When muscles are overworked, either from extensive use or singular excessive exertion, they can become stiff. In your case, they didn't exist before yesterday, and as such have not been used at all. All the walking from the cavern, through Canterlot, to the train, and then from the station to the castle was probably more exercise than your body is used to... seeing as you have never needed to any before... Or you did, but the body was already adjusted to it from natural growth..."

Standing there, Nightmare Moon stared at Twilight Sparkle, head tilted and one eyebrow raised. One of her ears gave a flicker as she processed what she had been told, and what it could possibly mean.

"So, you're claiming that this 'stiffness' in my limbs is a natural thing that most ponies go through?"

"Yes," Twilight replied, getting a snarl in response.

"If I over exert myself," Nightmare Moon growled, "I will suffer. If I don't eat, I will suffer. More than likely there will be other issues that will cause problems that I have yet to learn about."

"Well..." Twilight started, but was cut off by a hoof.

"No," Nightmare Moon stated. "Don't tell me. I think I have had enough worries placed on me this morning as it is." She let out a huff. "Unfortunate. I had been hoping that the issue could be resolved if this vessel were destroyed and I was given a new one."

There was a flicker of wings, drawing Nightmare Moon's attention. Twilight Sparkle's wings were spread wide as she stared, wide eyed and mouth hanging open.

"You..." Twilight started, her voice cracking. "You were going to ask me to murder you?"

"Murder?' Nightmare Moon let out a chuckle, giving a shake of head. "Dear silly little Sparkle, 'murder' would indicate that I was a mortal pony that was killed with no way of being brought back. I am a spirit that has been bound into an artificially constructed mortal body. If it were to be destroyed, it would merely mean that you would perform the ritual again to force me to be incarnated once more."

It was the fact that she could be incarnated again that had kept her from attempting to destroy herself. While on the train, she had considered if she jumped, it would most likely cause sufficient damage to make the body fail, releasing her. The main reason that she had not actually gone through with it was the fact that she would only be incarnated once again before she had been able to regain her strength. They might also place her in a weaker vessel, such as turning her into a filly. Being turned into a pony with almost no power was bad enough, being turned into a child with the mind of an adult would have been infuriating. Especially since she would have to learn how to manipulate adult ponies through the power of cuteness as opposed to fear and intimidation.

"Actually... it may not be that simple," Twilight said. "The spells and ritual we used were extremely old and mostly theoretical, although a few of them had included experimentation on a smaller scale. One of the ponies who was closest to actually trying on a full scale never did so. He... uhm... well..."

Throwing her head back, Nightmare Moon let out a growl of frustration.

"Really," she huffed at Twilight. "Must you take so long to speak? Get to the point already."

"You might actually be mortal and able to die," Twilight Sparkle blurted out.

Nightmare Moon could feel the muscles tense in her back as her eyes went wide, staring at Twilight.

"I must have misheard you, Sparkle. Perhaps you would care to repeat what you just said."

Twilight Sparkle's body sagged as she let out a sigh. Her ears pulled back as her wings flopped, head and tail drooping. Taking a deep breath, she straightened back up and looked at Nightmare Moon. There was something in Twilight's eyes that made Nightmare uncomfortable. Sadness? Regret? Pity? Nightmare Moon was uncertain what it was, but she did not like it directed at her.

"You didn't mishear me," Twilight stated. "The one pony that got closest to full scale experimentation never did. For some reason, he decided it would be a bad idea. The specifics of the thinking behind the process are unclear, but somehow he concluded that if a spirit were to somehow be manifested into a physical vessel -- such as a pony -- then they essentially become mortal. As such, if the vessel is destroyed, instead of returning to their realm, the spirit instead goes through the same thing as any other pony does after death. Basically, by becoming a vessel, the energy that was your spirit is your soul. If he's right, then when you die, you can't come back any more than a regular pony."

Nightmare Moon's eyebrows furled as she stared at Twilight. Her mind was running through what she had just heard, trying to process it.

"So you mean to tell me," she said slowly, "that -- according to whomever had been conducting such experiments -- not only am I stuck in a mortal body with almost no power, but I can now actually die like a mortal pony?"

"Yes," Twilight answered, crouching down and in on herself more.

"And what, pray tell, happens to a pony when it dies?"

"Well..." Twilight started as she considered the question. "Most believe that when a pony dies, their soul passes through a place where all its memories and experiences are saved. There, an incredibly few creatures that can find their way to that realm can access it. After, the soul is returned to the source of all life magic, where it mixes with others before being reborn as a new soul in another living creature."

"So not only can I die," Nightmare growled, "but if I do, I will be erased and born as another pony?"

"Not necessarily a pony," Twilight corrected. "You could just as easily be a griffon, minotaur, zebra, or any other sapient race on the planet."

"Gah!" Nightmare Moon roared out. "Enough! This entire thing is preposterous! If I didn't know better, I would think you were making the whole thing up to merely discourage my intentional destruction of this body."

With a final snort, she got up and turned around, heading for the doorway.

"Nightm-" Twilight started before being cut off.

"No! I have had enough for this morning. Whatever other terrifying news you have for this whole situation can wait."

"Actually," Twilight called out, "I was going to tell you that we are going to start off with a tour of Ponyville to help you learn your way around. I understand it's a lot to deal with, but we still need to work on your rehabilitation. So, you have half an hour to get ready before we head out for the day."

"I hate you," Nightmare Moon growled as she continued out the kitchen and toward the stairs.

Not So Typical Pinkie Party

"Are you really going to make me go through with this?" Nightmare Moon grumbled as she followed Twilight. Nightmare moved slowly, head low and ears pulled back. Her eyes were narrowed as she walked, glaring at any pony that walked by.

"Come on," Twilight said with a gentle smile. "It's not that bad. Besides, you need to learn about Ponyville if you're going to live here and make friends."

"I don't need to make friends," Nightmare snapped, flaring out her wings. "I don't want to make friends. Even if I did, why would I want to do so with any of the ponies in this town?"

Twilight stopped and turned to face Nightmare Moon.

"Do you realize how much you sound like a petulant filly?" she asked, getting a snort in response. "I used to think I didn't need friends either. I just wanted to stay in my room to read and study." She paused, considering. "Well.. not just read and study, but nothing I wanted to do really involved other ponies. For the most part I would have just kept hidden away from everypony, doing who knows what.

"If I had never made friends, I never would have defeated you -- which I realize as I say it is probably not something you want to be reminded of and is a counter-productive argument in this case." Her ears pulled back as she blushed, shifting some as she let out a laugh.

"My point is that I am a lot happier now that I have friends. Despite what happened with Tirek, Discord is as well. I really think that having friends will be good for you. An opportunity to have others you can rely on and talk to. That way, you won't feel so lonely and isolated. Besides it's not like this is going to kill you."

I hope it does, just to prove you wrong, Nightmare Moon thought. "Hello, little pony. I am-" cough cough, wheeze, thud, dead. "Oh, no," you'll cry out. "She's dead. I killed--

"Why are you making that face?" Twilight asked, interrupting Nightmare Moon's train of thought.

Without realizing it, Nightmare Moon had rolled her eyes up in her head and had her mouth fall open, tongue hanging out the side of it. Licking her lips, she pulled her tongue back in. Her eyes looked around as her ears shifted. Her mind worked as she tried to come up with some sort of excuse.

"I... was merely contemplating what I would look like should I actually die," she stated. "After all, you have stated that it is quite possible. Plus, I also need to work on stretching and flexing my muscles. I do need to get them used to working and moving, do I not?"

Head tilted, Twilight Sparkle stared at Nightmare Moon. Twilight's eyes were narrowed as she stood there, lips pursed slightly. One ear gave a flick.

"Really? That's the story that you're going with?"

"Oh, let's just get moving," Nightmare huffed. "The sooner we finish, the sooner I can get back to the castle and forget the whole thing."

"And what would you being doing there instead?" Twilight asked as she turned and resumed walking.

The question gave Nightmare Moon pause. What would she be doing? Her room had nothing save her bed and vanity at the moment, so there was nothing for her to do there. Knowing Twilight Sparkle, there were more than likely a great many books in the castle somewhere. Reading would help her learn some of Equestria's history as well and science and technology. But she had not toured the castle yet, and had no idea where the library would be. With her power limited, she could not simply start trying to take over Equestria. She would need time to study and plan. It would also need her to take time, as doing to much too fast would like rouse Twilight's suspicion. Especially now when she has just been incarnated.

She was going to have to come up with some things to keep occupied and throw off suspicion. It was something she was going to have to consider very carefully.

The two continued to make their way through town, neither really talking for the moment. Nightmare Moon let her eyes drift and mind wander, taking in the town and working on the layout of it. After all, if she was going to be stuck here (and she was planning on testing that just in case Twilight's claims were not necessarily true) then she would need to know her way around. Plus, she would have the opportunity to get out of the castle and away from prying eyes. Then there was the question of what tasks she would have to perform for her "rehabilitation."

As they continued to walk, a gingerbread house came into view. Something about it seemed familiar to Nightmare Moon, but she could not quite place it. It had something to do with one of the other bearers. It was important to the specific one for some reason. Why could she not remember?

There was also something else.

"Sparkle," Nightmare Moon called out. "What are you planning?"

"Me?" Twilight asked, stopping to look back. "I'm not planning anything. Why would you think that?"

"This place," Nightmare responded, motioning at it. "Something about it. I can't quite recall, but it has to do with one of your fellow bearers. There is... something about her. Something I can almost recall from my time with Rarity."

"It's Sugarcube Corner," Twilight explained. "Pinkie Pie lives and works here."

"Ah, yes." That was it. The pink one was always a bit of an issue for Nightmare Moon. She had been able to slip into Pinkie's mind once, but only for a short time. Nightmare had managed to see a lot of sadness and self-doubt, but was unable to stay long enough to work her way into possessing Pinkie. Once in a better mood, Pinkie had managed to erect very powerful defenses that had expelled Nightmare.

There was also something else...

"Come on," Twilight said as she headed for the door. With a huff, Nightmare Moon followed after her.

As they stepped inside, the smell in the air hit Nightmare Moon. It was similar to the smell of the kitchen when she had first caught the scent of the pancakes. Not exactly the same though. There were several differences, the most noticeable being that whatever was being made here was sweeter. It was also like there were other smells. It was strange. They all seemed to fit together, but there was enough contrast that some differences could be picked out here and there.

"SURPRISE!"

The shout caused Nightmare Moon to jump, tensing. Jaw clenched and eyes wide, she flared out her wings, trying to make herself as large and intimidating as possible. She looked around, trying to take in all the details and identify the biggest threat.

Pinkie Pie stood in front of her, grinning widely. Above and behind was a large banner with "WELCOME TO PONYVILLE" written on it. Streamers were spread out across the ceiling, and several bunches of balloons were tied off. Beside Pinkie was a table with two cupcakes and three cups of some red liquid.

"Pinkie," Twilight called out, "what are you doing? I told you that you could be first for us to visit if you wanted, but we had no time for a party."

"Actually," Pinkie Pie stated, "you said that 'we don't have time for one of your normal parties that early.' So I decided not to throw my normal party. That way, it gets to be a real surprise without even you expecting it. There's a treat for both of you, punch for all of us, and since it's just us, Nightmare doesn't have to put up with a bunch of ponies too soon. That way she won't get all stressed out and mean about having to be surrounded by ponies she doesn't like. It's as close to a party we could throw as she would like."

"That... actually kind of makes sense," Twilight conceded. She turned to Nightmare. "You probably wouldn't want a party with everypony in Ponyville, would you?"

"I have no interest in parties," Nightmare Moon replied. "Even if I were, there are no ponies that I would want to attend. Including either of you."

"See?" Pinkie said with a grin. "But I do know something that she would like." Grabbing one of the cupcakes from the table, she presented it to Nightmare Moon.

"I just had breakfast," Nightmare stated. "Why would I possibly want this thing?"

Still, Nightmare Moon found herself having a difficulty taking her eyes off the offered treat. Her nose twitched as she sniffed at the sweetness. The swirl of pink frosting and rainbow colored sprinkles were drawing her attention, and curiosity. It was like there was something about this small baked treat that was drawing her like a siren's song. It looked very nice, and made her wonder what it tasted like.

"Wait!" Pinkie cried out, causing Nightmare Moon to pause. Without realizing it, Nightmare had leaned forward and opened her mouth wide. She was just about to take a bite when Pinkie's shout stopped her.

Pulling the cupcake away, Pinkie took a hold of something on the side of the cupcake and gave it a tug. Something came away from the treat, revealing the dark brown surface of the cupcake underneath.

"You're not supposed to eat the wrapper," Pinkie Pie explained. "They're made of paper, so you could, but they aren't very tasty." Her eyes narrowed as she looked at the wrapper. "At least not yet, but I'm working on it. Anyway, now you can eat it without any trouble."

With it offered to her again, Nightmare Moon took a bite of the cupcake this time. The taste was overwhelming. The cupcake itself had a similar texture to the pancakes, but not exactly. She was not quite sure how to describe the difference, but she could feel it on her tongue. That combined with the strange soft gooey texture of the frosting and the overall sweetness of the whole thing was far too overwhelming.

She had no idea how to react. A part of her wanted to spit it out, to get the excessive sweetness out of her mouth. Another part wanted to swallow it and take another bite, to devour the entire cupcake with excitement. Still another wanted to keep it there, savoring the tastes and textures of the food on her tongue.

"Are you okay?" Twilight asked.

Swallowing, Nightmare Moon licked her lips and gave a nod. She gave her wings a gentle flick before folding them back in against her body. She could still taste the sugary sweetness on her tongue. It was far too much for her, yet she wanted more.

"Well, come on," Twilight said as she turned around. "Thanks Pinkie, but we still have a lot to do. Including a meeting with the mayor, as visiting Rarity, Rainbow Dash, and Applejack. We'll see you again later."

"Oh, you'll see me later alright," Pinkie said. Her ears pinned back as her eyes narrowed. Grinning, she rubbed her front hooves together, letting out a snicker.

Nightmare Moon watched the pink mare a moment before following after Twilight. Pinkie was not being subtle. It was quite obvious to anypony that saw her acting that way that she was up to something. The question was "what?" Nightmare doubted that it was actually anything evil, but it was certainly something.

It was a question that Nightmare considered as they left Sugarcube Corner -- and a cackling Pinkie Pie -- behind.

The Dash Challenge

The visit to the mayor's office had essentially been a pointless nuisance. The entire conversation -- which was not very accurate since Mayor Mare did most of the talking and it was entirely directed at Twilight -- had pretty much boiled down to the fact the the mayor was not happy about the idea. Specifically, the idea of having Nightmare's potential misbehavior negatively influencing her poll statistics and electoral opportunities. Not that she actually said it, but Nightmare Moon was certain that it was what the mayor was thinking.

The whole thing had been moot and pointless to begin with. With Twilight being a princess, former student to Celestia, and a hero to Equestria as a whole as well as Ponyville, the mayor was unwilling to go against the her in the matter. Add in the fact that this was backed by both Princesses Celestia and Luna, and there was practically no way the mayor would try to discourage this. Nightmare Moon figured the entire thing came down to posturing to remind them of her position and authority, and possibly an opportunity to point out that she was against the matter from the beginning.

The visit to Rarity's had been a little more tolerable, but just as menial and pointless. Claiming to understand Nightmare Moon a little after their time together, Rarity was basically offering to be a friend and confidant. Somepony to actually talk and open up to, if and when Nightmare was ready. Because Rarity felt that Nightmare Moon pretty much did what she did because she felt alone.

Preposterous of course. Even assuming she wanted to make friends -- which she did not -- why would she wish to do so with any of the ponies around here? She was meant to rule over ponies, not befriend them. Besides, why would she wish to befriend a former vessel? Ignoring the preposterous notion that they were closer because of their shared time together, there was no benefit for Nightmare Moon gained from spending time with Rarity. If anything, Rarity would more than like project her own fears and insecurities onto Nightmare.

There was also talk about a day of getting measurements so Rarity could make some clothes for Nightmare Moon when she was to attend a party in Canterlot (and Rarity seemed adamantly certain that Princess Luna would want Nightmare in attendance), as well as them having a spa day. That actually had some merit to her. The idea of having ponies pamper and worship her sounded simply wonderful.

Now she was once more following Twilight Sparkle through the streets of Ponyville. The plan was to meet up with Rainbow Dash next for some reason. The whole thing seemed pointless and redundant to Nightmare Moon. She was already familiar with the former bearers of the elements. Why was Twilight leading her to meet them again? This had to be a part of some devious plan on Twilight's part. If so, then what was she up to?

Leaving the building behind, the pair made their way along the road toward an open field.

"'bout time you showed up," Rainbow Dash called out. She flew in low, buzzing just over the heads of the other two mares before landing. Her hooves touched the ground without even a thump. After giving a flick of her wings, she turned around to face the two.

"So, you ready?"

"Ready?" Nightmare asked. "Ready for what?"

"We're going to check out your pegasus skills," Rainbow Dash answered. "You know: cloud landing, moving, and busting; flight speed; maneuvability; that kind of stuff."

"And why would I want to do that?" Nightmare Moon asked. Her ears pulled back and her eyes narrowed as she continued to look at Rainbow. The sudden smirk that appeared was disconcerting.

"Hey," Rainbow stated, "it's fine. You don't have to. If you're too scared, I understand."

"Scared?" Nightmare repeated. "You think that I... am scared? Of what, exactly?" Being what she was, Nightmare was very familiar with the concept of fear. She had even experienced it before when she was defeated (and nearly so) by The Elements of Harmony under Twilight Sparkle's control. Other than that, there was nothing that she feared.

"That you can't do it," Rainbow Dash replied, grinning wider. "I mean hey, you've never actually flown before as an actual pony. There's nothing wrong with not being able to."

"That's preposterous!" Nightmare roared, stomping her hoof as her wings flared out. "Of course I can fly." Who did Rainbow think she was accusing Nightmare of such a thing?

"Really?" Rainbow Dash asked, raising an eyebrow. "Because I know you didn't fly when you possessed Rarity." She tapped a hoof against her chin. "And if I remember it right, you never actually flew with your wings when you first returned. You just kept becoming that sparkly black cloud. So that means you've never actually had to use your wings fly."

"I was able to use them just fine in Canterlot," Nightmare Moon stated.

"You mean when you 'tried' to fly and came crashing back down?" Rainbow retaliated.

"I would have been perfectly able to fly if not for this infernal collar!"

"Whatever you have to tell yourself to make you feel better."

"Ridiculous!" Nightmare bellowed. Straightening up, she took a deep breath through her nose and slowly let it out.

"I am competently capable of flying," Nightmare Moon stated, "and I will perform your silly little tasks to prove just that."

"Fine," Rainbow Dash groaned, rolling her eyes. "If you really want to, I guess we can.

"Let's start with something simple." She pointed up at the sky. "Fly up to that cloud and land on it."

"Easily," Nightmare Moon claimed. Unfurling her wings to their full length, she gave a flap as she jumped up, taking to the air. In seconds, she had reached the cloud and tried to land on it.

The cloud felt strange under her hooves. While not entirely solid, she did not simply pass through it either. She felt herself sink into it, but stop her from falling all the way through. The cloud was also cool and wet. Nightmare could feel the bottoms of her hooves getting wet to the touch. It was not like anything she recalled ever experiencing before.

As she stood there, Nightmare Moon looked out at the town before her. It was wonderful, being up above it all. Not simply because it was how she liked to positions herself, although that was a part of it. It was also seeing so much. Even though she was not more than thirty or forty feet above the ground, she could see all the way to Canterlot, with not even the town hall or Twilight Sparkle's castle interfering. She could almost see all of Ponyville going about--

She had been manipulated! Rainbow Dash had teased and manipulated Nightmare Moon, playing to her pride and ego. She had allowed herself to be teased and manipulated into performing these silly tasks to prove her skill and ability as a pegasus. There was a burning ember of fury in Nightmare Moon's chest, both at herself and at Rainbow Dash. There was also a faint hint of... pride?... toward Rainbow for trying such a tactic.

Rainbow Dash would still have to pay for it, of course. Nopony was allowed to manipulate Nightmare Moon and get away with it. She would have to get Rainbow back. Carefully for the time being.

"Okay," Rainbow called out, breaking Nightmare from her thoughts. "Now see if you can move the cloud down here to us."

Hardly seems worth the effort, Nightmare Moon thought. Still, she had accepted the challenge, and was determined to prove that she was more than competent as a pegasus. Once again, she jumped and gave a flap of her wings to take off.

There was a faint "poof" as the cloud burst apart, turning into wisps of fog before disappearing from sight.

"Looks like you hit it too hard," Rainbow called out.

"I didn't even hit it," Nightmare Moon replied as she came back down. "I was taking off when it dissipated beneath me. Considering that a pegasus is able to jump up and down on a cloud to make it rain, it should have been more than capable to withstand my launch without issue."

"That's part of why I had Rainbow Dash set up these tests," Twilight Sparkle said. "Like you said, a pegasus can jump up and down on a cloud and make it rain without trouble. They can also cause it to unleash thunder and lightning with a kick or stamp as well. The thing is that it seems like they can cause a cloud to dissipate with even less of a hit, kind of like you just did with the cloud."

"We'll try the other cloud stuff another time," Rainbow said. "Let's move on to the fun part: the obstacle course."

"Obstacle course?" Nightmare Moon asked, tilting her head and raising an eyebrow. It was not really surprising. From what she had gathered and could recall, Rainbow Dash was very intensely focused on flying. Especially speed and agility. It would make sense that any sort of testing by Rainbow would include those skills as well.

"I've worked it all out," Rainbow Dash explained. "I can't give you too much information since that would give you an edge, but it does include weaving, turning, ascending, and descending. We want to see how well you can do each one, and how quickly."

"Ha," Nightmare Moon cried out. "I will perform this obstacle course with ease. Probably even faster than even you are capable of."

Why did she just say that?

"What?" Rainbow and Twilight both asked in surprise.

Well Nightmare Moon had already made the claim. She very well could not back out of it now. May as well go with it.

"Have the crashes affected your hearing? Or you memory, which seems more likely. I am stating that I am able to fly faster and more gracefully than you are."

"Nightmare-" Twilight started, but stopped when Rainbow Dash held up a hoof.

"You do realize," Rainbow said slowly, "that I am the fastest flyer in Ponyville, right? I have been flying for years on my own, and have been training to become a Wonderbolt. Plus, I set up the obstacle course to begin with. I know every length, every twist, every turn, because I put them there."

"Sounds like excuses to me," replied Nightmare. "It's fine if you're --" she let out a chuckle, "-- afraid of losing to me."

"Fine." Rainbow Dash pressed the tip of her hoof in the ground, pulling it along to dig a straight furrow. "This will be the starting and finish line. At Twilight's order, we both take off and head along the obstacle course. The first one through and back here wins. Twilight will be here to judge and make sure that nopony cheats."

"That's not necessary," Nightmare said with a smirk. "I trust you'll play fair." She could not help but grin wider as Rainbow Dash puffed up, ears pulling back and cheeks turning red.

"Just get in position," Rainbow Dash growled.

Nightmare actually found Rainbow's reaction more amusing than expected. Plus, Rainbow was kind of cute when she was mad. Even if she were to lose, Nightmare found the whole thing worthwhile already. Getting into position, she lowered her head and spread her wings.

"I'm ready."

"One," Twilight called out. "Two. Three. Go!"

There was an audible gust of wind on one side of Nightmare Moon as Rainbow Dash took off. Before Nightmare had even finished taking off, all she could see of her competition was a rainbow color contrail fading from view in front of her. Still, she would perform the course with all her might.

The first obstacle she reached was a series of bushes. In front of the first was a sign that read "weave."

It seemed easy enough to do. Adjusting the angle of her flight, she curved around the bush in front of her. Unfortunately, it was too wide, and she could not turn in time to slip through the first gap. She was, however, able to catch the second. She tried to get the third, but had to pull back to avoid the bush, missing it and the fourth. Adjusting, she managed to catch the fifth.

So it was, she accepted it and slipped through every other gap instead. It was not as well as she would have liked, but at least she managed to avoid crashing.

The next challenge was a ninety degree turn. Nightmare Moon was not able to make the turn as sharply as she would have liked. Throwing out her front legs, she was able to keep from crashing into the barrier. She then used it to push off, aiming in the direction of the turn. There was a flare of pain as the tip of one wing struck something, causing her to hiss. Luckily, it was not enough to keep her from flying.

Recovering from the incident, Nightmare Moon reached a series of rings that looked to head straight up. Landing on the ground, she used it to take off and fly through the rings.

She could feel the air whipping across her face and gravity trying to pull her back down. Still, Nightmare Moon continued to push her way up, and up, and up. After all, Rainbow Dash would have flown through them all. Especially since Rainbow was the one who had put the hoops into place to begin with.

Her wings and back started to burn and ache as she kept trying. She found herself panting. It was getting harder to breathe for some reason. The edges of her vision started to turn fuzzy. Still, she had to do it. She had to get as far as Rainbow Dash, to prove herself. She had to... had to... had...to...

Everything went black.

Still Alive

...Nigh...Moo...

...ox...ion...

...brain...

...obser...consc...

The first thing that Nightmare Moon noticed was that she was somewhere warm and soft. It felt kind of like the bed she had woken up in at Twilight's Palace, but there was also something covering her.

Was she still in bed? Had all that happened since getting up been a dream?

No. There was a new ache in her wings. A faint tingle, almost a burning sensation. An... an ache. That is what Twilight had called it. Her wings were now aching from overexertion. She had pushed her wings too hard for too long. Plus, she still remembered the taste of pancakes and the cupcake, both of which she had never experienced before.

There was something around her face. She did not like the feel of it.

What had happened? Could she have simply gone to bed? If that was the case, why could she not remember it? Last thing she remembered was...

Flying... race... up... It was fragmented, but there. Her ego and pride were on the line. She was probably trying to prove something to Twilight Sparkle.

No. Not her. A different pony. Nightmare Moon was trying to maintain her pride and not back out of a foolish statement. She had known she would more than likely lose, but had to at least try. Loss she could deal with. Backing down and seeming weak in front of others was not. Especially in front of a former Element of Harmony.

Something had gone wrong. She...what? There was something cold. Things got blurry, and then dark. Something in her chest had felt wrong.

"I believe she is waking up," a female voice said.

"I'll get the doctor and princess," another responded.

Was that in reference to Nightmare Moon? Did she do something that made a pony think she was regaining consciousness? Did that mean she was being watched? If so, something must have happened that made at least one pony worry that she would not. What could have happened that would worry a pony. Come to think of it, who would really care? Pretty much none of the ponies knew Nightmare Moon. The few who did she really did not care for, and it was mostly mutual.

It seemed to take an actual force of will, but Nightmare Moon opened her eyes. She was someplace other than her bedroom. Something was covering her muzzle, but she did not recognize what it was. There were sheets covering her, and the sides of the bed had metal bars keeping her from falling out or something. Instead of a wall, she saw a white curtain.

Near the foot of her bed stood a pink mare wearing a white cap with a red cross on the front.

The word "hospital" went through Nightmare's mind, followed by a tremor of fear. She had seen places like it numerous times in nightmares. A lot of ponies seemed to be afraid of coming to a place like this only to die. Some times they saw themselves left there, alone and forgotten, laying there and slowly wasting away due to some illness or other. Others, they saw the faculty members as some sort of monsters. Creatures that disguised themselves as ponies that wished to torture them and steal body parts.

It was all silly and preposterous of course.

Still, Nightmare Moon felt the strong urge to get out. Immediately.

Grabbing the mask on her muzzle, she yanked it off. There was a tugging sensation against the back of her head, causing Nightmare to notice the stretchy bands attached to the mask's sides. Lifting it up and over her head, she tossed it aside. Free of whatever it was, she started to get out of bed.

"Ma'am," the mare in the hat (a nurse if Nightmare Moon remembered correctly) stated as she moved closer, "you really should remain in bed until the doctor comes to check on you." She placed a hoof against Nightmare's shoulder.

Turning toward the nurse, Nightmare Moon bared her fangs and let out a hiss.

"I do not need a doctor," she growled out. "I am fine and am leaving." Stretching one of her wings out, she swatted the hoof away from her. She glared at the nurse a moment before letting out a snort and heading toward the door.

"Ma'am please." the nurse called out. "You should really wait until we are sure there is no permanent damage."

That statement got her attention. Whatever happened may well have caused permanent damage? As much as she wanted to leave, she now found herself more curious than frightened. Turning around, she glared at the nurse.

"Permanent damage?" Nightmare Moon asked. "Permanent damage to what, exactly?"

The nurse took a step backward, her facing tensing into a grimace. She pulled her ears close to her head as she shifted, trying to look past Nightmare Moon and out the door.

"Please," the nurse said gently, "just lie back down. The doctor and Princess Twilight are on their way. They should be here any second and able to explain everything."

Nightmare had no interest in waiting around. She wanted to leave, but she also wanted answers, and she wanted both of them immediately. Either she would an explanation, or the nurse would be grateful that they were already in the hospital.

"We're here!" Twilight called out before Nightmare Moon could give her ultimatum. "We're here. No need to do anything."

"Sparkle!" Nightmare shouted. "I demand to know what has happened for me to end up... here..." She glanced around, taking in the hospital once again.

Standing beside Twilight was an amber coated unicorn with a brown mane. His horn lit up as he got closer, pulling out a small instrument from his pocket. Holding it up, he shined a light into Nightmare's eye.

"Before we get to that, can you tell me your name?"

"...Nightmare Moon."

"And can you tell me what day it is?" the doctor (at least that was who Nightmare assumed he was) asked, as he moved from her eye to her ear.

"Unless I have been unconscious overnight," Nightmare growled out, "I was -- in a manner of speaking -- literally born yesterday. Considering nopony bothered to tell me what day it was then, I can't be expected to know what day today is, now can I?"

"Well I think that confirms that your memory is mostly in tact," the doctor said. "Any headaches or trouble breathing?"

I have the distinct impression I'm going to experience my first headache any moment now, Nightmare thought.

"No." She gave the doctor a firm shove, tired of him being so close. "I have been patient long enough. I demand to be told what happened. Now."

"Alright," Twilight said softly. "Okay. Let's start with the last thing you remember."

With a snort, Nightmare Moon sat down. Her ears pulled back as she thought, trying to remember. There were still fragments, but she could not quite put them together any better than earlier.

"We... left Sugarcube Corner. There..." She rubbed at her forehead. "There was something else you wanted us to do. Another pony. Something..." It was so close. "Something about flying... Then... cold?"

"We wanted to test your pegasus skills," Twilight explained. "One of the tests was an obstacle course that included a straight ascent to see how high you could manage."

Now Nightmare Moon started to remember. She had been flying through them, trying to reach the end.

"So, I did not need to fly through them all?"

"No," Twilight answered. "At least you didn't before you provoked Rainbow Dash into racing you."

Right. She had goaded the rainbow pegasus into trying to prove that she was faster than Nightmare Moon.

"Whether it was the speed, the height, or a combination or the two," Twilight continued, "you flew too high for your body and ended up passing out due to oxygen deprivation."

Nightmare Moon let out a groan of annoyance. Another reminder. Now that she was rendered mortal, she had to do such things as eat, sleep, and breathe. Failing to do the first and last would cause her to die, which she would mind less if she knew she would simply return to her natural spirit form as opposed to actually dying.

"Fortunately, Rainbow Dash was able to catch you before you hit the ground. She rushed you straight here and got you checked in."

"I've been checked in," Nightmare stated, "I've been checked on, and now I'm checking out. Let's go." Stepping around the doctor, she made for the doorway.

"Miss Moon," the doctor said firmly, "we should still run a few more tests to make certain there is no permanent damage."

"There is nothing wrong with me physically, correct?" Nightmare asked, looking over her shoulder at the doctor.

"Not that we can find."

"It is my mind that you are worried about?" She got a nod in response. "So tell me, Doctor, how exactly do you plan on check such a thing?"

"Well, we already checked your memory," the doctor responded. "We still need to check on cognitive abilities like identifying basic objects as well as simple problem solving."

"Tests that Twilight can easily perform back at her castle," Nightmare pointed out.

"There's also the matter of any major personality changes."

"Which would be a pointless test or observation. As I mentioned earlier, I was in a sense born yesterday. There is little to compare my current behavior to. To say nothing of all the matters I have to deal with, such as learning to cope with mortal needs and desires, as well as my confinement."

The doctor looked at her, but said nothing.

"In conclusion," Nightmare stated, "there is no reason for me to stay. Thus, I am leaving." She started walking down the hall.

"Nightmare," Twilight said softly, "I really think you--"

"I am not staying in this... place... another instant!" Nightmare snapped, turning to glare at Twilight. Before any of the other ponies could respond, she picked up her pace, moving as quickly as she could to get out of there without technically running.

Having not been in any hospital before -- and the Ponyville one specifically -- Nightmare Moon had no idea how it was laid out. She was able to reach a spot where a bunch of nurses were working, which she took as a sign of heading in the right direction. Although asking for directions would probably have been helpful, she refused to either stop or admit she was unsure of where she was going. A window told her that she was both near the outer edge of the building and on the main floor. She just needed to keep close to the outside and find a door, and she would be free of the place.

Caught up in her thoughts and desires, Nightmare Moon had not realized that she had left Twilight behind with the doctor and nurse. It had also escaped Nightmare's notice that Twilight had managed to catch up until she realized that the two of them were walking side by side. Twilight had her head tilted and was watching Nightmare, with narrow eyes. It made Nightmare uncomfortable. She felt like she was being studied or something.

"What?" Nightmare growled, looking from Twilight to the hall in front of them.

"Nightmare?" Twilight asked softly. "Are you afraid of hospitals?"

A thrill of tension and fear went through Nightmare's body. Her jaw tensed closed as her eyes went wide and ears pulled back. She managed to keep her wings close, but felt the desire to flare them out at her sides. Admittedly, the question caused her to pause in her step, but only for a split-second. It was doubtful that anypony -- even Twilight -- noticed.

Nightmare let out a short bark of laughter.

"Preposterous! What reason could I have to fear a place like this?"

She turned her head, looking away from Twilight and down the hall. Ahead was what looked like another location for nurses to work. As she got closer, Nightmare noticed that there was a pair of doors opposite it. Just a few more steps and she would be out of the accursed place.

"Uh-huh," she heard Twilight say from beside her. Something in the tone gave the impression of skepticism.

Late Night Fun and Freedom

After escaping the hospital, Twilight decided to postpone the rest of the Ponyville tour for another day. Instead the two of them made their way back to the castle. Once their, Twilight insisted on running some tests on Nightmare Moon. That way, they have a baseline to work from should something happen again. Plus, Twilight could find out what -- if any -- gaps in education or academic skills Nightmare Moon might have.

It was not a fun experience for Nightmare Moon. Her reading was pretty good, and she was able to write, even if her penmanship needed a lot of work. She could count, add, and subtract fine, but more advanced mathematics eluded her. When it came to history, Nightmare showed at least some idea of when certain major disasters arrived. Most often it was because when they happened, ponies tended to have a lot more nightmares on the matter (the closest exception was Sombra's return, which was marked more by the return of crystal ponies to the dream realm).

Then came the strangest test that Nightmare Moon ever experienced: the Rorschach Test. Twilight would show her a card with some sort of black shape on it, and ask Nightmare what she saw. After answering, Twilight would make some note or other. Supposedly, the "ink blots" were not supposed to actually look like anything in particular. It was Nightmare's own subconscious that interpreted them as specific images. It was supposed to be a way to help gauge a pony's mind and personality.

There were a few others, but none of them were very interesting. After, there was dinner and then Nightmare decided to head to her room. She made it in time to watch the sun set and the night begin. There was no moon, but the stars shined bright and clear far overhead.

As she looked out at the night, a thought occurred to her. Luna had originally been possessed by Nightmare due to jealousy that ponies seemed to miss out on and sleep through the night, missing Luna's beautiful work. It had been what allowed Nightmare to take over, and try to use Luna's powers to try and create eternal night.

In the thousand years that they had been banished together (although only Nightmare seemed to experience the passage of time), that had changed immensely. Now there were a great many things to do during the night. From what Nightmare understood, some even made a living working at night, while others did so much, they practically slept only during the day.

Technically, Nightmare did not have to stay in the castle for the night. If what Twilight had told her was true, she could explore any part of Ponyville that she desired. As such, she could do so right now. Plus, there would be no Twilight Sparkle watching her every move.

Wings spread wide, she ran to the edge of the and jumped. Landing on the railing, she gave one last push to launch herself up into the air, and began to flap. Grinning to herself, she climbed higher and higher, making her way back up above Ponyville.

It felt so nice, so freeing. Nightmare Moon was finding that she like flying very much. Plus, there was no test or objective, so she could just take it in and enjoy it. To stretch out her wings. Feel the night air blowing against her. Seeing Ponyville and its residence far below her. She loved it all.

Perhaps there were worst fates she could have suffered. She would never admit such a thing aloud though. As much as she was enjoying it, she would still greatly prefer to have her full power. Still, at least she was finding some small consolation in the matter.

It was nearly an hour of flying before Nightmare Moon remembered why she was out to begin with. Adjusting her flight, she let herself fly lower as she looked at the town beneath her to actually study it. Her eyes scanned back and forth, looking for signs of a place where ponies were going to have a night of fun.

A sign got her attention, making her fly closer toward it. The words Neon Flank glowed brightly, alternating between bright pink-ish red and electric blue. On each side of the words was a side view of a pony's hind end, bouncing up and down while musical notes danced around them.

As she came in closer, she caught sight of some windows, but they looked to be blacked in. On one side of the door stood an overly muscular stallion with his mane cut extremely short. Further away was a set of stanchions with some sort of rope connecting them.

After landing, she made her way towards the door. As she did, Nightmare noticed the small wings on the back of the stallion. From the way the light colored him, she could guess that his coat was a very light color.

"Miss," the stallion said as he held the door open.

Stepping inside, Nightmare Moon found a desk with a mare standing behind it.

"Hello, and welcome to The Neon Flank. Is this your first time here?"

"Yes," Nightmare answered, looking around. There was another door on the opposite wall. There was also something in the air. She could feel a dull pulsing sensation coming from somewhere.

"Well there's no live DJ tonight since it's the middle off the week," the mare at the desk explained, "but there's also no cover charge tonight. I just need to stamp your hoof and you can go on in."

"Cover charge?" Nightmare asked as she moved toward the desk.

"Yes," the mare answered. "On weekends it's five bits. Can I see one of your hooves please."

Money. Nightmare Moon had completely forgotten about money. She had not thought to bring any with her. Then again, she did not have any. Twilight Sparkle had said something about a regular stipend, had she not? Nightmare was going to have to speak with her about that. She was likely going to need to make purchases in the future.

The idea made a part of her bristle. She should be a queen, a ruler, a pony of power and authority that is to be respected and feared. Ponies should simply be willing to give her want to so as to avoid her wrath. The fact that she actually had to even consider money and spending it was a mark in how greatly things differed from how she wished.

A sustained high pitched noise drew Nightmare Moon from her thoughts. Her ears pulled back, pinning against the side of her head as she tried to muffle the sound. Whatever it was, it felt like it was stabbing through her ears and into her brain.

It turned out the source of the irritation was actually the desk mare. Her eyes were wide as she stared, front hooves pressed to her cheeks as she grinned widely. As near as Nightmare could tell, the sound seemed to be coming out of the other mare's mouth.

"I can't believe it! It's you! Here! You're her!"

"'Her?'" Nightmare asked. "'Her' who?" Whomever it was that the mare thought Nightmare was, it must have been one she thought was of great importance.

"You're Nightmare Moon!" the desk mare shouted before letting out that strange noise again.

Nightmare felt a little conflicted. On one hoof, she was glad to be recognized and apparently seen as something as a big deal. On the other, she wanted the infernal noise to stop. Perhaps she could smack some sense into the other mare.

"This is amazing!" the mare shouted. She grabbed Nightmare's hoof and started shaking it. "I'm Chocolate Cherry and I am a huge fan of yours!"

"You," Nightmare said slowly, "are a fan... of me?"

"Well I'm not too fond of the whole 'eternal night' thing," Chocolate Cherry admitted, running a hoof across her spiky brown mane. "I mean having a day or two without it actually being day would be cool, but I don't think I'd want it dark forever." She then leaned forward, her green eyes going wide as she grinned.

"But the way you came in was amazing. That evil laugh before appearing in a puff of smoke. Then you reminded everypony who you were and just dominated the guards without even trying. You were so powerful. So charming. So... so..."

It looked to Nightmare that Chocolate Cherry's cheeks somehow managed to turn even redder. This was quite an unexpected event. Nightmare had never thought that there would be a pony that was actually a fan of her. Although, more accurately she had never thought she would have a fan that was not some sort of cultist or obsessed with causing eternal night. She certainly did not expect a pony from Ponyville -- where she first arrived and tried to take over -- to be a fan of her.

The sexual attraction she did expect. After all, she was powerful, clever, and very attractive. Add in her self-confidence, and practically any pony would fall head over hooves for her.

Now that she thought about it, perhaps that would be something she could use to her advantage more. She could probably remember some of the methods Rarity used to charm others if she tried.

"I can't believe I get to meet you," Chocolate Cherry cried out. "I even have a necklace with your eye symbol on the pendant. I wish I had something to get your autograph with." She let out a gasp. "I have a break later. I could probably get one from you then." She paused, shifting. "And... maybe a dance?"

So, the other mare was hitting on her after all. Interesting.

"Perhaps," Nightmare answered. "If I am still here when you do so, we shall see. In the meantime, I believe that you said something about a stamp?"

Chocolate Cherry let out a gasp, eyes going wide.

"Oh, right. Sorry. Hold on one second." Grabbing a rubber stamp, she pressed it into a pad then onto Nightmare's hoof.

"There you go," she said with a grin. "Have a good time. See you soon."

Pushing open the door, the pulsing sensation suddenly made sense. Without the final barrier removed, Nightmare Moon was struck by a deep vibrating bass line. Each pulse of the music coursed through her body, making her feel it to her very core. It was like no music she was familiar with, but there was something about it that she liked. It was primal. Raw. Sensual.

With the music came light. A great many colors of them. Nightmare could see them all over the place, shifting, moving and pulsing. A great many of them seemed to be in time to the rhythm. She found it hard to look away from them. At the same time, watching them made her head spin and feel fuzzy.

As she continued to walk, Nightmare's hips moved in time to the music. She emphasized the sway with each movement, shaking her rump and flank with the beat. Her tail raised up high behind her, swaying back and forth as a counter-point.

A pungent aroma filled the air and her nostrils. Having never been around them directly before and never having paid attention to the scents her hosts picked up, she did not recognize anything that made it. There was, however, something in it that caused a reaction in her own body. It was a reaction she had experienced before. Arousal.

Perhaps that was one of the smells she was picking up. After all, it probably was not having that effect just on her.

In the center of the room was an area cleared of tables and chairs. A large number of the ponies were there, shaking, jumping and gyrating. Some were in large groups, others in pairs, and a few were by themselves. A lot of them were pressed close to each other, and some even looked like they were about ready to mate and breed right on the dance floor.

Nightmare Moon could not help but grin at the sight, thinking of how her former hosts would react. Luna would be confused by it all, as neither the music nor the dancing that was being performed in the time before their banishment. Plus, she would probably be confused by how sexual it all was. That same sexuality would also be what caused a reaction from Rarity. She would find the whole scene "scandalous: and "obscene" (even though Nightmare knew about Rarity's "obscene" and "lewd" dreams and fantasies).

As for Nightmare Moon herself, she loved it. The feel of it all pulsing through her body. Ponies giving in to their base instincts and primal desires. A rejection of things thought of as "proper" and "civilized" for fun and pleasure, be it self of mutual. The whole thing thrilled her.

On the far side of the room was another large group of ponies that seemed to be assembled in front of something. Some moved toward it while others moved away, carrying glasses. A few even carried trays filled with them. As Nightmare got closer, she noticed several ponies behind a counter pouring drinks and opening bottles.

"Hey," a stallion said as he moved to stand beside Nightmare Moon. "Can I buy you a drink?"

An Invitation

It ended up being an incredibly fun time for Nightmare Moon. The music (turned out it had names like techno, electronic, dubstep, and -- funny enough -- "club") pulsed through her, causing her to feel it all the way to her very core, and waking something deep inside. There were plenty of other ponies that were more than willing to buy her drinks, and with so many different types of alcohol, she wanted to try them all.

There were also plenty of ponies -- mares and stallions -- that were more than willing to dance with her. Some kept a bit of space between them, some got pretty close, and some were practically right on top of her. She found that she did not mind some of it too much, she even enjoyed the feel of another pony pressed against her. Any that made her uncomfortable were easy enough to deal with. A strategically placed hoof, a baring of fangs, a few choice words, and they would leave her alone.

After several drinks and multiple dances, Chocolate Cherry finally got her break and joined in. Most of it was spent on the floor, dancing together, but there was also a little bit of drinking and plenty of talking. All of the first part was done by Nightmare, and most of the last was by Cherry, with Nightmare being the subject. While having an enamored fan so infatuated her was nice, the conversation quickly grew frustrating. It was part of why Nightmare kept them short, suggesting another drink or dance to change the subject.

It was after a shot of whiskey and a dance that something happened. It could not be called a plan, or even an idea, as Nightmare Moon did not even really think about it. It was more as though her body just sort of did it on its own.

Reaching out with a wing, Nightmare Moon wrapped it around Chocolate Cherry and pulled her closer. A little squeak escaped from Cherry as she was suddenly pressed against the larger mare, who found the noise amusing. Nightmare leaned in, closing her eyes as she pressed her lips to the other mare's.

It was an amazing experience. The lips were soft, moist, and sweet. Nightmare could taste a hint of something that brought to mind the other mare's namesake. A thrill went through her as she tried to pull Cherry closer, enjoying the feel of the kiss and wanting more.

Chocolate Cherry's tongue suddenly pushed forward, slipping pass Nightmare's lips and into her mouth. Her body tensed in surprise, wings flicking out and eyes snapping open. She could feel the intruding appendage exploring her mouth, tracing along the teeth and taking special notice of her fangs. It was strange to experience what could be described as somepony stroking her fangs "tenderly."

With a lustful growl, Nightmare Moon pressed her tongue against Cherry's, trying to take control of the situation. Tightening her grip, she slid a wing along the other mare's side. One of Nightmare's front hooves lifted up, pressing against Cherry's flank and sliding back toward her rump.

The kiss broke with a pop as the two pulled apart, panting heavily. A string of saliva ran between their mouths as they stared at each other, eyes wide and pupils dilated. Nightmare Moon's tongue slipped out, catching a bit of saliva as she licked her lips.

"My... my break is over," Cherry said, still panting. "I need to get back to the front desk."

Nightmare Moon gave a nod and watched her go. As Cherry walked away, Nightmare could not help but watch her rump. The way it swayed back and forth with each step. The movement of the dark brown tail, giving glimpses of what was hidden behind it. The flexing of the toned legs. Nightmare could feel herself getting more excited as she watched. When Chocolate Cherry's backside could no longer be seen, Nightmare Moon resumed her fun.

Or tried to at least. She still had plenty of ponies to dance with, but none of them appealed to her as much. Drinking also became less. Fewer ponies were willing to buy them for her and she was having a hard time tasting any difference. She would have to try a few of them again another night. Plus, Nightmare was feeling kind of tired, and hot.

Deciding that she had enough, she headed for the doors.

"You're leaving?" Chocolate Cherry asked as Nightmare came through.

"Indeed. I desire no more drinks and have grown weary of dancing. I think I will find something else to amuse me elsewhere."

"Well, before you go..." Cherry shifted, one of her ears giving a flick. "If... if you want to wait a while... I can probably get off work a little early. We... we could go to my place..."

"Are you inviting me to your place to have sex?" Nightmare asked. She turned to look at Cherry directly, raising an eyebrow. As Nightmare watched, Cherry shifted more, ears pulling back and her cheeks darkening.

"...yes..." Cherry mumbled, looking down. "I don't normally do something like this, inviting a pony I just met home -- well, not anymore to be accuate. It's just..." She stopped as a hoof touched her mouth.

Nightmare Moon studied the mare, considering the invitation. She was curious about it. While she had not experienced with Luna, she was aware that Rarity had some rather interesting sexual fantasies. Plus there had been a few nightmares that had included rather violent, rough, and questionable sex (although not all of the dreamers seemed to actually object to what was happening). Now that it was being offered, Nightmare found herself curious. She wondered what it would feel like to have sex. Now that she had her own body, she could experience it.

"Do you own an artificial penis?" she asked.

"Artificial..." Cherry started before bursting into full laughter. She threw her head back as she laughed, her entire body rising and falling with the noise. One of her hooves gripped the edge of the desk as she bent over, almost gasping.

"I'm-I'm-sor-sorry," she tried to say while laughing. "I'm sorry. I don't mean to laugh. It's just --" she let out a chuckle "-- it's just that I've never heard anypony call it that, and you said it so seriously too." She pressed her hooves to her mouth, trying to hold back the snickers.

"Do you have one, or not?" Nightmare asked. Her ears were pulled back and jaw tensed. She could feel her cheeks burning, but was unsure how much was embarrassment and how much was an effect of the alcohol.

"Yes," Cherry responded, still grinning. "I have several in fact. Of all sorts of size and shape."

Nightmare pursed her lips, seeming to think about it. Really, she had decided already. It was just more to amuse herself and keep Chocolate Cherry in suspense for a moment. The look on the other mare's face was adorable. Besides, Nightmare did not want to seem too enthusiastic or eager. Especially in front of a f... fan and potential minion.

"Very well," Nightmare finally said. "I suppose I can wait a few minutes for you to finish. Do not take too long, however."

"I'll try to be as quick as I can," Chocolate Cherry said, "your highness." She then gave a slight bow.

Nightmare liked that sound of that.

A Pleasurable Experience (Clop)

During the walk to Chocolate Cherry's home, she and Nightmare Moon became affectionate towards each other. The pair would press against each other at the shoulder or flank. Cherry would nuzzle at Nightmare's neck or cheek, and Nightmare would nip at Cherry's jaw or ear. Occasionally, Nightmare Moon would trace the very tip of her wing feather along Chocolate Cherry's spine.

Nightmare Moon found the act rather pleasant. It surprised her how much she enjoyed touching a pony, and having a pony touch her. Even if it was not sexual, it was intimate. Although she would never admit it aloud, she did enjoy it and wished for more.

Would she enjoy it as much with a stallion? It was something for her to consider and possibly explore at a later time.

After some more walking, the pair managed to reach a house, where Chocolate Cherry turned and headed for the door.

"Okay," she whispered as she grabbed the knob, "we need to be quiet. I have a roommate and he's probably asleep right now. We don't want to wake him up."

Grinning, Nightmare Moon leaned in close until her mouth almost touched Chocolate Cherry's ear.

"And why not? Perhaps if we do, we could get him to... join... us." She then gave the ear a nip, letting out a low growl.

"Sorry to disappoint you," Cherry said with a giggle, "but he's not interested in mares. Maybe some other time, you can get some tips... or maybe convince him to let you use an 'artificial penis' on him." This last part was followed by full laughter as she opened the door and stepped inside.

Nightmare Moon let out a snort (her warm breath tickling the sensitive hairs of the other pony's ear) and rolled her eyes, but said nothing. How was she to know that they were called "dildos?" Luna had not even been familiar with the toys when they were in control, and Nightmare really had no interest in them to begin with. Nightmare had learned of them while working to inhabit Rarity, who had a rather large one in her possession. Even then, Nightmare really did not care about it, although the fantasies that Rarity had while using it were interesting.

The two made their way in, with Nightmare Moon shutting the door behind them. She followed after Chocolate Cherry, keeping close. Nightmare did not pay much attention to the dark house, most of her attention on the feminine butt in front of her, watching the movement of the tail and trying to get a glimpse of Cherry's vaginal opening.

At the door to the bedroom, Cherry stepped aside and motioned with a hoof.

"After you," she said.

Nightmare stepped into the room, looking around as she headed for the bed. There were a few painting hanging on the wall, one of which was of her just after her return. The bed was, sinking under their weight as they climbed onto it. It was also permeated with Chocolate Cherry's scent. On the nightstand were two books, an alarm clock, a large glass bottle with a candle in it, and a bit-sized disk with "1 YEAR" written on it.

"What is that?" Nightmare asked, looking at the disk.

"Sobriety chip," Cherry answered as she reached for the nightstand and pulled open a drawer. "Long story, but it reached the point where I was waking up from being black out drunk with somepony else in my bed that I don't even remember... or ponies... and once a griffon.." She paused, turning to face. "You aren't, are you? Can you even get drunk? Maybe I should have as--" Once again, she was stopped by a hoof against her mouth.

"I have never imbibed alcohol before tonight," Nightmare stated, "and I do believe it has effected me. I assure you, however, I am sufficiently in controls of my faculties despite the inebriation that this is certainly something I want." Leaning forward, she kissed Chocolate Cherry again, until the kiss was reluctantly broken.

"I guess if you can say all that so coherently, you're still pretty sober," Cherry decided aloud. She turned back to the drawer. "I just need to grab some things. Starting with this."

Nightmare looked at what Chocolate Cherry now held out to her. It was a length of leather that was meant to be made into a circle. The outside was a smooth and shiny black while the inside looked to be soft. There was a buckle and holes to adjust the size, and a ring that stuck out.

"A collar?" Nightmare asked as she looked at it. "Do you expect me to put this on?"

"On me," Cherry replied. "Sex slave, servant, toy, hoof-maiden, whatever you want to call it. Put it on me, and tell me to do whatever you want me to."

"Why?" Nightmare asked. She had not expected to be offered such a thing.

"Because I like being submissive. Because I know you like being in charge and control. Because I like the idea of worshiping and pleasing you."

Well, Nightmare did like the idea of being worshiped, pleased, and obeyed. Having a pony that was would do so was nice, and the fact it was willingly amused her.

It was willing. That was the part that was sticking in her mind a little. This mare barely knew her, just a few hours together and a brief appearance from when first arrived and tried to take over Equestria. Yet here Cherry was, trusting Nightmare enough to be her slave and do whatever she desired. Well... probably not whatever. There was nothing she could do if disobeyed, except maybe bite or spank. Although, Chocolate Cherry very well might be into that. Then again, she might as well.

That was getting off topic, and something that could be explored later.

"Very well," Nightmare decided. "I shall allow you to be my..." she considered the terms that had been used "...'bound hoof-maiden' for the night." With that -- and some guidance -- she placed the collar around Chocolate Cherry's neck.

"What do you wish of me, my mistress?" Cherry asked, bowing her head. She shifted, a smile tugging at her lips as she tried to look serious.

With a grin of her own, Nightmare Moon leaned back on the bed and spread her hind legs.

"You said you like the idea of worshiping and pleasing me." She ran a hoof down her stomach to her crotch. "So you should start by doing so properly."

Leaning down, Chocolate Cherry brought her head between Nightmare's thighs. Cherry kissed the inside of the leg gently, causing a strange tingle of pleasure. It was followed by another, and another, moving further up the inside of the thigh.

A sudden nip caused Nightmare to tense, her leg kicking as she let out a gasp of pleasure. Eyes wide and ears pulled back, she watched as Cherry moved closer to her vagina. Reaching out, Nightmare placed a hoof on top of Cherry's head and rubbed at the base of the ears.

This seemed to be taken as some sort of sign of encouragement. Cherry continued to nip and kiss, working her way up the thigh. Reaching the inside of the joint, she stuck the tip of her tongue out and traced along it. She then moved to Nightmare's vaginal lips, tracing along them as well.

The feel of a pony's tongue along her sex was interesting to Nightmare, and felt nice. It was when the tongue hit the sensitive nub of her clitoris that a bolt of pleasure shot through her. A second lick caused her to gasp out as the bolt seemed to grow more intense. It was so pleasurable it was almost painful.

As Cherry's tongue moved from licking the sensitive nub directly to tracing around it, the excessive pleasure passed. It was replaced by a weaker one, but one that built up with each stroke. A slow building pleasure that grew stronger and stronger. The entire thing was almost teasing, but felt wonderful.

Finally, something in Nightmare Moon reached her limit. A cry of pleasure escaped her as she did, throwing her head back. Her body tensed as the feeling pulsed through her, sending bolts into every part of her. As it came to an end, Nightmare went limp, falling backwards onto the bed and panting.

"Are you okay?" Cherry asked, looking up from between Nightmare's hind legs.

"That was... extremely pleasurable," Nightmare replied, staring up at the ceiling. It was amazing. She had just experienced an orgasm. Her first ever in fact. And by a pony no less. She definitely wanted to experience something like that again. Although not right this minute.

However...

"Turn around," she ordered.

Slowly, Chocolate Cherry got up and turned around. As soon as she did, Nightmare grabbed her and pulled Cherry closer, getting a small squeak of surprise. It was a cute noise.

It was also a cute butt. Round and thick, reminding Nightmare of Cherry's namesake fruit with the patch of dark brown around the vagina looking similar to her first name. If it actually had been a cherry, Nightmare would have described it as "juicy." Nightmare wanted to just take a bite of it.

So she did.

Not hard enough to break the skin, she was certain of that. It was, however hard enough to get another squeak from Cherry, followed by a long moan of pleasure. Leaning a little further, Nightmare slipped her tongue out of her mouth and pressed it against the cutie mark, giving it a long slow lick. It tasted neither like chocolate nor cherries, but Nightmare found herself enjoying it all the same.

"Please, Mistress," Chocolate Cherry whimpered, "please bite me again." She wiggled her hips, causing her backside to sway in front of Nightmare's face rubbing against it.

That was an interesting and unexpected reaction. It was also one that she was proud of. It meant that Nightmare had done it right: the bite was firm enough to be felt and get a reaction, but not hard enough to be painful.

For a moment, Nightmare considered not doing what Cherry begged her to. After all, she was supposed to be the one in control. Still, she had enjoyed what Cherry had done earlier, and it was fun to bite that butt. Especially with the noise the mare made. So Nightmare Moon bit Chocolate Cherry again. And again. And again. Each time moving a little closer to the other mare's crotch, and each time getting a little squeak and a moan in response.

Reaching Cherry's privates, Nightmare slipped her tongue out once more. Pressing it to the outer edge of the brown patch, she traced slowly down with just the tip touching. She gave one last nip before pulling away, but just barely. Moving, she let her mouth stop just above Cherry's clitoris, letting her hot, moist breath blow against the sensitive spot each time she exhaled. Just a slight push forward by Nightmare or back by Cherry, and the two would touch.

"Tell me," Nightmare Moon purred out. "Tell me how much you want it."

"Please, Mistress," Cherry cried out. "Please touch my privates. Allow me to cum. I want to so badly. Please. I'll do anything if you let me cum."

"Then perhaps you should start licking again," Nightmare stated.

Taking her cue, Chocolate Cherry did just that. Lowering her head, she pressed her mouth against Nightmare's sex once more as she began to lick again. Her flicked over the sensitive nub of the clit before sliding around to tease the edges of it, sending new sparks of pleasure through Nightmare's body. After letting out a moan, she pulled Cherry closer to begin licking as well.

Closing her eyes, Nightmare tried to mimic Cherry's movement. Her ears twitched as she listened, trying to pick up on what Cherry reacted, and what seemed to work as encouragement, giving Nightmare Moon more pleasure. She gave quick, tentative flicks over the sensitive nub, causing quick whimpers and the rump in her grip to tense slightly. She was careful not to do it too much, remembering how intense it was for her. In between, she would trace slow, gentle circles around the edges.

As she looked at Cherry's vagina, Nightmare became curious. Moving her head up, she traced the tip of her tongue along Cherry's vaginal lips, feeling a shift in the mare in response. Taking this as a sign of encouragement, gave it another lick. Her tongue pushed forward more, parting the lips and beginning to sink in.

As she continued to push deeper and deeper into Cherry, Nightmare realized that something similar was being done to her. She could feel the tongue slipping inside her, teasing at her folds... and something else. It felt different from the earlier experiences. No where near as intense as when her clitoris was directly licked, nor as pleasurable as the teasing around it. It did still pleasant, however, and Nightmare could still feel herself building up to another orgasm.

The two continued to lick and nuzzle each other, facial lips pressing against vaginal. Nightmare's tongue pushing deeper and deeper to lick along the walls and probe the depths. Cherry's teasing along the nether lips and slipping just inside before pulling back again. Both even shifted the way they laid, their chins rubbing against the tips of the others' clit to send additional thrills through their bodies.

From what Nightmare could tell, Cherry reached her climax first. Her hooves pressed down on Nightmare's flanks more as Cherry let out a massive cry of pleasure. The walls of Cherry's depths tensed and flexed, squeezing against Nightmare's tongue and coating it with the taste of feminine fluids.

As the climax subsided, Chocolate Cherry resumed her licking with a renewed excitement. So much so that Nightmare ended up experiencing the second one in her life, seemingly as soon as Cherry's had stopped. When it came to an end, Nightmare collapsed, staring up at the ceiling and panting.

"I think I have had enough," she said as she tried to catch her breath.

"Did I do well, mistress?" Chocolate Cherry asked, turning around to face Nightmare Moon.

"Very," Nightmare Moon responded before yawning. "So much so that I believe my body is telling me that I require sleep. Now come." She opened her forelegs. "You mistress demands cuddles as she sleeps."

Where had that come from? Nightmare Moon knew that she had said it, but did not recall thinking about it. She was not a "cuddly" pony. Bad enough she was a pony, but she did not want to be some soft, friendly, affectionate type.

Alternatively, Chocolate Cherry had done a good job and did deserve some sort of reward for her performance. Plus, it was Cherry's bed, and Nightmare had no real authority (as much as she hated to admit it). So if she wanted, Cherry could just as easily kick Nightmare Moon out of bed if she so wished (actually, since she was an earth pony, Cherry could probably kick Nightmare out of bed quite literally). That considered, it was probably better to offer an opportunity to cuddle seemingly as a reward and keep in control.

Nightmare mentally applauded her own brilliance, even with the limitation of her inebriation and post sex euphoric exhaustion.

The look on Chocolate Cherry's face as she moved to lie down beside Nightmare Moon showed that the ploy had been an effective one. Smiling broadly, Cherry pressed herself into Nightmare's side, setting her head and one foreleg onto the large pegasus mare's barrel. The red mare let out a small noise of contentment as she rubbed her cheek into soft fur. Soon as she did, Cherry closed her eyes, seeming to go completely limp and falling asleep instantly.

Nightmare Moon laid there for a moment, looking down at Cherry and wrapping a wing around her. A large part of Nightmare like this: the feel of another pony cuddled up against her; the warmth of the body heat; the softness of the coat; the gentle weight on her chest; the sound of gentle breathing reaching her ears. It was nice. Not that she would admit it to anypony... any other pony... Twilight and her friends.

A small smile spread across Nightmare's face as she watched Cherry sleep before dozing off herself.

Worst Morning So Far

"How are you feeling?" Chocolate Cherry asked, her voice just above a whisper.

Nightmare Moon wanted to let out a growl, but the throb of her head made it seem like a bad idea. Her front legs gripped at the toilet as her head rested on the edge. The cool ceramic felt kind of nice at the moment. She kept her eyes closed, grateful that the lights were off (the light of the morning sun had been a stabbing sensation not too long ago). Her throat still burned and ached, and her mouth tasted absolutely horrible.

"I didn't know that you could get a hangover," Cherry said from the bathroom door. "Even if I did, I didn't think it would be this bad. I mean you still seemed pretty responsive and coherent last night." One of her ears gave a flick as she shifted.

"Hangover?" Nightmare asked. "Is..." her stomach shifted. "Is that..."

Gripping the bowl she raised her head as liquid forced its way from her stomach, up her throat, and out her mouth. This was about the third time it was happening to her this morning. It had been quite a surprise to her when she woke up, tried to move, and had it happen for the first time. Fortunately, Cherry was familiar with the event enough to guide Nightmare to the bathroom before the second one occurred.

"A hangover is what happens to some ponies when they drink too much," explained Cherry, "or at all. Headaches, nausea, and vomiting, are all pretty common results."

Nightmare coughed and spat out the last little bit of whatever was in her mouth, still feeling the burning sensation in her throat and tasting whatever it was on her tongue.

"Which is this?" Nightmare asked as she motioned at the toilet.

"What?"

"Which of those terms currently has me on the floor expelling the content of my stomach?"

"Vomiting," Cherry answered. This got a groan in reaction from Nightmare Moon, her head resting against the edge of the toilet bowl once again.

"So this actually happens often enough that it has a name for it," Nightmare grumbled. "What other horrors of mortality do I have to look forward to?"

"Good morning!" a voice shouted out, causing Nightmare to wince as her head throbbed.

"Caramel!" Cherry hissed. "Not so loud."

"Did a friend of yours end up partyi.... Are you wearing a collar?"

"Yes," Cherry answered, "to both."

A stallion -- Nightmare figured it must be Caramel -- poked his head into the doorway. It was too dim too make out much about him, but Nightmare could tell that he was staring at her.

"Ooh, she looks tough," he said. "And kind of on the tall side." He turned to Cherry. "Does she have a brother?"

"Caramel!" Cherry growled. "This is her first hangover. Be nice."

"First, huh?" Caramel turned back to the bathroom. "Congratulations then. Couldn't have picked a better mare to help guide you through it.

"Where are you two in the whole process?"

Chocolate Cherry turned to Nightmare and asked "do you think you can keep something down now?"

"How would I know?" Nightmare growled. "This entire experience of mortality is new to me."

"Mortality?" Caramel asked. "What does she mean by that?"

"I'll explain later," Cherry said. "Could you go ahead and start on the biscuits?"

"Alright," he huffed. "Fine."

"Biscuits?" Nightmare asked, raising an eyebrow.

"From my experience, it's one of the few things that can be kept down at a time like this," Cherry explained. Stepping into the bathroom, she grabbed a cup by the sink and started filling it with water. "If you can get up, I can help you feel better."

After taking a deep breath, Nightmare Moon tried to stand back up. Her legs tensed and wobbled, but they were able to support her without any trouble. As she got up, her stomach seemed to shift. She paused for a moment, worried that she would end up vomiting again. When it did not happen, she continued to rise until she was fully standing once again.

Meanwhile, Chocolate Cherry had set the cup aside and reached up to the mirror. Pulling on it, she took a hold of a small container and opened it, taking out two pills.

"Take these." She held out the pills. "They'll help with the headache. The best way is to try and get them as far back into your mouth as you can without tasting them, then washing them down with the water."

Nightmare took the little white pills and looked at them. She had no idea what they were. A part of her was uncertain about taking them. Could they be dangerous? Could Chocolate Cherry be trying to poison her?

No. No. That was silly. It was doubtful that any pony would want to her dead. She had yet to put into motion any plans that would make her more enemies. Besides, if Cherry wanted her dead, there would have been ample opportunity last night while Nightmare was asleep.

Closing her eyes, Nightmare tossed the pills into her mouth, feeling them hit the back of her throat. She then grabbed the glass of water and started drinking.

"Slowly," Chocolate Cherry stated. "Too fast and your stomach might get upset again."

One of Nightmare's ears gave a flick of acknowledgement and of annoyance. The latter was not directed specifically at Chocolate Cherry. It was more to do with the situation. Yet another nuisance having to do with mortality. Pain if they do not eat. Pain if they imbibe too much alcohol. Pain if they overexert themselves. Pain, pain, pain, exhaustion, vomiting and who knows what else. She was getting tired of it all already, to really hate being mortal.

Oh how she missed her power and immortal power from the dream realm. At least when she was able to possess mortal ponies, she had no need to worry about such matters. At worst, if something happened to her host, she would simply be sent back to the realm and have to recover before trying again.

Now the worst case scenario is that she might actually die. Considering the way things seemed to be going already, maybe that would not be so bad after all. At least then she would not have to worry about things that could wound or kill her.

"Now for a nice hot shower," Chocolate Cherry announced. Taking the collar off, she set it onto the counter. Cherry then made her way past Nightmare Moon and toward the bathtub shower stall combination.

"Just give me a second." She gripped one of the knobs and turned it, causing water to pour out of a faucet just above the tub. Cherry continued to twist the same knob several times, before turning her attention to the other one. After sticking her hoof under the spout, she fiddled with the knobs a little longer.

"Okay. It's ready for you to come in."

With a deep breath, Nightmare took a slow step forward. For a second, she thought she felt something in her stomach begin to come up. Once it passed without incident, she continued to make her way to the tub and climb in.

"Are you ready?" Cherry asked as she closed the curtain. She then grabbed a third knob and twisted it.

As Nightmare Moon watched, the water stopped flowing from the bathtub faucet. A sound reached her ears before the first spray of water struck her, causing her wings to flare out in surprise.

Slowly, she began to relax as the shower continued. It felt like a warm rain. Not quite gentle, but not irritatingly rough or anything either. It was comforting, relaxing, and pleasant. She could feel the water soaking into her fur, and it felt like the warmth was sinking into her very body. The sensation seemed to make her body relax. It did not make the pains vanish completely, but it did alleviate it quite a bit.

"Oh, yes," Nightmare Moon purred out, moving to let the water flow through her mane and over her face. "I do enjoy the feel of this."

"Letting it hit the back of your neck and head really helps," Cherry suggested. "Have you never experienced a shower before?"

"I have never taken the opportunity to bathe while in a host," Nightmare Moon responded. "Besides, showers didn't exist when Luna was around, and Rarity preferred soaking in a bubble bath."

She tilted her head down and leaned forward, letting the water spray directly against the back of her neck and through her mane. Cherry was right about it helping with the headache. It was like the warmth was able to climb right up her neck and ease the pain. Unfortunately, it still did not get rid of it completely, but at least she no longer felt like somepony was taking an axe to the inside of her skull.

The moment of relaxation was lost as there was a series of thundering booms. Each one sent a bolt of lightning through Nightmare's skull.

"Cherry," Caramel called out, "somepony is here to see your friend. And I don't think you'll believe who it is."

"Tell Twilight Sparkle that I will be out in a minute," Nightmare called out. With a huff, she rolled her eyes and gave a shake of her head. Leave it to Twilight Sparkle to ruin something that seemed to be going so well. Again. It was like Twilight was the princess of perfectly horrible timing or something.

"Twilight Sparkle?" Chocolate Cherry asked, rousing Nightmare Moon from her thoughts. "As in Princess Twilight Sparkle?"

"Unfortunately," Nightmare answered. "How do I turn this thing off?"

"Wow," Cherry said as she turned off the shower. "That's surprising. I mean, I knew she was kind of the one you were staying with and all, but I thought she would have some sort of guard or something assigned to you. I never thought she would come find you herself." Hopping out of the shower, she gave herself a shake and looked around.

"Oh, shit. I forgot the towels. If you don't mind waiting, I'll go grab you one."

Nightmare turned to Chocolate Cherry to reply, and stopped. She stared at the dripping wet mare. Something about the soaking wet mane running down Cherry's back, droplets of water tracing along her curves... wet fur clinging to shapely curvy...

Chocolate Cherry left the bathroom, her hips, rump, and wet tail swaying as she went.

What is wrong with me? Nightmare Moon thought. Reaching up, she rubbed a hoof against her forehead. She was supposed to be a terror that haunted dreams as spooked foals to behave or be eaten. She wanted to rule over ponies and have them bend to her power and serve her. It was supposed to be about revenge, power, and control. Nightmare Moon did not want to be a pony, and she did not like ponies, and she certainly did not want to make friends with them.

So why did she have an interest in Chocolate Cherry? A mare that Nightmare barely knew, having just met, and yet felt... comfortable around her. Last night could have been chalked up to inebriation, curiosity, and the appeal of a pony praising and fawning over her. She should have no real interest in a simple regular pony.

Perhaps Chocolate Cherry was not a regular pony. Perhaps she was actually a changeling that had disguised itself as a pony and had been given some training on exactly what Nightmare Moon wanted to hear. That way, this disguised changeling could ingratiate itself to Nightmare, get intimately close, then steal the feelings and use them to feed the hive.

No. No. That was silly. If changelings were able to invade Equestria without being noticed, there would be sources that were more readily available.

Could it be that she did not actually care for Chocolate Cherry, but enjoyed the praise and affection that was given? That made sense in a way. But if she were honest, it just did not feel true to her.

"Here you go."

Nightmare had to resist the urge to jump as she suddenly heard Chocolate Cherry right beside her. Reaching out, she grabbed the offered towel.

"Thank you."

Nightmare Moon started drying herself, getting the excess remnants of water from her coat. She suddenly paused, her eyes going wide.

Did I just thank her?

Not Friends - Just Friends

After thoroughly drying off, Nightmare Moon went to face Twilight Sparkle, and wound up joining her and the others for breakfast. It seems that at some point, either Chocolate Cherry or Caramel had managed to convince Twilight to stay long enough to join them for that. The three were already sitting at the table and talking.

Joining them, Nightmare ended up having one plain biscuit, one with honey butter, one with apple butter, one with strawberry jam, and one with grape jelly. During it, she also drank five large glasses of orange juice and had tried coffee. It was her conclusion that coffee was horrible and that ponies were insane for drinking it without anything.

There was some conversation as the four of them ate. It turned out that Caramel knew Twilight from Winter Wrap-up (which was something Nightmare would want to know more about another time) as well as from helping out from time to time at Sweet Apple Acres. Chocolate Cherry had moved to Ponyville after the coronation of Princess Twilight Sparkle, with the belief that a town with a new princess would experience economic and population growth ("which means more opportunities") and wanted to be one of the firsts to do so, and met Caramel here because he had a room for rent. After, Chocolate Cherry told Twilight Sparkle about meeting Nightmare Moon at the night club.

"Then we came back here and had sex," Nightmare Moon added.

The reaction it got from Twilight Sparkle was highly amusing, with her eyes going wide, cheeks turning pink and wings flaring out. It made Nightmare Moon highly tempted to tell Twilight all about it in very explicit detail just to watch the reaction. Unfortunately, judging from the look on Chocolate Cherry's face, she did not enjoy the idea of having her personal life shared either. As much fun as it would be to talk at length about that soft, plump, shapely rump, or that skilled tongue and watching how uncomfortable it made Twilight Sparkle, she did not really want to cause Chocolate Cherry to feel that way.

A fact that she kind of hated about herself.

Still, she chose to resume her breakfast and not elaborate any further.

After Caramel managed to get the conversation going again, the rest of breakfast went off fine. It was actually kind of amusing to think about. Two normal ponies, a princess and hero of Equestria, and a captured villain undergoing "rehabilitation" eating breakfast together like...

Friends.

Once breakfast was over, Twilight insisted that they really should get going. As they left, Chocolate Cherry mentioned that she was off Saturday before inviting Nightmare Moon to come again. That way they could hear a live DJ. She even extended the invitation to Twilight Sparkle to come along if she wanted.

A part of Nightmare felt relief at the invitation. If Chocolate Cherry was willing to extend such an invitation, then she was willing to see and spend time Nightmare Moon. If Cherry was upset about announcing they had sex earlier, it was not enough to end things between them.

Not that there was anything to end between them. Chocolate Cherry was a random earth pony that Nightmare Moon had met and had been willing to serve and service Nightmare. That was the extent of it for now. Perhaps some day after Nightmare was able to take over Equestria, she would make Cherry her official hoof-maiden slash sex toy. But for now, they were... newly made acquaintances.

Unless Chocolate Cherry was actually extremely upset and plotting to take some sort of revenge on Nightmare Moon. Perhaps something extremely humiliating that was to occur at the club where Nightmare would be her most humiliated seeing as there would be a great many ponies. Perhaps she would have to keep up her guard. Just in case.

As they walked down the street, Nightmare Moon caught Twilight Sparkle glimpsing her way. Nightmare tried to ignore it, but she got the impression that this was not going to be a quiet walk.

"So," Twilight Sparkle said, "it seems that you made some new friends last night."

"They are not friends," Nightmare Moon snapped, glaring for a moment. "Caramel I had met just this morning when I was --" she let out a groan "-- vomiting." Just the thought of it made her throat burn and tongue taste unpleasant.

"As for Chocolate Cherry, she was a devotee who wished to worship and service me however I saw fit."

"So you... had...uh..."

"Sex," Nightmare filled in. "Yes." As she watched Twilight blush and shift, looking away, a thought occurred to Nightmare. Perhaps it was something she could use to her advantage. Not in a massive way, but enough to at least make Twilight a little more uncomfortable for the time being.

"I find that I have enjoyed it quite a bit," she continued. "Perhaps if you tried it yourself, you would as well."

Nightmare had tried to say it as casually as she could, but she kept a careful watch. The wide eyes, pinned back ears, and bright blush were more than enough. She had to bite her lip to keep from smirking as her suspicions were confirmed.

"What makes you think that I..." Twilight started, still looking away. "That... That I'm... That I haven't..."

"Had sex?" Nightmare asked. "It seems to me that if you can't even say the word, it is more than likely that you have not actually experienced." She stopped and turned to face Twilight fully. "However, if I am wrong, simply look me in the eye and say so."

Twilight looked at Nightmare Moon, eyes narrowing, then huffed and looked away. It was amusing and kind of cute. Enough that it made Nightmare Moon grin and let out a small chuckle. Now all she had to do was set the bait and see if Twilight would take it.

"I'm sure that if you want," Nightmare said as she resumed walking "your... friend... would be more than willing to assist you." She took several steps, resisting the urge to turn her ears back toward Twilight to listen better.

"Wait," Twilight called out as she moved to catch up. "What? What are you talking about?"

Yes. She had fallen for it. Twilight's curiosity was getting the better of her.

"Do you not know?" Nightmare asked. "I thought that you did."

Twilight shifted, looking at Nightmare fully.

"Know? Know what? What are you talking about?"

"Oh come now," Nightmare huffed. "I have seen the way that you two have looked at each other. Ever since the two of you traveled with the others through The Everfree. I had assumed that the feelings between you were mutual. Really, I'm surprised that you two haven't gotten together sooner. Well... if I cared about such things..."

"Nightmare," Twilight growled, "who and what are you talking about."

"Perhaps I have said too much already," Nightmare replied. "After all, if neither of you have yet to say anything, it very well may be because you or she is nervous and not ready to make such an admission." She held up a hoof. "No need to say anything else, not to worry any more. I assure you that I shall not say another word regarding the feelings between you and your... friend."

Twilight opened her mouth, held it a moment, then shut it as she glared at Nightmare Moon. Closing her eyes, she took a deep breath and slowly let it out.

To Nightmare Moon, this was great. It was a pretty good guess that Twilight was taking the breath to calm herself down. Even if she put it aside for now, it would come back to her later. If Twilight actually was as obsessive as Nightmare believed, then she would drive herself crazy trying to figure out which of her friends was romantically interested in her. Maybe Twilight would even try putting the moves on one of them.

How awkward it would be if that friend rejected her.

Nightmare hoped that she would get to see it.

After taking several more breaths and slowly letting them out, Twilight opened her eyes and looked at Nightmare Moon.

"Since you seem to be feeling better and not suffering the effects of a hangover," Twilight stated, "it seems like an opportune time to resume our tour and lessons from yesterday."

Nightmare Moon let out a groan of annoyance, rolling her eyes. She should have guessed that Twilight would be planning something like this. It was no surprise that a part of whatever it was Twilight intended would include lessons. Still, if Nightmare's claims were able to give Twilight Sparkle trouble later on, it would be worth whatever came next.

Mostly.

"So be it," Nightmare huffed. "Where are we to head now?"

"Sweet Apple Acres," Twilight answered. "It seems like a good place to learn one of the reasons why plunging Equestria into eternal darkness would be a bad thing."

Nightmare Moon let out a snort.

"Then we could maybe stop at Fluttershy's," Twilight continued. "Not only would it give her the opportunity to interact with you in a place she is both comfortable with and feels in control of, but it would be interesting to see if the creatures react to you any differently." She paused. "Then again, they have been exposed to Discord quite a bit since he became reformed. I doubt they will really act differently to meeting a former spirit that has been incarnated into a pony...

"Anyway, we should get going."

The pair of them resumed walking again.

Something suddenly occurred to Nightmare.

"You know," she said, "I am going to be seeing Cherry again this Saturday."

"Yes," Twilight replied. "I was there when she invited you."

"We're probably going to have sex again."

Twilight said nothing, her eyes going wide as she blushed again. She kept her gaze forward, staring straight ahead.

"If you want, I'm sure she wouldn't mind if you wanted to join us."

For a moment, Nightmare Moon expected that Twilight Sparkle's head would literally explode. Sadly that was not the case. Instead she got a rather entertaining bout of wide eyed sputtering. Nightmare could not help but laugh at the reaction.

One Big Apple

"Why are we here?" Nightmare Moon grumbled as they reached Sweet Apple Acres. She let her gaze and mind wander, looking at the place as they continued to walk. The whole place seemed boring. Trees, trees, building that was probably a barn, more trees, cows, a field with...

"Hello," Nightmare purred out.

Standing in the field was a very large red stallion. He looked to be on the tall side, broad chested, and covered in thick, powerful muscles. A large yoke was around his neck, attached to some sort of tool that was supposed to be pulled behind him. It seemed that he was able to pull it without any trouble. Still, Nightmare could see the flexing of his flanks as he walked, muscles twitching with each step. There was also a faint sheen to his coat, and his orange mane seemed to stick to his forehead and thick, powerful neck.

"...mare? Nightmare? Are you listening to me?"

Nightmare Moon blinked and turned to look at Twilight Sparkle.

"Were you speaking?"

"Did you hear anything I said since we got here?" Twilight asked.

"No," Nightmare replied, getting a huff of annoyance. Turning back to the field, she pointed a hoof at the stallion. "Who is that?"

Twilight turned to look in the direction that Nightmare pointed.

"That's Big Macintosh, Applejack's older brother."

"Big Macintosh, huh?" Nightmare asked, still watching. "So he is real. Interesting. I would like to take a bite out of him." She licked at her lips, her wings and tail giving a small flick of excitement. She continued to watch the large, muscular, farm stallion work.

"First, you don't mean that literally, do you?" Twilight asked. "Because, you have those really sharp teeth. It makes it look like you are quite capable of being omnivorous."

That was right, she did have fangs. It had been a part of her appearance when she had first manifested with Luna, primarily to increase her intimidation. They had not existed when she had possessed Rarity, so it was not an inherit trait of her manifestation at all times. Was it an indication of her being omnivorous? It could simply be attributed to her manifesting being somewhat influenced by her prior forms. If so, then the fangs would still only be intended for intimidation. If not, it might be interesting to try eating meat. It would be something worth trying, and certainly a new experience.

"Don't worry yourself, Sparkle," Nightmare said. "I have no intention to bite him." She paused, thinking a moment before grinning.

"That is, unless he is into that type of thing."

Twilight let out a sigh and gave a shake of her head, rolling her eyes.

"Putting that aside," she said. "Second, weren't you just with somepony last night?"

"What does that have to do with anything?" Nightmare asked, looking toward Twilight from the corner of her eye.

Twilight Sparkle looked at her, then looked away. She shifted her body, shuffling her hooves on the ground as her wings gave a small flutter. Her gaze drifted, moving down to the ground.

"I... I don't know," Twilight admitted. "It's just... you were with Chocolate Cherry last night, and you two seemed to have hit it off when I showed up. It seemed like it was... the start of something I guess."

"Chocolate Cherry and I had a wonderfully fun time," Nightmare stated. "Aside from the hangover that is. With her I learned that I do at least enjoy sex with other mares. However, I am still curious about what it would be like with a stallion. I may do more with Cherry, and we may even get a stallion to join us." She grinned and turned back toward the field. "Perhaps it is even possible that I will convince 'Big' Macintosh to do that."

"Do you really think they would go for that?"

The question got Nightmare Moon's attention. She turned to look at Twilight fully, trying to look as disapproving as possible. Eyes narrowed and lips slightly pursed, she stared at Twilight until the mare started fidgeting.

"You are asking me," Nightmare said slowly, "if a mare I just met and a stallion I have never talked to would go for having a threesome with me."

"Right," Twilight conceded. "You probably wouldn't know then."

Nightmare Moon gave a small nod and turned back to the field. It seemed she had timed it just right to watch Big Macintosh turn around, letting her get a good look of his toned backside.

"What did you mean 'so he is real?'" Twilight asked.

"During our time together, Rarity had several explicit dreams about him," Nightmare replied. "I had thought he was merely a fantasy she had made up." She grinned and let out a chuckle. "The things she imagined him doing to her..."

"I don't want to know!" Twilight snapped, looking away.

"Oh come now," Nightmare said, poking at Twilight with her wing. "I doubt that Rarity was the only pony to have sexual fantasies about him. I'm sure that all of your friends have since meeting him. " Her eyes narrowed as she tilted to look at Twilight, a thought crossing her mind. "Why, I bet that even you have thought about it a time or two."

Twilight let out a gasp as she turned to face Nightmare Moon. Her eyes went wide as her face turned pink and ears pulled back. There was an audible snap as Twilight's wings flared out to their full size.

"Wha-what?" Twilight cried out, shifting her hooves -- and noticeably not making eye contact. "No. No. That... that... that's just-just silly. Why would I ever think of... of doing... that... with the older brother of a friend?" As she talked, her face grew brighter and brighter. It was funny and kind of cute to see her so like that.

"Twilight Sparkle, you are a terrible liar. More so when you are flustered." Reaching out a wing, Nightmare Moon wrapped it around Twilight and turned back toward Macintosh. She motioned toward him with a hoof.

"Take a look at him," Nightmare stated. "Tall."

"Yeah," Twilight agreed.

"Broad chested."

"Yeah."

"Thick, powerful fore-legs."

"Yeah."

"Strong, sturdy."

"He is," Twilight conceded, her eyes glassy as she looked at the stallion working.

"Why, I bet that he could just--"

"Wrap those forelegs around you," Twilight said, "making you feel so safe and secure while you nuzzle into that soft chest fur, inhaling the scent of male musk and fresh apples."

Nightmare had been planning to say "go for hours," since he was used to long hard work, but found Twilight's reaction interesting. It was doubtful that even Twilight Sparkle would come up with a response like that off the top of her head. Possible, but doubtful. Especially since it seemed she had considered what Big Macintosh would smell like if she were to press her nose into his coat. Perhaps if Nightmare gave an opening, Twilight would reveal a little more. Now, Nightmare just needed to figure out the right thing to ask.

That was when she noticed the stalk of grass hanging from Big Macintosh's mouth. As she watched, Macintosh shifted it from one side to the other.

Perhaps that would be a point.

"And look at those lips," Nightmare whispered. "So flexible and adept. Very well could be as strong as the rest of him. Imagine what he could do with them. Such as..." she let it trail off, waiting to see what would happen.

"Teasing nips at your ears," Twilight sighed, "or gentle, playful kisses along your neck."

"A-ha!" Nightmare cried out. "So you have thought about it!"

The shout caused Twilight to jump slightly, wings flaring in surprise. A grimace spread across her face as her gaze flicked between Nightmare Moon and Big Macintosh. A sigh escaped her as she dropped her head, her ears, tail and wings drooping.

"Alright," Twilight said. "You got me. Yes, I've thought about what it would be like." Raising her head back up, she turned to look toward Big Macintosh again.

The confession brought a grin to Nightmare Moon's face. This was quite entertaining. It also gave her quite a bit to tease Twilight Sparkle with. Although it was doubtful there would be a way to use it to gain an actual advantage over Twilight Sparkle should Nightmare Moon find a way to regain or replace her powers and try to take over Equestria. That is unless she wanted to try and use Big Macintosh as some sort of hostage. If she were to resort to such a thing -- and it was doubtful considering how poorly it worked out for Tirek -- there were ponies that would be more suitable than a potential love interest. Although she was not quite certain who since she had caught glimpses of a nightmare or two with Twilight's friends involved as the source of fear.

There was also something that Nightmare was curious about.

"So why do you not try to court him?" she asked.

"What?" Twilight yelped out. "Me? Date Big Macintosh? I... I can't do that. Look at him." She motioned toward him with a hoof. "Like you said, practically every mare in Ponyville has probably fantasized about him. Who knows how many of them have actually tried to date him. Why would he be interested in me more than them? Some of them have to have way more in common with him that I do. He'll probably just say no."

Nightmare could not help that Twilight's eyes were wide and strand of her mane were starting to stick out.

"Even if he does say yes," Twilight continued, "it will probably just be out of politeness. And if he does, what are we going to do? I don't know anything about farming. Things could go horribly and awkward. Then things would be awkward between us, which means that things would also be awkward with Applejack."

Twilight stopped talking as she started to breathe heavily. Her entire body seemed to rise and fall with each gasp.

"How were you able to defeat me twice and stop several other attacks on Equestria?" Nightmare asked, raising an eyebrow and shaking her head. It was a bit embarrassing and hard to believe now. The supposed princess of friendship and so-called hero of Equestria who had defeated her twice -- once without even using The Elements of Harmony -- was having some sort of... panic attack seemed like an accurate description. A panic attack over the idea of going on a date with a colt.

"Well that stuff is kind of easier," Twilight managed to replied. "I don't exactly have time to think too much. Besides, I already know what the worst case scenario would be if I fail."

That was an interesting way of looking at it. Also made sense.

"You should still ask," Nightmare said. "At the very least there will no longer be any wonder about whether or not he would turn you down."

Looking at Macintosh, Twilight chewed on her lip.

"Maybe..." she said softly.

"I will give you two weeks," Nightmare Moon stated. "If you don't ask him out by then, I will make my move instead."

Twilight suddenly turned and looked at Nightmare Moon. Her brow furrowed and her eyes narrowed.

"Why are you doing this?" she asked. "I mean, I'm sure you can understand if I'm skeptical that you are simply encouraging me out of the goodness of your heart."

It was a fair statement, and accurate. Nightmare Moon was not entirely certain why she cared, but it was not simply to be nice. Even if it was, she was not willing to admit to such a thing.

"Good," replied Nightmare. "You are supposed to be above average intellect after all." She smirked and turned back toward the field. "Perhaps it is because I think you need to experience sex. After all, you are so uptight about the situation, you get flustered and frustrated just at the mention of it... like you are now."

She did not look at Twilight during the last remark, but she caught the sound of nervous shifting.

"Perhaps," Nightmare continued, "it is because if you are busy dating, you will have less time to watch me, granting me more freedom during my enslavement and confinement here in Ponyville.

"Or perhaps it is because I don't believe you will go through with it. That in the allotted two weeks you will fail to attempt to ask him out, or express interest in him asking you instead. As such when I do so and you get jealous, you will not be able to say anything because I will be able to point out that you had your chance."

She paused, letting the statement and its possibilities linger so that Twilight could consider the possibility. Probably even imagining what it would be like to see Nightmare Moon romantically involved with Big Macintosh but not able to say anything because Twilight never bothered to express interest in the stallion, and now it was too late.

Nightmare started counting, planning on giving Twilight a full minute to consider the possibility.

"There you are," a voice suddenly called out around the seventeen mark. Nightmare and Twilight both turned to look toward the source.

"Was just coming back from the west field," Applejack said as she walked up to the pair. "Just about to head in and grab a quick snack when I saw y'all over here."

Twilight smiled and walked toward Applejack.

"If you want, you can go ahead and take a break while I take Nightmare Moon over there."

"Nah," Applejack said with a wave of her hoof. "I can take you over there." She shifted. "But uh... are you sure you want to let her try bucking a tree? I mean, she's tall and all, but she's not exactly strong looking and never bucked a tree before."

"Pah," Nightmare Moon cried out. "I am more than capable of kicking a tree well enough to knock some apples loose."

"I ain't trying to make you mad here," Applejack replied as she turned to Nightmare. "It's just that -- like I said -- you've never done this before. If a pony does it wrong, they can hurt themselves."

"I will be fine," Nightmare declared. "In fact, why wait for the west field? I will demonstrate here." She started walking toward one of the apple trees.

"Nightmare," Twilight called out. "Didn't you learn anything from you experience with Rainbow Dash yesterday?"

"This is an entirely different matter. Now, pick a tree and I shall buck it to put this to an end."

"This is serious. If you do this wrong, worst case scenario is that you break your leg."

"That will not happen."

"Nightmare I-"

"Enough!" Nightmare snapped. "I am aware of your opinion, but it is unnecessary and pointless. If you will not pick one, I shall do so myself."

With that, she walked up to one of the trees and turned around. Lifting one of her hind legs, she pulled it in as close to her body as she could before kicking out behind her. There was a loud thud as her hoof struck the tree. At the same time there was a burning hot flash of pain through Nightmare's leg, flaring all the way up to her knee.

Clenching her jaw, Nightmare bit back the surprised cry that formed in her chest. Slowly, she pulled her leg away from the tree. As soon as her hoof touched the ground, her ankle throbbed, causing her to lift it back up slightly.

"See?" she said between her clenched teeth. "I am just fine."

"Except you didn't knock any apples off the tree," Applejack observed.

"Why are you holding your foot off the ground?" Twilight asked, studying Nightmare Moon.

Nightmare had to think quick. She did not want to admit that she had hurt herself. It was annoying enough on its own, but she did not want to prove Twilight was correct in her warning.

"I am holding it up in case I need to do so again."

"That won't be necessary," Twilight said, still watching Nightmare's leg. "I think that was enough of a demonstration for now. If Applejack wants to go in and have a snack, we can join her. There is something that I want to discuss anyways. Come on. The farmhouse is right over there." She pointed toward it with a wing.

It was easy for Nightmare Moon to guess what Twilight Sparkle was up to. With how intensely Twilight was watching, she would almost instantly notice that Nightmare could not put weight on her hind leg. It did not seem like it would be allowed to happen without at least some sort of comment. At worst she would have to go back to the hospital, an idea which she hated.

Unless...

"Very well," Nightmare said. With a flap of her wings, she took off. It was a short flight from the tree to the porch.

Unfortunately, all four hooves hit the ground at the same time when Nightmare landed. She was unable to stop herself from letting out a hiss of pain as she pulled her injured leg off the ground again.

She was caught.

"Fine," she huffed. "So I was not as capable at bucking as I thought."

"I'll get the first aid kit," Applejack declared as she made her way toward the door. "C'mon in and take a seat."

A Bite of Chaos

After a quick examination, no serious damage was found to Nightmare Moon's leg. Her ankle was going to be sore for a few days, so it got wrapped in a bandage and Nightmare was encouraged to keep her weight off it.

Once the examination and bandaging was done, she was given an apple to try. It was actually rather enjoyable. Sweet, but not as sweet as the cupcake from Sugar Cube Corner. Crunchy, but it also seemed to have a lot of juice in each bite. She could see why they were such a popular treat among ponies.

Turns out the apple was part of a trap set up by Twilight Sparkle and Applejack. The first step was to have Nightmare Moon try out an apple and see what she thought. Once it was discovered that, yes, she did seem to like them, the torture began.

Torture was how she would describe it anyways. The two responsible for it would not refer to it as such. Especially Twilight Sparkle. Twilight would use the proper name for her specific brand of torture. She would call it "a lecture." A long, boring, lecture.

As Nightmare Moon sat there, she was forced to put up with a very lengthy and detailed explanation about plant life, crop growth, food, and the requirements of sunlight and water for it all. Basically the entire point boiled down to the fact plants needed sunlight to grow. If there was eternal night, there would be no sun, and no sun would mean that there would be no crops for ponies to eat. So if Nightmare Moon succeeded and created eternal night, ponies would slowly starve to death.

Or freeze to death.

At some point, Twilight went into a tangent about how a large amount of the planet's surface heat was actually the ambient energy from the sun. In the event of Eternal Night, Equestria would rapidly grow colder until eventually becoming frozen. Ponies would have to try and find alternate heat sources or freeze to death. Those that were able to live would still be at the risk of starvation.

So if Nightmare Moon had been successful and actually kept true to her word, she would be condemning practically every living creature on the planet to a slow death. That was not what she wanted. Not now, and not when she had first manifested with Princess Luna. Luna had been jealous of her sister's popularity, and wanted ponies to enjoy her night as they seemed to with the day. Nightmare Moon wanted to rule, to have the ponies serve and obey her, and be worshipped. True, she was willing to hurt, intimidate, and even threaten ponies to do as she commanded, but she did not actually wish for any of them to die.

She would not admit to such a thing out loud, but it was something to think about. Not enough to discourage her from trying to take over Equestria, but certainly to consider working on a better method. As much as she would like to have eternal night, having all who were to follow her die out would leave her a very lonely ruler.

Nightmare Moon, Princess of Decay and Ice.

That... actually had nice ring to it. Nightmare Moon, Princess of Decay and Ice. Fear my icy grip and my army of the frozen dead. All who dare to oppose me shall freeze, and their corpses shall join me.

As interesting as it was, the idea was also off topic and beside the point.

Once the torture had ended, it was decided that Twilight Sparkle and Nightmare Moon would make their way to Fluttershy's, letting Applejack get back to work. Since Nightmare Moon would have trouble walking, Twilight suggested that they fly there. Now that it was brought up, Nightmare was curious as to why they had not flown to Sweet Apple Acres.

Twilight never really gave an answer.

As they reached Fluttershy's cottage, Nightmare Moon stopped and stared.

There were animals everywhere. They were in the trees, running across the ground, some were in the stream. There was even a set of toy boats that seemed to be in use like ships. Nightmare could not be sure, but it looked like one group was playing something that she would guess to be pirates. Overall there were dozens -- if not hundreds -- of little creatures, and they seemed to be pretty much everywhere.

As they landed and walked toward the cottage, Nightmare Moon noticed something following her. It reminded Nightmare of a small dog, but that was not the case. The erect ears were larger, and the muzzle was narrower. The creature's tail looked to be almost as long as its body, and fluffy. It had a gray coat with bits of a rust color around the eyes and along the neck. The thing looked up at Nightmare with gold eyes as it followed.

"Why are we here?" Nightmare grumbled, looking around as they walked up the path to the door.

"Well in this case, there are multiple reasons," Twilight answered. "You know where all my friends spend most of their time and how to get there, so you can go see them if you want to try and get to know them better on your own. Fluttershy was the one who helped reform Discord, so she could possibly give us some advice to make this easier for both of us."

She knocked on the door, then turned to look at Nightmare.

"Plus, I thought it would be a good idea for you to get a pet. Taking care of something else would probably help you quite a bit. Help you learn about responsibility, and improve some of your social skills. Just something to consider. And before you ask, no you can't keep another pony as a pet."

"Yet you are permitted to keep a dragon," Nightmare retorted.

"Spike is not a pet," Twilight snapped. "He is my assistant. He gets paid and has days off."

Nightmare said nothing more on the matter. Instead, she chose to wait until the door opened.

The figure that did so was not Fluttershy.

"Welcome to Chateau Du Fluttershy," Discord said as he held the door wide and stepped aside. "Please, come inside and make yourself comfortable. Your hostess will be joining you shortly."

Twilight Sparkle entered and walked toward the couch to sit down. Nightmare turned and looked at Discord. Her ears pulled back as her lips pulled back, baring her fangs.

"What are you doing here?" she growled, eyes narrowing as she got close to the mish-mashed monster.

"Oh, my dear Moonie," Discord said as he reached up with his lion paw and gave her pats on the head, "I'm here to offer support to my dear friend Fluttershy, Twilight, and a former villain looking to change their ways just as I ha-OW!"

Nightmare Moon growled as she bit down on the paw, digging her teeth into the skin. She continued to glare at Discord as she pressed harder and harder. Considering what he was and what he could do, Nightmare doubted that Discord was going to bleed or even have any sort of injury. Still, it would teach him a lesson about touching her, especially in such a condescending matter.

"Nightmare, no!" Twilight shouted. "Stop biting Discord this instant. That is not appropriate behavior."

Instead of releasing him, Nightmare growled. She gave a hard shake of her head, trying to yank the paw back and forth. Her wings flared out as she moved to brace herself.

Something cold and wet suddenly hit the side of her face. It took a moment to realize that it was water. It was soon followed by another squirt, and then another.

Surprised by the water, Nightmare let go to find out the source. Standing near her was a yellow pegasus with a pink mane holding a spray bottle.

"Did... did you just squirt me with water?" Nightmare asked, turning her full attention to the new target.

"I'm sorry," Fluttershy said gently as she set the bottle down, "but biting Discord was a very naughty thing for you to do. It didn't seem like you were willing to listen. It seemed like the best way to stop you and it works on some of the other animals."

Nightmare let out a snort and shook herself, getting the water off her coat.

"Besides," Fluttershy continued, "you should try getting along with Discord. You are both reformed villains after all. I'm sure the two of you have a lot in common."

The comparison made Nightmare Moon bristle, a small growl bubbling in the back of her throat. She did not like being compared to Discord. The only similarities were superficial. They both wanted to take over Equestria. Both were defeated twice by The Elements of Harmony, once when Celestia had them and again with Twilight Sparkle and her friends. Now both were supposed to be reformed and rehabilitated so they were no longer threats to Equestria. The difference was that Discord did it for "fun," teasing and humiliating ponies merely for his own entertainment and humor. While not altruistic, Nightmare Moon thought her own reasons were a bit better. She wanted to get the respect and authority she deserved. To be worshipped and obeyed. Treated like a goddess, feared, and respected. Although most of that was because she was born from Princess Luna's feelings of rejection, loneliness and...

Her eyes narrowed as she looked from Fluttershy to Discord. An ancient memory came back to her, and with it, a thought.

"I suppose I can retrain myself from any further attacks," she said, "seeing as I would not exist if not him." Nightmare then started to walk further into the room, noticing the animal still following her.

"What is this thing?" Nightmare asked, poking at it with wing.

"It's a gray fox," Fluttershy answered. Walking over, she gave it a gentle pat on the head before rubbing around the ears. "She seems to really like you."

"Nightmare," Twilight asked, "what do you mean you would not exist if not for Discord?" She looked at Discord curiously, who was busy wrapping an excessive number of bandages around the arm that Nightmare had bitten.

"Well you did use my ability to animate things in your whole 'physical incarnation' thing," Discord pointed out. "Clearly if not for me, she would not be here in the flesh as she is now."

"Considering how mad she was about not being at her full power, I doubt that was what she was referring to."

"Indeed," Nightmare replied as she poked the fox. "You recall how when he was first released, he had separated each of you and attempted to turn you against each others through whispers and temptations?" It was a mostly rhetorical to help clarify the point. Considering all that happened, it was doubtful that Twilight, Fluttershy, or any of the others would forget such an event.

"Oh," Discord said. "Ooohh... I had forgotten about that."

"Forgotten about what?" Twilight asked.

Discord looked up from his arm to Twilight then turned to Nightmare Moon.

"Do you want to tell them?" he asked.

"You can do so if you like," Nightmare responded. She then turned to Fluttershy. "Does this creature make a good pet?"

"Well they're very cunning and adaptable," Fluttershy replied, "but they can be a little mischievous."

There was a snap from Discord and dolls that looked like him, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna appeared.

"Before they collected The Elements and turned me into stone," Discord explained, "Tia and Lulu did try to fight me in other ways. As you can probably guess, it never really worked out for them. Although their attempts were some times quite amusing, as was my retaliations. Remind me and I'll tell you all about the caramel popcorn incident some other time." He let out a snicker at the memory.

With another snap of his fingers, the Celestia doll moved away, leaving the Discord and Luna doll.

"It was after... one of their less memorable attempts that I wound up finding poor wittle Woona all alone." The Discord doll wrapped around the Luna, its muzzle close to her ear. "So I decided to take advantage of it. I talked to her about how she lived in her big sister's shadow, how she was always going to fall short. I pointed out how much the ponies love Celestia and basked in the light of the sun, but claimed that very few even knew who she was, and how they only slept through her night. I even claimed that if they somehow managed to defeat me -- which I didn't think they would -- it would only be Celestia that would be remembered and revered as a hero, with poor little Luna being pushed aside and forgotten."

There was a blue glow around the Luna doll and the Discord one was thrown away.

"She didn't really seem to believe me at the time."

"And for the most part, she didn't," Nightmare said, taking over. "However, it did manage to plant the first seeds of doubt in her mind. The first little cracks in her mind. Enough that she had a bad dream, that a simple little nightmare was able to sneak in. The same nightmare that would grow and evolve into me. With time and my influence, those doubts and fears grew stronger. Then came the battle with King Sombra, who showed Princess Luna her greatest fear and gave me more power. Finally came that fateful night, where Celestia was proclaimed Princess of Equestria and Luna felt like her worse fears were coming true."

She grinned, chuckling slightly.

"You know the rest from there."

She turned to Fluttershy.

"I think that I would like to take this gray fox as a pet. Is there anything specific that I need to know about taking care of it?"

Meeting The Trio of Terror

Nightmare Moon sat on a pillow in the main room of the castle. The gray fox vixen was curled up by her side, sleeping soundly. In front of her was the second book in the Daring Do series.

The rest of the visit at Fluttershy's -- and the day -- had been uneventful. There had been some conversation, some questions, and a lot of information on what Nightmare Moon would need to take care of a fox. It was a little disappointing that neither Twilight Sparkle nor Fluttershy seemed very upset over Discord's part in Nightmare's existence, but not really surprising considering it was over a thousand years ago. If they were willing to forgive him for things that happened less than a month ago -- as well as those that were nearly a year passed -- why would they get upset over something from a millenia ago?

After returning to the castle, Nightmare Moon decided to take a look around the library. While there, she found something that was quite interesting: a book titled Daring Do and the Ring of Destiny. Specifically, what caught her attention was the fact that a pony on the cover looked exactly like Rainbow Dash.

This led to an interesting explanation from Twilight Sparkle. The main idea of the Daring Do stories was that the titular character -- a pegasus -- would travel Equestria searching for powerful ancient artifacts and trying to keep them safe from creatures with villainous intent such as Ahuizotl (the most common villain to appear in the series). The main audience was supposed to be teens and young adults, but ponies of practically every age seemed to enjoy them. Until recently, Twilight and the others had thought they were fiction, and most ponies still did. However, a couple months ago Twilight and the others actually met Daring Do and were able to help her during one such adventure.

After listening to it all, one question came to Nightmare Moon's mind.

"What happens to the artifacts she finds?"

It was actually an interesting place for her to begin. Each book held at least one ancient artifact of great power and an accurate description of their capabilities -- or at least one of them. She could easily read through the books without raising any sort of suspicion. Anypony that caught her would simply assume she was enjoying the series.

If she were able to find one that would actually be of use to her, then she would just have to figure out how to get it. There were two separate issues with that: finding out where it is and being able to get there. The artifacts had to be placed somewhere they were thought to be safe, be it back to where it belongs (which would be the easiest), on display in a museum or private home (an interesting challenge she would need to consider), or some sort of vault (something she would have no idea how to even start). Depending on Daring Do's connections and the power of the artifacts, they might very well be stored in the castle under the protection of the princesses and their guards.

Of course finding out the location of an artifact would be pointless if she was unable to get to it. At the moment, that would be nearly impossible to do. The collar limited her movements. She was either restricted to Ponyville, or within a limited range of Twilight Sparkle. The artifacts were more than likely not being stored in the town, and having Twilight with her while trying to steal an ancient artifact of great power that would allow her to rule Equestria seemed like it would be counter-productive. The chances that Twilight Sparkle would allow Nightmare Moon to do such a thing were almost non-existent. The best case scenario would be Twilight giving Nightmare a chance to stop in the hopes of accepting friendship. Worst case scenario was Nightmare being hospitalized and the artifact relocated to someplace hidden and more secure. So she would need to figure out a way to get the collar off before starting an active search.

"Nightmare," Twilight called out, drawing Nightmare's attention from the book. "I thought I should warn you. The Cutie Mark Crusaders are coming over soon for Twilight Time."

"'Twilight Time?'" Nightmare asked.

She was familiar with the Cutie Mark Crusaders. After all, one of them was the younger sister of her previous host. Plus, there had been a few amusing nightmares that she had seen that involved the trio as some sort of major threat. Usually with some antic or other of theirs ending up in extensive amounts of property damage. It was kind of strange to think of how exaggerated some fears could be in dreams.

Twilight Time, however, was not something that she had heard of before.

"It's kind of like when a pony has additional lessons or activities after school," Twilight explained. "Except it's not exactly piano or swimming. Mostly I have to help Sweetie Belle learn to cast spells and control her magic, but I also help Apple Bloom practice alchemy and guide Scootaloo in her mechanical interest. While I do try to keep it to a minimum, there is still some danger to it: spells going wrong, bad chemical reactions, tools or springs flying loose, something along those lines. So I'm warning you in case you want to get somewhere safe and avoid get caught in the fallout, but I think you should stay. I think you might learn something interesting, and you might even help me keep an eye on things."

Nightmare Moon set her book aside and placed a hoof to her chin. She doubted that she would learn anything useful from watching Twilight teach a group of fillies. Because of her being forced to be a pegasus, she had no horn, and thus no way of casting spells. The alchemy and mechanical options had possibility, but it was doubtful that Twilight would let fillies perform something other than the safe and basic types. Nothing explosive or inherently dangerous that Nightmare could use to her advantage.

Really, if she did stay, it would be more to study and learn about the ponies than of their lessons. Seeing Twilight in a position that could stress her out and seeing how she deals with it could help. Really, studying Twilight Sparkle over all would be a good idea. The strengths she has that should avoided, weaknesses to exploit, how she reacted to stressors, maybe even ways to manipulate her into having a manic panic attack. It would be difficult to battle if she was worried about something else.

Then there were the so-called Crusaders. At least one of them was directly related to a former Bearer of Harmony, with the other two -- if not related -- extremely close to other members. It was possible that the trio would one day become heroes in their own right. Not to the same extent as Twilight Sparkle and her friends since such an event was incredibly rare, but they could achieve as much as Starswirl the Bearded. Or even Daring Do now that Nightmare had learned about the mare.

Alternatively, if their proclivity toward danger and mischief was even partially true, the crusaders might be beneficial to her. If Nightmare could gain influence over them now, she could in theory manipulate them into being her minions. The same powers and talents that could be used to protect Equestria would then be turned to her will. It would be easier if she were to start doing so now, seeing as they were still somewhat young and impressionable.

Even if neither were the case, perhaps they would still be of benefit to her.

"Very well," Nightmare Moon stated. "I shall stay and observe." She grinned. "Perhaps I will get to see you caught up in an explosion, or suffer the consequence of a spell gone awry."

For a moment, Nightmare pictured Twilight as a giant purple onion with wings and a horn. The image was enough to cause her to chuckle.

"I'm glad you find the idea of my suffering funny," Twilight stated. "Anyway, school should be out so they will be here in fifteen or twenty minutes."

With a little more reading, the time passed pretty quickly. As the trio arrived, Nightmare Moon studied them. One of them was a white unicorn with pastel pink and purple mane. That was Sweetie Belle, who was Rarity's sister. Another was a yellow earth filly with a red mane. Her name... had something to do with fruit? Nightmare thought she had some connection to Applejack. The third was an orange coated pegasus with a short purple mane. What was her name? Nightmare was pretty sure it started with "s." Whatever the case, the pegasus filly had something to do with... Rainbow Dash? Or was it Fluttershy? Definitely one of the pegasi.

There also seemed to be something wrong with the three of them. They seemed to be walking at a slow rate, heads and tails held low and ears drooping.

"Is something wrong?" Twilight asked as she looked at the three of them.

"No," the yellow filly replied. "Well... nothin' new."

"Just Diamond Tiara picking on us again," the orange filly added.

"Who is Diamond Tiara?" Nightmare asked.

"A girl in our class," Sweetie Belle answered. "She's a bully that insults and makes fun of a lot of ponies."

"Especially us," the yellow one added, "on account we're the only ones with no cutie marks yet."

Nightmare Moon's body tensed as anger exploded through her body. Ears pinned back and teeth bared, she turned to face Twilight Sparkle, wings flaring out at her sides.

"You allow this to happen?" snarled out.

"What?" Twilight asked, her question being echoed by the three young fillies.

"You," Nightmare snarled, point a hoof at Twilight's chest, "are a former student of Princess Celestia, a princess yourself now, and a hero to all of Equestria. These three" -- she pointed at the crusaders -- "are students of yours and have close ties to three of the ponies that you consider your best friends. This... this... Dime-what-the-buck-ever is giving them a hard time -- seemingly on a regular basis -- and you -- their leader, protector, and friend -- do nothing about it!"

"What do you think I should do?" Twilight snapped back, her own wings flaring out as she returned the glare.

"Force her into physical labor," Nightmare retorted. "Lock her into a dungeon. Toss her into the darkest part of The Everfree Forest and let her find her own way out. Destroy her power base and support system, wearing her down until her fate is in the frog of your hoof. Then as she looks up at you in tears and begs for mercy, laugh in her face before crushing her." She slammed her hoof into the ground before tossing her head back and laughing maniacally.

"Nightmare," Twilight stated, "she's just a filly."

"Oh, I see how it is! She gets to be malicious and cruel without consequence. Allow her to grow up and become a truly evil villain instead of handling the issue now and preventing such a thing."

"She's not going to become some villain just because she's a bully!" Twilight replied.

The Cutie Mark Crusaders looked back and forth between each other.

"Why do you care so much anyways?" Twilight asked.

"If you think I will allow any pony to pick on my little sister, you are sorely mistaken!" Nightmare snapped.

"Little sister?" the other ponies asked.

The question gave Nightmare Moon pause. Had she said that? She had. She had not been aware of it, but she felt protective of Sweetie Belle. That was part of the reason that Nightmare had gotten so angry to begin with: the idea of a pony picking on the filly made the mare furious, wanting to keep Sweetie Belle safe.

With a sigh, Nightmare Moon rubbed her forehead.

"It seems that my time with Rarity has some unexpected consequences," Nightmare stated. "Let's just proceed with this 'Twilight Time,' and discuss the matter another time."

With a nod, Twilight Sparkle turned her attention to the three fillies.

So the conversation was ended and Twilight Time began. During it, Nightmare learned that the pegasus was Scootaloo -- who was a fan of Rainbow Dash -- and the earth filly was Applejack's little sister, Apple Bloom. The three of them seemed very enthusiastic about their interest and learning. Nightmare even asked a few questions, watching the excitement as the filly questioned shared what she knew, and gaining a few bits of information in the process. While she could not learn unicorn magic, it might be beneficial to learn a little more about alchemy and engineering.

Disappointingly, Twilight Sparkle made it through without incident.

An Unexpected Message

Nightmare Moon sat at her vanity, humming gently as she brushed out her mane. She had a long night ahead of her, and wanted to look her best. Especially if she were fortunate enough to find more ponies that happen to be infatuated with her. Perhaps they would also find a stallion to have a fun time with.

Tonight, she was going to The Neon Flank with Chocolate Cherry to get the "full" and proper experience of what the club can be like. Especially since there was supposed to be some live music being performed. There were also supposed to be a great number of ponies, far more than when Nightmare Moon had gone during the middle of the week. It was possible that she would find others that were willing to worship and follow her.

Leaning forward, Nightmare Moon grinned widely, showing off her fangs in the mirror. A part of her wished she still had her helmet and peytral. It would be quite amusing and she would certainly cut an intimidating and memorable figure in it. Although she did not have her ethereal mane and tail like when she had possessed Luna. She did like the way her mane looked: dark blue with indigo streaks. Perhaps after figuring out the proper style of garments and accessories for going to a nightclub, she might very well get some of her own. She had gotten her first stipend, and was only taking a portion of it to cover the door charge and a few drinks (just a few, she was not repeating that mistake).

The sound of knocking drew her attention to the door. Turning from the vanity, Nightmare Moon stared. It was a somewhat new and odd experience hearing such a thing. She was not used to having a room of her own, nor did she ever imagine that there would be knock at her door. What was she supposed to do?

"Nightmare," Spike called out, "it's Spike."

"What is it?" she called back.

The door opened and the young dragon poked his head in.

"You got a message from Princess Celestia."

"What does she want?" Nightmare growled, shifting as her shoulders tensed. She was not expecting anypony to write to her, let alone Celestia. If she were to guess which of the two Canterlot princess were to do such a thing, she would have guessed it would be Luna. Being stuck living with Twilight Sparkle, Nightmare Moon figured that any correspondence would be with Twilight. Plus, Nightmare had yet to do anything that would potentially earn the ire of the great solar plot.

Taking a step further into the room, Spike held out a scroll to Nightmare Moon.

"Stay there," Nightmare stated as she took the scroll. "I may need you to send my response." With that, she unfurled the parchment and began reading through it.

It... was not what she expected. Not in the slightest. Pulling out the two golden tickets, she stared at them, still trying to process what she had read.

"What is The Grand Galloping Gala?"

"You got invited too?" Spike asked.

"It would seem so," Nightmare responded. "Now what is it?"

"Oh. It's this big fancy formal ball they hold at the castle every year. In fact, it's supposed to be like the biggest and most exciting one of them all. Dozens of ponies go and it seems like a lot more of them want to. Twilight and the girls all went to it last year. They... kind of hated it actually. " He suddenly grinned. "But it worked out great. They and Princess Celestia all joined me at Joe's for donuts."

Something about that all sounded familiar, but Nightmare could not quite place why. Something to do with a bad experience? Somepony being angry? Something frightening? It was vague. Probably something she picked up from a memory or dream but had not actually paid much attention to. It hardly mattered anyway.

"Why would Celestia invite me to this?" she asked aloud, more to herself than to Spike. "Is it some sort of political maneuver? An attempt to further solidify and expand her power base? Am I to be presented before the nobles and foreign dignitaries as a symbol of past successes and a future warning to any potential rival? 'Behold, Nightmare Moon. Once a mighty threat to Equestria. Now she has been defeated and is forced to serve under the kingdom's lowest princess. Beware those who wish to threaten our kingdom, or your fate shall be the same.'"

"Wow," Spike said from the door. "That's really overly dramatic. Anyway, I don't think it's anything like that. Maybe she just wants you to attend so she can help you feel welcomed and accepted."

Nightmare Moon let out a snort.

"Or maybe..." Spike trailed off, bringing his claws to his mouth.

That was unexpected. It seemed he thought that whatever it was, he should not say it aloud.

"'Or maybe' what?" Nightmare asked, lowering her head to look him directly in the eye.

"Nothing," Spike replied. "Never mind. I should get going anyways."

Turning around, he tried to head for the hall. Only to be blocked by one of Nightmare Moon's wings. It pressed against him, pulling him closer. Nightmare smiled, trying to look as sweet and friendly as possible. If the look on Spike's face was any indication, it was not working very well.

"Oh, come now, Spike," she said gently. "You can tell me. After all, we live in the same castle. Aren't we... f.... fffff... fffrrr....

"Fffffffuuuuuuuu-orget it!" she groaned out. " I can't even say it. Let's go with a different tactic. Tell me what you were going to say, or else."

"Or else what?" Spike asked, raising one of his eyebrows as he looked up at her.

"Or else..." Nightmare leaned close so her nose nearly touched Spike's earfin and whispered, "I will go to your room, find your little secret, and share it with Rarity."

Spike tensed, eyes going wide as he stared at Nightmare Moon. His face seemed to become a paler shade of purple.

"You wouldn't," he said.

Nightmare Moon narrowed her eyes and grinned.

"Alright," Spike huffed out, shifting to a bright red. He pointed a claw at Nightmare's nose. "But you can't tell anypony that I said it."

"Fine, fine," Nightmare replied, waving a hoof.

Spike took a deep breath and said, "maybe she wants you to cause a little trouble. Nothing too serious or dangerous, just enough to make things interesting. When Twilight and the others went, they did some things they felt really bad about, but Celestia showed up and said it was fine. She had wanted them to make the Gala a lot more entertaining and they did."

"Really?" Nightmare said. She pulled her wing away from Spike and straightened up. "Interesting." Especially if it was accurate.

Although... why would Princess Celestia want such a thing? She was the princess, and had been ruling on her own for over a thousand years. If she were to find an event to her disliking, could she not simply change it? Why use another pony to do so in her stead? To protect herself in case of failure? Whatever the case, it was irrelevant at the moment. Still, she would have to keep it in mind and be careful what she did.

"You said I got an invitation as well," Nightmare said to Spike. "I take that Twilight Sparkle got one?"

"Yeah," Spike replied.

Nightmare smirked and turned away. Picking up the invitation and tickets, she carried them over to the vanity and set them down. She then flew out her room, along the hall -- passing over Spike in the process -- and down the stairs until reaching the landing and making it fulfill its namesake. Her wings gave a flick before folding against her.

Making her way through the main floor of the castle, Nightmare searched for Twilight Sparkle. It was not very long before she found Twilight in one of the rooms, sitting at a desk and writing.

"I'm heading out to see Chocolate Cherry and go to the club," Nightmare announced.

"Uh-huh," Twilight Sparkle replied.

"I got an invitation to The Grand Galloping Gala," Nightmare said as she moved forward.

"Uh-huh."

"Two tickets."

"Uh-huh."

"I suppose it means I should take somepony with me," Nightmare said.

"Uh-huh," Twilight responded.

"Perhaps I will take Cherry."

"Uh-huh."

"I understand that you got a pair as well." Nightmare moved closer, standing right beside Twilight now.

"Uh-huh," Twilight continued, still staring at her book as she wrote in another with a quill in her magical aura.

"It would be the perfect place to take Big Macintosh," Nightmare Moon stated.

"Uh-huh," Twilight replied.

"So, we agree: you will ask Big Macintosh to escort you to the ball."

"Uh-wait!" Twilight tensed, looking up from her book. "What? What about Big Macintosh?"

"Just don't wait too long to ask him," Nightmare stated. "He will need time to get a proper outfit." She leaned forward and gave Twilight a kiss on the cheek. "See you when I get home."

Twilight stood there a moment, eyes wide and jaw hanging open as Nightmare stepped away.

"Wait!" Twilight suddenly called out as she turned toward Nightmare Moon. "What was that? What about Macintosh? Why would he need a proper outfit? What are you talking about?" Followed after the other mare, chasing her through the castle to the front door. "What do you think I agreed to?"

Nightmare Moon stopped at the door and pulled it open. Turing to face Twilight, she grinned widely.

"You taking Big Macintosh with you to The Gala," she stated. "Seems like the perfect opportunity to have a date with him." Her grinned widened. "You might even get to have a little extra 'fun' since you'll probably be staying overnight in Canterlot."

With that, she headed out the door and took off. Surprisingly, Twilight Sparkle did not come after her. Although, Nightmare could hear Twilight shouting her name as she flew away. Nightmare Moon smiled, chuckling to her self at the flustered princess.

Come With Me

Nightmare Moon ended up having a pretty fun time at The Neon Flank with Chocolate Cherry. It was a little difficult to enjoy the dancing as much as last time with so many ponies on the floor, but it was still very enjoyable. There had been a few drinks, but not quite nearly as many. So Nightmare Moon was pretty certain that she would not suffer another hangover.

The biggest difference had been that there was a live DJ. At first, it seemed very much the same as when the music was all from a pre-set sound system. As the night progressed, Nightmare got the impression that something was different, but she could not quite figure out what. According to Cherry, that's how it always was when DJ Pon-3 -- which Nightmare was told was still pronounced like "pony" and not "P-own-three" -- played, because she knew how to work the crowd and adjust the music accordingly.

It also turned out that the music played was mostly made by the DJ herself. There were even albums available for sale. Nightmare bought two of them, and even got one autographed (which was a big deal for some reason?). Now she would need to get something to play it on. Perhaps something that could play it incredibly loud. Nightmare could not help but grin and snicker as she imagined playing the music loud enough to shake the castle, much to a sleeping Twilight Sparkle's surprise.

According to Chocolate Cherry, "the club is not the entire experience of modern pony nightlife." So the two of them left the club at some time around three in the morning and made their way to an all night diner that Cherry knew of. Supposedly it was a popular place with the club-goers, but most showed up at the end of the night. Nightmare tried something called hash browns -- shredded potatoes that had been pan-fried until golden brown -- while Cherry had a hot fudge sundae (which she let Nightmare try a couple bites of).

"So it seems I got invited to a big formal ball in Canterlot," Nightmare stated. "Even got two tickets to it."

"Are you trying to invite me?" Cherry asked as she took another spoonful of ice cream.

"I do not wish to go alone," Nightmare replied, "and I have yet to find another pony whom I can tolerate as well as I have been able to do with you."

"Aww," Cherry cooed with a grin. "I like you too." She then let out a giggle as Nightmare rolled her eyes and let out a snort. Her smile slowly faded as she looked back down at her sundae, poking at one of the crushed nuts.

"In seriousness, I appreciate you asking, but I don't know. I mean, I'm not really the kind of pony that goes to those things. Getting all dressed up in their formal clothes, being charming, making small talk, dancing."

"Correct me if I am mistaken," Nightmare said, " but with the exception of the first, is that not what you do regularly?"

"That's different," Cherry replied. "It would be like expecting Vinyl to play Carneighie Hall because she works in music."

"I do not know what either of those are."

"Oh, right. Vinyl Scratch is the actual name of the DJ that was playing tonight, and Carneighie Hall is one of these big, fancy music hall up in Manehattan where they play instrumental musical."

Nightmare Moon ate more of her meal while she considered what Chocolate Cherry was saying. Technically, what was played at the club tonight and what would be played at a hall would both be considered music. However, the two genres were entirely different. There were some similarities since both were considered music, and had their audiences and celebrities (at least if DJ Pon-3 was any indication). Perhaps there were even ponies that were fans of both. However, it was doubtful that an audience attending for one would be very interested in the other instead.

"So you don't want to go?"

"I didn't quite say that," Cherry said. "I mean it could be fun. It's just... what if I do something to embarrass myself? Or somepony else? Like you."

"Embarrass?" Nightmare asked. "Me?" She leaned forward. "Cherry, I attempted to overthrow the very princess that is throwing this ball while possessing her sister. I attempted to take the throne and throw Equestria into eternal night."

And will try again once I get the chance, she mentally added.

"I do not care what these ponies think of me... Actually that is untrue. I wish for them to fear me. Otherwise I could not care less. As such, I doubt there is anything you could possibly do that would embarrass me unless you actively tried. And if you embarrass another pony, I hope you do it in a way that will make me laugh."

"What if I embarrass myself?" Cherry asked.

"Then anypony that dares to laugh or humiliate you will answer to me," Nightmare answered, baring her fangs as her wings flared out behind her. "They will not be so worried about whatever petty error you have made once I have torn a chunk of their flesh from them with my teeth."

This last statement was loud enough to get a look from several of the ponies around them, staring at the pair with wide eyes. Everything seemed to turn quiet for about fifteen seconds at the shock of what everypony just heard.

"What are you looking at?!" Nightmare snapped as she turned to glare at one of the staring ponies. There was a flash of fear in his face before he turned away, going back to his meal. When Nightmare turned to look toward others, the quickly did the same. Soon, none of the other customers were looking toward her and Cherry.

The tension was broken by Chocolate Cherry, who burst into a fit of laughter. It was deep and loud. Nightmare watched and found the Cherry's entire body shook with it. It seemed to take a full minute before the laughter settled down to giggles.

"I guess you're right," Cherry said between giggles. "After all, if you're willing to intimidate an entire diner in the town you're living in, I'm sure that my embarrassing you in a few nobles won't really be an issue."

"So you will go with me?" Nightmare asked, realizing she sounded more excited than she liked. Straightening up, she pulled her wings back in, trying to look as calm and collected as she could.

"Sure," Cherry said. "I can't promise I won't end up doing something embarrassing, but I'll still try."

"Wonderful. On your next day off, we will go out and find proper outfits to wear."

"Maybe we can make a full girls' day out of it," Chocolate Cherry suggested. Her eyes narrowed as a smirk spread across her lips. "By the way, since I'm doing this for you, could I get you to do something for me tonight?"

"What is it?" Nightmare asked. She was curious about what Cherry had in mind. Judging from the look she was being given, she could guess it had something to do with sex.

"It will be easier to show you back at my place," Cherry replied as she got up. "Come on. I really think that you'll enjoy it."

After paying the bill, the two of them left the diner and headed toward Cherry's place once more. As they went, Cherry moved closer to Nightmare and pressed against her.

"What you said back there," Cherry said, "it was kind of sweet in a psychotic way."

"Was it now?" Nightmare asked, shifting so she could look at the other mare from the corner of her eye. She had to fight back the urge to stretch out one wing and drape it over her.

"Yeah." Cherry grinned and rubbed her cheek against Nightmare's side. "You know... you're pretty nice some times."

"Lies!" Nightmare declared. "Lies and slander. Do not make such claims ever again."

"I mean it," Cherry responded. "Yeah you can be very angry and intimidating, but you can also be very kind, protective, and even..." she grinned, "affectionate... when you want to be."

As they continued to walk, Nightmare Moon turned to look more at Chocolate Cherry. She wanted to deny it, to claim it was preposterous. After all, she was Nightmare Moon, a great threat to all of Equestria who defeated the princess and tried to send Equestria into eternal darkness. She was supposed to be fierce, vicious, and absolutely wicked. Her first name should be the embodiment of how ponies perceive her, rendering them frightened and sleepless.

Yet, when she looked into those big, green, trusting eyes, Nightmare did not find it in her to do so. Ears pulling back, she let out a snort and looked ahead again.

"Do not let it get out," she grumbled. "I still have a reputation to maintain, and it would be hard to intimidate ponies into obedience if they think I have a soft side."

"As you wish, my mistress," Cherry replied, and Nightmare could just hear the grin in her voice.

With a twist of her hips, Nightmare Moon swung her tail to the side, striking it against Chocolate Cherry's plot. It was doubtful that it hurt, but it did elicit a slight yelp. Nightmare did not bother to look in Cherry's direction, keeping her face forward while a smirk spread across her face.

Being the Stallion (Clop)

"What is this?" Nightmare Moon asked, looking at the sex toy that had been given to her. It was mostly shaped like a stallion's penis, complete with testicles. There was a hole in the back, and an egg-shaped bulge attached near the top.

"It's a Feeldoe," Chocolate Cherry answered. "See, this part" -- she pointed at the bulge -- "goes into you. It's supposed to let the wearer feel any movement, making it pleasurable for them as well, which makes it better than a regular strap-on dildo. That" -- she pointed at the hole -- "is where a vibrator can go if you want. And this part is supposed to rub against your clit, so the wearer can cum even if they don't get off simply from penetration."

"Interesting," Nightmare hummed as she studied the sex toy. "I take it, then, that you wish for me to use this on you?"

"Yeah," Cherry replied. "I figured that you wouldn't actually mind getting the chance to be the stallion for a while." She grinned, her tail giving a flick.

Nightmare Moon considered it. It would not be the same thing as experiencing what it would truly be like to be a stallion. Then again, neither she nor Cherry were unicorns, so they could not cast a spell to turn one of them into a stallion. That was assuming such a spell even existed to begin with. Perhaps she would ask Twilight Sparkle about it another time.

Although not the same as experiencing actual sex with a stallion, she would get the opportunity to feel vaginal penetration and stimulation. Perhaps another time, she could get Chocolate Cherry to use the toy on her in return. Plus it would also give her an opportunity to explore sex more, as well as being dominant in bed. She did seem to enjoy such, and would like to learn more about it.

"So I simply insert this part into myself?" Nightmare asked, getting a nod in response. Moving to adjust her balance, she brought the toy between her legs. Slowly, she rubbed the bulge along her vaginal lips, feeling a gentle tingle of pleasure. The tingle turned into a full thrill whenever she stroked across her sensitive nub of her clitoris. After several strokes and feeling herself becoming aroused, Nightmare Moon pushed the toy into herself.

There was a burst of pain, causing Nightmare to let out a sight hiss of discomfort.

"Are you okay?" Chocolate Cherry asked.

"Fine," Nightmare replied as she straightened up. "Just a moment of unexpected unpleasantness."

"Un..." Cherry let out a gasp, eyes going wide. "Sorry. I'm sorry. I completely forgot you still had your virginity."

"My what now?"

"It's this thin membrane that's just inside your vagina, can tear pretty easily. I noticed it when we were together the other night, but completely forgot about it. I'm sorry. I should have warned you. I should have remembered. I should--"

"Calm yourself," Nightmare interrupted, holding up a hoof. "You have no responsibility in the matter and I was not aware. There was little that could have been done about it." She then shifted, moving to take a look at herself with the Feeldoe in place. It was quite odd to see a bright pink artificial stallion penis between her legs.

"Now," Nightmare stated as she turned Cherry, "get ready."

Smiling, Chocolate Cherry went over to the bed lifted her front half up onto it. She looked over her shoulder as she adjusted her stance, lifting her tail up and spreading her legs wide to show off her chocolaty brown crotch. Her hips swayed back and forth, giving her round rump a shake.

Nightmare lowered her head, ears pinning back. Her lips pulled back as she let out a deep growl. She stalked toward Cherry, eyes focused on the wiggling target. Her wings spread out at her sides and her tongue slid across her lips.

Reaching her target, Nightmare Moon leaned forward and took a nip of one of the cheeks. Nightmare's prey squeaked out, tensing under her grip. Opening her mouth wider, Nightmare pressed it against the soft, fur-covered flesh. She let out another deep growl, sending vibrations through Cherry's butt and getting a giggle in response.

"That feels weird," Cherry called back. "In a good way, but still weird."

Slowly, Nightmare pulled her head back, fangs leaving furrow in the fur coat as the traced along the skin. Letting the cheek go, she then moved her head forward again. Slipping her tongue out, she pressed the tip of it directly against Cherry's clit. She then gave along, slow lick up along the vaginal lips, getting a moan of pleasure in response.

After taking a step back, Nightmare reared up on her hind legs and moved forward. Her front hooves landed on the bed beside Cherry as she stood above the other mare. Moving her hips forward, she brought the tip of her artificial shaft to press against the soft round red rump. As soon as she did, she could feel the shaft moving, teasing her clit and shifting inside her to send a thrill through her body. Nightmare Moon raised and lowered her hips, causing the cock head to trace along the crack of Cherry's butt and vaginal lips. Lining the tip up with Cherry's clitoris, Nightmare Moon gave a gentle push forward, causing both of them to let out a moan of pleasure.

Moving to keep herself balanced, Nightmare reached down with one hoof and took a hold of her Feeldoe. With a firm grip, she adjusted the shaft so the tip was lined up with Cherry's vaginal lips. She then pushed forward, working to sink into the waiting mare's depths. Slowly, the dark vaginal lips parted, allowing the cock head to enter the depths. As she watched the tip sink in, Nightmare wondered what it would feel like to have those depths wrap around a real flesh and blood shaft.

Pushing the thought aside, Nightmare Moon let go of the shaft and braced herself. She leaned down, pressing her barrel against Chocolate Cherry's back, and nipped at one of the mare's ears. Slowly, she move her hips forward, sinking the artificial shaft deeper and deeper into the mare beneath her. As she went deeper, the toy continued to press against Nightmare's walls and tease her sensitive nub, sending pleasure through her body. One of her ears twitched as she heard a moan, letting her know that Cherry was enjoying this as well.

Soon -- sooner than expected actually -- Nightmare's hips were pressed against the warm softness of Cherry's butt, the shaft buried as deep as it could reach. With a little push to make sure, Nightmare rocked her hips, grinding them against the soft backside, and the toy against their vaginal walls.

"Uh...Pl...fu..." Cherry whimpered out.

Nightmare stopped her movements.

"What was that?"

"Please," Chocolate Cherry managed to moan out. "Please fuck me. Fast and hard. Please. I need it."

Moving her head back down, Nightmare Moon bit down onto the back of Cherry's neck, getting another yelp and moan. She pulled her hips back, growling in pleasure as the tugging on the shaft pressed the toy against her sensitive nub even more. Nightmare then gave a fast, hard thrust, her hips slapping audibly against Cherry and pushing her forward slightly. Pressing hard, she ground her hips against the soft flesh -- get a groan of pleasure in response -- before pulling back again.

Her hips shifted as she moved, trying to adjust the angle for her maximum pleasure. The jump and cry of pleasure from Cherry drew Nightmare's attention for a second. It suddenly came to her that when she had shifted the hips for her, it would have caused the shaft to twist and shift inside Cherry as well.

Nightmare's jaw tightened as she grinned around her grip on the neck. Shifting, she tried to give herself a better stance. Once comfortable that she had a firmer position, she thrust forward again, twisting her hips. This caused new level of pleasure to explode in Nightmare as the bulge shifted inside her and the toy stroked across her sensitive nub. After grinding into the soft flesh of Cherry's rump, Nightmare pulled back to repeat the movement.

Soon a rhythm that they both seemed to enjoy was set up: thrust forward while twisting in one direction; grind hips against butt while pressing the shaft as deep as it could reach; pull back, twisting hips in the opposite direction. It felt absolutely wonderful for Nightmare Moon. Each shift and movement seemed to make the toy rub a different part of her walls. Every tug back and grind forward teased the sensitive points of her clitoris. There was even the feel of Cherry being pinned beneath her, the fur of Nightmare's chest and stomach rubbing against Cherry's back with each movement.

After one particularly hard thrust, Nightmare Moon felt Chocolate Cherry tense underneath her as she cried out. When Nightmare tried to pull back, the shaft was held firmly in place, causing her to press hard against the toy and send her over the edge. Finally releasing her grip on Cherry's neck, Nightmare threw her head back and let out a cry of pleasure, letting it mix with her partner's. White hot flashes of pleasure pulsed through her body, causing her to tense. She continued to rock and grind her hips, pressing into the soft ass and rub at the teasing surface of the toy.

Once the climax subsided, the two went limp, panting heavily. Nightmare Moon collapsed on top of Chocolate Cherry. She could feel the warmth and softness of the other mare's body against her, finding it comforting.

As the aftermath of the orgasm continued to fade, Nightmare Moon noticed the taste of something coppery in her mouth. She ran her tongue around her mouth and over her teeth. It almost tasted like...

Lifting her head, she turned to look at Chocolate Cherry's neck. Sure enough, there were glistening wet spots in the skin from where Nightmare's teeth had been.

"Oh dear," Nightmare said as she moved off of Cherry. There was a thrill of pleasure as she worked to pull her shaft free.

"What is it?" Chocolate Cherry asked as she laid there, panting.

"It seems that I got a little overenthusiastic with my biting during our little session," Nightmare Moon explained. "It turns out I bit hard enough to break the skin."

"What?" Cherry stared at her, blinking for a second. She then reached up with a hoof, pressing it to the back of her neck. A hiss of pain escaped from between her teeth as she touched the spot that Nightmare Moon had bit. Pulling the hoof away, Cherry then looked at it. Her eyes went wide.

"B..b.. blu..."

Chocolate Cherry shot up from the bed, shoving Nightmare Moon away from her in the process. She ran toward the door, yanking it open before darting down the hall.

Nightmare Moon sat where she had landed, blinking in confusion at Cherry's reaction. It had been so sudden and unexpected that she was still trying to figure out what had just happened.

After removing the Feeldoe from herself, Nightmare left the room to find and check on Cherry. As she made her way toward the bathroom, a familiar sound reached her ears. The same sounds she had made herself when she was experiencing her hangover and had ended up getting...

The door to the bathroom was not entirely closed. A tiny sliver of light shined from between it and the frame. Moving forward, Nightmare pushed it open gently.

Sure enough, as expected, there was Chocolate Cherry with her head over the toilet. She looked up toward Nightmare Moon as she came in to the bathroom.

"So," Nightmare said gently, "I take it that you are ... I believe the term is 'squeamish'... at the sight of blood."

Chocolate Cherry grimaced, ears pulling back.

Author's Note

Two quick notes:
1) this is the last of the detailed clop chapters. I'm sure some of you are disappointed by that. We're also going to start getting into more of the story and plot now that things have been established.
2) The Feeldoe is a real product. Except for the fact it is shaped more like a human penis than a horse, the description and use is mostly accurate.

The Night of The Gala (part 1)

Author's Note

This is a major point of diversion from the show canon. From here on, the story will not reflect events in the show and in point of fact will have one of direct contradiction in future chapters.

The Night of The Gala (part 1)

Nightmare Moon stood at the path, staring up at the castle. This was the first time she had actually seen it herself. No, no. That was inaccurate. She had seen it when she had been brought through the castle grounds after her incarnation. Between going through such an event, anger at having nearly all her power restricted, and trying to figure out a way to make an escape, Nightmare Moon had not actually been paying attention to much of what was around her.

It was larger than the castle in The Everfree Forest. Although that was no surprise considering this was not only in the capital city of Equestria, but was also supposed to be a status symbol as the home to the princess (princesses with Luna's return). Even in the night, the white marble and golden accents seemed to shine with the light of the sun.

She would need to get a better look to figure out how defensible it was. If Celestia was as clever as some believed, then she would attempt to make it close to impregnable while keeping it as inconspicuous as possible. It would allow the citizenry to gaze up on the beauty and think of it in peace and harmony, as well as cause potential threats to severely underestimate their capabilities of successfully attacking and taking control of the castle.

"It's so pretty," Chocolate Cherry said from beside Nightmare Moon. Her eyes were wide as she stared at the building. "I never thought I would get to see it up close. Especially on a night like tonight."

Nightmare Moon turned to look more at Chocolate Cherry, studying her. Cherry's brown mane was put up in some sort of style Nightmare did not know the name of. The style was held in place by several sterling silver accessories. There were also similar silver clips attached to her ears, and a chain woven into the fur of her tail. The jewelry glistened in the moonlight, reminding Nightmare of the stars above her. The dress Cherry wore started off red slightly darker than her throat before shifting to a deep purple and ending in black.

It went quite well with Nightmare Moon's outfit: a midnight blue suit with a pale lavender shirt (to accent the indigo streaks in her mane), and a teal tie (for her eyes). It made Nightmare feel very regal and powerful, which was odd considering it was just an outfit. The cut showed off her tall, lean build, as well as letting her have full free use of her wings and hiding the prisoner collar from view.

That last one had actually been an unexpected choice given to Nightmare Moon. She had been asked if she wanted to conceal it, or accentuate it as part of the full ensemble. Although she had considered that latter and giving the outfit more the look of armor, Nightmare had finally decided on the former. That way, even if ponies were aware of her state and limitations, none could be certain if she had somehow gotten free and was a threat or not.

Nightmare had to admit, Rarity was quite talented at her job. It was fortunate the two of them were able to see her before she got too many commissions with the same date in mind. Having Rarity be slightly grateful toward Nightmare Moon probably helped, although the attempt to bond and become closer to friends was a bit of a nuisance.

*****

Nightmare Moon stood in the center of the fitting room at Carousal Boutique. Rarity moved around her, horn glowing as she took down Nightmare's measurements.

"By the way," Rarity said as she continued to work her way around with the measuring tape, "Sweetie Belle mentioned what happened during her visit to Twilight's castle."

Nightmare shifted as the memory came back. She had not really given it much more thought after the matter.

"I appreciate you trying to stand up for her," Rarity stated.

"Don't," Nightmare replied, turning away from the mare. "It was... an emotional artifact left over from our time together. Nothing more."

"Still," Rarity continued as she kept working, "it was nice of you to want to keep her safe." She paused and tapped her chin. "Although, it does worry me that Sweetie's favorite part was you talking about utterly crushing a filly on an emotional level..."

"Yes," Nightmare purred out, grinning at the memory.

"Regardless," Rarity stated, "I think it is a wonderful sign that you wish to protect another pony from being picked on."

This got a growl from Nightmare, which Rarity seemed unperturbed by as she continued her work.

*****

"Do you need a moment," Nightmare asked, "or are you ready to see the interior?"

"I'm ready," Cherry replied as the two resumed walking up the path toward the castle. "Or as ready as I'm going to be anyways. Still can't believe I agreed to all this."

"Well it's too late to back out now," Nightmare said with a grin. She reached out a wing, draping it over Chocolate Cherry. "No more trains are leaving until morning. So it looks like you're stuck here in Canterlot for the night."

"I'm sure I can find some place to hang out," Cherry retorted. "If I need to, I could ask Twilight and her friends. They have been here before after all."

"Speaking of, if you leave early, you possibly might miss out on some very entertaining awkwardness between Twilight Sparkle and her date." Nightmare pointed ahead to where Twilight Sparkle walked with Big Macintosh.

"I still can't believe that you set those two up together," Cherry stated.

"I still can't believe that she actually managed to ask him out."

*****

Nightmare Moon returned to the castle after walking her gray fox, Gibbous, and was making her way toward the kitchen. It was about lunch time, and Nightmare was feeling pretty hungry herself. She should really go to Sugarcube Corner and try some more of the treats they sell there. She had also overheard some ponies talking about a candy shop. That would be something new worth trying.

As she made her way, Nightmare Moon caught sight of Twilight Sparkle behaving oddly.

Twilight was doing... nothing.

At least as far as Nightmare could tell. Twilight was just sitting at the table, eyes wide and ears drooping. Her wings were open, hanging limply at her sides as she seemed to stare off at nothing. It kind of looked like something shocked Twilight Sparkle, traumatized her, or possibly both.

Perhaps it was something that Nightmare would find entertaining. If she was really lucky, she might find a way to use it to her advantage.

"Did something happen?" Nightmare asked as she walked toward the table.

"I did it," Twilight Sparkle stated. "I actually did it. I went to Sweet Apple Acres this morning and asked Big Macintosh to The Grand Galloping Gala."

That was unexpected. Nightmare had not actually thought Twilight Sparkle would ask Big Macintosh out. She had figured that Twilight would either procrastinate and make excuses, or end up backing out at the last instant. Then again, it was underestimating Twilight Sparkle that had gotten Nightmare Moon into this whole situation to begin with.

"Congratulations are in order then," stated Nightmare Moon. "It is an impressive feat for you to ask, even if he turned you down. I--"

"He said 'yes.'"

"...what?"

"Well technically, he said 'eyup,'" Twilight said, "which is the same thing as a 'yes' if only more colloquial." She shifted. "Still, he agreed to go. With me. To The Grand Galloping Gala. As a date! With ME!"

"Is that not what was supposed to happen?" Nightmare asked, tilting her head and raising an eyebrow.

"No," Twilight called out. "I mean yes. I mean..." She took a deep breath and let out a sigh. Straightening up, she looked at Nightmare Moon.

"I didn't think he would actually say yes. I've never been on a date before. I don't know what to do." She grabbed at Nightmare's shoulders, pulling her close. "What do I do?!"

"Why are you asking me?" Nightmare asked.

"It was YOUR idea to ask him in the first place!" Twilight retorted, practically shaking the other mare with each word. "You have to have some idea on what I should do." She paused, shifting. "Plus... you're kinda in a relationship, aren't you?"

Nightmare thought about it a moment before answering, "if you can consider sleeping together -- starting with the night we met -- and spending time at the night club 'a relationship.'"

"That's still more than I've done," Twilight said. "Come on. There has to be something you can think of."

The whole thing seemed very odd to Nightmare Moon as she looked at Twilight Sparkle. Why was she the one being asked? Granted, a part of it was probably her immediacy as she was standing right there when the shock wore off. Still. Was Twilight asking her because Twilight actually trusted Nightmare as though they were friends? Perhaps it was because Twilight was so flustered by the situation, that she was not even thinking of whom she was speaking to. Alternatively, it could be neither. It was possible that Twilight knew whom she was speaking to and was testing Nightmare Moon's response.

If it actually was the last scenario, Nightmare had to be careful with how she answered. The best -- to her -- would be something that on the surface would seem like a genuine and plausible answer that a pony would give, so Twilight would buy that she was actually trying to be helpful. At the same time, Nightmare would want to say something that not only was not truly helpful, but would actually cause additional amusement for her at Twilight's expense.

What would be the best suggestion? Not knowing much about romance (or anything), it would be best to send Twilight Sparkle to some other source for her information. Nightmare recalled that there was supposed to be a princess of love. The name eluded her at the moment, but she had recalled catching some of the dreams during and after the changeling invasion of Canterlot. If Twilight were able to get in touch with the other princess, doing so would actually be the best way to get advice. In point of fact, it would work so well that it was doubtful anything amusing would happen for Nightmare.

So, a lesser source of romantic information. Rarity perhaps? Nightmare Moon knew that Rarity had a fascination with romance. Although it seemed like that the fantasy would never live up to the reality. Nightmare knew that even Rarity herself was aware of that fact. Still, the unicorn dreamed of having something right out of...

Nightmare Moon had to clench her jaw tight to keep from grinning. It was perfect, almost too perfect. A suggestion that would seem genuine and sincere, but would also likely lead to Twilight embarrassing herself. If Twilight Sparkle became suspicious, Nightmare Moon could simply point out that she knew next to nothing on the subject matter to begin with, and thus had to rely on memories of her previous hosts and what she had picked up from nightmares.

Now, she just needed to make sure she gave it the proper delivery.

Reaching up with a hoof, Nightmare placed it against Twilight's chest and pushed her away. Straightening up, she brushed at chest and let out a snort.

"You're supposed to like studying," she said, trying to sound casually annoyed by the matter. "I'm sure you can find some romance novels or something around here." She gave a dismissive wave of her hooves. "Perhaps you should try reading some of them or something.

"Now if you don't mind --" she got up and turned from Twilight "-- I'm ready for lunch and so is Gibbous." She then started walking toward the kitchen, a smile spreading across her face once it was hidden from sight.

*****

There was a line at the door of ponies waiting to enter. As Nightmare Moon and Chocolate Cherry stood in the foyer, they could see two well dressed ponies standing at the ballroom entrance. Each time ponies reached the entrance, one of the pair would take the ticket, speak to the arrival, and then call out the names of the invited.

"It seems we are to be announced," Nightmare stated.

"Yeah," Cherry replied. Her voice sounded higher then usual, cracking slightly.

Nightmare looked at the other mare from the corner of her eye. One ear flicked as she raised an eyebrow.

"Feeling anxious?"

"More out of place," Cherry replied. "This is all amazing, but now that I'm actually here looking at it, it's weird." She took a deep breath and slowly let it out. "It's like seeing a whole other world. I'm a club mare. I just don't see myself fitting in. And the idea that everypony here will stare at me the moment I walk in doesn't help."

"You do realize they are more likely to be staring at me?" Nightmare asked.

"Except I'm here with you," Cherry pointed out. "When they mention you, then add 'and Chocolate Cherry,' they're going to wonder who I am." She shifted again, one of her ears flicking.

It was true. If any of the ponies assembled cared about Nightmare being here, they would also wonder about the ponies willing to be associated with her, such as Chocolate Cherry. Why would she appear with Nightmare? Was she a friend? A minion? Was she being manipulated into appearing? Was she unaware of who Nightmare Moon was somehow?

A great many of them would probably make assumptions instead of attempting to discover the truth, be it correct or not.

An odd feeling formed in Nightmare Moon. She was not sure what it was, but she did not like it.

"It's not too late," she said to Cherry. "You can go back to our room, or go find somewhere else to be. The dragon kept mentioning some sort of donut shop that's supposed to be sublime." She shifted. "Or I could just give you the ticket and you could go in separately."

In truth, Nightmare Moon really did not want Chocolate Cherry to do either. She wanted the two of them to be there, together. Still, a large portion of her did not want Cherry to be uncomfortable.

"No," Cherry said, straightening up. "No. I am your loyal servant and friend. I have come this far, and I won't ditch you now." She took a step closer to Nightmare.

Smiling, Nightmare Moon stretched out one wing and placed it across Cherry's back.

"Move aside," a voice said. "Move aside. Important pony coming through." A pale blue aura encompassed the pair and pushed them toward one of the walls.

The source of the voice and magic was a white unicorn stallion with a long, wavy blond mane and tail.

At the sight of him, Nightmare Moon got feelings that she was familiar with: anger and hatred. She was not entirely sure who the stallion was, but there was something about him who that was familiar, and she hated him.

The Night of The Gala (part 2)

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Castle of Nightmares

The forest was dark, shadowy, its canopy so thick that the sky above could not be seen. The only light was from the glowing red eyes of the trees as they watched with gaping, sharp-toothed maws. A wind moaned as it blew, causing leaves to rustle and branches to groan.

"Where's my horseshoe?" a voice howled from somewhere.

Nightmare Moon made her way through the forest, weaving around the trees and stepping over roots. Her eyes took in what little she could see, ears shifting with the changes in sound.

Standing in a clearing at the base of a hill, Nightmare looked up to see a silhouette in the now visible full moon. It looked like a pony, but the head was missing. The figure reared up on its hind legs, pawing the air and somehow neighing despite not having a head. Dropping onto all fours, it charged down the hill and toward Nightmare Moon.

Nightmare stood there and watched as the creature came closer and closer. The hooves thumped against the ground with each step, but the grass never moved. Even with the moonlight, no matter how close it got or where it was, the headless figure never looked like more than a shadow.

As the figure ran into Nightmare Moon, it vanished with a small "puff." Strands of fog twisted and whorled before fading away. A quick flick of the wings made the process all faster.

"Where's my horseshoe?" a raspy voice called out again.

Nightmare resumed walking, making her way up to the top of the hill. As she made her way higher and higher, ice began to form on the ground. First it was little spots that stuck to the ground like flecks of frozen dew, then it coated the grass completely, encasing them in a cold, crystalline form. Soon the ice gave way to snow, growing thicker until it was up to Nightmare's fetlocks.

As she continued to walk, windigos began to appear. The icy spirits flew toward and around Nightmare Moon, circling her. The wind picked up with their movements, making her mane and tail whip and fly back and forth.

Eyes narrowing and ears pinned back, Nightmare continued to walk. The wind stopped swirling and started blowing at her straight on. The howl of it filled her ears, making it impossible to hear anything else. Snow and hail blasted against Nightmare, sticking to her coat and feathers.

The ice, snow, wind, and windigos vanished, leaving Nightmare Moon standing at the peak of the hill alone. Ahead of her stood a great, black, stone castle. Thick storm clouds loomed far overhead, blood red lightning flickering through them with distant rumbles of thunder.

Continuing forward, Nightmare Moon headed for the bridge. She looked at one of the large square stone supports as she walked by, taking in the strange markings on it. Turning back to the bridge, she started crossing.

Below the bridge was a chasm. A thick, purple-gray goo swirled and bubbled in it. An eye floated up, looking at Nightmare Moon and the bridge. A mouth formed to one side.

"Smoo-oo-oo-ze," the goo bubbled out before the mouth and eye disappeared.

After making it across the bridge, Nightmare Moon made her way into the castle. Walking through the foyer, she picked her way around the rubble covering the floor. A portion of a broken statue head shifted, the eye opening to stare at her. There was the sound of stone grinding against stone.

Continuing on, Nightmare made her way to the throne room, and stopped.

In the spot where the throne should have been was a statue of Nightmare Moon. Not as she looked now, but as she had first looked, back when she had possessed Princess Luna. It even had her helmet and peytral, and although stone, the mane and tail had an ethereal look. The entire thing must have stood fifteen feet tall from hooves to horn tip.

Around the statue was a glowing dark pink aura. Moving closer, Nightmare Moon reached out and placed a hoof against it. The aura held, stopping her from going any further. Nightmare pressed more, but it did no good. Standing up on her hind legs, she put her front hooves onto it and let all her weight settle against the barrier. Still, it did not move.

With a sigh, Nightmare Moon took a step back from the shield around the statue. As soon as her front hooves hit the floor, it collapsed beneath her. Before she could even realize what was going on, Nightmare fell through the hole and into darkness.

Snapping her wings open, she managed to right herself and stop her fall. Nightmare started flying back up, heading in the direction she believed that she had fallen from. Unfortunately it did no good. Whether it was because she had guessed wrong or the opening had closed behind her, it was gone.

"Who's there?" a voice rasped out. Glowing red eyes appeared in the darkness, turning to Nightmare Moon. The eyes grew larger, and the air took on a warmth and foul stench.

"Who are you," the voice asked, "and how did you get here?"

"I am Nightmare Moon," Nightmare proclaimed, glaring at the glowing eyes. "And I answer to no dream spirit any more than I cower before harmless nightmare shadows."

"Dream spirit?" the voice asked before chuckling. "I am no dream, foolish pegasus."

There was a sound like chains rattling. Something touched Nightmare Moon. Even in the realm of dreams, where there was no physical form, it felt cold and slimy against her body. She pulled away from it, moving away from the red eyed entity.

"Do not touch me," Nightmare snarled out. "Do so again, and I shall tear you apart and scatter you across the dream realm."

The voice chuckled again, and again Nightmare felt something cold and slimy against her. A sickly purple light -- for lack of a better word -- began to fill her eyes. For a second she thought she saw something of the source. It looked like...horns?

"And tell me, Nightmare Moon," the creature said, the name being spat out with disgust, "how do you plan on doing such a thing?"

The light grew stronger, blinding Nightmare Moon as it engulfed her. She felt like she was being torn apart.

Crying out, Nightmare Moon shot up in her seat, eyes wide and wings trying to spread out behind her. One slammed into the wall of the train car, sending a flare of pain through it. The other struck something, not hurting but causing a yelp of surprise. Her eyes were wide as she stared forward. Mouth wide and chest rising and falling, she tried to catch her breath.

"Nightmare?"

She jumped at the sound of her name, head darting toward the voice. Twilight Sparkle and her friends were all staring at her (even if some of them were trying to be subtle about it).

"Are you okay?" Twilight asked.

A tickling of her feather's drew Nightmare's attention. Her wings were still spread out as wide as they could get while in her seat by the wall. One of them was in the face of Chocolate Cherry. Pulling them away from the wall and earth pony, she gave them a quick flick before tucking them back in.

"I am fine," Nightmare stated. "Merely having my first experience with a bad dream. That is all."

Turning, she looked out the window once again, watching the landscape pass as they headed back to Ponyville. Whether the other believed her or not hardly mattered. What did matter was that they chose not to pursue the subject. So long as they did not ask more questions, Nightmare did not care what they thought.

A warm weight pressed against her side, drawing her attention away from the passing scenery. Tilting her head slightly, Nightmare looked out the corner of her eye. Chocolate Cherry had moved closer, now pressing gently against her. Cherry's head was still mostly forward, but Nightmare could catch a glimpse of Cherry's green eye looking out the corner the same as she was doing. Nightmare felt comforted by the contact and the warmth of the other mare's body.

Holding back the smile she felt, Nightmare let her eyes go back to the scenery. Her mind, meanwhile, drifted back to where she had been and what she had found in the dream realm. Parts of it made sense to her. Some creatures like the headless horse, the old mare, and even the windigos were simply harmless little things that had been dreamed about by so many that they sort of existed in a way. They would simply wait until some pony or other dreamed of them once again. Only, while frightening, they were essentially harmless. The creatures would frighten ponies, but never really hurt them.

Originally, she had thought that The Smooze that had surrounded the castle was the same kind of thing, but now she was not so certain. Especially after whatever it was she had found beneath the castle.

The castle itself was strange as well. It was a part of the dream realm she had never seen before, and one of the darker ones. At the same time, it did not seem to be much like the rest of the realm. It seemed too solid, too continuous and permanent. It was like it had once been a great place that had fallen into decay over time, not simply one that had been dreamed up as already collapsing. Plus it had that strange statue of her surrounded by magic inside. What was that? Was it actually her? More accurately, was it the part of her that had been separated when she had been incarnated? The magic aura around it did match Twilight Sparkle's. Perhaps if she were able to break through the shield, she would be able to regain some -- or even all -- of her lost power.

Then there was the creature she had found under the castle. It was not some harmless dream creature, nor was it simply a spirit of the realm as she had once been. But what was it? Perhaps a predecessor of what she had become after merging and possessing Princess Luna? If so, then it must have been defeated to be locked away in darkness beneath that castle like that.

Nightmare found herself grateful that it was. She shivered at the memory of its power touching her. It felt... wrong. In a way, it reminded Nightmare Moon of the magic that King Sombra had used on Luna to show her greatest fear. But this was... different. Darker. As strange as it seemed, she would even be willing to say "unnatural."

The air must have gotten colder or something, because she could feel herself shivering. Opening one wing, she wrapped it around Chocolate Cherry and pulled her closer. The warmth of the other mare seemed to help. Turning toward her companion, Nightmare Moon placed her head on top, letting Cherry's scent filled her nose. Slowly she closed her eyes, taking in the aroma.

The image of those glowing red eyes, that sickly purple light, and those strange horns filled her vision. It caused her to open her eyes again and fight back another shiver.

When it came to that creature, Nightmare Moon was of two minds. One part of her hoped to never see that thing again. To keep it sealed away and forget that it had ever happened. Another part wanted to find out what it was, where it had come from, and what it did. Perhaps she could even figure out a way to seal it away even further. Assuming she somehow managed to get her powers back.

Although there was another choice. As much as she disliked the idea, she could tell what she had found to Princess Luna. Luna still had her powers to manipulate the dream realm. It was possible that if she knew of the creature, she would have some idea what it was, and would lock it away better to protect the sleeping ponies.

A nuzzling against her chest broke her from her thoughts. Pushing the thoughts aside, she rubbed her chin against Cherry's head. It would take time for her to make a decision, and if she were to do something about it herself, Nightmare would need try and do some research. There was no need to spend the rest of the trip back to Ponyville worrying about it. Hopefully she would be able to get some rest after getting back to the castle, and then she would be able to consider it all with a clear head.

For now she would just enjoy the warmth and closeness of Chocolate Cherry.

Author's Note

This was the "point of contradiction" I referred to in the The Grand Galloping Gala (part 1) note. The Smooze referred to is not the one from Friendship is Magic, but the original G1 Villain.

Back to the Beginning

"This trip would have gone a lot faster," Nightmare Moon grumbled, "if we had flown. Or if I had come alone, like I wanted."

"It's not that bad," Twilight said, getting a snort in response. "It also is a bad idea to come out here alone. Even if it is safer to come into The Everfree Forest than it used to be, it is still a dangerous place. So it's always good to have somepony with you in case something happens. I've been out here myself a few times, and so have they. Although not..."

Turning, she looked back toward the three fillies. "You haven't been out this far, have you?"

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle moved into a huddle, forelegs wrapping around each other as they leaned in close. The sounds of whispering could be heard, although none of what they said could be made out. Once it a while, the voice of one of them could be picked out enough to know who was talking, but not what they were saying.

Finally the three of them separated. Standing side by side, they all turned to face Twilight and Nightmare Moon.

"No," Apple Bloom said.

Twilight Sparkle stared at the three, eyes narrowing as she studied them. After several seconds where none of them seemed to fidget (more than usual at least) or look away, she turned back to Nightmare Moon.

"Not this far," Twilight continued. "Plus it might be a good learning experience for them. A chance to see where the princesses lived before Canterlot and their ruling of Equestria."

"As well as where I first managed to manifest, and where you first used The Elements of Harmony to defeat me," Nightmare Moon added.

That had been a large part of why she had wanted to come here. After the dance at the Canterlot castle and seeing the strange dark castle in the dream realm, Nightmare had been reminded of the old castle in The Everfree. A part of it was out of nostalgia. This place was a part of her past, beginning and end. There was also something else. Hope? Curiosity? She was not entirely sure what it was. She was not even certain what it was she was looking for exactly. She knew she was looking for answers, but to what?

In what had once been the throne room, Nightmare Moon flew up to what had once been a dais between the two thrones. Landing, she looked through the hole in the wall at the forest and sky. Her gaze drifted down to the floor as she turned around, stopping when her front hooves rested in a crater.

This is the spot, she thought, her mind drifting back to that day.

"There can only be one princess in Equestria!" Princess Luna bellowed out at her sister. "And that princess will BE ME! Rearing up, Luna smashed down onto the dais, shattering it in emphasis of her last word.

Calling up her magic, Princess Luna tore open the wall behind her. The sunlight came in through the new opening, casting her shadow out in front of her. Using her power, she then gripped the moon. She could feel it moving, rising up through the sky behind her. Higher and higher it went. Luna watched as the shadow of the moon raised up, blocking out her own as it did the sun.

Once it was in place, she acted. The dark energy took a hold of Princess Luna, lifting her up from the ground. It wrapped itself around her, taking control of her, changing her. Both in body and mind. It made her bigger, stronger, menacing, and vicious. A part of her was afraid of what was happening to her. Another was loving the feel of it all. At the same time, the personality that had been Luna was being pressed down and locked away, allowing another to take over.

"Luna," Celestia called out. "I will not fight you." She stepped forward. "You must lower the moon!"

A chuckle escaped what had once been Luna's throat.

"Luna? Luna is no more. I am Nightmare Moon!" She spread her wings out wide as she announced her name. "I have but one royal duty now: to DESTROY YOU!"

Spreading her own wings, Princess Celestia took off and started flying.

Nightmare looked up at the ceiling, at the hole she had chased Princess Celestia through. It had all seemed so easy then. She -- with Luna in a way -- would defeat Celestia and rule Equestria in eternal night.

Instead she was banished for a thousand years, able to do little more than peak in on dreams and some times influence them slightly.

"Do you regret it?" Twilight asked. "What happened back then?"

Nightmare Moon stepped down from the dais and moved toward Twilight Sparkle. Her eyes narrowed as she tilted her head to one side.

"Do you regret being born?" Nightmare asked. "Even if you knew how much pain it caused your mother to give birth to you?"

"That's different," Twilight stated. "You tried to take over Equestria."

"And I failed," Nightmare replied. "Which is something that I do regret. However, had it not occurred, I would not exist."

Twilight Sparkle stared at Nightmare Moon, not moving. After several seconds, she gave a huff and shake of her head.

"I'm going to show the crusaders around," Twilight said. "Show them the library, maybe some of the hidden chambers. Definitely the slide. We'll meet back at the entrance in about an hour." She turned and started walking.

"Come on girls," Twilight called out. The Cutie Mark Crusaders followed after her, each one glancing toward Nightmare Moon for some reason.

Once the four of them had left, Nightmare Moon took off. Flying out through one of the broken windows, she made her way higher and higher. She went slowly, keeping a part of her attention on the collar to make sure it did not yank her back.

Soon she reached the top of the tower and entered through another broken window. Landing gently, she began to walk. Her attention turned to the shattered remnants of night blue armor that lay scattered on the floor. Picking up one of the large pieces -- they were all so twisted and deformed she could not tell if it was from her peytral or helmet -- she brought it close to her face and studied it.

In some ways, it was so much different than the first time. In others, it almost seemed exactly the same.

Nightmare Moon stood on the platform, wings spread out and head tilted back as she let out a deep, maniacal laugh. The remnants of The Elements of Harmony lay shattered around her. The unicorn that had thought to defeat her -- that Celestia had trained and put her faith in -- lay on the ground on the verge of tears. Equestria was finally hers, and night would last forever with her ruling.

"You're wrong!"

"What?" Nightmare cried out. She had not expected the unicorn to say anything at this point, let alone to deny Nightmare's victory. Add to that the certainty and determination in the voice, and it was a complete surprise.

The unicorn now stood up, looking far too confident for one who had just seen her best hope of victory literally shatter right before her eyes. Plus she had been joined by the other five ponies that had traveled with her through the forest and to the castle. It seemed like their arrival had given her a new energy, and new hope.

As Nightmare Moon stood there, the unicorn turned and pointed at each of the ponies that had arrived, talking about something they have accomplished. Specifically, something that could be tied to one of The Elements of Harmony. The odd part was that each one was something that had happened in the forest during the journey to the castle, something that resulted from Nightmare Moon trying to stop them. It was as if some great force had decided that it would be Nightmare's own actions that led to her downfall.

Worse, the remnants of The Elements seemed to be responding to it. Each time the unicorn claimed one of the other ponies represented a specific element because of something they did, shards of the stones would light up, floating from they had shattered to the pony in question.

"You still don't have the sixth Element!" Nightmare Moon shouted. "The spark didn't work!" She could hear the fear, the desperation, in her own voice. She hated that. But it was also true. She was so close to victory, to success. The only thing that could stop her now was The Elements of Harmony. All she needed, was to be sure that they did not have the last.

"But it did!" the unicorns announced, almost beaming with triumph. She continued to talk, but the words faded.

The world around Nightmare Moon faded, vanishing from her sight. Instead she saw Celestia. Not as Nightmare had seen her during either time they actually met. This was a younger Celestia, probably from some memory that Luna had. The young Celestia was showing the same fire, the same passion, as the purple unicorn was now.

A flash of light caught Nightmare Moon's attention. A stone orb like the one The Elements had been floated above the unicorn. As Nightmare watched the shards attached themselves to the ponies, becoming necklaces. The stone touched the unicorn's head and turned into a crown, the jewel for The Element of Magic resting in the center. A white light encompassed the six ponies. A rainbow of light then shot up toward the ceiling before coming down toward Nightmare Moon.

"NOOOOOoooo!" Nightmare Moon cried out as the power of The Elements struck her for a second time. It felt different this time. Still not painful, and still strange, but different. This time, it was like something had taken a hold of her and was stripping her from Luna. Just pulling her from the host body. Some part of her imagined that it must be what it would feel like to a banana to be peeled.

Then there was blackness.

The chunk of armor dropped to the stone floor with a clang. Nightmare Moon's hoof was shaking. Her vision was blurry as tears filled her eyes. She could feel them running down her cheek.

Crying. She was crying.

Why? Why was she crying? Why was she crying? She was Nightmare Moon. She was born of hate, anger and jealousy. She was a creature of darkness, something that instilled fear in ponies. She did not cry.

So why was she? Especially here and now?

Because of jealousy. That was a part of why she existed. It was Luna's envy of her sister that had helped give rise to Nightmare Moon. A desire to be loved and accepted. To have other ponies who care about her. To have...

Friends.

"Nightmare?"

Nightmare straightened up, her body tensing at the sound of Twilight Sparkle's voice. Reaching up with one foreleg, she quickly wiped at her face, trying to get rid of the evidence of her tears.

"Are you okay?" Twilight asked.

"Fine," Nightmare snapped, hoping her voice sounded like an annoyed growl. "What do you want?"

"I just got a cutie mark message," Twilight stated. "It's when the castle summons me for a friendship emergency somewhere in Equestria. I know you wanted to stay longer, but I should really see what the problem is."

"I'll meet you at the entrance in a moment."

There was a faint sound of hooves on stone as Twilight Sparkle moved closer.

"Nightmare, if you-"

She was cut off by a wing pressing against her mouth.

"Don't," Nightmare stated. "Whatever you're going to say, just... just don't." She pulled the wing away from Twilight and started toward the window she had come through.

Professional Assistance

Forest, hill, snow, bridge, castle, pit, creature, pain, wake up.

So it kept happening to Nightmare Moon. Either she would have a dreamless night, or she would find herself in that same place. Some times she would be there two or three nights in a row, others there would be that many in between. So it happened for nearly a month. One of the nights she was there, she woke up to find she had literally kicked Chocolate Cherry out of bed (and hard enough to leave a bruise).

She had tried to change it of course. The dream realm was supposed to be malleable. If a pony knew they were dreaming, then they could easily alter the dream around them. Unfortunately, something about the area refused to let it change. The forest was always a forest, the hill was always a hill, and the castle was always there.

At the same time, because it was a dream it had no need to follow any sort of rules. Nightmare Moon tried to fly away, but found herself only flying toward the castle from the other direction. She tried to stay in one spot, but the ground just moved under her to take her toward the hill. No matter where Nightmare Moon entered the castle, she always wound up back in the throne room. Any attempt to avoid falling into the pit failed. Even simply flying over the spot did not work. No matter what happened, she always wound up sucked into that same dark, black pit with that... thing.

There was where things were the worst for Nightmare Moon, especially as time progressed. At first, the creature would ask questions of Nightmare Moon: what was she, how did she get there, why was she there. Nightmare Moon would refuse to answer, spitting and snarling as she shouted at the creature. The creature would then use its powers on her. At first, it seemed to just cause her pain and make her wake up. As the dreams progressed, it was less about inflicting pain and more about discovering something. Nightmare could feel the sickly dark magic dig into her brain, see the images and memories being pulled out.

At some point, the creature stopped asking questions. Instead it would simply grab a hold of Nightmare Moon and use its magic to dig into her mind. It would bore deeper and deeper, causing more and more pain, until she finally woke up. Her head would throb and ache when she did, far worse than when she had been hungover. It actually help Nightmare Moon learn a new word: migraine.

The worst of it was that she hated what it was doing to her. Whenever she was awaken from one of those dreams, she was afraid. Afraid to go back to sleep because she might wind up there again. So she would wind up wide awake in the middle of the night. After the accident with Cherry, the two of them had not been staying the night together (even though Cherry was not too upset over what happened), so there was no pony for her to cuddle and talk to. She had tried going to the club, but the noise made her head all the worse. Plus it was hard to dance when about ready to fall asleep. Nightmare had tried to read and research, but even that was difficult. Some times the words would be blurry and hard to read, other times she would simply be unable to remember what it was she had just read.

This time, Nightmare Moon decided that she could not take it anymore. As much as she hated the idea of asking for help, she knew she could not take many more nights of that place. Neither physically, nor emotionally. She had to do something, and loath as she was to admit, she could not do it alone.

After rubbing at her head to try and ward off some of the pain, she tossed her sheets aside (noting that they were still dry this time), and got up. She made her way through the darkened castle with ease, not bothering to turn on any lights or carry one with her. She could see fine with the ambient light as it was anyways.

Reaching the door to the room she was looking for, Nightmare Moon stopped. Lifting a hoof, she gave a firm knock. Ears perked, she listened intently, counting off the seconds. With nothing happening after reaching twenty-five, she tried it again. This time, her knock was even firmer.

After two more failed attempts, Nightmare Moon turned around and gave the door three hard kicks, getting a booming echo of a knock as a result.

"For crying out loud!" a voice shouted from the other side. "It's the middle of the night. I'm trying to sleep here!"

"And now you are awake," Nightmare called back. "I have need of your assistance, Spike, and it cannot wait until morning."

There was a moment of silence as Nightmare stood there, staring at the door. Soon there was a faint sound of claws on stone that slowly got louder.

Spike opened the door to his room and poked his head out, looking at Nightmare Moon through half closed eyes.

"What did you say?" he asked.

"'I have need of your assistance,'" Nightmare repeated, "' and it cannot wait until morning.'"

"No," Spike said. "I mean... you called me Spike."

"Yes. That is your given name, is it not?"

"Yeah... but you have never called me by name before. Normally you either call me 'dragon' or refer to me as Twilight's 'servant.' I didn't even think you knew my name."

"Now you know I do," Nightmare stated. "Back to the matter at hoof. I need to send a message to Luna as quick as possible, which means you."

Spike looked at Nightmare, his face scrunched up in annoyance. With a sigh he pushed the door open and stepped aside.

"Come on," Spike huffed as he turned back to his room. "The sooner we get this done, the sooner I can get back to sleep."

Nightmare Moon bit her lip, trying to keep her response in check. After all, she had just said that she needed Spike's help. It would be counterproductive to tease him about having pubescent dreams involving himself and Rarity, even if it would be amusing (especially if true). At the very least, the time wasted with teasing and the defensiveness would make it take longer to get the message written and sent. At worst, Spike may decide that the matter was not urgent enough to require him to send a message in the middle of the night. Should that happen, Nightmare Moon's choices would be: try to convince him all the same; involve Twilight Sparkle, explaining it to her and having her talk Spike into it; or resort to sending a letter through the traditional Equestrian mail system, which could take days if at all (Nightmare did not trust the look of the mare she saw doing the mail rounds). None of those really appealed to her. The sooner she could get this dealt with, the better.

Pulling out a quill and scroll, Spike hopped up onto the bed.

"Alright," he said. "Whenever you're ready."

Nightmare Moon tilted her head, raising an eyebrow.

"Am I to understand," she said slowly, "that you happen to keep a parchment, quill, and ink in your bedside stand?"

"What? You don't think Twilight has ever suddenly had the need to have me write something in the middle of the night?" He pointed the quill at Nightmare. "Well she has. So I started keeping a quill and scroll nearby at all times. Figure it's a good idea to keep it up just the same." He let out a grin. "And you did just prove me right about the matter."

Nightmare let out a snort and rolled her eyes. Still, she could not actually argue with the thinking behind it. Especially since he was right that she had proven his point by asking him to write a letter to Princess Luna in the middle of the night.

"Luna," Nightmare started. "Wait. I suppose that if I'm going to be asking for her help, I should be more formal, shouldn't I? Which means I should refer to her by her title as well. Princess Luna. Start with Princess Luna."

Closing her eyes, Nightmare Moon took a deep breath and tried to better organize her thoughts.

"'Princess Luna,'" she stated, "'I have discovered something extremely odd in the dream realm. Also something that could be extremely dangerous.'"

"Wait," Spike cut in. "Exactly how dangerous?"

Nightmare Moon looked at him a long moment, considering the question. With a sigh, she let her head drop.

"I don't know," she admitted. "I don't even know what it is. If it were able to escape its imprisonment and actually affect the dream world..." She tapped her hoof, thinking about it.

"Yeah?" Spike asked, looking up at her.

"There's a story about a stallion that was afraid to go to sleep. He didn't simply have nightmares, but night terrors. Imagine if every time you went to sleep, your dreams were similar to experiencing King Sombra's fear spell."

She paused, letting Spike shiver at the thought.

"Except for one major difference. Instead of merely something that frightens you, there is something that is hunting you, stalking, making you feel like a rabbit being chased by a hungry wolf. Now imagine if you had dreams like that every night. Every time you fell asleep.

"That is what the stallion went through. Until one day, he decided to try and do the only thing he could think of to stop it: he stopped going to sleep. He did anything and everything he could to stay awake. Magic, alchemy, even things that are supposed to be illegal in Equestria. Whatever he could get a hold of that he thought could help keep him awake.

"One day, his family could not take what he was doing to himself any longer. After all, ponies need sleep. What he was doing was unhealthy, and they could all see it taking its toll. So they insisted he get some sleep. He stipulated that he would only do so if his family agreed to wake him the instant anything seemed to be wrong. They agreed, naturally, wanting him to rest and not wishing to see him continue to fall apart from sleep deprivation. As soon as he fell asleep, they put him in his bedroom and left him there. Alone.

"Shortly, they heard the stallion screaming. The family went to check on him. From what they could tell, although he was screaming and thrashing, the stallion was still asleep. They tried to wake him up, but nothing seemed to work. In the end, despite the family's efforts the stallion died, terrified but without waking."

Spike stared at Nightmare Moon, eyes wide as the quill in one claw shook.

"After having dreams off and on of this...thing for nearly a month," Nightmare stated, "I am worried that -- should it somehow manage to escape its imprisonment -- this creature will be able to attack the dreams of many ponies. At best, they will be tired and weak. At worst, they will not wake up."

"Well I'm not getting any more sleep tonight," Spike grumbled as he rubbed at his face.

"Nor can I," Nightmare replied. "So I am certain you can understand why I wish to send this message as immediately and quickly as possible."

Asking About Some Things

"Nightmare?" Twilight called out. "Nightmare are you here?"

Nightmare Moon let out a groaning growl of frustration, closing her eyes tighter and resting her head against the table.

"We're in the kitchen!" Chocolate Cherry called back, getting a glare in response. "Sorry, but this way she won't be shouting all through the castle looking for you."

Nightmare rolled her eye before closing it and letting out a huff. It was true. Although if she had been up in her room, she would not have had to hear Twilight Sparkle calling out for a while longer. Cherry probably could have come up with a quieter way of getting Twilight's attention, but it would probably have required Cherry to leave Nightmare alone, which she was refusing to do at the moment for some reason. Nightmare found it cute, but also kind of annoying.

"Is everything okay?" Twilight asked as she made her way into the kitchen. "You didn't finish the race and I heard... What happened to you?"

Nightmare Moon pulled the ice pack away from her face and looked at Twilight Sparkle. She tried to give a full glare, but found it difficult with half her face swollen. The ice was supposedly helping to keep the swelling down, but it still felt puffy, painful, and horribly out of shape. Hopefully it was true and the worst of the swelling would subside by tomorrow. That plus the dark coloring and thickness of her fur would hide the bruising, so there would be no signs of her facial injuries while she recovered.

"Ursa Minor," Nightmare said. "A large one. It came out of the forest and attacked me. I was forced to fend it off with my bare hooves. Fortunately it was quite slow, so my speed and agility were more than enough. However, it did manage to land one lucky blow against me." She then turned away from Twilight and stuck the ice pack back onto her face.

"While that very well could be possible," Twilight replied, "I doubt that is what actually happened. Pretty sure that if there was another Ursa Minor in Ponyville, a lot of ponies would have come and told me." She moved closer to the table. "Come on. What really happened?"

Nightmare studied the kitchen, looking at the walls, the cabinets, even the stove. Her attention went toward the refrigerator, considering what was inside. Perhaps she should grab a snack. Something loud that she could chew on a lot.

"Cherry?" Twilight asked.

Curious, Nightmare turned to look at Chocolate Cherry out of her good eye, raising an eyebrow. She wondered how the mare would respond to the question. As she watched, Cherry's gaze alternated between Nightmare and Twilight. For a second, Nightmare thought she caught a glance of a mischievous grin before Cherry suddenly sagged and let out a sigh.

"Okay," Cherry said. "It was my fault."

That got Nightmare's attention more. What was she up to?

"We were running along, and I kind of got to watching Nightmare. The flexing of her toned muscles, the beads of sweat, the way the fall sun shined against her dark coat, it was all so wonderful."

Where was she going with this? It almost sounded like...

"I couldn't take it anymore," Cherry proclaimed. "I just had to have her. So I tackled her off the path and into the forest, where we ravaged each other."

Nightmare bit her lip to keep from grinning as she turned to get a look at Twilight from her good eye. Twilight was not looking at either of the other mares, her face taking on a pink tinge.

"Is any of that true?" Twilight asked.

"She was pretty sexy running out there," Cherry replied, grinning at Nightmare. "The rest I had considered..."

"Alright, alright," Twilight said, holding up a hoof. "I get it. Neither of you want to talk about it. Consider the matter dropped. It seems you're not too badly hurt. There was something else I wanted to talk to you about anyways. How familiar are you with Nightmare Night?"

"Ah yes," Nightmare sighed out, rolling her eye as she looked up at the ceiling decor. "A night supposedly dedicated to me, where ponies dress up, play games, collect candy, and scare each other. Then at the end of it, some foals drop off a pile of their goods at my statue as some sort of tribute so that I don't eat them."

"Well in case you're not aware, this year's Nightmare Night is coming soon," Twilight explained. "Last year, Princess Luna actually showed up. Admittedly it was awkward at first because she wanted to get along and ponies kept running away, but at the end of the night things were pretty good. The favorite part for a lot of the kids was when Nightmare Moon showed up for the candy.

"So some of us were thinking that since you are Nightmare Moon and you're here, that you would be willing to dress up and scare some of the colts and fillies."

Nightmare Moon took the ice pack from her eye and turned to look fully at Twilight Sparkle again.

"Seriously? You want me to spend a night going around and scaring foals?"

"I know it sounds strange," Twilight admitted, "but they would love it. We can even use some magic and enchantments to make you look like you used to. You would get the chance to be frightening, and ponies would actually like you for it."

Nightmare shifted and considered it. A part of her was tempted, simply because of the fact that she would get to spend a night scaring ponies. At the same time, she was unsure what she really got out of it. How much would they actually appreciate her scaring them? What about the foals? If she were to do this, would it allow her to have influence over them? Maybe enough that she could use them to her advantage later on?

Perhaps this could work to her advantage. Still, it would be better not to seem to eager or willing. She turned to Cherry.

"Do you have any plans for that night?"

"I was planning on having a bad movie night," Cherry answered. "Get some friends together, watch some really bad horror movies, and make fun of them. That is if I don't have to work that night. I don't know what the club has planned for it yet."

Nightmare nodded and turned back to Twilight.

"Will I get to keep the candy tribute?"

"I guess?" Twilight answered, looking at Nightmare in confusion.

"Very well," Nightmare said. "I accept your request and shall spend Nightmare Night frightening ponies for their amusement."

"Good," Twilight said. "Good. I'm glad." She stood there, smiling. Her wings and hooves shifted as she moved in her spot. Her eyes glanced back an forth between the other two mares.

"Was there something else?" Nightmare asked.

"Well... yeah..." Twilight answered. "It's... It's just that... It's kind of a... personal matter."

"A personal matter?" Nightmare repeated. "And you want to discuss it with me?"

"Actually, I wanted to discuss it with her." She pointed a hoof at Chocolate Cherry.

"What?" Cherry and Nightmare both said, Cherry sounding far more shocked out of the pair.

"Me?" Cherry continued, eyes wide. "Why me? I don't really know anything that could be helpful. I mean I moved here earlier this year and work in a club."

Nightmare narrowed her eyes -- the swollen one closing in the process -- as she studied the two mares in front of her. Her mind whirled and clicked, considering the possibilities quickly. Music and cooking were out, as they were not subjects that would make Twilight Sparkle nervous. No, it would have to be something personal. Something intimate. Something like...

"The stallion," Nightmare stated. "This is about the big Apple stallion, isn't it?" She grinned as she watched Twilight squirm, shifting in her spot more.

"So, you want relationship advice?" Cherry asked. "From me?"

"None of my friends have been in romantic relationships," Twilight stated. "And even if they were, it would be kind of awkward asking them about... about... uhm.."

"Sex," Nightmare said. "Sex, Twilight Sparkle. It's not a bad word."

"I know," Twilight replied with a sigh. "I know. It's just not something I'm used to talking about." Her wings flicked out as she rubbed at her forehead. After taking a deep breath and continued.

"Anyway, Big Macintosh and I have been dating and it feels to me like it might be time to consider.." she shuffled her hooves, "...'sleeping together."

Nightmare bit her lip to keep from commenting, but could not help roll her eyes. She wanted to shout the word "sex" at Twilight repeatedly until the mare was willing to use the word, but it would probably cause Twilight to shut down. Aside from the issue of saying one word, Nightmare wanted to hear this. It was clearly an awkward topic for Twilight, so naturally it was entertaining for Nightmare.

"I know the technical aspects of it," Twilight stated. "The basics of male and female arousal, what parts go where, all that kind of stuff. Unfortunately, when it comes to the more romantic aspects, I'm lacking. I don't know of any books I could use to study it except maybe romance novels. Except last time somepony" -- she glanced toward Nightmare Moon -- "suggested that, it was rather awkward and embarrassing."

Nightmare Moon turned away from the pair, biting back a snicker. Oh how she wished she could have seen it.

"So, what is it you want to know exactly?" Cherry asked.

"I don't know," Twilight answered. "Pointers? Tips? Anything that will help me bring it up with him and help figure out what he likes."

The sound of Cherry bursting into laughter was something neither Twilight nor Nightmare expected.

"Is that all?" Chocolate Cherry asked, still chuckling. "I can give you a single piece of advice that will take care of the whole issue. Ready?"

Twilight Sparkle leaned forward. Her ears were perked forward and eyes wide. Every bit of her attention was on Chocolate Cherry. Even Nightmare Moon found herself leaning forward, curious about it.

"Talk to him."

"What?" Twilight cried out, ears flopping. "That's it? That's your advice?"

"Yes," Cherry said calmly. "Because that is basically what it comes down to: communication. I could tell you a couple things he might like, but I've never had sex with Big Macintosh so I don't actually know what he likes. I also know some books you could read on the matter, but the first thing they're going to tell you is what I am. Talk to him about it. Tell him if there is something you like or don't like. Have him do the same for you."

"Is that what you two do?" Twilight asked.

"For the most part yes," Cherry answered. "Keep in mind that I'm a little more experienced, so I can kind of pick up on what Night --" she suddenly coughed "sorry. What Nightmare likes."

Nightmare tried to keep calm but could not help but glare at Chocolate Cherry a little. It would have been quite annoying if Cherry had let it slip -- to Twilight Sparkle of all ponies no less -- that Nightmare Moon was letting somepony call her something other than her proper name, even if only her first.

"Twilight!" Spike called out, his voice echoing down the hall. "Twilight!"

"In the kitchen!" Twilight called back, turning toward the door.

Chocolate Cherry mouthed a quick "sorry" to Nightmare Moon. Nightmare gave a quick nod of acknowledgement, then reached out with a wing to run the tip of a feather against Cherry's flank.

It was still strange to her that she actually wanted to let Cherry know when she was not upset, even if irritated. The fact that she cared what another pony thought was odd to her. More so, she seemed to be developing romantic feelings for the mare.

"Is everything okay?" Twilight asked, turning toward a giggling Cherry. Nightmare quickly pulled the wing away, acting innocent.

"Fine," Cherry said with a grin. "Just remembering something funny that happened at work the other day. It's one of those 'you had to be there' things."

Twilight narrowed her eyes and looked at Cherry a moment.

"Twilight," Spike called out as he came into the kitchen. "You got a message from Princess Celestia!"

"Really?" Twilight asked as she turned around. "She hasn't written me a message in months. What's it say?"

Spike cleared his throat and unfurled the scroll.

"'Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle,'" he read aloud.

"Wait," Twilight cut in. "She actually wrote that?" Twilight shifted, her wings twitching at her side. "She's never written 'Princess Twilight Sparkle' before. Why is she being so formal?"

"I could tell you if you let me read it," Spike replied, narrowing his eyes as he looked at Twilight.

"Right. Right. Sorry. Go ahead."

"'Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle,'" Spike read, this time without interruption. "'I am writing to inform you that there has recently been a break-in at The Royal Canterlot Archives. We are still checking to see what has been stolen, so we cannot be certain entirely yet. However, it does seem that the copy of the summoning ritual you gave us was one of them.'"

"What?" Twilight cried out, grabbing the scroll from Spike. "Somepony stole the summoning ritual? Why would they do that?" She held the scroll close to her face, scanning through the rest of it. "It's not like they could use it or anything."

"Are you certain?" Nightmare asked.

"Of course I am," Twilight replied. "I designed it to use alicorn and chaos magic in the ritual, as well as something connected to the entity being summoned. In your case, blood of the previous hosts. That alone would make it nearly impossible. Other than you, the closest thing to a spirit manifesting in our world was King Sombra's return. Really, if someone wanted to try summon something, they would be better off trying to come up with their own ritual."

"Twilight," Spike said, "that's what you did, remember?"

"Yes, Spike. I did. What's your point?"

"Really?" Spike asked as he stared at Twilight a moment. With a sigh, he rubbed his head. "Okay. Twilight, when you wanted to create the whole ritual, what was the first thing you did?"

"You know that Spike," Twilight responded. "I searched out and researched previous spells and rituals that were supposed to do the same thing."

"And you took notes, right?"

"Of course I did. I always do. I even basically copied the unfinished rituals. What are you getting at?"

"Okay," Spike said slowly. "Twilight, what did you do with all the notes?"

"You don't need to be condescending," Twilight snapped. "And you know perfectly well what I did with my notes. I... oh..." She slapped herself in the face, letting out a sigh. "I included them in the book along with my own ritual. So if somepony wanted to try and reproduce what I did, they could simply steal that one book, giving them the information on the one successful ritual as well as notes on all previous attempts. Thus making it the perfect starting point since it has all the relevant information in one place."

"Right," Spike agreed.

He then turned to Nightmare Moon.

"So how's your face doing? You hit that tree pretty hard."

Nightmare Moon and Chocolate Cherry both tensed, eyes going wide as they stared at Spike.

"Tree?" Twilight asked.

"Yeah," Spike said, ignoring Nightmare's glare and Cherry's hoof waving. "During the race, Nightmare reached one of the corners and tripped. She ended up falling off the path and rolling into a tree."

"You better sleep with one eye open tonight, dragon," Nightmare Moon growled out.

"There's no need to be threatening," Twilight told Nightmare. "It was an accident and could have happened to anypony."

Nightmare let out a snort.

"Although it was possible that you could have a concussion or some other head injury. Maybe you should go to the hosp-"

A gust of wind blew past Twilight and Spike, causing the mane of the first to go flying into a mess and the second to spin around before falling over. Twilight turned toward the table where Nightmare Moon and Chocolate Cherry had been, watching the ice pack fall onto the table. There were no other signs that the two mares in question had even been there.

A Line Drawn

Nightmare Moon and Chocolate Cherry stretched out in Nightmare's bed, both of them panting slightly and enjoying the afterglow of their time together.

"That was fun," Cherry purred out, nuzzling against Nightmare. "And it's nice that we are spending a night here."

"Well it felt like it was time for a change," Nightmare replied, stretching out her back and wings. "You've had me stay the night at your place so many times, I thought I should return the favor."

"And?" Cherry asked, looking up.

"And what?"

Cherry shifted, looking at Nightmare more. Her face tilted as her eyes studied the other mare.

"You really don't have an ulterior motive?"

"You sound genuinely surprised," Nightmare said, grinning.

"Kind of," Cherry admitted, laying her head back down against Nightmare's barrel. "I mean this is their first date since she asked me about sex, isn't it? I figured you would want to be here so that you could ask her about it and tease her in the morning."

"Do you honestly believe that I would do such a thing?" Nightmare asked, trying to sound offended as she made her eyes as wide as possible. She stuck her lower lip out, trying to make it tremble.

"Stop it, Nightie," Cherry snickered out. "You look silly trying to play innocent like that. Nearly every time I see you and her together, you always seem to be teasing and harassing her. It's kind of weird because it doesn't seem like you hate her."

"Admittedly, I don't." Nightmare let out a sigh and shifted, one of her wings flickering as she did. "I should. After all, she was the one who defeated me with The Elements after my return, she managed to exorcise me from her friend and banish me again, and she was the one who came up with how to incarnate me into a mortal form without my power. As far as I'm concerned, I have every right and reason to hate her. To make her suffer and pay for all that she has done to me."

"But?" Cherry asked softly.

"I can't," Nightmare huffed. "Don't misunderstand. I was angry at her for it, and in some ways still am. But to actually hate her for it, to hold it against her personally... I just can't do it. More so after I've been stuck here with her and she has kept trying to be my 'friend.'"

There was a moment of silence, the two of them laying cuddled against each other in the dimly lit room.

"So you aren't going to tease her about Big Macintosh?" Cherry asked.

"Oh, be assured I'm going to tease her Cherry. I do enjoy giving her a hard time about matters and watching her reaction." Nightmare placed a hoof on Cherry's back, rubbing just below the shoulders. "I simply..." She stopped, raising her head. Her eyes narrowed as her ears perked up and shifted.

"What?" Cherry asked.

"I think I hear something."

Slipping out from Cherry's grip, Nightmare Moon rolled out of bed and flew toward the door. She landed as quietly as she could, making sure that there was absolutely no sound from her hooves against the floor. Taking a hold of the door, she pulled it open a crack and leaned forward. Her ear shifted as she pointed it at the slight gap, listening. She thought she heard voices. It almost sounded like...

With a grin, she turned and motioned toward Chocolate Cherry. Curious, Cherry slipped out of bed and moved across the room. She slid her hooves across the floor, trying to keep her own steps as quiet as possible as well. As she got closer, Nightmare opened the door a little further.

"I already told you," Twilight's voice could be heard saying. "There's nothing for you to worry about Big Macintosh. Spike is asleep downstairs and Nightmare Moon is over at Cherry's for the night. We pretty much have the place to ourselves."

Snickering, Nightmare Moon shut the door and turned to Cherry.

"Oh, this is deliciously wonderful," she whispered. "Here I thought they would be out all night, and it turns out they came here thinking we would be at your place instead." She shifted, grinning widely. "Oh, humorous fate, you have smiled down on me this night."

"Nightmare," Cherry said in a stern -- but quiet -- voice, "you're not planning on ruining their night together, are you?"

"No," Nightmare replied. "I have no interest in interfering in Twilight Sparkle's and Big Macintosh's night together." She leaned against the door, ear pressed against it. "I am, however, going to spy on them. Sneak to their room, listen for a little bit." She grinned wider. "Maybe even sneak a peek if I can."

"Nightmare no," Cherry hissed. "You can't do that."

"Sure I can. I just have to avoid being seen or heard by the pair. If I can hear them during the sex, then I can figure out when they are too caught up in their pleasure to notice the door opening."

"No," Cherry said as she pressed herself against the door. "I mean you shouldn't. It's wrong."

"You forget." Nightmare leaned in close and narrowed her eyes. "I'm a... naughty... girl." She gripped the door to open it, but found it blocked by Cherry.

"Nightmare, please. I'm asking you to let them have their privacy. Respect them and leave them alone for tonight. Especially because it's their first night together."

Chocolate Cherry was looking up at Nightmare. Her head was low and ears pinned back. A bit of her mane fell across her face as she looked up with wide, pleading eyes. Nightmare thought she saw the start of tears in them.

Letting her own body sag slightly, Nightmare Moon let out a sigh. She gave a nod as she moved away from the door and back toward the bed.

"Very well," Nightmare stated. "I will allow them to have a peaceful night uninterrupted or observed. By me at least." She tilted her head, looking at Cherry from the corner of her eye. "However, I shall still tease Twilight Sparkle in the morning. And Big Macintosh if I can manage it."

"Thank you," Cherry said as she followed.

Nightmare climbed onto the bed and stretched out, getting comfortable. As soon as Cherry joined her, she reached out with her front leg and wing. Pulling Cherry to her barrel, Nightmare held her firmly. After a quick nuzzle of the mane, she rested her head on top of Cherry's.

"You seem oddly passionate about the matter," Nightmare said. "Is it something I should know about?"

"Not really," Cherry said softly. "Besides, it's not really something I can explain. There's no one point where I just started getting sensitive about ponies having privacy. Least, not that I can think of."

"Hm," Nightmare replied. "Then perhaps we should get some sleep. I have much to do in the morning now."

"You're incorrigible," Cherry huffed, shaking her head.

"Now if that were true, you would not have been able to convince me to leave the new couple in peace." Reaching out with a wing, Nightmare Moon traced the tip of a feather across Cherry's flank to make her giggle and squirm.

Shifting against her, Cherry turned around and kissed the underside of Nightmare Moon's jaw. Cherry then nuzzled in close to Nightmare Moon's chest -- her warm breath ticking a patch of chest fur -- and closed her eyes.

"Have I told you before that you can be really nice when you want to?" Cherry asked.

"More than likely," Nightmare answered. "Just don't let it get out. If ponies learned that, they would stop fearing me so much."

"But if they knew," Cherry said softly, "then they would love you. Like I do." She gave Nightmare's chin another kiss before cuddling up closer.

Smiling gently, Nightmare shifted one wing and laid it over Cherry's form. She closed her eyes, feeling and listening to the gentle breathing of the mare cuddled up against her. It was calming, and comforting. Nightmare found it helping her fall asleep.

"I love you too," she whispered, giving the top of Cherry's head a gentle kiss before closing her eyes.

Awkward Morning Fun

"Cherry," Nightmare said. "Wake up." She poked at the other mare with her hoof.

"Just a little longer," Cherry mumbled, rolling over and pulling the sheets tighter against her.

"Not this time." Reaching out, Nightmare grabbed a hold of the sheets and started pulling them off. "I have need of your culinary skills immediately. We must be ready before Twilight Sparkle and Big Macintosh wake up."

"Culinary skills?" Cherry asked. "Twilight and Macintosh?" Moving to get up, she looked toward Nightmare Moon. "What are you planning?"

"To have breakfast made," Nightmare announced. "Now come on." With that she turned away from the bed and flew toward the door.

"Breakfast?" Cherry repeated, standing there a moment. "Breakfast?" She started to chase after Nightmare Moon, her hooves clicking on the floor as she went. "I must have heard you wrong. I could have sworn you said you were making breakfast."

"Then yes, you misheard. We are making breakfast. And by 'we,' I mean primarily you since I have no cooking abilities."

The two made their ways along the hall, heading for the stairs before going down. They continued toward the kitchen.

"Why?" Cherry asked. "Why do you want us to make breakfast?"

"Because the dragon is still asleep," Nightmare replied, "and he is unaware of the extra guests this morning."

"That's not what I mean and you know it." Cherry moved to catch up with Nightmare Moon, looking at her from the corner of her eye. "Last night you were talking about going to Twilight's bedroom and spying on her with Macintosh. You agreed to let them have privacy for the night, but said that you were going to tease them today. Now you're talking about making them break... are you planning on bringing them breakfast in bed to surprise them?"

"Oh," Nightmare cried out as she stopped. "I hadn't even thought of that." She let out a chuckle, wings flickering excitedly. "Oh how gloriously amusing that would have been. I could throw the door open and proclaim 'good morning' quite loudly. The shock on their faces, the scramble to cover themselves, the confusion as I walk in with a tray of food, making no comment about the two of them being in bed together. It sounds like it would be a wonderful time." She tapped at her chin. "There is still time. I could in fact do that instead."

Nightmare stood there for a while, considering it.

"No," she finally decided. "No. I shall stay with what I have decided already." She then resumed heading for the kitchen.

"And what is it exactly?" Cherry asked.

"I think I'll keep it to myself for now," Nightmare answered, grinning. "However, I will say that it is far subtler than what you were expecting."

Chocolate Cherry let out a snort. The two made their way to the kitchen and Cherry looked around to see what they had to work with. After checking it all, she came up with an idea that seemed to be a surprise to Nightmare Moon.

"Apple pancakes?" Nightmare asked, looking at Cherry in what could best be described as confusion and wonder.

"Yeah," Cherry responded. "There are plenty of apples here. We take a couple, mince them up, and mix them into the pancake batter. It gives the pancakes an apple flavor, and we don't have to do any sort of adjustment to the recipe."

"You mean to tell me," Nightmare moved forward, eyes growing wider, "That it is possible to put apples into pancakes, possibly making them even better?"

"Not just apples. Most fruits, chocolate chips, marshmallows, I even knew a pony that would put pancake batter over hay bacon. Even had a whole song about it."

"Why have I not been informed of this before?!" Nightmare shouted, eyes wide and wings open. "All the possibilities I could have enjoyed. This will have to be rectified... another day. This morning is more about Twilight Sparkle and Big Macintosh."

"You're starting to make me wonder if you've been replaced by a changeling or something," Cherry said, raising an eyebrow. "Anyway, if you could start mincing the apples while I get the rest of the batter stuff, I'd appreciate it."

"Sounds simple enough," Nightmare responded. "Now, let's see if Twilight has a cleaver I can use for the matter."

"Why would you want a cleaver?"

"If I am to cut these apples into small pieces, I may as well do it in a way I would enjoy."

Disappointingly, there was no cleaver for Nightmare Moon to use. There was, however, a very large, sharp knife for her to use. For some reason, Cherry insisted that Nightmare use the sour green apples instead of the sweet red ones. With (disturbingly) great enthusiasm, she started to bring the knife down on the apples faster and harder than was necessary. A wide grin spread across Nightmare's face, small chuckles escaping her with the first few chops. As time passed, the enthusiasm gave way to intense concentration as Nightmare worked to cut the apples into smaller and smaller pieces.

"Is this sufficient?"

Chocolate Cherry stopped mixing up the batter and looked at the pile of apple bits on the chopping board.

"Yeah," Cherry said. "That's good." Grabbing the bowl, she started to brush the apples into the batter.

"What are you two doing?"

The voice made Cherry jump slightly, almost tossing the bowl in her grip. She managed to squeeze it instead, holding it closer to her chest. It looked to Nightmare like Cherry had been caught doing something that she should not.

Spike stood at the door to the kitchen, still rubbing at one of his eyes with the back of one hand. His other arm held his Rarity plush doll against him.

"We are preparing breakfast," Nightmare stated.

"Why?" Spike asked as he made his way into the kitchen.

"Oh, trust me," Nightmare purred. "You will find out soon enough." She then let a wide grin spread across her face. "You can either assist us, set the table for --" she did a quick count "-- five, or go back to bed."

Spike let out a huff before calling out, "fine. I'll help."

"Maybe you should take Rarity back to your room first," Cherry suggested. The comment made the young dragon's eyes go wide as he looked down at the stuffed unicorn in his arm. He then took off, running as quick as he could. This got a laugh from the pair of mares.

Shortly, Spike returned and took control of cooking the pancakes while Cherry mixed up more batter and Nightmare minced more apples. Soon they had a very large pile of apple pancakes ready to eat, with more still being made.

"That seems like a sufficient number to start with," Nightmare decided. "I'll go tell Twilight." Leaving the kitchen, she flew through the castle and up the stairs. A wicked small smile kept on her face as she made her to Twilight Sparkle's door. Landing with a silent grace, she came to a stop. Taking a step closer, she leaned her ear against the door and listened closely for a moment.

She thought she heard the sound of a pony snoring, but that was about it. Curiosity getting the better of her, Nightmare slowly pushed the door open and took a peak inside.

From what she could see, Big Macintosh laid curled up in the bed, snoring away, with Twilight Sparkle spooning him. Her forelegs were wrapped around his barrel, while he laid on his back . The wings were spread out wide, drooping off the edge of the mattress.

It was kind of cute.

There was also a noticeable bulge in the sheets in front of Big Macintosh. The word "slight" would by no means have been an accurate descriptor.

As she closed the door, Nightmare wondered how Twilight was able to take it all.

Nightmare Moon knocked, waited to let Twilight wake up a little more, then knocked again.

"Don't come in!" Twilight suddenly blurted out. "I... I mean just a minute Spike. I'll be out in a minute."

"It isn't your dragon slave," Nightmare stated.

There was a sound of ruffling wings and thumping hooves. The door was yanked open and Twilight stuck her head out through the gap. Nightmare Moon noticed that Twilight opened it just enough to do so.

"What is it?" Twilight asked.

"Is something the matter?" Nightmare asked calmly. "You seem a little... flustered."

"No," Twilight practically shouted. "No, no. I'm fine. Everything's fine. Fine fine. I..." She shifted. "I just... ummm..."

Nightmare Moon bit her lip, trying to keep calm and serious as she waited to see what Twilight came up with.

"Fell asleep doing research and the room is a bit of a mess," Twilight finished. "You know how it can be sometimes." She gave a grin, one of her ears twitching.

"Research," Nightmare repeated, trying her best to sound as calm and deadpan as she could. From what she could tell, she was doing a pretty good job. Enough that she was convincing Twilight. Unless Twilight was too caught up in her own mind to notice Nightmare's skepticism.

"Yes," Twilight said. "Research. You know me. Read, read, study, study. Lots of work for a princess."

"Uh-huh," Nightmare replied. "Well, I was just coming to wake you up and let you that breakfast is ready."

"Breakfast?" Twilight asked. "Okay? Uhm... I'll be out in a little bit."

Nightmare nodded, turned to start down the hall, and stopped.

"By the way." She turned to look back. "Cherry will be there, and we made more than enough, so Big Macintosh is welcomed to join us as well."

The look on Twilight Sparkle's face was hilarious. It was too much for Nightmare. Laughing, she made her way down the hall and back toward the kitchen. Her fun had been had, and tasty apple pancakes were waiting for her downstairs.

Nightmare Night (part 1)

Nightmare Moon stood before the mirror, studying herself. She could not help but smile at the sight in front of her.

She looked hot, sexy, and dangerous. More importantly, she looked almost exactly as she did when she had first returned during The Summer Sun Celebration. She was a tall and powerful alicorn -- about the same size as Princess Celestia herself -- with an ethereal mane and tail filled with stars floating behind her.

It was an impressive set of illusionary magical spells.

It was also a little upsetting to see. First, it was a reminder of what she had been. The frightening and ferocious alicorn that had come down from the moon, and instilled fear into the hearts of the little ponies. She had thought herself as all-powerful and unbeatable. She had been wrong. Still, she missed the form and the power that came with it.

Although, what would she do with it if she had it now? She did still want to rule Equestria, but to what end? As she had said to Luna at The Grand Galloping Gala, she would no longer create an eternal night. She wanted ponies to worship her, to fear her, not to freeze or starve to death.

Nightmare looked at the figure in the mirror, no longer smiling. It seemed like the pony she now saw was no longer her. Even putting aside that she was only a pegasus while the figure before her was an alicorn, she just did not feel like that was her any more. The months that she had spent in Ponyville as a mortal seemed to have changed her.

So if she was no longer Nightmare Moon, then who in Equestria was she? Everything about her had been stripped away, and all that remained was an illusion of who she had been. A pale reflection of the creature that had descended from the moon to create a dark world where she would rule over all.

That was the second thing that was upsetting. The illusory version of Nightmare Moon could just as easily have been played by any pony. Actually, it probably would be a lot easier for some to play the part than her. From what she had been told, Luna simply used a plastic set of fangs and her own magical shifting abilities to look like Alicorn Nightmare Moon. Twilight Sparkle could easily cast a few spells around herself to do it as well.

Pushing the thoughts aside, Nightmare Moon turned her attention to the barding instead. That was far different from what Alicorn Nightmare Moon had been wearing when she was first appeared. It was the same color, but more like actual armor. A metal horn protruded from the helmet, set directly under her "horn" and offering it some protection as well. Instead of having her neck bare and unprotected, the criniere covered it like plates on an armadillo. The peytral was larger and more ornate, protecting not only the base of her neck and chest, but covering her shoulders and the base for each wing as well. The new armor also had a flanchard to protect her backside, although the opening in it to show off her cutie mark made it far less protective than it should be. Still, it did look quite impressive.

"Ma'am?" a stallion called out.

Nightmare turned and looked at him. He was a dark, charcoal grey pegasus. His mane and tail were hidden by the night guard style armor that he wore. Shame it had not been enchanted to make him look like a batpony, but the way he currently looked would do pretty well for the most part.

"Should you not salute your leader?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. The stallion rolled his eyes and gave shake of his head, but still brought one of his hooves up to his head.

"Very sloppy," Nightmare stated with a shake of her head. "Perhaps I should send you back to basic training."

"If you think that you can find a suitable replacement in the next few minutes, go ahead," the stallion retorted. "Anyway, I'm here to tell you that everything is set up as you asked and the effects are about to begin."

"Good," Nightmare said as she started toward the door. "Let's get in position and ready then." The stallion moved aside to let her pass before moving to join her.

"I am curious," Nightmare stated. "How did you come to be involved in this... event?"

"I volunteered," the stallion answered. "Rumble -- my little brother -- missed it when Princess Luna showed up during the last Nightmare Night. When the weather team got word of what was going on, it sounded like a great idea. I figured that by being a part of it, Rumble would have more fun." He grinned. "You should have seen how excited he was when he saw me in the armor."

"How... nice," Nightmare said softly, turning away from the stallion and looking at the wall.

"Is something the matter?"

Nightmare Moon considered the question. She had no ponies that she could call family. The closest thing would be Princess Luna who she had possessed, and Princess Celestia who she had tried to overthrow multiple times. Oh, and Rarity and Sweetie Belle in a way, which again was tied to her having taken possession of one of them. There were only about two ponies that could be seen as friends. One Nightmare did not like to think of in that way. Sure, she could not hold a grudge against Twilight for all that happened, but she still did not wish to get along with her. The other was a mare that she was in love with. A part of her was terrified at the idea. Love meant vulnerability, allowing a pony to get close meant that pony would have the ability to hurt her. Even if it was by having something happen to them.

Cherry...

"Fine," Nightmare stated. "Now come on." She pushed the door open. "I want to be in position to hear the story about this night."

Shutting the door behind them, the two took off. Using the clouds and buildings as cover, the two made their way to the town hall. As Nightmare Moon flew, she took notice of how thick the cloud coverage was around the building. There was still plenty of clear skies for the stars and moon to shine down, but also more than enough for Nightmare's big entrance.

Landing on the topmost walkway, Nightmare Moon walked around to where the stage had been set up and ponies were gathering. Taking off her helmet -- and dispelling her alicorn illusion for the moment -- she set it aside and laid down. Slowly she poked her head over the side. This way, she would be able to watch the presentation without being too noticeable and also wait for her cue. Very few ponies would bother to look up, and those that did would most likely just assume that she was just another pegasus trying to get a good seat.

Once settled in, she watched as the presentation started.

"There," Nightmare called out. "That is our cue to begin." Standing up, she grabbed her helmet. "Go and begin the thunder and lightning."

"Right," the stallion said and took off.

Nightmare placed the helmet back on her head, watching the ethereal mane appear behind her. Her wings ran along the criniere to make sure they were properly laying down, then she moved around to other side of the town hall again. Even as she moved, Nightmare could catch sight of the lightning flashing.

Taking off, she flew around to where the crowd was. Stopping, she allowed another flash of lightning and crash of thunder to fill the air. Once it had passed fully, Nightmare lowered herself beneath the cloud coverage. She gave a flap to rise and spread her wings out wide, hoping the timing was right.

There was a flash of lightning directly behind her. She could see the light from it move around her. The roar of the thunder filled her ears, echoing through them and deafening her. The armor protected her from both the lightning (in case she actually got caught in the flash instead of in front of it) and the worse of the ear-splitting explosion. Still, it was loud enough to keep her from hearing any gasps of the ponies below.

The entrance had the desired effect. All eyes were on her. Ponies were staring at her, jaws hanging open in shock.

Grinning widely, she let herself glide down to the ground. Landing with a gentle thump, she posed, spreading her wings as wide as they could go and lifting her head high. Taking a deep breath, she tried to mimic The Royal Canterlot Voice.

"Citizens of Ponyville!" she bellowed out. "I, Nightmare Moon, have RETURNED!"

Her announcement was marked by another flash of lightning and boom of thunder.

The paralysis that held the ponies in place finally seemed to give way. High pitched screams filled the air, and Nightmare Moon noted that not all of them were from foals. Many of the ponies began to run around in panic. A trio of mares fainted, flopping to the ground where they had been standing.

Not all of the ponies were running and panicking. Some merely stood, just watching her. The Cutie Mark Crusaders stood next to Big Macintosh, seeming unfrightened. No surprise since they were aware of the performance, and having such a large stallion protect them probably helped.

As she looked at the remaining ponies, one in particular caught her eye. Standing off to one side was a pink filly with a pale violet and white mane and tail.

Diamond Tiara.

The little brat was standing there, watching Nightmare Moon with wide eyes. A large pink horn stuck out from her mane, just below the namesake piece of jewelry that she wore. There was also a large pair of pink wings protruding from her sides, spread open for all to see.

Nightmare's eyes narrowed as she grinned, showing off her sharp teeth. She moved toward Diamond Tiara.

"You have every right to be frightened, my little ponies," Nightmare shouted as she walked. "For I hunger for the flesh of foals, and so I have decided to make Ponyville my feast for tonight." Opening her mouth, she licked her lips hungrily. "And I think I have found the perfect place to start: a nice, juicy little princess."

Diamond Tiara's eye went wide as her ears dropped. Her entire body seemed to shrink down, as she tried to make herself smaller. Whether it was from fear or courage, she did not run.

The same could not be said for the gray filly that had been with her.

Nightmare reached out with a hoof and placed it on top of Tiara.

"My, my," she purred out. "Such a lovely little princess. I bet you'll taste absolutely delicious." Leaning down, she opened her mouth wide, showing off her teeth. A squeak from the filly beneath her reached her ears.

It would be so easy. All Nightmare Moon would have to do is take one bite out of Diamond Tiara. Not enough to injure the filly, or do any sort of permanent damage. Just enough to cause a little bit of pain and quite a bit of humiliation. Everypony that used to fear her would know that she had been frightened, that Nightmare Moon had bitten her. In truth, no other pony would actually care, or they would be sympathetic to her plight of being bitten by a monster, but the little wannabe princess would see it as a loss of her power. The brat would see it as weakness, that she had lost part of her authority as a big pony of the playground. All Nightmare had to do was lean a little more and bite down on-

"You can't do that!" a voice called out, drawing Nightmare Moon from her malicious thoughts and turning her attention away from her supposed meal.

Standing not far from her was a little white colt with a brown spot over one side of his face. His mane and most of his body was covered by dark purple armor. The young colt stood up as straight as he could, legs wide as he looked directly at Nightmare Moon. There was a momentary flinch when his eye met hers, but otherwise he did not move.

Nightmare suddenly liked the brave little colt. Foolish, if this had been real, but brave. Plus, his reaction and appearance were some things that she could work with.

Straightening up, she turned away from Diamond Tiara -- hearing the filly scurry away from her quickly -- and turned her full attention to the armored colt.

"Well, well," she said as she took a step forward, "it seems that Princess Luna has sent one of her guards to stop me. Tell me, little soldier, what is your name?"

"Pi-Pipsqueak, ma'am," the young pony squeaked out.

"Pipsqueak, you say?" Nightmare asked, tilting her head as she raised an eyebrow. "A lieutenant, I assume. So tell me, Lieutenant Pipsqueak, what do you mean I can't do that?"

"You... you can't just show up and start eating ponies," Pipsqueak stated. "I mean, we're supposed to have a chance to collect candy to give to you so you'll leave us alone, right?"

Nightmare Moon sat down, brought a hoof to her chin, and tapped it as she pretended to think. Admittedly, while she was tempted to take a real bite out of Diamond Tiara, actually biting any of the ponies was never part of the plan. The threat of it had merely been a part of the show, same as her pretending to consider the question. Had no pony stopped her, she would have done so herself, claiming to give the ponies a chance to save themselves for another year.

"Yes," she finally said, "I suppose that will work." She stood up and stomped her hoof.

"Very well," she called out as she turned to face the largest groups of ponies, wings spreading wide. "I shall grant you all one chance to save yourselves this night. You all already know when and where to bring the candy. If I am satisfied by the tribute, then you shall be permitted to live unharmed for another night. However!" She searched for Diamond Tiara. "Should you fail to do so, then I shall have my fill of pony flesh instead. Starting with the princess."

Diamond Tiara let out an audible gulp and took a step back as an armored hoof pointed at her.

Nightmare then turned back to Pipsqueak and said, "you are a very brave little soldier. I am sure that Princess Luna will be impressed with your courage when she reads the report."

With a flap of her wings, Nightmare Moon took off, heading up into the night sky.

"And remember, ponies!" she called out. "I will be watching!"

With that, she flew up into the clouds and out of sight of the ponies.

"Come on," she managed to hear somepony shout out. "We have to get as much candy as possible so she doesn't eat me."

Nightmare Night (part 2)

Nightmare Moon stood before the dark castle, staring up at it. She had not seen it since the night she had come here with Luna, the night whatever it was had managed to escape.

Staring at it now, she felt oddly conflicted. A part of her was filled with dread at the memories of what had happened to her here: the pain, the torture... the fear. At the same time, she was also curious as to what had brought her here now, and what had changed about the place since her last visit. There was also the fact that there was something that looked like her locked up in a bubble of magic. She wanted to see that again, but also worried about it.

With a sigh, she started across the bridge.

As she went, she noticed that it was oddly quiet. Normally The Smooze would have gurgled its name at least once by now. Moving closer to the side, Nightmare peeked over.

Water. Instead of The Smooze, there was just water. Well, not just water. It was dark and murky, with thick layer of algae on top. Nightmare also swore that she saw some ripples, meaning that there was something that was moving beneath the surface of it.

"So what happened to The Smooze?" Nightmare wondered as she continued walking.

Inside, everything looked the same as it had before. There were still chunks of broken statues on the floor. The hole from where the creature had broken free still remained. On the elevated platform where the thrones would have been stood a figure of Alicorn Nightmare Moon encased in a bubble of energy.

But... something looked different about it.

A quick gliding hop, and Nightmare Moon was in front of the bubbled figure. Leaning in close, she noticed cracks. Barely visible hair line fractures were starting to form where the face of the figure was. There was also something moving inside. It looked like some sort of energy was shifting around the edges of the figure.

"How odd," Nightmare said softly to herself. Reaching up, she placed one of her hooves against the cracked shield. As soon as she did, a tendril of energy snaked out from the figure and toward the hoof. A small amount leaked through one of the tiny fractures, wrapping around Nightmare's leg before seeming to seep into her.

It felt comforting. Like she was getting back something that she did not even know she was missing. It also felt a little odd, like it was both warm and cool at the same time. She could feel it sinking into her all the way to the bones.

Everything turned fuzzy before fading from sight.

Pain coursed through Nightmare Moon's body. The base of her wings throbbed Her head hurt and she tasted blood. It felt like every muscle in her body was burning, especially when she breathed.

A groan escaped her as she opened her eyes. Everything was blurry and had a shimmering rose colored tinge to it.

"Nightmare, wait," a voice said. "You've suffered a lot of injuries and are in the hospital. I need you to stay calm and not move too much. Okay?"

It took Nightmare a while to recognize the voice as that of Twilight Sparkle. The shimmering rose energy faded, letting her move as well as see the plain white ceiling above her.

A red blur came into view. It took a moment of rapid blinking to have it come into focus at the face of Chocolate Cherry.

"You're awake," Cherry said with a smile. "I'd give you a big hug, but I'm afraid it would be really painful right now."

Several thoughts and questions when through Nightmare's mind, so she just asked "how long was I unconscious?" Her throat hurt as she spoke, and her voice sound rough.

"Hours?" Twilight answered. "Somepony found you unconscious by your statue after Nightmare Night was over. No one knows how long you were there like that. Do you remember what happened?"

Nightmare leaned back and looked up at the ceiling again. Her mind started to work backwards, trying to recall what had happened so that she had ended up in the hospital.

"It started back at the statue..."

*****

This was it. Nightmare Night was coming to an end. The stalls that sold food and played game were closed up for the night. All that remained was for the foals to give their candy as tribute to Nightmare Moon to keep themselves from being eaten.

Nightmare Moon stood in the shadows of the nearby trees, watching the young ponies pay tribute to her before the statue of Alicorn Nightmare Moon. Diamond Tiara gave a massive amount of candy. Not surprising considering that she was the one that would have been eaten first. Nightmare also noticed that Diamond was staying extremely close to the young colt Pipsqueak. Perhaps Diamond Tiara thought that the little guard would be able to keep her safe. A small part of Nightmare wondered if there may have been a spark of childhood romance developing between the two. After all, who better for a princess to fall in love with than a brave knight?

The largest tributes were actually given to her from The Cutie Mark Crusaders, with the largest of it all being Scootaloo. Either the crusaders decided to give more because they knew Nightmare or -- more likely as far as she was concerned -- they were giving her more in appreciation of her frightening the pony that had been bullying them for however long it has been. The crusaders would think that it was all the act of course, that Diamond Tiara would never actually be in physical danger. That way, they would be allowed to enjoy her being frightened without actually feeling bad that she could have been hurt.

A tingling sensation formed between Nightmare's shoulders, giving her the feeling of being watched. Turning around, she flared her wings out to look as large and threatening as possible. Baring her fangs, she narrowed her eyes and looked for who or what had been watching her.

There was nothing there that she could see.

Hopefully, it was just some curious young pony watching her.

Pushing the feeling and curiosity aside, Nightmare turned back toward the statue and the crowd there. She took off, flying almost straight up and weaving past the trees above. Getting above the crowd, she then turned and started to glide down toward them. A grin spread across her face, baring her fangs.

The collected ponies gasped out as she landed, staring up at her with their eyes wide. Straightening up, she looked at them as she took a step forward. She let her gaze pass over all of the little ponies watching her before turning her attention to the pile of candy. Reaching out with a wing, she took a hold of a piece and held it up in front of her.

"Such a lovely tribute you have for me," she purred out. "I suppose it will be sufficient to keep you from being eaten tonight. Such a shame too." She licked at her lips. "You all look so... delicious.

"Now, be gone before I change my mind!"

With that, the ponies took off. Most of the foals and some of the adults began running as quickly as they could. The others still moved pretty fast, although not with the same sense of urgency. Soon the clearing was empty of all the other ponies, leaving Nightmare Moon alone with a statue of her former self, and a big pile of candy.

Was she though? Was she actually alone? Nightmare still could not shake the feeling that there was something watching her.

Trying to hide her suspicions, Nightmare turned her attention to the candy she had already picked up. Quickly, she unwrapped it and stuck it in her mouth.

She rarely ate candy. The sheer sweetness of it always tended to be a shock to her, causing her to shudder. She liked candy, but could not eat very much of it. It was unlikely she would eat all she got tonight. Perhaps she would give most of it to Cherry to do whatever with it.

There was a rustle of leaves, getting Nightmare's attention. Whatever had been watching her was finally making its move. It was probably expecting to try and catch Nightmare unaware. Turning around, she again spread her wings and bared her fangs, ready to face whatever it was head-on.

What she was not expecting to see was a net flying directly at her. Nightmare tried to take off, but was too slow. The net struck her straight on, throwing her off balance before knocking her to the ground. A glow of magical pale blue magical energy engulfed the netting.

She started to feel weak, tired, like she needed to...

No! You need to stay awake. You're in danger.

Giving a hard shake of her head, she bit the inside of her cheek. The flare of pain helped push the drowsiness aside. Pushing to get back up, she turned to face the direction the net had come from. Several ponies were approaching her, including two unicorns -- the horn of one glowing with the same aura as the net -- a pegasus in armor with a strange looking pole weapon in its grip, three earth ponies, and at least two more that were hiding back in the shadows.

"Get her," one of the shadowed figured called out. The voice masculine, but high pitched and scratchy. "Hold her down. Don't let her get away."

The earth ponies started to charge toward her. Nightmare was unable to fly away, but she could still fight. For a moment, there was a feeling of disappointment that she had no magic she could cast. Her horn was not even real, but an illusion the armor created. It was not even made to be actual armor. It was made of a light, malleable metal with a few enchantments for her to look like an alicorn.

The metal horn from the helmet was real enough however. There were also some additional points that could be used. Plus, it would also provide at least some protection.

Lowering her head, Nightmare took a step back before lunging forward.

There was an ear-splitting scream from the stallion as the metal spike on Nightmare's helmet penetrated his eye. Although it was not enough to be fatal, it was sufficient to cause the sensitive organ to burst. Warm fluid spurted from the socket, spraying Nightmare Moon in the face.

Nightmare Moon felt a thrill of excitement pump through her body. It felt like she was full of new energy. Her heart pounded her chest, making her blood sing in her ears. The muscles in her body tensed as adrenaline coursed through her. She felt alive in a whole new way that she never had before.

With a roar, she twisted her head and yanked the spike from the stallion's eye socket. Eyes wide and snorting, she turned to face one of the other earth ponies.

There was a flash of pain as a pair of hind hooves struck Nightmare in the side. The impact knocked her over, the net wrapping around her more. Blinded by the sudden burning pain exploding from her ribs, she opened her wings to try and get some space between her and her attacker. The wings slipped between the gaps, getting stuck in them more with each flap. Confused and thrown off balance, Nightmare Moon fell to the ground.

"Careful," the voice called out. "We need to keep her alive."

Before she could get back up, something snapped around Nightmare Moon's neck. A something thick and heavy pressed against her throat, and she could feel it bending the criniere, making them dig into her skin. It made it difficult to move her neck with any sort of speed. Whatever was around her neck was attached to a pole, the other end of it being held by the pegasus she had seen earlier. Whenever Nightmare tried to move, the pegasus would shift and push, forcing her back down. One of the two uninjured earth ponies joined in, making it even more difficult.

"Hold her," the voice said. "Don't let her get loose."

Nightmare went limp, letting her body relax as much as she could. If she was lucky, one of them would be stupid enough to make a mistake, allowing her get free again.

One of the figures in the shadows moved forward, revealing itself to be a unicorn mare. Her horn glowed a gentle green color as she carried a black bag with her.

"Remember," the remaining shadowy figure called out, "we need as much as we can get while keeping her alive."

An idea started to form in Nightmare Moon's mind. It was crazy, and was going to be painful, but it might give her a chance. Shifting, she rubbed her hoof back and forth against the ground.

"Don't worry," the mare said as she opened the bag. "I have plenty of practice with this." From the bag, she pulled out a glass bottle, two tubes, and a needle.

"This would be easier," the unicorn mare said as she turned to the unicorn stallion, "if she was unconscious."

"Oh," the stallion said. "Right." He turned to Nightmare Moon, his horn starting to glow again. "One sleep spell coming up. Extra strong since it di-"

The rest of his statement was lost in a scream of pain.

Having worked one of the greaves from her leg, Nightmare had managed to stab the unicorn stallion in the cannon. There was a hard thunk as the improvised blade managed to sink in to the bone. After a twist, she yanked it out hard. Dark blood spurted from the wound.

Nightmare Moon then turned to the pegasus and threw the greave at her head. The pegasus darted to one side, yanking the pole in her grip in the process. Rolling with it, Nightmare grabbed the pole and slammed it down hard. Pain flared through her body as one of her wings twisted in an angle it was never intended to go. There was a grunt from the pegasus as she hit the ground. The device released it's grip on Nightmare's neck as the pegasus let go.

Nightmare Moon lunged at the unicorn mare as best she could with the net on her. Slipping one of the gaps over the mare's ear, Nightmare bit down on it with all the strength of her jaw. The taste of blood filled her mouth as she began yanking.

"Fuck!" the mare shouted. "My ear! She's got my fucking ear! Get her off! GET HER OFF!"

Something struck the side of her helmet, creating an echo of thunder in her skull. Her jaw clenched down as she was struck, the impact shoving her sideways. There was a shriek as the taste of blood grew stronger in her mouth.

Her body hit the ground with a dull thump. The world went sideways, then turned upside down. The ground and sky blurred and mixed before going black.

The last thing Nightmare heard was "Fuck! She bit it off!"

*****

As Nightmare Moon finished her story, Twilight Sparkle and Chocolate Cherry stood there, staring with wide eyes and open mouths.

"Wow," Cherry finally said. "Sorry you went through all that, but it sounds like you really kicked ass."

"Not well enough," Nightmare growled as she laid back in bed. "They managed to get away, and probably with whatever it was they wanted."

"I think I might know that," Twilight said, getting the attention of the other two. "Nightmare, you said that unicorn pulled out a needle, some tubes and a bottle?"

Nightmare nodded.

"Did the bottle look like that?" Twilight asked as she pointed.

Turning to look where Twilight pointed, Nightmare Moon found a metal stand beside the bed. Hanging upside down from the top of the stand was a glass bottle. A tube was attached to what would normally be called the top, with a thick, red substance going down from the bottle to a needle that was in Nightmare's foreleg.

"Blood?" Nightmare asked. "Why would they want that?"

"I don't know," Twilight answered. "But if they wanted you alive, it's possible that they are going to want more."

"Wonderful," Nightmare groaned, looking back up at the ceiling. "Anything else I should know?"

"If there is," Cherry said, "it can wait." Moving closer, she placed her hoof gently on Nightmare's side. "You've been through a lot and need to rest so you can get better." She gave her a kiss on the cheek.

"I suppose I don't really have much choice in the matter," Nightmare sighed. "But I am not staying here a minute longer than necessary. As soon as I am able, I am leaving."

"Considering what you did to those other ponies," Cherry said with a chuckle, "I don't think anypony could stop you."

At that, Nightmare grinned.

Contemplating Mortality

"Keep that thing away from me!" Nightmare Moon growled. There was a flare of pain as she tried to extend her wings, the right one currently bandaged up against her body.

"Now Miss Moon," the nurse said calmly, "it's alright. I just need to-"

"No," Nightmare cut in. "You do not just need to do anything! I have been poked, prodded, probed, and jabbed repeatedly! I have had things stuck in my ears, eyes, nose, and mouth. And don't even get me started on the catheter. I have been given lotions, pills, shots, and even several potions that are supposed to accelerate healing. I am tired of it. So keep whatever it is this time away from me or I will shove it so far up your plot that you'll be coughing it up!"

"It's just a blood pressure cuff," the nurse started.

"I don't care if it's a miracle heal all bestowed upon me by an ancient deity from on high!" Nightmare snapped. "Keep away from me."

"Well seeing as your current mood would affect the results, we will just have to wait until you are calmer." With that, the nurse turned and left.

"Hey," Chocolate Cherry said as she came in. "You must be feel..." She stopped talking as she continued to move toward Nightmare Moon.

"I was going to say you must be feeling better because I could hear you shouting down the hall, but you don't look too good."

Nightmare shifted, looking toward the doorway and making sure that no other ponies were coming in.

"I was unable to get any rest since yesterday," she whispered. "I realized that I could have died. I'm mortal now."

"But you've been mortal for months," Cherry replied. "I thought you knew that already."

"As an abstract concept, yes," Nightmare said. "But the other night, it became real. Those ponies could have killed me if they had wanted. It's like..." she paused, considering how to explain it.

"The mountains."

Nightmare blinked, turning to look at Cherry and raise an eyebrow.

"What was that?"

"The mountains," Cherry repeated. "When I was a filly, we lived in a place that was very flat and boring. Off in the distance you could see The Dragon Spine Mountains. In school they taught us how they were these big, snow-covered mountains that marked part of Equestria's northern border. We could see them way off and were told about how big they were, so I thought I knew what they were like.

"One summer, my family went on a trip and we ended up going to this lakeside lodge that was at the base of one of them. It was the first time I had seen one up close. The thing was huge. It actually scared me a little. Felt like this thing was actually looming over me. Also made me feel claustrophobic. Like I was so used to having open space that having this massive thing blocking the sky made it feel like I was trapped. I got used to it, sort of. I still felt claustrophobic when we went there again. Still, I will remember how big that mountain was when I saw it, and how shocking it was even though I thought I had known before."

"Yes," Nightmare said with a nod. "That is a very accurate comparison to what it is like."

Moving closer, Cherry reached up and patted Nightmare gently.

"Well if it's any comfort, realizing they are mortal is something that ponies have to go through as well."

"No," Nightmare said. "It is not." She shifted. "Although I appreciate the attempt."

Cherry gave a smile before pulling her hoof away. She then leaned forward to give Nightmare a kiss on the cheek before sitting down beside her.

"By the way, while you were the only one attacked, you weren't the only to have trouble at Nightmare Night."

"Oh?"

"Do you know who Zecora is?"

Nightmare Moon thought about the name, trying to put a face to it. None actually came. The closest that she could get was a shadowy figure in a cloak with glowing yellow eyes that some ponies have dreamed about a few times. Zecora must have been something that ponies had been frightened of, but never actually seen. Interesting, but useless in this case.

Nightmare gave a shake of her head.

"She's this zebra that lives in The Everfree Forest for some reason. Never met her before yesterday. Don't exactly hang out in the same circles." Cherry paused, tapping her chin. "Although considering she always speaks in rhymes, I bet she would be a pretty good rapper..."

There was a few seconds of silence as Chocolate Cherry seemed to consider this.

"Anyway," she suddenly continued, "after our visit yesterday, I ended up at the castle with Twilight -- Gibbous is fine by the way, although I think she misses you -- when Zecora showed up. It seems while she was in Ponyville helping with Nightmare Night, some ponies broke into her hut. The only thing they took was something called The Alicorn Amulet."

"What?" Nightmare cried out, straightening up. Her mind started to race. "What did you say?" It felt like things were suddenly lining up. An idea started to develop. One that made too much sense to simply ignore.

"The Alicorn Amulet?" Cherry repeated, raising an eyebrow. "Why? Do you know what that-- what are you doing?"

Nightmare took a hold of the intravenous tube and yanked, pulling the needle from her foreleg with a burst of pain. Letting it fall away, she grabbed her blankets and threw them off. Rolling over, she tried to get out of bed.

"Nightmare!" Chocolate Cherry shouted as she tried to stop Nightmare from getting up. "Stop. You're still injured. You shouldn't be getting up yet."

"We have to see Twilight Sparkle," Nightmare Moon stated, pushing back. "It is urgent. I believe I have figured out what is going on."

As soon as her legs touched the floor, they gave out from under her. She collapsed with a grunt, the impact sending a fresh explosion of pain through her battered rib cage. It was suddenly hard for her to breathe.

Carefully, Chocolate Cherry wrapped her forelegs around Nightmare and helped pull her back up.

"You're too hurt to go anywhere," she said softly.

"Perhaps," Nightmare conceded once able to breathe again, "but I need to speak with Twilight Sparkle immediately. I believe I have figured out something that is going on."

"Okay. You get back in bed. I'll go get Twilight so that you can tell her whatever you need to."

With Chocolate Cherry's help, Nightmare Moon got back into bed. With a sigh, she looked up at the ceiling. The pains in her body were flaring back up, coming back fresh and anew.

"I'll be back as soon as I can," Cherry called out.

Nightmare gave a nod of acknowledgement. Her ears shifted as she listened to the sounds of hooves leaving her room. Soon, she was alone again.

"I hate this place," she whispered to herself.

She Has A Theory

"Wooooommmmm," Nightmare Moon hummed, waving her front hooves in front of her face. "Woooommm." A grin spread across her face as she let out a giggle. "I am Nightmare Moon. Fear me. For I shall eat all of your breakfast foods while you sleep." She then laughed fully. "The pancakes shall last forever!"

"Nightmare?"

Nightmare looked up from her front legs to the door. Chocolate Cherry and Twilight Sparkle stood there, looking at her in confusion.

"Cherry!" Nightmare squealed out, grinning. "Twilight! My friends. I'm so glad to see you."

"Did you just say you were glad to see us?" Twilight asked. "Wait. Did you just call me your 'friend?'"

Cherry moved forward first, getting closer to Nightmare. Her eyes narrowed and ears twitched as she got to the side of the back, looking at Nightmare up close.

"You're high," Cherry declared.

"High?" Nightmare blinked and stared at Cherry a moment, letting the word sink in. "I don't think I am." She turned to look down at the bed. "At least no more than I was when you left. The bed is just as far from the floor as it has always been. I think. Can they raise it?"

"Yes," Twilight answered, "but that's not what Cherry means. Have they given you some medication recently?"

"Indeed," Nightmare replied, clapping her front hooves and kicking her back ones. "They said that my blood pressure was high enough and I was sufficiently stable for them to provide me with a new painkiller. It is a most wonderful thing. I can feel no pain at all."

She turned her attention back to Cherry.

"They also brought me something simply incredible with lunch. It was this jiggly red square with bits of fruit in it. They called it 'cherry gelatin.' It was quite delicious. And fun to watch. They way it would wiggle back and forth. Almost had too much fun to eat it. Didn't really taste like cherries though. Wiggle wiggle wiggle. Jiggle jiggle. We need to get some gelatin when I get out of here. We could even try it with that whipped cream you have. I have been wondering what it would taste like on things other than you. Oh, perhaps you should buy some whipped cream for Twilight so she and Big Ma-"

"Nightmare," Twilight cut in, her face taking on a deep pink. "Cherry said that you have something important to tell me?"

"I did?" Nightmare asked, blinking. It was hard to think, to focus on any one thing.

"Yes," Cherry replied. "You said you realized what was going on when I mentioned The Alicorn Amulet was stolen."

"Ah, The Alicorn Amulet," Nightmare sighed out. "Imagine if I had managed to get a hold of that while in possession of Luna. I probably would have been truly unstoppable then. Although there's the matter of how it would affect my personality. Would it affect me? I mean it probably would now, but would it have then? Would it have affected Luna? Would I have to battle it for control of her? What would happen if three different personalities ended up trying to assert control?"

"Nightmare," Cherry said gently, "sweetie, I need you to focus, okay? What did you want to tell Twilight about it?"

"Oh, just that the attack on me and theft of The Alicorn Amulet are connected to her notes on the ritual used to make me mortal being stolen from Canterlot," Nightmare answered. "You know what we need? A place that makes and serves pancakes all day long." She let out a gasp. "Maybe I'll do that. Open my own restaurant that specialized in pancakes."

"Why would you think that the book, the attack on you, and the amulet are connected?" Twilight asked.

"I don't know," Nightmare answered with a shrug. "It just sort of came to me when Cherry told me about The Alicorn Amulet being stolen."

"So, why would they want your blood?" Chocolate asked.

"Something to do with the ritual," Nightmare suggested. "I was made from it like this." She looks down and pokes at her stomach. "Do you think I'm getting fat? I don't eat a lot of actual sweets, but I do like sweet stuff." She looks up again. "We should have a special meal when I get out of here. Which I would like soon, by the way. I don't like hospitals."

"So if you're right," Twilight said slowly as she considered it, "then they probably took the amulet to help give them enough power to work the spells."

"It was supposed be powerful enough to overthrow the princesses," Nightmare agreed. "If Sombra was right about it anyways. We should visit The Crystal Empire. I haven't seen it in over a millenia. I wonder what it would be like now."

"Hold on. What was that about Sombra?"

"What about him?"

"You just mentioned him," Cherry pointed out. "When you were talking about the amulet."

Nightmare let out a huff and rolled her eyes.

"Well of course I did," she stated. "He was the one who made it after all." She paused and tapped her chin. "Or... was the one that had it made for him to use. Was never really clear on that. Although to be fair, nothing was ever really clear when it came to King Sombra. He never really talked much during the battle. Tended to laugh or ramble about ponies and crystals. 'Rar rar. Foolish ponies. Grr grr. Crystals.'"

She paused, letting out a yawn.

"I think this stuff is getting to me."

Stretching out she laid back down, looking up at the ceiling.

"You ever think about how those little dots in the tiles look almost like stars?"

"Alright Nightmare," Twilight said. "You go ahead and get some rest. I should go and send letters to Celestia and Cadance about what you think." She gave Nightmare a gentle pat before heading for the door.

With Twilight gone, Nightmare Moon turned to Chocolate Cherry. Reaching up, the bed-ridden pegasus took a hold of the earth mare's cheeks.

"Has anypony ever told you that you're adorable?" Nightmare asked, pulling Cherry closer while squishing her cheeks.

"You have," Cherry said as she took a hold of Nightmare's hoof. "Several times in fact. Just not while you were stoned."

"Well it's true," Nightmare insisted. "You are just an adorable little mare, CC."

"CC?" Cherry repeated.

"And as sweet as your name," Nightmare continued. "Maybe foolishly so. Chocolate... cherries... electric onions... pink seashells..."

With a chuckle, Chocolate Cherry leaned down and kissed Nightmare Moon on the forehead.

"Sweet dreams," she said gently. "Hope you feel better. Love you."

"Love you too," Nightmare mumbled before falling asleep completely.

The First Snow

Nightmare Moon sat on her balcony, looking up at the night sky. Her breath gave little white puffs each time she exhaled. The moon shone bright and full above. Fluffy clouds floated overhead, glowing silver in the moonlight.

Everything around her seemed so quiet. With Twilight Sparkle off on some sort of friendship mission from the castle's map and Spike going to The Crystal Empire for some reason, she pretty much had the castle all to herself. Gibbous was in bed, burrowed under the blankets like a fox den. Chocolate Cherry was at work and would not be coming over tonight. So it pretty much was just her at the moment.

Sitting there, Nightmare Moon continued to stare up at the night sky and wait.

Then it started.

It was a single flake that caught her attention first. Invisible until it was almost right in front of her, Nightmare watched it. The flake swirled and swayed as it floated toward the ground, almost looking like it was doing a little dance. Nightmare continued to watch the single flake, following it all the way to the ground. She then looked back up to watch another. Then another. Soon the snow was falling at full speed.

It was the first snow, both for the season and for Nightmare Moon. She had seen snow before, sort of. Back when the spirit that would eventually become her was a part of -- although not in control of -- Luna. Specifically when the sisters had gone to The Crystal Empire to confront King Sombra. That was the closest that Nightmare had come to seeing snow, which covered the ground all the way up to Luna's knees. It had not actually been snowing at the time however. So this was the first time that Nightmare was actually getting to watch snow falling from the sky with her own eyes (although even if she had seen it before, it would still technically be the first time with her own eyes).

Nightmare flicked her wings and shook as the cold sank into her body. Admittedly, she was under-dressed for the weather. No jacket, cap, or scarf. It was noticeable, and she could feel it, but it did not bother her. Certainly not enough for her to go back inside and miss the first snow fall.

It was beautiful. Like little stars falling all around her, twinkling and dancing before touching down on the ground.

Nightmare moved toward the railing and stood up on it, looking down. Already Ponyville was covered by a light dusting of the soft white powder. Closing her eyes, she spread her wings wide and took a slow, deep breath. The cold night air filled her lungs, giving them a mild burning sensation that she enjoyed.

With a hard shove of her hind legs and flap of her wings, Nightmare Moon launched herself into the night sky. She stretched out as much as she could and held still, letting herself drift and glide downward.

Just before reaching the ground, Nightmare turned and started flapping. She made her way higher and higher, climbing up into the sky. Opening her mouth wide, she let some of the flakes fall into her mouth as she made her way past them. They seemed to vanish as soon as they touched her tongue, leaving only a faint hint that they had even been there to begin with.

Soon she was high above Ponyville, just under the clouds. All around her, the snowflakes fell. She could feel them against her coat and see them swirl in the gusts from each flap of her wings. It was surprising to see how far the flaps affected the little flakes. The winds from her traveled further than she expected. Curious, she straightened up then spun herself in place. With no reference point, it was hard to tell how many times she actually spun, but she thought it was about five. She stopped hard and watched as the thousands of snowflakes swirled around her like a whirlwind.

A grin of excitement spread across her face. It seemed that she had some control over the snow for the moment. She could have a little fun with it.

Straightening, she let herself drop before lunging upwards. Nightmare hit the cloud above her, punching a hole through it instead of causing it to disperse. She flew a little further before stopping and looking down. As she had hoped, a small flurry followed her up through the hole before starting to fall once more.

With a grin, she climbed up higher and higher, keeping track of the hole that she had made. She continued until she felt the first warning tug on her collar, indicating she was at the edge of her permitted distance. She stopped her wings, pulling them in against her.

For a moment, she was weightless, a dark shadow in the night sky high above the ground. She was not Nightmare Moon. She was not a pony. She was the cold, the wind, the darkness, the snow. She was the winter night.

The first tugs of gravity brought her back to her body as she started to fall.

Twisting, she turned herself to point down. Her ears pulled back against her head and eyes narrowed against the impending winds. She tucked her forelegs in close to her body and kept her wings closed while straightening her back legs straight behind her. With a few minor adjustments, she plunged through the hole and sped down toward the ground.

As she fell, picking up more and more speed, a strange thought occurred to her. What if she decided not to pull out? What if she stayed exactly like she was, and allowed herself to hit the ground? The impact would probably kill her, leave a crater in the town. What if she tried to fly as fast as she could before hitting? Could she leave a larger impact? Maybe she would even be able to break the magical speed barrier. If she did, would she even leave a body behind? How deep would the impact hole be?

Pushing the thought aside, Nightmare returned her attention to what she was doing. She was falling a lot faster than the snowflakes. It looked like they were holding still as blew past them. Carefully, she turned and looked back, catching sight of the snow caught in her wake and being pulled along with her.

Snapping out her wings, she made a sharp turn. All of the falling energy was turned into forward momentum as she shot along the street.

Her face burned from the wind and ice, and there was an ache in her cheeks. She realized that it was because she was grinning. She felt incredible. She felt free. She felt...

ALIVE!

With a laugh, Nightmare spun herself in a corkscrew. Her movement slowed down as she took a turn, then pushed to get going as fast as she could.

City Hall quickly came into view. Already going as fast as she could, Nightmare still tried to push her speed more. Bits of ice were forming on her eyelashes, flaking away each time she blinked. The air was thick and white each time she exhaled. Her lungs burned as she breathed, trying to keep up. Her heart was slamming in her chest, pounding against her rib cage. There was an ache in her wings and back as she continued to flap with all her strength. Nightmare could swear that she felt every muscle in her body.

Reaching City Hall, Nightmare Moon turned. She looped around the building, going so fast she could not even see the support beams as she went by. Breaking the turn, she slingshot toward Sugarcube Corner. She banked off the wall of the building, turning to head upwards again.

"Hi Nightie," a voice called out as she shot up past what looked like a cupcake.

Letting her momentum slow down, Nightmare turned her ascent into a lazy backwards arc. The roof of a building came into view, Nightmare's trajectory leading her directly toward it. With cat-like grace, she turned to right herself. Landing, she turned to look behind her.

Disappointingly, the snow was not flying to hit the wall of Sugarcube Corner. Nor was it circling around City Hall. Further back beyond that, it had already resumed its regular falling pattern. Although there was a line in the road from where her wake had pushed the fallen snow aside. So she had not been able to move the snow with her flying as much as she wanted, but she still had fun.

Taking off the roof, she flew back toward the castle. As she moved at a more casual pace, everything started to catch up with Nightmare. She panted heavily, her breath coming out in a thick fog with each huff. Her chest ached and she could feel her heart pounding hard. The muscles in her wings and back burned, and she knew she was going to be stiff and sore in the morning. The euphoric warmth of her rapid flight was passing, and her body was starting to feel the bite of the winter cold again. She was starting to get chilly, and knew she would be feeling cold before she got back inside.

It was all worth it though. She had loved every second and would gladly do it again.

Landing on her balcony, Nightmare stepped inside. The interior of the castle was far warmer than it was outside. It hit Nightmare with a noticeable force, causing her to finally shiver and shake. Now that she was warm she realized how cold she had actually been.

She suddenly got an idea. There was a bathroom, which included a tub and shower. A nice hot soak would probably help to chase the chill from her body. Even if not, she would still enjoy it.

With a flick of her wings and slight bounce of excitement, Nightmare Moon headed toward the bathroom.

Warm Hearth, Warm Heart

"Gifts?" Nightmare Moon asked. "Ponies exchange gifts on Hearth's Warming? I thought it was about the bonding of the kingdoms and stopping the windigoes or something."

"It is," Chocolate Cherry said, "but somewhere along the way, ponies started exchanging gifts to express how much they mean to each other."

"Really?" Nightmare said, looking at Cherry. "Then I should get you something." She paused, thinking. "Do... you have any suggestions?"

"Oh, Nightie," Cherry replied with a grin, "anything you pick out for me will be fine because it's from you." She then kissed Nightmare Moon on the cheek.

Nightmare Moon had not accepted that however. As far as she was concerned, any gift she gave would have to be absolutely perfect. Something that was on the scale of the likes of her getting for another. Something so impressive that no pony could ever top it.

Okay, maybe not that last part. After all, if it was something that nopony could top, that would include her. Still, it would have to be something wonderful and incredible. Something she knew that Chocolate Cherry would love. Especially since Cherry would be getting Nightmare something incredible.

So Nightmare had spent the days -- weeks even -- trying to figure out the best gift for Chocolate Cherry. She had also spent some time picking up gifts for Twilight Sparkle and her little dragon. But those two were more than easy.

After much thought, consideration and searching, Nightmare Moon had finally found what she thought would be perfect for her friend: an autographed first release of DJ Pon-3's debut album Wubbin' Your Flank. In the afternoon, the two of them would meet up and exchange gifts. Chocolate Cherry even talked about the two of them having a snowball fight. Something the other mare had been teasing Nightmare about since the first time they saw some foals having one.

"What are they doing?" Nightmare asked as they saw a group of foals hiding behind a wall of snow, popping out to throw balls of the material at another group not far away.

"They're just having a snowball fight," Cherry answered.

"And they are using practically no strategy in the matter. Just look at them." Nightmare motioned at the playing young ponies with her wing. "Both sides are playing from a purely defensive position, with pretty much no fortifications I might add. There's no strategy or planning. Merely to throw the projectiles at their opponents before retreating for cover. Plus, neither side seems to be taking advantage of either their individual or race related talents of skills, to say nothing of doing so for maximum effectiveness. These are not effective combat tactics."

"They're just foals having some fun," Cherry stated.

"Victory is fun," Nightmare declared. "Defeating your opponents through a cunning master strategy. Especially one that shows themselves to be a challenge. One that is a worthy adversary with skilled plans of their own. GAH!

The rest of her statement came to an abrupt end as something cold and wet hit the side of her face. The sound of laughter filled her ears.

"You mean like a sneak attack while your opponent is distracted?" Cherry asked, still giggling.

Nightmare glared down at Chocolate Cherry before breaking into a chuckle herself.

"Indeed," Nightmare conceded, "and a well played maneuver Cherry." Her eyes narrowed as her grin widened. "One that merits retaliation."

"Well if you want to have a proper snowball fight, just let me know," Cherry retorted. "I may not be a master strategist, but I bet I can hold my own."

"We shall see, but another time."

That would be in the afternoon however. This morning she would be stuck spending it with Twilight Sparkle and Spike. The three of them would have breakfast, then exchange gifts. Then after enjoying one of the best things Nightmare discovered about winter -- a hot beverage made of milk mixed with melted chocolate and having marshmallows covering the top -- Twilight and Spike would head off to the train station to go to Canterlot.

The breakfast was surprisingly basic. Just oatmeal with some choices of fruit to add to it.

"Normally families have a really big meal later in the day," Spike explained. "Kind of like a late lunch early dinner type of thing with the whole family. So it's kind of a bad idea to have too big or heavy a breakfast. Some even skip it altogether."

The explanation brought a pause to Nightmare Moon. Neither she nor Chocolate Cherry had said anything about a large meal later in the day. Was it to be a surprise on Cherry's end? Now that she thought about it, Cherry had never said why she was not going to be with her family for Hearth's Warming. And Nightmare had never thought to ask. Caramel was spending the afternoon part with The Apple Family ("They invited me when I was working to help out the first time," he explained. "Pretty sure they invite any pony they know who doesn't have a family to spend it with."), so it would just be Nightmare and Cherry. In their time together, neither of them had really done much cooking.

The thought was put aside for the time being. It would be something that could be dealt with later, and pondering on the matter would do no good. She could discuss it with Cherry when the two of them were together.

After breakfast and the dishes, came the exchanging of gifts. Twilight went first with giving Spike something called a "harmonica." This particular one was supposed to be made of heat resistant materials and enchanted so it would be unaffected by his flames. He even gave it a couple of puffs to try it out.

Then he gave his gift to Nightmare Moon. It was a book of the complete fictional works well-known horror and science fiction author, H.P Lorecrafter. It was still odd to Nightmare that there were times when ponies actually wanted to be scared. It turned out that some actually made a living by writing stories that were designed specifically to frighten ponies. It had been quite a shock to Nightmare when Twilight had brought one such book to the hospital for Nightmare to read while recovering.

Since then, she had been reading all sorts of horror stories. Some of them were quite interesting. She even recognized a small number of them from her time in the dream realm. Although whether it was the author having a dream that inspired the story or a pony having a nightmare because of reading the story, she could not say.

In exchange, Nightmare Moon gave Spike the gift that she had gotten for him. They were silvery colored gemstones. The pony that Nightmare had gotten them from claimed they were called "Moon Crystals." Supposedly they grew in the regions where the bat-ponies lived and had disappeared along with them, only returning when they were serving Princess Luna once again. Nightmare was skeptical of the story, but she had never seen such crystals herself before. Even if Spike had, she figured that he would be more than happy to eat or hoard them all the same.

The present Spike gave Twilight Sparkle was a published version of the letters that Twilight -- and later her friends -- had sent to Princess Celestia regarding friendship. It turned out that Spike had been working with Princess Celestia and the publisher to get the book made, filling in parts of the stories that explained why each of the letters had been written.

"Just think," Spike said excitedly. "There will now be a book out there that ponies can study to learn about friendship, and most of it will be based on your research."

"I never thought about that," Twilight said. "It does sound exciting. Ponies could be reading about me for years in the future."

"You could be like the next Starswirl The Bearded," Spike nearly shouted.

The book Nightmare gave Twilight was -- in her opinion -- nowhere near as impressive. It was merely a book on pegasus magic and some of the theories behind it. Great for a pony that wanted to study pegasus magic, or for parents of a pegasus that were not ones themselves to help teach the foal about their abilities. It was unlikely -- although not impossible -- that Twilight would need it for the second reason. Although perhaps it would help her better expand her own powers. Alicorns were supposed to have abilities similar to those from all three tribes after all.

"I actually have two gifts to give you," Twilight Sparkle said as her horn started to glow. She held a package out to Nightmare Moon.

Nightmare took a hold of the gift and began to unwrap. Inside was a book with a black cover. On the front of it was an image that looked like her eye. Opening it, she found that the first pages were a re-telling of her first appearance over a thousand years ago. Next came her return a thousands years later, and subsequent defeat by Twilight Sparkle and her friends.

"It's a journal of your life," Twilight explained. "I filled in the parts of it that I could already."

Nightmare continued to flip through, finding her return and possession of Rarity as well as the following defeat, her incarnation into a limited physical form by Twilight, and even a section that was about her performance in Nightmare Night. That one was interesting because it had actual photographs of her with it. After that, it was just blank pages.

"I figured it would be a good idea to have you tell your story," Twilight said. "Give your perspective on history, record your experiences, even share what you've learned about being mortal. You could also record what you learn on your travels."

"Travels?" Nightmare Moon asked, looking up from the book. "Am I going somewhere?"

"Only if you want," Twilight answered. "That's kind of the big present."

Straightening up, Twilight Sparkle's horn began to glow with magic. The bright rose colored aura then enveloped the collar around Nightmare Moon's neck. There was an audible click as the collar came loose, falling to the floor.

"What?" Nightmare asked, looking down between the collar and her now bare neck.

"Luna and I have been discussing it for a while now," Twilight explained. "You haven't done anything actively evil or malicious... even if you have been a bit snarky from time to time. You have a relationship with Chocolate Cherry and were protective of Sweetie Belle, so you have shown that you can and are willing to care for others. Although Nightmare Night ended pretty bad, you did spend the earlier part having fun and making it entertaining for others. And while you were in the hospital and medicated, you seemed more interested in trying to open a pancake house instead of taking over Equestria."

Nightmare's ears pulled back at that last part, but she did not say anything.

"It all seems to indicate that you are well on your way to becoming a part of pony society and not trying to take over," Twilight said. "So Luna and I agree that it's a good time to bring an end to your probation. Technically you can go and do whatever you want now. You can also stay here as long as you like. You're more than welcome. If you do decide to leave, you can always come back, and I'd appreciate it if you would keep in touch."

"'Keep in touch?'" Nightmare repeated. "You mean allow myself to keep being monitored willingly so you can be sure I'm not relapsing into my old ways."

"I wouldn't say that," Twilight said.

"I would," Spike called out.

"Look, I have considered it," Twilight admitted, "but I also figured that you more than likely would not write about doing something to usurp the throne in a letter to me."

"Not unless I was certain that you could do nothing to stop it," Nightmare added, grinning.

"Of course," Twilight mumbled before speaking up. "I know we don't exactly get along, but I do think of you as a friend, and I know you think of me as one too... even if you were only willing to admit to such while under the influence of strong medications. I care about you and want to make sure you're okay. Plus, I kind of owe being in a relationship with Big Macintosh to you."

"Somepony say my name?" a deep voice asked, getting the attention of the others in the room.

"Big Macintosh?" Twilight asked, getting up and walking toward the large red stallion. "What are you doing here?"

"Figured I'd walk ya to the train station," Big Macintosh answered.

"And everypony is okay with this?"

"Granny pretty much shoved me out the door."

"Well it's not time to go yet," Twilight stated, "and I'm in the middle of something with Nightmare Moon."

"Not really," Nightmare stated. She shut the book and stood up.

"Nightmare," Twilight started.

"No," Nightmare cut in. "I get it. You're my friend, I'm your friend, it's all overly emotional and so forth. I can stay if I want, but I'm now free to leave. There is really no more to say." She picked up the books, tucking them under one wing.

"I'm going to put these away and then take Gibbous for a walk before going to Cherry's." She turned and looked at Twilight. "Perhaps you should have Macintosh help finish the rest of the hot chocolate before the three of you leave."

"Oh?" Twilight asked as she looked at Nightmare a moment. "Uhm... okay?" She then turned to Big Macintosh. "Would you like some hot chocolate?"

"Eyup," Macintosh replied. He then followed after Twilight Sparkle to the castle's kitchen.

Nightmare watched them a moment, before turning to head for the stairs. She stopped as she found Spike suddenly in front of her.

"Pretty clever move there," he said, narrowing his eyes.

"There was nothing clever about it," Nightmare stated. "I merely didn't wish to hear one of Twilight's rambling speeches on friendship, and there was no point in letting the hot chocolate go to waste."

"Uh-huh," Spike said, shifting. "And the fact that it gave the two of them more time alone had nothing to do with it?"

"Don't you have some bags to septuple check or something?" Nightmare snapped, shifting her own gaze to glare down at the young dragon.

"Fine," Spike said as he turned to walk away. He stopped to turn back. "But I saw the tear." He then ran off.

"If you tell anypony," she shouted after him, "not only shall I deny it, but I shall find a way to send you to the moon myself!"

With a huff, Nightmare rubbed at her face, making sure that there were no signs of tears left. It was foolish to get emotional over Twilight Sparkle caring for her. The important thing was that now she was free. She was no longer confined to Ponyville or whatever limit Twilight chose to set on her. She could go where she desired when she desired with whom she desired. Nothing Twilight could do would be able to stop her now. She could even resume her quest to find artifacts to regain more of her power if she so desired. Now that she could actually go seek them, it was no longer a mere fantasy limited to research in the books that were available.

All of that, however, would have to wait. For now, Nightmare Moon had more immediate matters to attend to. Although now there was something more for her to celebrate with Chocolate Cherry: freedom. Perhaps -- if Nightmare decided to leave Ponyville shortly -- she could convince her friend to go with her.

That idea actually sounded like it would be quite fun.

Thoughts of the Past

"Now boarding for The Crystal Empire," a voice called out. With that, Nightmare Moon and Chocolate Cherry made their way onto the train.

The car was mostly empty, which was no surprise. Now that Hearth's Warming was over, most ponies were at home resting and recovering before getting back to their normal life. The few that would be traveling would be the ones that were trying to do just that. With it having vanished over a thousand years ago, there were practically no ponies alive that knew about any sort of family in The Crystal Empire. So it made sense that there would be very few ponies on the train.

It was not completely empty. There were a few other ponies moving to take seats as well. Still, there was more than enough room. Nightmare and Cherry could have sat three rows apart and not have a pony in between them.

Instead the two of them sat together, pressing against each other slightly.

"I know you're excited to be free," Cherry said as she got comfortable, "but why do you suddenly want to go to The Crystal Empire?"

"I'm going to steal The Crystal Heart," Nightmare stated, "and attempt to use it to ascend to alicornhood. If that does not work, then I shall hold it for ransom, having them declare me a princess so that I may start my own kingdom."

There were several seconds of silence as Chocolate Cherry shifted, looking up at Nightmare Moon.

"Why do you really want to go?" Cherry asked.

"I haven't seen The Empire since I was merely a spirit that had found a way into Luna's mind," Nightmare explained. "I am curious to see how it has changed since Sombra's defeat."

Plus I need to check to see if it is safe, she thought to herself.

Since her last time at the hospital, Nightmare Moon had been dreaming about the old castle. The same night each week -- the same night as she had been attacked -- she would find herself there. Instead of appearing at the bridge, or outside, she would start off in the throne room.

Some times the place would change, like it was being restored and altered. Cracks in the stones were fading and sealing, dust and chunks of stone were disappearing, and statues were being repaired or replaced.

On the dais, the shield bubble remained. None of the cracks in it vanished, but they did not seem to grow any wider. Inside, the figure of Nightmare as an alicorn could no longer be seen. Instead there was a swirling mass of dark energy. Sometimes -- not always, but sometimes -- when Nightmare reached out and touched it, some of the energy would slip out and wrap around her before disappearing. The contact sent an electrical thrill through her body. It was like a little bit of her magic was returning. Although she did not notice any sort of change in herself either in the dream realm or in the waking world.

Last night when she was at the castle in the dream realm, she noticed something odd. There was a patch of small black crystals forming on the floor. It was hard to tell, but Nightmare was pretty sure that the spot and been on the edge of where the hole had formed when the shadowy entity escaped. Curious, she reached out and touched one of the crystals.

As soon as she did, she felt a sense of fear and dark magic. Both of were familiar to her as she had -- in a way -- felt them before, when she had been a small part of Luna.

The shock of feeling that particular energy again and sent her stepping back. Her gaze turned to the floor, to where the gap had been. From what she knew, it would have been impossible for the creature that had been sealed to be him. Still, if crystals with hints of his magic were showing up in the dream world...

"What was it like?"

The question knocked Nightmare Moon out of her thoughts, bringing her back to the present and the train. It actually surprised her to see the scenery moving past. She had been so distracted that she had not even noticed the train start move.

"What was that?" she asked as she turned to look at Chocolate Cherry.

"The Crystal Empire," Cherry said. "You were there when King Sombra ruled, right?"

"In a manner of speaking. It was Luna who went there, although I was with her at the time."

"What was it like?" Cherry asked again.

Nightmare Moon leaned back and looked up at the ceiling. She let her mind drift back, dredging through the memories. They were not her memories, not truly, but they felt like it. She could remember it quite vividly.

"Dark," Nightmare stated. "Physically and emotionally. Thick black clouds filled the sky. Not actual storm clouds either. More like pure darkness covering the sky above us. The crystal ponies were sad and depressed. It was so strong that Luna -- and thus I -- could feel it practically radiating off them. It almost made her feel sick, as in physically ill.

"The crystals were black, corrupted by King Sombra's evil. It was almost palpable. It was like they were humming with his dark magic. Even the snow seemed to be affected by it. It was not fluffy whiteness like you've seen, but more of a gray color that felt... greasy against your hooves."

She felt Chocolate Cherry shift next to her, pressing closer.

"Sombra actually helped me come into being as I was," Nightmare stated.

"Really? How?"

"Prior to The Crystal Empire," Nightmare explained, "Celestia and Luna had fought against Discord. At one point, Discord had tried to separate the sisters by placing doubts in Luna's mind. It didn't work the way he intended, they were still able to get The Elements and defeat him, but it did work in a way. Enough that it allowed me to slip into her mind when she slept next. I was just a small spirit with limited sentience at the time. I basically just fed those doubts and fears, inducing bad dreams in her.

"When the two of them had The Elements of Harmony, Celestia actually had both The Element of Kindness and of Generosity. When they first went there, she wanted to give Sombra the opportunity to either give up or change his ways. She wanted to end things peacefully and not have a fight. So when Celestia and Luna first met King Sombra, Celestia gave him the opportunity. His response was to fire a blast of dark energy at Celestia, and Luna's first response was to jump in the way of the attack."

Chocolate Cherry let out a gasp.

"In a way," Nightmare continued, "Luna was lucky. The spell that Sombra used was not intended to kill, but to make the victim experience her greatest fear as a very vivid hallucination. Combined with Discord's attempt and my minor influence, Luna found herself in a world where her sister was revered, loved, and admired. Practically any and all ponies looked up to and loved her. Meanwhile, she was left alone and forgotten. Nopony even knew who she was or what she did. Everything she worked for was unnoticed and unappreciated, even her beautiful night sky."

Nightmare paused, taking a breath and composing herself. Although technically it did not happen to her, it still felt like it. She could still feel the fear, sadness, anger, and betrayal from it. She had not fully understood them at the time, but she had felt them very much as Luna had. One of the issues of being bound into another without any sort of control, feeling what they do with no control over it.

"After Luna recovered from the psychic attack, she and Celestia finally battled against King Sombra. They defeated him -- or thought they did, more accurately -- but he was able to cast the spell that made the entire empire disappear before he fell.

"It had actually been that point where a schism started to really form between Celestia and Luna. It was the memories of that vision that made Luna jealous of her sister. She started pulling away, keeping to herself, socializing even less than she usually did. Not just with her sister, but with other ponies as well. So in that ironic way that life seems to enjoy, she was putting herself in the position of creating the very situation which she was afraid of. When it was decided that Celestia would take the throne for all of Equestria, Luna felt like it was happening. All that jealousy, anger and fear came boiling up, and I was born. Although I suppose 'made manifest' would be a more accurate term."

"So if there had been no King Sombra," Cherry said, "and if Luna hadn't stepped in front of the attack, you wouldn't exist?"

"I can't say that for certain," Nightmare replied. "The seeds were there already. What King Sombra did was... more like adding fertilizer to it. It could have still happened, it may have been later, or it could have been aborted." She paused, tapping her hoof and considering. "Although very unlikely, it is also possible that had the attack hit Celestia instead, the roles would have been reversed."

Cherry groaned and let out a shudder.

"I'm glad that didn't happen. I would hate to see a world where Celestia was trying to create a scorching hot endless day."

"As would I," Nightmare agreed. "However, it now makes me curious as to what she would have called herself in such a situation."

"Getting back to Sombra," Cherry said, "where does The Alicorn Amulet fit in?"

"I'm not sure," Nightmare answered, "but my best guess is that he was not going to simply stop with The Crystal Empire. Using the amulet, Sombra was going to boost his power -- enough to stand against Celestia and Luna -- then try and take over Equestria as well."

"Wow," Cherry said softly. "I'm really starting to miss the days when I thought that Equestria was a nice quiet little kingdom where nothing interesting happened anymore. Present company excepted."

Author's Note

Okay, you can stop reading the story now. Think of this as the happy ending. Nightmare Moon lives happily ever after traveling Equestria with Chocolate Cherry. They visit many places, see the sights, collect many souvenirs, and have a long happy life together before dying of old age.

There are a few more chapters to be published, but its going to be where the... other tags really come into play. If you read beyond this point, it is going to get sad, and maybe scary. I am in no way responsible for any feelings of sadness or having your heart ripped out.

Sincerely,
Ink Hoof

Winter Wrap-up Troubles

"What do you mean she's not here?" the mayor cried out, eyes wide.

"What part of the concept are you having difficulty comprehending?" Nightmare Moon asked, eyes narrowing as she leaned closer. "I assume that you have at least a basic level of education in order to have obtained your office, so it should not be the vocabulary or grammar of the statement. 'Twilight Sparkle isn't here,' seems like a very straightforward statement. I don't know how to simplify it further for you."

"I know what you said," the mayor snapped.

"Then why did you ask?" Nightmare asked, trying to look as innocent as possible (which was never a small feat for her).

The look on the mayor's face was hilarious. Nightmare was willing to bet that there were a few very choice words waiting on the end of that tongue to lash out at her. Unfortunately, that would not be a very political sound move. Even if Nightmare did deserve it, the story of the mayor yelling at a citizen of Ponyville and friend of the resident hero turned princess would be far too interesting news not to spread, and it would make it all that harder to get re-elected for another term. Assuming the mayor wished to have another term.

The mayor closed her eyes, straightened up, and took a slow deep breath. It seemed to Nightmare that she did want at least one more term after all.

"Do you happen to know where she went?" the mayor asked calmly. "Or when she will be back?"

"She was summoned to The Crystal Empire by a 'friendship emergency.'"

A fact that Nightmare Moon found extremely irritating. Not too long ago she and Chocolate Cherry had gone there to check on things. They had taken a tour of the castle, seen The Crystal Heart, heard the story of Sombra's defeat and Spike saving The Equestrian Games. The two of them had even found an adult entertainment shop and picked up a crystal dildo to try out (it had been kind of cold at first, but pretty fun after). The entire time she had been there, Nightmare Moon had found nothing that seemed dangerous. There was no indication of any sort of attack or invasion that she could tell.

Having Twilight then called away to the very same place she had checked not too long ago was very irritating. It gave her the feeling that she might have missed something, and she did not like it.

"As such, she did not really give a time frame," Nightmare continued, "but it is safe to assume it is going to be at least a few days."

"What?!" the mayor shrieked out. "But Winter Wrap-up starts today. We need Twilight to make sure everything goes as scheduled."

"Are you saying that your 'Winter Wrap-up' is more important than a friendship emergency?" Nightmare asked, tilting her head and raising an eyebrow.

"No," the mayor retorted. "Of course not. It's just..." She let out a sigh and shook her head. "Last year was the first that we had been on schedule in... well... as long as I can remember actually. That was thanks to Twilight's scheduling and despite numerous setbacks. With her in charge, we could not only finish on time, but actually be early. It would be a point of pride for a lot of the ponies in this town."

Nightmare Moon shifted. Bringing a hoof to her chin, she tapped it gently as she thought, letting out a small hum.

"Now that I think about, I do believe that Twilight did say something about leaving a schedule and notes for you."

"Really?" the mayor asked. Her voice was flat as her ears dropped back and eyes narrowed. "And you're just now 'remembering' this?"

"Correct." Nightmare smiled. "If you will just wait here a moment, I'll see if I can find them for you."

Before the mayor could respond, Nightmare moved back and shut the door. After making her way to the kitchen, she grabbed a bottle of juice and a moon pie. Nightmare had originally gotten a box of them as a joke, but after trying one, found they were rather enjoyable. Except the banana. The combination of the cake-like layers, the marshmallows, and the banana coating (which tasted absolutely nothing like bananas by the way) was not one that she liked in the least.

Taking a seat, she munched away at her snack while looking at the map in front of her. Eating slowly and taking sips of her juice, she studied the image. Her eyes worked slowly across the surface, taking in the few spots that she had marked off.

They were places that she wanted to see. Some of them were mere curiosity, opportunities to see what Equestria was like. Others were possible locations of artifacts or sites of power. In light of what happened in the dream realm, her reason for marking them had changed. Originally, she wanted to explore them to see about finding a way to restore or replace her lost abilities, maybe help her find a way to take over Equestria. After Nightmare Night, she started thinking about those locations again, as a way for some other being to try and get the power to take over. Whatever was coming would probably need some sort of base of operations. More than likely, it would have powers of its own, but it made Nightmare feel like she was doing something. Maybe it was a side effect of having been a part of Luna, or maybe it was from living with Twilight Sparkle, but Nightmare found that she could not at least try to do something about the feeling of a pending threat. If she were very fortunate (which she doubted) she might even figure out a way to prevent the creature from becoming a danger in the first place.

"Nightie?"

Nightmare Moon looked up from the map to see Chocolate Cherry. After shoving the rest of the moon pie into her mouth, Nightmare got up and walked over to Cherry, wrapping a wing around her.

"Hello, Cherry. How are you today?"

"I'm fine," Cherry said. She moved back, looking at Nightmare with narrowed eyes "By the way, did you know that the mayor is waiting outside?"

"Indeed," Nightmare replied with a grin. "She is currently waiting for me to find the schedule and notes Twilight left for her so she can start Winter Wrap-up."

"So you're in here, having a snack, while she waits outside?"

"Correct."

Cherry sighed and shook her head before saying, "I'll go ahead and give them to her then. Where are they?"

"If I remember correctly," Nightmare said, looking up toward the ceiling, "Twilight said that she would put them on the table right next to the door."

"'Right next to the door,'" Cherry repeated. "So instead of simply giving her the papers which were right beside you, you came in here to have a snack? Just so she would be stuck waiting and become more agitated?"

"That would be an accurate summary, yes."

"You are just hopeless some times," Cherry stated, but Nightmare Moon caught the hint of amusement in her voice.

"It's part of why you love me," Nightmare called back.

Since Cherry was taking care of things with the mayor, she returned her attention to the map. She looked at it, picking out the spot that seemed to be closest to Ponyville. If Twilight's experience in The Crystal Empire did not change anything, she would search there next. It would probably take a few days. There were no trains or roads to it, and as much as her flying abilities had improved, she doubted she could cover the entire distance in a single day without rest. If things were well there, maybe she would then go someplace fun with Cherry. Maybe Appleloosa. Nightmare had never met a buffalo before, not even in the dream realm.

"NIGHTMARE!" Cherry shouted in terror.

Before she even realized what she was doing, Nightmare was up and flying through the castle toward the doorway. Cherry and the mayor stood there, looking up toward the sky.

"What is it?" Nightmare asked as she landed, running the last few feet. "What's going on?"

Instead of saying something, Cherry pointed up. Her eyes were wide and mouth hanging open. The mayor was doing the same thing. When Nightmare looked up, she could see why.

"Are... are... are those..." the mayor said as she stared up.

"Windigos," Nightmare Moon stated. "Those are actual windigos."

Hide and Seek

After having a long conversation with Healthy Hope, Nightmare Moon kept to her word. Instead of dropping Hope from the sky and letting her plummet to her death, Nightmare took her to City Hall, and tied her to the lightning rod on top. If Hope was lucky, she would be able to get loose and climb down on her own. If not, she would either be stuck there until some other ponies found her, or slip and fall, breaking a couple bones when she hit the ground. Or she might just freeze to death.

Nightmare Moon had learned disappointingly little. Other than a name, Hope knew pretty much nothing about Grogar. She had never met with them directly. All of the orders she and the other ponies got had come through a donkey by the name of Bray. She did not know anything about what was happening in The Crystal Empire. She did not know why they wanted Nightmare's blood, only that they wanted to keep Nightmare alive in case they needed to get more. Yes she knew about the theft of The Alicorn Amulet, but no she did not know why it was taken.

If Hope was any sort of indication, Grogar tried to keep ponies from knowing too much about what he was up to. Not exactly good enough to keep a pony from figuring out at least large portions of it, but enough to keep the whole picture from being put together.

Nightmare Moon figured that Grogar wanted to use the ritual to bring the shadow creature into the physical world. She could also guess what it wanted, to take over Equestria. With Ponyville being attacked, it was probably already free and working toward its goal. Hopefully Nightmare could figure out a way to stop it, or at least slow it down until one of the princesses arrive.

Maybe she would not need help. Maybe the shadow creature was not actually free yet for some reason. Maybe she could stop Grogar and prevent the ritual from happening, leaving that creature trapped wherever it was hiding in the dream realm.

And maybe Rainbow Dash would come flying out of her vagina and perform a Sonic Rainboom.

Reaching the hill that she had been directed to, Nightmare Moon circled above and studied it. As she had been told, there was a large dark blue tent set up at the top. Surrounding it were at least four ponies, each facing a different direction.

Suddenly, there was movement. One of the ponies was running around the tent to where another still stood, while the other two took off, flying up toward her.

Seeing them coming, Nightmare Moon started to climb. She was going to need a way to either defeat or lose them. In both cases, her best chance was to get them up into the clouds. Her sight would be limited, but so would theirs. There being two of them would be less helpful since they would either need to keep close to each other or call out to keep in contact, but she did not have to do either of those.

Slowing down, she pushed into the clouds. The idea was to sink into them and have them close around her instead of bursting through. That would allow her to hide inside the clouds, making it all the more difficult to be seen.

Although it was possible in theory, she had never tried it before. When it came to clouds, Nightmare either tried to bust through them, or pass through and land on top to stand on them. So this would be her first attempt at moving inside the clouds, and it was in a rather dire situation.

It was not an easy thing to do. Sometimes she would thrust up too hard and wind up above the clouds, or she would end up pushing them away from her, leaving a gap. Other times, she would not push hard enough, and start to slip down out of the cover.

It was during one of these moments that she noticed something. Her plan was not working. One pegasus was flying above the clouds, looking down at them. The other was flying upside down below them, mirroring the movements. They were not moving through the cloud, so it did not hinder them, and they would catch her if she went above or below.

She was going to have to try something else.

Shifting, Nightmare Moon moved to turn over, just beneath the surface of the clouds. With her dark coat, it should be enough for her to keep hidden from the pegasus' view, but allow her to see out when he passed over. Silently, she prayed to the celestial bodies above that it would work.

Turns out that when not moving, the cloud would hold her about where she had settled herself, neither trying to push her up nor make her sink down. That at least was in her favor.

As the upper pegasus got closer, Nightmare slowly took a deep breath and held it. Her body tensed as she waited, watching him move closer and closer. Once she thought that he was in the right position, she kicked out with one of her hind legs. Her hooves drove into the pegasus' stomach, causing him to let out a "whuff" as the air was knocked from her lungs. She then lunged forward, slamming her head into the stallion's jaw.

Nightmare Moon had never read a story where a character attempted to use a headbutt to take out an opponent. She knew of stories where such techniques were used, but she had never happened to come across one. It was also something that she had never bothered to do any research on. There were probably some tips and suggestions on how to do such in unarmed combat manuals, but that was something she had no interest in.

A fact she would be regretting at the moment if she were thinking about it.

As intended, Nightmare managed to strike the pegasus on the chin with enough force to cause his head to snap backwards. Unfortunately, she was not immediately aware of the fact. As her head struck the stallion's, a blinding white hot pain filled her skull, blocking out everything around her for a split-second. As the flare subsided, her head throbbed and ached. It felt like it was going to last for a while.

From what she could make out, the attack had worked. The pegasus was lying sprawled out backwards on the clouds. His chest rose and fell in a steady pattern, a faint wheezing sound marking each time he exhaled.

As he laid there unconscious, an idea came to Nightmare Moon. If she kicked a hole into the clouds, she could drop the pegasus through it. If he was lucky, he would wake up as he plummeted and manage to save himself from hitting the ground. Better yet, his ally might catch sight and catch him, keeping the two of them temporarily out of the way. Alternatively, doing so would mean giving her position away. Plus she had no idea how long until the second pegasus noticed this one was missing.

Choosing the plan that required the less time in one spot, Nightmare Moon once again took off, flying back toward the hill.

A quick pass-over showed nothing different from what she had seen before. There were still only two guards standing outside, both on the same side (presumably the entrance). But what kind? If they were earth ponies, she would be safe until she landed. However, if they were unicorns, they could very well used ranged magic attacks on her.

With a deep breath, Nightmare shot toward the hill. As she went, she began to bob and weave, moving up, down, and side to side. She even tried to twist and turn as well as change her speed, but that took a little too much concentration. She was just going to have to keep to the weaving and hope that it was enough to help her dodge any blasts directed toward her.

None ever came.

Nightmare was actually a little disappointed.

Coming in closer, she noticed that the two on the ground were watching her. It turned out only one of them was a pony, a unicorn stallion that was wearing an eyepatch and glaring at Nightmare. The other was not actually a pony, but a donkey that was currently wearing a bright red peasant cap. They two of them watched her land, but did not move to attack her.

"Not going to try anything?" she asked, raising an eyebrow.

"We were told not to," the donkey said, and Nightmare recognized the voice. The same voice that had been giving orders from the shadows.

"And you should consider yourself lucky," the unicorn stallion growled. Reaching up, he rubbed at the cheek beneath the eyepatch.

Nightmare smirked.

"Why? Were you planning on... blind-siding me?" Her smirk grew wider as she made sure to draw attention to her fangs.

The stallion bared his teeth and let out a growl, ears pulling back.

"For what you did to me and Hope, I should tear off half of your face!"

"I was defending myself!" Nightmare yelled back. "Since it seems you have forgotten, it was you who attacked me first!"

"We weren't going to hurt you!"

"No!" Nightmare rolled her eyes. "Just throw a net over me, knock me out, stab me with a needle and steal my blood." She moved forward, her nose almost touching his. "Look me in the eye and tell me you wouldn't have done the same thing in my place, cyclops!"

"Enough!" the donkey cut in. "Dream, let it go. Grogar wants to see her, and he doesn't like to be kept waiting."

Dream whatever (or maybe it was whatever Dream) let out a snort, his hot breath blasting Nightmare in the face. He then took a step back, moving away from Nightmare. His eye kept on her, glaring.

Stepping past him, Nightmare straightened up. She raised her head as high as she could, nose pointing up into the air. Her wings gave a quick flicker as she walked before settling against her sides. After nearly getting past the unicorn, she whipped her tail, slapping him on the flank with it. She would have liked to seen his reaction, but turning to look back at him would ruin the effect.

Entering the tent, Nightmare Moon found a large mountain goat standing there. He was taller then her by a head, and proportionally as broad as Big Macintosh, with a dark, blue-gray coat. Large black horns curled back from his head, and glowing red eyes stared out from underneath bushy white eyebrows.

"How nice to meet you in the flesh," he said.

The sound of the goat's voice caused Nightmare Moon to freeze, eyes going wide. Her mouth dropped open as she stared at him. Her mind was reeling. A part of her wanted to scream that it was impossible. She knew that was not the case. She had known what was likely to happen. Now that she was facing it -- facing it -- she could not believe it.

"You," she managed to croak out. "You were the shadow creature underneath the castle."

In response, he grinned at her. A familiar purple light engulfed his horns.

"That is correct," Grogar stated. "And now that I am free--"

Guessing what was coming, Nightmare Moon lunged to one side. Unfortunately it was not fast enough. The blast of magic struck her square in the chest, knocking her through the wall of the tent.

"-- you are no longer necessary."

There was an audible crack as Nightmare hit the ground, followed by a blast of pain in her wing before entire back went numb. She rolled several times, but was unable to count how many. Each time, she felt something else hit the ground hard. Strangely, she felt it less and less.

Finally Nightmare's tumble came to an end, leaving her looking up at the cloudy sky as snow fell around her. Shadows creeped at the edges of her vision. Her chest felt strange. It was cold -- but not the cold of the weather -- and felt like something slimy was stuck to it. Looking at it, she saw a large red spot with charring around the edges. Did she smell burning hair? Cooked meat? Maybe she was imagining it because of what she saw.

Her head felt heavy. Too heavy to keep up. She let it flop back into the ground, looking up toward the sky again.

I wish it was a clear night. She reached up with one hoof. I would love to see the moon again.

Something wet ran from her eyes and down face. Tears? Was she crying? Probably.

It was like she could feel her heart beating in her chest. It seemed to do so slower... and slower... with each beat a little softer and gentler than the previous.

The darkness around the edge of her vision moved closer and closer. Soon, all she could see was a single snowflake floating down toward her before that too faded to black.

Dreams of Power

Nightmare Moon let out a gasp as she shot up into a sitting position. Her wings flared out behind her as she brought her front hooves to her chest, smacking at it.

There was nothing there. She was alive.

No. That was not it. Something did not seem right.

Looking up, she realized what it was. She was in the castle. Not Twilight Sparkle's castle, but the one in the dream realm. The same one that she had been in when she first met that shadowy figure that turned out to be Grogar.

Pushing up, she moved to stand, stretching out.

Did this mean she was asleep? No, she had taken a pretty powerful blast of dark magic to the chest. It had burned her severely. Perhaps Twilight Sparkle had been wrong. It could be that Nightmare Moon was actually dead in the physical world, and instead of going to the pony afterlife, she was sent back here instead.

Or perhaps she was not actually dead yet. It was possible that she was actually still dying instead. That she was unconscious from her injuries and that her body was slowly shutting down, the wounds and cold slowly getting to her. It was possible that she was here simply because she was not completely dead yet. That she was only here until her body finally gave out, at which point she would fade from the dream world like a dream would from a foal's mind as they woke up.

Turning toward the dais she walked up to it. There was still a rose colored shield sphere filled with swirling dark energy. None of the cracks seemed to have grown wider nor could she tell if more of them had developed. Reaching it, she lifted a hoof and touched one of the cracks. The dark blue energy seeped out, crawling up along her leg before sinking into her.

She felt a tingle of fear. Not her own, but another's.

No. Not simply another pony. Multiple ponies.

Turning away from the ball of energy, Nightmare flew from the dais and toward one of the walls. Mirrors started to appear in front of her, letting her see into the dreams of other ponies.

Three of them showed The Elements of Harmony: Rarity, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie. Rarity was in what looked to be the castle in Canterlot, standing in front of a large crowd. Not only was she not wearing one of her designer outfits, but she had no fur nor hair. Applejack sat in a patch of barren dirt surrounded by dozens of dead and rotting trees. All around her were headstones, including the names Granny Smith, Big Macintosh, and Apple Bloom. Pinkie Pie sat at a table in a room that looked like it was decorated for a party. She was the only one there, with a single cupcake that had one candle on it in front of her. Nightmare could guess the significance.

With a sweep of a wing, she moved the three mirrors aside to look at some of the others. They should be fine on their own. If not, the other three and Spike were there as well. Surely one of them would come up with some way to wake the three up from their nightmares. Besides, she was more concerned about what was happening in Ponyville.

One of the new mirrors in front of her caught her attention. In it was the familiar brown and white form of a little colt that Nightmare had met on Nightmare Night, Pipsqueak (who it turned out was actually a favorite of Princess Luna). He stood in an open field, up to his chest in snow, dressed in armor with a sword in his teeth. All around him were windigos and weird shadowy creatures.

He was acting brave, but she could feel his fear.

Placing a hoof against the edge of the mirror's frame, Nightmare pushed down on it, turning it into a doorway. Walking through the snow, she made her way toward Pipsqueak. As she reached him, she raised one of her wings, giving him shelter from the snow.

"So, my little guard," Nightmare said, "it seems that we meet again."

Eyes wide, Pipsqueak turned to look at her.

"Nightmare Moon? What are you doing here?"

"You are in my realm," she answered, "the darkest corner of where ponies dream."

"You mean I'm asleep?"

"Correct." Nightmare lowered her wing, placing it on Pipsqueak's armored shoulder. "Now tell me, where were you in the physical world?"

Pipsqueak shifted, thinking. As he did, Nightmare reached out with her free wing and made a sweeping motion. With it, the snow and monsters started to disappear.

"I think I was in Princess Twilight's castle," he finally answered. "I don't know why, but Dad seemed pretty worried. We weren't the only ones either. Seems like pretty much everypony was going there for some reason."

"So you decided to sleep?"

"I didn't get much last night. I was supposed to actually help with Winter Wrap-up this year, and I was just so excited."

"Very well then," Nightmare said as she took a step back. "I shall leave you to your rest then."

"What about the monsters?" Pipsqueak asked.

"You now know you are dreaming, my little guard," Nightmare stated. "As such, you have the power to shape it as you desire. Alternatively, you can let it return to the way it wants. Now, if you will excuse me, I have matters to attend to immediately."

"Do you need help?" Pipsqueak asked as he moved to walk with her.

"I am sorry, but this is not something that you can assist me with."

Plus, she did not want to have him frightened again.

So Nightmare Moon went through the doorway, leaving Pipsqueak to his dream and choice on what to do with it. She was certain that Cherry would be trying to keep up morale, and the adults would be trying to keep up a brave and optimistic face for the foals. However, if Pipsqueak was any indication, then the attempts were not going well and everypony was worried.

Maybe if she knew a little more about what was going on, she could come up with some way of helping. That was, if she was not dead or about to vanish from the dream world. If either were the case, at least she would have some idea of what was pending. Perhaps -- if she actually was stuck here -- she could give the information to Luna, so that she and Celestia could do something about the matter.

Now she had an idea on whom to speak with. She just had to hope that he was still unconscious and dreaming.

Flaring out her wings and stomping a hoof, the mirrors shifted and moved, whirling past her and disappearing. Soon, only one remained, and it showed nothing but blackness.

So, he was unconscious, but not actually dreaming.

Stepping through, she shifted the pegasus' dream world. The darkness gave way to a great wasteland, the sun burning down ferociously from above.

"No," she said to herself, dismissing it. "He won't know he's asleep and dreaming. If the place is too different, he will suspect something." She shifted, looking around. "But, if we can convince him that he is still awake, that his life is actually in danger, then he will more than likely cooperate."

So she needed some place that was actually near Ponyville, some place that would be intimidating.

Stamping her hoof again, Nightmare Moon created a massive chasm in the ground. Adjusting it, the chasm became sheer cliffs, leading far down. She waved her wings, covering everything in a thick layer of snow. Tilting her head, she listened. Once the sound of rapid rushing water hit her, she smiled and gave a nod.

The pegasus then appeared beside her, his wings bound tightly at his sides and all four of his hooves tied together.

"WAKE UP!" she bellowed, lighting flashing behind her and thunder booming after the statement.

The pegasus gasped as he "woke up," jumping the best he could while in his bound state.

"Wha-wha-what's going on?" he asked, tugging at his bonds.

"My time and temper are both very short," Nightmare stated as she moved to loom above him, baring her fangs. "So I shall make this simple: tell me what you know about Grogar, or I throw you into Ghastly Gorge where you either will freeze to death or get eaten."

"You would-"

"I have already torn out the eye of one of your associates, and the ear of another. Right now the town that I call home is in peril." She leaned in close, her teeth nearly touching his nose. "Do not for one minute assume that I will have any sort of crisis of conscience over your death when it could very well help me save even one of the ponies that I care about."

The pegasus gulped.

"Now," Nightmare growled out, "start talking."

"He's supposed to be some sort of king from thousands of years ago," the pegasus blurted out. "He had us resurrect King Sombra to see if the ritual would work and to distract Twilight and the others. Once that worked, he then had himself brought back from wherever he was."

"Why is he attacking Ponyville?"

"Because he wanted to destroy you. He saw you as some sort of threat to him. Plus, he said something about building an army."

"What kind of army?"

"I don't know."

"You haven't been very helpful," Nightmare Moon huffed. "Is there anything else you can tell me that might just save your life?"

"He mentioned something about Tambelon?"

"What?"

"Tambelon," the pegasus repeated. "He mentioned it a couple times. I think it's where he used to rule."

"Tambelon," Nightmare said softly, "was a legendary kingdom. The stories say that it was ruled by a necromancer and was banished to the shadow world many millenia ago."

"What's a necromancer?"

Nightmare did not bother to answer. She had already taken off, running for the entrance back to the castle. Her mind was reeling at the revelation, everything suddenly falling into place.

Grogar was going to use the windigos to freeze Ponyville. Not just to cover it in ice, but to actually kill all the ponies that lived there. Then he would have an entire town that he could raise to create an army of the undead. If he was smart -- and all things considered he probably was -- he would then repeat the process in another town, then another, and another, making his army of undead ponies grow and grow. By the time he got to Canterlot, he could have hundreds of thousands in his army, if not millions. There would be little even the princesses could do against such creatures in those numbers.

And all starting with Ponyville.

"Cherry," Nightmare whispered before jumping through the doorway to the castle.

She was not going to let that happen. Maybe it was too late for her to actually do something, but she at least had to try. Nightmare may not have gotten along with most of the ponies, but she did not want to see them all dead. Especially Cherry. She also did not want to see all of Equestria turned into a frozen wasteland ruled by a mad goat and filled with animated corpses.

What she was about to try had not worked before, but it was pretty much her only chance.

"By all that is good and hopeful in the world," she said as she ran for the dais, "please let this work."

With a hard flap of her wings, she took off. Her front hooves pointed out in front of her as she flew toward the shield, aiming for it. Her body tensed as she got ready, ears pulling back, eyes narrowing, lips pulled back tight. She kept trying to add more speed, more energy, more power, more will, to her movement.

Nightmare Moon struck the shield.

It shattered around her, breaking away into thousands of shards before vanishing.

Nightmare Moon struck the mass of dark blue energy, and was engulfed by it.

Eclipse

Discord sat stretched out on a couch in his home, news paper spread out in front of him. A pen hung from the corner of his mouth as he chewed on it. In his lion's paw he held a yellow pumpkin flavored candy rope, twirling it back and forth between his toes.

"Hmm," he said to himself, "a ten letter word for 'a small pest known for eating all food,' that starts with a P.... Pinkie Pies." He brought the candy rope to the paper.

"P-1-#-OW!"

A stinging sensation suddenly shot through his forelimb, causing him to drop the candy rope and jerk in surprise. As he looked, two puncture marks appeared, blood starting to ooze from the spots.

"Where did this come from? There is nothing that can actually physically hurt me." He poked at it, letting out a slight hiss of pain with each touch.

*****

"Wake up! Wake up already!"

"Rainbow Dash," Fluttershy said gently, "shaking and shouting like that isn't going to help."

"But we need them," Rainbow Dash replied, dropping the unconscious Applejack. "We can't use the power of friendship without them. And I don't think Twilight can keep her shield up much longer."

"No, no," Twilight panted out. "I'm fine." She wiped the sweat from her forehead. "I can keep going for a while."

"You are wasting your energy," King Sombra called out from the outside of the shield. "Give up, and your death will be quick."

Before any of them responded, Twilight Sparkle let out a scream of pain. The shield and the magic around her horn dimmed for a second before bursting brighter. A cry escaped from King Sombra as he was pushed back.

At the same moment, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, and Rarity all suddenly jerked away, gasping as they stood up.

"What in tarnation happened?" Applejack asked as she looked around.

"The three of you got hit by Sombra's fear spell," Fluttershy said. "Are you okay?"

"I suppose that explains what I was dreaming about," Rarity said, tapping her chin. "But... just before I woke up, I felt... something."

"Me too," Pinkie Pie added. "It was kind of like when we first used The Elements of Harmony."

"I'm fine," Applejack answered. "Though I feel like I've been shaken like one of Winona's toys."

"Hey," Rainbow called out. "Can we talk about this later?" She pointed toward King Sombra. "Looks like he's coming in for an attack again."

*****

Princess Luna sat at a desk in the library, several books spread out before her. Something was bothering her, but what? It would help if she had at least some idea what it was related to.

Something had the dream world on edge. More and more ponies were having bad dreams. It was small at first, and especially odd since most ponies tended to have pleasant dreams around Hearth's Warming (when it had started), but it kept getting worse and worse. Things were reaching the point that Princess Luna was unable to keep up with them. She had actually been late lowering the moon a couple times because she was still busy helping ponies deal with their nightmares. That did not include the ever-growing number of those that she was unable to visit and assist.

So now she was spending her free time trying a different method, something she found incredibly boring and tedious, something that Celestia would suggest and Twilight was a master at: researching.

It was boring and she hated it.

With a groan, she dropped the book, causing the opossum on her lap to look up at her.

"This is frustrating Tiberius," Luna said, moving to stroke the creature gently. "Something is disrupting our ponies' dreams and there seems as though there is nothing we can do about it. Celestia has no dreamwalking ability and I don't know what the cause is."

Her horn glowed as she lifted up one of the books, glaring at it.

"These books do me no good either. There are dozens of them, even on the same subject matter. I would need at least some concept of what was possibly occurring in order to have some idea where to even begin."

She had to resist the urge to throw the book at the wall in her annoyance.

"It seems as if you have to know what is going on to figure out what is going on, and I don't." Picking up Tiberius in her hooves, she looked at him face to face. "How am I to help the ponies if I can't even figure out what the problem is enough to seek an answer?"

Tiberius look at her with his black eyes, saying nothing.

Sighing heavily, Luna set the opossum down and reached for another book.

A gasp escaped the princess as the magic vanished from around her horn. Her entire body tensed, wings flaring out from her, and her eyes turned white.

*****

At what was commonly referred to as "The Castle of Friendship," Chocolate Cherry collapsed against one of the walls with a heavy sigh. Her ears and tail drooped and her mane was hanging limply. Moving her head to the windowsill, she looked out through it toward the town.

"How does Pinkie Pie do it?" she asked aloud.

"A lot of sugar and years of practice," a feminine voice said from behind her.

Cherry jumped, gasping slightly as she turned around. Standing there was a thick bodied earth mare with a pale blue coat and swirling pink mane. Smiling gently, the mare turned sideways, showing a tray of treats on her back.

"It probably also helps that is what she is most passionate about. Care for an apple turnover?"

"Thank you, Mrs. Cake" Cherry said as she grabbed one of the offered turnovers and took a bite.

Oh, Celestia did it taste good. So warm, gooey, and sweet. Right now it was like a little piece of heaven exploding in her mouth. She was not even aware that she had closed her eyes until she felt a hoof on her shoulder and had to open them.

"My advice," Mrs. Cake said gently, "don't compare yourself to another pony. Especially one as unique as Pinkie Pie. You're doing a wonderful job." Her smile faltered as she looked out the window. "All things considered."

The turnover suddenly tasted nowhere near as good as it used to. Swallowing the mouthful, Cherry turned and looked out the window again. She took another bite regardless as she stared up at the dark clouds and strange looking windigos.

"We'll be fine," Mrs. Cake said before continuing on, but Cherry thought that she heard a note of doubt in the voice.

Maybe I just imagined it, Cherry thought. After all, Mrs. Cake had plenty of reason to be confident, more so than she did. Cherry had only moved here shortly before the events with Lord Tirek, and that had been an attack on all of Equestria that had pretty much ended in Ponyville when he came for Twilight Sparkle. Mrs. Cake had lived in Ponyville for years and had stayed through it all: Nightmare Moon, Discord, Tirek, parasprites, ursas, dragons...

Now that she thought about it, maybe it was not the best town to move to after all. It was like the place was a magnet for trouble. Maybe that was why not as many ponies had moved there after Twilight Sparkle's ascension as she had expected. She thought more would come here, especially after a castle had shown up.

Which they were now using to keep safe from strange windigos -- something that all of them had only seen in Hearth's Warming plays -- that were covering Ponyville in ice and snow on the day that winter was supposed to end and spring begin. In the story, it was the friendship and kindness between the ponies that had saved them from being frozen.

Turning, she looked at the crowds of ponies spread through out the room. Most of the foals were all gathered in one area, watching what looked like was some sort of impromptu play. A small number of them seemed to have dozed off. Several different groups were set up around different musicians, including: Vinyl, who was playing a record on a singular turntable; Octavia, who was demonstrating how to string and rosin a bow; and Lyra, who was giving a music lesson to several ponies. Several ponies with skills in cooking -- like Mrs. Cake -- were moving among the groups, checking on them and making sure that everypony there had plenty to eat and drink.

It was kind of comforting to see. It was less like an emergency and more like some sort of big get together for friends and family. Maybe that was one of the advantages of living in a smaller place like Ponyville. Ponies could get to know each other and everypony who lives there, making them all more like friends. Pinkie Pie probably helped with wanting to make friends with everypony, which means she would probably introduce them all to each other if she could.

A bright flash and loud boom caught everypony's attention. Everything turned quiet as they all looked around.

Chocolate Cherry looked out the window. The clouds flashed with lightning, thunder echoing with each electric blue explosion. With each flash, the clouds grew thinner and smaller before disappearing. Soon the skies were clear.

The moon appeared in the sky, moving quickly. It continued across until reaching the sun, sliding in front of it. Soon only a faint ring of light could be seen around a dark spot in the sky.

"What's going on?" one pony asked.

Chocolate Cherry turned to look at the others, eyes wide as they looked at her.

"I don't know."

Nightmares and Necromancers

After the moon eclipsed the sun -- leaving just a corona of sunlight -- a dark purple aura of energy engulfed Nightmare Moon's body. The power swelled and pulsed as it shifted around her, lifting her from the ground. It continued to swirl and twist, sliding across the pony form.

The bubble of magic then imploded, the energy sucking into the horn as it revealed the mare, dropping her onto her hooves.

Standing, Nightmare Moon straightened up. Once again, she was as tall as Princess Celestia. Her mane and tail still had not turned ethereal -- keeping the dark blue with deep indigo streaks of her pegasus form -- but it had grown much longer and thicker. She stretched out her body, her larger, more powerful wings spreading wide before tucking in against her side.

An aura of dark, shimmering, blue magic engulfed her horn as she walked back the way she had been thrown. The unicorn and donkey both stared at her as she approached mouths hanging open and eyes wide. Gripping them in her magic, she lifted them up and pulled them toward her. Her gaze narrowed as she bared her teeth at them.

"Begone," she growled out, "lest I decide to turn my wrath upon you as well." She then tossed the two aside, watching them hit the ground and roll before trying to get up and flee.

Turning her attention back to the tent, her horn began to glow brighter. Opening her wings, she flapped them toward the tent. A massive gust of wind picked up, blowing hard from behind her. The fabric shook and waved before the tent was torn from the ground and went flying.

"GROGAR!" Nightmare Moon bellowed. "I will not allow you to kill entire towns of ponies for your scheme. FACE ME!"

The goat stood where he was still, staring down at Nightmare Moon with glowing red eyes.

"Well," he said calmly, "it seems that you have somehow regained the power you once had. I must say I am quite impressed." He started to walk toward her.

Nightmare Moon shifted, bracing herself. Her eyes narrowed as her lips pulled back further, a snarl bubbling in her throat. Watching him, she shifted the focus of her energy, creating a nearly invisible shield in front of her in case he tried to blast her again.

"You know," he said as he continued forward (and Nightmare had to resist the urge to step back: she would not show weakness), "we aren't so different, you and I. We are both beings of great power beyond these mere mortal ponies. Both of us should be rulers of this world. Both of us have suf-"

"Shut! Up!" Nightmare snapped. "I'm familiar with the 'not so different' shit, and you can shove it back up your ass. Because no matter how much alike we are, there is one major difference between us: I didn't try to kill ponies when I tried to take over. Now I will give you one chance. End this and surrender, and you will face a trial in the proper courts."

"And if I refuse?"

"Then I will tear your throat out."

"Well since you put it that way." Grogar's horns lit up as he let off a blast of pure magic at Nightmare.

The shield held, absorbing the blow, but barely. Even with it, the impact got a grunt from Nightmare Moon, causing her to take a step back. Before Nightmare could recover, her shield was hit by another, and another. Each impact caused her to give ground as she tried to keep her defense up, a throb of pain shooting through her head..

"Insolent whelp!" Grogar bellowed, still firing blasts of energy as he stepped forward. "Do you really presume that you can stand against me? I have been around since before this kingdom was even thought up. I was banished before the grandparents of the grandparents of your first host were even born. You are nothing compared to me. Nothing but a bad dream."

Nightmare was panting, beads of sweat forming on her forehead. Her legs were wobbling as she tried to hold on, but was failing. The shield was not going to hold out much longer. She had to do something. Otherwise, he would simply blast the shield away, and then her. She would have to do something he would not expect.

...Like Twilight Sparkle did when they first battled.

It was crazy, but it might be enough to throw him off. At least long enough to try and come up with a better idea.

As another blast of magic was fired at her, Nightmare Moon let out a roar as she smacked it aside with her own power. Lowering her head, she let out a snort as she pawed the ground.

"What?" Grogar asked, tilting his head. "What is this? Are you seriously trying to threaten me -- me -- with a headbutt." Lowering his own head, he pawed the ground as well. "Perhaps I will just have to teach you the hard way."

The two stared at each other, eyes narrow and heads low. As if reacting to some signal, they began to charge each other at the same time. Hooves slammed against frozen ground as they ran. The gap between the pair of them grew smaller and smaller as they approached each other as fast as they could.

Nightmare Moon gave a flap of her wings as she leaped, jumping up above Grogar. Turning around in mid-air, she slammed her front hooves down on him, trying to hit him in the neck. There was a thump as Nightmare struck, and a loud bleat from the goat.

Before Nightmare could move, Grogar jerked his head to one side, somehow hooking her leg with one of his massive curling horns. There was a burst of pain and an audible crack as he yanked hard. Nightmare's wings fluttered as she was pulled off balance, trying to keep herself from hitting the ground.

Her hoof slipped free of the horn as her back slammed into the ground. Rolling to her hooves, she lunged forward, aiming for Grogar's eye. The attack went high, slicing a gash across his forehead. Blood flowed down from the wound and down his face, partially blinding him.

Lunging forward, Grogar slammed his own head into Nightmare. There was an explosion of energy and pain as the impact cracked her horn. Sparks of blue magic spurted from the fractures as she stumbled back.

If she kept fighting, there was a chance that her horn would break completely.

If she fled, Grogar would continue to freeze Ponyville.

None of the princesses were here. There was no way of knowing when Celestia or Luna would show up, if at all, and even if Twilight Sparkle and her friends were on their way -- which seemed unlikely -- they still wouldn't be here for another day or so.

The fate of Ponyville was all on her.

Once again taking off to fly. She made a quick feint to the right before shooting left toward the side with Grogar's good eye. Moving past him, she watched as he turned his head, trying to keep track of her. After nearly going past him, Nightmare turned hard to wind up on the opposite side of Grogar.

As hoped, the old goat tried to turn his head back the other direction to keep track of her instead of turning his whole body in the direction she was going. The blindness in his left eye would force him to turn anyway, and she was out of sight until he could.

She slammed her front hooves into Grogar's head, causing an explosion of pain to pulse through the injured leg. Still, there was also a satisfactory popping sound as most of the force managed to land on the goat's jaw, and the attempt to keep watch of Nightmare had left Grogar unbalanced, causing the attack to knock him off his hooves.

Before he could recover, Nightmare Moon grabbed Grogar, wrapping all four legs tight around his body. With a grunt, she took off, starting to lift the two of them up into the air.

"What are you doing?" Grogar bellowed, kicking and squirming as hard as he could.

"I'm betting that you can't fly," Nightmare replied. "Let's see what happens when I drop you from as high as I can get."

Turning hard, Grogar sank his teeth into Nightmare's face. The sharp upper teeth just missed her eye as it sank into her cheek while the lower teeth scraped across the bone of her jaw. With a yank, he tore the flesh from Nightmare, leaving a bleeding hole that her own teeth could be seen through.

The pain broke Nightmare's concentration, causing the two of them to fall to the ground. The air was knocked from her body as she landed on top of Grogar, a mist of blood spraying out from her mouth and the hole in her face. Stunned, she was unable to resist as Grogar shoved her off him. His horns then lit up as he unleashed a blast of raw energy at her.

Nightmare Moon roared in agony as the blast struck her side, a long line burned into her flesh from shoulder to flank. Worse, it also struck the base of one wing, severing it.

"Looks like neither of us can fly now," Grogar stated with a smirk. "You may as well give up and retreat now, whelp. You can't possibly hope to defeat me. Keep trying, and you'll just end up dead."

With a bellow, Nightmare Moon ran at Grogar, slamming into him. Pain burst through her body, feeling like she was being torn apart (which in a way was accurate). Wrapping her legs around him again, she bit into his neck. The fur was too thick to let her get a good grip on his flesh, but that was not the main purpose anyways.

Magic tried to flow through Nightmare's cracked horn. Energy flickered, crackling and popping as sparks shot out from the fractures. There was an audible explosion as the power came out, engulfing the pair in a dome.

The dome vanished, taking Nightmare Moon and Grogar with it. The snow where they had been was gone, the grass and dirt turned black and smoking.

Bits of horn dropped to the ground, none any larger than a jellybean.

Far above Equestria, there was a pop as the two came back into reality. Nightmare Moon now felt incredibly horrible. Her head throbbed, her vision, swirled, her entire body hurt. It felt like everything had been torn apart and put back together in the wrong place.

She kept her grip on Grogar, trying to fight off the urge to black out.

A hoof struck the side of her head, causing stars to form in her eyes. It was soon followed by another blow, and another. She wanted to get away from the pain.

No. She had to keep going. Resist the urge to escape. She tightened her grip, digging in to the flesh of Grogar's body like her life depended on it. Although it was more every pony's that did really.

"What are you doing?" Grogar shouted over the wind whistling past them. "Let me go you mad mare, or we're both going to die."

Nightmare tried to come up with some sort of witty retort, but at this point was having trouble thinking. It was probably just as well that she said nothing. Between the hole in her face and the way her tongue felt heavy, it was doubtful anything she said would have been understandable anyways.

So she said nothing, holding onto Grogar with all her might. Her remaining wing flapped back and forth, trying to put on more speed.

As the two of them continued to plummet, a sense of curiosity overcame Nightmare Moon. Turning her head, she watched as the ground rapidly grew larger and larger, moving toward them.

She wondered what it was going to feel like.

There was an explosion of ice and snow as the two hit the ground.

Up in the sky, the moon moved out of way of the sun.

Memorial Service

It was gloomy day in Ponyville. Thick gray clouds lingered overhead, blocking out the sun. Rain drizzled slowly on the town.

A small number of ponies stood in the clearing where the Nightmare Moon statue had once been. There now stood something new, covered by a sheet.

Princess Luna moved forward, stepping in front of the crowd. Standing before the covered form, she turned to face the small group that stood before her.

"Today," she said, "we are gathered to mourn the loss of one who is no longer among us: a pony that came to us as an enemy, who wished to rule; who we bonded with to become friends, or more; and who died as a hero, trying to protect this town."

It is a shame that we do not know more about what it was she saved us from, she thought.

"Although she did much that was seen as wrong, there was a part of her that was seeking what most ponies do: a place to belong. In her own way, she did care for ponies and desired for them to care for her as well. It may have been a desire born from a corrupted sense of jealousy and envy, but it still remained at the core a want of belonging. Of friendship."

She shifted, looking out over the crowd more.

"I am aware that there are but a few of us here, but it seemed that it was sufficient enough for Nightmare Moon to begin a path toward reformation and kindness. Perhaps the greatest tragedy in her loss is that we shall never know what her life could have been like. Perhaps she would have become a great hero in her own right without such a sacrifice.

"I think I have spoken enough on the matter. Nightmare never really did seem to care much for lengthy speeches." Her lips shifted up slightly. "Save perhaps her own. Would any others wish to speak about our departed?"

None of the ponies in attendance seemed very much interested in doing so. Twilight had been organizing some cards, but seemed to have gotten rid of them, wrapping a foreleg around Spike and wing around Rarity. Chocolate Cherry was staring more at the ground in front of her, Pinkie Pie placing a hoof gently on her back. Fluttershy stood slightly further back, holding onto a leash that was attached to Gibbous, allowing the little gray fox to attend the memorial for her departed owner. Discord stood near the back, supposedly attending more out of respect to a fellow reformed villain than any sort of special bond with Nightmare.

"Very well," Luna said as her horn started to glow with magic. "Then we shall move on without further ado."

Moving toward the crowd, she turned around to face the sheet. Her magic gripped at it, spreading along the surface. She then pulled the sheet up and away, revealing the statue that was hidden underneath it.

The figure of Nightmare Moon had been replaced by another. No longer was it an armored alicorn rearing up, wings spread wide, with ears back and a scowl on the face. Now, Nightmare Moon was a pegasus, head held high and wings spread wide. Her eyes were narrowed and fangs bared. It looked my like the face of determination than of anger. Beneath one front hoof was a helmet, and beneath the other was the head of what looked like a mountain goat.

"Instead of remembering Nightmare Moon as the enemy that she once was," Luna declared, "this statue shall commemorate her as the hero that she had become. Perhaps the story this statue symbolizes shall inspire other ponies to change their way, to realize that it is never too late to help those around you."

As if on cue (which it was, but not intentionally set to the timing of the funeral), the rain began to fall fully. The water slid across the smooth black surface of the statue, causing it to glisten slightly. Some of the raindrops collected in the eyes, pooling there before flowing down along the cheeks in long lines and dripping off the chin.

"That concludes the official duration of the memorial," Luna announced, turning away from the statue. "While it is not necessary to say, I would like to thank you for your attendance, regardless of the scheduled weather."

Chocolate Cherry was the first to move. She walked forward, toward the statue. Stopping in front of it, she looked up at the face of Nightmare.

"If I may ask," Luna asked as she approached, "how are you coping with your loss?"

"I'm...." Cherry shifted, thinking. "I don't know. I cried a lot for a while. Now I.... I just kind of feel numb." She motioned at the statue. "Take this. Do you want to know what I was thinking when you were talking about it?"

Princess Luna raised an eyebrow and gave a slight nod.

"I was wondering how this was going to affect Nightmare Night," Cherry explained. "The whole idea is dressing up to trick Nightmare Moon and giving her candy so that she would not try to eat ponies."

A wing wrapped around Chocolate Cherry, resting on her shoulder.

"It is possible that the story of Nightmare Night will not be changed," Luna said. "The truth of Nightmare Moon will remain separate from the story behind the holiday." She shifted. "Alternatively, perhaps the story of her heroics shall be incorporated. That by paying her a tribute of candy, not only does Nightmare Moon spare the ponies of the town, but protects them in gratitude instead."

She leaned down, bringing her face level with Cherry's.

"There is no one way to mourn or grieve, Chocolate Cherry. The only way that is even close to wrong would be to force the feelings down and refuse to deal with them. I do not believe that you are doing such a thing. Allow yourself to work through matters in your own way, and you will be fine."

"Thanks," Cherry said gently. "What about you?"

Luna turned and looked up toward statue.

"I am uncertain how to feel on the matter," she answered. "When I spoke with her at The Grand Galloping Gala, I told her that I thought of her as a sister, and I meant it. At the same time, she was -- quite literally -- a part of me. I was partially responsible for her existence, so I could also think of her as my daughter. Conversely, I did not spend much time with her. I knew the mare she had been when we were together, and her first return, but I barely got to know who she had become since her incarnation. So in an odd way, I simultaneously feel like I lost a pony I was very close to, and whom I barely knew."

The two stood there for a moment, looking at the figure.

Luna stepped away, her wing releasing the smaller mare.

"I must return to Canterlot," she stated. "There are still many matters that I must attend to."

"Princess?" Cherry said softly. "I know it's a long shot, but if you find out anything more about what happened to Nightmare Moon..."

"I shall send word to Twilight Sparkle," Luna told her, "and have her share the information with you."

"Thank you."

With a small smile, Luna turned and took off. With grace and ease, she flew off, heading up into the sky and above the cloud line.

Chocolate Cherry watched Luna the princess vanished from sight. Stepping forward, she moved closer to the statue and rubbed her cheek against the leg.

"I miss you," she whispered. "Wherever you are, I hope that you're happy."

Epilogue: Dark Dreams

"Bray!"

The donkey jumped at the sound of his name being bellowed. Turning toward the source, he dropped down into a bow, lowering his head until the tip of his chin touched the ground.

"Master Grogar, you're alive. I was certain that the mare had killed you."

Grogar raised one hoof and smacked Bray on the head.

"I am dead you dim-witted dullard of a donkey!" he yelled. "That insolent mare foolishly sacrificed herself to try and stop me."

He let out a sigh, turning to look around.

"It seems that instead of sending me back to the shadow world or into the afterlife, it brought me back to the dream realm instead. I can take some consolation in the fact that despite a major loss, I am still able to try again. Tell me, what happened with Sombra?"

"According to the report, a failure," Bray said as he stood up. "The Bearers were able to use their rainbow power on him, with assistance from Princess Cadance and The Crystal Heart. However, instead of destroying him, it seems that it reverted him into a young colt. He was last seen on a train heading for Canterlot."

"And our allies?"

"Alive, and free. Everypony in The Crystal Empire was so focused on Sombra's return and attack, none of them thought to seek out any potential ponies aiding him in his return. The population of Ponyville is unaware of the details of what happened. In both cases, there have been no searches for ponies involved. Although Healthy Hope and Stormstrike have decided to leave and not assist with us any longer."

"An incompetent pegasus is hardly a notable loss," Grogar declared, "and we will not be needing to collect blood from any creatures, so Hope would have been useless. This is nothing for us to worry about.

"I believe that I will need some more time to recover before I am strong enough to be made into flesh again. In the meanwhile, we are going to need to come up with a new distraction for the princesses and their champions."

"Oh, I don't think you have to worry about either of those," a feminine voice called out. The sound caused Bray to jump, looking around rapidly. Grogar tensed, turning around.

"Who dares to intrude upon our conversation?" he called out. "I command you to show yourself."

This was met by a chuckle.

"You have no authority over me," the voice purred out, "especially here. This is my domain after all. However, I do wish to show myself, so you can consider yourself fortunate that I will cooperate this time. Look up. At the moon."

Curious, Grogar and Bray both looked up toward the crescent moon up in the sky above them. As they watched, the moon turned sideways. A line formed in the middle of it, spreading out and zigzagging near the ends to turn into a grin with fangs. A pair of turquoise and teal eyes opened up above it, the vertical pupils narrowing as they focused on the goat and donkey.

A face formed around the mouth and eyes as it seemed to move closer, turning darker as the stars disappeared. More and more of the form appeared, turning from sky to flesh as it approached. The figure grew smaller as it went, stopping when Nightmare Moon stood before the two, now fully formed. Her now ethereal mane and tail trailed behind her, the blue and purple shifting to black before fading from sight.

She turned her attention to Bray, her horn starting to glow.

"This conversation does not concern you," she said. The energy shot from her horn and hit the donkey. There was a slight yelp of shock as he vanished in a flash of dark blue.

"I suppose it was inevitable that you would end up here as well," Grogar said calmly. "So, is this display of your power and the destruction of my minion supposed to intimidate me?"

"As you pointed out," Nightmare Moon stated, "this is the dream realm. If I were to 'destroy' him, he would merely wake up and be unharmed. Instead I sent him elsewhere. He is currently having a bad dream about being chased through a dark forest by monsters. He can't see what's chasing him. Just glowing eyes and sharp teeth. Not that you care, but he'll be fine when he wakes up. Scared, panting, and maybe having pissed himself, but unharmed."

Her eyes narrowed as she grinned again, showing her fangs.

"But you can't wake up, now can you?" She took a step forward. "You're trapped here, unable to leave."

Grogar's eyes narrowed as he bared his teeth at her.

"Insolent foal," he snarled out, his horns lighting up with his power. "Do you think you can intimidate me? Have you forgotten what I was able to do to you all the other times we met in this realm?" He then unleashed a blast of raw magic at Nightmare Moon.

It struck her in the chest before dissipating, seeming to have no effect on the mare.

"Oh, I remember," Nightmare stated. "Quite well in fact. I remember the pain as your forced your way into my head, digging through my memories. I remember the disgusting feeling of your magic every time it touched me. I remember the fear that filled me every time you got me in your grip. I remember all of it."

Her own horn lit up with power.

"But that was then. Now you are in my domain where I have power once more. Where I am at full strength. And you... are not."

The area faded around them, leaving them in a black void.

"Here, and now, you have nothing. Essentially, you are nothing."

The void took shape, forming into crumbling stone walls and barren ground. Soon a castle emerged, one that was slowly collapsing.

Grogar looked around, his eyes wide.

"This... this is Tambelon."

"Yes," Nightmare agreed. "The kingdom that you supposedly ruled all those millenia ago. The same kingdom that you let fall to the ruin you now see before you in your desire to do... whatever it was you were trying to do. The same kingdom that you used as a base of your power as you brought fear, pain, and death to ponies."

A chuckle escaped Grogar, his chest rising and falling with the action.

"Is that your plan?" he asked. "Are you going to try to appeal to my conscience? Try to change me into a good goat that will not harm the poor, pathetic, weak ponies that are beneath me?"

Nightmare stepped toward the middle of the courtyard, looking up at the sky above them. Her horn continued to glow as she went. Stopping she looked down, lowering her head to sniff at a small tuft of weeds. One of her hooves padded at the loose dirt.

"I was recovering from our return here the same as you were," Nightmare stated. "During that time, I decided to assume that you had managed to be brought here as well. After all, it was where you had been before, so it made sense that if I were able to come back, you were as well.

"While I was alive and made flesh, I found some very interesting stories, the intent of which were actually to frighten ponies. Some of them had some very interesting ideas and concepts, both for frightening the characters in the story and for the readers."

"Is there a point to all this?" Grogar asked. "Are you trying to find out if you can bore a creature to death in the dream realm or something?"

"I would have thought that you would be more patient," Nightmare said. "It did take you months to go from attacking me for my blood to making your move on Ponyville. Besides, it's not like there is any need to hurry. We have all the time in the world as the saying goes. More than, actually."

She took a bite of the dream grass, chewing it a moment before spitting it out.

"In case you aren't aware, time does not move here the same way it does in the physical world. A dream that last a few seconds to a sleeping pony can seem to go on for minutes, hours, even days. When one is in control here, be it a dream creature such as myself or a pony that has mastered lucid dreaming, one can actually control the passage of time in this world." She turned to look at him. "As I have been doing. As we have been speaking, I have slowing down the time in this place."

"I still don't see a point to what you are saying," Grogar grumbled. His own gaze shifted to look at the ground. For a moment, he thought he saw something move.

Nightmare Moon stood up to her full height and turned to face him.

"Tell me, Grogar, how many ponies have suffered because of you? How many have been scared, or hurt, or gone hungry? How many did you allow to be miserable and helpless in your so-called 'kingdom?' More importantly, how many ponies have died because of you, necromancer?" She spat out the last word, eyes narrowing.

"So we are back to trying to appeal to my conscience?" Grogar asked.

"We both know you have no such thing."

"Then why do you ask? Do you think I bothered to keep track of such things?"

After giving him a smirk, Nightmare Moon turned and took off. Slowly she flew up, stopping to land on the castle wall before turning to face him.

A bony leg burst out from the dirt in front of Grogar, bits of flesh and soil sticking to it.

Grogar let out a bleat of surprise at the sight, backing up. His hind leg struck something, causing him to turn around. There, another leg was forcing its way from the dirt.

A second leg joined the first one in front of him. Placing the hooves on the ground, they pushed. Soon the entire front half of a pony skeleton emerged. Its eye sockets looked at Grogar, mouth hanging open.

All around Grogar, more limbs began to push themselves through the dirt before pulling the rest of their skeletal remains up. They all continued to face him, staring with empty black holes where eyes should have been.

Horns lighting up with magic, Grogar blasted one of the pony skeletons.

It seemed to have no effect as it continued to move toward him.

"What is this?" He bellowed. "What's going on?"

"I asked you how many died because of you," Nightmare called back from her spot on the castle wall. "Well now you get to know why." She spread out a wing, motioning at the yard. "All around you are dead that you are directly responsible for."

Grogar's horns glowed brighter as he shot more magic at the skeletons. Still it did nothing to them. Every second there were more of them, making their way toward him, coming from every side.

A hoof exploded from the ground directly underneath the goat. This one grabbed a hold of Grogar's leg, pulling it down into the dirt.

"Stop!" he cried out, trying to kick free. "Release me this instant."

Another bony hoof took a hold of him, pulling one of his front legs down into the ground as well. The approaching skeletons grabbed as his body, holding him as they started to sink with him.

"Nightmare!" he shouted as the dirt began to reach his chest. "Please!"

Nightmare Moon, turned away from the goat and the skeletons around him, her wings spreading.

"WAIT!" Grogar called out at the top of his lungs. "You can't do this. You can't leave me like this. It isn't what heroes do!"

"That is where you are making your mistake," Nightmare Moon said in a voice that was soft, but could be heard perfectly clearly. "I am not a hero. I am a Nightmare."

With that, she took off, flying up into the night sky before vanishing from sight.

Grogar could only watch, no longer able to move, as he was pulled down further and further into the ground. No matter how much he struggled, it seemed to do nothing. He could feel more and more things -- most likely the limbs of skeletons -- grabbing at him and pulling him down further and further. Soon he was buried up to his neck, and still sinking.

His horns were grabbed, pulling his head back. A scream of terror tore from his throat as he continued to sink, until dirt filled his mouth, cutting off the noise.

A Nightmare Reborn

Twilight Sparkle held the stick of chalk between her teeth. Head low, she continued to draw lines and marks on the ground. All around her was more of the same. A massive circle drawn on the stone floor, numerous arcane symbols filling the interior and connecting all through it, save for certain smaller circles drawn inside.

Outside of the main circle stood a group of others. Most of them stood watching as Twilight continued her work.

"Ugh," groaned Rainbow Dash, rainbow mane falling over her eyes as she sagged. "This is so boring!" Straightening back up, she took a deep breath.

"Why don't you just use your magic?" she shouted. "It would go a lot quicker."

Twilight turned to look at the group, ears pulling back in irritation at the interruption. She moved the piece of chalk to the side of her mouth, letting her talk without dropping it.

"I'm almost done," she called back. "As for using magic," she looked back down at the circle, "this is an extremely experimental ritual based mostly on theory and ancient texts. Not only do I want the symbols and locations as precise as possible, but I also want to keep any potential interference to a minimum. That means not using magic to draw the circle and its insignias to prevent excess ambient energy." She then resumed her drawing.

Rainbow Dash let out a sigh and rolled her eyes, shifting. She understood the reasoning behind it. A lot of her own stunts required her to try and be accurate in what she did. Several times it had been suggested that she practice her movements at a slower pace and work her way up to a faster pace until reaching full speed. The problem was that she hated going slow. She also hated waiting. She especially hated waiting with nothing to do when something major was about to happen. It even kept her from trying to grab a quick nap due to how tense she felt.

"Is this even a good idea?" she asked, turning to look at the others.

"Twilight and I have discussed it at great length," Princess Luna stated. "Should this ritual succeed as intended, it shall settle my mind a little more, improve the safety of Equestria, and no other pony shall have to fear experiencing possession in the future."

"By her, at least," Princess Celestia added.

"Don't worry, Aunt Luna," Cadance said as she moved closer to the older princess. "I'm sure that this will work as you and Twilight have planned. She's always been determined once she gets her mind to something. Both Shining Armor and I can attest to that."

"Rarity?" Fluttershy asked. "Are you okay? You... haven't really said much since we found out about this plan."

"Honestly, I feel conflicted on the matter," Rarity answered, her blue eyes still watching Twilight work. "The idea of making certain that Nightmare Moon could not possess another pony is quite appealing. At the same time, I am worried that this ritual will grant her enough power that she will be a threat without requiring another pony."

"I doubt you have to worry," Shining Armor said. "You did defeat her with The Elements of Harmony when she first returned, and Twilight and the others didn't even need them when they were able to exorcise Nightmare Moon from you. After all that's happened since then, I doubt she would be any sort of threat to us now."

"I suppose that's true," Rarity conceded. "Still, I think I would feel better if there was some way to make certain that she was permanently sealed away to prevent her from being a threat to anypony."

"But maybe it will work," Pinkie Pie said. "Then we can make her our new friend and teach her how to be a good pony, and she can show us how to make moon pies." She licked her lips at the last part.

Slowly, making sure not to touch any of the symbols that she had drawn, Twilight made her way out of the circle and toward the others.

"Okay," she announced as she reached them, "it's ready. Now we need to set up the materials for the ritual, which means we're at the painful part." Her horn lit up as she pulled out a knife.

"You do it for me," Rarity stated. She held out a hoof and closed her eyes. "I simply could not bear the idea of having to--" the rest of her statement was cut off as she let out a slight gasp of pain.

Twilight took the offered leg and used the knife to make a small incision on the back. With a gentle squeeze, she forced blood to flow from the wound, pouring four ounces into a small bronze cup. Once she got the exact amount, she pressed the wound tight and held it until Pinkie Pie placed a bandage over it.

"Luna?" Twilight asked as she turned to the princess.

"I shall do so myself," Princess Luna stated. Taking the knife in her own magical grip, she made a similar incision in the inside of her upper leg. It took some flexing, but she was able to get sufficient flow to fill the second cup to the proper level. She then returned the knife, refusing the offered bandage as she held her leg close to her.

Grabbing the two cups of blood, she placed them in one of the circles, which also held: several locks of hair tied into a braid; several feathers; and a pony shaped mannequin.

"Okay, now if everypony who needs to could get in the proper positions please." Twilight moved to stand in one of the empty inner circles. "Luna to that one." She motioned toward one of the circles. "Rarity over there. Discord, you go there. Celestia stands on that one. Then Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy stand in those two there, and that should be everything."

She watched as the others got into position, standing in the circles that she had directed them to.

"Now the rest of you please stand clear, and Shining, have a shield ready just in case this goes... poorly."

With a nod, Shining Armor moved with Cadance, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack to the entryway. Standing at the other side of the entrance, Shining Armor lit his horn. A rose colored barrier popped up in front of him, sealing him and the others away from the room. If things went as planned, he could drop it immediately, and if things went poorly, he could extend it around him and the others. Not quite what Twilight had in mind when she had spoken, but it made sense. Guess that was why her brother became captain of the guard and prince-consort.

"If we're all ready?" Twilight asked as she looked around. "Let's get started then. Just like I explained."

Being the original host (at least of the group), Luna went first. Closing her eyes, she called upon her magic. A blue aura of energy encompassed her horn before igniting the chalk lines of the circle that she stood in. As more magic flowed from the princess of the night, the light of the marks around her grew brighter. It spread out and through the symbols, making its way toward the ring in the center.

As the second host, Rarity was next. Same as Princess Luna, she closed her eyes and called upon her magic. As her horn lit up, so did the circle around her. Rarity continued to draw on her energy, letting it flow out and into the symbols. As it reached the center, the unicorn's pale blue aura of magic mixed with the princess' darker one, swirling and surging through the lines where they met.

After her came Princess Celestia, being the one that had originally battled Nightmare Moon and had banished her for a thousand years. Her golden aura quickly lit up her circle and the symbols around it, flowing through them and into the center with the others. There it surged and pulsed, becoming a mass of swirling gold, blues, and greens.

Fourth was Twilight Sparkle herself, having -- with the aid of her friends -- defeated Nightmare Moon and managed to exorcise her from both of the hosts there. Her own magic was added the three others. Her own rose colored aura mixed and swirled, creating an even greater array of colors to dance and shift in the center.

Finally was Discord. Although he had no link to Nightmare Moon, Twilight had figured that his magic tendency to animate objects and alter reality would help improve the chances of the ritual succeeding. Plus, the use of chaos magic would be nearly impossible to reproduce by normal ponies, making it all but impossible for somepony with more malicious intents to try and perform the ritual again. With a snap of his fingers, his own circle lit up as the energy poured from him to the center.

The ring of intermixed energy turned a burning bright white, turned into complete utter black, and then seemed to be sucked into the center of the circle. Dark tendrils swirled and shifted, engulfing the cups, the hair, the feathers, and the dummy. As each was covered by the mixture of magic, the object would vanish as the magic swelled and pulsed to grow stronger.

A pony skull appeared in the center of the inner circle. Vertebrae formed behind it, lining up one by one to create a spine. From the lower end, several fused as the hips pushed out, forming into a pelvic bone. The bones cracked loudly as the ribs started to form, fusing together and pushing out. Simultaneously, the bones for four legs and two wings popped into existence.

Eyeballs formed into the sockets of the skull. It opened its mouth and inhaled deeply. Forming lungs swelled as they filled with air. A heart pulsed and beat between them. With each beat, blood vessels spread out from the heart, weaving and winding as they made their way around the skeleton. Patches of muscle formed on the cheeks, stretching and crawling across the surface to form flesh over the skull.

So it was that as the group watched, the body continued to form layer by layer. Organs grow and formed, filling in the chest and where the abdomen will be. Sinews and tendons attached themselves to bones and joints. Muscles grew and swelled, stretching to cover the skeleton and exposed organs. Next came the skin, and finally the mane and hair. Finished, the form dropped onto the ground.

"Did... did it work?" Twilight Sparkle asked, panting heavily with exhaustion. "Is... is she alive?"

Pale teal eyes snapped open, vertical, cat-like pupils contracting. Black lips pulled back to reveal razor sharp teeth. The newly formed chest swelled and contracted. A faint snicker escaped from the form as it pushed to stand on its legs. The snicker grew louder and deeper, turning into a chuckle. The black mare straightened up and looked around, taking in the others around her. Soon, she was letting out a full, loud, maniacal laughter.

"You fools!" she bellowed, flaring her wings out at her sides. "Now that I have a body of my own, I have no need to find a host. There is nothing to stop me from taking my place as ruler of this world. Your own actions have condemned you to endless night!"

Morning Challenges of Mortality

After the uneventful ride to Ponyville and the hike from the train station to Twilight's castle, Nightmare Moon experienced something else that she never had before: exhaustion.

As they made their way to the castle, she found herself lagging. Her legs felt heavy and harder to lift, the tips of her hooves dragging against the ground. Also dragging was the tip of her tail, and her wings which had unfurled themselves at some point. Her head was held low as well, her eyes being hard to keep open.

She did not remember actually reaching the castle, or of being shown any parts of it. She merely followed at a slow, plodding pace. As soon as Twilight Sparkle had led her to what was to be her room, Nightmare Moon made her way to the bed, flopped down across it, and went to sleep.

The first thing Nightmare Moon noticed as she woke was discomfort. Not pain, necessarily, but something close to it. It felt like the muscles in her back, legs, and wings were tense and reluctant to move. Trying to did not cause pain like when she had hit the ground, but it was certainly unpleasant.

Soon the feeling was overpowered by something even stronger and more annoying. There was this deep, hollow, emptiness in her abdomen. She did not like it and wished for it to end immediately.

It seemed that she would have to deal with Twilight Sparkle to find out the cause and rectify it properly.

With a groan of discomfort, Nightmare Moon forced her muscles to work as she climbed out of bed. For a moment her eyes refused to open. It felt like something was holding her lids shut. Fortunately the source of it was a minor nuisance that was removed with the simple act of rubbing at her face. As her leg rubbed across her eyelids, little bits of some dried powdery substance fell away. Now that she could see, she could look around.

For the moment, her bedroom was pretty sparse. Basically there was just the bed and a vanity table with a mirror on it. Curious, she moved toward the mirror. Now she could get a full and proper look at her new form.

She had a set of fangs in her teeth, which she had already been aware of after running her tongue (which she could now see was pink) across them. Her eyes were also the same as she knew of them: turquoise with teal irises and black, cat-like pupils.

Her mane, however, was different from how it had been before. Although she could see the influence of her previous hosts in it. At least in the coloration. Most of it was a dark blue like Luna's, with streaks through it of deep indigo similar to when she possessed Rarity. There was no ethereal mane floating behind her, nor was there a long, gentle curl to the entirety of it. There was some curl in the front, short bangs that covered forehead to the right of where her horn should have been. The main portion of her mane flowed down her neck in gentle waves, stopping just above the collar.

A strange, liquid stirring sensation in her abdomen reminded her of her issue. The discomfort had grown stronger, almost painfully so. This would not do. Nightmare Moon would confront Twilight Sparkle and figure out the meaning behind this abdominal discomfort. If this had been been a part of Twilight's plan to force Nightmare into subjugation, then there would be vengeance. Painful, agonizing vengeance that would make Twilight wish for death. One way or another, this matter will be resolved.

As Nightmare Moon made her way out of her room, she realized that there were two problems. One was that she did not know where Twilight was. She could be anywhere in the castle, or even Ponyville for that matter. The other was that she had no idea where anything in the castle was. Even if Nightmare Moon did somehow know where Twilight was, she would have no idea how to get there. How long would it take her wandering around to figure out the layout?

"Oh," a voice called out, "you're awake already."

Turning, Nightmare Moon found herself looking down at a small purple and green dragon.

"Ah," she said as she moved toward him, "Twilight's little dragon slave. Sent you to retrieve me, did she?"

The little dragon stepped closer and straightened up to his full -- albeit not very impressive -- height. He crossed his arms across his chest, brow furrowing as he glared up at her.

"First," he said as he held up a claw, "the name is Spike. And second, I'm not her slave. I'm her assistant." He then let out a huff. "Now, breakfast is ready. Follow me and I'll take you to the dining room." He then turned and started down the hall back the way he came.

Nightmare Moon followed after him. One of her ears gave a twitch as she watched him. That had been disappointing. She had been expecting him to gulp and step back. To look at her with wide eyes. She had expected him to be easily intimidated. Not to stand up and then brush her off.

"You don't seem to be very frightened of me."

The statement from Nightmare Moon caused Spike to stop. He turned around, looking up at her curiously.

"Why should I be?" he asked. "You don't have any of your powers, and even if you did, Twilight defeated you twice. Which she did before becoming a princess, I might add. Plus, while I'm not as powerful as Twilight, I am a hero in my own right. I'm pretty sure I could handle anything you throw at me."

After studying him a moment, Nightmare Moon grinned and let out a chuckle.

"My dear little drake," she said as she gave him a pat on the head with one hoof, "you are far too narrow-minded and naive. Do you really think I would rely on brute force to try and get my way?" She leaned closer. "While it may have been unsuccessful, I was able to tempt one of your friends with an approximation of their greatest desire mere hours after my release without having ever met them before. Since then, I have studied your friends, and even managed to trick one into allowing me to possess them. So tell me, Spikey-wikey, do you think that I don't know a few of your own fears and secrets as well?"

Maybe it was the truth of what she said, maybe it was the thread of knowing a secret, or maybe it was that she had used that sickeningly cute little nickname that Rarity had for him. Whatever the case, Nightmare Moon had managed to strike some chord in the little dragon. She could see the ear fins droop as he looked away. Spike's arms were no longer folded across his chest. Instead, they gripped his tail, squeezing and twisting it slightly. The idea of her knowing some secret or other of his clearly made him properly nervous.

It was enough to make her wish that she actually knew some of his secrets.

Nightmare Moon had known about Spike since she had seen him carried by Twilight back to the Ponyville library. After her defeat, she had started working on a plan to get back at Twilight Sparkle and her friends. While studying the ponies and plotting her next scheme, she had disregarded the little dragon. For while having a dragon as a host would have been beneficial, Spike was too young and small for Nightmare Moon to consider a proper vessel. As such, she had never given him much thought. While in possession of Rarity, she had picked up on his infatuation, but never really learned anything else about him.

If the nightmares of him turning into a giant rampaging monster were any indication, doing so had been a mistake. If she could have possessed him and induced the spontaneous growth, she would have been able to become quite a powerful entity. It also probably would have been quite a challenge to pull off successfully since he lived with Twilight, who would more than likely become suspicious of her "assistant's" change in behavior.

It hardly mattered now. She was trapped, incarnated as a pegasus, cut off from her powers. No watching nightmares, no shapeshifting, and no possession. At the moment, Nightmare Moon was as weak and powerless as any other mortal pegasus pony.

The strange liquid sensation returned, stronger this time, and with an audible gurgling sound. This time, it actually was a little painful to feel. She would have to do something to remedy this issue quickly. If the situation continued its progression, it could actually become quite painful.

"Now take me to Twilight Sparkle immediately," she ordered, standing up and flaring out her wings.

It seemed that the little dragon was not intimidated by long, nor impressed by her. In point of fact, he was laughing. Not an out and out laugh, but he was certainly snickering at her.

"Come on," he said as he resumed walking.

Gritting her teeth, Nightmare Moon let out a snort of frustration. She followed after him, glaring at the back of his head. Quietly they made their way to the stairs, down, and through however many halls and rooms, heading she had no idea where.

As they walked, a smell reached Nightmare Moon. She found it a surprisingly pleasant aroma. It smelled... warm? Was that a possibility? Could something smell warm? There was also something else about it.

She had no idea why, but Nightmare Moon found herself having some sort of reaction to the smell. The inside of her mouth seemed to be creating greater amounts of liquid. So much so, that it was beginning to leak from between her lips. Without realizing it, she licked at them. As she continued to follow Spike, the smell grew stronger.

Reaching the kitchen, Nightmare Moon stopped and stared, eyes wide and jaw hanging open. There on the table was something incredible that she had never seen before. There were four plates. Three of them were empty and set close to the edge. In the center was the fourth, with the source of the oh so pleasing aroma. There was a stack of whatever they were. The things were of a golden brown color. They were slightly smaller than the plate, and also circular, but slightly thicker.

A snicker drew her attention away from the delicious looking stack of... whatever it was. Turning toward the source, she glared at the little dragon who was grinning behind his claws.

"What's so funny?" Nightmare growled out, eyes narrowing.

"You're drooling," Spike said, still snickering.

Reaching up, she ran a foreleg across her mouth. Sure enough, it came away wet. With a huff, she turned away from the young dragon, looking at the plate of food once again.

"Tell me, what are those?" she asked as she pointed.

"They're pancakes," Twilight answered. "I thought it would be a good way to start your first morning, so I asked Spike to make them. Help yourself. There should be ple-"

With a roar, Nightmare Moon threw herself at the table and grabbed the plate of "pancakes." Pulling them close to her, she leaned down and bit into them. The warm, slightly sweet bread tore between her teeth with ease. Ripping out a massive chunk from however many of them she could fit her mouth again, she chewed rapidly before gulping it down. She then took another bite, repeating the process.

"Nightmare," Twilight started.

Turning to face her, Nightmare Moon spread her wings wide and let out a roar. Flecks of saliva and bits of pancake flew from the mare's mouth, spraying across Twilight and Spike. She then turned back to the pancakes and resumed tearing into them.

After watching what could be call a pancake massacre for little longer, Twilight Sparkle let out a sigh. Reaching up, she wiped the spit and pancake flecks from her face.

"Spike?" she asked gently. "It might be a good idea if you could make more."

"Fine," Spike said, wiping his own face off. "But if she tries to maul them as well, I expect you to stop her."

"Promise," Twilight said with a smile.

Once More Into the Abyss

Once again, Nightmare Moon found herself in the same forest of the dream realm that she had seen so many times before. With a sigh, she started to walk.

Honestly, she had been hoping she would somehow be able to avoid this. Being here had not always been night after night, so there was no guarantee she would have been here tonight. Alternatively, if she was here then she would be able to meet Princess Luna. Then Nightmare could show Luna the problem, and maybe they could come up with some idea on what to do about it.

Reaching the base of the hill, Nightmare looked up at the moon in the sky.

"Come on then!" she shouted. "I know you're there already. No reason for you to make a grand entrance. There are no other ponies here to see it."

A bright silver beam of moonlight shined down on Nightmare Moon, blinding her. As she tried to blink and regain her sight, a black shadow formed in the center of the beam, looming over her. The shadow grew smaller as a figure approached, seeming to come down from the moon as it came closer and closer.

"I thought you would enjoy the theatrical," Princess Luna said with a grin. "After all, it was you that started relying on such acts when we were still together."

"And I got the idea from you," Nightmare added, "who had seen Celestia use it who knows how many times."

It was quite an effective method. A grand display of power could intimidate an opponent, if not causing them to relent or surrender, it could at least shake their confidence and give an advantage. It was part of the reason that Nightmare Moon had been so theatrical in her arrival in Ponyville during the Summer Sun Celebration. It had not been as successful as Nightmare would have liked, but it was sufficient to stun the ponies for a few moments when she first appeared.

Now that she thought about it, it made Nightmare Moon wonder: how many opponents had Celestia actually defeated? More importantly, how many more threats were prevented by reputation and intimidation? Having a massive pony appear in a flash of golden light, then add to that stories of how she controls the very sun itself and had been able to defeat a certain legendary monster that was a threat to the kingdom, and any potential hostile would reconsider attacking. And that was with actual facts of what Celestia could do. Considering how rumors and reputations worked, there was no telling what sort of stories there were Celestia and her rule.

A griffon suddenly appeared in the clearing, dressed in armor. It vanished in a puff of smoke and Nightmare Moon crushed the thought that was tied to it. It seemed to have happened too fast for Princess Luna to notice.

"Now follow me," Nightmare said as she started up the hill.

"I am told there is a saying that goes 'you can catch more flies with honey than you can with vinegar,'" Luna stated.

"You could catch even more with manure," Nightmare pointed out, "or rotting meat."

"It is not literal," Luna explained. "It is a figure of speech, referring to the fact that kindness and politeness are more effective in getting others assistance than being confrontational, threatening and insulting."

"While the metaphor may fall apart at the 'rotting meat,' the 'manure' comparison is still apt." Nightmare paused and looked over her shoulder at Princess Luna. "Speaking of, how much have the 'nobles' been shoveling in your direction?"

"It... is uncertain," Luna replied slowly. "May I speak candidly?"

"Always."

"Perhaps I am asking the wrong question. If I tell you something, can you assure me that you will not repeat to another pony?"

"Oooh," purred out Nightmare. "Sounds like somepony found a little bit of juicy gossip. Perhaps we should save it for later. Meet up in the flesh of reality and share it over drinks. Although for it to really be fun, I would have to share some in return..."

The two of them stopped as they reached the top of the hill, looking at the castle ahead of them.

"This is where you have been finding yourself?" Princess Luna asked.

"Yes."

"And you do not sense the dark energy coming from it?"

"No," Nightmare retorted. "Most of my powers were lost when I was incarnated as a pegasus. In point of fact, what looks like a statue of me when we were together inside, surrounded by a shield."

"Is that why you brought me here?" Luna asked. "To try and convince me to release this figure in the hopes it might restore your prior abilities?"

One of Nightmare Moon's ears gave a flick as she turned to face Princess Luna. Her eyes narrowed and lip pursed out as she studied the mare.

"Luna," Nightmare said, "do you really think that I would believe you would simply allow me to have my powers again simply because I asked? More importantly, do you think I would simply admit that was what I wanted you to do?"

"A fair point," Luna conceded. "Still, I felt I would be remiss if I did not at least ask. Shall we continue on then?"

"Yes," Nightmare said as she started forward. "Although perhaps I should warn you about the... moat I suppose. It is not filled with water, and the contents can be... disturbing. More so if it actually is what it seems."

Luna gave Nightmare a wary look, but said nothing as they made their way to the bridge. Nightmare started across it first. She kept her eyes forward, but her ears twisted to listen for Luna's reaction.

"Smoo-ooo-oooze," came the bubbling groan from below.

"Smooze?" Princess Luna cried out. "Smooze? It's... it's The Smooze!"

"Yes it is," Nightmare replied.

"That...it..." Luna sputtered out. "That's a creature of ancient legend. It is older than Equestria. It was already an old legend when I was just a filly. If it is real, how did it get here?"

"A valid question," Nightmare Moon admitted. "Perhaps one you can discover the answer to somewhere in the castle. Or after you return to the physical world."

"You are not curious?" Luna asked, moving to catch up with Nightmare.

"Real or not, it has been harmless. It had done nothing more than gurgle out its name... and maybe reach up once in a while, but nowhere near high enough to reach the bridge. I had originally assumed it was simply another dream creature, some harmless shade made to look like something ponies fear. The possibility it might be real did not occur to me until after... whatever it is we are going to see."

"You do not know what it is?"

"...It's always too dark to see it properly," Nightmare replied. "Glowing red eyes, dark magic, ram horns. That is all I've ever been able to make out."

"Dark magic?" Luna asked. "What does it do with this magic when you are there?"

Nightmare Moon's jaw clenched as she remembered the feeling of having that slimy magic around her, the pain of it drilling into her skull. She sped up her pace, moving toward the castle faster.

"Come on," she growled out. "The sooner we get to this thing, the sooner we can get out of here and hopefully never come back."

She could hear the pause of Princess Luna's hooves behind her, before speeding to catch up. The two of them continued across the bridge and up to the entrance of the castle.

There, they stopped.

Where there had once been a floor to the throne room, there now stood a giant hole. The stones that made the floor had been torn apart and thrust up, leaving scattered and gaping edges.

"NO!" Nightmare cried out. Jumping toward the edge, she looked down into it. All the she could see was darkness. "It's gone. How is this possible?"

"Was that not what you were worried would happen?"

"Yes, but I didn't think it would be so soon." Nightmare Moon continued to look down into the black abyss. "I was certain we would be in time to at least figure out what it was, even if we could not seal it away further."

For a moment, Nightmare felt like the abyss was somehow staring at her as well. She gave a shake of her head and took a step back.

"We are not looking at a part of the dream realm," Luna stated. "It seems that whatever had been here came from another." Her horn lit up with magic as she took a hold of one of the stones on the floor. Using her power, she turned the dream stone into a glowing miniature moon. She then dropped it into the tunnel, watching it vanish into the darkness.

"What was the point of that?" Nightmare asked, turning to look over at Luna.

"Tell me," Luna stated, "what did you see happen to that stone?"

"Nothing," Nightmare replied as she looked back down into the darkness. "It just disappeared from sight. Consumed by the shadows."

"Precisely. It did not shrink down in size and vanish as an actual light source would in the physical world. Nor did it dissipate into a burst of magical dream energy as though it were striking against a barrier to another realm. It was consumed by the shadows, the light being blocked out fully in a single instant."

"Is that significant?"

"It is too soon to say fully," Luna said as she continued to look down. "The last does give an implication that the dream realm and wherever this leads are somewhat connected. Either it is by the creature's doing, or by the nature of the two places. It also gives us more information than if we did nothing, and safer than if either us chose to try and go down below. It is always better to have more information than necessary as opposed to insufficient."

"Something you picked up from Twilight Sparkle?"

"More likely something she picked up during her time as my sister's student."

A deep sigh escaped Nightmare Moon as she continued to look at the now massive opening in the castle floor. Whatever it had been was gone now. Well, not actually gone. Loose. No longer confined to its imprisonment beneath the castles in the darkness. It could be anywhere in the realm, doing who knows what. For her personally, the best case scenario is that she never saw it again, and the worst was that it would seek her out to continue to torture her for whatever reason it had. For ponies -- and possibly even other races -- the best case scenario would that there was simply another creature that would scare them in their dreams and cause them to wake up. The worst...

Well... she had already considered that with Spike last night...

"It's no longer here," Nightmare huffed. "No reason for us to be either."

Instead of responding, Princess Luna flew across the gap to the dais. Landing, she stepped forward and place a hoof against the shield bubble. Her eyes focused on the statue of Nightmare Moon as an alicorn that was locked inside.

"Fascinating," Luna whispered. "If you are correct, then this very well could be a manifestation of your lost power, sealed away by Twilight Sparkle."

"What else could it be?" Nightmare asked, looking up toward the princess, but choosing not to stay where she was.

"Remember," Luna pointed out, "the dream world is rarely ever literal." She tapped at the shield bubble. "Under normal circumstance, it could just as easily be a representation of your own feelings. The sense of impotency at the loss of your dream form and the powers that went with it. A matter that you would primarily blame Twilight Sparkle for as she was the one who came up with the ritual, despite it being at my request."

"You can stay here and speculate if you want," Nightmare growled, "but I am leaving."

"They expect me to become you again."

The statement made Nightmare Moon freeze, turning her full attention to Princess Luna. Had she heard that right?

"The Nobles" Luna explained, "that I spoke of earlier. Not all of them, mind you, but a small number. They seem to expect me to once again attempt a coup and usurp my sister from the throne. To take over and become the sole monarch of Equestria. It is as though they have forgotten -- or willfully ignore -- the fact that when we were Nightmare Moon, we wanted to cast Equestria into eternal darkness. They merely see it as a regime change.

"More so, they seem to be for it. Either I am a new younger alicorn that shall bring a new perspective to Equestria despite being a millenia behind, or I am a traditionalist who shall restore it to its once former glory. Either way I am to bring a great change to the ruling by taking my sister's place."

She let out a sigh, giving a shake of her head.

"The most irritating part of the whole thing is their non-committal subtlety in the matter. Never do they say anything that is too obvious. For doing so would mean that -- should I fail -- they will be stuck having... 'backed the wrong horse' as it were. So they hint, indicate, and imply. It also means that I have nothing to share with Celestia so that their treachery can be properly monitored, and punished if necessary."

While talking, Princess Luna's wings had spread out wide and her eyes and started glowing white with magic and moonlight. A dark cloud had formed over the mare's head, flickering with lightning.

"While it may not put an end to it," Nightmare said with a grin, "there is something you can do."

The thunder cloud and glowing white vanished. Princess Luna turned to face Nightmare Moon, tilting her head and raising one of her eyebrows.

"You are not just a guardian of the dream realm," Nightmare stated. "You are also a ruler and one who can influence it. Although they would not necessarily be aware of the connection, it is possible that having several nights of bad dreams would make them reconsider their position."

"Are you implying..." Luna started.

"I imply nothing," said Nightmare. "I am saying it straight out. Take the matter into your own hooves. Teach the treacherous nobles a lesson. If you wish to protect your sister from their scheming, then instill in them a fear of what will happen if they betray Celestia, even if it is to favor you. Show them the terror of what happens when a pony dares to cross the power of the sun. After imagining themselves being burned to a crisp, they would never dare to risk her ire."

"No," Luna said with a shake of her head. "Even if I were willing to do such a thing, it would be counter-productive. Such things would only make them fear Celestia more."

"Then tell her and let her deal with it," Nightmare snapped. "I doubt its the first time in a thousand years that some snotty pony tried to figure out a way to take her throne." Before Luna responded, Nightmare Moon took off and flew out the castle.

Windigos and Falling Hope

Nightmare Moon, Mayor Mare, and Chocolate Cherry stood outside Twilight's castle, looking up at something that none of them had ever actually seen before. They have seen representations of windigos, but never the actual things themselves.

They were darker than the ones that Nightmare Moon had seen. The figures were less of a pale blue and more of a black. Although they were still somewhat translucent. The eyes were a dark purple. It felt odd to say that something so dark could be glowing brightly, but it was as close to accurate as possible. Behind the creatures, storm clouds followed in their wake, pushing through the lighter ones that had been floating above Ponyville.

An icy cold blast of air struck the trio, causing them all to shiver.

"We need to get all the ponies to safety," the mayor announced. "The castle." She turned to face the other two. "We need to bring them here to the castle. There should be more than enough room for everypony, and it is the sturdiest structure in town. It will keep them all safe until we can figure out a way to stop this.

"Come on." She started to walk. "Most of them should be in the town square waiting for Winter Wrap-up to start."

Chocolate Cherry started to follow, but Nightmare reached out and put a hoof on the mare's back.

"You go ahead," Nightmare called out to the mayor. She saw Cherry begin to open her mouth, but raised a hoof to stop the comment.

The mayor looked at the two a moment, but said nothing as she started to run toward the town center.

"What's going on?" Cherry finally asked. "Why didn't you want us to go help the mayor bring ponies here?"

"You heard the way she was talking," Nightmare stated. "She is more than able to get everypony's attention and lead them here. She does not need our assistance on that. I need you to do something else."

"What is it?"

"Pinkie Pie isn't here and ponies are going to need to keep their morale up. They are going to need food and entertainment. So I want you to go find cooks and entertainers, and have them bring whatever they can to help keep everypony in as good a mood as possible." She looked back up at the windigos above. "It will also keep the fighting down, so they won't be getting stronger from that... assuming they need to..."

"Right," Cherry said with a nod. "Okay. I can do that. But... what are you going to do?"

Nightmare turned to look up at the windigos more, her eyes narrowing.

"Something has to be calling and controlling those things," she said. "I am going to see if I can find them and put a stop to this."

A pair of hooves took a hold of Nightmare's face. Turning, she looked down to face Chocolate Cherry. Cherry then leaned forward, planting a kiss onto Nightmare's lips. Closing her eyes, she leaned into it, returning the passion she felt.

It was almost disappointing when it ended.

"Good luck," Cherry said before running off.

Nightmare watched her friend go, licking her lips to taste the last bits of the kiss. With a sigh, she stretched out her wings before taking off. The winds grew stronger as she flew up, whipping around her. The cold cut through her coat, chilling her to the bone. Her breath came out as a cloud of white each time she exhaled. Still, she had to fly. It would give her the best view to try and find who or what was leading the attack on Ponyville.

And it had to be an attack. One that was planned ahead of time. Windigos would not just appear out of nowhere to freeze Ponyville without something causing it. Especially after being unseen in Equestria for over a thousands years. The fact that it also happened the same time that Twilight Sparkle and the other Elements were absent seemed too well timed to simply be a coincidence. Whatever was responsible for it all had wanted to get them out of town, or knew that they would be away somehow.

Something small struck Nightmare Moon, pelting her on the head. It left a cold, wet stinging from where it had hit her. It was soon followed by another, and another. She looked up, trying to figure out what it was.

Hail. It was starting to hail. Unless she got to shelter, she was going to be hit by it repeatedly. Fortunately, they were only the size of small peas. Annoying, but not very dangerous. Hopefully she could find something to help before they got too big, forcing her to land and seek shelter.

She took off in the direction she believed the windigos had come from. It seemed like the best way to start the search. Pushing through the wind, ice, and rain, she searched the ground below for something that seemed odd or out of place; something that did not look like it belong in Ponyville.

It made her wish she had paid more attention to the town below her.

After flying and looking around for she had no idea how long, Nightmare caught sight of something. Slowing down and moving closer, she found that it looked to be a pony. Keeping track of them, she moved to circle, slowing down as she came lower still, moving to land behind the pony. If they were a resident, she could simply tell them to head to the castle, but if it was a pony somehow connected to what was going on, she could get to know more about them and possibly have the element of surprise.

Getting closer, Nightmare took in more and more details of the pony. Some of it was hidden by the clothing, but they looked to have a white coat and red tail. Judging from the garments and build, Nightmare would guess they were female. Landing quietly, Nightmare turned toward the mare and moved forward. She caught sight of the cutie mark, a syringe filled with red. Something about the mare made Nightmare feel uncomfortable. There was something familiar about her.

"Damn it," the mare swore, shifting. A gentle green aura wrapped around the cap she was wearing, lifting it off her head. She rubbed a hoof at what looked to be the stumpy remnants of an ear.

The sight made Nightmare Moon freeze, eyes going wide and wings flaring out at her sides. She was back at Nightmare Night, being attacked. A unicorn mare with the same markings was approaching her, carrying a bottle and hose (Nightmare now knew that it was an IV tube and bottle to collect her blood in). In an act of desperation, a desire to fight, Nightmare attacked the mare, biting her ear. If she remembered it right, the mare had shouted that Nightmare had bitten it off.

Clenching her jaw, Nightmare Moon held back the urge to lunge at the mare with a roar. Her first urge was to pounce and attack her until a bleeding pile of meat and broken bones remained. However, as satisfying as that would be, it would not help her figure out what was going on or who was behind it. She needed a way to get the unicorn to tell her what she needed to know.

A fiendish grin spread across Nightmare's face as she suddenly got an idea. Keeping an eye on the mare, Nightmare moved away, trying to get some space between the two of them with the hope of not being noticed. After all, it was better with an element of surprise.

Satisfied that she was far enough, Nightmare started to fly up. She climbed higher and higher, flying backward and trying to get the angle right. She then shot down, aiming herself straight for the unicorn mare.

The other pony had just enough time to turn around before Nightmare Moon was on her.

Grabbing the mare, Nightmare flew up. She held on tight as her wings flapped, lifting the two of them into the sky. Her forelegs gripped the unicorn's barrel tighter, squeezing it to tightly. Her eyes shifted between the sky and the ground, her path adjusting as she headed toward one of the ponds around Ponyville while still making her way up and up.

"Let me go!" the unicorn shouted, kicking and squirming under Nightmare's grip.

"Can you teleport?" Nightmare asked.

"What?"

"Can you teleport?" Nightmare repeated slowly, over-enunciating each word.

"No," the unicorn replied.

"Then think about where we are, and what would happen if I did what you asked."

After that, the mare stopped struggling in Nightmare's grip. Grinning, Nightmare continued to fly, searching for the spot she wanted as she made her way closer to the cloud line. Once she was over the pond, she pushed straight up hard, punching a hole through the clouds and stopping just above them. Shifting, she turned the unicorn around so the two of them were facing each other.

"Now," Nightmare stated, "I am going to ask some questions, and you are going to answer them." She paused, waiting to see if the unicorn would...

"And what if I don't?" the unicorn asked, narrowing her eyes.

Perfect.

"What's your name?"

"What?"

"Your name," Nightmare said. "You do have one, don't you? If you don't want to tell me your real one, that's fine. Just give me something to call you."

"Hope," the unicorn stated. "Healthy Hope."

"Well Hope, below us is a frozen pond. If you don't tell me what I want to know, then I will drop you. Best case scenario, you pass out on the way down and the impact snaps your neck, killing you instantly."

"That is the best case scenario?" Hope cried out, eyes wide.

"Yes." Nightmare's eyes narrowed as she allowed a predatory grin to spread across her face. She leaned in closer. "The worst case scenario starts with you falling, being conscious the who-o-o-ole way down. You get to watch the the ground get larger and larger as it grows closer and closer, unable to do anything about it. Then you hit the pond, and the impact breaks your neck, but you don't die. Oh, no. Instead you lie there, a massive pain in your neck, but feeling nothing below it. And no matter how hard you try, your limbs absolutely refuses to move. So you are stuck, lying there, unable to do anything.

"That is when the ice gives out from under you and you slip into the water. Slowly you sink down, falling further and further into the icy coldness. All you can do is watch as darkness folds in around you, and your life slips away. One... bubble...at... a time."

Nightmare Moon watched Healthy Hope, their noses almost touching. She allowed the mare to consider the possibility. Best case scenario: death. Worst case scenario: a slow death with the inability to do anything about the matter.

Hope suddenly looked up at Nightmare Moon, brow furrowing and lips pulling tight.

"You would never do that," she stated.

"Oh?" Nightmare pulled her head back, tilting it to one side and raising an eyebrow. "And what makes you say that?"

"You're friends with Twilight Sparkle," Hope said. "You live in the castle. You have to believe in friendship and forgiveness. You don't ki-"

The rest of the statement was lost in a scream as Healthy Hope fell from the sky after Nightmare had let her go.

Nightmare watched a moment before diving after her. She held herself straight and streamline, wings flapping for a little extra speed until she caught up with the falling unicorn. Matching the pace as best she could, she looked at Hope from the corner of one eye.

"Boy," Nightmare called out. "That ground sure is coming up fast. It would probably be a good idea to have somepony catch you before it's too late."

"Okay," Hope shouted back. "Okay. I'll tell you whatever you want."

Grinning, Nightmare shifted and grabbed onto Healthy Hope. Her wings flared and body tilted, shifting their weight and turning the downward momentum into horizontal. She continued to move, creating a loop as the fall now turned into a climb. Soon they were back above the clouds where they had began.

"I want your word," Hope said, "that if I tell you what you want to know, you won't drop me anyway."

There was a moment of disappointment at Hope's request. In truth, Nightmare Moon had been considering just that. After all, this was one of the ponies that had been involved in her attack, even if only to draw blood. It would not really change anything, but it still seemed like fun to Nightmare.

"Very well," Nightmare sighed out. "By the moon, I do swear that so long as you tell me what I wish to hear, you will not be dropped to your death. Now, tell me who is behind all this before I lose my patience."

"Grogar. His name is Grogar."