Luna and Celestia ran through the many long corridors of the castle, sending many guards and maids scattering. They finally saw, far in front of them, the library. They ran in and slammed the doors, locking them. They quickly checked for any other ponies in the library before walking to a large engraving in the wall. It depicted the coronation of the two sisters. They each placed the tips of their horns to those of their carved counterparts. The room was filled with yellow and blue lights, and the wall slid soundlessly inwards. They walked inside and closed the door.

Inside was a huge library, completely hidden. One section draped entirely in black, another gray, and the third white. The dark magic, silver magic, and light magic books all put away neatly under their corresponding banners. Celestia ran to the white section, while Luna searched the dark. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Luna’s voice rang out.

"I found it!" She yelled, holding a large, old book. The two met in the middle of the large room and began to read a section towards the middle of the book.

'The pure net: this complicated spell is only cast by alicorns. The net is wound by pure love and can be used to trap the Fury of another pony. It needs two powerful alicorns with connections to the spirit realm to cast it. It also requires a stron-'

"What!? Where's the rest!?" Cried Celestia. The page had been torn. Celestia growled in frustration and her coat grew slightly darker as her mane flickered.

"Celestia no!" Shouted Luna. Celestia gasped and her back arched suddenly. She let out a loud scream as another crack formed in the purple gem. Luna lunged forward to hold her sister steady. She slumped backwards and closed her eyes.

"Oh no, this is bad" said Luna to herself.

"Understatement of the year" came a deep voice behind her. Luna spun around only to find none other than the god of chaos floating around in lazy circles.

"Discord" she hissed, stepping over Celestia in a protective pose. Discord laughed and held up both hand- well, limbs.

"Woah whoa, calm down there, bronco" he said easily. "I felt a large amount of evil magic around here, and thought I'd come check it out. You know, for safety" he said, dragging out the last word.

"Of course. Why not? Checking to make sure your lover isn't hurt?" She said, rolling her eyes and gesturing to Celestia. Discord roared with laughter and disappeared, reforming under Luna and snaking his long body up, lifting her with him. He leaned into her ear and whispered lightly.

"And what makes you think she's the one who I love?" He said before snapping and flashing away. Luna fell lightly to the floor and sank to her knees. Her face was a bright crimson and her legs were shaking. She shook her head violently and took a deep breath before looking back at Celestia. She sighed again and picked up her sister, placing her gingerly on her back and trotting slowly out of the room.

***

Celestia was still sleeping in the medical ward. Luna couldn't do anything more and had been told to go back to her chambers. She couldn't sleep, not after all of this. Instead, she paced. She tried not to think about this new threat, and instead let her thoughts wander. To Discord.

She blushed once again and her muscles tightened. She groaned and lied down on the floor, covering her face with her hooves. She got up and walked to her bathroom, turning the shower all the way up. She stepped in and let her stress float away with the steam. She stepped out about twenty minutes later and walked across her room but stiffened when she felt it. She whipped around and growled.

"How dare you. This is my private space!" She hissed to the draconequis, who floated about the blue alicorn and lazily ran a claw through her starry mane, which was currently tied back in a ponytail.

"Hello princess. Have you thought about our little conversation earlier?"

"Twos not a conversation but a few mis-chosen words!" Shouted Luna, steaming. She cleared her throat self-consciously and repeated her sentence. "It was not a conversation. It was just some mis-chosen words"

"Mis-chosen!? I assure you, I meant what I said!" Gasped Discord, pretending to be offended. When Luna didn't say anything, he dropped his act and slithered forward. He delicately lifted her face to be level with his. "I meant it when I said I love you"

"Why!?" Whined Luna like a foal. "It's wrong! Ponies don't love me, they love her!" She said, gesturing west towards the medical ward. Discord thought for a moment and chose his words carefully.

"I'm no pony" he said softly. Luna groaned and sat hard.

"You have no idea what you're trying to get into" she whispered. "Have you never wondered why I have never sought a love since my return?"

"Well, no, I guess not" said Discord, caught off guard.

"Heh. Let me tell you a little story..."

Luna paced her bedroom back at the castle of the two sisters.

"Lulu?" Came a tentative voice from the door. Luna turned and smiled.

"Good evening, Star" she said kindly. The two walked towards each other and shared a brief kiss.

"What's wrong, my love? Why do you pace so?" He asked.

"We are worried. Something doesn't feel right. The scales of balance are tipped in one direction. It-it-" she tried to continue, but couldn't. A tear slid slowly down her cheek.

"Oh dearest, please do not cry! It hurts my heart so!" Exclaimed Star, wiping away her tear.

"I know. I'm sorry for worrying you love. It's jus- agh!" She tried to say, but got cut off and craned her back, clutching at her head.

"Luna! What is wrong!?" Gasped Star, running to her side. Luna screamed and arched her back more.

"It-it's coming! Please Star, my love, leave me! Make haste! I love you- aaaaaaah!" She cried. Her coat turned black and she grew slightly, her mane growing more magical. Star huddled against the corner as the dark mare rose. She scanned the room and grinned when she saw him.

"Why hello there" she purred, picking him up with her mane. "Do you know the name of the god who has just graced you with her presence is?"

"L-Luna, no...” he whimpered.

"Wrong answer! Try again!" She laughed, snapping off his blue horn. He screamed in agony and tried to wipe away the blood dripping into his eyes. He bit his lip and glared into her turquoise eyes.

"What did you do to my Luna?" He hissed.

"Luna, oh Luna! Is that all you care about? If you must know, she is gone and I have taken her place. Oh don't look at me like that, she's not dead, not technically. Her soul just took a little...vacation" she said nonchalantly. "Now back to our little game. Please, guess again!"

"You shouldn't have a name. You are a monster. A murderer, a beast, a monster" he whispered. Nightmare Moons eyes flashed dangerously and she growled. In one, swift motion, she snapped his neck.

"Hm, pity" she said and looked into the mirror. Looking back at her was Luna. Her pupils were pinpricks and tears were falling like waterfalls. Her mouth was agape. Nightmare smiled and kicked the mirror, sending glass flying in all directions.

"I murdered the only pony I ever loved" she said, tears sliding down her face. She sat staring at her front hooves. "Do my hooves look red to you?" She asked, not looking up. Discord took her trembling hooves and held them close.

"That wasn't you. That was the nightmare. You couldn't have done anything" he said softly.

"I could have. I was just too weak and pathetic" she spat.

"Those are the last two words I would use to describe you"

"Then you're alone." She said quietly. Discord turned and picked up Luna, holding her close. Their lips met and Luna blushed furiously. She grunted softly, but didn't pull away. They stayed like that for a while until a light knock sounded at the door. Luna shoved Discord away and wiped her mouth. She turned quickly and opened it. A young nurse stood on the other side.

"G-good evening, Princess. Um, Princess Celestia is awake" she squeaked.

"Thank you" said Luna with a slight bow of her head. The nurse smiled and scampered away as Luna closed the door.

"Luna, I" started Discord.

"Get out" she hissed.

"Plea-"

"Get out!" She boomed. Discord jumped and snapped his finger, disappearing quickly. Luna sat hard once more. She sighed and slowly made her way to the medical ward.

Author's Note

We get back to the story next chapter, I just really felt like writing some romance!