Nightmare Return

Twilight was in the guest room, trotting in circles, like she usually did when she was worried. Where is she? Where is she? the purple alicorn wondered. It had been at least two hours since Star had dissapeared.

"Ugh!" Twilight flopped onto the bed. How could I have been so inconsiderate? she chided herself.

The rest of the group was outside, searching. Flash had suggested that Twilight go inside and cool down a bit.

However, this just made her worry even more.

She slammed her face into her pillow. At that moment, the door opened.

Princess Celestia stuck her head inside the room. "Twilight?" she said worriedly.

Twilight's head shot up. "Did you find her?" she asked.

The princess shook her head. "You need to come outside. Something's going on."

Twilight and Celestia rushed outside. "What is happening anyway?" Twilight questioned.

"That." The white alicorn pointed up at the moon.

The surface was shimmering and lapping, almost like the ripples on a lake.

Twilight stared at it. "Wha-"

She was cut off by a loud cackle. Everyone looked up to the moon.

The face was completely smooth now. On it was a silhouette of a pony with a large horn and batlike wings.

"No way..." Applejack whispered.

"It can't be possible!" Rarity yelped.

The shadowy figure laughed. "Oh, but it is, dears!" It snickered. "What were you expecting?"

"Nightmare Moon!" Twilight gasped.

"Correct!" the silhouette crowed. "I'm surprised you remembered me, Twilight Sparkle."

"Now wait just a darn minute," Applejack said. "Since when have you been gettin' all sacastic, sassy, and high-n'-mighty? You barely even spoke when we first met!"

"Tut-tut, dear Applejack," Nightmare clicked. "Perhaps it would be easier to show you instead!"

The shadow swirled away until it dissappeared from the surface of the moon.

"That was-" Rainbow Dash started, but was interrupted by a flash of light.

"Did you miss me, darlings?" a voice called from the center. "I certainly didn't miss you."

The light died down.  Standing in the center was Nightmare Moon...in the flesh!

Except...not.

Her horn, wings, and armor were the same, but her mane was dark purple and striped with blue, pink, and gold. Her coat was a deep orange. And her wings were even larger than they had been originally!

"Sheesh, what happened to you?" Rainbow Dash asked.

Nightmare Moon scrunched up her nose. "Rude! Don't you know how to speak to a lady?"

"I am a lady," Rainbow mumbled.

"Wait a minute..." Twilight said. "You look like Stella....oh no."

"That's right!" The alicorn smiled. "I took the little brat's soul!"

"You...you!" Twilight started to charge her, but Celestia held her back.

"Why would you even care about the girl, I wonder?" Nightmare mused. "Does she hold a certain connection to you?"

"Stella's my daughter, you idiot," Twilight said through gritted teeth.

Nightmare turned to her, surprised. "You don't say? Well! I didn't think I had been gone that long..." She smiled cunningly. "But it seems like may changes have occurred since I visited, yes?" She poked at Twilight's wings. "Look who's an alicorn now. But ameuter wings. Celestia must not think very highly of you."

Applejack snorted. "I did ask why you were acting like you are, miss."

"Oh Applejack, let me explain. You see, whenever I take someone's soul, I become a bit like them, in ways. I'm high-and-mighty because of Luna-" she pointed at the alicorn. "-sassy because of your friend Rarity here, and sarcastic because of little what's-her-face. But now that I've changed, I suppose you shall call me...Shadow Star! That has a nice ring to it, yes?"

"Anyway, I don't really care. Just wanted to say bye before I got rid of you. But really, Twilight, think. This entire situation could have been avoided for at least a few more years if you had just held your tongue. I would have come sometime either way. But you'll have tons of time to wallow in self pity when you're trapped in my special prision!"

"She sure is talkative," Rainbow whispered to Twilight.

"One more thing. Discord, I expected so much more from you. Being reformed-yuck! You must not have any fun anymore. But that's your problem." Nightmare Moon (now Shadow Star) grinned. "Bye bye, darlings! Have a horrible time in the shadow box!"

With that, her horned glowed blue, and the group of ponies fell into a dark pit.