Eclipse of Friendship

“Well, little pony, you’ve certainly been busy,” whispered a chilling voice. The way it crept up your spine and into your brain muddled all of your thoughts. No matter how hard you tried, everything was thrown into chaos.
Certainly something you would expect from the God of Chaos.
“Indeed, been busy to get you out of that stone prison,” the cloaked pony replied. The tattered rags sat in all the right places, making it impossible to tell its’ gender or sub-race. The cloaked figure stood under the cold statue of Discord, having only recently been replaced to the Canterlot gardens. Princess Celestia certainly was gullible, placing such an important playing piece out in the open like this.

“Your plan certainly has taken a lot of effort,” the statue replied, whispering into the figures’ mind, “You were quite willing to sacrifice your sanity for my powers. However, when I declined, you acted as if that’s what you were expecting.”
“Of course, I’ve been planning this for many years, Discord. Everything has fallen into place just as I predicted.”
“It’s unfair to predict things when you know exactly what’s going to happen, you know. If you knew I was going to be released, and then turned back to stone, why not make a move back then?”
“I’ve explained this already, you really want me to go through it all again?”

“If it means you’ll stay longer and amuse me, then sure.”
“Typical. If I had changed the timeline back then, it would have been possible for those damned Elements to oppose me, as well as Princess Celestia. Luna would be easy enough to manipulate, but what can she do against those six and the Princess of the Sun? No, it was necessary to wait. Don’t forget, God of Chaos, getting you out of that prison is one of the easiest parts of my plan.”
“Easy? My-my, you’re confident about yourself. Even without the powers of chaos to back you, you’re willing to interfere with the Elements?”

“Come now, I’m not entirely alone. Moon will be helping me, after all.”
“I really do wish you’d stop calling me that,” murmured an effeminate voice, who revealed herself on top of Discord’s head, “It’s unbecoming of you.”
“Even with Nightmare Moon by your side, what do you hope to accomplish? Freeing us both will mean pure chaos for everyone, nothing would survive! Not even you.”
“Anything’s possible with enough preparation, you know,” the pony replied, leaning against the base of the statue, “you just have to know how to prepare. That said, I think I’m done with wasting time on chatting with you. I was going to tell you all about my plan, but I think you’ll have much more fun on your own.”

The pony’s smile could be heard as it pulled away from the statue and trotted away. There was no fear of running into any Guards, they were all dealt with. An entire night to themselves, Nightmare Moon would love that, wouldn’t she?
“Even if you won’t admit it, you’re cruel,” sighed the being that had once brought Equestria to its knees.
“Come on Moon, you’d call me cruel after all I’ve done for you?” replied the pony, still smiling.
“Pulling me from my death isn’t something I should be thanking you for. All you’re setting me up for is another banishment by Princess Celestia if I’m lucky, an execution if I’m not.”
“You know as well as I do that I wouldn’t let that happen to you.”

“Trying to act sweet towards me isn’t going to help,” the creature of the Night scoffed, turning from the robed pony.
“I’m not acting sweet,” the figure replied calmly, dropping the smile, “simply being honest. My life is tied to yours now, there’s no way I can make it through this and plead innocence. Celestia wouldn’t approve of this at all; then again she wouldn’t be able to kill one of her ponies. She’s too soft for that.”
“And what of Luna, what will she think of this?”
“I’m not sure; she’s a wild card at the moment. She wouldn’t betray her own sister though. Being stuck on the moon with nothing for company but your own insane mind must be terrible. Risking it all again for us? It’s too much of a threat for her, she’s suffered enough already.”

Nightmare Moon was suddenly filled with rage at the figure’s words. “How dare you,” she muttered, holding back the brunt of her anger, “talk about how that girl was lonely. I existed only because of her, and she shunned me for everything that happened. The night that we returned, she spent the whole time fighting against me. She wouldn’t let me kill anypony, and she tried so hard to bring the moon down-“
“Moon,” the figure interrupted, “please, bringing your personal feelings into this is pointless. I have my own stake in this as well, and you know exactly why that is. However, if we let our judgement be clouded with petty hate and old memories, everything will fall apart. You have to stay strong and remember everything I’ve told you, okay?”

The black God-like figure sighed and conceded.
“Good,” the cloaked pony continued, “I didn’t risk my life for my Queen to give up before the real challenge has even begun.”
“Your Queen?” she asked, cocking her head to the side.
“Indeed, like in Chess. You’re my most powerful piece, if only because you’re the only one that can influence Luna. Whether or not you were made from her hatred and jealousies, you two still have a connection that nopony will ever understand. It wouldn’t be too hard to compare it to love, really.”
“You’d compare what we feel towards each other as love? Perhaps you’re more foolish than I thought; I’ve already told you exactly how I feel about that… Filly.”

“That’s rather harsh, isn’t it Moon?” the figure chuckled, “Love isn’t something anypony can ever understand. I don’t expect a Goddess to figure it out either; nonetheless, you’re a little more intelligent than the average Goddess.”
“Flattery isn’t going to work on me.”
“Just go ahead and break my heart, it’s okay. Anyway, I think it’s time we set everything in motion, wouldn’t you agree?”
“You know you have my full support, I’m ready to start whenever you are.”

“Well then, Moon,” the figure took off its’ cloak and smiled at Luna’s creation, “let’s begin.”