Nightmare Moon is... Maleficent

Soon, Sunset thought of having a talent that would relate to a certain cutie mark. She wondered if she could control the sun's movements. One time, between five and six in the morning, when the crack of predawn was in the Eastern horizon, she woke up and attempted a powerful spell that would make the sun rise into the sky.

A magical aura surrounded the sun. Sunset used all of her strength to make the sun rise into the sky. She then heard voices. She didn't know why she heard them. She saw images and flashes of the fiery mare, which made her freak out. She nearly screamed.

"You know, we're not so different," A malicious voice murmured.

"You sound cruel! I'm everything you're not," Sunset retorted.

"You'll see, someday..."

"Leave me alone."

"Your cutie mark resembled my own. Don't you want to be evil like me?"

"No!" Sunset's voice was loud. Ironically, no one woke up. It was as if the rest of the cottage was in a deep sleep. Her magical aura disappeared from view.

The sun had risen into the Eastern Horizon, but there was something ominous about it. Sunset wondered why the sun belonged to the owner of that voice. Was the fiery mare the tyrannical ruler of Equestria?

Around the twins' fifteenth birthday, Sunset and Twilight decided to observe the fearsome Wall of Vines. That night, they snuck out of the cottage when their aunts fell asleep. It was almost midnight, but the twins didn't care. Just as they approached the Wall, an adrenaline rush surged through the two, and energized them greatly.

"Hmm," Twilight hummed. "What do you think is beyond the vines, Sunny?"

"I don't know, Twily," Sunset shrugged for a second.

"I think there might be the magical folk. I've read tales of the Everfree Forest. The stories make it sound wonderful and beautiful, even though our aunts told us otherwise. I think they're ridiculous."

"Yeah. Well, I've always known that somepony or something watched us from afar. Remember the time you were out of control because of the spell? I saw a cerulean aura, and I saw the glow from the shadow."

Twilight gasped, amazed that Sunset saw something about the shadow. "Then, the alicorn has something to do with the control of my powers!" She squealed. "I wanna thank her, well, um, I don't know the actual gender."

"I think it's a female because the shadow is slender. A male alicorn would be stocky and strong-looking." Sunset nodded, and thought of the shadow for a slight second.

Twilight thought of a sarcastic remark. After all, she knew that her sister would sometimes get her nose into books. "Well, well. You're always nosing in those books about magical creatures and such," She remarked.

"Sarcasm alert!" Sunset giggled as she recalled the times when her twin would catch her reading one of the secret books.

Twilight looked to the Wall, and didn't respond to her sister's joke. As she placed her hoof onto the Wall, she heard a noise in the distance. It sounded like metal clashing against wood. The noise made her jump, as the sound spooked the daylights out of her. "Oh, my gosh," She gasped.

"I will investigate," Sunset offered. "Stay right here, and you'll be safe." She followed the noise, and halted as soon as she saw the mysterious figures in armor. She returned to Twilight, and prepared to inform her about the armored ponies.

From the shadows, Nightmare Moon and Discord watched on. They recognized the noise; it was from Celestia's cruel and wicked soldiers. Before taking action, she thought of the irony of this situation. She smirked as she beckoned Discord to the Wall. "Curious little beasties," She murmured. "They aren't scared. They want to see the Everfree Forest and its denizens."

Soon, they heard the soldiers chattering about Sunset's sudden appearance.

"Is that Nightmare Moon?" A stallion wondered.

"I don't know. She isn't tall. She's a silly peasant mare," Another stallion objected.

"Look at her, traipsing into danger. Let's make sure to warn her."

Discord and Nightmare Moon exchanged glances. An idea popped into their minds. They would prevent the twins from being discovered. "I don't know if we can take them into the forest without being caught by the soldiers," Discord warned. "I don't want any of us to get injured. I don't want the soldiers to harm the forest's denizens."

"I know what to do. Don't think me as foolish and absentminded," Nightmare assured as she approached the twins from behind.

A cerulean dust emerged from Nightmare's horn, and enveloped the twins. The twins hovered into the air as they closed their eyes and drifted into dreamland. However, the twins landed onto the ground. Discord thought of a plan to keep them from being visible to the soldiers. He levitated the twins into the air once more, and snapped his fingers. A cotton candy cloud appeared underneath the twins and carried them further and further above the treetops.

"Careful. You don't want to harm them," Nightmare warned.

"I won't," Discord assured her.

"Good."

Discord transformed into a wolf, and rushed towards the soldiers from behind. He growled ferally. The soldiers whirled around to face him, and backed up a little. Just as the soldiers turned to run, a figure suddenly approached them, hidden in the dying mist.

"It's her!" The captain shouted. "Kill her!"

"Bring me her head!" A soldier demanded.

"Battalion!" Another soldier hollered.

Nightmare stared them down, and smirked darkly. A violet aura enveloped the soldiers and lifted them into the air. She smiled with amusement as she flung the soldiers to the left, to the right, and finally, to the center. All the stallions crashed into each other at once. The armor fell to the ground with a loud clang as the rest of the soldiers were flung away from the woods.

She looked down at the helmet near her. Curiosity overcame her as her right forehoof moved to touch the helmet. A fiery spark nearly zapped her hoof. She shrieked in pain. "So, she infused a spell into the armor in an attempt to harm me! The problem has only worsened," She bemoaned as she shook her forehoof to alleviate the fiery shock that came with the spell.

Discord approached his friend, and transformed into a draconequus immediately. "I thought you weren't sensitive to armor," He spoke as he moved his lion paw close to the helmet. He could feel Celestia's magic preparing to strike him at the right moment. "Just be careful next time. She has infused a spell within the armor so that she could hurt us."

"Ooh," Nightmare hummed as she thought of Celestia's willingness to bring harm to both of them. "The baleful sun is worse than ever."

"Are you referring to Celestia or the sun itself?" Discord wondered, confused.

"I'm referring to my terrible sister." Nightmare scowled as she spoke of her sister.

"Rumors had gone around that she was now the terrible tyrant. She no longer seemed like her younger self the last time I spied on her. She seemed authoritarian and brutal, almost ready to strike anypony that dared to fight her."

"Oh, dear." Nightmare still recalled the time when she saw the terrifying reflection. All those years, and Celestia's connection with the fiery mare had still made sense to her! The solar sister had changed a lot ever since the christening... or, ever since the time when Celestia murdered the late king in order to rise to power.

Discord and Nightmare Moon approached the Wall. As Discord transformed into a raven, he flew high into the air and entered the forest. Nightmare Moon stood still as she looked behind her. The twins were still in the air, just above the dark alicorn.

"I wonder," She whispered. A ghost of a smile nearly tugged at her mouth as she allowed the Wall to make way for them.

Since the twins were curious about the Everfree Forest, Nightmare decided to introduce them to the beauty and the wonder of the forest. She lead them through the forest and to the river. She gently placed them onto the ground. She hid behind the nearby trees, and a cerulean aura surged from her horn. "Awaken," She silently commanded.

She began to consider her decision. Would the twins see the beauty of the Everfree? Would they simply ignore it? Would they be afraid and run for their lives? Would they try to harm the creatures and the plants? Would they cry for their aunties?

Nightmare stopped going through the scenarios when she figured that it would be immature of the twins to cry for no reason. The twins weren't five anymore. They were fifteen, and they wouldn't cry easily. She almost gasped as she watched the twins awaken from the temporary slumber.

Sunset and Twilight fluttered their eyes, stood up, and looked around. They looked at each other, and almost snorted with restrained laughter. "There's something on you," Twilight pointed out.

"Same for you," Sunset reminded her. "That pink gunk..."

Twilight shuddered as she wiped away the cotton candy. Sunset mirrored her actions. As the bright lights emerged from the darkness, they flew to the twins and danced around them.

"Wow," The twins exclaimed in unison as they smiled at the shining breezies.

The breezies giggled as they gently touched the twins' hooves. The breezies were reminded of the time when a young Luna once visited them. The breezies were reminded of that mare, the sweet and innocent side of the princess, before the princess became a terrifying and unrecognizable queen of the forest because she once lost her wings.

Nightmare saw that this moment was the echo of her foalhood. When she was young, she was beloved by the breezies and the Equestrians alike. Since the betrayal, the world seemed to turn against her, which had deeply pained her. If only Celestia's cruel spell didn't play out, then Nightmare Moon would still have her wings. And, she would be the actual mother of the twins instead if her life took a different route.

The dark alicorn cringed as she thought of her sister's betrayal. Her sister was the reason why Nightmare lost all the innocence inside of her, and why her wings were taken. Her sister was also the cause of her decline in popularity.

There wasn't a single pony that preferred Nightmare over Celestia. Every Equestrian seemed to prefer that monster of a solar queen! Nightmare's thoughts were interrupted when the breezies flew away. They must have seen her. She was so used to being feared. She highly doubted that the twins would ever be unafraid should they ever see her for real.

"I know that you're there," Twilight spoke to the shadow.

"Come out," Sunset implored. "Don't be afraid."

Nightmare chuckled, impressed that they weren't going to be frightened of her at all. "I am not afraid," She murmured as her lips curled into a smug smile.

"Then, come out..." Twilight pressed.

"You'll be afraid," Nightmare returned.

"No, we won't. We want to see you for real. I know you're more than a shadow. You've been in my dreams," Twilight explained.

Nightmare smirked as she emerged from the shadows. She approached the twins, but paused as they looked at her; not the shadow, but her physical self.

Twilight and Sunset paused as they gasped. They stepped back a little, stunned by the mare's mysterious appearance and her regalness. This time, Nightmare didn't wear the helmet or any other pieces of armor. She intended to not seem intimidating or menacing, yet she stayed stoic overall.

"I know who you are," Twilight affirmed.

"How do you know?" Nightmare queried.

"You're our alicorn godmother!"

Nightmare nearly broke into a fist of laughter, but stood still and peaceful. She resisted the urge to even crack a grin. "Your... what?" She whispered, stunned.

"Alicorn godmother," Sunset repeated for her sister. "You've been watching us our whole life since we were small!"

"What do you mean?" Nightmare interrogated.

Twilight pointed at the slender shadow, and nodded. "Your shadow. It's the reason why we were alive. It's the reason why my magic didn't completely destroy the world," She confirmed as she broke into a huge grin. "This place is so beautiful! My aunties told me horror stories about the place, but I know they are just ridiculous, and-"

Nightmare cleared her throat. "Well, I think it's past midnight," She reminded them as she looked to the sky. There were no clouds, which was good. She hadn't seen the stars or the moon in a long while.

Perhaps that was because her heart was close to completely healing from the cruel loss of her wings!

Twilight looked to the stars, and wondered what her godmother was looking at. Then, she realized that her godmother wanted to remind them that it's past bedtime. "Do Sunny and I have to go home so early?" She complained as she looked her godmother in the eye. She resisted the urge to throw a temper tantrum. She knew that tantrums would get her nowhere.

Her godmother wouldn't enjoy temper tantrums. So, Twilight tried to look at this situation with maturity, not foalishness. "Sorry if I complained. Well, I appreciate your concern. I enjoy being here, but I would not like to be so tired and grouchy," She explained.

"You are forgiven," Nightmare replied as she watched a figure come into view. "And, this is Discord."

Discord smiled as he looked to the twins. "Nice to meet you," He spoke. "I've known you since you were small! I remember that one time when you tried to make the sun rise. A certain mare wasn't willing to give up on the control of the sun."

Sunset Shimmer beamed at her godfather. "I remember you," She replied. "Handsome bird." She giggled upon saying the nickname.

Discord took Sunset's right hoof, and kissed her hoof. When he finished kissing her hoof, he let go of her hoof.

Nightmare resisted the urge to confront Discord about how he felt towards the light-colored twin. She remained calm, and watched as Twilight ran up to her. She resisted the urge to cringe. The cerulean aura escaped Nightmare's horn and enveloped the twins. The twins floated into the air as they closed their eyes.

Nightmare Moon then walked towards the Wall. The wall made way for the alicorn and the twins. Creatures and breezies emerged from their hiding spots, and watched the twins in utter awe and curiosity. Some creatures chirruped, and the others croaked. A few creatures either snorted or panted. The breezies giggled, their soft melodic voices filling the air around the Everfree as they watched the twins being levitated past the Wall.

She found herself in the cottage, and silently moved up the stairs and into the twins' bedroom. She gently placed Twilight and Sunset onto their respective beds. Twilight's bed was by the left side of the window, while Sunset's bed was by the right side of the window. In between the beds sat a dresser. There was a full-body mirror near the door.

Sitting near the mirror was a bookshelf. Nightmare Moon smiled as she observed Twilight's innocent and calm expression. She couldn't help but find the innocence to be adorable and charming. She especially loved whenever Twilight had calm dreams.

Nightmare had entered their dreams from time to time. Back then, she only entered the dreams in the disguise of a mysterious, but benevolent shadow. So, the dark alicorn nodded as she pulled the blanket across Twilight's still body.

"Goodnight, beastie," She murmured, a ghost of a smile tugging at her lips.

Meanwhile, in Canterlot Castle, Celestia remained in her bedchambers. She had thought of a plan that would surely bring her sister down. Her heart had become as cold as ice, and as black as night. This time, she spoke to the pair of wings about her wicked plot to defeat her younger sister.

"You will never find your mistress again! You will never reunite with her! You will never be alive! You will be dormant once she dies," She taunted.

"I will. Don't talk to me like this. She will defeat you. You will not win. You are as cold and wicked as the flames themselves. You are the true villain that exists in the universe," A voice objected.

"Try as she might, she cannot handle my fiery wrath! And, I cannot believe my ears when a group of five peasant mares revealed that they will fight for the forest. They are rebels, I tell you! One of them had a sibling that took Soarin from me! I have not found Big Mac. Nopony found him. Apple Jack will not reveal his whereabouts! Rainbow Dash told me to leave them alone after she betrayed me for the sake of her lowly friends!" Celestia cackled as she threw her head back.

"You do not know that you will be punished for your baleful and immoral crimes against ponykind! You have also maligned the breezies, the mythical creatures, and the Everfree creatures. Are you happy now?" The same voice asserted.

"Well, well! Rarity would no longer design fashionable dresses for me! She told me that she hates my attitude. I kicked her out of her profession. Poor, unfortunate fools! They won't defeat me! Little Fluttershy had to go because she didn't qualify for the pegasi armies! She's too weak, cowardly, and kind! She bothers me each time she tells me of how beautiful the creatures can be." Celestia chuckled as she thought of the rebellious group. The group still made her angry, to be exact.

The sound of hoofsteps in the queen's room distracted her from the conversation. She looked to the intruder, and scowled deeply. "Just what are you doing here, foolish scum? Can't you see that I'm in the middle of a conversation? Hey, you forgot your manners! Bow down before me! I am your queen," Celestia scolded haughtily.

"Um, uh... sorry to interrupt, Queen Celestia, but the king is injured and won't make it through the night. The wound from the war as affected him. One of the soldiers reported encountering Nightmare Moon. She seemed to know something about the twins' whereabouts," The servant returned.

"Then gather the soldiers and command them to hunt down the evil alicorn! Go, you filthy commoner! Go!"

"Sorry!" The servant rushed away as soon as he incurred the queen's dark wrath.

Celestia's magic slammed the door shut, and locked the door. "Hmph! Idiotic fools," She sneered. "They won't kill my sister. It's like my foolish little innocent sister decided to use my daughters against me! I know she is up to something. Five mares betrayed me and rebelled against me! And, Sombra would leave my side forever! Now I have one less stallion to defeat my sister!"

As Celestia hopped off the bed, she stomped towards the container, and glared at the wings. She chuckled mockingly as she thought of her potential victory.

"When the curse fails, Nightmare Moon will come for me. My daughters will rebel against me because of her influence. Discord will fight alongside my evil sister. The five mares will help in the battle against me, but I will burn them to a crisp! Every one of the benevolent ponies shall die! I will never be kind and forgiving towards my sister! I will even turn my daughters' lives upside down so that I will be the only one to rule Equestria! A drink from the Fountain of Youth will help me to rule Equestria forever. The land shall suffer and burn," She chanted, malice evident in her voice.

She chuckled even more. Dark flames swirled around her, and the flames also erupted from her mane. Her eyes glowed a deep and ominous red. She narrowed her eyes and snickered deviously as she levitated into the air for a moment. Her magic surged around her, enveloped her in a blinding light, and something shifted in her appearance.

Her mane became the color of flames. Her eyes were slitted and draconic, and were no longer the light shade of magenta. Her eyes were now an ominous shade of deep magenta. Her coat was the color of rubies instead of the usual snow-white shade. Both her mane and tail lost their graceful form, and now, they billowed like the vicious flames.

"Mwahahahahaha!" Celestia bellowed as she finished her transformation into Solar Flare. She landed onto the floor, and watched as her bedroom changed from warm gold colors to an ominous shade of flames.

Her regalia was replaced with dark gold armor. "While the moon may rebel and fight, the sun shall stand her ground!" Celestia boomed.

She stomped towards the mirror, and marveled at her change in appearance. She was now the fearsome Queen of Dark Flames and the Cruel Mistress of the Sun.