Nightmare Moon is... Maleficent

Meanwhile, at the christening, as the three breezies approached the twins, they hovered over them. "How cute!" Night Blossom exclaimed.

"Sunset Shimmer is gorgeous!" Silver Moon commented.

"Twilight Sparkle is more beautiful," Moonflower disagreed. "Her mane is so lovely!"

"They smell as sweet as roses!" Night Blossom said.

In the dark corner of the throne room, Nightmare and Discord watched as the breezies danced around the twins. The dark alicorn took note of the names. Sunset Shimmer's name reminded her of the setting sun. Twilight Sparkle's name reminded Nightmare of the evening, her favorite time of night.

This was no time to think about name definitions for now. The dark alicorn wanted to focus on giving a "gift" to the twins.

"Sweet Twilight Sparkle, I give you the gift of beauty," Moonflower spoke.

"May you never be blue, only joyful, till the last days of your life," Night Blossom added in.

"Twilight, you will find-" Silver Moon began.

Nightmare was reminded of when her mother told her the story of the similar gifts that she received at her own christening. Her heart ached with envy towards Twilight. She was sick of hearing them revel in Twilight's youthfulness and innocence! She stormed out of the shadows and swiftly approached the rulers.

The chandeliers swung back and forth, and all the candles lost their brightness. A powerful gust of wind blew throughout the throne room. The crowds backed up as they watched an ominous figure come into view.

Nightmare Moon chuckled as she stared her sister in the eye from a distance. "Well, well!" She began as she approached the bassinet.

"Nightmare Moon!" Celestia boomed as she placed a hoof to her chest. "You're not welcome here. I thought I murdered you."

Nightmare paused, and only chuckled at her sister's words. "Queen Celestia, what a glittering assemblage. Nobility, the gentry, the peasantry... even the rabble," She remarked as she flung the trio of breezies to the right with her magic. "Fate has been cruel enough to reward you with the daughters that you never deserve! Discord will not be happy."

"Don't hurt the princesses," Night Blossom shouted.

Nightmare Moon turned to leave. "Oh, dear! What an awkward situation," She chuckled.

Sombra observed her with unease, and spoke up. "You're not offended, Your Grace?" He interrogated.

"No..." Nightmare replied as she turned to face the twins. "To show you that I bear no ill will... I, too, shall bestow the gift upon the two!" She inched closer to the bassinet, and stared at the twins. She felt angry at Celestia for betraying Discord and for having foals with a different stallion.

"Hmm... hmm..." She contemplated as she looked to the right. She saw the spindle on the spindle of a spinning wheel, and smiled with evilness. "The princesses shall indeed grow in grace and beauty, beloved by all they met!"

"I don't like the gift," Celestia hollered as Nightmare turned to face her.

"Before the sun sets on their sixteenth birthday, they shall prick their hooves on the spindle of a spinning wheel and fall into a death-like sleep! A sleep from where they will never awaken," Nightmare continued as the violet tendrils surged into the twins. Violet flames surged around her as her power grew with each passing second.

"Lift the curse." Celestia was stern.

"I like you begging," Nightmare taunted. "Do it again!"

"I beg you..." Celestia nodded curtly.

"The princesses can be awoken from their death sleep, but only by... True Love's Kiss... The curse shall last till the end of time!" Nightmare spun around to face the crowd, hatred and vengeance highly evident. "No power on Earth can change it!"

Discord and Nightmare Moon swiftly stormed out of the throne room. Several guards ran after them, but they couldn't capture the evil duo. After they left, Celestia levitated Sunset Shimmer and pulled her into a tight, protective embrace. Sombra pulled Twilight Sparkle into an embrace, too.

"Let's avenge them," Sombra suggested. "Nightmare and her draconequus friend are both evil to us!"

"That's a perfect idea," Celestia concurred.

"Also, we should build a barrier around the castle. The guards shall guard each entrance and exit!"

"Good plan! Let's do it. We should entrust the safety of the twins to the breezies. Night Blossom, Silver Moon, and Moonflower, come over here!"

The trio approached the rulers. When the crowd left, several guards gathered in front of the rulers. Celestia lost her composure and started to shout at the guards. "Gather the soldiers and go! Hunt down Nightmare Moon and Discord!" She instructed.

"We will," The captain returned as he galloped out of the throne room. The soldiers followed him immediately.

The trio of breezies lifted the twins, and managed to carry them into the air. Moonflower nearly dropped Sunset Shimmer, but Celestia swooped in to save her. "Carry them in the bassinet," She instructed.

"Sorry," Night Blossom apologized.

"Good." Celestia placed the twins into the bassinet. She placed a spell on the bassinet to make it light and prone to fly. The spell would last until the trio found a place to raise the twins.

Meanwhile, in the Everfree Forest, Nightmare and Discord prepared to build walls of their own. Discord threw the plunderseeds onto the ground, and Nightmare Moon's magic surged into the ground. The Wall of Vines emerged from the ground, and grew as tall as the mountains. Thorns emerged from the vines and became as sharp as possible. The vines were as black as night. It wasn't a pretty sight, but it would ward off the soldiers.

The Wall surrounded the forest to serve as a barrier against potential intruders and attackers. Nightmare Moon reveled in the misery and unhappiness that the curse brought to Equestria. She sat upon her throne and cackled with malevolence. There would be two less threats! She knew that the curse would drive her sister insane. The king might go mad as well.

As the days and nights passed, Nightmare remained in the forest. She considered the forest to be her home. The meadow would be where she would hold court. However, she hated whenever the breezies and the creatures gossiped about her. So, she would tell them to be silent each time she heard such nonsense. It seemed as if nopony was allowed to be happy in the forest.

But, Nightmare Moon knew that she had to protect the ones that resided in the forest. Discord was curious about the twins, but he wouldn't tell Nightmare Moon the truth. He knew that his friend would disapprove of any kindness towards the twins. One day, when the trio of breezies found the cottage close to the Everfree, they placed the bassinet onto the ground.

"This place is dreadful," Silver Moon complained.

"It's the perfect place to hide from Nightmare's darkness," Night Blossom retorted. "Stop complaining. We are supposed to keep the princesses here for sixteen years and a day!"

"Let's transform into normal ponies," Moonflower suggested.

"Good idea!"

Silver Moon sighed. She hated having to be in a strange place, but she had to help her friends to guard the princesses for a long time until the curse failed.

"Three, two, one!" Moonflower counted as they all transformed into Earth ponies.

"Here's the rules," Night Blossom spoke as she twirled in her sky blue dress. "No magic and no flying! We're three peasant mares living in the woods, okay?"

Moonflower adored her rose dress, and giggled as she spun. Silver Moon twirled and chuckled as she continued to swirl in her emerald dress. Without thinking, the trio stormed into the cottage. They didn't consider the fact that the twins were left outside.

Waiting just near the Wall of Vines were a dark alicorn and draconequus. Discord strode to the cottage, and paused as he eyed the bassinet. "Why were they left out here?" He whispered. "Incompetent fools..."

He returned to the Wall, and Nightmare glared at him for a second before turning away. "They're going to raise the twins in the cottage, just near the woods," Discord confessed.

Laughter bubbled up Nightmare's throat as she shook with laughter. She tried to restrain her laughter, but she couldn't. An amused cackle escaped her mouth this instant, and echoed throughout the air.

"Those breezie idiots! Three of them, raising the princesses until the curse takes the oh-so-adorable princesses away?" She remarked with bitter sarcasm.

"Of course they're incompetent, but at least we could check on-" Discord suggested.

"No, don't mention the daughters of my treacherous enemy! Celestia is as terrible as her younger self!" Nightmare shook her head as she whirled to face her friend.

"I understand that you hate your sister, but what about your nieces? They're related to you."

"It doesn't matter. I still can't believe that my sister betrayed you in order to rise in power." Nightmare scowled as she shook her head once again. "After all, do not complain about her. She's not your type!"

Discord crossed his arms for a second. He arched his brow as he frowned. "Of course she is not the kind of soulmate that I dreamed of. I want somepony who is kind, loyal, and truthful. I know, Nightmare, that Celestia's betrayal angered and hurt you... I know that you are still the loyal and truthful friend that I enjoy having around," He returned.

The dark alicorn resisted the urge to either smile or blush in return. She knew that he preferred to be kind, but she sometimes found it irritating. Other times, she would find it otherwise comforting and full of warmth.

"I was naive and innocent once, when I was young. And, look at what those qualities had gotten me into," Nightmare lashed out. "Now, ponies are afraid of me! They hate me just because they worship my sister and her lies! They're blind to the truth! BLIND, I SAY!"

"Calm down. I'm sure you'll find happiness again," Discord pleaded.

"Don't plead for happiness. Joy doesn't exist."

"Celestia's betrayal also upsets me so." Discord sighed. "Once, I thought she loved me. But, I was so mistaken! Sombra must have won her heart. The twins are not my offspring. They are Celestia's daughter, and they had another father instead of me as their father."

Nightmare snorted as she stomped on the ground several times. "Don't say this ever again. You know how much I hate the princesses," She retorted as she led him to the cottage.

They traveled on hoof, and soon, they reached the cottage. They hid behind the trees and watched as one of the breezies took the bassinet into the cottage.

"Why are you always hiding from us?" Silver Moon wondered as she slammed the door shut.

Nightmare chuckled softly as she watched them from a distance. "Foolish breezies, thinking they can hide here from me!" She commented.

Discord would agree, but he wouldn't want to show it. He wasn't as irked by the trio, for he had grown up with them when he was younger. He knew that the trio might still like Luna, even though they were frightened of Nightmare Moon.

The dark alicorn was much more irked, as she knew that the trio chose to live with the enemy! She knew that the trio were unaware of the dangers of the Equestrian Kingdom. Nightmare snorted as she emerged from the shadows and approached the window. She peered into the window, and looked down at the twins. She scowled darkly as they smiled at her.