When Snow Falls

Chapters

Chapter 2: Clipped Wing
Chapter 3: From The Flames
Chapter 4: Not Unwelcomed
Chapter 5: Midnight Awakes
Chapter 6: He's Gone
Chapter 7: The Question
Chapter 8: Ambushed Prey
Chapter 9: The Sad Heights
Chapter 10: Reassignment
Chapter 11: Moon & Fire
Chapter 12: Hoofly
Chapter 13: Patience
Chapter 14: Midnight At Dawn
Chapter 15: Nineteen Moons
Chapter 17: Late Night Reading
Chapter 18: Blessed Beard
Chapter 19: late Birthday
Chapter 21: To Trap A Nightmare
Chapter 22: Echo Whisky
Chapter 23: A Heated Mistake
Chapter 24: Late Night Raid
Chapter 25: Truths At Sunset
Chapter 26: Good Evening, My Queen
Chapter 27: Please Don't Go
Chapter 28: Mother & Daughter
Chapter 29: New Prey
Chapter 30: Farewell, Princess Celestia
Chapter 31: Darkness And Light
Chapter 32: Welcome Home, Luna
Chapter 33: Change Of Plan
Chapter 34: On The Horizon
Chapter 35: Loyalty
Chapter 37: Incoming
Chapter 38: Best Laid Plans
Chapter 39: No Safe Haven
Chapter 40: Formidable
Chapter 41: Duel In The Dying Storm
Chapter 42: Into Darkness
Chapter 43: Snow Falls
Chapter 44: Bearers Of Bad News
Chapter 45: Good Question
Chapter 46: Hosts
Chapter 1: Strange Sounds
Chapter 16: In His Blood
Chapter 20: Bating A Demon
Chapter 36: Through The Storm
Chapter 47: Moonlight Snow (Final Chapter)

Chapter 2: Clipped Wing

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter 3: From The Flames

Twilight Sparkle was one of the first to arrive at the scene, she had not given up her pursuit of the jet, taking her high above the Diamond Dog fields. She touched down just north of the crash site, and it was horrific. Half the east orchid was ablaze, most of the wreckage was obscured by towering black smoke.

Almost all of Ponyville’s residents we’re turning up, some were carried buckets filled with water, some others were brought makeshift fire beaters.
Twilight felt a moment of pride, at how many ponies had turned out to help. Mayor Mare raced up to Twilight and asked what was happening, And what to do? The young princess only answered the second question, instructing that fighting the fires itself was futile, and their best bet was to stop it spreading.
The mayor nodded, then made ran towards the local volunteer fire force, who had just turned up pulling the town’s only fire pump.
To Twilight's relief, she saw Applejack and her family racing up the road towards the orchid. Behind them was the full staff of Ponyville hospital, caring stretchers and aid kits.

Amongst the crowd of active ponies, Twilight noticed one that was strangely still. It was Rainbow Dash, she was sitting slumped on the road running by the orchid, looking utterly deflated. Twilight moved alongside her and lay a comforting wing other her shoulder.
“I couldn’t stop it from hitting,” Dash was on the verge of tears “A few more seconds and I would have had it.”
“You did more than most ponies could hope to do Dash,” Twilight spoke softly.
She continued to comfort Dash’ as Rarity and Spike came up to them’ Rarity placed a hoof on Dash’s other shoulder.

“Twilight” Spike held up some parchment “Celestia needs to be told”
“Yes… Yes of course,” Twilight said standing up.
“Dash’ darling,” Rarity cooed “Do you think you could round up a couple of rain clouds and bring them here?”
“On it,” Dash grinned’ re-energised. She took off’ and after enlisting a couple of other pegasi’ flew off to a bunch of clouds.
“Spike’ write the following,” Twilight stated’ unaware that a certain yellow pegasus was trying to get her attention .
“Um… Twilight.”
“Dear Princess Celestia,” Twilight dictated’ as Spike wrote. “A disaster has befallen Ponyville.”
“Twilight.” Fluttershy said again’ a little louder
“The Crystal Mirror has been acted erratically and there has been an explosion. I Fear there have..” Twilight to in a breath “There have been casualties. Please bring aid. Yours faithfully’ Twilight Sparkle.”
“Twilight!” Fluttershy tried again.
Spike finished the message and with his fiery breath, sent it on its magical way.
“Right,” Twilight started “Now we….”
“TWILIGHT!” Fluttershy said firmly’ drawing the attention of more then her alicorn friend.
“What is it’ Fluttershy?” she replied
Fluttershy’ now a little conscious of the eyes on her, pointed to a spot in the fire.
“Look’ there!”

Twilight and all around her stared at the point. All they could see was smoke, flames, and bits of wreckage, then a shadow, which turned into a pony shaped silhouette, moving in the heart of the inferno.
“HEY,” Twilight said’ using magic to amplify her voice. The head of the shadowed figure looked up, ears perked.
“THIS WAY” she beckoned

The figure started moving towards them but was clearly in distress. As it gingerly finding a path through the burning wreckage and splintered apple trees. It was moving on three hoofs, its front right being held up.
As it started to leave the smoke, its form became clearer, and so were its injuries. Its Persian blue was covered in cuts and grazes. It's equally blue mane and tail with golden tips were frayed and singed. The left wing was hardest to look at, unlike the right which was folded away, the left was being dragged behind on the ground, broken and ruined. To add to its difficulties, it could only see out of its right eye, the left blinded by blood seeping from a gash just below its horn.
And that's what made everypony stop what they were doing and stare, for coming out of the hellfire stepped a young male alicorn.
This poor soul, for whom started the day with plane journey home, being flung through a swirling portal, watched himself and others transform into creatures, before crashing and pulling himself from the burning wreckage, looked up at the bunch of pastel coloured ponies looking back at him, and proceeded to pass out. Landing on his already ruined wing with a sickening crunch.

Fluttershy and nurse Redheart particle jumped to his aid, and with the help of Dr Horse’s levitation spell, moved him away from the flames and smoke to where the alicorn could breath and the medical team could start their work.
The few ponies who found the entire spectacle amusing were suddenly silenced.
“This day started so well.” Rarity said flatly with Twilight nodding.
“And this day may have taken another turn.” Came another voice. The two mares turned to see Starlight Glimmer pointing to the skies above the castle.
The portal’ was gone

Chapter 4: Not Unwelcomed

Author's Note

Please note that the events here are tacking place on an alternative earth to our own' Places may' be represent by alternative place names and land masses

Chapter 4: Not Unwelcomed

Well, that was unexpected. On yet another move from one museum to another, one dusty cabernet to another, this was an unexpected turn of events’ but not an unwelcome one.

Her mind could not help but cast back to her glorious days of freedom and power. To the days over a millennium ago, when she reigned with an iron fist. When her influence spread darkness and fear to every tribe and kingdom that lay in her path. Many lands fell into her fold, and those who resisted were crushed without mercy. For decades, she conquered lands from the frozen north, down to the shores of the central sea.
At the zenith of her power, she intended to take her enslaved armies to the mystic lands of the east, however, there was one area that needed her attention first.

In the grand ocean to the west lay a series of islands, whose inhabitants continued to resist her will, and drove back the darkness from their skies. She left those short sighted fools to some of her lesser generals, eager to prove themselves. They failed, vanquished every time. Sent back every time bringing nothing but humiliation to her very name, a humiliation that they paid in blood. Clearly, she would have to deal with these upstarts herself.

On the largest island in the center, she landed her force. An overwhelming army of enslaved mortals. The force they had mustered against her barely numbered a quarter of her forces size, and though they held the high ground this would be an easy victory. Yet it was here that her downfall began.

A young man stepped forth from their ranks and challenged her directly. This unknown man in azure, who she cared not to learn his name, had united the multiple tribes together and driven back her night, dared challenge her.
She recalls laughing at this before excepting the challenge, a quick show of her dreadful power in front of all those who gathered would be a nice boost to her prestige. Her overconfidence was her undoing.

It soon became apparent that he knew as much about magic as she did. All of her a spells were counted by his, and it soon developed down to sword fight. What she did not realize though was a very grounds she stood upon was a trap. Magic infused runes had been carved into stones, then hide in the marshy field where they attended to do battle.

At the right moment, the runes glowed’ and magical chains shot of the stones surface, wrapping tight around her host's body. A beautiful young maiden by the name of Permafrost with hair of obsidian and a skin of ice blue but a will of glass. Years of mental and even physical abuse by her father, mother & the lord she was betrothed to’ had made her easy prey for this temptress.
But why this girl and not others? Simply put, this maiden had a well of magic inside of her that the dumb human did not realize.

But soon it would matter not, for the young man who had done battle with her approached. Lightning up runes in the palms of his hands, he walked towards her. As like before battle, he goaded her, calling her a demon. She preferred the title ‘Dark Goddess’ if you please.

He placed his right palm on my host's forehead, she recalls a pulse of magic surged through Permafrost’s body.
As he pulled the hand away from the host maiden, she realized in surprise and horror that her being was slowly extracted from Permafrost. She desperately clung to every part of her host, but to no avail. Though Permafrost’s mouth, she let out a banshee’s scream of anger and frustration.
This man who she believed was performing the impossible’ had excised her completely from Permafrost and held her in his hand.
The warriors of the island tribes and the enslaved men of her armies could now see her true form, A swirling mass of indigo smoke.

The man then reached into a pouch on his belt and pulled out a small obelisk of smooth granite. Seeing what was coming’ the purple cloud squirmed and cursed.
Runes carved in the obelisk glowed with magic, before shooting out more mystic chains that attached themselves to the indigo mass.

The chains then retracted back into the granite runes, pulling her with it. With a last defiant scream, the indigo clue disappeared into the obelisk turning it black like obsidian, the runes going silent. She tried to immediately break out but was prevented by a clever series of magical seals placed upon the obelisk
Her capturer held it aloft, bringing cheers from the island warriors. They were soon joined by the enslaved men of the invading force, finally free from the ‘dark goddess’.

This made her blood boil. Despite now being entombed in stone, she was still able to see all around her.
She saw her Permafrost come back to senses and being taken into the care of the islands, finally free of her demon.
She saw him bringing her obelisk into one of the deepest caves there.
She saw them setting intense fires which downed the cave roof and buried in her alive.
She saw all and could do nothing.
Her influence did not extend beyond her granite prison, nor her voice, just her sight.

And here she stayed for centuries to come, surrounded by rock and darkness, and one regret. In all this time, all she desired, apart from her freedom, was the name of the one who put her there, so that she may curse it.

Then with little warning, she was dug up by some clueless construction workers, laying foundations for a hotel. The obelisk was passed from the hands of one mortal to the next, until eventually, it ended up in a glass cabinet of a museum.
Then she was transferred to another museum, and then another. This was her life for the next hundred years, being looked at by gormless mortals from behind glass, wrongly labeled as a burial headstone. The so-called experts did not know what danger they had handled.
Over the years the seals began to weaken, but magic in the world had all but gone, escape now seemed impossible.

Then came a transfer to yet another museum, this one was on the island where she was entombed, the humiliation. She was wrapped in foam and stuffed into a wooden crate, and placed in the belly of an iron bird, which soon took to the skies.
And then a surge of magic, in a volume that exceeded anything she had ever encountered before. It was a strange kind of magic, unstable, unwieldy. It was certainly was playing havoc with the humans on board, distorting the forms.

And as sudden and quick as this strange magic had appeared, it was gone, replaced by a large abundance of stable magic.
She started probing the obelisk’s magical seals. They had been considerably weakened, some had already broken.
It was at this point that she released that this wasn’t her world.

She internally grinned. Abundant magic, weakened seals, new and the potential new lands for her new empire. She started going giddy at the thought, this feeling was fuelled further by the panic and chaos of the humans above in their new forms.
The feeling was interrupted by a hard jolt, that started a fire in the iron bird’s wing.
As the plane descended to its doom’ the dark goddess started drawing what little magic she could to protect her tomb. If the obelisk were to break with her in it, it would be her end.

The impact was the most vicious force she had ever felt. Her crate was smashed into splinters, the wrapped around foam burnt away instantly.
The obelisk was hurled forward’ bouncing off everything’ the earth, trees and burning bits of the plane.
It finally came to rest on the ground, rolling up against the side of a mangled piece of the right wing. A burning suitcase landed on top of her, protecting the granite prison from falling debris. But more and importantly the obelisk was intact.

Well that was unexpected, she thought But not unwelcome.
She taking in her new surroundings’ most of which was on fire. This did not concern her, for the worst of the inferno was away from her.
Probing once more against the seals of her prison, she found that all but one were now broken, and the remaining one was incredibly weak. With the amount of magic this world has, it would now be easy for her to break the final seal, but not yet.

Traveling without a hosts body was not a pleasant experience for one of her kin, and in an unknown world like this, it could be potentially dangerous. So she decided to lay in wait, in ambush for a new host. It didn't need to be anything major’ a fox, a rabbit ,even a mouse would do. It would be enough, as long as she could see this world and learn of it.
She couldn't help but chuckle. Soon she, Nightmare Moon, would start to complete her wish of making a Night Eternal.

Chapter 5: Midnight Awakes

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter 6: He's Gone

In the shade of Ponyville Town Hall, two alicorn princesses were deep in conversation about the events of the past three days.
Princess Celestia had just arrived back in the town. The sheer scale of the disaster was unprecedented in Equestrian history and the relief force she had bought proved inadequate, certain specialists were needed.

Twilight Sparkle, flanked by Starlight Glimmer and Mayor Mare, had finished giving a detailed report of the events that had lead to the crash.
“I can’t explain why the Crystal Mirror acted the way it did,” She concluded. “Do you know anything like this ever happened before?”
“No,” -Celestia shook her head- “If truth be told’ you now more about the mirror and the world it connects ‘then anypony in Equestria. I’ve asked my scholars to go through the archives for any incident that bear any similarities, but I fear they search will be fruitless. In the meantime, I believe it would only be prudent that the Crystal Mirror be moved to a location where its damage can be limited if it were to go crazy again”

Twilight went to protest at this notion but released that her mentor's wisdom was right’ and just nodded.
“How are the townsfolk holding up?” -Celestia turned to Mayor Mare-
“As well as can be expected’ Princess,” She replied. “Especially at what's taking place at white apple barn... "

“Princess Twilight!!” Came a voice across the plaza, cutting off Mayor Mare.
The group turned to see Nurse Redheart racing towards them with deep concern on her face. The white mare stopped to quickly bow to Celestia’ before turning to Twilight.
“Princess,” She panted out. “The young alicorn from the crash’ He’s gone”
“Gone!” Twilight repeated.
“We got an alarm that his heart had stopped,” She explained. “When we got to his room’ he was not there.”
“Did he teleport?” Glimmer asked aloud.
“No. Two of our long-term patients saw him sneak out,” Redheart replied. “We’ve searched the building and the grounds but there's no sign of him. We’ve also circulated his description to the royal guard”
“The poor soul must be terribly confused right now,” Celeste voiced calmly. “Not to mention terrified.”
“There's something else,” Nurse Redheart continued. “He had an operation yesterday evening and if he’s moving about, we fear he could cause himself a mischief.”
“Then we better find him quickly,” Twilight said assertively. “Mayor Mare, Glimmer’ spread the world. Tell anypony who see him to approach him gently or to get us”
The two nodded’ before moving out towards nearby groups of ponies.
“Princess Celestia.” -Twilight turned and unfolding her wings- “Care to join me in flight?’

Celestia grinned, with a small amount pride swelling in her heart. Oh, how her faithful student had grown. Unfolding her wings, she took off behind Twilight into the welcoming blue skies in search for Midnight.

Chapter 7: The Question

Midnight was resting in the shade a large tree in blossom, situated on a small rise in the ground.
Since leaving the hospital, his panic had subsided quite considerable and he began releasing that his initial fears were unfounded. No military ponies in shiny armour were giving chase in mass formations. Sure there were some ponies looking for him but they were medical staff, not military. And after seeing some foals and fillies playing happily in a stream, Midnight started to see that he had been acting foolishly.
He would have made his way back to the Hospital but instead was drawn to the sight of the lingering black smoke in the air and a strange unnatural smell in brought.

And he ended up here, in the shade of this pink tree. From here he had a perfect vantage point of what was generating the smoke, the crash site. Most of the fire had burnt itself out with only a couple of patches still smouldering. The plane was almost unrecognisable as such with only the tail and the remaining engine was somewhat intact, the rest was of it was a mass of broken and twisted debris.
Midnight just stared at the site’ his mind filled with flashes of memory. These started to join together to form one terrifying vision in his head.
Strapping into his seat, the plane taking off, settling in for a long journey. Suddenly a blinding white flash filled the cabin from the long line of windows on either side. When sight returned to him, chaos had gripped the cabin.
Shouts, screams, cries and the plane violent shaking when the only noises that could be heard. Turning his head around’ searching for a friendly face or an explanation to what was happening, only finding a sea of strange creatures gripped in panic.
Then there was a severe jolt that sent some of the unseated creatures flying into the ceiling. The plane then listing over to one side, causing him to almost fall out of his seat.
Then Midnight remembers looking out of the window, now below him. Seeing the ground rush up towards hi. And then…

“There you are,” Came a voice.
Midnight snapped back to reality with a physical jolt, snapping his head in the direction the pony approaching him.
Walking up the rise was a unicorn of the royal guard, in armour and spotless white coat.
Midnight stood up and started backing off but to his surprise so did the guard, lifting a hoof in a calming fashion.
“Its ok,” The guard reassured. “I mean you no harm.”
“Who are you?” Midnight snapped back.
There was a moment of still silence as the guard’s hoof lifted up to its helmet. Upon removing it, Midnight was stunned to see the pony’s coat change from a clear white to a bluish, grey-violet' and a mane of regal blue turning to an emerald green.
“My name is Foxtrot,” She said’ before giving a warm smile reassuring smile

Foxtrot was taller than Midnight by a couple of inches and was of slender build.
The thing that threw Midnight off was that her kind freckled face and warm emerald eyes do not seem to fit someone military regalia.
“Your coat,” -Midnight pointed- “How did you change its..”
“Oh, there's magical seals all over my armour,” Foxtrot answered. “Its so that we all look uniform.”
"Magic!?!” Midnight said incredulously.
“Yes,” Foxtrot replied before tilting her to one side “You do know what magic is don't you?"
Midnight looked down and shook his head.
“Sorry’ I’m kinda new around here”
“you're new in town!” Came a voice from above.

Midnight looked up to see a large mass of bright pink hair’ attached to it was a very energetic pony.
“Oh, oh, if you're new in town. Then I must throw you a Welcome To Town party” Pinkie Pie said in her upbeat manner.
Midnight and Foxtrot were both dumbstruck by Pinkie’s sudden appearance and the fact that she appeared to stand on the underside of a tree branch with no ill effects from gravity.
“Oh, oh, I’ve to get everything ready’ it's already midday!” Pinkie rambled’ as she seemingly floated to the ground.
“Miss Pie,” Foxtrot started’ after regaining her composure. “I don’t think that a…”
“CAKE!” Pinkie interrupted. “We need cake if we are to have a party! You like cake, don’t you? Of course you do’ everyone likes cakes. What kind of cakes do you like?”
Midnight was still dumbstruck by the spectacle of pink in front of him.
“Oh, I know!” Pinkie continued after getting no response. “I’ll bring you some cupcakes of different flavours and you can tell me which one you want.”
And before any other words could be said, Pinkie started bouncing off towards Sugar Cube Corner, leaving the other two ponies in complete silence.
“What was that?” Asked Midnight eventually.
“That’ was Pinkie Pie,” Foxtrot replied. “And before you ask, No, most ponies don’t know how she does what she does.”
“A' hah….” Midnight acknowledged. “She’ kinda exhausted me.”
“Hehe,” Foxtrot giggled. “Yeah, she can have that effect on ponies.”
Midnight joined the giggle, as the mood in the air lifted slightly.

“So’ erm…” Midnight started. “Where are we?”
“This is the Ponyville,” Foxtrot stated, gesturing to the town. “And we are in the land of Equestria.”
“I’m not familiar with these places, its” Midnight said.
Foxtrot cocked an eye at midnight. An alicorn not even knowing the concept of magic was bizarre on its own but a pony not knowing of Equestria was unheard off.
“I’m not a pony,” He said answering the look in foxtrot’s red eye, which only increased with that statement. “At least I didn’t use to be”
“Hows that possible?” She inquired.
“ I’m not from this world,” Midnight stated firmly, whilst pointing out to the crash site. “At least I think I’m not. I was on that’ I was on it when it crashed. But I don’t know how I got here”

Foxtrot watched Midnight carefully. He was getting agitated, holding his head trying to remember.
“I…I..” Midnight stuttered trying to force a memory that was not there to the surface.
Midnight felt a hoof on his forehead, looking up to that Foxtrot had closed the distance between them. Her essence bore a calming aurora, that seemed to transfer to him.
“Shhh…” She comforted, "It's ok, I believe you. After all’ it's not every day that an alicorn appears out of nowhere, especially a male one.”
Midnight started breathing normally, calming himself before smiling.
“There we go,” Foxtrot said with a smile. “Feeling better…erm..”
“It’s Snow, Midnight Snow”

“A pleasure to meet you, Midnight Snow,” Came the majestic voice of Celestia.
The two turned to see Celestia and Twilight walking up to them from the direction of Ponyville.
“Princesses,” Foxtrot said I can acknowledging their presence.
She turned and bowed as they approached. Upon seeing this and hearing Foxtrot call them ‘Princesses’ ‘attempted to the same. This, however resulted in him losing his balance and landing on his front with an annoyed oww’ before being helped back up by Foxtrot.
“We’ve been looking for you everywhere,” Celestia said, with concern lacing her voice. “How are feeling?”
“I don’t really know,” Midnight said weakly’ ruling his temple. “I know it was silly to leave the hospital but’ I had to see it.”
He looked out over the crash site, Twilight and Celestia nodding understandingly.
“Do you know how I got here” -Midnight turned back to the princesses- “To this world?”
Twilight stepped up’ and took in a deep breath.
“There's a mystical device called The Crystal Mirror,” Twilight stated calmly and clearly. “Its a portal’ a corridor connecting our two worlds. Normally it's only big enough for a single pony to pass through at a time but for reasons I can’t explain, it created a one big enough to swallow the transport you were on.”

All through the explanation, Midnight was slowly nodding his woozy head, trying to process the information.
“Is it still open?” He asked’ looking skyward.
“No,” Twilight answered.
Midnight looked back rubbing his head. Clearly still in discomfit.
“We should get you back to the hospital,” Celestia said. “It would not do well, to cause further injury”
Midnight was about to agree to this when his attention was drawn to a bizarre sight. It was Pinkie Pie coming bounding up the path, whilst balancing a tray of cupcakes on her head.
“Pinkie’ this is not the time for cake,” Twilight said.
“Oh silly, there’s always time for cake,” Pinkie retorted, bouncing around them in her usual happy mood.
Then she did something that surprised them all’ she managed to trip over a seemingly tiny pebble, sending the tray and cupcakes flying.
Before any of them hit the dirt, they were all caught and held in mid-flight with gold-tinted magic.

“How am I doing this?” Midnight asked eventually.
He was holding the cupcakes alof,’ while Pinkie took them from his magic and put them back on the tray, before scoffing them.
“You just used magic” Twilight “Its a mystic energy that flows through every living thing. It's incredibly rare in your world, but here it is in abundance.”
“I remember this…” Midnight said running a hoof along his horn. “I remember using this…”
“You do,” Celestia coaxed. “When was this?”
“There,” -Midnight pointed back to the wrecked plane- “When I saw the ground coming up, when I released we were crashing. I hoped that a bubble would come up and protect me and then for a brief moment I was surrounded by golden light”
“A shield spell!” Twilight said surprised. “To now a shield spell from instinct is highly unusual”

Again Midnight wasn’t paying full attention. His mind was abuzz with activity. Memories of the event of three days ago were finally falling into place but there was one thing he still didn’t know.
He turned to face the princesses and asked the question that both knew was coming but had been dreading.
“Where are the others?”

Chapter 8: Ambushed Prey

Picking through the wreckage of a destroyed passenger plane is never an easy task. A task made harder if one did not know what they were picking through.
Such was the task faced by Steel Wall, an earth pony of the royal guard. His platoon had been given the unpleasant task of collect all material that appeared to have been personal belongings. A task made all the more uncomfortable when one of the first things found was what papered to be a child’s toy. Still, it was better then what the platoon they had replaced was tasked with. Many of their numbers were emotionally broken by it. Steel Wall forced the thought from his mind and focused on his task at hoof.
Ahead of him was a small metal suitcase, its candy pink paintwork all but burnt away.
Adjusting his facemask that had been issued to him as protection from any dangerous chemicals, he moved up to the case. After prodding and examining the outside, he proceeded to open it up. His heart sank and a lump developed in his throat. The cases contents which were largely untouched by the flames’ clearly belonged to a young infant, a fact made clear by the rag doll neatly tucked in as if in a bed.
Steel wall slowly closed the case and gave himself a moment to compose himself, moving case upright and gripping the top handle. It was at this moment that Steel Wall noticed an unusual object that was underneath the case. In the dirt resting against some twisted metal, was a small obelisk made of smooth granite. Raising an eyebrow to this strange item, Steel Wall reached down to pick it up.
This seemingly innocent decision would haunt him for the rest of his life.

As soon as his hoof touched the stone obelisk, runes carved in its surface suddenly glow white as Nightmare Moon broke the last of the seals holding her inside. Before Steel Wall could react, an indigo cloud shot out of the glowing runes straight at him and entered his being through his mouth and nostrils.
Steel Wall reared back and tried to shout out an alarm but his voice was strangled in his throat. Worse still, he felt magically infused tendrils work their way throughout his body and taking control.
Steel wall had received training on how to thwart a spell trying to take control of his being but this was different. This creature was already in his mind and overriding his commands. Steel wall was at her mercy.

Nightmare Moon let out a sinister smile through Steel Wall’s lips. She’d been waiting patiently for over a day and a half for the right moment. After the raging fires finally died down, that ponies started to wonder amongst the wreckage. She mused at the sight of a society inhabited by intelligent ponies. Several came close enough for to latch onto but they were never alone. Somepony would have noticed her taking control of one of their kin and she wanted to keep her existence secret, for now.
This Earth pony was not the kind of host Nightmare Moon would have preferred but it would do for now. Capturing this host was easy enough for her but a true test presented itself behind her, as another pony approached.
“Steel Wall’ is everything alright?”
Nightmare Moon quickly searched her host's memories and concluded that the voice came from a pegasus called Stern Wind, Steel Wall’s sergeant.
“Yes sir,” Nightmare Moon replied with Steel Wall’s voice. “I just found a child’s case..”
“I see,” Stern Winds Replied. “Don’t think about it Steel. Just put it with the rest of it”
“Yes, sir.” Picking up the case in the right hoof, she brought the other down hard on her former prison. Her host's powerful frame breaking the stone obelisk in half. With this action, Nightmare Moon let out another smile and with a quick flash of indigo in Steel Wall’s eyes.

Chapter 9: The Sad Heights

A small procession of ponies made their way towards White Apple Barn. With Twilight Sparkle at its head, it consisted of her mentor Princess Celestia, flanked by the royal guard Foxtrot and Nurse Redheart.
Between the two princesses was the bandaged form of Midnight Snow. When nurse Redheart finally caught up with him, she insisted that he return to the Ponyville hospital but it became clear that he no intention of complying, not at least until he came here.
White Apple barn had been requisitioned by the royal guard not long after they arrived in Ponyville. Guards had been posted as sentries all around the building and at the gate leading to it.
Also at the gates, a small group of ponies had gathered, adding more bouquets to the growing sea of white flowers. Amongst them, Twilight sported a familiar orange earth pony.

“Applejack,” Twilight called.
“Oh, hey sugar cube,” She replied smiling but not her upbeat manner.
“Hows everything going?” -Twilight placed a hoof on her shoulder-
“Not brilliantly’ I just finished the inspecting the orchid and a least a third of the trees are gone,” Applejack said, “But it could be a lot worse. The apples there had already been picked and we had only just finished it the day before.”
A cold chill ran down Twilight’s spine upon hearing this fact.
“I also got a letter from good old Braeburn this morning,” Applejack continued. “When he heard about what happened, he set aside several saplings and said he'll send them over when we’re ready for them.”
Applejack then looked past Twilight at the procession she had been leading. After saluting Celestia, the two sentries allowed them passage through. Her eyes could not help but be drawn to Midnight Snow, whose eyes were devoured of emotion.
“What about yourself’ sugar cube?” -She turned her eyes back to Twilight- “How are things your end?”
“Well, the mirror is still closed and shows no sign of reopening” Twilight answered.
“Any world from Sunset?” Applejack asked.
Twilight opened up her saddlebags with her magic and lifted out the journal barring Sunset’s cutie mark. She flipped it open to a bookmarked page to see it was blank.
“No and I journal seems to have lost its magic,” -Twilight lowered her voice down to a whisper- “I fear the connection between our worlds has been severed.”

Twilight looked other her shoulder to see Celestia and the others had reached the barn doors.
“I better go,” She said to Applejack.
“Stay strong sugar cube,” Applejack replied, knowing what awaited them inside.
Twilight trotted past the sentries at the gate and caught up with the group, as Celestia instructed the guards to open the barn doors.
The doors were swung open with a loud creak and a waft of freezing air came out of the barn.
Twilight could see that a complex series of spells were being used to cover the walls and ceiling of the building in ice, making the interior incredibly cold.
However, the thing that grabbed everyponies attention was the rows and rows of motionless figures hidden under white sheets.

White Apple Barn had been converted into a makeshift morgue. The ponies grimaced at the sight before them, shifting uncomfortably on their hoofs, except one. Midnight Snow just stared off into the distance.
“Whenever you're ready, Midnight,” Celestia said softly.
Midnight took a breath and started walking between two of the rows, looking down at the covered bodies, unfeeling.
There were several other ponies were already present inside the morgue, all wearing hazard suits and face masks.
One such pony, a magenta coated unicorn, walked past Midnight and towards Celestia. Foxtrot stepped up and removed her helmet, breaking the uniform seal and stood to attention.
“Dr. Twinstar,” said Foxtrot, her breath frosting up.
The unicorn barely glanced at Foxtrot, before walking past her in a blatant snub and presenting herself to Celestia.
Celestia noted the snub, as well as Foxtrot’s twinge of disappointment across her face, but she did not bring it up. Now was not the time.
“Princess Celestia,” Twinstar said with a respectful bow and removing her face mask.
“Dr’ do you have a final count?” Celestia asked.
Twinstar nodded and hovered a clipboard in front of her.
“We’ve counted 59 bodies,” she said with no hint of emotion in her voice. “7 griffons, 2 diamond dogs, a minotaur, 19 earth ponies, 12 unicorns and 17 pegasi.”
Celestia and Twilight stared at her with grim expressions. Midnight however, continued walking slowly between the rows, clearly looking for something.
“And also,” -Twinstar lowered the clipboard- “We found another alicorn”
The three mares eyes widen upon hearing this. Even Midnight stopped and looked back at Twinstar.
The Dr gestured with her clipboard to an assistant, who in turn moved over to a body just ahead of Midnight .
Midnight moved up to the spot, as the assistant lifted the white sheet covering the bodies face.

The alicorn was a beautiful mare with a coat of ice blue and a mane of black with golden tips.
Midnight stared down at the seemingly unblemished face of the alicorn, his face completely expressionless. She looked peaceful as if she could wake up at any time. He searched her features for something familiar.
“Do’ you know her’ Midnight?” Twilight asked’ saying her words gently.
Midnight did not answer, instead gently coaxing his magic to pick up the only thing that she was wearing, a chain and pendant.
The pendant suspended in the golden magic was made of silver and shaped like a half heart, cut jaggedly down the centre. On the underside was inscription’ “My Everything”.
“Where have I seen that before,” Twinstar remarked.
Midnight once again looked round at her, the loss of focus causing the pendant to fall from his magic.
With her horn glowing, Dr Twinstar lifted another sheet off the face of the pony laying right beside the ice blue alicorn.
It was the face of an earth pony, its coat and mane were the colour of obsidian with silver highlights, which almost hid the injuries that it had sustained.
All eyes though were drawn to its neck, for here was another chain and silver pendant. It was the other half of the heart’ its inscription read “My World".
When seeing this, the last shreds of hope that Midnight Snow dared to cling onto evaporated. He slumped back onto his rear and hanged his head low.
“Midnight…” Foxtrot said with concern in her voice.

Midnight lifted his head a little looking straight ahead and started speaking words he had known since he was a young child.
“Up in the far heavens, beyond where the northern stars that guide our way, is a place our elders have come to call ‘The Sad Heights’. Where does who have walked before us, gather to look back at our fair lands. They send us their silent words of blessings and curses on the northern winds," Midnight swallowed a lump in his throat, before looking back at the two ponies who lay lifeless before him. Tears now streaming from his golden eyes.
“Mother, Father, now together at The Sad Heights. Curse’ bless me with your silent words I pray,” -His voice started to tremble- “And let them guide me to the end of my days.”
With this’ the last of his emotional barriers fell and he wept uncontrollably at the heads of the two ponies who had once been his parents.

Chapter 10: Reassignment

“Me, princess Celestia!” Foxtrot said surprised’ standing in Ponyville’s Town Hall.

It had been five days since their visit to the temporary morgue at White Apple Barn. The clean up operation of the east orchid was now in full swing, the wreckage was being sent piece by piece to a research facility outside of Canterlot in rail carts. Plans were even being drawn up to remove and replace the orchids soil, as there were fears of contamination.
Foxtrot’s platoon, however, were not directly involved in the clear up. Their task since arriving in Ponyville was to fetch and carry, and preparing meals for the other platoons, who had grizzerler tasks.
This had ended for Foxtrot after finding Midnight Snow after he had gone AWAL and being reassigned to guarding him.
Midnight’s walk around Ponyville had reopened a couple of wounds, which had to be re-stitched upon his return.
Foxtrot now had the job of making sure that he stayed in bed and allow his wounds to heal up somewhat. This doe was not a hard task.
His trip around town ended at White Apple Barn, where he found his parents in eternal sleep. Since then, understandably, he had been in an emotional slump. She did her best to cheer her up but she was acutely aware that this would take time. It was then that she was summoned to Ponyville’s Town Hall for a meeting with Princess Celestia herself.

“Me, princess Celestia!” the surprised Foxtrot said.
“Yes,” Celestia stated clearly. “I wish to make your reassignment permanent and appoint you as Midnight Snow’s officially chaperone.”
There was a stunned silence from Foxtrot, trying to read Celestia’s face.
“Not that I'm questioning your wisdom,” Foxtrot said at last. “But why myself, Princess”
Celestia gave a reassuring smile, knowing this question would be asked. “Since Midnight’s return to the hospital, a great depression has gripped his soul. Dr. House and Nurse Redheart have kept me and Twilight Sparkle update on his condition since my arrival in Ponyville’ and they have relayed an interesting observation.”
Foxtrot listened intently, having removed her helmet to her more clearly.
“Midnight seems to close himself off from the other ponies that talk to him with one exception, you,” Celeste said. “It's clear that he has created a repose with you’ and therefore you would be best suited in helping him out of his depression.”
Foxtrot shifted on her hooves and rubbed the back of her neck.
“I didn’t do anything special,” Foxtrot replied. “I was just…”
“….There for him,” Celestia finished’ smiling warmly.
Foxtrot nodded.

“Now I can’t force this position on you, but I'm at a loss to think of any other pony who would be suitable for this role,”
Celestia continued.
Foxtrot continued to rub her neck’ her mind deep in thought.
“Midnight is not due to be released from the hospital for some days, so there is no need to give me your answer now,” Celestia added. “But I would help If I got before his release.”
Foxtrot went silent for a long time after Celestia spoke, considering it in its entirety. Eventually' she looked up at Celestia.
“I wish to take the position.”

Chapter 11: Moon & Fire

Midnight Snow sat in the shade of the tree he had found himself in nine days prior when he had gone on a wonder from Pontville hospital.
He took another swig from the large cider bottle that was given by a large red stallion earlier in the day, before looking up at the full moon. Its rays shone down Ponyville, illuminating everything with the mystic glow that only moonlight could.
Midnight then he turned his sights back to the fire that had been burning for serval hours. When it was lit, it was impressive roaring fire. Now it had strong yet gentle flames. If it had been a bonfire of some description then he might have taken comfort in its warmth, but not this one. It was funeral pyre.

On the same day that Foxtrot became Midnight’s officially chaperone, Dr Twinstar brought a problem to Celestia’s attention. The spells keeping the inside of White Apple Barn refrigerated was starting to wane and proving troublesome to keep it going. The Dr stated plainly that it would soon fail and in the heat of summer, it wouldn’t be long before things got unpleasant in the barn.
It was Celestia who made the call. On Dr Twinstar’s advice, decreeing that does who did not survive the crash be cremated. It was either this or risk disease.
A small patch of ground north of where the plane had come down was chosen and timber was brought in from across the kingdom.
The memorial service was led by Celestia herself, joined by Twilight sparkle. The respect shown to the deceased was touching, the entire town turned up for the proceedings and an honour guard formed by the 1st company of the royal guard' Celestia’s Own. As Celestia set the sun, touch bearers set a flame into the pyre.
Midnight had been allowed out for this event but was warned not stand for too long. It was Foxtrot who suggested returning to the same tree that they had met, and it was from this vantage point they watched the service.
It was now hours later in the dead of night. The mass of ponies present at the service had long since disbanded, leaving only a few members of Celestia’s Own to stand guard.
Midnight looked back up at the moon’ he found it hard to stare at the pyre too long. But even here could not find comfort. The creators on its surface betrayed its difference’ this wasn’t his moon’ wasn’t his world.

“It's not usual to find somepony up this late.” Came a voice wafting in gently with the cool night air.
Midnight turned to head to the newcomer to the see a pony he’d seen at the ceremony hours ago, princess Luna. Foxtrot told him of this night princess, along with teaching some of Equestria’s customs.
“Look who talking,” Midnight rebutted with a grin.
Luna smiled’ walking up to join him.
“It is my duty to patrol the night and move the moon across the sky,” Luna stated in her regal tone.
“Wait,” -Midnight looked at Luna- “You move the moon?”
“Why yes,” Luna answered. “Does this seem strange to you?”
Midnight nodded’ before taking another swig of cider.
“In my world’ the moon moves by itself,” He said. “With no help from no-one else.”
“Oh,” -Luna looked away for a moment- “Like in olden days.”
Midnight gave her a quizzical look.
“In olden times’ well over a thousand years ago,” Luna started. “There was a vicious war that lasted for generations. At its end, so much magic had been consumed that the moon and the sun would no longer travel across the sky. I and my sister Celestia were blessed to become alicorns and tasked with moving the sun and moon.”
“You're over a thousand years old?” Midnight gave Luna a sceptical look. Luna nodded.
“You don’t look it,” He smiled.
Luna giggled at this compliment. Midnight smiled, taking a swig of cider.
“How much of that have you drunk?” Luna asked’ cocking an eye.
Midnight weighed the bottle in his between his hooves, trying to judge the amount left in it.
“I’d say about half of it,” He replied before taking a swig.
“Do you not think’ you’ve had enough?’ Luna coaxed.
“It is a good tasting cider but I would not describe it as strong, at least not by my homelands standard,” He answered’ taking yet another swig.
“You’ll won’t be able to walk let alone fly back at the rate you're drinking that.”

There was a moment of silence after this last remark.
“Your sister didn’t tell you did she?” -he looked blankly at her unknowing face- “I finally gain a pair of wings that mankind has always dreamed of’ and immediately lose one.”
Luna’s eyes widened and were drawn to the bandages on his back where his left wing should’ve been.
“It was completely mangled,” Midnight continued. “The doctors couldn’t save it.”
“I’m sorry. I didn’t…” Luna began.
“Its ok,” He stopped her. "That's just the kind of luck I’ve been having recently.”
Both their attentions were then drawn to the pyre’ as some burning timber shifted noisily in the fire.
“My parents are in that,” Midnight said flatly.
“I’m sorry for your loss,” Luna comforted.
Midnight stared at the fire. All too quickly memories of the flight poured into his head, the noises and screams. Filling him until he could not hear the real world around him.

A hoof shaking his shoulder snapped him back to reality.
“Midnight’ are you ok?” Luna asked gently. Midnight lifted a hoof to his cheek and felt the tears flowing from his eyes.
“Ah, man. I thought I’d stopped crying,” -He wiped the tears away- “I’ll be ok’ I’ll be ok.”
He wasn’t convincing but Luna didn’t press the issue. Instead, her attention was drawn Foxtrot’ fidgeting in her sleep. Out of her armour and resting up against the tree.
“Isn’t that your…” -Luna pointed-
“Oh that's Foxtrot,” -Midnight looked at the sleeping mare- “My chaperone.”
“She should not be resting when you are out here…” Luna stated Sternly.
“Oh, leave her be,” Midnight insisted. “Its been a long day and she’s had to put up with me’ and I couldn’t have been a barrel of laughs.”
Midnight took a couple of gulps from the cider bottle.
“And you’ Midnight?” Luna asked.
“I don’t think sleep is finding me tonight,” He said giving a weak smile. “I’ll just wait here until the dawn rises.”
“I, however cannot,” -luna looked up to the night sky-
“Must get back to my duties. It was nice to meet you' Midnight Snow.”
“And you princess Luna,” Midnight said, lifting his bottle up in acknowledgement.
Luna began to walk away, before stopping and looking back.
“oh, and Midnight,” she said grabbing his attention. “Do try and get some sleep.”
“I’ll try princess,” he chuckled.
“Goodnight Midnight.”
“Goodnight princess.”

Luna started walking away, making a mental note to recommend Midnight gets therapy when she next see’s Celestia. However knowing her sister, she would already be on it. The thought made her smile.
She made her way past four royal guards who were off to replace the ones standing watch over the pyre. They saluted her, which she returned with a slight head bow.
Luna then got several paces beyond them when she stopped dead in her hooves. This feeling’ where have I felt this before.
“Guards!” she said firmly’ turning to face them.
The four guards immediately snapped round to face her.
“Your royal Highness?” One of them asked.
Luna narrowed her eyes and looked at them all over. The feeling she had a second ago was gone’ and see or feel anything untoward.
“Sorry, it was nothing. you may continue,” She said gracefully.
The four bowed before took flight into her night sky.

She sensed me! Nightmare Moon thought inside Steel wall. She sensed me! She had been careful not to be detected. Her magical presence was suppressed’ and anything she did that not fit in with Steel Wall’s character was passed off as stress from being at the crash site.
Who was she?

Chapter 12: Hoofly

The locomotive shut off steam and glided towards the station. It was surprisingly smooth and gentle throughout the journey, thanks to its experienced engine crew.
As it pulled up level with the platform, Midnight learned off the carriage window and stretched out his front legs.

Midnight Snow was released from the hospital a week after the memorial service. He was originally meant to stay in Ponyville, but being so close to the crash site was not advised by Dr Horse, fearing Midnight would have more flashbacks. And when Foxtrot became his chaperone, it was decided that Midnight should stay with her.
There were some issues with this. Least of all was the idea of Foxtrot sharing a home with a stranger and a male one at that. However, she battered away these concerns by pointing out that she was clearly older than Midnight’ and she would be able to handle any rumours.
There was also the fact that Midnight was an alicorn and the issues that this could bring. Twilight came up with the solution of using a modified saddle bags to cover over his wings, or wing and stump. Rarity was in her element. Not only did she make a set perfect fitting bags with secret slots in which he could hide his wing and stump, Rarity had used gold coloured silk and ribbons to stitch it together’ which matched up with his coat.

Midnight adjusted these bags before getting off the carriage seat. He helped Foxtrot get her luggage off the overhead rack and carried them off the train.
Midnight’s luggage was scant, mainly stuff donated by Celestia and Twilight Sparkle. They did find his bag amongst the wreckage’ but it had ripped open’ and its contents cast into the flames.
Now on the platform’ Midnight took a moment to take in his new surroundings. Canterlot was hanging high above them and below it where they were, was the suburb of Hoofly. It had cities goods railyard was located and where the home for many of the lower class workers.
He felt Foxtrot nudge his shoulder, beckoning him to follow. She led him out the station into a small square outside.
“Before we head to my house,” -Foxtrot turned to him- “We need to go to the local market. Left my cupboards kinda empty.”
Midnight smiled and nodded, before following Foxtrot down the street. The market lay at the centre of Hoofly and was abuzz with life. Dozens upon dozens of stalls selling everything produced in Equestria and beyond. Many ponies and a few griffons from many walks of life were busy selling and buying. Foxtrot headed over to a stall run by an old white feathered griffon bearing a fair sized gut.
“Hey Stonie,” Foxtrot called out’ trotting over.
“Foxtrot!” Stonie called back. “I haven’t seen you in awhile lass.”
“Been on official duty” She giggled’ as Midnight caught up.
“Oh, do you mean Ponyville?” He asked. “Are the rumours true?”

Foxtrot froze for a second, this question when Midnight was well within earshot couldn’t have been more ill-timed.
“What rumours?” Foxtrot tread carefully.
“That something fell from the sky and created an inferno,” Stonie conveyed.
Foxtrot took a breath and remembered her training and Celestia’s words.
On the day of the memorial, the residents of Ponyville had been gathered in the town hall. There’ they were addressed by princess Celestia’ who asked of them “A Great Favour”.
She wanted the news of the portal and the plane to be kept a secret for now’ to avoid a panic and unnecessary fear to spread across the land. Several ponies were unhappy with this arrangement’ but went along with it. They trusted their princess.
“There was an explosion,” She said calmly. “The cause is still being investigated. I was just there to help.”
This was neither truth nor lie’ and the best she could give. Stonie nodded’ then looked other at the newcomer beside her.
“Who’s yeah friend?” He asked.
“Oh’ this is Midnight Snow,” She introduced as midnight mouthed hello. “A friend of mine. He’ll be staying with me for a while.”
“Nice to meet ya kid,” Stonie grinned. “So you want double your usual order’ Foxtrot?”

Foxtrot and Midnight wandered down the street that her house was located, overloaded with shopping and luggage. They went to three other stalls in the market and the same questions were asked. Were you at Ponyville? Are the rumours true? Who’s your friend?
The trip round the market had worn them out, physically and mentally. Making them walk in silence.

“May I ask a question,” Midnight said’ wanting to end the silence. “Do ponies belong to clubs or gangs? Cause everyone has tattoos on their flanks.”
“Tattoos?” She said puzzled’ before looking at the flanks of two passing ponies. “Oh, that's a cutie mark.”
“A cutie mark?” His voice dripping with sarcasm.
“Yes,” she said’ matching his tone. “When a pony finds their special talent’ a mark appears on their flank”
“Ah’ I don’t know what to think about that ” Midnight replied.
“so you have no equivalent in your world,” She asked.
Midnight shook his head, then looked over his shoulder at their flanks.
“Whats that make us then?” He asked innocently.
“Blank-flanks,” Foxtrot sighed.
“So, no special talent for us then?”
"Oh, no no no,” She corrected “It just means we haven’t found it yet”
She smiled, he chuckled, both relieving the stress that had been building.
“Well’ here we are,” Foxtrot said’ halting in front of a green door. As she fumbled around for her keys, Midnight looked at the building.
It was a small cottage with a thatched roof. It was nicer than he had been expecting for someone in her profession.
Foxtrot opened the creaky green door before stepping inside. She turned back to him and beckoned him in.
“Welcome to my home.”

Chapter 13: Patience

So that's who she was Thought Nightmare Moon.
Ever since Steel Wall’s platoon returned to Canterlot, Nightmare Moon headed to the best place in a city to quietly gain information, a Library.
And what a library Canterlot had. As large as a cathedral with thousands of books and scrolls. Most of the information she wanted, such as the identity of the black alicorn. The answer was already in Steel Walls head, but the stubborn fool was seeling those memories away. Trying to stave off the inevitable.

So Princess Luna was her name she pondered. And she was the former host of Nightmare Moon?!? .
She continued reading the book on pony folk-law with greater intrigue. She read of how Luna fell to evil when no-pony appreciated her night. On how she battled her sister’ Celestia’ and lost’ banished to the moon by the Elements of Harmony for a thousand years. Then of her escape during the Summer Sun Celebration and banishing her sister to the sun. But then her victory was stolen from her by six young mares led by a Twilight Sparkle. Bearing the aforementioned Elements of Harmony, they turned Luna back to good and dispelled the evil in her heart.

Interesting She mussed. Very interesting.
This tale told her three important things besides Luna’s name.
The first was that alicorns lived for a very long time, over a thousand years at least. She could tell why her counterpart of this world choose Luna as her host, apart from their shared love the night. She hated having hosts with short lifespans, the task of finding a suitable new one was so tiresome. If she could tempt Luna back to the evil path or corrupt an alicorn in general, then her position would be a lot stronger and more comfortable.
Whatever the case’ she did not wish to remain in Steel Wall. He was still resisting her, as pitiful as that was and he was unable to wield magic. On top of that’ Steel Wall was a stallion. Hardly fitting for a dark goddess.

The second was that the ponies or at least the ones who wrote this book, didn’t truly know what the Nightmare Moon of this world was. They believed that it was Luna being corrupted by her own evil desires and did not release that it was being of its own. Their ignorance of what she was’ was itself an advantage. After all, how do fight an enemy you don’t even know is there.

Third, was the real threat posed by the Elements of Harmony and the bearers who wielded them. With the ability to exorcise her from a host, she could not take them lightly. As by evidence presented to her, the Nightmare Moon of this world had been destroyed by them.
A lot more information on them and their bearers would be needed. A quick flick through the next pages showed these same six defeating other threats to Equestria.

Steel wall closed the book and looked up around the library. Where was the best place to find my answers she mused.
She got Steel Wall to get up from his seat and started wandering around the many aisles of this grand building.
She soon noticed that a large section of the library that was sealed off to the general public.
Nightmare Moon positioned Steel Wall in the shadow of an aisle marked “Gardening” and studied the entrance to this section. The area was separated from the rest of the library by iron bars jutting out from the archway above to marble floor. An iron gate at its centre was swung wide open but was watched by two stern-faced royal guards.
Carved into the archway above where the words “The Princess Collection” and a sign above the gate told that only royalty and pass holders may enter.

A satisfying grin twisted its way onto Steel Wall’s lips.
This looks promising She giggled internally. Now’ how to get inside….
“Excuse me' sir,” came a voice from behind. Steel Wall Looked over her shoulder to see an old sterner faced mare the then guards.
“I'm sorry sir, but the library is closing for the night,” she said in a slightly stuck up manner.
Nightmare Moon cursed silently and made a mental not to wipe the smugness off this librarians face.
“Oh’ is it that time already?” Steel Wall’s voice came.
The mare nodded giving him a patronising look. Definitely wiping that off her face.
“Then I shall take my leave,” He said, taking said leave.
Never mind She thought. Tomorrows another day. If there was one thing that she had learned during her imprisonment, was patience.

Chapter 14: Midnight At Dawn

Foxtrot was stirred from her sleep by a low noise coming from another room. She lifted her yawning head upright and turned to look at the clock hanging on the wall. It was almost dawn.
The noise stirred a little louder from elsewhere in her cottage. Foxtrot sighed, she knew what it was. She rolled the covers off her and swivelled out of bed. Out of habit’ she treaded her hooves carefully to avoid making noise herself.
Slowly opening her bedroom door, Foxtrot made her way into the main room.
Like most of the cottages in Hoofly, the main room was the kitchen, living room and dining room combined into one. There were only four other rooms in the building. A fair sized bathroom, a small pantry and two bedrooms that sat on top of them
With the smell of yesterday's vegetable stew still hanging in the air, Foxtrot made her way through the dark up a couple of steps to the spare bedroom, gently tapping the door.
“Midnight’ are you ok,”
No reply came, just the same noises as before. She knew these noises, hearing them before at the hospital.
She slowly opened the door slowly and looked over at the bed, light up by the setting moon.Midnight was lying asleep in the bed but was not resting. The covers had been thrown off him by continuous fidgeting. Beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, his eyes danced under their lids and his heavy breath betrayed the dream he was having.

“Oh dear,” Foxtrot whispered aloud. “You're still at that crash site’ even now.”
She stepped up to the bed and sat on its edge.
“Midnight,” -she placed on a hoof on his forehead when he didn’t awake- “Midnight!”
Midnight's eyes shot wide open, his breathing slowing to a gentle pace. after a second’ His eyes on focused on Foxtrots.
“Was I..”
“Dreaming, yes,” She finished for him. “The crash?”
Midnight rubbed his eyes and nodded’ wiping the cold sweat from his brow. “Did I wake you?”
“Yes,” She answered. “But it's almost dawn anyway.”
Midnight looked out the window, the moon was cresting the far horizon. He focused on a cluster of stars in the northern sky’ slowly fading away.
“There go the Sad Heights,” Midnight said unconsciously.
“Is that what you call them?” Foxtrot asked’ looking at what midnight was gazing at. “Those stars?”
“Not quite,” He answered. “They lay beyond them.”
Foxtrot cocked her head to one side, her long emerald mane falling loosely. He sensed what she was about to ask.

“In my homeland of Westhumberland’ which is basically a series of rocks in a bleak ocean,” Midnight rambled. “Centuries ago, they used to believe that when someone passes away, that their soul finds its way to place where they can watch over us. A place they called ’The Sad Heights’. It's no longer a commonly held belief.”
“Do you believe it,” Foxtrot asked.
Midnight did not answer at first’ clearly mulling over this question.
“I don’t know,” He replied eventually. “I really don’t know if I do or not. My mother certainly did, to the point where she was considered a little eccentric. She even convinced her father of this place but me, I don’t know.”
He looked down at his front right leg and the scar on it.
“I can’t help but think about them right now,” His voice went a little cold. “I managed to put a bubble around me but not around them, or even the….”

Midnight felt Foxtrot’s hoof on his forehead, turning his attention to her. Her impassioned eyes, staring deep into him.
“Never think that!” Foxtrot said firmly. “It was a miracle that you survived at all that day. You had no hope of saving anyone that day. So don’t think like that.”
“Ok,” Midnight said’ surprised at her vigour.
“Promise me!” Foxtrot particle demanded.
“I promise,” Came his reply.
Foxtrot removed her hoof from his forehead’ just releasing how aggressive she’d been.
“I’m sorry Midnight,” She slowly said. “I just can’t let you go down that path.”
"It's ok," He replied. "I'm a Westhumberlander, we always somehow survive."
Midnight offered a weak smile until the silence was broken by a cockerel’s call.
“And there's the dawn,” Said Foxtrot. “Well since were up’ let's get some breakfast. We have a long day ahead of us and if we use the early start well’ then I might be able to squeeze in a quick tour of Canterlot before heading to the castle.”
She shifted off the bed and trotted to the door. Once there’ she turned to face him.
“Coming?” She asked’ bearing a sweet smile.
Midnight studied her face for a second before smiling and nodding. Rolling off his bed’ he followed her out the room.

Chapter 15: Nineteen Moons

The huge double doors to a conference in Canterlot castle swung open in a grand, almost silent ark. Foxtrot now in uniform, walked through alongside Midnight Snow. The male alicorn gazed around the room. It was beautifully decorated with tapestries, chandeliers and stained glass windows. At the centre of the marble floor was a round table with padded seats. Already at the table was the princesses Celestia and Twilight, who stood up when they entered.
“Midnight Snow, Foxtrot, I’m so glad you came,” Celestia spoke
Foxtrot’ followed by Midnight, bowed respectfully as they rose.
“Princesses,” Foxtrot acknowledged, head bowed down.
“At ease Foxtrot,” Celestia reassured. “You may remove your helmet, There's no need to be formal, either of you”
The two nodded and Foxtrot removed her helmet, the magic seals breaking showing her true colours.
“Please’ take a seat,” Twilight invited.

Midnight and Foxtrot took to their seats, facing opposite the princesses. Once seated, the slight tension in the air was lifted.
“Well before anything else,” Celestia began. “How are you’ Midnight?”
“Surviving, somehow,” He smiled, deflecting with humour.
Celestia smiled, though she was wise enough to see through such humour. So she turned to Foxtrot.
“And everything settling down ok?”
“A couple of bumps,” Foxtrot answered honestly. “Nothing that can’t be fixed. With enough time.”
Celestia nodded a little more satisfied with this answer and turned to Twilight.
“I asked you to come here today, Midnight,” Twilight began. “Cause I wish to fill you in on the Crystal Mirror, the portal that brought you here.”
Midnight leant forward and listened intently.
“Every thirty moons, the mirror opens and creates a connection with a point at a school in your world called a Canterlot High. As I said before, the portals normally big enough for one pony to pass through at a time. We still don’t have an answer to how or why the mirror created a portal as big as it did. We can nothing on record of this ever happening before.”
Midnight and Foxtrot were silently listing to this mainly recapped information.
“The Mirror has been moved to an isolated location near the Crystal Empire, in case it goes crazy again.” Twilight continued. “However I do have reason to believe that the connection between our worlds may have been damaged, if not severed.”
“Severed!” Foxtrot exclaimed.
Twilight produced a Sunset’s journal’ and placed it on the table.
“This journal has allowed me to keep in contact with friends I have in your would, even when the mirror was closed,” She explained. “But ever since the portal you came through closed, I haven’t been able to get in contact with them.”

“It could still mean nothing,” Celestia interjected, feeling their guests concern growing. “But we have to wait and see if the portal opens on the next time it was scheduled to do so.”
“When is that?” Asked Foxtrot.
Twilight and Celestia exchanged a glance, that told Midnight that the answer was not a welcome one.
“Nineteen moons,” Twilight sighed.
Foxtrot held a hoof to her mouth, but Midnight's reaction was somewhat blank, not understanding this measurement of time.
“How long is a moon?” He asked’ but a part of him deep down did not want to know.
“Around thirty days,” Celestia answered.
Midnight slowly raised a hoof to his brow, as his mind quickly calculated the unwelcome figure.
“A year and a half,” He muttered to himself.
The other three went silent, allowing him to absorb the news. Eventually, Midnight looked up, still rubbing his brow.
“Are there any other ways to open the mirror, or travel to my world?” He asked in hope more than expectation.
“I used to be able to open the portal by transferring magic from this,” -Twilight tapped the journal with her hoof- “Into the mirror, but every time I tried to do it since after you arrived, the portal failed to open.”
“And we know of no other means to get to your world,” Celestia added,

Midnight did not acknowledge this, just continued to rub his brow.
“Midnight,” -Foxtrot placed a hoof on his shoulder- “Are you ok?”
Midnight got off this seat and started heading to the door.
“Sorry, I need a minute.”
“Take your time, Midnight,” Celestia reassured.
Midnight said nothing, just wandered across the room and through the door. Foxtrot watched him go before looking at Celestia as if to ask permission to go after him, a product of her military training.
Celestia gave her the nod she had been seeking, and Foxtrot went after him. The two princess were left alone in the now quiet room.
“Well that could have gone better,” Twilight said while tapping Sunsets journal.
“Telling a soul that he may never be able to go home was never gonna be an easy task,” Celestia coached. “But it is nothing compared to receiving such news.”
Twilight could imagine it. She recalled the feeling of dread that she felt when battering Sunset Shimmer At Canterlot High. Twilight conveyed this to her mentor.
Celestia rose from her seat and glided to the stained glass window.
“I’m not sure how I would have survived,” Twilight stated plainly.
“Oh I have no doubt you would have’ and so will be Midnight Snow,” -Celestia beckoned Twilight to the window- “Cause you have both have made something’ that will make such a situation better to bear.”

Celestia pointed to the courtyard below. There’ Midnight was sitting defeated on the floor’ had his eyes tightly clenched shut’ trying to keep a scream of sheer utter frustration from escaping himself.
Twilight though could also see Foxtrot, cradling him in an embrace. Trying to console him from another slap to the face by fate.
And there it was’ the something they had both made. Bonds of friendship.

Author's Note

As of the time of writing' there is no strict definition of the length of time a 'Moon' is. I would reason that it would be similar to a 'Lunar Month' (around 30 days).

Chapter 17: Late Night Reading

Steel Wall slid a book on arcane spells back onto the shelf from where it had been taken. It had been nearly two moons since the time he had first been back in the city of Canterlot, returning with Steel Wall’s company. And Nightmare Moon was wasting no more time tonight.
Ever since taking over Steel Wall’s body, she had tried her best to blend in smilingly with his day to day life. This task which she thought to be tedious and annoying proved to be somewhat advantageous. She quickly learned the royal guards total strength, their doctrines, and fast response plans. Everything about this army an enemy commander would kill to know.
Every other opportunity she had’ Nightmare Moon would go to the library to gain more information. Her recent attention was on the Princess Collection and how to get at it.
She studied the entrance from the shadows of the isles and even used Steel Wall’s position as a royal guard to explore the perimeter.
Then she started sneaking into the library at night to observe the night patrols. The fact that it was guarded day and night further convinced her that its contents could be extremely useful.

After a while, she noticed a window of absence between shifts when it would be possible to enter unnoticed. But the window only lasted an hour, so her search through the collection was slow. Despite this hurdle, she was content on what she had found, mostly various spells that would prove most useful when her conquest began. If her conquest begins...
Nightmare Moon was acutely aware of her biggest hurdle in her path, the lack of an adequate host. She had hoped that one of the alicorn princesses could become her host but it appeared that this was not going to happen. Canterlot castle had recently held the annual princess summit and Nightmare Moon inside the Guard Steel Wall was able to observe them at will, well almost. Her near brush with Luna in Pontville had made her wary of reaching out to far with her powers, her discovery now would be disastrous.
Nightmare moon quickly saw that with one exception, the princesses minds and wills were strong as bastions, especially Celestia’s. Any attempt to seduce or force herself into them would inevitably end in Nightmare Moon’s demise.
The one exception was Candence’s daughter, Flurryheart. The mind and will of a youngling were less of that of an adult but even here there were problems. Flurryheart’s movements and magical skills were limited’ and not even Nightmare Moon’s input would make up for this. Anyways’ the sight of a child was not intermediating enough to lead a glorious conquest of this land without drawing laughter.

She used Steel Wall to pull out another book, this one on arcane items. There was still half an hour left in tonight's window to read up on as much as she could get. There was one spell high on her list to learn.
During the summit’ Nightmare Moon learned that Candence and Twilight Sparkle were not born alicorns but instead was bestowed this honor by Princess Celestia.
Clearly, this action was done by a spell or ritual of magic. If she could find this spell, then it would prove most useful…

“What are you doing here?” Came a stern voice from behind Steel Wall.
Whys she here’ and now Nightmare Moon cursed inside, turning Steel Wall to face the voice. It was the smug faced librarian that she had to deal with nearly every day. So often that she came to learn her name, Neat Shelves.
“Who said that you could be in here?” She barked.
Nightmare Moon weighed up what to do with this interfering mare who was now in the process of blowing her cover. Her first thought was to kill her but there was nowhere to hide her body, or destroy it without drawing any attention.
“Well!” Neat Shelves barked’ but louder.
She needed to silence her, now. Steel Wall’s hoof came up and grabbed Neat Shelves neck. She choked a surprised grunt but was unable to scream. Steel Wall’s eyes turned indigo with snake-like pupils and looked dead into Neat Shelves. As their eyes locked, rings of indigo pulsated from his eyes to hers and after a while, her eyes turned indigo.
“What is you command, your majesty?” She said’ voice absent of any emotion.

Nightmare Moon internal took a deep sigh of relief. She hadn’t used that trick for over a thousand years and that was on humans. She wasn’t sure if it would even work on a pony but it seems they are just as susceptible to it as her last prey were.
Steel wall released her neck and stood in an intimidating pose.
“You will the leave library and walk north,” -Nightmare Moon’s voice came out of the stallion's mouth- “And when you leave the city you will keep walking.”
“Yes, your majesty,” Neat Shelves said before bowing.
A twisted smile spread involuntary across Steel Wall’s lips. I wonder how long she’ll walk until the smugness is wiped from her face Nightmare Moon playfully mused. Or until her hooves turn to stumps.
Well, at least one annoyance was gone. She watched the mare leave before turning back to her current book, she had wasted enough time tonight. She flicked through the book until a subtitle caught her attention.
The Alicorn amulet She read to herself. Interesting.

Chapter 18: Blessed Beard

Midnight Snow placed a hoof on the white door to the N.o. 6 laboratory of the Canterlot Research Building. Taking a deep breath, Midnight mentally prepared himself.
It had been four moons since princess Celestia had offered private lessons in the art of magic. However, events in far away Yakyakisatn had forced to withdraw the offer and depart for the yak homeland several weeks ago.
Before she left, Celestia introduced him to a new tutor. A pony possible more suitable to teach him then the princess.

Midnight swung the door open, then stuck his head into the room.
“Professor Blessed Beard,” Midnight called.
Across the laboratory, a maroon unicorn sporting an enormous brown beard looked up from his work.
“BWA Ha Ha,” Blessed bellowed. “Midnight, there you are! Ready for today?”
A grin couldn’t help but find its way onto Midnight's face. It was just the effect Blessed had on others.
“You seem very jovial today’ professor,” Midnight commented.
“Why yes!” -Blessed moved up to Midnight- “Have you not heard the news?”
“Clearly not,” He replied, trying not to chuckle.
“Ha Ha Ha,” -Blessed placed a hoof on Midnight’s shoulder- “They found it! I do believe they found the tomb of Formade!”
“Who?” Midnight asked innocently’ releasing too late that he had just invited a lecture.
“Why, Formade the Terrible!” He said flamboyantly.
“He sounds like a bundle of joy,” Midnight replied jokingly.
“Ha Ha!” Blessed laughed’ hustling Midnight over to the book he was reading on his desk. “Formade the Terrible is a legend from times before the royal pony sisters.”
Blessed pointed to a picture in the book, an artist's impression of a red-maned, blue unicorn stallion. Standing in a stoic pose.
“He was a hero of the Crystal Empire well before the reign of King Sombre,” Blessed said, in full lecture mode.
"A hero? ” Midnight queried “So why ‘The Terrible’?”
“Were not sure,” Blessed answered. “Records from this time period are scant at best, to the point that we can’t say for certain that we have his name correct. However, the two main theories are that is was title given to him by his adversaries”
“And the other?” Midnight asked.
“That it was given to him by the ponies he protected, in bitterness.” Blessed continued.
“Bitterness?”
“Yes,” Blessed said. “Legend has it that he disappeared, leaving the empire exposed to multiple enemies, which lead eventually to King Sombre. Some believing he had abandoned them and fled. But if this find is his tomb, then it appears he died way before Sombre took over.”

Midnight smiled. Blessed Beard was a professor of archaeology and his enthusiasm at this discovery was contagious.
“So I take this tomb is in the Crystal Empire,” Midnight asked.
“Yes indeed,” Blessed answered. “Some construction workers digging new foundations stumbled upon a cavern leading to the tomb.”
“I’m surprised you haven’t taken the first rain up there’ professor,”
“Well, that's the thing….” Blessed said’ bearing a smile of a filly with its hoof caught in the sweet jar.
Midnight rolled his eyes yet retained his grin. “You want to go up there.”
“Well …” -Blessed rubbed the back of his neck- “Yes.”
“Go on then,” -midnight rolled his eyes again- “We can postpone our lessons for a few weeks, but you're teaching me that teleportation spell when you get back.”
“Ah, thank you,” Blessed Beard nearly roared with approval. “Its a deal lad. Now then’ shall we begin today's lesson?”
“We had a lesson today!?!” Midnight said jokingly. “I nearly forgot.”
This got a hearty laugh from Blessed Beard.

A knock on the door drew their attention to it opening. The ever stern-faced Dr. Twinstar entered the room and looked directly at the professor.
“Professor Blessed Beard, I need to borrow Midnight again,” She said in her direct plain manner.
Blessed Beard moved away from his desk, trying to read the unreadable Dr.
“I’ll get us some herbal tea, lad,” -Blessed Beard walked towards Dr. Twinstar and the door- “Please don’t eat my student Dr. Twinstar.”
The joke was wasted on the mare, who watched him wander past. When he left, she walked over to the seated Midnight.
“So which piece of wreckage do you have for me today?”

Dr. Twinstar was in charge of the of the research and categorising of the wreckage of the aircraft that crashed in Ponyville. Since becoming Blessed Beard’s student, she had come to him nearly every day with some piece of scrap, on which was some writing that her translation spell couldn’t decipher and needed Midnight to translate.
“Something quite different today,” She stated. “Were not even sure if it's from your transport but we do not recognise the engraving.”
Midnight didn’t mind translating these items, it was just the coldness of how she did things that bothered him and others for that matter.
She plonked two pieces of granite on the desk in front of him. Midnight raised an eyebrow at the two pieces that were clearly once one.
“An obelisk, how strange,” he said, handling it between his hooves.

From his arrival in Equestria, Midnight had to learn stuff that only the younger fillies and foals had trouble with. Magic had come naturally to him, but picking up stuff with his bare hooves was more difficult. Even now, handling the broken obelisk took a fair amount of concentration.
“Ok, it appears to say 'HERE LIES THE DEMON QUEEN'....” -Midnight wobbled his hoof to indicate a piece of the text was missing- “...'MARE MOON'.”
“….Mare Moon?” Twinstar echoed.
“There's a bit of text missing,” -midnight pointed to the area mentioned- “But if I had to guess, I would say it was Nightmare.”
“Why would you say so?” Dr. Twinstar said, putting on her best poker face.
“Well, I remember a history lesson from when I was much younger,” He said’ looking up at her. “We were told of the legend of the demon queen Nightmare Moon who descended from the frozen north and conquered half the known world. She was defeated at the battle of Corsesand’ or so the legend tells.”
“You seem sceptical,” The Dr commented, with an arched eyebrow.
“Well, stories that are as old as this get exaggerated over time into legends. And this,” -He tapped the obelisk- “It's probably a replica.”
“I see,” she said thoughtfully.” Well, thank you for your time Mr Snow.”
“A pleasure as always’ Dr,” Midnight said with a twinge of sarcasm.

She picked up the pieces of the obelisk with her magic and headed out the door. Stopping halfway down the corridor, she levitated the pieces in front of her.
This is no replica She mused. The integral patterns along the obelisks edges were actually runes, an ancient form of magic long since usurped in Equestrian by more modern forms of casting.
Despite the damage and age, Twinstar could see it was a series of seals designed to contain magic inside the obelisk.
But for what? Nightmare Moon? But that was part of princess Luna, wasn’t it? And wasn’t that part of her destroyed by the Elements of Harmony?
A conclusive thought crossed her mind, as she recalled reports by Twilight Sparkle from the times she crossed over to Midnight’s world. In them’ she tells of encountering doubleganger of various ponies including herself.
From this Twinstar drew a logical conclusion.
There's a second Nightmare Moon! She had hold herself back from shouting it out loud.
After quickly calming herself, she continued her walk back to her lab. Carefully considering her next move.

Chapter 19: late Birthday

Another x on the calendar marked off another day. Over a hundred days were marked off, hundreds more remained. Midnight put down the pencil and trotted back to the stove. It was his turn to cook tonight, carrot and coriander soup. He stirred the pot several times, releasing an inviting aroma into the room.
His attention was drawn to a window. Outside, Hoofly was being hammered by a rainstorm, causing the cottages window panes to rattle as waves water battered it. He then gazed at the to a wall mounted clock, as it ticked round to half past seven in the afternoon. Foxtrots shift ended at seven.
Foxtrot had returned to her duty as a royal guard when Midnight starting taking lessons from Blessed Beard this last moon, though her status as chaperon meant reduced shift times.
The storm was showed no signs of abating, probably slowing Foxtrots return. Midnight turned back to the soup, slowly stirring it with his magic.

The sound of the front door swinging open drew his eyes away from the pot. Foxtrot in her guard uniform stepped in soaking from head to hoof. Taking off her helmet and restoring her mane and coat colours to their natural state, Midnight trotted up and offered her a towel. She gave a warming smile and took the towel in her magic. Midnight returned to the pot and took it off the stove.
“Dinners ready,” He said, looking around for a ladle.
“I Know,” She giggled. “I can smell it.”
She wrapped her towel in her mane and started drying it. She wandered over to the calendar and examined the many x’s on it.
“Hey Midnight,” She called over her shoulder. “Whens your birthday?”
Midnight had just finished pouring the soup into two bowls and stared at the calendar. Human months and pony moons were not interchangeable’and Midnight had to work which day his birthday was on. He moved over to Foxtrot with a bowl of soup, exchanging it for the damp towel.
“I think it was three days ago,” Midnight answered.
Foxtrot looked up from blowing on her spoon with surprise. “Really!?!”
Midnight calculated again and nodded a confirmation, returning to the kitchen for his bowl.
“Happy Birthday” -Foxtrot gave a cheery smile-.
“Thank you,” He said’ following her to the table.

“So how old are you now?” She asked’ taking another spoonful.
“Er.. sixteen now,” He replied’ blowing on his spoon.
Foxtrot looked up at him with even more surprise. “That makes you a full stallion now!”
This took a moment to translate in Midnight’s head. “Heh’ I guess it does,” He half chuckled.
“It's a major milestone in a pony’s life,” She added’ seeing that he didn’t grasp the significance of this birthday. “We need to celebrate it.”
A wave of rain battered the cottage and leak suddenly appeared. Dripping large droplets onto a rug by the door.
“Not tonight were not,” Midnight chuckled pointing to a window.
Foxtrot smiled, swallowing more soup. She got up from her seat and walked over to an old small cabinet in the corner, from it was retrieved two glasses and floated them onto the table. She also pulled a bottle of wine from the oak cabinet and walked back to the table.

“what's this?” Midnight asked, trying to read the label.
“A Southern Dragoon N.o. 4,” She enlightened, pouring the bottles contents into the glasses. “Perfect for a late birthday party”
He chuckled as she raised up her glass. With a golden glow, he raised his and the glasses touched with a satisfying clink.

Midnight glanced up at the clock, its hands chiming round to even in the evening. He took another swig from his glass and turns his eyes back to Foxtrot. They were sitting on her couch in front of the fireplace.
Unlike Midnight, she really couldn’t handle her drink. With rosy cheeks and tendency to giggle at anything, she was entertaining to watch.
“Ya know,” She said, gently poking his nose- “Ya gonna go get a job soon.”
He smiled, trying to keep her hoof off his nose.
“Well’ speaking of that,” -Midnight had to lift his head to avoid his nose getting poked- “You know I help the professor get his train today.”
“M’hmm,” Foxtrot nodded’ smiling ear to ear.
“Well before Blessed Beard’s train departed,” He said’ Foxtrot giggling at the professor's name. “He asked’ that after his trip and my studies are over’ that I’d become his assistant.”
“Yay!!” Foxtrot yelled aloud, arms stretched out as wide as her grin.
Midnight laughed at this, which intern sent Foxtrot into a fit of giggling.
“Did you take it?” Foxtrot managed to say between giggles.
“Well, he wouldn’t take my answer till he got back…”
“TAKE ITTTTTTTTTT……..Hic,” Foxtrot interrupted.
“If I say yes, will you stop trying to shove your hoof up my nose?” Midnight managed to say through said hoof.
Foxtrot nodded furiously, sending her emerald mane in all directions.
“Then I’ll accept,”
“YAAAAYYY!!!” Foxtrot yelled before falling beside Midnight.

Midnight smiled at Foxtrot’s antics, who was now trying to refill her glass. As she continued to miss, Midnight’s gaze drifted onto a photo sitting on the mantle piece. It was of Foxtrot when she was a filly, standing next to a royal guard.
“Foxtrot, can I ask a question?”
“H’hmm,” She replied’ happy that she’d managed to refill her glass.
“Why are you in the royal guard?”
It was a question that was on his mind for a while. To Midnight, Foxtrot didn’t seem to be the military type. Kind, nurturing and a non-violent demeanor’ she just didn’t the type he’d seen in his world.
“Well, truth be told, hic,” -Foxtrot then downed her drink in one gulp- “I followed in my father's hoof steps. He was a new Lieutenant in Celestia’s service before Luna returned.”
She used her magic to wobbly put her empty glass down on a side table.
“My mother didn’t approve. She always intended for me to go to Celestia’s school of gifted unicorns, but I was never really talented in magic.”
Midnight nodded, looking back at the photograph and at the royal guard stallion in it. Wondering if it was her father.
Where are they now?”
When no answer came’ he looked down at Foxtrot now fast asleep beside him.
Midnight grinned, then tried to gentle move. He was prevented in doing so by Foxtrot, now cuddling his front leg as if it was a stuffed toy.
Well I’m going nowhere tonight He thought. Still’ there are worse places to be stuck.
He took another sip from his drink’ and settled in for the night, watching the rain outside continued to pour down.

Chapter 21: To Trap A Nightmare

How could I have been so foolish She screamed internally.
Steel Wall had been standing right in front of Stern Wing when Twinstar walked up to him, her former obelisk prison on full display.
Now she was using Steel Wall to skulk around outside Canterlot's research building in the dead of night, searching for a quiet way in. The grand building was situated within spitting distance of Steel Wall's barracks, she had slipped past it many nights during her 'visits' to the library.
Peering into another room, she searched for Twinstar's office' and hopefully the obelisk.

I can't believe I left it there Nightmare Moon continued to berate herself. I should have stamped it into dust' if not at least taken it with me.
She moved over to the next set of office windows and discovered that one was slightly ajar. Whilst gently trying to coax it to open wider, Nightmare Moon's gaze was drawn to a pair of saddle bags sat in a chair with the obelisk pieces poking out.
Steel Wall's eyes narrowed in suspicion. They were in plain view and were the only things lit up by a single office lamp at the centre of the room, with most of the other desks and chair pushed up to the walls.
It had all the tale tell signs of a trap and she knew this fully. Nightmare Moon extended her magical presence into the room, gingerly probing interior for signs of life or triggers for the trap, both magical and physical. Nothing. She'd extended herself to furthermost corners of the room and found no evidence of a trap.
Withdrawing her magical presence' she returned to glaring at the saddle bags for a long while, still not convinced that all was as innocent as it seemed.
After a few more moments of patient observing, she decided that the risk of leaving it was too great and outweighed the risk of this potential trap. With the window now wide open, Steel Wall slipped inside with a graceful silence not associated with an earth pony of his bulk, for even now she was still wary. Every hoof step on the dusty floor was well placed, his eyes darting from side to side.

Once within reach of the saddle bags, she stopped Steel Wall. Making him take a good long sweeping glance. Again Nightmare Moon found nothing amiss and was tempted to use her magical presence to confirm this but she feared that may trigger a magic based trap.
I wonder if I overestimated their caperbilites She mused. Willing Steel Wall's movement, she reached for the closest obelisk piece.
Just as his hoof was about to touch the piece of granite, the lights of the room came on. Steel Wall reeled back and turned to pony now visible sitting in the corner, Twinstar. She had concealed her presence expertly, only alerting Nightmare Moon when the Dr used her magic to illuminate the room.
"Good evening Steel Wall," The Dr commented. "Or should I say' Nightmare Moon."
Steel Wall let out a contented smile, closing his eyes. When he opened them again, they had turned the evil indigo snake eyes giving him a disturbing visage.
"Well played," -Nightmare Moon's voice flowed through Steel Wall's lips in the creepiest of fashions- "Dr. Twinstar."
Before any more words could be exchanged, Twinstar stood bolt upright from her crouched hiding spot, her head arched back and horn glowing brightly. All around Steel Wall hooves, strange markings glowed on the floor.
Runes!!! She screamed inside. Ancient runes had indeed been marked in the thick layer of dust on the floor, hidden in plain sight.
Nightmare Moon willed Steel Wall to move but was unable. Powerful magics were keeping her host anchored to the spot and more runes were now appearing in the air around him like swirled up dust in a beam of daylight.
Twinstar then levitated the two pieces of the obelisk above Steel Wall's head, then channeled even more of her magic into them. The two pieces fused together until they were whole again.

Nightmare Moon was on the verge of panic, like then all those years ago she could feel her very essence being exercised from her host.
But something was different. It didn't feel as strong as before. She probed the seals encircling her and the newly reformed obelisk prison.
The seals were poor imitations of the ones that had contained her for so long. She should know, she'd been staring at the real deal for hundreds of years. The obelisk too was weak with noticeable cracks, a result of forging one from broken pieces. If I were to apply some pressure here She reasoned to herself.
Twinstar increased her flow of magic into the runes, beads of sweat forming on her brow. The seals increased its pull on Nightmare Moon being but she had her tendrils deep into every part of Her stallion host. Now she had a gauge on the sealing runes, she began channelling what magic she had into the obelisk itself. Entering its cracks and forcing them to widen until new fractures spread throughout the limb of granite.

Dr. Twinstar looked up in time to see the fractures cover the last of the obelisks surface.
"No!!," Was all she had time to say before the granite obelisk bust apart, sending thousands of tiny stone fragments. She watched in horror as the seals she had constructed break one by one, and the glowing runes fade away. At the centre of it all' stood a Royal guard with menacing indigo eyes, wearing a triumphant grin.
Nightmare Moon was in a bad way. She had used almost all of her magic to destroy her former prison and now she was incredibly vulnerable.
"So what now?" She smirked. "Dr. Twinstar."
Steel Wall took a step forward. Twinstar took one back. The grin on the stallions face grew. She now knew that they both had nothing left to give but the Dr did not. Then came a moment where neither of them moved. Nightmare Moon was waiting for Twinstar's next move and yet it did not come. The Dr was waiting for Nightmare Moon to end her there and then, fear manifesting in her eyes.
"Oh," Nightmare Moon said, hanging on every vowel. "No backup plan? I'm kinda of disappointed in you Dr. I had heard such good things about you."
She giggled, brushing some of the granite dust off her host's mane.
"I'm also very surprised you did this alone," She mocked. "No other ponies, royal guard, or even your very own princess Celestia."

And there it was, for the briefest moment there was a look on Twinstar's face. So fleeting that many lesser mortals would miss it but not Nightmare Moon. She knew that look. Revulsion.
"Oh, what have we here? A pony who disapproves of their beloved sun princess."
Twinstar who was trying to regain her composure, I was thrown off by this last comment.
"Whatever do you mean?" Twinstar tried to bluff, Nightmare Moon just giggled at her attempt.
"I'm far older than that mare," -Nightmare Moon started walking towards Twinstar, who intern backed up into a corner- "I have seen many faces in my time and I know the look of someone who serves a ruler they despised."
It was indeed a look she was familiar with many of her conquered subjects. She did not resent it, she kinda enjoyed it.
"Indulge me, Twinstar," Nightmare beckoned, Steel Wall's snout inches from Twinstar's.
"Do not misunderstand me," She said. "Equestria has prospered under her rule."
"But?" Nightmare cooed.
"She soft hearted' maybe too soft,"
Nightmare Moon then pulled her host back, allowing the Dr space to breathe. "Do tell' Dr"
"Well," -Twinstar rubbed the back of her neck- "You heard what happened recently in Yakyakistan?"
"Hmm, if I heard right there was a little insurrection there."
"An Insurrection!" Twinstar blurted out. "It was almost a full-scale rebellion! The grand chief is very old and is not long for this world and his heir, prince Rutherford is deeply unpopular. A group against Rutherford's appointment attempted a coup, which was only half successful. Things ground down to a stalemate and the land was on the brink of civil war."
"Until Celestia intervened."
"Yes' she managed to settle things down between them and avert a war," -Twinstar had started pacing up back and forth- "But it still leaves Rutherford as heir!"

Nightmare Moon grin shown through her host's lips.
This Twinstar has a temper She cackled inside. And is a ranter at that. Interesting. Tell Me More Twinstar.
"And why is that a bad thing?"
"Why!" Twinstar almost spat out. "He is thicker then his own hide and is totally unpredictable. Do you know he declared war on us over a self-playing piano!! To have such an unstable leader in charge of a land that we share a border with is unacceptable and if we had kept out of it, we may have been rid of him. But no, allowing this war to happen was not acceptable to Celestia."
"Is that all?" Nightmare Moon asked' cocking an eyebrow.
"No' only the latest event. Her handling of Tirek was borderline insane. While yes her prized student did carry the day, it was a closer call than it needed to be," Twinstar ranted, now pacing up and down the room. "Then the was the changeling invasion, Celestia was taken out in a matter of seconds!! It was only through sheer luck that they were defeated!!"
Nightmare Moon was enjoying the spectacle that was a Twinstar rant' the sudden outburst from a pony was satisfying to watch, this species had started to bore her.
"With Yakyakistan, the Griffon Kingdom & the Dragon Lands as our neighbours and countless other threats just from Equestria's own wildlife!!" -She held a hoof to her mouth as her voice grew to a yell- "As well as some homegrown threats...."
"She can no longer adequately protect the land," Nightmare Moon summed up for Twinstar.
The Dr narrowed her gaze at Steel Wall, trying to read the being inside the stallion.
"And you can," she replied sarcastically.
Nightmare Moon shook her head, tutting. She manoeuvred her host towards Twinstar till she was in her face, her indigo eyes blazing. Twinstar couldn't help but cower from whilst being transfixed by them.
"In the world that I came from, the various populations were almost in a state of constant war with each other," She slowly whispered into Twinstar's ear. "And after my reign' they were back at each other's throats almost immediately but when they were my subjects under my rule, there was no war and they prospered."

Twinstar with her back up against the wall, studied the face of Nightmare Moon's host. Trying to keep her quickened breath in check.
"How?" Was the only word she could muster.
Nightmare Moon just grinned sinisterly through Steel Wall.
"A good question Dr," -She withdrew her host away from Twinstar and back towards the open window- "But the answer will have to wait another night. I other things to attend to."
In truth, she did not but her Twister's trap had left her weak and she needed to recover. If she stayed any longer, there was a risk of her fragility being exposed. The dumbfounded Twinstar watched as Steel Wall learned out of the window' checking the alley was clear.
"You're letting me go?" Twinstar said, her voice shaky.
"For now," -Nightmare's looked back into her eyes- "Good night' Dr. Twinstar."
She slipped through the window with surprising grace and she was a few steps away, the gentle sound of Twinstar sobbing hysterically found Steel Wall's ears.
You still got it Nightmare Moon She grinned maniacally.

Chapter 22: Echo Whisky

Man these bags are heavy. Midnight Snow was slogging back to the cottage he shared with Foxtrot. His tailor made saddle bags were filled to the brim with many goods from Hoofly market.
Having nothing much to do until Blessed Beard returned from his latest dig, so Foxtrot had tasked him with keeping the cottage clean and stocked up with whatever was needed.
Midnight turned round the corner onto the street that his home was on, and glanced up at it. He was surprised to see foxtrot departing from the cottage. Out of uniform, heading the other way. Strange He pondered. I thought she was on duty today.
Midnight watched her gently trot off down the street’ with a bouquet of white flowers held aloft in her magic. Their cottage was on the outskirts of Hoofly, there was not much beyond it and Foxtrot’s garrison was in the other direction. Midnight followed her but didn’t call out to her.

Several paces behind Foxtrot, he watched her turn off the cobbled street and into a grassy field, sectioned off with a low cut evergreen hedge.
Midnight halted outside its entrance, a set of polished iron gates. An arch hung above them, in which the words ‘Hoofly Cemetery’ was forged.
“A graveyard?” Midnight thought aloud.
Midnight looked beyond the gates and spotted Foxtrot heading through the rows of tombstones. He passed under the arch, slowly pursuing. Out of all the grand headstones that were arranged in the grounds, Foxtrot found her way to a plain and square pillar. It was made of dark marble and was about three hooves wide’ and tapered to a wedge at the top. The mare stood silently still for a time, then placed her bouquet on the grave
“Hello Dad,” Foxtrot said softly. “It's me again.”
She gently sat on the soft grass’ Midnight was a few paces back.
“Sorry it been a while, several things have happened and several things are the same,” -Her ears dropped with this last statement- “Mothers still ignoring me’and I’m still a private but I'm not alone these days”
She then explained the events in Ponyville six moons ago and taking in the lone survivor.
“And so Midnight is now living with me. He recently turned into a stallion and is settling down nicely in Hoofly.”

I shouldn’t be here Midnight told himself. This is meant to be a private moment.
He turned slowly around but the gravel path beneath his hooves betrayed his presence.
“Midnight?” She said hearing his hoof steps.
“Yes it's me,” -He came out from a lavish headstone he had been hiding behind- “I wasn’t trying to pry’ I was just…”
“I know,” She interrupted’ beckoning a sit next to her.
Midnight saddled up to her left-hand side and sat down.
“Father, this is Midnight Snow,” Foxtrot introduced. “And this is my Father, Echo Whisky.”
“Hello, Sir…” Midnight said’ with slight unease in his voice.
The was a moment of silence following this, neither knowing what to say. Midnight’s attention was drawn to engraving on the marble pillar, which read ‘Echo Whisky, Lieutenant of the Royal Guard, Taken from us aged 31 with honour’.
“It's been 4 years to the day,” Foxtrot said’ drawing back Midnight's attention. “He was on a training exercise in some mountains west of here. There was an avalanche that swept him off a cliff edge.”
It was now that Midnight saw the tears slowly running down Foxtrot’s cheeks. “I miss him, I miss him so much.”
Midnight could see she was close to bursting. He fumbled with a strap on his saddle and them slide off, uncovering his one good wing. Which he then used to embrace Foxtrot. She intern was slightly surprised by the wind but after a second nuzzled into it, calming herself down.

And here they stayed for a long time, neither aware that they were being watched.
From the spot Midnight had been using, Dr Twinstar glared at them, her face contorted with a silent rage. After her humiliation at the hooves of Nightmare Moon last night and Celestia this morning, she had come here today hoping she could find some time to contemplate her next move in the peace of a graveyard.
Instead, she found the. A one winged alicorn embracing the continuous disappointment in her life that was Foxtrot, her daughter.
Twinstar turned and almost stomped out of the cemetery, with her anger and frustration only increased.

Chapter 23: A Heated Mistake

Dr. Twinstar had marched herself all the way back to Canteralot, where she stopped in the middle of a square.
Calm yourself Twinstar She berated herself. Foxtrot has always been a complete….

Her thought process was interrupted by the sight of a certain Royal guard earth pony, Steel Wall.
Nightmare Moon!! Twinstar screamed internally. What's she up to? She quickly gave chase to the stallion, who was not trying to be evasive. After a short time, he turned off the bustling streets into a building she did not expect for.
The Canteralot library? Twinstar pondered. Of course’ knowledge is power.
She entered the grand building but her moment of hesitation, she had lost sight of Steel Wall. Canteralot library was huge, thousands of books stacked on hundreds of shelves and bookcases. It took Twinstar awhile to re-acquire the stallion. He was sitting alone at a table, reading a book on Equestrian history.

"Why," She asked approaching him, not caring about being silent.
“Good afternoon Dr,” Nightmare Moon replied with Steel Wall’s voice. “Take a seat, you seem stressed.”
“Answer my question,”
“And which question is that’ Dr,” Nightmare Moon continued to tease.
“You know what I mean,” -Twinstar held back from shouting- “So answer me, Nightmare Moon.”
After her name had been called out loud, Nightmare Moon rose her host up and glared at Twinstar.
“I strongly advise not calling my name out loud in public. Someone might think your mad,” Steel wall grinned, his eyes flawed indigo for a brief second. “And seriously, which question? I left you with so many last night. Why did I let you live? Well, killing you will draw unnecessary attention. Why did I let you go? Well with the obelisk gone, you had no proof to go to Celestia with and you yourself convinced me that she would not be so believing that her sister’s evil had returned without it.”

Steel Wall rocked back his sea,’ grinning maniacally. “Was that the question’ Twinstar?”
“NO… Well yes, but not the one you left me with before you departed,” Came her reply’ clearly unsettled by the day's events.
“Oh, yes! Why did my subjects lived in peace and prosperity?” Nightmare Moon made a great show of words, delighting in the how uncomfortable she could make Twinstar. “Of course. Well as for them fighting each other.”
Steel Wall’s eyes turned into does of Nightmare Moon’s and then leaned forward again. “They stopped because I would not let them.”
“And they obeyed you?” Twinstar queried.
“Oh yes. Few defied me after they witnessed my power.”
“Few?” Twister’s eyebrow raised.
“Well, there were these two tribes who continued their blood-soaked feud even after I had conquered them and ordered them not to.”
“What happened to them?” Twinstar asked’ not sure whether she wanted to know the answer.
“Oh, I wiped them out, all of them,” Nightmare spoke directly to Twinstar. “Even the youngest. All their bloodlines destroyed.”
“Even their existence,” Twinstar finished.
“Oh no, Twinstar. I needed their existence,” Nightmare raised her host’s hoof’ to make a point. “I needed an example as a warning to others’ behave’ or else.”
“So that's how you rule,” -Twinstar saw an opportunity to dig at her- ’Nothing but fear.”
Nightmare Moon’s response was to let out an unnerving giggle.
“Many tribes also flourished under my rule, Twinstar,” Nightmare Moon continued “But yes, I did need to use fear to bring them in line, to stop them killing each other.”
“And the Night Eternal?”
“Oh, that was luna’s doing,” Nightmare moon lied. “It was her desire to have ponies see her night. I believe the Nightmare Moon of this world indulged her, as it probably added to her visage of fear. I may use the threat of it, as a levering tool you understand.”

Twinstar nodded. This statement confirmed in her mind the belief that Luna was not fit to rule.
“But do you honestly believe you can do better than Celestia?” She challenged.
“Well, I do not have to do much,” -Steel Wall closed the book she had been reading- “Equestria is prospering and it’s population, for the most part, are united. It’s Equestria’s borders and defence forces that are lacking.”
“The defence Forces?”
“The Royal Guard,” -Steel Wall tapped his armour- “Being a member has allowed me a study their doctrine and routines and I find them less than satisfactory. The guard are little more than parade ground soldiers, they proved ineffective against Tirek, against the changelings and I fear they would prove ineffective against a well lead force of any nation. True, there are powerful individuals that can and have taken their place, but you have been riding mainly on luck, and luck…”
She learned her host in close to Twinstar. “….Can run out.”
Twinstar looked down in contemplation, searching for a counterargument but none came to her, save one
“Tell me, Nightmare,” -She looked up- “How were you defeated?”
The sinister smile Nightmare Moon had on her host disappeared, replaced with an annoyed glare with her terrible indigo eyes flaring up.
“If you must know,” She said’ keeping her temper in check. “I grew complacent, overconfident, and I underestimated an unknown band of warriors and I assumed that they had no knowledge of magic. These were mistakes, mistakes that cost me hundreds of years of freedom, seeing all my hard work unravel. Mistakes, I will learn from and not repeat, Twinstar.”

Twinstar smiled, readjusted her glasses. Believing she now had the upper hoof.
“Don’t act superior to me, Twinstar,” Nightmare Moon snapped. “You are in no position to talk down to me!”
Twinstar took a step back’ continuing to adjust her spectacles. “Whatever do you mean…”
“Celestia!! This very morning!” Nightmare Interrupted. “She summoned you after learning that you had kept personal items from the Ponyville crash site for study, despite her orders for them to burnt along with the victims.”
Twinstar eyes widened.
“Oh’ did you think that meeting was a done unnoticed,” Nightmare Moon said, bringing her voice down. “It’s the talk of the court, you're not expected to retain your position by week’s end.”
Nightmare Moon turned back to her book.
“It may have been a mistake to display my obelisk in the manner that you did,” -Nightmare refound her page- “Now if you excuse me Dr, I need to find out where I can get my hands on the ‘Alicorn Amulet’.”
“The Amulet!? That's currently in….” Twinstar said, lifting a hoof to her mouth.

Nightmare Moon slowly closed the book and turned to face her, the menacing grin returning. “Care to finish that statement, or would you like me to go into your mind and wrench it out?”
Twinstar composed herself, trying to put on a confident posture.
“I was for a short time, on the research team studying the amulet, after it was handed in by Twilight Sparkle. I believe it's currently stored in one of the many deep vaults under Canteralot castle.”
“A short time?”
“Yes,” Twinstar said. “I was kicked off the team, my ideas were too extreme for the others.”
Nightmare Moon let out a small laugh in her voice, through Steel Wall’s mouth.
“Laugh all you want,” Twinstar snapped. “The Vaults are well defended and nigh impregnable.”
Steel Wall rose out of his seat and picked up the book in one hoof.
“Dr. Twinstar,”Nightmare said in her voice. “I have my ways and if it's protected by the royal guard, I shouldn’t have a problem.”
Steel Wall slide the book back in its spot on the shelf, then walked past the magenta unicorn. “Good Day’ Twinstar. And thank you for your help.”
The Stallion walked past and headed for the exit of the library, leaving Twinstar visible shaken from the confrontation. Realising all too late that in her anger, she had made a grave mistake.

Chapter 24: Late Night Raid

Steel Wall looked up at the full moon hanging high above the city of Canteralot, lighting it up in a haunting glow.
The night is glorious Thought Nightmare Moon. And soon’ it will be eternal.

It had been over two moons since her last talk with Twinstar in the library and she let slip the existence of the underground vaults, hidden deep under the castle. And oh my, had she been busy.
It had taken her time but she now believed she had found the entrance to the vaults. The location was a lone wooden door, halfway down one of the many corridors on the ground floor.
She would have paid the unmarked door no real attention if it were not for the sight of two of Luna’s night guards entering one evening.
After hanging about for few moments at a safe distance, she watched two other guards exit. These two were from the 1st company’ Celestia’s Own. It was clearly a change of guard, but for ponies from two companies of such prestige being used, there had to be something important behind that door.

Let's see what your hiding’ Celestia.
Steel wall continued on with his patrol, his headlamp shining brightly.
He had ‘Volunteered’ for night duty several days ago after one of Luna’s guards was given extended leave for his honeymoon.
Nightmare Moon was in her element, her kin’s magic was always at its strongest in the dark. She guided her host out of the courtyard from where she had been bathing in the moonlight and into the corridor on which her target door lay. Here, she was away from the prying eyes of the ponies stationed on the battlements.
Her host’s eyes darted from side to side covering each and every avenue, as she moved Steel Wall in front of the door.
The door had no lock, so Steel Wall slowly opened it. To her annoyance, it loudly creaked. Luckily for her, there were no guards directly behind the door. Instead was a spiral staircase that descended deep beneath the castle.
And what have we here? She giggled inside.

At the bottom of the spiral stairs was a short corridor, leading to gleaming metal door. Here, two of Luna’s guards stood sentry. One unicorn mare and one pegasus stallion, both in deep purple armour and brandishing spears. Both on alert when they heard the door high above them open. Hoof steps echoed down the staircase’ slowly yet methodically towards them.
The two donned a defence pose, their spears and headlamps pointing in the direction of the stairs.
“HALT! Who goes there, friend or foe?” The stallion bellowed.
“Friend,” came Steel Wall’s reply, his voice laced with pain.
The two guards glanced at each other.
“Advance and be recognised!” The mare ordered.
Steel Wall slowly hobbled into the light, continuously learning against the smooth stone wall with blood oozing from a gash from his right shoulder.
“Steel Wall!?!” The mare called out. “What happened?”
“We’re under attack…” He replied, breathing heavily.
The two darted over to Steel Wall. The unicorn mare knelt down beside him and began using her magic to heal his rounds, whilst the stallion covered them.
“Do you know who’s attacking us?” The stallion asked.
“Yes,” -Steel Wall’s voice changed between words- “Me.”

Before either of them could react, Steel Wall brought his right hoof up and slammed it into the back of the unicorn’s head, ramming the mare headfirst into the stone wall. With his partner taken out, the pegasus tried to bring his weapon to bear on Steel Wall but his attacker swung his right hoof back and swatted the spear down the corridor. Before the pegasus could do anything else, Steel Wall violently thrust his left into his gut, forcing the air from his lungs. Now winded, the stallion collapsed to his knees, trying to recover his breath. Steel Wall raised his right hoof and brought it slamming down into the side of the guards head, and he went down too.

“The Night Guards,” Nightmare Moon said openly, now that no-pony could hear her voice. “You pathetic fools deserve not this title.”
She had come to the conclusion that the spell that she used on the librarian, may not have worked on these trained guards, not in her current form, not in her current host.
“Now what have we here?”
She guided her host over to the vault and stood silently examining it. For a vault door, it was somewhat underwhelming. It was simply a large slab of metal, a rare kind that Nightmare Moon was not familiar with. It had no decorations, no handles, and strangely no locks. The only features to be seen on it were a couple of rows of rivets along its length and an addition strip of metal at its base.
Steel wall placed a hoof on the door and pushed against it. Even with the stallion’s strength, the vault door did not budge at all.
Nightmare Moon extended her presence into the door, expecting to be repelled instantly by a protective spell but was not. She expected to find a complicated magics keeping the vault shut but they were strangely absent.
She got Steel wall to push against the door again with the same result as before. Nightmare Moon for a moment was stumped.

She continued to stare at the door until she noticed the other thing absent from it, a door frame.
Nightmare Moon had Steel Wall feel the edges of the door, she could feel minor recesses in the stone wall. “Surely not.”
Steel Wall grasped the vault door as well as he was able to and then pushed again, this time towards the side and not straight back.
Slowly and with ear piercing scrapping noise,’ the vault door opened. Sliding sideways into a hidden recess behind the wall.
“After a miscreant manages to get their way down here, they would be expecting magical spells and seals to break down,” Nightmare smirked. “And then find themselves flummoxed by a door that slides open rather then swings, you cunning old fox Celestia.”
The door was now open just wide enough for the stallion host to squeeze through.

The inside of the vault was enormous. Multiple caverns lit by glowing crystals and separated by large marble pillars supporting the roof of smooth rock. Nightmare Moon’s eye shined through Steel Wall’s. The amount of knowledge contained here made the Princess Collection at the Canterlot Library, look insignificant. Rows upon rows of shelves containing hundreds of books, scrolls and manuscripts, along with multiple pedestals housing many unusual items.
Focus now’ Nightmare She told herself. You don’t have long until the guards wake up.
She moved her host to the nearest rows in the first cavern, which contained many law documents and treaties with foreign lands. She moved on quickly to the second cavern which contained more of the same, so did the third and fourth.
It was in the sixth cavern that Nightmare Moon finally found what she sought. Sitting under a glass case, the Alicorn Amulet sat proudly on its own pedestal.
“Here you are,” She purred.
Steel wall lifted the glass screen back enough for the amulet to be taken, before lowering the glass case. Now in her host’s hooves, she studied the amulet with a keen eye, examining ever detail. It looks real enough She thought. Only one way to know for sure.
After taking a seat on the cold stone floor, Steel Wall fitted the amulet on himself, around the base of his neck.
Immediately, Nightmare Moon could feel a vast increase of magic, and of the dark kind. One that could easily corrupt the minds of a lesser mortal but not her. For she was a Nightmare, a creature of darkness.

“Oh, how I have missed this power,” Nightmare giggled in her own voice. “I’m going to enjoy this.”
She had her host stand up and examined his reflection it the glass he had just handled. The amulet was just visible above his armour, where it connected at the front. The uniform partly hid the amulet and the part that was visible could easily be mistaken for the armour.
Satisfied, she now had him making his way back to the vaults door, it was time to leave.

Squeezing himself back through the door, Nightmare Moon suddenly became aware of a new pony in the corridor where she had left the two knocked out guards. A magenta unicorn was waiting patiently for her.
“Dr Twinstar,” Nightmare said, continuing to use her voice. “Sorry. Former’ Dr Twinstar.”
Twinstar glared daggers at the grinning stallion. The rumours Nightmare Moon has conveyed to her in the library with true, she did not last the week before she was stripped of the title and position in Canterlot’s research department, by Celestia herself. It was humiliating enough, without this condescending demon.
“Do not mock me, Nightmare Moon. You do not have the luxury of time.”
“Oh come now, Twinstar. Don’t be such sour mare.”
She turned Steel Wall to the task of sliding the vault door closed again. The stallion barely had it in his grasp, when Twinstar’s magic enveloped the door and slammed it shut so vigorously, that Nightmare was convinced that it had woken up all of Canterlot, as the noise reverberated off all surfaces.
For a moment neither of them did anything, both of them expected the castle guards to come rushing down to them but the only one who appeared to hear it was the unicorn mare, slowly coming to on the floor.
“Why are you here, Twinstar?” Nightmare Moon asked, mildly annoyed. “Surely you didn’t come here alone to stop me?”
She looked past Twinstar, double checking that she was alone.
“What hit me?” The unicorn guard groaned’ her senses returning.
She was ignored, the other two more interested in each other.

“I’m not here to stop you,” Twinstar answered calmly. “I’m here to help you.”
“Help me?” -Nightmare Moon raised an eyebrow- “Why would you help me?”
“I have faithful served Celestia for over twenty years, every major project, every time they needed a pony to do something that no other pony wanted to do. I was there,” -She locked eyes with Nightmare’s- “Ever time she needed a pony to do a body count, every time there was a pandemic. I was always first to volunteer.”
She stomped her hoof down at the end of her sentence, drawing the attention of the guard on the ground. The unicorn guard had sat upright between them, rubbing her head whilst groaning.
“But after all does years, I got almost no recognition for my service, watching her appoint others over me continually. And whenever I take the initiative, she and those over shortsighted fools come down on me like a tonne of bricks. Hence, where I am now.”
“D..Dr. Twinstar?” The guard stuttered’ head still spinning. “What are you doing here?”
“There is only one thing I truly care about in this world, Equestria. And while yes Celestia has brought prosperity to the land, there are now so many threats to it and from so many angles, that I no longer believe she can protect it but I believe you however, can,” -She bent down on one knee- “I pledge my loyalty’ and my service to you, Nightmare Moon.”
The guard's ears perked up upon the mentioning of Nightmare Moon’s name. Wide-eyed, she spun her head around to face Steel Wall, who stood over her. Bearing the terrible indigo eyes of legend.
She immediately threw herself at the nearest spear, lying on the floor beside her, but it was already too late. Twinstar had wrenched both of them out of her reach with her magic. The mare then panicked and tried desperately to wake her comrade.

“Why should I accept you into my service, Twinstar,” Nightmare asked’ bemused by her impertinence.
“Cause you need me,” She replied, taking her eyes off the guard. “If you were ready to take over then you would have done so by now. If all you needed was the amulet, you would have swatted me aside and attacked the princesses, yet you have not. Your not ready and I can help.”
Nightmare Moon kept her her face natural, quietly delighting the guard's anguish.
How should I handle this Nightmare pondered. It is true that it is still not the time to seize control, many things still had to be done. However, this could be advantageous.
She allowed a grin to form on her host’s face.
“I welcome you into my service, Twinstar,” -She then turned his gaze to the guards on the floor- “Now then, what do I do these two?”
The unicorn guard had just got her stallion counterpart to wake up. Both looked up to see Steel Wall tower over them, both locked eyes with his terrible eyes, as they started pulsing indigo rings into theirs. Soon, their lives would belong to Nightmare Moon.

Chapter 25: Truths At Sunset

Princess Celestia sat upon her throne, finally finishing off the last of today's paperwork. She rested back in her throne and sighed.
“Is that all for today?” She asked one of her aides, who replied with a nod. “Then I shall retire for the evening.”
Around the room, aids bowed and guards stood to attention as Celestia arose from her throne and strode down the lush red carpet with the gracefulness she was renowned for.
Once past the large double doors, Celestia became aware of a guard at the far end of the corridor, a pony she had not seen in a long while. She made her way to the far corridor, the guard stood to attention. Even through the armours magic, Celestia knew who it was.
“Foxtrot,” She smiled. “It has been a while.”
“Yes, your highness,” She replied, issuing a salute.
“You can drop the formalities,” Celestia said’ ushering her by her side. “Come, walk with me.”

Foxtrot took her helmet into her magic and started walking by the princesses side.
“So how are things since we last meet?” Celestia asked in a soft informal voice.
It had been over a year since she and Twilight Sparkle had delivered the sobering news that Midnight Snow was going to be stranded in Equestria for the foreseeable future.
“Pretty good, all thing considered,” Foxtrot replied. “Midnight’s more or less settled in completely, although he keeps saying ’somebody’ instead of ’somepony’.”
“Such is the nature of mannerisms,” Celestia chuckled.
They wandered outside into small courtyard, of where statues cast long shadows from the evening sun. “Is he still having night terrors?”
Foxtrot nodded. “Yes, every so often. However he hasn’t had one recently.”
“He will likely never be rid of them completely,” Celestia sighed. “A part of him will always be at that crash site.”
Foxtrot nodded thoughtfully, coming to a stop with Celestia who was looking up at the sun, slowly making its way to the far version.
“May I ask you something, Foxtrot,” Celestia asked’ still looking skywards. “Do you know what Midnight will do if the mirror reopens?”
Foxtrot pondered for a moment, rubbing a hoof against her chin.
“Well, he recently started working for Professor Blessed Beard,” Foxtrot started, Celestia chuckled quietly at the professor's name. “He’s also due to go to the Crystal Empire to assist the professor with a dig. But his intentions on when and if the mirror opens in six moons time, I can’t say. I don’t know if he’s really thought about it.”
Celestia nodded, before looking at Foxtrot. “Do you want Midnight to go back to his world?”
“No,” Foxtrot answered unwittingly, before catching herself. “Well, I mean, it would be sad to see him go, of course.”
Celestia smiled, as the flushed Foxtrot tried to regain her composure.
“Foxtrot, I’m going to ask you something but feel free not to answer if you do not wish to,” Celestia said softly, as Foxtrot turned to face her. “Why did you become Midnight’s chaperone?”

There was a period of silence, while Foxtrot pondered her answer, drawing small circles in the good with her hoof.
“Well,” She started, uncertainty in her voice.”When I first meet Midnight in Ponyville, he was scared and alone in a strange land. He needed somepony, he needed…”
“He needed you,” Celestia finished for her. “And if we’re being truthful, you needed him.”
Foxtrot didn’t argue this, just continued to make circles, her cheeks flaring up slightly.
“Foxtrot,” Celestia began, in a voice that was as comforting as it was wise. ”I know about all my guards, I knew of your father and I know of your mother. You need not hide your true self from me, or from midnight.”
Foxtrot looked up at her princess, her warm face radiating an aura of wisdom. Celestia placed a hoof on her shoulder.
“Just make sure you don’t make the mistake that I’ve seen so many ponies make. Leaving things unsaid.”

“Yes, princess, and thank you,” Foxtrot replied’ as Celestia smiled and unfolded her wings.
“You most excuse me now, it is time for me to lower the sun.”
“Understood princess,” Foxtrot stated. “And thank you again.”
Celestia smiled once more’ before taking flight, heading towards the tallest tower where princess Luna could be seen waiting. Foxtrot put her helmet back on and headed back to her post. The magical seals hiding her rosy cheeks.

Chapter 26: Good Evening, My Queen

Twinstar walked along the many rows of books that were in the collection of Canterlot Library. Using her magic, she pulled a random book off the of one of the shelves without stopping. It didn’t matter to her which book or what it was about, it just had to be a big one. Ahead of her was a reading table, sitting at it was the stallion host of Nightmare Moon.
Twinstar narrowed her gaze and pulled up a chair next to him. Taking her seat and opening her book, only now discovering that it was a book on cake decorations.
“Good Evening, my Queen,” Twinstar whispered.
“Do you have what I ordered?” Nightmare Moon replied impatiently.
Twinstar frowned and levitated a small pouch out of her saddlebags, and deposited it in front of the stallion. With one fluid motion, steel walls hoof opened the pouch and inspected its contents, blue rose petals.
“Excellent,” -Steel Wall nodded- “You have done well, Twinstar.”
She intern did not respond to this praise’,for Twinstar had been gathering seeming random materials for weeks. She had begun to suspect that Nightmare Moon was simply been humouring her, or entertaining herself by sending her on pointless scavenger hunts.

“If you would indulge, my queen,” Twinstar began. “But what would one need with rose petals?”
Steel Walls eyes flashed indigo, as he gave her a sideways look before giving her an unnerving grin.
“The items that have had you sent for this last moon,” Nightmare Moon said’ using her voice. “Will be brewed together to make a couple of useful potions, such as ‘Mind Ease’.”
“Mind Ease?” -Twinstar raised an eyebrow- “I’m not familiar with this potion.”
“That I don’t find surprising,” Nightmare chuckled. “”Under Celestia’s rule, it is forbidden.”
An illegal concoction Twinstar thought. How very you, Nightmare moon.
“And what may I ask, does it do, my queen?”
Steel wall leaned back and surveyed the area around them, looking for prying eyes. Once Nightmare Moon was satisfied that they were alone, she turned her host back to the magenta mare.
“If enough of this potion was to find its way into the drinking water of let's say, the barracks of the royal guard,” Nightmare Moon theorised. “Then it would make their minds are little more susceptible to my influences.”
Twinstar nodded, understanding her queen’s sinister intentions.
“When this potion is brewed, will you be able to start you coup, my queen?”
“No,” She replied’ shaking her host’s head. “I’m lacking one final piece, which will be vital if I’ am to succeed.”
“Which is?” Twinstar asked.

Steel Wall gestured a hoof to himself, pointing up and down his being.
“Steel Wall, my current host is insufficient. Even with the alicorn amulet in my possession, I can not wield my magic is strongly enough to take on any of the princesses.”
“You need a new host,” Twinstar inquired.
“Indeed,” -Steel Wall nodded once again- “I was hoping to use one of the princesses as my next host but alas, I fear that they are too strong willed for me to take over, even Luna would be able to resist me.”
“What about Flurryheart?”
“No. She is too young to be useful to me, yet.”
“How about Midnight Snow?” Twinstar pointed out after a moment pondering. “He too is an alicorn.”
“Snow?” Nightmare Moon said’ almost insulted. “Snow has only has one wing, he is defective. Plus he’s male and I prefer female hosts. They are so much more elegant, don’t you think.”
“Why then did you not take me as your host when we meet in my office or the unicorn night guard outside the castle vault, she was a mare?
Nightmare Moon’s terrible grin shone through onto her host, as she willed him to move over to Twinstar. Running a hoof through her mane, she took delight in watching Twinstar freeze rigid, unsure what was happening.
“With the greatest of respect, Twinstar. You are not the youngest of mares and the magic that will need to be wielded against the princesses is a little out of your depth,” Said Nightmare Moon almost purring, adding to Twister’s discomfort. “And that guard was one of Luna’s and being that close to the night princess would likely blow my cover, for she seems to be able to sense my presence.”
Nightmare Moon withdrew her host from Twinstar and took back her seat at the table.

Twinstar took all this in and nodded, a possible solution cropping up in her mind's eye.
“So a young unicorn mare is what's needed,” She said thoughtfully. “I think I have a host for you’ my queen.”
“Really,” Nightmare Moon said doubtfully. “Is she magically gifted?”
“Yes, and she continually wastes it.”
“Is she weak in heart and mind?”
“She can be made to be,” -Twinstar leaned towards Steel Wall- “I can make it so.”
Nightmare Moon studied the former Dr. with a fine eye and intrigue.
“Tell me more about this mare.”

Chapter 27: Please Don't Go

Foxtrot watched Midnight whilst clearing up the dining table. He was doing his daily ritual of marking off the days until the Crystal Mirror was due to reopen. As she finished wiping down the table, the words of Celestia echoed in her mind. It had only been a day since her conversation with the princess the day before and now seemed as good a moment to bring up the subject.
“Midnight,” She began, turning round to find him right behind her, handing out a letter in his hoof.
“Here, this is for you,” He said as Foxtrot took the letter. “I was given it earlier today by Dr. Twinstar.”
Foxtrot’s eyes widen at this, before hurryingly opening the letter and reading its contents.

“She wants to talk to me,” Foxtrot said unbelievingly. “She never wants to talk to me…”
“Why’s that?” Midnight asked.
“Disobeyed her serval years ago, not long after my father died,” Foxtrot replied, looking up at Midnight's puzzled face. “My mother’s always been a little cold.”
“Wait,” He said processing what Foxtrot was saying. “Twister’s your mother!?!”
“Yes,” She answered nodding. “And now she wishes to talk to me. I don’t what to make of this.”
Foxtrot played the out on the table and stared at it intently, its existence throwing her through a loop.

“From what little I know of her, Twinstar is not the kind that who cares about personal affairs,” Midnight commented, not ending the silence that fallen on them.
“This is true. However, she recently lost her job and title. Perhaps she’s finally released that her way of doing things is not the best way.”
“So are you going to talk to her?” Midnight asked.
“I’m not sure,” Came her reply, after a moment.
“Well if there's anything I could do, just let me know,” He said placing a hoof on her shoulder. She looked at him smiling, before a moment of doubt kept in. Upon seeing this, Midnight asked what was wrong.
“Can I ask you something, Midnight,” She asked, her answer coming immediately as he nodded.
“What are you going to do, if the portal reopens?”

Midnight went quiet’ and looked up at the calendar. With less than four moons to go, and he had given it little thought.
“I’m not totally sure,” He said finally, moving other to the calendar. “I do miss my world and the things in it. And despite everything, I still wonder if I belong in this world…”
“You don’t have to go!” Foxtrot blurted out, looking down at her hooves. She wanted to tell him not to go, but couldn't get the words out. “I..I.I mean you don’t have to go if you don’t want, I mean I don’t mind having you around and…”
She stopped talking as she felt a hoof prod her forehead, looking up to see Midnight in front of her.
“Foxtrot, calm down. I’m not going anywhere,” He reassured her. “For one thing, the mirror may not open. And even if it was too, it might not be a wise to go back.”
Foxtrot raised an eyebrow, as he lowered his hoof.
“Planes don’t just disappear out of nowhere in my world, I wouldn’t be surprised if they are still looking for it. And if I were to turn up out of the blue with no explanation, I would find myself under deep suspicion if not worse. I also don’t have anyone to go back to.”
“No-pony else,” Foxtrot asked, “Surly you got friends and family waiting for you?
“No,” -midnight shook his head- “I didn’t have many friends and what family I had was with me on the plane. The closest thing I have to family now is, you….”
"You consider me family," Foxtrot asked, looking him in the air.
"Very much so, yes," Midnight shifted on his hooves, not sure how to say wanted he needed to say. "You're all I have in this world."

The air in the room went still, as this realisation caused both of them to look away blushing slightly.
“Well, erm..” Midnight tried to continue. “What I’m trying to say is that I think that decision has been made for me.”
“Yes, I see,” Foxtrot murmured.
Silence descended on them once more, neither directly able to look the other in the eye. It was broken by the chimes of the wall mounted clock, announcing that it was now half past ten.
“It's getting late,” Foxtrot said. “I do have guard duty tomorrow.”
“Yes,” Midnight nodded, turning slowly towards the door of his bedroom.
“Midnight,” She called, stopping him in his tracks. Foxtrot stepped up to him and grabbed his hoof, before guiding midnight into her room, slowly closing the door behind them.

Chapter 28: Mother & Daughter

Foxtrot looked up at the building at the building that she once called home. It was an unremarkable structure, easily lost amongst the grand architecture of Canterlot. To Foxtrot however, it was a place filled with fond memories for when she was a filly. This was the house where she grew up, with many happy times with her father. Not so with her mother. Foxtrot could not recall any memory of her that she could describe as ‘happy’. If truth were told, Foxtrot could not give a satisfactory answer to why she here. She owed her mother nothing, especially after being cut off after defining her by entering the royal guard.
And yet here she was, walking up to the front door after being summoned by letter.

She raised a hoof and tapped on the door, which opened gently. It was unlocked, which raised some suspicions from Foxtrot. Pushing the door wide open, she called out for her mother. When no reply came, she moved into the main room of the building.
Her former home was not that bigger than her cottage, but it was utterly lifeless. Dingy colours, no decor of any kind and a good layer of dust covered almost all surfaces. The air was stale, adding to her uneasy feeling.
making her way over to the unused fireplace, Foxtrot stared at a blank spot on the mantle piece. Even now she could see the picture that once occupied the space in her mind's eye. A family photo. Foxtrot as a young filly, flanked by her parents and smiling. Twinstar smiling was a rare sight these days.

“What are you doing here?”
Foxtrot turned to see her mother entering from the kitchen, wearing one of her trademark looks of bemusement and contempt.
“You summoned me,” Foxtrot retorted in a calm yet cold manner.
“No, I didn’t,” She snapped back.
“Yes, you did,” Came Foxtrot’s firm response. “You had Midnight Snow deliver me a letter.”
“Midnight Snow?” Twinstar said quizzically. “I have not seen him in months, nor did I give him a letter for you, as I would give you anything. This must be some kind of joke on his part.”
Midnight did that!?! Foxtrot thought. No. No, something dosesn't fit right with that.
“Clearly, there has been a misunderstanding,” Foxtrot stated calmly. “If I'm not wanted here, then I shall take my leave.”
Foxtrot turned and moved towards the door.

“So you found a way to promoted then,” Twinstar remarked, which caused Foxtrot to stop and look back at her. “Landing yourself an alicorn and all.”
“What in Equestria do you mean?” She asked, not liking where this was going.
“Not a bad move on your part, shacking up with him,” -A slight grin appeared on her lips- “Perhaps you did learn something from me after all.”
“I Have Not Shacked Up With Him!” Foxtrot snapped angrily.
“Oh please,” -Twinstar waved her hoof around in small circles- “Why else would you volunteer to be his chaperone? Eh?”
Foxtrot grew angrier and should have left there and then, but for once, she wanted to put her mother in her place.
“Princess Celestia herself asked me to be his chaperone.”
“And when she finally unveils him to the world as a prince, you will almost certainly be promoted,” Her mother shouted back. “Oh yes, your plans Foxtrot.”
“Prince? What are you talking about?” She said confused by her mother’s rambling. “There are no such plans for Midnight.”
“Which only shows how little you know. Still, that's nothing new for you, isn’t it.” Twinstar spat venomously. “You have as much magical potential the that Twilight Sparkle and yet you went into the Cadets!”
“Oh, not this again, mother,” She exasperated.
“You had a place at Celestia’s school just waiting for you,” Twinstar continued, ignoring her. “But no, you had to be like Echo, that damn fool.”
“Don’t speak ill of father,” Foxtrot practically demanded. “He was a great stallion.”
“He was a damn fool, who brought on his own demise! And you're too stubborn to release this!” Twinstar shouted back. “And I regret having to marry him.”
“How can you say that! How can you say that about a stallion you once loved? How can…”

Foxtrot’s rant was brought to an abrupt halt one of the most unnatural sounds she had ever heard. Twinstar was laughing, wholeheartedly. It's took her a few moments to regain her composure.
“Love him!?!” She stuttered, still giggling. “Don’t make me laugh. Our marriage was arranged by our parents and I was only willing to go with it to keep them quiet. I never loved Echo Whiskey, I’ve never loved any-pony.”
“I don’t believe you,” -Foxtrot pointed an accusing hoof at her- “You laid with him, mother. Otherwise, I would not be here.”
“I never laid with you father!” Twinstar shouted coldly.
Foxtrot was reduced to a dumb silence. “W…w.what!?!”
“You heard,” She snapped colder than ever. “I was already carrying you before I’d meet Echo. That's why our marriage was arranged, to avoid a scandal.”
“YOU LIE!!!” Foxtrot screamed with tears of rage swelling in her eyes.
“ECHO WAS NEVER YOUR FATHER!!” Twinstar shouted, matching her daughter's volume. “Before I became a Dr, I had to do certain ‘favours’ for my male superiors in order to get positions I wanted. But I grew to careless and I wound up having you, biggest mistake of my life. It set me back years.”
“NOO!!” Foxtrot shrieked, tears now running down her cheeks.
“Yes, Foxtrot! Accept it!” She shouted, moving towards her. “I mean look at yourself! You don’t bare a resemblance to him at all!!”
“No!”Foxtrot said backing off, as her mother drew up close.
“You are little more than the bastard child of one of my former bosses, never to rise above the rank of private!” She spit out every bitter word, straight into Foxtrot’s face. “And to me, you have been nothing but a distraction and great disappointment and I would not shed a tear if I were never to see you again!!”

She stared menacingly into Foxtrot’s, who eyes were overflowing with tears. Twinstar watched her daughter turn and flee out the door without saying another word.
She took in a deep breath in order to regain her composure, before turning her head towards the bedroom door, which was slightly ajar. “She’s all yours, my queen.”
An evil indigo eye glimmered through the gap in the door. “Very good, Twinstar.”

Chapter 29: New Prey

The front door to the cottage swung wildly open, banging against the near wall. Foxtrot raced in, leaving the door ajar and bolted for her bedroom.
She had run all the way from Canterlot back to her cottage in Hoofly. The confrontation with her mother had left her completely distraught. Throwing herself onto the bed, Foxtrot wailed into her covers. Unleashing what she had been barely able to contain during her return from the city high above. Her tears had long since dried up, leaving her emerald eyes very sore.
Foxtrots muffled wailing turned to sobbing, silently wishing for a great hole to appear and swallow her up.

The sound of movement from the main room pricked Foxtrot’s ears. Lifting her head out of the bed covers, she looked through her window. It was now late now evening and the sun had long been set by Celestia. She turned to face her bedroom door. “Midnight?”
She did not wait for a reply, getting off the bed and slowly moving over to the bedroom door. Opening it, she called Midnight’s name again but was greeted by an empty room. He’s not here Her ears dropped. I really need him, now.
A breeze picked up outside, causing the front door and various objects in the main room to flutter and sway.
Foxtrot made her way over to the door and closed it, but not before the wind claimed a victim. One of the many picture frames lining the mantelpiece above the fireplace was rocked over by the breeze. Falling onto the stone hearth, the glass in the frame broke with a loud crack.

Foxtrot let out a disgruntled groan and moved over to the fireplace. Kneeling down, she flipped over the fallen frame and inspected the damaged glass.
Her voice caught in her throat. Of all the pictures, it had to be this one. The one of her as a filly at Canterlot castle with her father. Her father…
At that moment, memories of them together flooded her mind. Many happy, warm and comforting moments, now being poisoned by her mother's words. Fresh tears developed in her eyes and fell onto the broken glass. The crack of which ran across the picture, cutting through the head of the filly’ Foxtrot.
“Sorry, Daddy,” She started weeping. “I’m not your little girl.”

As Foxtrot wept, she did not notice the stallion that had silently entered the cottage and walked up behind her. Her ears caught the strange noise he started to make. “Midnight.”
She turned to see a royal guard stand menacingly over her. It took Foxtrot a second to recognize him as Steel Wall, from Stern Wings company, but there was something was clearly wrong. He was standing bolt upright with his arched back, his eyes rolling back into his skull. Most alarming was the mouth. It was wide open and making a gargling noises, whilst a thick indigo cloud poured out of it and gathered in a swirling mass above the stallion's head.
“Wh..what?” Foxtrot stuttered, trying wheel herself around onto her hooves.
The last of the indigo cloud left Steel Wall’s mouth and he collapsed backwards onto the floor. The cloud then surged at Foxtrot. She screamed loudly before being cut off by the indigo mass, forcing its way into her mouth.

Midnight Snow slowly walked through Hoofly, tired and confused. He’d spent most the day at the Canterlot’s grand station, waiting for Professor Blessed Beard.
When Twinstar gave him the letter for Foxtrot, she also informed Midnight that the professor would be returning to Canterlot on a train arriving late afternoon today. So Midnight went along to station to greet him, but he never showed up. After a long while and many trains coming and going, he quickly popped over to Blessed Beard’s lab. Once there, he learned that the professor was not due back for at least another week. This confused Midnight. Twinstar was not the kind of mare to get something like this so wrong.
This is what was playing on his mind whilst walking back to Hoofly.

It was at this moment that he noticed Stonie the old griffon waving him over to his stall, which he had just finished packing up for the day.
“Alright, Stonie. What's up?”
“Midnight, did you and Foxtrot have an argument?” He asked gently.
“No, why?”
“Well it's just that I saw her a little while ago and she didn’t look good,” Stonie said, using a talon to indicate Foxtrot’s path. “She looked like an emotional wreck.”
Midnight looked in the direction of their cottage. “Twinstar, what have you done?”
Midnight started walking again towards the cottage. Stonie followed, realizing that foul play was a hoof. Together, they quickly made their way onto Midnight’s street, when a noise pierced the evening air. The sound of a mare screaming in terror before being violently cut off.
The two quickly glanced at each over, then started running to Midnight’s cottage.
“FOXTROT!!” Midnight shouted, quickly leaving the slower Stonie behind.
He galloped past several other ponies, who upon hearing the scream came out of their homes to investigate.

Midnight stormed into the cottage to see Steel Wall still collapsed on the floor with Foxtrot now standing, at least he thought it was Foxtrot. Her coat had turned a darker shade, turning almost violet. Her mane and tail were something to behold. Hundreds of tiny stars, twinkling in emerald tinged cosmos that flowed and pulsated as if it were a life of its own.
She bellowed out a sinister laugh, in a voice that was not her own.
“Oh, yes. This feels so much better,” Nightmare Moon announced to the world, shift her host about as if she had not moved in ages.
“Foxtrot,” Midnight called gently, unsure what was happening.
With her new found magic, Nightmare Moon pulled the Alicorn Amulet from the still unconscious Steel Wall and placed it upon herself. She visibly got a kick from the increased magic.
“Foxtrot,” Midnight tried again, a little firmer to get her attention.
Nightmare Moon flashed her terrible indigo eyes at Midnight, before moving towards him. Foxtrot had always been a tall mare but now he could see that she had grown in size, to almost Celestia’s hight.
She glared down at him before lifting him by the neck up in her magic. Unable to move and fighting for air, Midnight could only watch as she pulled him in close and uttered only one word. “Begone!”

Still in her magic, Midnight was suddenly thrust back into the wall with such force that broke through it. He then flew across the street and into the adjacent cottage and smashed into it so violently that the building partly collapsed, much to the horror of the family who had just vacated it.
It was only now that the old Stonie had caught up, just to see Nightmare Moon step through the hole in the wall that she had just created.
”Foxtrot,” Stonie said in awe and confusion. He was answered by a lightning bolt striking from her swirling mane, aimed at his talons.
“I, am Nightmare Moon, vermin,” She declared with venom in her voice. “I hoped you enjoyed today's sunset, for it will be the last one you see. For the night will last, forever!!”
And there it was, fear. It engulfed Stonie and the gathering crowd of ponies, most of whom found themselves unable to move whilst under her gaze. Nightmare Moon took in the sight of so many cower in her presence. She enjoyed it immensely, but she did not have time to reveal in it.
Now that her existence was known, she needed to move quickly against her biggest threat, Celestia. Turning to look at the castle high above them, she let a sinister grin grow on her face. Concentrating on one the central tower, Nightmare Moon used a spell she had learned during her many late night trips to the library, and teleported out of Hoofly.

Chapter 30: Farewell, Princess Celestia

On the balcony of Central Tower of Canterlot castle, Nightmare Moon appeared out of nowhere in the blink of an eye. She looked around herself, unsure of her footing. The teleportation spell was new to her and her knowledge of its after-effects was second-hand information.
After she was sure that her presence had gone unnoticed by the guards on the nearby battlements, Nightmare Moon turned her sights to the room connected to the balcony. Looking past the white partition blinds that fluttered gently in cool night air, she could see her target.

Princess Celestia was fast asleep on her round bed at the centre of the room. Illuminated by moonlight and embers from rooms fireplace, the alicorn looked to Nightmare Moon as a glistening prize upon a pedestal. She let a sinister smile spread across her face as she moved through the blinds, casting a menacing shadow over the sleeping princess.
Dipping a hoof into a pouch she had taken from her former host, she stirred the red paste that it contained. Once her hoof was covered in it, Nightmare Moon moved to within a pace of the bed. Using her red stained hoof, she drew the first of many runes she needed for her spell. She gently moved clockwise around Celestia, writing each rune by hoof with expert precision. She dared not use her magic so close to Celestia, who was bound to sense it. This, as well as suppressing her own, immense magical presence, made her progress painfully slow.

About half way round came a moment that made Nightmare Moon freeze on the spot. A smouldering log moved in the fireplace, making a notable noise. Her eyes darted from the fire to the sleeping princess and released she was standing right between them.
Celestia stirred a little but didn’t wake up, much to Nightmare Moon’s relief. She continued laying red runes around the bed, now with extra caution of her surroundings.
Once the final rune in the circle was complete, Nightmare Moon took a moment to make sure that each one was perfect. She would only get one shot at this spell and she would be damned if it were to fail because of one misdrawn symbol. After satisfying herself that all was good, she positioned herself between Celestia and the balcony. She then proceeded to draw a smaller ring of runes around her hoofs, before throwing the pouch with the remaining red paste over the balcony behind her. A sinister smile was allowed to slip through her lips. Now!

Nightmare Moon flung her head back, her horn glowing bright. Magic infused the runes and they floated off the floor in a ghostly fashion. As expected, Celestia awoke immediately. As she sat upright in her bed, chains of magic shot out of the runes and raped tightly around Celestia, pinning her in place. She managed to crane her neck around enough to see her attacker. Her eyes widened dramatically, as she made out features of the mare silhouetted against the full moon.
“Sister!?!” Celestia Exclaimed. “Why are you doing this?”
“Sister,” Nightmare Moon scoffed. “I am not your sister, Celestia. Has old age dimensioned your eyes, or do you not recognise my new body?”
Celestia was taken aback by this remark “New body!?!”
She studied the mare and made out several telltale features, the lack of a cutie mark or any wings. Most notable was the green tinge in her swirling mane.
“Foxtrot!” Celestia said, flabbergasted. “Why?”
A growing giggle Nightmare Moon had, turned into sister laugh. “Well, she was so tempting, Celestia. A mare with so much self-doubt and untapped magic, how could I not make her mine. After all, it didn’t take much to break her.”

This goaded Celestia into attacking. In a moment she finally knew what Nightmare Moon was, how she had corrupted Luna and what she as now doing to Foxtrot.
She drew her horn level with Nightmare Moon with the intent to fire, but the few runes that had not cast their magical chains now did, wrapping around her horn and stifling the spell at birth.
“GUARDS!!” Celestia yelled, unable to hide the growing desperation in her voice.
Two unicorns of Celeste’s guards burst through the double doors and quickly sized up the situation, firing magical beams at the intruder. It was then that all but five runes that she had drawn around her hoofs, glowed brightly and created a light shield around Nightmare Moon, which shimmered as it absorbed the magical attacks.
With a flick of her horn, Nightmare Moon brought the final five runes up to eye level , before casting them forth. They flew across to Celestia and danced around her head. Celestia jaw dropped, now that she was able to read the seals. ’Time’, ‘Fear’, ’Power’, ’Time’, ‘Death’
The runes then shot away from Celestia. Flying past Nightmare Moon’s head and onto the balcony, before shooting off into the night sky. Celestia watched them as they disappeared into the distance, only for them to reappear a moment later, etched onto the surface of the moon. Celestia eyes now locked on Nightmare Moon’s.
“Farewell, Princess Celestia,” She purred triumphantly, and with another flick of her horn, a blinding light engulfed the room from Celeste’s position. When it died down, the princess and the runes holding her were gone. Nightmare Moon turned to the night sky and beamed to see the etched runes were now joined by the outline of a mare.

This action had only lasted a few seconds, leaving the guards dumbfounded. Seeing their magic have no effect and with a new rage in their hearts, they lowered their spears and charged. Without even looking, Nightmare Moon ripped the spears out of their magical grasp with her own, before using them to pin the guards against the far wall in a choke hold.
Now she slowly walked up to them, tutting and shaking her head as she went. “Now then. How is that any way to treat your new queen?”
She firmly grasped their chins with her hoofs, forcing them to look at her as her eyes started pulsating indigo rings. “After all. Your beloved Princess Luna will be returning shortly and we need to prepare to welcome her home.”

Chapter 31: Darkness And Light

Foxtrot sat alone in her new world, with nothing but her thoughts and a name. A godless void of darkness with no features except for this one pony and nothing more. Even her memories were strangely absent.
The last thing she could recall was crying in front of a fireplace, before being consumed by the darkness that now was her world. Whenever she tried to recall more, all she would find was pain-filled moments of her life Bullies during fillyhood, times when she'd failed, the countless yelling and venom laced lecture from a magenta mare. The most painful was a time was when she was told of her father's death and the events that followed.
She had no idea how long she had been here. The flow of time seemingly halted.

It was then that her surroundings changed. A circle of light slowly emerged from the inky darkness. Foxtrot only noticed it when it got to its brightest. In an infant like way, she shifted away from it whilst captivated by it, “Hello?”
As if in reply, its surface changed from its bright glow to an almost glass-like state. Driven by curiosity, Foxtrot moved closer and stared through its surface. She did not see the dark void that the circle was suspended in. Instead, Foxtrot saw a world that was totally alien and yet overwhelmingly familiar to her. It showed a castle from the vantage point of a tall tower. Then a bed chamber, light by a dying fire. There was also a pony there. A beautiful white mare with flowing mane, lying asleep in the centre of the room.
Foxtrot could not recall who this pony was, but found herself greatly comforted by her. This moment of comfort did not last.
The mare awoke and reared towards foxtrot, but she was stopped and ensnared by a series of glowing chains that wrapped tightly around her.
“No!” Foxtrot shrieked, slamming her hooves against the glass-like surface. “Let Her Go!”
She didn’t know who she was pleading to, or why she was pleading so in infaticly. However, It was all to no avail. In a flash, the white mare was gone.

Foxtrot reared back from the circle, shock and sadness consuming her. Also, the feeling of being sick to her stomach. Convinced that she had just witnessed a pony die. She felt something warm and wet roll down her cheeks. Prodding them with her hoof, she released that she was crying. Tears, for a pony she could not name.
And as quickly and silently as it appeared, the mysterious circle fading away. Foxtrot reached out for it with a hoof, as it disappeared completely. Leaving her alone with her tears, in the endless dark void.

Steel Wall watched the goods train pull away with gathering speed. The cargo it was carrying had been dumped beside the tracks. In their place were the residents of hoofly, evacuating the town.
News of Nightmare Moon’s return ad spread through Hoofly like wildfire, and panic soon took hold. It would have turned to outright pandemonium if it had not been for the lone royal guard.

Steel wall for the first time in over a year had control of his body. Having awoken soon after Nightmare Moon’s departure, he emerged from the remains Foxtrot’s cottage. After calming several residents down, he aided a group digging through the remains of another cottage. Trapped under a heavy wooden beam was the unconscious form of Midnight Snow. Steel Wall was able to free him with ease, bringing audible gasps from the crowd. His saddlebags had been blown off, revealing him to be an alicorn. Which came as a surprise to the ones there, seeing a wing and a stump on a unicorn.
Attention was then drawn skywards, with the shout ‘Look at the moon!’. Steel Wall like many around him, cast his gaze upon it and saw runes magically etched on its surface. A cold dread coursed through his body. He knew what this meant.

Steel Wall had not been complacent whilst imprisoned in his own body. Whilst continuing to retake control of his body, he was able to maintain a good element of awareness of the world around him. He was quietly able to watch Nightmare Moon’s plotting and soon learned of her plans.
So he watched the moon, knowing what was coming. The image of the mare appeared on the moon, but the runes remained. Ponies around him started murmuring and an old griffon asked him what this meant.
“Celestia has fallen,” He said calmly, drawing the attention of all around him. Steel Wall stood up straight and addressed them in a clear tone, “Princess Luna will return soon and deal with the threat. However, Canterlot and the surrounding area, may soon become a battlefield. You must evacuate Hoofly, immediately!”
Steel Wall then stepped down from the ruins of the cottage and beckoned the others to follow, before more panic could set in. Which led him to where he was now, Hoofly’s rail yard. Two goods trains were waiting to depart, which Steel Wall commandeered and got the residents to board.
He watched the first train depart for the Crystal Empire, carrying Stonie and the sill unconscious Midnights Snow.
Steel Wall boarded the other train bound for Los Pegasus, when he spotted something out of the corner of his. A dark figure flying at high speed towards Canterlot castle. Princess Luna. She was too far away for Steel Wall to shout a warning of the trap, he knew Nightmare Moon was setting for her. He muttered a silent prayer for Luna’s success, but knew he had to assume she would fall as well. He needed to leave and warn Nightmare Moon’s next target after Princess Luna. Ponyville.

Chapter 32: Welcome Home, Luna

Princess Luna swooped in low over the battlements of Canterlot castle. They were empty, none of her guards were to be seen. Luna then flew up to Celestia’s bedchamber, stationed her up above Canterlot. Finding her sister absent, Luna glided back down and made her way to the throne room, all the while calling for her. Using her magic to swing open doors, Luna flew through the connecting corridors and into the throne room. Like Celestia’s bedchamber and the castle battlements, they were empty and dark. All the torches in the castle had been snuffed out.
Landing in the centre of the room, Luna took stock of the situation.

The princess was doing her usual night patrol when she grew uneasy. It was a feeling she had been getting on and off for several moons. A sense foreboding and a presence of something elusive, and yet very familiar. Luna turned her gaze to her night sky, and it was then she saw it. Ancient runes etched onto her moon, followed by a silhouette of a mare. Luna was stunned. Somepony had just been banished to the moon, almost certainly by her sister. But who, and why? This question caused her to return to Canterlot.

Luna called out to Celestia again and gained no reply. Making her way out of the throne room, she made her way cautiously into the main bailey. Here, at last, she saw a guard, standing alone in the open with its head down.
“Guard!” Luna spoke in a stern regal voice, “What is going on? Where is Celestia?”
The guard did not respond, just shifted from hoof to hoof. Luna walked impatiently out to the pony, “Guard! Answer me!!”
As she got closer, Luna struggled to identify the guard. The mare was wearing her guards uniform but she could not recall any unicorns who were this tall. “Guard!!!”
“Yes, your Highness.”
Luna stopped dead a pace from the guard. “That voice.”
The guard lifted her head and flashed her menacing indigo eyes at the princess, “Welcome home, Luna.”
Luna took a step back, slowly shaking her head, “Impossible. The Elements of Harmony destroyed you!!”
“And yet, here I am,” Nightmare Moon replied in a patronising tone.
“But, how?” She replied, steadying herself. “How are you here? Standing by yourself. You are a part of me..”

“Do not flatter yourself, Luna!” Nightmare Moon snapped. “I am a goddess of the night, and choose you to be my host.”
“H..host?” Luna stuttered. “You chose me?”
“Yes, dear Luna,” Nightmare Moon changed her tone to a seductive one.
She started circling Luna, who shifted around to keep the mare in front of her. Luna then noticed her cutie mark, a red full moon. A blood moon.
“I remember. You came to me in a whisper.”
“Indeed, Princess. Remember the dream we had, Luna?” She continued. “The dream of an eternal night, where its beauty can be admired by all. A dream that you abandoned.”
The mare’s glared at each other, as Luna responded, “I do, Nightmare Moon. I was But I also remember the endless darkness and hatred that you brought to my heart. You twisted my mind and made me turn on my sister.”
“Oh, come now Luna,” She tutted, having completed a full circle around her, “It was you that implemented the eternal night, and it was your anger that made you attack your own sister.”
“Anger, you fuelled. I remember your whispers and promised,” Luna snapped. “I weak and foolish. And the day the Elements of Harmony removed you from me, was the greatest thing that has happened to me.”
Luna took in a deep breath, “Now then. Why have you returned, and where is my sister?”
Nightmare Moon let out an unnerving grin, “Well, I came here to claim Equestria as my own. And as for your sister, Celestia. Well, do you really need to ask,” She gestured with head in the direction of the moon.

Luna unfolded her wings and took to the sky. In a flash of rage, she fired a beam of magic at Nightmare Moon. She barely lifted an eyebrow, as a shield spell enveloped her and absorbed the attack. As the spell dissipated, Luna came under attack from multiple directions. Various attack spells from separate sources, which Luna dogged with swift grace.
Landing back on the ground, Luna watched as members of the royal guard emerge from the shadows of the dimly lit castle. They were everywhere. Pegasi circled overhead, unicorns appeared on the battlements, and spear brandishing earth ponies approached Luna on all sides. Guards from several units, including Luna’s. She was surrounded. “Guards, what are you doing?”
Two unicorn shield bearers also moved up to Nightmare Moon’s side and bowed to her. Luna could now see it clearly. Their eyes were those of Nightmare Moon’s.
“What have you done?” Luna spoke in low dark tone.
“Simple minds are easily shown who their true queen is,” She replied, releasing in her approaching victory. “Especially if given the right influences.”
Luna practically growled at Nightmare Moon. She wanted nothing more than to blast the grin off Nightmare Moonlit but that was not an option open to her. Their guard's minds were clearly ensnared in a spell, making them innocents in this, and there was no question in Luna’s mind that Nightmare Moon would use them as cannon fodder.
Luna’s position was untenable. She had only one viable option, retreat.

Luna took to the night sky. Her attempt to flee made Nightmare Moon giggle, as she wielded her magic into life. Capture runes hidden around the bailey lit up and shot out magical chains at Luna. The night princess, however, shielded herself in magic, which swirled around her like a powerful storm. The chains impaled themselves into the shield but were immediately shredded by its fierce rotation. Nightmare Moon’s eyes widen at this sight, her trap had failed and Luna was now ascending, “Seize Her!!!
The guards on the battlements acted at once and fired upon Luna, who dodged and weaved like before. This time, however, she had a new threat to contend with, pegasi. They swooped down on, attempting to grab and pin her. Luna dodged them as well but their distraction allowed a unicorn to land a hit, grazing her right wing. Luna began to fall.

Her fall was a faint, pulling up at the last second. Keeping low, she re-entered the keep. Flying and galloping through the maze of corridors and staircases, Luna launched herself out a north facing window, sending shards of stained glass to the ground below. She managed to get over the battlements before any of the guards could respond. The air was alive with magic, as the guards tried to down Luna. Like before, she dodged all but one of the attacks, scorching her chest. Luna grimaced but bared it and kept flying. She chanced a glance over her shoulder to see several pegasi giving chase.
She couldn’t outrun them, so she turned towards the nearby mountains.

Racing through the mountains, the lead she had made on them had all but evaporated and her original plan wasn’t working. Luna had been racing towards the peaks of the mountains, before pulling away at the last moment. At first, it was catching them out, buying Luna distance on them. But they quickly wised up to her trick and begun reducing the gap between them.
As she headed for another peak, a moment of genius flashed through her mind.
Charging up her magic, she lowered the moon in an instant. The entire area went pitch black. Luna dropped down low into a valley and doubled back. The guards, however, took longer to adjust to the sudden darkness. They scattered, some collided with each other. A couple even crashed into the soft snow of the peak. Either way, by the time that they had adjusted, The princess was out of sight and gone.

Luna, however, was in a bad way. Her wing and chest were in severe pain, and it wouldn’t be long before she would have to stop flying. She wanted to get to Ponyville and link up with Twilight Sparkle but that wasn’t going to happen. Nightmare Moon and her guards lay between them, and the pain was getting unbearable.
Scanning the valley below, Luna saw a light. Moving at speed. Flying lower, she made out the headlamp of a locomotive that was steaming north.
Another wave of pain flowed through her, causing her to lose height. She needed to land and glided towards the train.
Getting closer, she made out the wagons of a goods train. Landing on top of a full coal wagon towards the front of the train, she stumbled on the loose surface and bumped into something soft, that responded with an “Oomph”. She instinctively apologised before activating a mild illumination spell. She had landed into Stonie, the old griffon.
“Princess Luna!!” He said surprised, bowing his head. “You’re injured, your highness!”
Luna looked down at herself. Her chest and right wing where she had been hit were red and scorched.
“It's nothing,” She tried to wave it off, but the pain that laced her voice gave away their severity. “I’ll live”
Luna tried to give a smile which knew no-pony would believe. Stonie for one didn’t, and beckoned over a mare brandishing a medical bag to from the next wagon. Her name was Healing Touch, Hoofly’s local doctor, who set about patching up Luna’s wounds.

“Did you stop Foxtrot?” Came a voice from behind her. Luna turned to see the train behind her. The wagons were packed with ponies now lit up by her magic. All bearing faces of fear and desperation.
“Foxtrot?” Luna repeated.
“Yes. She’s the Nightmare Moon is manipulating,” Stonie stated calmly, as Healing Touch ordered her to keep still. “Did you stop her?”
His question was more hope than expectation. Luna to in a deep breath, “No. She has ensnared the minds of the castle guard, turning them into her shield. To fight them would be to kill them.”
She could hear murmurs of disbelief from behind, as well as a couple of ponies sobbing.
“Sweet heavens,” -Stone rubbed his brow- “She’s defeated three alicorns in one night.”
“Three?”
Stonie shifted over to one side and looked over at the wagon that Healing touch had come from. Luna followed his gaze and her heart sank further. Under a blanket was the still unconscious Midnight Snow.
“He is not gonna have a good day when he wakes up,” Stonie remarked.
Luna slumped her head, leading a choir of silence from the other ponies. The only sound to be heard was of the locomotive, steaming its way north.

Chapter 33: Change Of Plan

Nightmare Moon let out an annoyed grunt as she stood upon the castle battlements. The moon had been pulled suddenly from the by Luna, and the sun had not been raised in its place, leaving the land in cold darkness. She let up her horn and stared up at the mountains that the night princess had escaped into. Nightmare Moon could no longer sense her presence and had to assume that she had given her pegesi the slip. However, these same guards now stood between Luna and Ponyville. A town she needed to move against immediately.
Glancing back at the bailey where she had confronted Luna, she could see her brainwashed guards racing about lighting torches. With a flick of her horn, she teleported to its centre, before bellowing out a single command, "Company Commanders!!"
From across the castle, armour clad ponies raced to her, standing to attention in a neat line.

Nightmare Moon stared at their unmoving forms and their unblinking indigo eyes, and pondered for a short time. She then moved up to the 1st company's leader, "You!! Take your company and go into the city. Bring its citizens here into the castle and do not let them leave."
She then turned her gaze to a to another new down the line, "Stern Winds, you take your company to Hoofly and do the same. Both of you are to tell them that this is for their own safety. Therefore, you and your company's eyes are to be hidden. Is this understood?"
The two answered with a salute and a single blink that returned their eyes to normal. With a slight head gesture from their queen, the lieutenants went off to gather their companies.
Out the corner of her eye, Nightmare Moon saw a pony walk up to her. She turned to see Twinstar approaching her side, before bowing. Whilst Nightmare Moon was inclined to congratulate her on her part in the takeover, she couldn't help but notice Twinstar's appearance. A well-groomed mane and a freshly cleaned lab coat gave her an almost glowing appearance. There was almost a boosted confidence clearly audible in her voice, "My queen."
"Twinstar," -She turned to face her fully- "You know what I want, and I expect you to have it by the time I return."
"Of course, my queen," She replied, before moving off in the direction of the castle's vaults.
Nightmare Moon then turned back to her company commanders, "The rest of your are to follow me. We march on Ponyville today."

The small brainwashed army of Nightmare Moon surged towards the clearly undefended town. Despite it being little past midday, the land was still in complete darkness. Riding in Luna's chariot, Nightmare Moon watched her forces race to their assigned targets. As for herself, she and a small group of pegesi headed for Twilight's castle.
Bursting through the front doors, she strode confidently inside wearing her trademark grin. The guards that were accompanying her, dashed down the various corridors. Searching each and every room. They soon returned to their queen with news she did not wish to hear. The castle was empty. No matter She mused to herself as she turned for the door Twilight is likely to be somewhere in town, dealing with the panicked masses.
Walking back through the double doors into the cold dark air, Nightmare Moon found two messengers waiting for her. Their companies had been sent to capture Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash at the homes and reported troubling news. Like with Twilight, these two were not at their homes. And like with Twilight, Nightmare Moon assumed that they were dealing with Ponyville's residents. However, when messengers that had been sent to locations within the town all reported the same confusing news. Ponyville had been abandoned.

Nightmare Moon was taken aback by these reports, and her mind began to race.
How can it be abandoned? There's no way they could have known about my return or that Was coming, not in such short time. So how can it be abandoned?
"My queen, we have detained several ponies trying to leave Ponyville."
Nightmare Moon was pulled from her frantic thoughts by the latest messenger to arrive, who was bowing before her, "Where are they?"
"Just North of the train station, my queen."
"Take me to them," She ordered.
The guard bowed once again before leading Nightmare Moon and her entourage away from Twilight's castle.

As the guard led them towards the location, Nightmare Moon could see a large contingent of her guards on the outskirts of the town, gathered in a large circle. Tired of walking and wanting answers, she teleported over to the circle's edge. Moving forwards, the guards parted in her path. Coming to the centre, she now could see more clearly the situation.
A handful of stallions had made a defensive ring the town's mayor, Ivory Scrolls. They were surrounded on all sides and in the air by spear brandished guards. Also, there was a very familiar face and the answer to why Ponyville was empty.
"Steel Wall," She said in a slow, deliberate tone. "What do you think you're doing?"
Still in his guards uniform, Steel Wall moved out of the ring and for the first time, he was able to confront her. Face to face, "Nightmare Moon."
He didn't bother hiding his contempt her. She intern, grinned at him, "You warned them. After witnessing my glory and eternal wisdom. After all this time, you still fight me."
He snorted, his breath frosting from his nostrils, "What you showed me, only convinced me that you need to be stopped at any cost."
Nightmare Moon tuted in disappointment, shaking her head, "So you warned them of my arrival." The slightest of grins on Steel Wall's face gave her the answer.
"Where are they, Steel Wall? Where are the bearers of the Elements of Harmony?"
The lone guard gave her no answer of any kind, "Answer me, Steel Wall!"
"I do not answer to you, Nightmare."

She sighed at this, before looking past him towards the others, "Is that your position as well?"
"Eeee'yup," Came the response from a powerful red stallion.
"And you, mayor?"
Ivory Scrolls strode out of the ring defending her and past Steel Wall, and faced the self-appointed queen, "It is."
"So be it," Nightmare Moon said firmly, walking up to the mayor until she was unnervingly close, "Hold her."
A unicorn guard by her side immediately cast a spell on Ivory Scrolls, immobilising her. Steel Wall knowing what was coming, went to free her but tackled to the ground by more guards. Once again Nightmare Moon's eyes pulsated indigo rings, which found their way into the mayor's eyes. Seeing this, the other stallions moved to defend, only to be met by a sea of spear heads.
After a few tense seconds, the rings ended and Nightmare Moon took a step back, "Mayor?"
Ivory Scrolls opened her eyes with an indigo shine, "Yes, my queen."
"Where is Twilight Sparkle?"
"Twilight Sparkle was not here, my queen. She and her friends had departed two days ago for the Crystal Empire, for an unofficial visit to the royal couple."
The stallions still at spear point, were flabbergasted by this apparent betrayal. Steel Wall simply looked away, defeated.
"An unofficial visit," Nightmare Moon uttered through gritted teeth, barely able to contain her anger and frustration. "Of course they have. But where are the town's residents?"
"Steel Wall arrived several hours ago and warned us of you return, my queen. At first, we did not believe him but when the sun failed to rise and the moon suddenly disappearing, proved him right. He told us that Ponyville was the next target, so we quickly evacuated the town."
"Did he." She spat venomously.

The dark mare turned away and wandered around small circles, clearly processing the turn of events. Her plans were coming undone. Two princesses had escaped her clutches, on without even a fight. Now news of here return was being spread faster than she would have liked. She was losing control.
Eventually, one of her commanders stepped forward and broke her train of thought, "Your orders, my queen?"
She glared death eyes at him, causing him to take a nervous step back. Her attention then focused on Ivory Scrolls and her stallion bodyguards, "Take them back to Canterlot castle and lock them in the dungeon. I shall deal with them later."
He nodded and waved a hoof, and guards started moving them with the threat of a spear in their back. Steel Wall, however, had to be manhandled. Only the hypnotised mayor went willingly on the long march to Canterlot.
Nightmare Moon then turned her anger fuelled gaze to the empty Ponyville, "The ponies of this town have openly defied me. This cannot be tolerated. A message must be sent."
She turned back to the commander and in her coldest tone, gave him her order, "The town. Burn it."

Chapter 34: On The Horizon

A large crowd had gathered at the Crystal Empire’s rail station, as word of a train containing refugees quickly spread. Soon word reached the central palace and its occupants came out to investigate.
Twilight Sparkle was leading them through the parting crowd. Her mind had been racing since the morning sunrise did not occur. Letters sent by Spike went unanswered, her tendency to overanalyse was only kept in check by Cadence. With said princess, her brother Shinning Armour and her friends in tow’ the crowd parted further revealing a pony that Twilight hoped could explain what was going on.
“Luna!” She almost shouted as her pace quickened.
“Twilight! Thank heavens your here!” -Luna breathed a sigh of relief- “I feared you were in Ponyville.”
“No. Where all here,” Twilight replied confused. Stepping aside to reveal the following ponies. “Luna, what's going on? Why has the sun been raised today?”
Luna stared at Twilight for a second, then swallowed a lump forming in her throat, “Nightmare Moon, has returned.”
The gathered crowd went noticeably silent. Some even started backing away from Luna. Twilight didn’t but become very wary none the less. “Luna, where is Celestia?” Twilight asked, choosing her words very carefully.
“I'm not certain, but I believe that my sister has been sealed in the moon.”
Gasps and murmurings now replaced the crowd's silence. Cadence stepped forward, her mere presence was enough to calm her subjects, “Luna, just tell us what happened?”

Luna did so, recanting her entire day. It was an astonishing story to those who heard it. From the moment she saw the image of the mare in the moon, to her forced landing on the train. It was only then that twilight noticed the burn marks on Luna’s dark coat.
“There's still one thing I don’t get,” Applejack chipped in. “Isn’t Nightmare Moon a part of you?”
“That is what believed as well. I thought it was the worse side of me made real but alas, I was mistaken,” Luna said with a clear hint of shame in her voice. “It now appears that Nightmare Moon is a being onto itself.”
‘So, let me get this straight,” Rainbow Dash interjected. “you're saying that Nightmare Moon is now loose in a separate body of her own?”
“No, not in her own body.”
The group looked up at the new voice. The old griffon Stonie was still sat on top the loaded coal wagon. Visible weary from a long journey.
“It attacked a pony in Hoofly and took control of her with some sort of dark magic, before attacking others and departing for Canterlot.”
“It took a mare?” Cadence clarified.
Stonie nodded, “One of the royal guards. Known to us as Foxtrot.”
“Foxtrot!” Twilight exclaimed. She then looked up and down the line of refugees who had made their way off the train, “Wheres Midnight Snow?”
Stonie pointed to a patch of coal beside him. Twilight had lever herself up onto the side of the wagon to see Midnight, curled up facing away from her.
“Is he ok?” She asked quietly.
Stonie was slowly lowering himself down the side of the wagon, landing on his rump with an ‘Omph’.
“Well, after Nightmare Moon attacked Foxtrot,” He began solemnly. “It used Foxtrot to attack Midnight. Blasting him through two walls and knocking him cold. Luckily we had a doctor on the train”
“How awful,” Fluttershy muttered softly.
Twilight's ears sank, “Do you know when he will wake up?”
“He already is,” Luna answered in a low soft voice. “He has been for a few hours, just not in the mood to move.”
“He and Foxtrot had grown very close over the last few moons,” Stonie added. “Very close.”

Stonie then turned to Cadence, “Your highness, I have a message from a Steel Wall, one of the royal guards.”
Candace nodded and gestured for him to continue.
“Steel Wall confessed to me before I boarded the train, that against his will he had been Nightmare Moon’s host for the last year and a half. Whilst he claims that he was unable to stop himself but he was able to see what Nightmare Moon was planning. According to him, princess Celestia was its first target,” -He turned to Luna and Twilight- “Then princess Luna, then princess Twilight, and then yourself princess Cadence.”
The princess nodded thoughtfully, “we must assume that he is correct. With Luna and twilight here as well as myself, the Crystal Empire may soon become a battlefield.”
This last statement caused an uneasy stir in gathered crowd and refugees.
“Considering all this,” Starlight Glimmer added, making her presence known for the first time. “Shouldn’t we evacuate all none-essentials to a safer location?”
“That might be difficult,” Came a voice from up high. They all turned to see Midnight sitting upright on the wagon. His mane was ragged, his coat covered in coal dust and his eyes were completely bloodshot.
“Why’s this, Midnight?” Twilight asked.
He pointed to the far horizon behind him, “There's a storm brewing.”
Cadence and Twilight exchanged glances and then laughed the selves on the coal wagon with a single mighty flap of their wings. Landing either side of Midnight, they now could see what he could. Menacing black clouds had gathered across the horizon and were slowly moving towards them. Twilight gulped at the sheer size of them. Very soon this land was going to bare the brunt of the frozen north.

Chapter 35: Loyalty

Nightmare Moon slumped back in Celestia’s throne with an exhausted sigh. It had been four days since her attack on Ponyville. Four days since Twilight and the bearers of the Elements of Harmony had inadvertently eluded her. On her return to Canterlot, news that Luna had given her pegasi guards the slip had only fuelled her rage. A rage that was increased and somewhat quelled when she reached the walls of Canterlot castle. Does in Canterlot had all been brought into the castle as commanded but Hoofly’s residents had mostly escaped by train, and several that had been captured alerted the residents of Canterlot of Nightmare Moon as they were brought into the grounds of the castle.
As Nightmare Moon landed on the battlements, getting ready to lash out at the first poor soul who she came across, she heard the sound of cheering. Looking over the battlements, she saw the residents celebrating Celestia’s return, mistaking the glow in the distance for an imitate sunrise. She made a great show in revealing herself to them, dashing their newly formed hope. Then took delight in watching their faces turn to horror when they learned that the glow was Ponyville, well and truly ablaze.
However, this was only a temporary respite. With three alicorn princesses still to deal with, she needed to increase her strength and secure her position. Prostrating herself before her new subjects, she claimed to have eliminated Luna and Twilight. She then offered them their freedom, if they could prove their loyalty. But this had taken time and a lot of magic.

Nightmare Moon rubbed her temples with a hoof as she heard the great doors to throne room open.
“I thought I said that I had finished for the day!” She growled loudly.
The sound of hoof-steps filled the hall, as a pony dared approach her uninvited, “Oh? Don’t you want your magic, my queen?”
Nightmare Moon looked up to see Twinstar walk up undaunted, placing a saddlebag on the ground, “where have you been, Twinstar?”
“The vaults of this castle are quite vast, my queen,” She replied plainly, adjusting her glasses in her arrogant fashion. “It took a while to locate what you wished for.”
Nightmare Moon raised an eyebrow at this. Whilst it was true that the vaults are vast in size and it would take and looking through them for a single scroll would have taken time, it appeared that Twinstar had enough spare time to find and put on the formal gown she was wearing. And for a pony that had supposedly spent four days underground, her coat and mane were well groomed.
“So, you have it?”
“Yes, my queen.”
“Good,” She said raising from the throne. “The Alicorn Amulet, though powerful, is starting to reach its limitations.”
“With this,” -Twinstar levitated an old battered scroll from her side- “Alongside the Alicorn Amulet, none of the remaining alicorns will be able to stand against you, my queen.”
“This better be so,” She said, now casting an intimidating shadow over Twinstar. “For your sake.”
Twinstar responded with a confident grin, which irked Nightmare Moon further. She put the school to one side and pulled out the jar of red paste that her new ruler had used four days previous, whilst defeating Celestia, “This spell calls for a lot of magic, which we’ll need to siphon from Equestria itself, my queen.”

Nightmare Moon nodded and then turned to the handful of sentries in the room, “Guards, leave us!”
The sentries bowed and then departed. As they did so, Twinstar began drawing several runes of magic in a ring on marble flow. Nightmare Moon meanwhile studied the scroll. Once satisfied, she looked to see Twinstar had finished and was waiting for her, “Are you ready, my queen?”
Nightmare Moon passed the scroll over into her magic, “This better work, Twinstar. I do not have time for any failures.”
Again, she responded with a confident grin, beckoning her into position as she stood a the centre of the ring of runes. Twinstar then proceeded to lay out the scroll open on the floor and studied it one last time. Then standing upright, she threw her head back with her horn glowing a bright green.
The runes on the floor glowed the same green. Magic from the ground itself started to flow to Twinstar’s horn, gathering in a large mass at its tip.
It then left her horn and surrounded Nightmare Moon. Lifting her off the ground and completely engulfing her in a green ball. It then slowly changed colour to a bright white and then slowly to a menacing indigo.
Then the magic started to dissipate and the mare slowly floated back onto the marble.

Nightmare Moon opened her eyes, getting adjusted after the bright magic, “Did it work?”
“See for yourself, my queen,” Twinstar replied, pulling a mirror from her saddlebag and holding it up for Nightmare Moon to see. She took a moment to admire her reflection and her new feature, wings of an alicorn. She spread them out wide and flapped them a couple of times.
Oh, I’m going to enjoy theses Nightmare Moon mused. But not as much as the power.
She felt magic swell through her body, at levels she had never experienced before. It was intoxicating.
“You look very intimidating, My queen.”
Nightmare Moon looked back at Twinstar and decided to put her claim to the test. Flashing her horn, a dark cloud started swelling above her head, which rumbled with thunder. Seeing this Twinstar started to back away, “M….my queen?”
As the cloud grew larger, it started to crackle with electricity. Then without warning, a thunderbolt shot out clean over Twinstar’s head. Striking her saddlebag and sending it cascading down the throne room. Landing in a smouldering heap.
“I haven’t used that spell in over a millennium,” Nightmare Moon giggled. “What do you think of it?”
“Very unnerving, my queen,” she replied, wiping off a bead of sweat.
“Do not threat, Twinstar. It will destroy your complexion,” She cooed. “Besides, you have done very well. Deserving of special recognition.”
Twinstar smiled triumphantly and bowed deeply.

This smile was quickly removed by a hoof harshly smashing her across the face. The shock of this sent Twinstar sprawling on her side, the taste of blood in my mouth, “M…m…my Queen!?!”
Nightmare Moon looked down at her with the coldest of eyes, “Do not get complacent with your position, Twinstar. Your usefulness can end at any time.”
Anger flashed across Twinstar’s eyes, “And you, my queen, need to learn the basics of trust and loyalty!”
Nightmare Moon kept her eyes locked on Twinstar’s, as she tilted her head to one side, “Loyalty?”
The mood in the air in an instant turned dark and Twinstar felt anger that surpassed her own, “What can you teach me about loyalty?”
Nightmare Moon took a step towards the downed mare, sending said mare into a panic, desperately dragging herself from the approaching alicorn, “Of all ponies, WHAT CAN YOU TEACH ME ABOUT LOYALTY, TWINSTAR!?!”
Twinstar managed to get to her hooves and galloped to the doors. Reaching them, she found them to be held shut with magic.
“YOU betrayed Equestria. YOU betrayed Celestia. YOU EVEN BETRAYED YOUR OWN DAUGHTER!!” -Nightmare Moon continued her slow pace down the room- “So tell me, Twinstar. WHAT CAN YOU TEACH ME ABOUT LOYALTY!?!”
Twinstar now started beating desperately against the door, tears now filling her eyes. Then the sound of approaching hoof-steps ceased, causing her to freeze. With tears streaming down here face, Twinstar slowly turned around.
Nightmare Moon stood tall with her wings outstretched, a much larger cloud swirling above, lightning arching across its surface. Her face was malice incarnate and then far more terrifying for Twinstar, turned into a gentle smile, “I thank you, Twinstar, for all that you have done for me.”
A mighty thunderbolt rang out of the cloud and the mare once known as ’Twinstar’ ceased to exist.

Chapter 37: Incoming

Author's Note

Apologies for the delay, I have been unwell recently

Chapter 37: Incoming

Twilight’s eyes widened almost as much as her smile upon seeing the mare on the floor above, “Sunset!”
She teleported straight up to her and embraced her in a hug, “How did you get here?”
“The Crystal Mirror, it finally reopened,” Sunset half laughed, disengaging from the embrace. ”Are you ok?”
Twilight raised an eyebrow at the level of concern in this question, “Of course I’m alright. Why do you ask?”
“Well, when the portal opened, the journal we use to talk to each other with, suddenly filled up with messages that assume you had been trying to send me, and after that, the journey grew too hot to hold and turned to ash.”
In a blink, Twilights expression changed from happiness to confusion, “How’s that possible? Did the portals reopening cause some form of magical backlash, or maybe something happened to one that affected the other…”
“Twilight, focus,” -Sunset placed a hoof on her shoulder- “I came back to Equestria because I need to know what happened to the aircraft, the machine that flew through the portal.”
The mode in the room suddenly went dark with the ears of Twilight and the other ponies joining them on the upper level dropped.
“It crashed,” Twilight said slowly. “Just outside of Ponyville.”
Sunset didn’t react, as if she knew that this outcome was inevitable, “Was it a devastating crash?”
“Pretty devastating,” Said a pony that Sunset didn’t recognise. “It killed everyone aboard, save myself. And I didn’t get away unscathed.”
Midnight unfolded his ‘wings’ to illustrate. Now Sunsets ears dropped, ”Oh…”
“It is still good that you came, Sunset,” Cadence added. “Even though you have come here at such a bad time.”
“Bad Time? What's going on?”
Twilight put a hoof on Sunset’s shoulder, “We have a lot to catch up on.”

The storm continued to ravage to wastes the hillside all the while Rainbow Dash and Soarin climbed it. Reaching the summit, the pair took a moment to recover their breath.
“Hey, is it me or is the storm starting to lift off?” Soarin asked, looking skywards.
Dash followed his gaze, “Yeah, just a little.”
As if in response, a sharp wind battered the two, almost throwing them of their hooves. Soarin shivered loudly, “Dash, our patrols over now. Let's just head back.”
No reply came from her, as Soarin looked away from the sky, “Dash?”
Rainbow Dash’s attention was focused on the valley below. It was obscured by the storm but the faintest glow was just visible. Soarin also saw it and moved up alongside Dash, “What is that?”
The blizzard suddenly cleared for a second, revealing the glowing source. A massive shield spell, being cast by several unicorns. Encompassing a massed formation of ponies.
“Down!” Dash whispered sharply, as she and Soarin hunkered down.
“Is it Nightmare Moon?”
“Who else would it be?” -Dash to Soarin- “We need to report this.”
“No, you go back. I’ll keep tabs on them in case the change direction.”
Dash nodded, “Don’t do anything silly.”
“I won’t,” Soarin answered, sharing a smile. “Now, go!”
“Stat safe,” Dash whispered as she took off. Soarin watched her disappear into the storm before turning his sight back to the gathered ponies. The blizzard had concealed them once again. Pulling up his scarf, he cautiously made his way down the hillside.

“Well, thats a certainly a…..bold plan,” Sunset responded. Twilight had just filled her in on the events of the last year and a half, of Nightmare Moon's return and the fall of Canterlot. Then of the plan that they had come up with.
“It is bold but I think it can work,” Sunburst said confidently.
Sunset ruled the back of her new, “But there are so many variables, like the stand in gems for the elements.”
“True, but we have yet to find a better solution,” Twilight answered. “The only other alternative is an all out assault, which might not be able to get Nightmare Moon and may only destroy her host.”
“None the less,” Cadence said. “It would only be prudent that we test run of this plan.”
The others were nodding when a voice cut through the library, “GUYS!!”
Eyes turned skywards as Rainbow Dash burst into the room, landing behind Sunset. She tried to get a message out which was only made incomprehensible by her lack of breath.
“Rainbow Dash, take a moment. Get your breath back,” Luna coaxed gently.
After a few deep inhales, Dash spoke, “Nightmare Moon’s making her move. She’s amassed a large army and will be here by dawn.”

A grim sensation gripped everyone firmly, even drawing a large gulp from Fluttershy. Only Luna kept a somewhat stern look on her face, “She’s inadvertently forced our hand.”
The group as one turned to her, “We have but two choices. We either go with this plan without the luxury of testing it, or we go for an all-out attack, which is likely to lead to a lot of casualties.”
“Well that last one doesn't sound fun,” Pinkie Pie chimed in. “Not one bit.”
“I’m agreeing with Pinkie on this one,” Rarity added, drawing agreeing nods from Applejack and Fluttershy. Luna turned to Cadence who was also nodding.
“Despite my worries about this plan,” -Glimmer stepped up- “It is still the better of the two options.”
“Are we in agreement?” Luna asked, getting a series of slow nods in response. “Very well, it is decided.”
“I best get the guard ready,” Shinning Armour said before beckoning to his subordinate to follow. “Flash.”
As the two made their way out, Twilight mulled over a thought she was having, “Sunset.”
“Yes, Twilight?”
“I was just thinking, maybe you should take Midnight and head back through the portal. You know, out of harm’s way”
“Are you kidding?” -Sunset smiled- “After all you’ve done for me’ it's about time I repaid the favour.”
She placed a hoof on Twilights shoulder, “I’m staying.”

“Um.. What about you, Midnight?” Fluttershy asked gently. “Will you go back to your world, to your home?”
Midnight did not answer immediately, clearly pondering his response, “My home is here now, in Equestria. There is nothing waiting for me on that side. Either way, it can wait. Foxtrot comes first for me.”
“Well said,” Dash complimented exuberantly. “I don’t know what this plan is but I’m in.”
This brought a small collective chuckle in the room. Spike though still showed concern, “There's still one thing that bugs me. No matter what we do, Nightmare Moon will use does hypnotised guards to shield her from anything we do. So how do we get around that?”
“Yes, it is true that she will deploy such deplorable tactics. We’ll need to have her separate from the ones she controls,” Lune replied with a calm demeanour. “However, I do know how to so this.”
“How?”
A sly smile grew on Luna’s lips.

Chapter 38: Best Laid Plans

Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.

Chapter 39: No Safe Haven

“Are you alright?” Twilight asked Starlight Glimmer, who was dusting herself off.
Twilight had just teleported them away from of Nightmare Moon’s chains. They landed ungracefully in the unfinished foundations of a building. The site was further down the causeway from where they had confronted Nightmare Moon.
“Yeah, I think so,” Came Glimmer’s stuttered reply. Twilight nodded and moved over to the construction site’s edge. Here she could see back down the causeway. At her friends chained and subdued, and the forces of Nightmare Moon charging forward. Glimmer pulled Twilight back from the causeway, “We can’t stay here, Twilight.”
“But, the others!” Twilight protested.
“We can’t help them if we’re captured too. We have to move!”
“But…” She continued to protest before she released something. “Wait, where's Sunset and Midnight?”
As if on cue, the two ponies in question teleported in behind them. Sunset was still holding Midnight in a headlock, “Are you an idiot!?!”
“I had to try to get through to her.” Midnight said, freeing himself from Sunset.

“Hey!” Glimmer called as loudly as she dared. “You made it.”
The two pairs acknowledged each other presence. Sunset approached Twilight, “Everyones been captured, Twilight! We must fall back to the palace!”
Reluctantly, Twilight was about to agree when the sound of thunderous hoof beats filled the air. The four looked to the main causeway as waves of ponies under Nightmare Moon’s control charged past them. These attackers raced headlong towards the palace and hurled themselves into the guards defending the entrances.
Twilight turned and was alarmed to see more attackers on the opposite side. Even the skies were filled with Nightmare Moon’s forces, either attacking the upper floors of the palace or sparing with defenders in ariel duels. They had got themselves inadvertently surrounded.
It wasn’t long before they were noticed. Indigo eyed ponies peeled off from the main thrusts and approached them menacingly, both on the ground and on the rooftops.
Twilight and the others donned defensive postures but held their fire, not willing to harm them. They were standing back to back, in an ever decreasing circle.
“Twilight, do we try to get to the palace?” Sunset asked. “Or do we attempt a breakout of the city?”
Twilight was trying to way the options she had available and calm herself.

“Aaaah! Oww!!
The sound of Midnight Snow stopped the mares in their tracks and stared at where he was. Whilst backing up, Midnight had failed to see the deep hole in the ground and subsequently fell in.
“You ok, Midnight?” Twilight called.
“Hey, there's a tunnel down here!” Came Midnight echoed reply.
A tunnel!?! Twilight thought.
“Girls! Into the hole!”
Sunset and Glimmer nodded dived into the tunnel. Unicorns fired on them but theses attacks were easily blocked by Twilight's shield spell, who then jumped into the hole. Glimmer fired a parting shot out of the hole, in order to put off any pursuers.
Lead by Twilights glowing horn, they then ran into the dark tunnel

Foxtrot Lay limply on the ground which like the world around her, was was a dark godless void. All sense of time had long since been lost, with it almost all of her remaining memories. She was no longer being tormented by Nightmare Moon. Either with bad memories or windows of the outside world.
Alone and forgotten, she did nothing but lay staring into the void, like a dying beast waiting for deaths embrace. The only thing she felt were random pains in her belly. So zoned out was Foxtrot, that it took her a long while to notice a new window that was presented to her. When the windows glow finally caught her attention, Foxtrot was presented with a very different world to the one she was shown before. It was a land of crystal structures and ice laced winds. Now sitting upright, she saw a group of ponies standing resolutely before her, many Foxtrot found vaguely familiar. Led by a black alicorn, the ponies proceeded to launch a rainbow beam at her. Foxtrot cowered away from the window as this rainbow struck. After hiding behind her own hooves for while, she hesitantly looked back through the window. The situation presented now was dramatically different. The ponies that were standing so strong before were now bound in magic chains, in a fashion all too familiar to Foxtrot. She grimaced at the sight of those ensnared, clearly in great discomfort.

“Foxtrot!”
The sound, the first she heard in a long time, reverberated through Foxtrot. The window turned to reveal a Persian blue alicorn, standing defiantly with his eye fixed firmly on her. She studied him intently, as a name forced its way into her mind, “Midnight?”
At the very moment the window closed, leaving Foxtrot alone in the void once more. Now though, she had a strange pain in her chest that she could not explain.
“Midnight…”

Twilight raced down the narrow rocky tunnel, her glowing horn lighting the way. She checked again over her shoulder to make sure the others were still with her. They were, horns glowing just as brightly.
Focussing back on the path ahead, she could now see path start to widen into an opening. This opening quickly came to abrupt halt, as a huge stone slap blocked the path.
Twilight almost crashed into. Behind her, the others had also come to a halt.
“Sweet Celestia! Is it a cave in!?!” Glimmer exclaimed. She and Sunset were feeling around the edges of the slab for a weak spot. Midnight had turned around and watched the tunnel they had come from, looking out for any pursuers.
“No,” Twilight said gravely, brushing a hoof against the stone. “It's a dead end.”
Sunset banged a hoof against the slab, “Dang it! Where do we go now!?!”
“Back the way we came,” Twilight repelled grimly.
“Snow,” Sunset called. “Anypony coming?”
“None that I can see!” He shouted back.

Glimmer flopped against the stone, rubbing her eyes, “Now what do we do?”
Sunset ran a hoof down her face, “Ok, let's just stop and think for a second.”
Sunset took a step back and look up at the grey slab, taking in the strange markings on its surface, “So, what is this place?“
“A tunnel that leads to a stone seal,” -Glimmer looked up- “It's a tomb.”
“No, not a tomb,” Twilight said, drawing the others gaze. “It's some kind of….test or trial.”
“Trial?” Glimmer repeated with a raised eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
Twilight ran a hoof across the stones surface, feeling the engravings, “These are runes, similar to the ones Nightmare Moon uses.”
“You can read them?” Sunset asked.
“Sort of,” -Twilight looked at Sunset- “I did study runes a little, ages ago. Before I moved to Ponyville. And when Nightmare Moon turned up using them, I thought I’d better brush up but it's still hard to work out.”
She pointed to a symbol at the very top, of a sword encased in a crystal, “It's was placed here by Formade the Terrible.”
“Formade,” Midnight echoed, turning and looking at the slab properly. Walking towards it, his attention was drawn to various tools and cases on the ground. “This Blessed Beard’s dig site.”
“Who?” Sunset asked.
“Professor Blessed Beard, he was teaching me magic before he was reassigned to a new dig. This must have been it,” He guested to the stone. “He was evacuated to Rainbow Falls a while ago.”
Midnight stood alongside Twilight, both staring at the engravings.
“It talks of Formade’s vast knowledge and that he’s left it here,” Twilight read, following the text with her hoof as she went. “And only does of…….blood can access it.”
The text on the stone slab ended with a recess clearly meant for ponies hoof. Twilight looked at her own hoof before placing it in the recess. Sunset cocked her head at Twilight, “Get anything?”
“No,” Twilight answered. “Has anything changed?”
Sunset shook her head.

“Twilight, I know the promise of knowledge is very alluring,” Glimmer butted in. “But there's an insane alicorn above us, who has our friends and is wishes to bring an eternal night to Equestria. We need to focus here.”
“Yes, your right,” Twilight half giggled. “Formade’s trial can wait till after we get our friends back.”
“It’s not Formade.”
“Sorry, Midnight?” Sunset asked.
“It’s not Formade the Terrible, it’s Formidable,” He clarified.
Twilight looked quizzical at him, “Ehh.. How do you make that out?”
“See that symbol at the top,” He pointed to the engraving of the sword in the crystal.
“Yes, we believe that was his cutie mark,” Twilight explained.
“But it's also on the flag of Westhumberland, my homeland,” Midnight added. “It was the symbol of Formidable, a wise man who according to legend appeared out of thin air and freed my world from darkness several centuries ago. Most people think he’s a myth, I included.”
Midnight then looked at his own hoof and then at the recess, “Surely not.”
He placed his hoof into the stone recess.

Nothing happened.
“Huh…” Midnight grunted. “Well, thats dissap…….”
With no warning of any kind, Midnight Snow vanished from existence. The three mares recoiled, scanning the spot where he had been.
“Midnight!?!” Twilight called out. “MIDNIGHT!!”

Chapter 40: Formidable

“Where the hell am I now?”
Midnight Snow found himself in a strange surrounding. A world of nothing but a bright white glow.He was walking around the empty floor or at least what he thought was the floor. There was no horizon, no indication of where the floor ended and the sky began. No features of any kind excited as far as he could see.
“Hello!” Midnight called aloud, hoping for some kind of reply. “Twilight! Are you there?”
No answer, “Sunset! Glimmer! Can you hear me!?!”
Nothing but silence permitted the air. Midnight scanned the horizon to his left side, growing uncomfortable at seeming unending isolation, “Hello! If there's anyone, or anypony out there, please answer me!!”
“Hello, Midnight.”
The voice came from directly in front of him. Midnight nearly jumped out of his coat, as he was met by a pony no more than several yards away. A pony which he could swear was not there a moment ago.
The pony was an ice blue alicorn, with a mane of black with golden tips. The mare bore a warming smile, nearly overjoyed in seeing Midnight, “My oh my, Midnight. You were handsome as a young man and an equally handsome as a Stallion.”
Midnight stayed at her in disbelief, as it slowly dawned on him who she was, “Mother!?!”
“Hello, Midnight.”
“Impossible,” He said, rooted to the spot. “you're dead!”

“Death would not stop your mother from embarrassing you with such compliments.”
A new voice and a new figure. This time appearing on his left. An earth pony, the colour of obsidian with silver highlights in his mane.
“Farther?”
“Yes, son.”
“How? How’s this possible?”
“Because you have taken up my trail.” Came a new yet another voice from behind him. This one was, though, unlike the others, was totally alien to Midnight. He turned 90 degrees to see the newcomer, a dark blue stallion unicorn with golden tipped hair.
Despite never the fact that he had never seen this pony before, Midnight knew who he was, “Formidable.”
“It is I.”
“Where am I?”
“In a world that you should not have entered if you were not prepared for” Formidable answered in an irritated tone.
“Formidable!” Midnight’s mother snapped. “Do not act as if you are blind to events in the world that he has come from.”
“You been watching me?” Midnight asked.
“In a manner of speaking, yes,” His father answered. “And we know, as does Formidable, of that demons return.”
“Nightmare Moon,”Midnight said.
“The same,”Formidable confirmed. “She has escaped the prison that I had sealed her in.”
“So the legend is true.”
Formidable looked at him incredulously, “You doubted my story?”
“I mean that its has been so long that you’ve become almost a myth.”
Formidable let out a slight smile, clearly amused at the idea of becoming a mythical figure.

“If you know of Nightmare Moon’s return, then you should know why I'm here,” Midnight said firmly. “If nothing is done, then hundreds of lives will surely be lost. Either from her imitate revenge or when she plunges Equestria into eternal night. Formidable, you once defeated her all does centuries ago. I need your help. I need to know how to defeat her.”
Formidable studied Midnight inherently, judging his sincerity. He took his time doing this, creating an unbearable silence.
“Formidable, please. I’m begging you!” Midnight pleaded. “I’ve got nowhere to go and practically nothing to fight with!”
”How do the legends say I defeated Nightmare Moon?”
Midnight thought for a moment, “They say that you sealed her away.”
Formidable nodded, “When I was a pony, I was unrivaled in the art of rune casting. Then after I created the trial that you activated, I found myself in the human world.”
“How?” Midnight asked. “Did a portal open?”
“Truth be told, even now I don’t know,” He answered before continuing with his tale. “Soon after I arrived, I learned of Nightmare Moon and the darkness she was bringing. She was also the only one in that world that had any real knowledge of magic and how to use it. So I tricked her. I made her believe that I had no knowledge of magic and challenged her in single combat. Foolishly, she accepted and I trapped her with well-placed runes, before removing her from her host and sealed her away in a specially prepared obelisk. An obelisk that has clearly been compromised.”
“You knew she was a creature controlling another? How?”
Formidable chuckled, “She was not the first Nightmare that I have fought. There have been others of her kind that have come before and there still may be others to come.”

Midnight nodded thoughtfully, “Can you teach me this craft?”
“He can but you do not have the time.” Came a new voice from his blindspot. Midnight recognized it and turned to see a pony he never expected to be here, “Dr. Twinstar!?! What are you doing here?”
The question seemed to cause her pain, “That's not important. What is important, is the fact that Nightmare Moon plans to organize multiple show trials and executions the moment she has captured the last of the remaining alicorns. In order to create terror throughout the land. Her first victims will be the alicorn princesses, their families, and followers. The land will be plunged into darkness by the day's end, and by the time you’ve learned how to replicate what Formidable had done, disasters such as mass famine will be unavoidable.”
“She’s right, Midnight,” Formidable stated solemnly.
Midnight took a step back, horrified at the prospect.
“There is, however,” Formidable continued. “Another way to defeat a Nightmare but it comes with great risk.”
“You can’t suggest what I think you're about to suggest!” Midnight’s Mother said adamantly.
“I only bring it up considering the circumstances,” Formidable snapped back.

“Formidable, tell me straight!” Midnight firmly stated. “Can I learn this method of defeating her in the time that I have?”
“…….Yes.”
“And will it also spare Foxtrot, Nightmare Moon’s current host?”
“Potentially, yes.”
“Then teach me!”
“There is a great risk to all involved.”
“I’ll take my chances,” -Midnight looked Formidable dead in the eye- “I’m out of time and I refuse to destroy Foxtrot!”
Formidable maintained eye contact with Midnight, reading him thoroughly. Eventually, a smile grew on his lips and his eyes made contact with the concerned eyes of the ice blue alicorn behind Midnight, “I see that you’ve managed to keep the fire and drive that my line was known for alive, Shinning Snow.”
She shied away from his gaze, which returned to Midnight, “Let us begin.”

“So, yeah…. I ended up brainwashing the entire school,” Sunset Shimmer Explained, rubbing the back of her neck. “But Twilight managed to get me to see reason and well, here I am now.”
“I can actually relate to that, more than you realize,” Glimmer remarked.
It had been several hours since Midnight Snow vanished in front of the inscribed slab of stone. Sunset and Glimmer were watching the tunnel, waiting for an inevitable attack. Yet they had been waiting for so long, that they began sharing their life stories.
Twilight, however, was sitting on the cold floor, staring at the inscription on the stone seal. She was trying to find some hidden meaning or enchantment in the runes but was finding nothing.
“Arrrgh!” She yelled in frustration, as she flopped onto her back.
“Twilight, take a break,” Sunset recommended. “Your gonna be no god to no-pony if you burn yourself out and….”
The sound of a stone being kicked echoed down the tunnel, bringing the conversation to a screeching halt. The three mares stood bolt upright, eyes transfixed on the tunnel and horns glowing madly. Partway down the tunnel, a small green and purple figure stepped into the light with his paws in the air, “Whoah! Guys, it's me!!”

Twilight’s eyes lit up, “Spike!!”
The two raced to each other and embraced, “I’ve been worried sick about you lot.”
“Is the battle over, Spike?” Glimmer asked.
Spike rubbed the back of his head, “Ehh.. For the most part, yeah.”
Twilight was surprised, “How did you guys stop Nightmare Moon?”
“Twilight…. We didn’t stop her,” Spike said deflated. “She’s won.”
Twilight was struck cold and went completely quiet. Sunset, however, was expecting this to be the case, “Spike, just tell us what happened.”
“Well, after the spell failed, Nightmare Moon’s army forced their way into the palace. Shining Armour and his guardsponies put up a real fight but they were overwhelmed. They were quickly subdued. Myself and everypony else were ordered outside. There, Nightmare Moon singled me out and sent me down here.”
“Why?” Twilight asked.
“….Twilight, she knows your down here,” Spike answered, clearly uncomfortable with the message he was sent to deliver. “She was wondering if you would be kind enough to come out.”
A cold dread filled the air and brought a forbidding to the mares hearts.
“Spike,” Glimmer asked slowly. “You said the battle was mostly over?”
Spike nodded, “Rainbow dash and couple of other ponies have barricaded themselves in a room near the top of the palace.”
“Flurryheart!” Twilight exclaimed. Spike nodded, confirming Twilight’s fears.
“But you guys have a plan, right?” Spike optimistically but not getting any answer or any reassuring looks. “Right?”

“We do,” Midnight Snow answered calmly. His sudden reappearance behind the, caused them to jump.
“Midnight!” Twilight said, looking at him all over. “Are you alright?”
“Yeah, I think so…”
“Wait, where you always here!?!” Spike said utterly confused.
“What happened, Midnight?” Sunset queried
“I meet Formidable,” He said, hardly believing it himself. “And he’s taught me many things.”
He turned and faced the stone slab, eyes on Formidable’s cutie mark, ”I know what to do.”
A glow from Midnight’s rear drew the attention of the others. They quietly gasped as a mark emerged on his flank. It was a half moon, joined diagonally with a snowflake making a full circle, “I know what to do…”
“Midnight,” Said Twilight eventually. “Your flank!”
He wasn’t listening. Instead, his attention had shifted to the ceiling of the cavern.
“Hey guys,” -He looked at the others- “Whats directly above us?”

Chapter 41: Duel In The Dying Storm

Nightmare Moon stared up at the palace that here army had all but conquered. She let out an audible sigh as she turned back to the indigo eyed guard standing before, “Find something to use as a battering ram and break that door down. I want that filly, alive and unharmed!”
The unblinking pony gave a salute and raced off to follow his queen's order.
Well, there's the price of unwavering loyalty She groaned internally. No initiative whatsoever.
Her sights moved onto the mass gathering of ponies that had been assembled in the shadow of the palace. They were shivering and terrified, continuously staring at Nightmare Moon. Eyes filled with fear and anger, many wise enough to avert theirs from her look. However, there was one pair of eyes that she could burning into her. She turned and meet them, “Princess Cadence.”
The aforementioned princess was on the ground several yards from where she was standing. Chains from the rune adorned saddlebags still wrapped around her, denying her of her freedom. Even her voice was denied her, chains were wrapped around her snout too. Yet was her eyes that Nightmare Moon was enjoying the most, “Allow me to reassure you. I do not intend to harm your daughter. But with such magical potential and having a young, breakable mind. How could I not take her on as a protege and possible, future host.”
Cadence’s eyes flared madly, bringing a chuckle from Nightmare Moon.
“Given half a chance, Princess of Love,” She mused quietly. “You would quite happily rip my head off.”

Nightmare Moon’s mocking came to halt with the sound of a bang coming from the tunnel that Twilight was hiding in. A dust cloud had been kicked up obscuring the tunnels entrance. Nightmare Moon checked her forces that were present. She only had a handful of guards that were free to aid her but they should be enough she thought to deal with Twilight’s entourage, while she could deal with Twilight herself.
As the dust started to settle, figures emerged and stepped out of it. However, they were not being led by the alicorn that as she had expecting.
“Midnight Snow,” She said half surprised. “May I ask what you are doing?”
Midnight ignored this question and continued to move towards her. She made a head gesture towards some nearby guards, who moved in to subdue them but Twilight kept them at bay by an expanding shield spell. When he was no more than several yards from Nightmare Moon, Midnight stopped and addressed her, “Nightmare Moon, I give you this one chance and this one chance only. Release Foxtrot and withdraw.”
Nightmare Moon stared dumbfounded at him. She developed a giggle which quickly grew into a full-blown laughed. She looked back into unmoving eyes, “My word, your serious. You are honestly serious about this!”
“I am!” He retorted. Placing an adamant hoof down, which only drew more laughter from her.
“You poor delusional fool, Midnight Snow. You are totally surrounded and vastly outnumbered, and yet you believe you can threaten me and dictate terms!?! If this threat had come from Twilight, then I would take it seriously,” She mocked aloud for all to hear. Nodding at Twilight, who like Sunset, Spike and Gimmer, stood just behind him. “But not from you, Midnight.”
She rubbed a hoof against her chin, “Do you know why I chose Foxtrot as my host over you. Cause you see have known about you and your alicorn status for a long time now.”
Midnight did not answer, nor was he moved by this statement. Mildly irked by this, Nightmare Moon continued, “You are weak, Midnight. For an alicorn, you have very little magical potential. Any unicorn can worth their salt can tell you this. On top of that, you can’t even fly! So go ahead and make your threats, for you will fall. But I do welcome you to try, and show to the world what little a one winged alicorn can do!”

Midnight unfolded his wings in a threatening posture, stretching out wide his good right wing and his left stump. The sight of the latter drew more giggles from Nightmare Moon but they did not last.
From the tip of his stump, a gold light lit up and grew, forming into a full wing made of pure magic. This drew the awe of all those watching who still had control of their own minds.
Nightmare Moon now studied him with great intent. His magic whilst not as substantial as hers or Twilight’s, it was fierce in its intensity. It was also too familiar to a man she had encountered before to be a coincidence.
“You!” She growled. “you're of his blood!!”
Nightmare Moon unfolded her wings and launched high into the air. Without breaking a step, she fired a powerful bolt of lightning from her mane directly at Midnight Snow. A golden shield spell was flung up and absorbed the attack. Midnight glanced over his shoulder, “Guys, I don’t care how you do it, just keep them off my back.”
“Right!” The others replied in unison.
Then with a powerful leap, for the first time in his life, Midnight Snow took flight

High up in the central palace, Flash Sentry pushed his back hard against the chest of draws that he and Soarin were using to barricade the door. From behind this door, came another bang as ponies attempted to break it down.
Flash took a moment to take in the current situation. The only window to the room was being blocked by Rainbow Dash and Spitfire with a wardrobe. Like the door, it to was being buffeted by attackers, the glass window long been shattered. Over by the bed, Cadence’s chambermaid, White Quartz, was trying her best to comfort the terrified Flurry Heart. This was not her room, just a very small guest quarters but she had moved here a precaution.
The door received another hefty thumb. Flash began to release that the current situation was unwinnable. However, there was still one thing that could be done, “Hey, you three are Wonderbolts right?”
“Yeah, what of it?” Dash shouted back, the wardrobe receiving another thump.
“Which one of you is the fastest?”
“In a straight line, problem dash here,” Spitfire answered. “Why?”
“Dash, take the young princess from Quartz. We’ll create an opening,” He addressed Dash directly. “And when we do, you take Flurry Heart and you fly. You fly far and you fly fast, and you get her out of here!”
“What!?! I can’t abandon you guys here!!”
“Rookie, he’s right!” Spitfire asserted. “You need to get her out of here!!”
“Wait guys!!” Soarin said, pointing at the door. “They’ve stopped.”
They all felt their barricades were no longer being pushed against.

A sound like thunder reverberated through the room. The ponies all exchanged confused glances. Dash and Spitfire then began gingerly sliding the wardrobe to one side enough to get a view of the outside world.
The skies were abuzz with activity. The pegasi that were attacking the window had been drawn away by an ariel duel that was taking place. They had been heading straight to it but were intercepted by Twilight Sparkle. Using teleportation and shield spells, she was easily able to keep them occupied.
“Is that Twilight!?!” Flash asked, peering through the gap.
“Yes, that's Twilight alright,” Spitfire confirmed. “But who’s that fighting over there, with Nightmare Moon?”
Rainbow dash strained to see the two ponies in question. Neither of them were flying, not in the conventional sense. They were more being held aloft with their own magic. It wasn’t until the mystery pony started went into a climb that she saw the separate coloured wings, one blue and one gold, “Wait a minute! That's Midnight Snow!”
“The one winged alicorn!?!” Soarin said confused.
“Not anymore he isn’t,”Dash responded, punching the arm. “And it looks like he’s got Nightmare Moon on the ropes!”
“Well I don’t know about that, Newbie,” Spitfire said, scanning the skies. “But Twilight is differently trying to keep the others away from them.”
“Well, let's help her then!” Dash shouted as she shoved the wardrobe aside and catapulted herself out the window.

“Newbie, stop!!” Spitfire shouted, as two more forms darted past her and out the window. “Flash! Soarin!! Get back here NOW!!
Her words fell on deaf ears, however, as the three of them raced off to aid the heavily outnumbered Twilight. Spitfire face-hoofed, “Oh well. In for a penny, in for a pound.”
She toppled over the wardrobe in the direction, so that it landed on the chest of draws in front of the door.
“Keep an eye on the princess,” She ordered White Quartz, who nodded measly in response. Climbing up onto the window ledge, she took one more good look at the skies.
Dash, Soarin and Flash had quickly engaged those who Twilight was busy with. The figures of Nightmare Moon and Midnight Snow had just gone beyond the protective reach of the Crystal Heart. Spitfire just managed to catch sight of them as they disappeared into the now dying storm.
Once they were gone, Spitfire jumped off the ledge and into the fray.

Nightmare Moon glided through the snow falling in torrents from high above. The winds were abating but still strong enough to cause her problems.
Keeping track of Midnight, however, was not a problem. His wing made of pure magic was glowing bright gold, making him easy to track in the heavy snow. She discharged a bolt of lightning in his direction. He dodged and pulled away from her until he was completely obscured by the snow.
“You dare threaten me and then run!!” She bellowed as she charged after him. However, she was unable to reestablish contact with him, despite the glowing wing, ”Face me, Midnight!”
Whilst panning around search of him, Nightmare Moon registered a slight glint in the corner of her eye. Midnight had worked his way above and was now diving on her.
She swivelled and launched several lightning bolts at him but he’d already erected a shield which deflected them away. His posture was unusual, his right hoof held straight while his left was folded back. However, the one that was outstretched was glowing gold in a similar fashion to his wing but with one key difference.
A rune!! She screamed internally. He’s even using his technic, how!?!
She couldn’t let him touch her with that hoof. With a mighty beat of her wings, she just managed to effectively sidestep his attack. Midnight did not stop his dive, however, and flew away from her, trying to build up a distance.

Nightmare Moon fired a series of snapshot bolts at him whilst she levelled herself but they didn’t find their target. He was flying low to the frozen wastes, using what cover there was to avoid her lightning.
“I will not be imprisoned again!” She Shrieked fervently. “I WILL NOT!!!”
With this, she unleashed a powerful beam that ripped the ground apart, forcing Midnight to pull up and shield himself as the ice covered ground practically erupted in a fiery explosion.
Midnight reeled back up into the sky and lost sight of Nightmare Moon, as she followed her attack with yet more lightning bolts. One of these landed hard into Midnight’s back and shocked him violently. It only lasted him a couple of seconds but when it had ended, Midnight started to fall from the sky.
Was that it!?! Nightmare Moon fumed inside, somewhat disappointed. She watched him plummet to the ground, seemingly lifeless, only to pull up at the last moment. This feint gave him some breathing room which he used to regain altitude.

Nightmare Moon smiled at this low move just pulled by her opponent and watched him come about and charged at her, his hoof glowing again.
This time she stood her ground and fired off her powerful destruction spell once again. The beam hit Midnight shield square on but it seemed to be able to take it and he pushed on. Yet, the closer he got to Nightmare Moon, the slower his charge became and more his shield strained.
Eventually, just a few yards from his target, the shed spell broke and exploded in Midnight’s face. He was thrown back viciously, temporarily blinded. When his vision returned, he was confronted by the terrifying sight of two thunderbolts coming straight at him. He had no time to dodge or defend, and the bolts struck him in the chest, hard.

Chapter 42: Into Darkness

Luna watched Twilight and the others in the sky above, keeping the guard's attention on themselves. She was shivering uncontrollably, having spent hours chained to the cold stone causeway. She was also covered in a layer of freshly fallen snow, adding to her discomfort. She peered over shoulder at the others who were in the same predicament.
She could make out the forms of Sunset and Glimmer. They had combined their magic and created a large shield bubble that encompassed all the others who were in the same predicament as herself, as well as the poor ponies bearing the rune adorned saddle bags. Also inside the bubble was Spike, who trying fruitlessly to break the magical chains with his bare claws.
All around the shield, several of Nightmare Moon’s guards were trying to break it using both main and hoof.
Luna and her unwilling captors were too far forward to fall under the shields protection. So she had to contend with the cold.

Her gaze was drawn back to the snowstorm outside the city, as flashes of lightning illuminated the sky. She was just in time to see this far horizon light up in a hellish red, accompanied by an ear-piercing sound of an explosion. It drew everyponys attention. Bringing an end to the ariel duels and the breaking down of the shield bubble. All eyes were trained on the snowstorm as the red glow died away, yet more lightning crackled.
Then came a strange calm, where all that could be heard was the frightened sobbing of fouls and fillies behind her. It did not last, as another equally loud bang emanating from the storm, followed by more lightning strikes.
Luna was the first to see him, the figure of Midnight Snow hurtling from the storm. He landed awkwardly on the stone causeway and slid to a halt not far from of Luna. She tried to call out to him but her voice was still muffled and she went unheard.
Forcing himself back onto all four hooves, It was clear to luna that he was in severe pain. Residual electricity pulsed through Midnight’s body and patches on his chest , mane and tail were smoldering. He bore this pain through gritted teeth but kept his attention on the storm.
From it, a fierce bolt arced out from the sky straight at Midnight. A golden shield prevented it from hitting him but he recoiled nonetheless.

From the spot the bolt had originated came the dark form of Nightmare Moon. She glided gracefully to the ground, landing just shy of the causeway. Wings outstretched and as intimidating as ever. Her sparkling mane was swirling above her, crackling like a miniature thunderstorm.
Luna’s heart sank, as it appeared that Midnight had failed to land a single hit.
“Now, Midnight Snow,” Declared Nightmare Moon, her attention solely on him alone. “Die!”
A thunderbolt rang out and struck Midnight’s shield. It held, much to her annoyance, “Die!!!”
More bolts followed, each more powerful than the last. Midnight’s shield was still holding but each strike was forcing him back.
Twilight and her allies in the air, now moved to help Midnight but found themselves blocked by the guards that they themselves had been blocking

Nightmare Moon strode forward, building up a powerful bolt in her mane, “You will DIE!!!”
She fired the lightning bolt at Midnight, striking his shield hard. It was a prolonged and intense attack. His defenses were waning but he had no time to care.
Glancing over his left shoulder, Midnight unfolded his artificial gold wing. Luna still several paces behind, watched as this wing appear to melt and fall off his stump. It landed silently on the smooth stone below and immediately started to form into a strange pattern. A rune. The rune of capture.
Nightmare Moon had not seen this, her eyes were glued on Midnight. By the time she did it was already too late. The rune had been activated and a single chain of magic shot out, wrapping itself around Nightmare Moon’s horn. Bringing her thunderous bombardment to an abrupt end.
Seeing that their queen was in peril, guards from all over raced to her aid but ran into another shield bubble. This one had been set up by Midnight and it left him alone with Nightmare Moon. With his strength almost spent, he slowly walked towards her. She retreated until her back was against the shield.
“Stay back!!” Nightmare Moon demanded. She started throwing more lightning bolts at him but without her horn to guide them, they were erratic and poorly aimed. The ones that did hit were painful but weak.
Now face to face, Midnight brought up his rune glowing hoof and without a word being spoken, placed it on her forehead.
The two of them were then consumed by a blinding light.

For the second time in a day, Midnight Snow found himself in another strange world. While the last one was a strange shimmering land of white light, this was a dark murky place of dark purples, black, and indigo. There was no floor to walk on, and he found himself floating. It was a depressing and unsettling place to be, and midnight was traveling right into the heart of it.
“Foxtrot!” He yelled aloud. “Foxtrot, are you there!!!”
Emerging from the darkness, stood Nightmare Moon wearing an annoyed look, “What are doing, Midnight Snow?”
She was trying everything to make herself more intimidating. Wings unfolded wide, mane flared brightly and standing far taller than she was in the real world. He ignored her and called for Foxtrot again.
“Why do you waste your time trying to save that worthless mare?”
“She’s worth it to me!” He said, finally acknowledging Nightmare Moon's presence.
“There's nothing left of her, you know,” She continued. “Nothing at all.”
“I refuse to believe that!!” -He glared at her angrily- “And you will give her back, Demon!!!”
She scoffed at this, which only increased his anger. He looked away from and called for Foxtrot again.

“Midnight!!!”
The voice was faint, as if far away but it defiantly belonged to Foxtrot.
“Foxtrot!!” Midnight called again, hoping she would respond. She did, and Midnight was able to hear where she was. The voice was emanating from Nightmare Moon’s form.
He drew close to her, bringing a dismissive raised eyebrow from Nightmare Moon, “What now, Midnight Snow?”
Giving no warning of any kind, Midnight thrust a hoof deep into her chest. There was no blood, just distorted ripples around the point of entry.
Nightmare Moon gasped loudly, bore in shock and pain. Midnight for a time papered to be re-emerging around inside of her until he found what he sought. Pulling back with considerable effort, Midnight retracted his hoof from her chest. It held tight to a hoof of blueish-grey. Slowly, the barely conscious Foxtrot started to appear. When she was fully out of Nightmare Moon, he held her tightly to his chest and with a quick strong kick, pushed them both away from Nightmare Moon. She, however, was not so willing to let them go. Growing incessantly, she distorted her mane into a slender sharp tipped tendril and lashed it at the pair. It struck midnight in the chest, just above his heart.

She smiled gleefully at him as he grimaced from the pain. He grabbed the tendril with his free hoof and tried to pull it out. It instead was torn apart, leaving a small piece inside Midnight which quickly merged into his form.
Midnight looked at smiling demon incredulously. Nightmare Moon did not care about his look. As far as she was concerned, she had won, “Try if you dare, Midnight!”
To her shock and horror, he was. Throwing his head back with his horn glowing, Midnight Snow cast a golden beam straight at the of Nightmare Moon. In a last attempt to end this sorry affair.

Chapter 43: Snow Falls

Snowflakes came gliding down all around Luna, as she squinted at the blinding mass that was Midnight Snow and Nightmare Moon. She couldn’t make out either of them or the shield bubble they were in.
Several minutes had elapsed since the two were engulfed in this light, which was forcing everypony to shield their eyes.
Luna then began feeling the chains binding around her body begin to loosen. As she looked, the chains started to unravel and come apart before disappearing completely. Gingerly and suffering from severer cramp, Luna gradually got to her hooves. Peering over her shoulder, she was glad to see the same happen to the others. Glimmer and Sunset dropped their shield and started helping them.
This was not an unwise move on their part, for all the ponies under Nightmare Moon’s control had started groaning with the heads in their hooves. Even the ones that had been chaining Luna down where giddy.
One of them was Ponyville’s mayor, Ivory Scrolls. Luna Stepped over and placed a hoof on her shoulder, “Are you alright?”
Ivory Scrolls blinked several times with her eyes returned to normal, “Yeah, I think so…”
She glanced up at Luna and at once the memories of the day's event flooded her mind, “Your highness! I…I’m so sorry! I….”
“It's alright,” Luna reassured her. “I know you not responsible.”

“Hey!” Rainbow Dash called from up high, propping up one of the dizzy guards. “What going on down there? They're all coming round!”
“It’s Nightmare Moon’s power!” Twilight answered back aloud. “She’s losing control of her spells! Whatever Midnight’s doing its working!”
“If her spells are breaking,” Luna mumbled to herself, inadvertently drawing Ivory Scrolls ear. “Then That means that….”
A ball white light high above the city now grabbed every ponies gaze’ as it gracefully descended from the sky and onto the causeway between luna and the others who trapped like her. It's light started to diminish as layers flaked off it like rose petals. Stepping out of it as it finished falling away, was a pony that many thought that they would never see again.
“Princess Celestia!!” Ponies all-round chimed. Her name spreading through the city drawing more to the spot.
“Sister,” Luna said utterly relieved. Walking unsteadily to her.
“My dear, Luna,” -Celestia embraced her- “Oh, how I’m glad your alright.”
Twilight and Rainbow dash landed near to them and trotted up to them. Celestia noticed her pupils approach and a warm smile, “Twilight, Rainbow Dash, you are alright.”
“Forget us! You were stuck on the moon!” Dash said jokingly. “Are you alright?’
“Oh, I will be fine,” Celestia chuckled. “But tell me, how did you defeat Nightmare Moon?”
The three ponies exchanged glances but it was twilight that spoke first, “We didn’t.”
“Sister, it is Midnight Snow who is current fighting Nightmare Moon,” Luna added, turning to show the bright light that was the pair in question. Celestia looked visibly concerned, even she did not know what to make of it.
“Errr... Is it me or is it getting brighter?” Dash said using her wings to shield her eyes. The others nodded and they all back off a couple of paces. The lights intensifying, however, did not last.

The light suddenly ended. From what was its epicentre, the figure of Nightmare Moon appeared to stand tall while Midnight Snow was hurled back. Sliding on the stone on his side and coming to rest in front of Twilight Sparkle’ his sweat steaming in the cold air. She asked him if he was alright but Midnight did not answer. Instead, he rolled himself onto his hooves and sat upright, his concentration back from he had come from.
There Nightmare Moon stood with head thrown back, mouth wide open and her eyes rolled back into her skull. A sickly indigo cloud was flowing out of her mouth and nostrils and filled the air above her.
This spectacle started drawing a crowd from the ponies that had been gathered below the palace. Wise to the situation, Cadence kept them from getting too close.
When the indigo cloud had grown to a size larger than the body that it was leaving, the last tendrils left the mouth and nostrils. Foxtrot, now devoid of Nightmare Moon, swayed and collapsed onto the ground.
But there was something off about these last tendrils. The tips of theses tendrils were not indigo but gold, and it was spreading. It grew and started to devour the indigo above it like a fire, leaving areas it had passed through to turn grey and fall away like ash.The cloud that was Nightmare Moon was making a whole host of ungodly noises as the golden fire continued to ascend unabated. Before it consumed her entirely, Nightmare Moon let out one last ear-shattering scream of frustration, despair and agony that shook even Celestia to her core. With this, the last of the indigo turned to gold and then falling apart as ash, vanishing from the fabric of existence before it reached the ground.

A stunned silence came over all the souls in the city. No-pony dared move, except that was for the near exhausted Midnight Snow. He was moving towards the slumped figure of Foxtrot. Still lying on the ground, her body reverting to the form before she was taken as a host. When it was done, the only evidence that of had remained of Nightmare Moon’s being here was her alicorn Wings and the blood moon cutie mark.
Midnight bent down and stroked her mane gentle. His warm hoof drew her into lifting her head to look at him, “Mid….Midnight?”
Midnight smiled. It was her eyes. Her gently emerald eyes.
“Shhh..” He coaxed, gently rubbing her brow. “Rest now. Don't worry not, I’m here.”
Foxtrot did so and fell into a deep sleep. Looking up from her, Midnight turned to the ponies that had gathered, “Can any medics help her please?”
A handful of ponies including Fluttershy raced over to Foxtrot and began administering aid. Midnight backed away and left them to it.
“What did you just do, Midnight?” Twilight asked, to recognising the spells that had been in use.
“I, um….”Midnight tried to find his words. “I used a decimation spell on Nightmare Moon.”
Celestia and Luna’s eyes widened. Of the others, only Twilight understood what he meant, “You destroyed her!?!”
“Yes, I did,” He replied with a neutral expression. “I know it’s not the Equestrian way but I could not see any other way of stopping her, not without killing Foxtrot.”
“Such spells are forbidden in Equestria,” Celestia added.
“Yes, I ‘d guessed as much.”
“Despite this,” She continued. “I can clearly see why you had no choice in the matter and will…….Midnight?”

Midnight was grabbing his chest around his heart, discomfort swelling on his face. His entire being then flashed gold and recoiled away from the others in pain.
“That hurt far more then I thought it would!” He exclaimed in heavy breaths. Drawing concerned faces on those present.
Twilight though gave him quizzical look, “Wait? You thought!?!”
Midnight slowly nodded, “Just before I separated Nightmare Moon from Foxtrot, she forcible left a small piece of herself inside of me.”
Luna gave him a disjointed look, “You don’t mean she's taking control of you!!”
“No! No! The piece she left is too weak to that,” He said waving a hoof. “She did it, I think, to stop me from using a decimation spell.”
“But you used it anyway!?!” Celestia said, not believing what she had heard. He nodded a response.
“What does that mean?” Spike asked, echoing the thoughts of many of the ponies there.
“The decimation spell is still destroying Nightmare Moon,” Luna replied slowly. “And the last fragment of her is inside Midnight, so the spell will also….”
She was interrupted by Midnight flashing gold again and recoiling further away. This and the sheer amount of pain verdant in his breathing meant that Luna didn’t have to finish her sentence.

“How do we stop it?” Twilight asked expectantly.
“You can’t,” Celestia answered slowly shaking her head. ”Once it's cast it can’t be stopped. Part of the reason why it's forbidden. But surely Midnight, you must have known about this.”
“I had guessed that was she trying to take me down with her but at that point, there were only two things I could do,” He said gathering his breath. “Cast the spell or let her win. Not that much of a choice, really.”
He flashed gold for a third time and recoiled further back. The pain was clearly worse than before. Twilight one of several who instinctively moved to his aid. Midnight with his head down and breathing deeply, held out a hoof to kept them at bay.
Midnight raised his head up and stared at his outstretched hoof. Its tip started ominously glowing gold, which slowly started spreading. Checking the rest of himself, he found more glows. On his tail, mane, horn and wing tips. His head turned back to ponies watching on, although many found that they couldn’t.
“Basically,” He said with a heavy heart. Lowering his hoof back down. "Goodbye.”
Midnight’s eyes couldn’t help but wander over to Foxtrot, still asleep on the causeway. He smiled contently as he closed his eyes and fought the inevitable no more. With this, the golden glow raced throughout his body, turning to dust and falling away until there was nothing left of Midnight. This ash was carried away on a gentle breeze, becoming indistinguishable from the falling snow.
So ended the Battle of the Dying Storm.

Chapter 44: Bearers Of Bad News

Fresh snow crumpled under Sunset Shimmer’s hooves. She looked up at the blue sky above, showing little evidence of the storm that had engulfed the land three days ago. She peered over her shoulder at Twilight and Spike, wrapped in sufficient winter garments.
Ahead of them was the cave that the Crystal Mirror resided. Its giant stone door half open as Sunset had left it.
“Nearly there,” Sunset called over her shoulder, pulling the door open wider.
“Yeah,” She huffed in reply. The journey to the cave had taken all day and involved wading through deep snowdrifts.
Making their way through the door, Twilight let up her horn and was surprised to see that the cave was very shallow. The Crystal Mirror was already in sight.
While approaching it Spike asked whether it was open.
“Yes,” Sunset answered. “I can feel.”
“Me too,” Twilight added. They examined the mirror with a mixture of emotions.
“Strange to think of it here now and not at home,” Spike said. “And we’re still wondering why it went berserk in the first place.”
“Only Twilight’s theory holds any water,” Sunset replied drawing confused looks from the other two. “Oh, right, yes. I mean the other Twilight. We spent months trying to find the reason to the mirrors strange behavior but it's hard to measure magic and its effects with scientific equipment. The only correlation that she could find was that our sun was producing a large solar flare. Our Twilight theorizes that the sun may produce magical energy, that may have overpowered the portal.”

“Yeah, that sounds about right,” Spike said pretending to understand and fooling no-pony.
“Anyway, speaking of the sun,” Twilight began, turning her sights back to Sunset. “Did you get to talk to Celestia?”
Sunset looked at her hooves with her ears drooped, “No, I haven’t.”
Spike gave her a sideways look, “Why not?”
“Well after we’ve have all been very busy these last few day and I didn’t want to bother her,” -She looked up at the two- “It's been so long and we left on such bad terms. I mean, what do I even say to her?”
A familiar voice wafted in “You could start with hello,”
Princess Celestia strode into the cave much to the surprise of the trio with them exclaiming her name. She stopped just short of them and to Sunset’s silent joy, her look was not one of anger or contempt but of kindness.
The two faced each other with Sunset struggling to find her words, “Celestia, I……I’m sorry.”
Celestia gave Sunset her trademark warming smile and stepped up to her, embracing her with hoof and wings. Twilight and Spike watched on smiling.

Celestia was the one to break the embrace, looking up at the Crystal Mirror, “It is time.”
Sunset and Twilight also turned their attention to the mirror, both sensing its magic waning.
“I truly wish we had longer, for there is much we need to catch up on,”
She continued. “But now you must return to Canterlot High and let them know the fate of the flying craft that came through before.”
“I will,” Sunset replied. “And I will return when the mirror is next open."
“And I look forward to it, Sunset,” Celestia added warmly. “Now go, before the mirror closes.”
After another quick hug, Sunset moved away towards Twilight whilst reaching into her saddle bags, “Here, take this.”
She handed Twilight a brown covered book with both cutie their marks at its center. Twilight quickly studied it and felt its magic in her hoof, “Is this a new journey!?!”
“Curtesy of Sunburst,” Sunset chuckled. “Well, we gotta keep in touch somehow.”
The two mares and Spike shared a hug before Celestia reminded Sunset of the closing mirror. Sunset pulled away from twilight and stood in front of the mirror. She looked over her shoulder at the others waving her goodbye. She gave them a quick salute and then walked into mirrors surface. Just a few seconds later the warm glow the mirror was giving off, ended and the portal closed.
“Wow, she was cutting that fine,” Spike remarked.
“Yes, that's Sunset for you,” Celestia chuckled. She turned away from the Crystal Mirror and made her way towards the cave’s entrance. “Come Twilight. Let us return.”
Twilight smiled and followed with spike still on her back.

Dusk was quickly approaching The Crystal Empire. Celestia, however, found herself at the cities hospital. Wanting to visit its residents before putting the sun to bed. She acknowledged the bow of a nurse before being shown to the main ward.
It was almost full with patients. Almost all of whom were Shinning Armour’s guards or ponies forced into Nightmare Moon’s army. She slowly wandered between the beds and talking to its occupants. Many of them she knew personally. Both from Canterlot and Ponyville.
Ahead of Celestia was another familiar face that she didn’t expect to see, “Well, hello there, Fluttershy.”
Fluttershy ears pricked up at her name. She turned to face her and bowed, “Princess Celestia.”
“I did not expect to see you here.”
“Well the hospital was a little short staffed, so I’ve been giving them an extra hoof.”
“Indeed,” -Celestia looked at the paticents- “Any of them seriously harmed?”
“A couple of fractured bones from a couple of the guards but nothing too serious,” -Fluttershy pointed at several paitents- “Most of them were just suffering from exhaustion and exposure. With another day or two’s rest, they should be ready to go home.”

Celestia nodded and then noticed another pony approach. It was Hoofly’s doctor, Healing Touch. One of the few evacuees who volunteered to stay in the Crystal Empire instead of being moved on to Rainbow Falls. She stood before her and bowed, “Your highness.”
“Dr,” Celestia said, acknowling her bow. “How is everything going?”
“Pretty well, your highness. But…” -She shifted on her hooves- “Foxtrot has woken up and has asked for Midnight Snow.”
Fluttershy’s eyes droupped and rubbed her hoof in nervous discomfort. Celestia, however, had been in this situation more times than she cared to count. Such was the curse of an extended life.
“What did you tell her?” She asked.
“I said I would get someone who could speak to her.”
“Understood,” -Celestia nodded understandingly- “I will tell her.”
“Are you sure?” Fluttershy asked.
“I am,” Celestia reassured. “In many years in Equestria, I have had to deliver such painful news before. Also, Foxtrot is one of my palace guards. It is best if I tell her.”
The other two mares nodded slowly and Healing Touch showed her the way but Foxtrot was not hard to find. She had been given a private room with had guards stationed at its door. Shinning Armour had placed them there, guarding against any reprisals on her. So far none had happened.

Foxtrot stared blankly at her bedcovers, trying to recall and make sense of the last couple of weeks. Celestia gently knocked on the door before opening it and sticking her head around to look inside, “Foxtrot, may I come in?”
Foxtrot looked up from her bed and was slightly panicked to she Celestia so soon, “Princess Celestia! I..I……”
She tried to get out of bed but was ushered back into it by Celestia, “Foxtrot, my dear, stay in bed. You have yet to regain your strength.”
“But Princess Celestia, I’ve failed you.”
Celestia placed a reassuring hoof on her shoulder, “No Foxtrot. You were ambushed by a powerful being that was unknown to you. It would be unfair to blame you for these events.”
Foxtrot calmed down somewhat, “What was this creature?”
“I believe it was the same creature that corrupted my sister all those centuries ago, Nightmare Moon. But we need not threat from her anymore. Midnight saw to that.”
“He did!?! He is full of surprises,” Foxtrot and Celestia grinned. “By The way, here is he?”
Celestia’s smile slowly ebed away, “Foxtrot, do you recall from your training what a Decimation Spell is?”
“Erm, yes. Its a forbidden spell,” She answered confused. “It destroys the target from the inside out. Even parts no-longer connected to the main body.”
“Thats right,” -Celestia nodded- “And Midnight used one on Nightmare Moon.”
“He did!?! Where did he learn how to use such a spell!?!”
“I don’t know but what I can tell you is that he used it just after he freed you from Nightmare Moon," -Celestia took in a deep breath- “But not before that creature forced a piece of herself into Midnight which undaughterly must have fused with his being."
Foxtrot stared at her princess blankly, "What are you saying?"
Celestia didn't need to answer. It was clear from the tears starting to stream down her cheeks, that she knew what Celestia was trying to say. She moved up to Foxtrot and like with Sunset several hours before, embraced her with a both hoof and wings.
Foxtrot let out a bellow of despair and despite it being muffled by a wing, echoed out the room. Bringing an uneasy silence throughout the hospital.

Chapter 45: Good Question

The carriage swayed gently as the train made its way towards Ponyville. Amongst its passengers were Twilight Sparkle and Spike. Both were glum at the prospect of returning home. Tales of Ponyville being set to the torch had been murmured amongst the ponies of Canterlot, which inevitably was heard by Twilight and her friends. Guards that had been under Nightmare Moon’s spell confirmed these rumours to be true. Adding more misery to the already depressing month.
Ponies fit enough to travel back home to Canterlot and the surrounding towns did so at the earliest opportunity. Twilight, Spike and friends had joined them on one of the many trains that had departed from the Crystal Empire. The two, however, got off at Canterlot instead of continuing on to Ponyville, in order to help Celestia and Luna reestablish order but found themselves ushered onto the next train.
In the surprisingly dusty great hall of Canterlot Castle, Celestia told Twilight that she was needed most in Ponyville, especially as the stories appeared to be true.

“We’re coming up on Ponyville now,” Spike said, peering inquisitively out the window. Twilight sighed and slowly sat upright. She dared a peek out over Spike’s head, as the train cleared the last of the trees that obscured their view of the town.
Instead of the scene of deviation that she was expected, she saw Ponyville. Seemingly intact, “”Do you see any fire damage?”
“No,” Spike replied. “Maybe it happened further in town.”
A small amount of hope that had built up in Twilight was inadvertently dashed by Spike’s observation. The worrying that she had was famous for returned.
The train slowly glided into the station with a squeal of brakes. Spike jumped off his seat as Twilight stretched out, put her saddlebags back on and then followed. Leaving the carriage they both inspected the station building. Like the ones they had seen from the train, it was undamaged. They both shrugged at each other.

Instead of going straight back home, the two wandered around Ponyville. Looking for the area affected by the fire but yet they found nothing.
“So the stories weren’t true then?” Spike asked Twilight.
“Well, the buildings look fine but look at the ground.”
Twilight scraped the ground with her hoof. Spike looked at her scrape and saw that the ground and frosted grass was discoloured.
“There was a fire here,” Twilight continued. “A serious one and yet, only the ground seems to have been affected…”
“Hey, guys!!!”
The call drew their eyes skywards, to see Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy flying towards them, landing just beside them.
“Hey girls,” Twilight greeted them.
“I’m surprised to see you back so soon,” Fluttershy commented. “I Thought that Celestia and Luna would keep you busy for a while.”
“Actually, there was not much that needed to be done in Canterlot,” Twilight replied, “And with the stories of Ponyville being burnt to the ground, it was thought best that come here to help but it looks like they were false.”
“Oh no, they were true,” Dash chimed in. “Most of the buildings in Ponyville were reduced to ashes.”
Twilight and Spike looked at each other and at the pristine buildings around them. Spike scratched his chin, “Are you sure? Cause this place looks fine to me.”
“Oh, it had Spike,” Fluttershy continued. “But it was all repaired a few days after Nightmare Moon burned it all down.”
“Wait a minute. Ponyville was burnt to ashes but was restored completely in just a few days!” Twilight summarised. “Who could do that?”

In a blink of an eye and with no warning, Twilight and Spike found themselves on a brightly light stage. Each behind a podium with their names written on them. The backstage had the words ‘Guess Who’ written in bright yellow lights
“What a good question contestant number 1,” Came a booming, energetic voice. “Who could rebuild Ponyville in such a short space of time?”
Twilight looked around with mild irritation on her brow, “Discord!!!”
“Is the right answer!”
Twilight face-hoofed, releasing that she had inadvertently joined in his game. The stage she was on disappeared as quickly as it appeared. She and Spike then found themselves in Discord’s hugging arms, “It’s so good to see you guys again, I was starting to worry.”
Spike raised a sceptical eyebrow, “You were worried.”
“Well of course,” Discord protested, as self-playing violins started floating behind him and produced a harrowing tune. “When I came round to visit Fluttershy and saw most of Ponyville had become black ash, I grew really concerned at your well-being.”
“What did you do then?” Spike queried.
“I looked for you guys in town but I couldn’t find any of you guys anywhere,” -Discord transformed himself into a binoculars version of himself, which panned around- "And by the time that I was told of Nightmare Moon's return, it was already over.”

“And you rebuilt Ponyville?” Twilight asked.
“He did, Twilight,” Fluttershy beamed. “All of it.”
“Well, after I saw the faces and tears of the ponies that had returned to their destroyed homes, how could I not. It was so disheartening to see them like that.”
“But you're the spirit of chaos,” Spike pointed out. “I thought you were into this kind of thing.”
Discord gave him an off look, as if insulted, “My little dragon, what resulted here was not chaos but malice. Pure cynical malice, of the most distasteful of sorts.”
Spike looked away from his gaze. Twilight, however, stepped up to Discord with a relieved smile, “Thankyou, Discord. This means a lot to us.”
Discord physically went red, “Oh Twilight, you're making me blush.”
Twilight giggled and gave him a hug. Spike also offered his apologies.
“Don’t worry about little one,” Discord mused, levitating Spike in front of him. “I know, let's go to your home! You two must be tired from your journey.”

With a flick of his fingers, Discord teleported all of them to the entrance of Twilights castle. She and Spike eagerly inspected their home.
“It’s all in one piece!” Spike exclaimed. “Good job.”
“Well, I can’t take all the credit,” Discord stated. “The tree of harmony had already repaired the outside. I just restored the interior, to the best of my knowledge anyway.”
Twilight opened the front doors and stepped inside. Everything was as she had left it, much to her surprise, “It's perfect Discord.”
Discord grinned, which drew Fluttershy’s attention.
“Well, I better get going. I promised Scootaloo that I’d see her when I got back and that was well over a week ago,” Dash announced. She gave her trademark salute and took off. The others said their good days as she soared into the sky.
Twilight and Spike stepped into their home yet, Fluttershy and Discord remained outside. She was looking at him as he looked at Dash with his mischievous smile, “Discord."
He reacted like a filly with its hoof caught in the cookie jar, “What!?! I was only going to help her along, that's all.”
“And?” -Fluttershy gave him one of her dry stares- “What else have you done?”

“DISCORD!!!”
Twilight’s shout reverberated out the castle, drawing a snigger from the spirit of chaos. This ended when he looked back at Fluttershy and got the stare.
“All I did was restock her library with some exciting books,” He explained, yet the stare remained. “And some of these books may actually be alive.”
Fluttershy rolled her eyes but returned to her stare.
“Ah you're no fun today,” -Discord folded his arms- “Fine. I’ll fix it.”
He walked towards the castle doors. Fluttershy sighed, “And here I was going to say that I’ve never been prouder of you.”
Discord stopped in the doorway and glanced back. He smiled warmly with newly found pride, before entering Twilight’s castle.

Chapter 46: Hosts

Steel Wall stood before the large doors to the grand hall of Canterlot Castle. It was a place he had been many times before while on sentry duty but today was very different.
It had been a week since Nightmare Moon was defeated. A week since he released from the dungeons that he had been imprisoned in since his capture in Ponyville. He was due to be executed upon Nightmare Moon’s return when the guards assigned to watching him were released from her spell and let him out.
From that point, Steel Wall took temporary command of Canterlot. A command he willingly relinquished when Princess Luna returned.
That was four days ago. Her sister, Princess Celestia, had arrived yesterday and he summoned to appear before her this very evening. Truth be told, he didn’t know what to expect.

He took in a deep breath as the doors to the hall were opened, with Steel Wall’s name being announced out loud.
To his alarm, the two royal pony sisters were standing at the far end of the hall, adorned in ceremonial armour, that glistened brightly.
Between them and himself where an honour guard. Consisting of all the officers of the Canterlot guard, including Steel Wall’s sergeant, Stern Winds and their captain, Shining Armour.
“Approach, Steel Wall!” His captain commanded.
Steel Wall did so at a steady pace. Walking between the honour guard who betrayed no emotion on their faces.
Upon reaching the princesses, he bowed down on his front knees.
“Rise, Steel Wall,” Celestia commanded softly. “And please, remove your helmet.”
He did so, breaking the armour’s spell and revealing his true colours. An earthy brown coat and mane of white.
“I trust you are well after your ordeal?” Celestia continued.
“I am, your highness.”
She smiled warmly, “Do you know why you were summoned today.”
Steel Wall pondered for a moment, “I have not been informed as into why, your highness.”
Celestia nodded and turned to Luna, who took a step forward, “Steel Wall, your actions after you release from Nightmare Moon’s control is why you are here today.”

As one, the honour guard turned to face the princesses with and an echo of attention.
“Your quick thinking and actions in evacuating Hoofly and Ponyville almost certainly saved their residents from Nightmare Moon,” Luna continued. “And your warning you sent to the Crystal Empire of Nightmare Moon’s intentions, gave us the time to prepare for her arrival and eventually, her defeat.”
Shining Armour stepped up with a plush velvet pillow levitated in his magic.
“As a result of this. It is with great pride that I award you the Star of Equestria,” Celestia declared. Taking a medal from the levitated pillow in her magic. She stepped up and pinned it to Steel Wall’s chest. He Looked down at it with his mouth hanging open.
The Star of Equestria was a simple, unassuming military medal. It was a plane silver five-pointed star on a brass circle, attached by a red ribbon. However, this was a rare medal. Only a hoof-full had been awarded in the last century.
“Your highnesses, you overstate my role in the outcome.”
“No, Steel Wall,” Luna said warmly. “Knowledge of her plans was is invaluable. So you may drop the modesty.”
He took a step back and gave the princesses a salute. The honour guard followed suit.

The princesses returned the salute with a slight bow of the head. Steel wall slotted himself beside Shining Armour, as the princesses strode past, the guards bowing as they passed.
“Honour guard, dismissed!” Shining Armour beloved as the two sisters strode through the double doors. The offices stood at ease and dispersed.
It was only now that Steel Wall allowed himself to breathe properly. Tilting his medal up, so that he could see it properly.
“Congratulations, private,” Shining Armour said with a smile.
“Thank you, Sir.”
“Would you care to walk with me for a bit.” He said already moving. Steel Wall put his helmet back on and followed, making their way out of the grand hall and into one of the many gardens. Shining Armour looked up at the midday sun and soaked up its rays, “You did well against Nightmare Moon, all things considered.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Better than I did against Queen Chrysalis,” He continued. “And you were able to fend off her completely the second time around.”
“I was merely wise to her tricks and was prepared for her, sir.”
Shining Armour chuckled a bit before turning to face him, “You have experiences few other ponies have and you came out of it better than the ones of whom I could list. This experience could serve to help others. How would you feel about taking up a teaching position in the credits school?”
Steel wall was stunned somewhat by this offer, “I’ll have to think about it, sir.”
Shining Armour placed a hoof on his shoulder, “You don’t have to give me your answer now. So give it some thought.”
“Yes, sir,” He replied nodding. Shining Armour smiled and left Steel Wall with his thoughts and his new medal, glistening in the sunlight.

High up in the central palace of the Crystal Empire, Foxtrot stood dangerously close to the edge. Staring down at the sparkling city below as the sun started to set.
“Foxtrot, what are you doing up here?”
Foxtrot turned to the source of the voice, princess Cadence. Who could clearly see the state she was in. Her wings were being dragged around and her eyes were sore from the many tears that had been shed, “Looking into the abyss, your highness.”
Cadence took a carefully placed step forward, “It’s pretty cold up here. Shall we go inside?”
Foxtrot shook her head and turned her gaze back to the edge, “I just wanna be alone.”
“I don’t think that would be wise right now.”
“I wouldn’t worry too much,” Foxtrot said with her back still turned. “I’ve been up here for hours and I haven’t got up the courage yet to jump…”

Cadence, with her fears, confirmed, choose her next words carefully, “Why is this?”
Foxtrot looked back at her, eye-to-eye, “I’m afraid. I’m scared of dying. Scared of what's next after this.”
Cadence nodded very slowly, “So why face death today?”
“Cause there is nothing left for me here,” -She looked at Cadence almost flabbergasted- “My mother is dead at my own hoof. My home lays in ruins. I can never show my face in Hoofly or Canterlot ever again. And Midnight..”
She grimaced, unable to finish the sentence. Cadence drew her back a bit, “Why can’t you return home?”
Foxtrot look turned incredulous, “Please, princess Cadence, don’t pretend to be ignorant of the looks I got from the others in the hospital. They do not see me. They see my wings and my cutie mark, and they see what I was.
I can’t possible go back into Celestia’s service after all this. That makes my life worthless once again.”
Cadence gave Foxtrot a sideways look, “And what of Midnight Snow, what of his memory?”

Foxtrot now averted from her gaze.
“Foxtrot, he gave his life for you. He clearly didn’t think it was worthless,” Cadence said, drawing a fresh tear from Foxtrot. “Do you know that when we considering options against Nightmare Moon, Midnight would openly oppose any plan that also involved your harm. To the point that he would way ’I will physically fight anypony that intends to harm Foxtrot’.”
Foxtrot looked back at her.
“He even made my husband think twice,” Cadence continued. “Speaking of which, I could get him to transfer you to a unit assigned here in the Crystal Empire if you’d like.”
“You would do that?” -Foxtrot turned to face her completely- “You would have me?”
Cadence smiled, “I know the ponies of Canterlot can be very cruel in their judgements but if there’s one thing I can say about crystal ponies, is that they sympathise to does who have dark histories. For the history of the Crystal Empire is a dark one.”
Cadence closed the distance between them considerably, “And as for Shining Armour, well I’m his wife so he has to do I say.”
She followed this with a playful wink, which drew a much-wanted giggle from Foxtrot. Then, however, she started to sway somewhat, “Foxtrot, are you alright?”
Foxtrot was on the verge of passing out and started to fall backwards over the edge. Cadence caught her immediately in her magic and hovered her away from the brink. Foxtrot placed a hoof on her head while Cadence steamed her, “You ok, Foxtrot?”
“Yeah, I think so..”
“How long have you been getting these dizzy spells?”
She thought for a moment, “Since I woke up in the hospital.”
Cadence nodded and began leading her to the stairs, “Let's get you back there. we need to get this checked.”
Foxtrot didn’t put up any resistance and together they descended the stairs, back into the palaces warm interior.

Chapter 1: Strange Sounds

Author's Note

This is my first Fanfic. So please be kind if I get any facts or wording wrong' would welcome constructive feedback

Chapter 1: Strange Sounds

It was a pleasant day in Ponyville. The sun was out' a gentle breeze, an all round enjoyable day. All the towns the residents were out enjoying the brilliant sunshine, all except for those deep inside a crystalline castle at one end of town. Their Rarity was searching the halls and many rooms of the castle, searching for Twilight Sparkle. No doubt she had her head buried in a book as she normal. As Rarity moved deeper into the castle, she became aware of strange noises emanating from one of the deepest rooms of the castle. As she approached its door’ the strange sounds suddenly stop. Pressing an ear against the door, Rarity could clearly Twilight speaking to Spike.

Rarity flung the door in flamboyant style, catching the attention of all in the room.
“Twilight, darling. I simply cannot allow you to lock yourself away on such a glorious day for any book, no matter how grand. I insist you join me for a….”
Her words were cut off by the re-emergence of the strange noise. She looked up at its source, the Crystal Mirror, the portal to Canterlot High and the world it resides in.
Rarity watched it intrinsically. It's surface glowed and then faded, the noise emanating from it would while up and then die down. It was if the portal itself was trying to power up yet was unable to, not completely, falling just short every time. After several minutes of trying and failing to open the portal powered down, its surface turning back to its usual mirror state.

“Good morning Rarity,” Twilight chirped as silence returned to the room.
“That's the…” Rarity started.
“Portal to Canterlot High,” Starlight Glimmer finished, making her presence in the room known for the first time to Rarity “We’ve been up all night watching it and Twilights been telling me all about it.”
“ALL night,” Rarity exclaimed.
“Yes,” Glimmer continued “It woke me up in the early hours this morning. It woke Twilight and Spike up as well, we investigated the noise, and we’ve been observing it since then.”
Rarity looked over at Twilight “Darling you know staying up all night ruins you compl….”
Yet again she the portal trying again to activate but once again falling short.
“This cycle is taking longer,” Spike commented
“And the time between cycles is shortening,” Glimmer added, “Whatever it's building up to’ it's gonna happen soon.”

The Crystal Mirror eventually calmed downed back to its normal state.
“Do you think the same thing is happening on the other side?” Rarity asked.
“Oh yes,” Twilight said, lifting up a book with a distinct sun symbol on it “And Sunset Shimmer has been given keeping me informed of her side and it appears to be doing exactly the same thing.”
The mirror powered down after a short time, but it took longer than before.
“Has it done this before?” Rarity continued asking
“Not While I’ve had it here, and I can’t find anything in any records of this happening…..”
This time, it was Twilight Sparkle who was interrupted by the mirror starting another cycle, but this one was different. It's was building up power faster and more intensely’ its surface glowing brighter and brighter’ and it wasn’t stopping this time.

Spike and the three ponies started backing away from the mirror and towards the door.
“I don’t think we’re safe here!” Glimmer Shouted over the building sound.
They now had to shield their eyes from the light now engulfing the room.
Then it happened.
A beam of white light shot out of the crystal mirror at a sharpest of angles, burning a hole into the ceiling without slowing.
With Spike clinging to Rarity’s back, the little Ponies raced out of the nearest exit of Twilight’s castle and looked up to the skies. The beam of light had stopped in mid-air, several hundred feet above the castle's highest point. A new portal started foaming, replacing warming blue in the sky with an unnatural purple with red lightning arcing all through its swirling void. Its diameter grew immensely until it was easily able to swallow up the castle below.

And there it stayed, hanging ominously’ high above Ponyville. Twilight stared up at the swirling mass in awe and growing fear. Many aspects of it were very unnerving, least of all was the fact that it cast no shadow on the ground.
It was about this time that she became aware of other ponies gathering to watch the spectacle, both in the air on the ground.
Beside her, Glimmer, Spike & Rarity had gathered, also transfixed on the portal.
“You three,” -Twilight turned to them- “Get everypony to move back, I think it may keep expanding!”
The three nodded and set about their task, as Twilight unfolded here wings and took flight.
Several Pegasi had already gathered around the portal, and although they were keeping a distance, they were too close for Twilight’s liking.
Amongst them’ she saw a familiar blue coloured pegasus zipping about.
“DASH!!” Twilight called out.
The ears of Rainbow Dash perked up’ and flew over.
“Twilight’ Whats going on!?!”
“It's the portal to Canterlot High’ its going crazy!” She quickly explained. “We have to get everypony back, I don’t know what it's going to do next.”
Dash nodded and moved out.
Twilight took a deep breath, and silently hoped that all was better at the other side of the portal.

At Canterlot High, things had taken a turn for the worst. Sunset Shimmer and the others watched helplessly, as the first stages of a major disaster unfolded before them.

Chapter 16: In His Blood

Foxtrot and Midnight walked through the castle gates' towards the hustle and bustle of Canterlot city.
The rest of the meeting with the princesses went a lot smoother upon their return, mainly because the worst part was over.
It was mostly trivial from that point on. The only things of note were promises of immediately inform them of any developments in regards to the Crystal Mirror. There was also an offer from Celestia for private tutoring in the skills of magic.
After all was said, the two departed from the castle and heading slowly back to Hoofly.

Once they were several steps outside the gates' Midnight turned to Foxtrot.
"All in all' today's been a bit of a bummer so far," He chuckled.
She smiled at him softly, placing a hoof on his shoulder.
"It is ok to cry, you know," She reassured.
"I don't want to cry," -He shook his head- "What I want to do is scream my head off, then find the creature known as fate in whatever shape it takes and violently stomp its face in."
Foxtrot raised an eyebrow to this aggressive stance.
"But' seeing how that is not a realistic option," -He looked up smiling- "I shall try to laugh it off, as silly as that may sound."
"No, it doesn't. Just don't try and bear this on your own," Foxtrot smiled' before ruffling up his mane.
Midnight giggled and the two continued in the direction of Hoofly. Making their way down a main street, they were passed by a troupe of royal guard. Recognising Foxtrot' they exchanged pleasantries before they moved on with their patrol. Once out of earshot' Midnight brought up what they called Foxtrot.

"Maniac!?!" He said.
Foxtrot blushed slightly' rubbing a hoof to her neck.
"It's a nickname I've had for a while," She said. "Because of my resemblance to a comic book villain."
She spotted a bookstore at that very moment and manoeuvred them to its window. In the shop's front display was a poster for the Power Ponies, which showed the heroes collapsed at the hooves of Mane-iac, revealing in her evil.
A broad smile grew on Midnight's face as he saw the resemblance before he burst out laughing.
"It's not that funny," Foxtrot chuckled, enjoying the laughter Midnight produced.
"I humbly disagree," he replied still laughing.

Midnight then dodged a playful slap from Foxtrot but backed into another royal guard. Midnight immediately turned and apologised to the guardspony, who looked like he was about to fly into a blind rage. However, the guard regained his composure with a deep breath.
"That's alright, citizen," Steel Wall stated. "Just be more careful please."
"Will do, sir," Midnight replied.

Why is he so familiar? Nightmare Moon thought.
From inside Steel Wall she watched Midnight Snow' now being given a noogie by Foxtrot. It was by no means the first time she had seen him. She knew who he was' the only survivor from the crash. She knew what he was, the flimsy disguise didn't fool her. Despite being an alicorn, he being male and one winged made him all but useless to her.
But this was the first time she had been this close to him and felt something deep in his blood. Something so familiar that it nearly made her burst out enraged, but she could not say as to why.
No matter She concluded, watching the two walk down the street. I have more pressing things to find out.

Chapter 20: Bating A Demon

Dr. Twinstar walked into the training courtyard of Canterlot Castle and looked across at the line of guards on parade. She checked her saddlebags on her back and in particular the two pieces of the broken obelisk on each side of her, deliberately clear for all to see.
It had been a week since her revelation that there might be another Nightmare Moon and it could be roaming around Equestria.
Her first thought was to take the granite pieces straight to princess Celestia but this was quickly dispelled it. The evidence that there even was a second Nightmare Moon was merely speculation, so was the theory that it was now in this world. There was also still the illusion that Nightmare Moon was a part of princess Luna and presenting her current findings at this time could be seen as slander.
Either way, Twinstar did not have a high regard for princess Celestia, her recent handling of the incident in Yakyakisatn reinforced this opinion.

But like normal, she had a plan. After going through reports on the crash site cleanup operation and took note of the ponies involved. Twinstar had a hunch that Luna and Nightmare Moon were not one and the same, and Nightmare Moon in whatever form it took had infected one of the aforementioned ponies.
Twinstar had been wearing here saddle bags with the obelisk pieces deliberately on show and then went round and talked to her research team, as well as members of the Red Hoof Medical Core. It was now the turn of the royal guard. All the ones she was after were paraded in front of her.
“Lieutenant Stern Wing,” She called out’ trotting slowly towards him.
“Dr. Twinstar,” The Lieutenant replied. “We’re in the middle of parade’ Dr.”
“This will only take a moment,” She retorted, walking down towards him in front of the line of ponies.
“Fine,” He said disgruntled.
“I’m just giving you notice,” -Twinstar stopped in front of Stern Wing- “That I and my team may ask you and those under your command for interviews as in regard to the cleanup operation.”
“Is that all?” -he looked incredulously at her-
“For now,” Came her quick reply, immediately turning away. Conversation over.
“typical Twinstar,” Stern wing muttered under his breath when she was out of earshot, shaking his head.
Twinstar strode past the guards and out of the courtyard. So She thought. Let's see who bites.

Chapter 36: Through The Storm

Deep in the ice wastes of the north, a mighty door slowly opened in gradual shoves. The door was sealing the entrance to a deep cave, buried in the side of a nameless mountain. Squeezing through the gap created, a pony stepped into the swirling tempest that had taken hold
to the land outside. Checking its surroundings, it could just make out the glow of a large city through the blizzard. After wiping built up snow from its brow, the pony started the long trek through the storm.

The icy wind prickled painfully against the few exposed patches on Rainbow Dash’s skin. She pulled down scarf that was covering her muzzle, letting out a large frosted breath. Even in all her winter clothing, the cold was unbearable.
She was standing on one of the many hills and small mountains that surrounded the Crystal Empire. From here she should have had a clear view of the planes below. However, the weather was appalling and visibility was almost non-existence. Dash then looked back over her shoulder, “You still with me, Soarin?”
“Still here, Dash,” He replied, landing beside her. His presence did little to relieve her mood.

When the storm that was now upon them was fist spotted, Candace ordered that the refugees from Hoofly be moved on. With the storm and the real of the city becoming a battleground, she could not guarantee their safety. Many of them were too exhausted to argue and agreed to depart for safer lands. Some elected to stay behind, either to clear space on the overcrowded train or believed they could somehow help in the anticipated battle.
After giving its occupants food and blankets, the train departed within an hour of its arrival. Departing on the southeastern line, it just managed to outrun the encroaching snowstorm and reached the town of Rainbow Falls. The refugees naturally spread the news of Nightmare Moon's return to the astonished residents.
By chance, the Wonderbolts were in town preparing for aerial display. Spitfire rallied the pegasi under her command and moved out, braving the worst that the frozen north could throw at them. A day later they reached the Crystal Empire. After a short rest, they offered their services to the princesses, which was gladly accepted. Being the best flyers in Equestria and proving that they can handle whatever the storm could throw at them, Shinning Armour had them patrol the wastes.

“See anything?” Soarin asked, squinting at the plains below.
“No, nothing,” Cam Dash’s agitated reply.
Soarin looked at her with a raised eyebrow, “You ok, Rainbow Dash?”
“Yeah. It's just this weather.”
“Is that all?” He asked. Dash looked at him.
“Well, it's just that,” -She shuffled on her hooves- “It's been a week since Nightmare Moon showed up and she’s done nothing. I mean yeah, there some reports that she’s attacked Ponyville but since then, nothing.”
Rainbow then turned to face Soarin fully, “All the remaining alicorns and royal guard are right here. So, where is she?”
Soarin placed a reassuring hoof on her shoulder, “She’s probably getting ready like we are. Or, more likely, playing mind games with us.”
“Yeah, I know. I just don’t like being so inactive.”
“Well, we can’t make a move till this storm lifts off. We also have to wait for the others to come up with a plan, if they can even think of one.”
Rainbow Dash gave a confident grin, “If there's any-pony that can beat Nightmare Moon, it's Twilight.”
Soarin gave a contented smile from seeing Dash’s spark return to her eyes, “Come on. We got one more peak to cover and then our patrols over, and then we can get something warm in our bellies.”
Soarin in one bound, took to the skies, quickly followed by Rainbow Dash.

High up in the central palace, Midnight Snow stared at the unrelenting storm in the far distance. Candace had declared it the worst storm that had ever struck the empire. Rumours abounded that Nightmare Moon was somehow behind it.
The Crystal Heart was being stretched to his its limits, spinning madly almost nonstop since the storms arrival. The barrier that normally keeps the frozen north at bay had been reduced to almost the city limits.

Out the corner of his eye, Midnight saw the doors to a balcony open, allowing a gust of cold enter. It was princess Luna, being assisted by Applejack and Fluttershy. The wounds to her chest had still not healed completely and it was not easy for her to move about.
Now on the balcony, Luna’s horn glowed brightly. Midnight looked to the skies as they darkened . The city was already dark, being mainly lit by street lights.
The three remaining princesses had been taking it in turn rising and lowering the sun and moon. It was a message to Equestria and the lands beyond its borders, that Nightmare Moon had not won yet.
When she had finished, Luna re-entered the palace, ending the cold draft that had developed with the slam of doors. Luna smiled at the mares helping, declining their assistance despite her pain. It was then she saw the lone stallion, “Good evening, Midnight Snow.”
“Good Evening, princess, Ladies,” He bowed respectfully. “How are your injuries?”
“Healing, slowly.” She answered. “Yourself?”
“Ehh, I’ll live,” He shrugged, before turning back to the window. The three moved up and joined him by the window.
“What awful weather,” Fluttershy commented, bringing nods from the others.
“Hmmm. Yet strangely comforting,” Midnight added.
“How on earth, can you find it comforting?” Applejack queried vigorously.
“Because it reminds me of home,” He answered, not meeting her eye. “The home I had before coming to Equestria. I lived on an island. Storms were commonplace. I do miss it right now.”

The sound of the library doors opening brought the conversation to an end, as Spike entered the room, “Hey guys! I think we got something!”
The ponies exchanged glances before following the little dragon into the room. The sight that greeted them would have horrified any librarian. Books lay everywhere, in various degrees of condition.
On the central table, Midnight saw could see Twilight, Starlight and Sunburst gathered around the same book, deep in chatter.
“Spike says you’ve got something,” Applejack called to them.The three looked up from the book with varying degrees of confidence.
“We think so,” Twilight said. “But we need everyone present if it is to work.”
She gave a nod to Spike who turned and exited the room, passing Luna on his way, “I'm on it.”
“So, erm…” Fluttershy stuttered. “How are we going defeat, Nightmare Moon, without the Elements of Harmony?”
“The Elements of what?” Midnight asked.
“The Elements of Harmony were a set of magical items that allowed us to banish Nightmare Moon and save Luna,” Twilight answered.
“And we can’t use them, because?”
“The Tree of Harmony took them, and used them to destroy a bunch of really mean vines!”
This voice came with a weight on Midnight’s head who didn’t even need to look, “Hello, Pinkie.”
“Pinkie Pie, please get off his head,” Came Candace’s voice from across the room. The group turned to see her, Shinning Armour, Rarity & Spike coming towards them, “Spike, filled us in with a couple of the details. You think you can replicate the Elements of Harmony?”
“Sort of,” Sunburst said, adjusting his glasses. “By combining a few spells together, we think we may be able to replicate the magical elemental resonance by using series of other spells and the magical well in order to recreate the essence of the Elements of Harmony.”

“Err… Meaning?” Applejack asked, completely lost.
“In short,” -Twilight took in a breath- “Sunburst and Glimmer will cast spells on us bearers and hopefully recreate the type of magic that the Elements gave.”
Candace raised an eyebrow whilst examining the page that they had been studying, “Intriguing. Will it work?”
“It is risky and will require a lot of magic,” Glimmer exposited. “We’ll need to drain other ponies of a large amount of their magic.”
This brought on a tense silence from the other ponies as they considered the possible ramifications of draining others their magic. Strangely, catching many off guard, it was Midnight who was first to speak, “Sunburst, do you honestly believe that this plan could work and save Foxtrot?”
Sunburst turned and meet his eye, “Yes, yes I do.”
“Then you can have my magic.”
“Are you sure, Midnight?” Twilight pressed, not convinced that he knew what he was volunteering for.
“I’m sure. There's apparently nothing else I can do. So, my magic is at your disposal, if it means saving Foxtrot.”
Candace gave Midnight a warm smile, recognising the feeling that was driving his actions.
“Also according to you Twilight, being an alicorn I should have a lot of magic for you to use.”
“It will require more than one alicorn’s magic for this idea t work,” Glimmer added.
Applejack rubbed the side of her neck, “Well, how much magic then?”
“Well, if I was to use alicorns as a measurement,” Glimmer continued. “The magic from at least three of them.”
“So’ me, Candace and Luna.”
“Essentially.”
Cadence turned a concerned eye on to Luna, “Do you think you'll be able to do that?”
Luna gently rubbed a sore patch on her chest, “I think I’ll be able to manage the task of lending thy magic to this plan.”

“Excuse me, Princess Candace, Captain,”
The group looked at the floor above them to see a saluting Flash Sentry, “A pony has just arrived from the wastes and is insisting on seeing Princess Twilight Sparkle.”
An amber mare with vivid red and yellow mane, appeared beside him, “Hey Twilight. Why is the Crystal Mirror in a cave, deep in the icy wastes?”

Chapter 47: Moonlight Snow (Final Chapter)

On a snow-covered hillside on the outskirts of the Crystal Empire, Foxtrot made her way slowly made her way to its summit. It was a pleasant winters day with only a gentle breeze wafting her red scarf about.
It would have been an unremarkable hill if not for two things. The must obvious was the huge gouge down one side of the hill, like a deep scar. Clear evidence of the battle that had taken place.
The other point of interest now lay before Foxtrot. A small crystal spire that sat proudly at the hill’s summit. It was twice her height and towards its base was an engraved marble plaque, sunken into the crystal. It read ‘In Memory Of Midnight Snow’ with his cutie mark carved above it.
A bouquet of white flowers that had been held aloft in her magic, was now laid at the base of the memorial. She took a step back and stood there in silent contemplation.

It was almost five year since that fateful day. Much had changed and yet her surrounding were not.
Foxtrot never returned to Hoofly or step hoof in Canterlot again. In fact, she had rarely gone past the outskirts of the Crystal Empire in a self-imposed exile. She had slowly settled in with the crystal ponies, who showed her little hostility.
Cadence made good on her promise and got Foxtrot transferred to Flash Sentry’s company, tough her tour of duty had been cut short due to her worsening condition.
The dizzy spells that had nearly sent her off the palace had become more frequent and had been joined by other symptoms. It didn’t take long for doctors to diagnose what was wrong.
Their findings came as a surprise but was not altogether unwelcome and had long since ended. After it had subsided she slowly returned to active duty.
However, her return to the guard was mired by a series of ponies, who taken it upon themselves to exact punishment on Foxtrot. They believed vehemently that she had gotten off easy or were in a state of paranoia and thought some small part of Nightmare Moon was still inside Foxtrot. Some had even argued that she be held accountable for the burning of Ponyville.
Most of these ponies mealy tried to intimidate or guilt trip Foxtrot. Others, though, had more sinister plots in mind, leading to her being more guarded and watched.

Such thoughts of the past and her uncertain future were driven from Foxtrot’s mind, as her silent contemplation was broken the soft sound of laughter.
Peering over her shoulder, she cast her eyes upon the light gray form of a young unicorn filly. Jumping in the deeper snow and enjoying the shapes she was making. Foxtrot couldn’t help but smile at the filly, “Moonlight!”
Moonlight Snow looked up from her play and up at Foxtrot, who was beckoning her over, “Come and say hello to your father.”
“Ok, mummy,” She replied before shaking the snow out of her gold tipped azure hair and bounded over to Foxtrot. She positioned herself under her mother, between her front hooves and in the cutest of fashions, waved at her father's monument. Moonlight then looked up at her mother with her golden eyes, “Mummy, what was daddy like?”
“Well, he was kind and very brave,” Foxtrot answered. She then tickled Moonlight’s side, bringing her out in giggles, “Just like a certain little pony I know.”
When her mother finished tickling her, Moonlight asked for her favorite story, “How did you and daddy meet?”
“Moonlight, I’ve told you that story hundreds of times.”
“But I really like it, mummy.”

Pricks of cold across her skin drew Foxtrot’s attention skywards. A fresh batch of snow had begun descending on a north breeze.
In an instant, she was sent back to that fateful year. Memories of Hoofly, both good and bad. The terror brought by Nightmare Moon and the vicious storm. But most of all, she could see and hear Midnight Snow once again.
Foxtrot looked back down at the expecting eyes of her daughter.
“Well, ok then.”
Foxtrot sat down with Moonlight and started to tell her the tale once again.