Where do I even begin? What words could I possibly say after having just finished admitting to you that I committed genocide? What does any of this matter, anyway? You already have everything you need to know, Your Highness, so just get on with it already!

(...)

What? You want to hear the rest of it? Why? Do you really enjoy listening to me recount this twisted little melodrama that much?

(...)

Fine then, Your Highness, I'll continue if you really want to hear it. Suffice to say that I wasn't exactly feeling very good about myself after having realized the full extent of what I had done. Nightmare Moon wasn't an idiot, of course, so she noticed my change in behavior almost immediately. Dear Christ, I wish I could give that heartless bitch a piece of my mind. That or a swift buck to the face. Either way, I imagine it would be very satisfying, not to mention cathartic. At any rate, my work on the array suffered, as my already troubled mind had trouble focusing when the images of the violence I had carried out kept playing through it over and over again.

Artemis, stop. Her voice startled me, the rock I had been using to carve the next part of the array dropping from my telekinetic grip as a result. You have been staring at that same line for the past ten minutes now. What in the heavens is the matter with you?

"Nothing," I snapped, picking the piece back up so I could get back to work. The lie was bitter on my tongue, her disbelief almost palpable as I etched the design into the stone beneath my hooves. "Just shut up and let me work in peace." Peace was another lie, something I believed I would never know, a dull, throbbing ache settling into the base of my skull as I forced myself to continue the work. Freedom was my only hope, my only escape from the barren wasteland that was the moon. My prison. My own personal little slice of hell.

(...)

Hell? It's different for everyone, or so I've heard, yet there's one thing most I've spoken to on the subject can agree on. Hell is repetition. Prometheus getting his liver pecked out every day. Sisyphus, forced to toil at rolling an immense boulder up a hill again and again, only for it to tumble back down every time. Me, scratching the same symbols into rock over and over, though at least I had something to look forward to at the end of it all. At least that's what I told myself, though looking back I don't think I truly believed it. Especially not at that moment.

No, I will not sit here and watch you sulk. I let out a growl of annoyance. It is time for another chat, I think. My consciousness spiraled downwards until I stood inside her construct, scowling irritably at her projection where it stood across from me. It has been three weeks since you returned from the dark side of my moon. Three weeks and still you mope. Why? Why do you flagellate yourself so? We have too much work left ahead for you to be-

"We?" My tone spoke of my sense of incredulity, Nightmare Moon glaring right back at me for having interrupted her. "What we? I have been the one doing all the work here, Princess! All you do is take up space in my head and talk down to me like I'm your own personal little slave!"

You are the one inside my head, you ungrateful foal! I scoffed, still scratching out the array as I listened to her bitch at me. If it were not for me, you would not even exist anymore. This made me pause, as I hadn't really contemplated the nature of my new existence in some time. You are but an echo, a shadow of a mortal that has invaded my body, and nothing more!

"And yet I'm the one that's in control," I reminded her coldly as I forced my way out of her construct, the stone I'd been using to carve with crumbling to dust in the grasp of my magic. "Where would you even be without my presence? Locked in the stone beneath my hooves, a helpless prisoner for all eternity." I could tell this fact rankled, a vicious smile settling onto my face. "So how about showing a little gratitude for once, Your Highness?"

Go to Tartarus, you insufferable bastard. I laughed, picking up a fresh stone so I could continue my work.

"Maybe I'll take a vacation there once we're free." I chuckled at the thought, finding it oddly amusing. Given the parallels between our two worlds, I could only assume that Tartarus is your version of Hell, so why not? It can't be any worse than anything I had already experienced during my incarceration.

(...)

Oh really? Well isn't that interesting. Carrying on with our story, I worked for...I don't know how long. Time passed oddly, to say the least, so I might have toiled for months without realizing it. Suffice it to say, it was a long time before Nightmare Moon deigned to speak with me again.

I apologize. You can imagine my shock, hearing her say something so unexpected. She never struck me as someone that apologized for anything, after all. I sometimes forget that we are both prisoners here, in our own ways, and that without your presence I would not even be aware of my plight.

"It's fine," I responded dismissively, finishing up for the time being and deciding a break was in order. "It's not like I've been any more pleasant." I sighed, taking a seat and trying to relax. "Don't get me wrong, though. You're still a heartless bitch."

And you, my prince, are a feckless, charmless ape. Her tone was harsh, yet I got the impression that she was smiling. I don't know how to explain this odd comradery we seemed to share at times, when at others we seemed ready to kill each other. I'm no psychologist, so I really can't say for certain what caused it. We had a mutual enemy and shared a goal, but is that enough to explain it? I honestly don't know. Now, be a good slave and get back to work.

"As you command, your worshipfulness~"

0o0o0o0o0o0

Time dragged ever onward, though its passage seemed overly fast and yet, at the same time, painfully slow. The work on the array continued, as did my training, Nightmare Moon honing my skills to a razor's edge in preparation for battle. I was to show no mercy and I was happy to agree. I hated you more than anything I have ever despised in my entire life and, even now, I still do to an extent. Is that so surprising? The way you're looking at me now, how you have been this entire time; it makes me curious how well your subjects really know their queen.

(...)

I don't care what you choose to call yourself, Highness. We're not here to talk about your title, after all. So, shall I continue or are we going to start arguing over semantics?

(...)

Fine, on with the story it is. There's really little more to say about my incarceration at this point. It was a terrible experience that I wouldn't wish on my worst enemy and it will likely haunt my nightmares for years to come. A thousand years with a high functioning psychopath and wannabe tyrant left me just as deranged, if not more so, and, if not for the events that transpired following my arrival in Equestria, I'd have been a worse dictator than even the late King Sombra ever had the chance to be. I will never be able to express how glad I am that things have worked out as they did, but for now let's just move on.

The longest day of the thousandth year since our shared banishment had arrived. The array was long since completed and the stars were aligned just as Nightmare Moon had predicted. It was time to claim our freedom at long last. I could practically feel the power thrumming beneath my hooves as I stalked my way into the darkness, my senses alive with anticipation. The agony, frustration and doubt I had felt, the countless hours of sleepless, painstaking toil and enduring Nightmare's so-called training; all of it had led to this one chance and I didn't plan on wasting it.

Hurry, Artemis. I didn't exactly need the reminder, but I could certainly understand her urgency. If we missed that one opening it would be another thousand years before we'd get another chance and I doubt my mind could have handled another minute in that place. I couldn't truly see the rift with my eyes but I knew when we had reached it, every hair on my body seemingly standing on end as I focused on the spell matrix. Now, my prince, before it is too late!

"I know," I said quietly, already focusing all the considerable power Nightmare's body put at my disposal, a silvery-white beam of light lancing from my horn and striking the matrix dead center. Could you sense what happened next from your balcony, Celestia? The power unleashed by the rift was astounding at ground zero, so surely you must have noticed something.

(...)

I see. Well, the rift certainly was visible once the spell array tapped into it, a gaping wound in the air that bled magic that put a chill in even my heart at the time. There were...things moving inside of it. More shadows? Something else entirely? I guess we'll never really know for sure. The point is that the Elements' power over us was broken, a great weight lifting from my shoulders while a rush of elation filled my heart. Then we were gone, teleporting away with the intent of finding you and, well, you know the rest really.

(...)

What, why? You were there for the next part and I'm sure your dear student filled you in on the rest.

(...)

For posterity? Really?

(...)

Right, right, you have that stern looking old bat sitting in the corner over there, writing this all down. Okay then, we'll play it your way then. Teleporting for the first time in the waking world was an experience that's hard to really describe. It was like someone grabbed me by my insides and yanked me hard enough to make me feel like I was going to be sick. It lasted for all of a second before I appeared at my destination, staring at the ruins of an old castle around us.

"Um...did we take a wrong turn or something?" I asked, not recognizing where we were. "I mean, we were supposed to appear in your old throne room, weren't we?"

We have. Nightmare's response was oddly stiff, even for her. That useless nag let it fall into disrepair rather than rebuild. It was like nostalgia sprinkled with heartache and then mixed with disgust. It doesn't matter where she hides herself, though. We will find her.

"And then I'll crush the life from her body with my own two hooves~" The thought was certainly a pleasing one at the time. Hell, right now I have the urge to smack that judgemental look right off of your stupid face.

(...)

What're you gonna do about it, Your Worship? Glare at me some more? I've already hit bedrock, so it's not like anything you do will somehow make things any worse for me. So yeah, go ahead, disapprove of me all you like. I'm too fucking tired to care anymore.

(...)

Of course, we wouldn't want to leave your precious steward with nothing to...wait a second. Is she really still writing all this? Even that whole exchange just now?

(...)

Oh, well, in that case, Celestia is a huge, flaming whore and can go suck the biggest bag of di-

0o0o0o0o0o0

Was that really necessary?

(...)

Oh, come on, it was a joke!

(...)

Well I have to get at least a few laughs in before you send me off to the chopping block. Anyway, where was I?

(...)

Oh, right, the ruined Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters. You two couldn't have come up with a better name for it? I mean, I know it's nearby the most uninspired name for a town ever, but you could have put at least some effort into naming it. Well, anyway, you can imagine we were left wondering just where in Equestria you'd set up shop.

I cannot believe how much has changed. I could, given it had been a thousand years and all. What was left of your castle held up well enough through the passing of said years, at least. We shall have to start our search in the surrounding countryside. Perhaps we can persuade the local peasantry to tell us the location of the new capitol. Deciding to take a bit of a risk, I flew upwards into the air, wanting a better idea of our location. We were in the middle of a great, wildly growing forest, stretching out beneath me in all directions. It must span for miles, but I'd have to look at a map to be sure.

"What the hell is all this?" I asked, Nightmare having never described her home as being surrounded by a sinister looking forest on all sides. "I've heard of places being reclaimed by nature but this is fucking ridiculous."

The Everfree Forest has grown more wild and expansive than I had ever imagined. She'd never spoken of this Everfree place, but from the sound of it she had never seen it like it was now. What else has that useless sister of mine let slip in the thousand years since our battle?

"I'm sure we'll find out," I growled, not really caring about some forest when there was vengeance waiting for me to carry it out. "We have work to do." I shifted form, taking the appearance of a wisp of cloud and darting across the sky, scanning the land beneath us for any signs of civilization in an ever widening search pattern. Eventually, maybe an hour of searching later, I spotted a small town that was bustling with activity. I swooped in low, dodging a grey pegasus mare that seemed to be delivering mail, startling her into dropping the satchel of letters she'd been carrying as a result.

What were they doing? I found myself wondering why they were in such a hurry, making preparations for some sort of festival from the looks of it. I stayed to the shadows as I snaked my way through the town, observing the goings on, not really paying much attention to the preparations themselves, listening to ponies as they chattered excitedly. I learned they were about to host something called the Summer Sun Celebration, their excitement quite obvious. Nightmare was, understandably, furious.

She made a celebration focusing on her wretched sun? She sounded like she was barely keeping herself from screaming at the perceived injustice of it all. The audacity on display...it makes me sick! I rolled my eyes, well, I would have if I'd had them in my mist-like form. I could understand it in a way, but we had no time for it. We needed answers and we needed them now.

"Enough," I muttered, my form solidifying and taking on that of an onyx coated earth pony stallion where I hid behind a cart laden with carrots. My eyes, mane and tail were the same colors, though the latter two didn't retain their ethereal nature in my disguise. I had been intent on questioning someone when my vision was suddenly filled with an ungodly amount of pink, causing me to jerk back instinctively.

"Hi there!" A female voice belonging to the pink thing spoke to me, sounding incredibly peppy and mildly grating to my ears. I focused on the pink form before me, causing it to come into focus. An earth pony mare, her mane and tail poofy and bouncy as the mare herself seemed to be, was standing there grinning at me cheerily. To be honest it made me feel mildly uncomfortable but I tried, key word tried, to smile back. "What'cha doin' back-" I can't properly imitate the sound that issued from the mare's mouth as she took in a large amount of air, seemingly defying gravity as all four of her hooves left the ground. She rambled out a string of mushed together, high pitch words, something about needing more party supplies, and then she was off like a shot, leaving me to blink owlishly at her sudden, and confusing, departure.

What in the world was that? Nightmare asked, voicing my own thoughts on the matter. Nevermind, we should find someone else to-

"Oh, dear, you look like you just had a run in with our resident party pony," a more elegantly accented female voice remarked, drawing my gaze to a soft looking unicorn with a delicately styled violet mane and tail, her eyes looking me over curiously. "And I can certainly see why. No one in Ponyville looks quite like you, I'm afraid, so you being a newcomer to our fair little town is startlingly obvious."

"Yes, I'm here for, um, the Summer Sun Celebration," I lied, glad this one wasn't too strange. "I heard it was being held here this year and I didn't want to miss it."

"Oh, of course darling," the mare said, seemingly taking my excuse with no suspicions whatsoever. "Do forgive me, I forgot to introduce myself." She held out a hoof to me, smiling disarmingly. "My name is Rarity. It is nice to meet you, Mister...?"

"Dusk," I answered before I could hesitate over thinking up a name. "Dusk Shade, and it's nice to meet you, too, Miss Rarity." I fought the urge to gag as I gingerly accepted her gesture of welcome. "I take it you know the...mare that just ran off?"

"Oh, yes, everypony in Ponyville knows Pinkie Pie," Rarity replied with a soft chuckle. Ponyville, of all the names. It would be like calling a town Humanville back on Earth or something equally ridiculous. "So, Mister Shade, did you travel far?"

"Oh, um, no, not really," I told her, trying to remain inconspicuous. "I...came from the capitol, actually." It was a gamble, certainly, but it was worth the risk.

"You're from Canterlot?!" Rarity asked with an exaggerated gasp, her eyes widening in obvious excitement. "Oh my stars, what fortune this is indeed! To run into two ponies from the height of sophisticated society...goodness, lady luck is certainly smiling on me today!" She giggled girlishly, doing a little prance like she'd just met a celebrity instead of some random stranger who wasn't even who he said he was, not that she knew that last part. "Did you happen to arrive with the event coordinator, Miss Twilight Sparkle?"

"No, sorry, the name doesn't ring a bell I'm afraid," I replied dismissively, having a name to work with thanks to my calculated risk. Canterlot...what other parallels are there here anyway?

(...)

It's actually similar to the name of a fictitious castle from medieval times. Don't worry about it, I just found it interesting is all.

(...)

Of course. I was only half listening to Rarity as she rambled about how her dreams or some such vain sounding nonsense. I needed to ditch her, yet the mare seemed intent on talking to me. I needed a distraction, my eyes scanning over her carefully prepared appearance, my lips curling into a cold smile as I came up with an idea. My tail turned to mist where it was still hidden by the cart, scooping up some of the loose soil underneath it and chucking it into the air. The result was Rarity becoming covered in it, the unicorn giving a devastated cry as it got in her mane and clung to her formerly pristine white coat. I couldn't help chuckling as she ran off, close to tears, feeling a twisted little feeling of satisfaction at seeing her so distraught.

(...)

Let's just say she reminded me of people I met back on Earth and leave it at that. Regardless of whether I should have ruined her day or not, I now had a name to work with, my eyes scanning over the ponies as they went about their business. Who to approach? There had to be someone who wouldn't view my questions with suspicion, after all. I simply had to find them first.

"I'm sorry, have you been waiting long?" The unexpected question had my head turning before I could stop it, yet another earth pony mare standing nearby with an expectant look on her face. I looked her over, noting her pale, golden yellow coloration, green eyes and carrot orange mane and tail. Speaking of carrots, that happened to be her...Cutie Mark. My eyes glanced from her flank to the cart full of carrots and jumped to the logical conclusion that she was the one selling them. Though why she'd left her cart unattended for so long is beyond me.

(...)

What? Why wouldn't I think that's strange? Anyone could have taken her produce, after all.

(...)

Yes, I'm sure your precious little ponies are just saints that way.

(...)

Oh, just forget it. I don't want us getting bogged down by more pointless subjects when we're so close to the end of it all. I shook my head and stepped away from her cart, making sure my tail was solid before it came into view and raised a few brows.

"No, I'm not here to buy carrots," I replied, glancing over the produce briefly once again. "I'm a little lost, to be honest." The only bit of honesty she was likely to get from me, as a matter of fact. "I wasn't sure who to ask but, well, I'm trying to reach Canterlot and I was wondering what was the best road to take from here."

"Off to the capitol, eh?" She took her position behind the cart, a pony coming to purchase a bundle of carrots while she continued to speak, the transaction happening seamlessly, as if she'd done it a thousand times. "Well, you'll want the north road there," she informed me, nodding in the direction of it for emphasis. "But it'd probably be a lot quicker and easier for you to take the train." She paused, as if thinking. "Next one won't be arriving for another hour, though. If you'd like to wait-"

"No, it's fine," I interrupted her, eyes focused to the north. "Thanks for your time." And I walked away, doing my best to ignore those I passed and the mare's call after me, intent on leaving as swiftly as possible. There was a burning itch between my shoulders, my eyes trailing over several ponies as I walked. It was so tempting to just reveal myself to them and burn the entire place to the ground. It would have been so easy and I kept thinking how good it would feel to finally feed the beast lurking inside me. It paced in my chest, eager in the presence of so many potential sources of pain and fear, my teeth growing sharp as my disguise started to slip.

ARTEMIS! Nightmare's mental shout brought me up short, my head pounding with the echoes of it. Focus, you foal! We still may have the element of surprise on our side and I will not allow you to ruin it with your sadistic cravings!

"You're the one that made me like this, remember?" I reminded her quietly, stumbling my way out of town and fading into mist once more. It pained me to just leave without even causing a little pain, to not even instill a sense of panic in the populace, but I knew that she was right even in my less than clearheaded state. "But you're right...I can't waste time here." My mercurial form darted to the north, allowing me to see the shining edifice of Canterlot, standing in stark relief against the mountainside upon which it was built. My eagerness built inside me as my desire to exact what I felt to be perfectly justified retribution upon the one I blamed for my imprisonment with the psychotic megalomaniac that called herself Nightmare Moon reached its boiling point.

(...)

Of course I know that now, but I can't help but resent you for it regardless. My words can never accurately portray to you what it was like up there and I pray to whatever deities that might exist that you never have to experience it for yourself. As much as I dislike you, with your holier than thou attitude and pious ways, no one deserves that sort of fate. I'd have rather died back in that parking lot than go through it a second time.

(...)

What? Why are you looking at me like that? No, forget it, I don't care. It's not like it'll matter in the end. What I did can't ever be taken back, magical artifacts or no.

0o0o0o0o0o0

I remember having a love for dramatic entrances, mainly from my time spent watching anime and the like, so I felt it appropriate to make as big of a splash as I could for our first and, I hoped, final meeting. My mist-like body settled over the roof of what I could only assume was the throne room, able to sense your presence like the heat of the sun above. I took physical form once again, my face splitting into a wide grin as my anticipation peaked. I wasted no more time, my body lighting up with magical power as dark energy sparked around my horn. I turned myself into a equine missile, smashing through the castle's roof and down into the throne room below, the screams of panic music to my ears amidst the debris and clouds of dust thrown up by the impact.

I relished the fear I sensed from the ponies around me, the pain of the injured and the reek of blood from those that I had crushed beneath the rubble. The look on your face as the dust cleared, however, was what made the whole ordeal of waiting for a thousand years completely worth it, or so I believed. The utter confusion, the horrified way your eyes widened as you took in the damage I caused, it only served to make me feel even more alive. Looking back on it now, though, all I feel is sick.

"Luna, what have you done?!?" I heard you cry, tone emphasizing how you couldn't believe what just happened. But as you took in my appearance you must have realized something was wrong beyond what I did. "Wait...no, you're not her." The odd relief I sensed from you only served to turn my stomach.

"I hate to burst your bubble, Highness," I began tauntingly, "but your precious Luna is here, too! And the look on your face...she's relishing it." I ran my tongue over my teeth, chuckling maliciously. "You're just as soft looking as I imagined you to be. What were you even doing these last thousand years, Celly? Too busy basking in your hard won victory over your little sister to keep yourself in shape?"

"I demand to know who you are." You flat out ignored my taunts, rising from your throne and glaring at me as if you were trying to set me on fire with your eyes alone. "Even in her corrupted state, Nightmare Moon would never have done something so callously cruel!"

"Oh, so we're back to calling her Nightmare Moon, eh? Fine with me, Celestia, but we both know who she really is." I smirked as your eyes narrowed. "As for my name? It used to be David, not that it matters these days, but you can call me Artemis!" I noticed a slight widening of your eyes then but at the time I didn't exactly care about it. Now, though, I'm a little curious as to why the name Nightmare Moon gave me surprised you so much. "I've had enough chatter, Princess, so let's cut to the chase." I began gathering magical power in my horn. "I'm here to kill you. I hope that's okay~"

"Silence, creature!" My gaze was drawn away from you by the presence of your royal guards, who decided it was a great idea to rush an alicorn for some strange reason. "You are under-"

"Shut up," I snapped, the power I had gathered lashing out at the golden armored stallions, bolts of black lightning and rays of purple light striking them down mid gallop. "You're interrupting my big moment with the princess."

"ENOUGH!!!" I had no idea what the Royal Canterlot Voice was, or even that it existed, until that moment, but your voice propelling me at Mach 12 into, and through, the throne room's doors certainly introduced me to it in a big way. I hardly registered the impact with the reinforced wood, my entire body feeling like one big mass of jello when I finally came to a stop. My ears wouldn't stop ringing, making it impossible to hear anything, and my vision kept going in and out of focus. Funny, I don't remember Nightmare Moon ever mentioning that you were capable of producing a Thu'um, and yet I now know what it's like to be on the wrong end of a Fus-Ro-Dah.

(...)

You know what? I give up. Clearly using referential humor on someone who has no idea where or what it comes from is a bad idea.

(...)

Yes, yes, I was laying there on the castle steps, trying to get my body to stop quivering and start functioning properly once more, when my surroundings drastically shifted due to someone casting a teleportation spell. When I could see again we were in the middle of what could only be described as a wasteland of sand and rock, with no sign of any life to be seen for miles. I suppose you wanted to keep any more damage to a minimum, not that I can blame you really. If we had fought inside Canterlot, well, it wouldn't have been pretty.

Get up, Artemis! Nightmare urged me, my hearing still nonexistent at that point. She will not wait for you to recover, now get up! I forced myself to my hooves, growling in a fair bit of pain as my body protested the recent abuse you leveled upon it. Still, I was up, adrenaline pulsing through me as I locked eyes with you, meeting your steely gaze with a manic glare.

"I'm giving you one chance to release my sister and surrender yourself, demon," you told me, your voice hard and cold, reminding me of the lunar surface in a way. "Otherwise I will have to remove you by force and I promise you that the process will not be a pleasant one." I couldn't help myself, laughter bubbling up from inside me at your words. "And what, pray tell, is so funny?"

"You don't get it, do you?" I shook my head, my grin showing how amused I was by your assumptions. "You think I'm some kind of parasite, some malignant tumor that you can just cut out and everything will be all better?" I chuckled, finding your belief regarding your sister's role in it all simply hilarious. "Your sister made me what I am, Celestia, not the other way around."

"Your lies won't save you from me, creature," you ground out, my words having clearly touched a nerve. "Now, for the last time, surrender!"

"Death first!" I shouted back, letting loose with a quick blast to grab your attention, leaping into the air as you erected a small shield to deflect it. You predicted it was just a distraction, however, your attention never leaving me as I dove down on you, a midnight black sword manifesting itself in the grasp of my magic. I watched as your shield solidified and took the shape of a golden halberd, sparks flying when the magical constructs clashed. Our weapons moved faster than any normal person could hope to keep track of, the only sign that they were there the sparking energy of their clashes, which were coming faster and faster with each passing second. Neither of us moved, unflinching as we matched one another strike for strike. Had I gone into that fight without Nightmare's training I would have lost in an instant, but I suppose I ought to be thankful she took the time to teach me what she knew.

"You've clearly learned a lot from your possession," I heard you taunt me, your expression like a chiseled mask of stone as you stared at me from only a foot away now. "You fight just like her, but sadly for you," I felt my blade become locked in the beard of your halberd's blade, "I'm the one that taught her!" The blade shattered as you gave the halberd a twist, the butt of the haft striking me between the eyes and causing me to stagger backwards. "You will never defeat me through mere imitation, demon!" The haft struck me across my forelegs, knocking them out from under me. "Yield!" The flat of the blade slapped across my muzzle, sending me tumbling away to lay sprawled across the cracked, dry ground of wherever you had taken us. I have to say, you can certainly lay down quite the beating when you're in the mood to, but it wasn't enough.

"You're holding back," I grunted out once my jaw clicked back into place. "Do you still honestly believe your precious Luna can be saved?"

"With all my heart." Your reply drew a growl from my throat. "I will hurt you if I have to. Please, just surrender and I promise that-"

"Shut up!" I snarled as I stood, glaring at you balefully as dark clouds of energy swirled around me, purple smoke curling up from the corners of my eyes as the whites of my eyes shown with emerald green light. "You want to save her?! She's a monster! A heartless, backstabbing bitch who doesn't care who she hurts!" I grinned, my expression downright feral I'm sure. "And now, well, so am I!" A dozen obsidian blades formed in a cluster before me. "I'm going to kill you, Celestia!" I launched them at you, one after another, though you deflected every single one. "I'm going to mount your pretty little head on my wall for everyone to see!" The energy that swirled around me converged into a tight, pulsing ball, the air sizzling from all that power focused down into something the size of a marble. "And I'm going to enjoy every second of making you pay for what you've done to me!"

I couldn't gauge your reaction very well and I still can't to tell you the truth. You've got the whole stoic, passionless wall thing down to a science. But I think something flickered through your eyes then, if only for a second. I was probably just imagining it, though. I didn't waste another second on my little rant, launching that marble sized ball of hate, pain and rage at you at Mach 10. The air rippled and the sound barrier was shattered in less than a second, that little marble striking the shield you raised at over three thousand meters a second. The noise was indescribable, my ears ringing as the screech of it threatened to render me deaf. But I could see your shield starting to crack, the thrill of elation rising in my chest as I noticed your composure starting to slip. You erected a second barrier just behind the first, just moments before it shattered.

"What's the matter, Celestia?" I shouted over the din of conflicting energies. "You're not still holding back, are you?" I formed a second marble sized sphere of energy, my grin returning to my face as it hovered before me. "You might want to try a little harder, otherwise this is going to get boring real fucking fast!" I launched it the moment I finished speaking, the second blast striking the back of the first, causing them both to explode in a spectacular conflagration that I don't have the words to describe. It was strangely beautiful, looking back, but I'm really, really glad you got us out of Canterlot when you did. This would have destroyed it, down to its very foundations. The barren wasteland had certainly gained one hell of a crater, the rock glowing cherry red with the lingering heat of the blast. I looked for any sign of your presence, not believing that I'd beaten you so easily. "I know you're not dead, Celestia! Quit hiding and fight!"

"If you insist." That was my only warning, the sound of your voice behind me causing my head to turn, just as a golden beam of light struck me dead on. It was like you had taken the sun, turned it into a cannon and shot it at me, the heat of it enough to sear the flesh from my bones. Lucky me, I was kind of durable as an alicorn, otherwise I'd have been dust, something you were surely counting on when you attacked. Still, it hurt like a bastard, let me tell you. I managed to get my hooves under me, stopping my little tumbling jaunt across the rocky terrain, though your beam didn't let up. Gathering my magic, I coated my hoof guards in it and pushed back, grunting and straining against the force of it, blinding me in its intensity. "Isn't this what you wanted, Artemis? It's not too much for you, is it?"

"It's a start!" I growled, my horn flaring with energy as I shoved against your beam, my hooves feeling scorched even through my armor and shield, the smell of burnt hair tickling my nostrils. "But is this really all you've got?!"

"No." That one word told me how much of a mistake goading you was, the force behind the beam increasing ten fold, my startled gasp swallowed by the roar of burning, searing light that I was barely managing to hold back. The ground was giving way beneath my hind hooves, the fear of death turning to rage, which in turn became power, giving me just enough of a boost to turn your attack aside. There wasn't anything living out there in the wastes, right? I mean, I assume there wasn't, given that you chose it as our battleground, but I just wanted to be sure.

(...)

Oh, good, because I'm pretty sure you glassed over half the landscape with that particular attack. I have to admit, you certainly impressed me, even then. Still, I wasn't about to quit, not after everything I'd had to endure those thousand years I spent under Nightmare's hooves.

I would not recommend taking one of those head on like that again. Nightmare's advice had me rolling my eyes, as if I hadn't already figured that out for myself. I warned you that she would not be defeated so easily, but did you listen? Of course not.

"Christ, shut up, I'm trying to-eep!" I ducked under a second blast, though this one wasn't nearly as intense as the last. "Quit with the commentary before you get us killed, you idiot!" Luckily she chose not to comment further, as you landed a good dozen feet away, looking a little ruffled but not all that hurt. Granted, given how fast we heal, I'm not at all surprised that the only thing I had to show for my opening attacks was a few out of place feathers and some soot staining your coat. Hell, even I was likely only slightly singed after that little beam number, but I know it did more than burn a few hairs when it first hit me. "Had enough?"

"What are you playing at?" The question threw me off, my head tilting to the side curiously. "Is this some sort of twisted game to you?"

"Oh, please, Princess," I scoffed, dusting myself off a bit with a flutter of my wings. "If this was a game I'd be having fun." I smirked. "Or killing you. Now that sounds like a good time~"

"Be serious!" You snapped, my attitude clearly not to your liking. "You've killed my subjects, destroyed a portion of my home and now you're talking to yourself like a complete madpony! This has to stop!"

"Stop?" I shook my head, my smirk falling away as my expression became serious for the first time since we'd met. "No, Celestia, this has only just begun." I let out a derisive snort. "And you're still holding back on me." I bared my teeth, not happy about that fact. "What is it going to take to get you to go all out? Do I have to threaten your precious little ponies?" The way you stiffened brought my grin back to my face once again. "Yes, that's your button, isn't it? Well then, I guess I'll have to go play with them instead." I turned and shot off into the air like a rocket, only to have to stop when you cut me off, legs spread out in a halting gesture.

"Leave them out of this!" Your plea only made me laugh. "Monster!"

"I am what your precious Luna made me," I hissed in response, darting around you and flying in a random direction. I didn't know where we were, after all. "Catch me if you can~!"

"Stop it!" You gave chase shortly after, the two of us racing across the sky, this way and that, my laughter echoing across the wastes as the thrill of the chase got through to me. "This is not a game, you foal!"

"But I love games!" I jeered, glowing a raspberry at you childishly over one shoulder. "Where should I start? Oh, maybe that little town I came across after leaving the Everfree!" Your eyes widened, causing me to chuckle. "Yes, I think that will make a good first-"

"NO!" You were just suddenly in front of me, something in my neck cracking as one of your hooves struck my cheek. I spiraled down to the ground, kicking up a large amount of dirt on impact, my body numb from the neck down as I wheezed for air. I'm pretty sure you broke my neck, now that I think about it. I hardly noticed as you landed next to me, your words lost as I focused on fixing whatever it was you damaged, a groan escaping me as things that shouldn't move shifted back into place. "-please, please, Luna, wake up!" I caught the last bit as my focus returned, the damage you inflicted in your desperation having clearly freaked you out.

(...)

Yes, I understand that, but you have to know it'd take more than that to kill one of us, right?

(...)

Right, emotion over reason and all that. I let out a raspy laugh as I pushed myself back to my hooves, causing you to stagger back in shock. I met your gaze, saw the tears, and laughed harder than ever. I don't think you took it very well.

"How dare you!" You took a swing at me, my right leg swinging up to counter the strike, stopping it cold. I grinned at your furious expression, pleased by what I saw.

"Now that's more like it~"

0o0o0o0o0o0

Our battle reshaped the wasteland into a scarred, crater pocked mess, my glee at throwing your fight switch to ON having quickly dimmed as I was forced to meet you blow for blow. I can see why you just outright banished Nightmare Moon instead of trying to fight her. Who knows what sort of damage the two of you would have inflicted before all was said and done. Most of the day had fled by the time we were even close to being finished, both of us worn out by the experience. I had used every trick Nightmare had taught me and you'd risen to the challenge every single time. I understood how Equestria had stood uncontested for a thousand years with you at the helm. I'd lost my helmet at some point, one eye squeezed shut as blood flowed freely from a cut on my brow, my magic too exhausted to waste on healing it.

"What's the matter, Artemis?" You asked, looking just as bad as I felt, your once pristine white coat matted with blood, dirt and sweat. "Isn't this everything you hoped for?"

"Shut up," I muttered, my witty banter running on empty after slugging it out with you for hours on end.

"Do you see how pointless this is now?" You continued regardless, causing me to grind my teeth. "Violence can only breed more violence. Please, let's just end this before-"

"I said SHUT UP!" I charged at you, head lowered and horn aimed for your chest. My magic might have run dry, but I could still stab you to death if it came down to it. You managed to dodge my clumsy rush, though I think I clipped your leg. "I've had enough of your self-righteous blabbering!" I swung my head up, slashing at you with my horn like it was a sword. Pain lanced through my head as your horn clashed against mine, our faces inches away from one another as I let out a snarl. "I won't rest until I've ended your miserable life, you wretched whore!" You said nothing, having finally figured out that talking me down wasn't going to happen, even with how tired I was. We struggled, both of us trying to overpower the other, the only sound to be heard the labored panting of our breathing.

I played dirty, stomping on your hoof, causing you to rear back with a pained cry. I tackled you to the ground, hooves on your neck, though strangling someone without hands is kinda awkward at the best of times. Slick with blood and sweat as we were, I was left scrabbling at your coat, trying to keep you pinned even as you kicked at my belly with your hind hooves. I resorted to striking your face and neck with my own hooves, my desperation to win coming into play as I furiously battered away at you. Blood stained my hoof guards and your struggles grew weaker. Eventually I was left staring down at you, hoof raised, hesitating as I listened to you struggling to breathe. Why? Why did I hesitate? I had you right where I wanted you, broken and bloody under my hooves, and yet I couldn't finish you off.

What are you waiting for? Nightmare finally came back into the picture, egging me on. Finish her, my prince! You will not get a second chance! And yet I still couldn't do it. FINISH HER!!!

"...no." I lowered my hoof, stumbling back as images of what transpired in the dark of the moon flashed through my mind. "No, she doesn't get off that easily."

Are you insane?!? I didn't pay any attention at first, slowly walking away and trying to get some of my strength back. Why are you showing her mercy? She trapped the both of us on that damnable rock for a thousand years! You cannot have forgotten that fact!

"No, I didn't forget," I replied tiredly, glancing back at you as I scooped my helmet off of the ground where it had fallen. "But killing her would be quick. I don't want this to be quick." I slid the helmet back on, wincing as it pressed against the cut on my brow. "She'll learn what it's like to suffer, like we did, first." I turned my head back to look again, only you weren't there anymore. "What? How did...where did...that's not possible!"

You contemptible, imbecilic foal! Nightmare cursed me, causing me to wince as it only served to make my headache worse. Did you really think she would not have some form of fail-safe in place to whisk her away to safety? My sister is a crafty mare and clearly her wit has not dulled with age!

"Okay, okay, I fucked up," I admitted, feeling too tired and sore to argue with her about it. "But it's not like she can do anything to capitalize on her escape. She's worse off than I am right now, after all."

And yet again you underestimate her! I grit my teeth but held my tongue, knowing there was no point in getting into a shouting match. So, what now, oh wise prince? Even a foal could defeat you in such a weakened state.

"We recharge our batteries," I replied smoothly, raising a hoof to touch my peytral, a spark of energy twirling around my hoof at the contact. "She's not the only one who can set up a last second get away plan, after all." I'd tied a teleportation spell connected to the castle in the Everfree to the piece of armor in question, just in case. A smile crept onto my face as the sun started to set. "I think it's time we paid Ponyville a little visit~"

Author's Note

And it's finally here! Praise be to Fausticorn, the wise and magnificent! Good Christ, this took forever for me to finish. Honestly, I don't know what it is, but it can be a real challenge to put fingers to keyboard some days. At any rate, here it is, Artemis' arrival in Equestria and his showdown with Celestia! I hope you enjoyed it and please, as always, let me know what you think in the comments below. Have a nice day