My Little Mages: The Phantasm of Philanthropy

by Foxhelm

Rating: teen
Tags: Human, Main 6, Princess Luna, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Alternate Universe, Tantabus, Nightmare Moon, Nightmare Rarity, Adventure
Length: 33652

A retelling of The Nightmare Rarity Arch and Do Princesses Dream of Magical Sheep in this 'My Little Mages' AU

It is the day after the Grand Gala and while everything seems normal a foe that was once bested is ready to make her move.

Nightmare Moon, with the aid of Nightshade, now possesses Rarity has taken a new name, Nightmare Rarity and with the Tantabus torn between his loyalties, Luna must reach out to the rest of the Elements of Harmony bearers to stop Nightmare Rarity. However, the Princesse of the Moon has more secrets which might undermine her only hope.

Can Twilight and friends save Rarity? Can they unravel the truth? Or will Nightmare Rarity accomplish her goals and plunge the world into an everlasting night?

Cover art by ZantyARZ and used with permission.

Published 2017-01-27 13:20:01 UTC
Last updated 2017-02-25 07:19:51 UTC

The Nightmare is Rarity

Prologue: The Origins of Nightmare Moon

Luna watched from one of the plain windows of her and Celestia’s castle in what would become the Everfree Forest as the sun started to set. She watched also as the most of the people start to head indoors. She dipped her head in pain. Few saw her lovely nights. For centuries she has watched over her sister’s and her subjects at night and so many would shut-in as the sun went down, ever since the sisters sealed Discord away in stone. In her mind, a piano plays a soft but sad tune. She could no longer remain silent about her pain and began to sing, “Now the hour has come at last,
The soft and fading light
Has crossed the west horizon
And has bidden us good night
And what a lovely night it is
To walk a moonlit field
To see the softer shades
That are by starlight now revealed,” As Luna sang the line ‘to walk’, she turned from the window and started to walk down the walkway of the castle as the moon started to raise starting to shine, accompanied by the stars, showing everything in softer shades under the argent light of the moon that was not present under the more golden light of the sun.

“So why is it that now,
When all is quiet and at rest,
When candles glow and all the world
Is at its very best,
The people of Mystica
Should lock themselves away,
To shun the moon and wait instead
For Sister's sunny day?” As she started the next verse she looked out other windows, still walking, she saw as candles were lite in the houses and the houses started to become shut-in, as the doors are locked and bars are lowered to secure the doors and their homes. As she neared the end of the verse she looked at the eastern sky.

“In Umbra Luna est” a deep male voice echoed in her mind. As it echoed Luna shut her eyes and placed her left hand on her heart.

“Are We so wrong to wish that they
Would see things like We do?
And are We so wrong to think
That they might love Us too?” As Luna sang ‘see things like We do’, Luna opened her eyes and showing the pupils to be slits, and the irises took on a darker shade of color as if Luna was slowly shifting. As she turned from the window, she looked around her seeing apparitions of small children turn from her and head towards the actual thrones.

“Why shouldn't they adore Us?
Is it not within Our right?
We'll not be overshadowed!
Ours is not the lesser light!” As Luna started she saw more and more ghostly images of citizens in front of the thrones, with a ghostly image of Celestia seated. She then saw a shadow crept from the apparition of her sister to cover her own throne and then started to creep towards her. As she finished singing ‘overshadowed’, she returned her gaze to the moon, smiling as she sang the last line of the verse.

As Luna started to sing again she dipped her head as she shed her last tear, “We've waited long enough now
For them all to come around
And though the Sun may plead and threaten,
The Moon will stand her ground,” as she finished singing ‘around’, she turned to back to the moon, and while it was supposed to be a quarter moon, she rose her hand and red beam was sent to it, making the moon full and turning the event into a lunar eclipse as she sang.

“It comes to this at last:
We will no longer yield the sky
If they cannot love
But one princess alone
See, the Moon is rising
She has come to claim the heavens for her own,” After seeing her work, as she continued to sing. She turned as she looked towards the thrones as the apparition of her sister got up and ran towards her seeming to beg Luna to stop but as it neared Luna she swatted it away forcing it and all the apparitions to vanish, all of them seem to dissolve in agony and pain. All the while everything was bathed not in a comforting argent light but in a harsh crimson light.

Soon Luna started to walk from the window and continued the song, as she sang the white lights of the stars started to show within the blood like light of the moon, which made it actually look and feel even more harsh, as she walked towards the throne from her heart a blackness emerged and started to spread and change her, “And all will know the wonder
Of Our dark and jeweled sky
When all the world is wrapped in
An eternal lullaby
So say goodnight at this,
The final setting of the sun,
Tomorrow dawn's in darkness
The nighttime has begun!” As Luna continued to sing her voice started to change along with her body and hair as she walked towards the throne as she became Nightmare Moon.

“Nocte!” the deep male voice from before echoed in the mind of Nightmare Moon as she took her sister’s throne.

Just as Nightmare Moon started to laugh the doors to the throne room were flung open and Twilight, Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash entered each wearing their Element of Harmony. “Nightmare Moon!” Twilight shouted.

Just then another the doors opened again with Commander Hurricane wearing the element of Loyalty as part of his breastplate shaped like a hurricane looking down on it from the sky hovering in the same space as Rainbow Dash, Smart Cookie with the Element of Honesty shaped as a cookie standing in the same spot as Applejack, Chancellor Puddinghead with the Element of Laughter in the shape of a cup of pudding standing in the same space as Pinkie Pie, Private Pansy floated by Fluttershy with the Element of Kindness in the form of an actual pansy. Joining them was Clover the Clever in the same spot as Twilight with the Element of Magic was worn as a necklace and the shape of a shamrock and Princess Platinum in the same spot as Rarity wearing the Element of Generosity as part of her crown shaped like a four-pointed star, “Nightmare Moon!” Clover shouted.

And right after that, another group of six appeared in the same fashion. In this third group, one was an Earthborn druid that looked very much like Fluttershy, with the Element of Kindness shaped like an actual posey and occupied the same space as Fluttershy and Pansy, a Skyborn blonde jester, with hat matching Pinkie Pie but with three purple balloons, occupying the same space as Pinkie and Puddinghead. Also in the new group was another Skyborn almost hauntingly like Rainbow Dash but with solid blue hair and her hairpin was a collection of three lightning bolts. In the same new group was another enchantress in the same space as Rarity, with her tiara being more of a band with four kites arranged to make another kite as opposed to Rarity’s and her hair had a long dark red streak, along with what looked like Applejack as if she was a cleric and finally someone that looked like Twilight, but her hair was white with a purple streak and her Element of Magic was shaped like a five-pointed star and like Clover the Clever, it was a necklace. “Nightmare Moon!” The mage that looked like Twilight shouted.

“Oh Lulu, you have really… how should I say, messed up dreams.” Came Nightmare Moon’s voice. Luna turned to her left to see Nightmare Moon was sitting on her throne while Luna herself was in Celestia’s.

“What the… You’re not supposed to…”

“Tanzanite let me in, although it is my time with him. Oh, Tantabus!” Nightmare Moon called the Tantabus arrived, but he was less human and more like a spectral glob. “Sick them!” Nightmare Moon order as she pointed to the group.

“NO!!!!” Luna cried as she woke up and started to pant as she felt sweat on her brow.

Now, Luna, it’s your move, Luna heard in her mind.

“What have I done?” Luna whispered in horror to herself.

The Nightmare is Rarity!

The morning after Nightshade took the jar with Nightmare Moon inside from the deep vault.

Nightshade was resting on her bed in her room in one of Chantalot’s hotels of more questionable repute, located near the train station, granted on the ‘wrong side’ of the tracks. It was surprisingly easy for her to get a room, a wanted poster had never been issued and few people had ever truly seen her face outside of the Wonderbolts’ locker room, and while she left the guards of Stonlingrad Penitentiary alive, no warrant had been issued. The tricky part was actually getting the money she needed, as it turned out the owners of the Pie Rock Farm; Mr. Ingenious Rock Pie and his wife Mrs. Cloudy Quartz Pie, only cared about how much work you got done, and their eldest daughter Limestone only cared about results of a hired hand’s work, and the other hired hand, Tristie-was-it?, was so wrapped up in being given the boot out of Magiville because of the idiocy of two fanboys and being showed up by a Light-Sparky-whatever to give a flying feather about her. As for the other member of the Pie Family that actually lived on the farm, Mumble-was-it, she only spoke in ‘Mhmm’s and kept to her own work. As for the more transit member of the Pies, Maybe-Mud, she was often in the house doing paperwork, as if she was doing homework, to seem to not give a flying feather.

While Nightshade could afford much better, she couldn’t afford the risk of being recognized, but what she did have, was more than enough. The dark elementalist then turned to see the jar with Nightmare Moon or Nightmare as Nightshade has elected to call her, in it on her nightstand. Electing to get this over with, “Alright, I got you out of that secret storage facility,” said Nightshade, “what’s the plan? And why should I help you?”

“Simple,” came Nightmare’s darkly resonating voice from the jar that held her remaining fragments, “I can give you the means to claim the notoriety you desire. As for the plan, I need a host.”

There was a moment of silence as the two looked each other in the eyes, or rather they would if not for the fact Nightmare was basically a mass of swirling shadow, before either said anything else. “Well, I’m not offering my body for your ambitions,” Nightshade stated bluntly, Nightshade had survived as long as she has by following one simple rule, ‘Always look out for yourself before anything else’, and that rule had served pretty well for most of her life, long before she was a Wonderbolt recruit.

“While I have entertained the idea for a few seconds, you suit my designs much better as an agent,” said Nightmare dryly, “however, I have a better host in mind, with her as my body I will be insured against the best defenses that Mystica and its greatest heroes can muster.”

“You are aware that Shining Armor, the current Marshall, can manifest a shield that can protect a city, sending any invader out at lightspeed, and Celestia can rain plasma from the sun on a battlefield. Also, Luna, your other half, is no slouch, seeing as she can basically send a meteor shower with immense accuracy from a distance and can really screw you over with the tides. Then there is Cadance, and while she’s a spirit healer, her positive energy would differentiate between her allies and enemies, empowering the former while destroying you and her light-based magic would negate much of my powers. And that’s not even taking the small armory of artifacts they all have access to. Then there are the Elements of Harmony, only a small handful of the nation’s population are even aware of them, and even fewer have any idea of what kind of power they have. Oh and then there is the other elephant in the room, the ESM in its entirety.”

“As I said,” quipped Nightmare, “my chosen host is an insurance against all that, especially those damned Elements.”

“You are aware that if the Elements are used on your host, even if you use a current bearer, you'll be sent to either the sun or the moon and unless you possess a demigod your host will die in space long before your 1000 year sentence is over.” Nightshade pointed out, reminding Nightmare of the time she, as part of Luna, was banished to the moon.

“You underestimate my power.” Nightmare said, while with a little hint of annoyance, was actually very calm towards her remaining associate. Nightshade simply rolled her eyes in response, she had learned not to underestimate her opponents, a lesson she figured Nightmare would have also learned, given how badly the attempted coup went for the now mist-like being.

“That enchantress will do nicely.” Nightmare informed Nightshade and started to give a small evil ‘hehehe’.

Nightshade had no idea what Nightmare was talking about, Mystica was littered with mages of all classes, of which enchantress or enchanters were a surprisingly high proportion in comparison to other classes, and if Nightmare was referring to any of the six current bearers of the Elements of Harmony, Nightshade only knew of the apprentice of Princess Celestia and the Wonderbolt wannabe, which left four other bearers. “Which one is that?” Nightshade asked out of ligament confusion.

Nightmare rolled her own eyes, “The bearer of the Element of Generosity, Rarity,” Nightmare answered the darkness elementalist.

“Still no idea who that this, but whatever, you got a plan?” Nightshade asked as she got out of her bed.

Nightmare was silent for a moment, “For the moment, I need you to observe the bearers for a few weeks for now, of course from the shadows.” Nightshade then headed to the bathroom of her room as if she didn’t care for anything else, which caught Nightmare off guard, “Aren’t you going to ask what I am going to do?” she asked in confusion.

Just before Nightshade entered the bathroom she took off her sleepwear and was about to actually enter, “No.” she declared and shut the door.

The morning after the Gala, three weeks later

As Nightshade checked out of her hotel room, putting everything she had in a bag, “So the gala was last night.”

“Gala, I’m only vaguely aware of this event, it was conceived of by my lesser half, of course, I took control before she could implement it.” Nightmare commented.

“You knowing about it is not important,” said Nightshade rolling her eyes as finished packing her things, “point is your target, Celestia’s student, the wannabe Wonderbolt and their friends were in attendance for the event. They’ll be heading back home in a few hours, I made sure to get a ticket on the same train down, just like when they came up. Of course, since I’m a condemned criminal and on almost every official blacklist, I wasn’t able to get in and know just what they were up to during the event.” She then donned a trench coat, a wide-brim a fedora and a pair of sunglasses that hid her eyes.

“Don’t you think that’s a little much.” Nightmare asked blankly. Nightshade simply packed the jar into her bag and exited the room. “Fine, I’ll stay silent.”

“Good.”

After boarding the train, Nightshade sat in the same car as Rarity, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and the Pie Sisters. It was going to be hours before they would all arrive at Magiville, so Nightshade looked out the window of her seat. She had nowhere to go and little to do, only her long-suppressed past.

“Mommie, look at all the bits I made!” a six-year-old Nightshade, at the time her name was Nightingale, exclaimed as she entered a rundown tin roof shack in slums just outside of Las Magus. She pridefully held out her hand showing a five-bit and a one-bit coin. Only to be slapped across the face forcing her to the floor as her cheek started to swell and she started to tear up.

“YOU STUPID LITTLE SLUT! I TOLD YOU NOT TO ACCEPT ANY LESS THAN TEN BITS!” Her mother shouted, “Fuck, Now I’ll have to be out until dawn.” Nightingale’s mother jotted something down on a piece of paper. She then put the paper into an envelope. “If I am not back in 24 hours, go to the police station ask for officer Shady Tree and give her this.” Her mother continued as she handed Nightshade the envelope and left. Cursing Nightingale and the two’s plight.

“Hey there, miss.” came an overly cheerful voice breaking Nightshade from her memory. “You look really sad.” Nightshade didn’t answer only stare at the young woman, she was dressed in a pink jester’s get up. “Don’t worry… and three two one.” the young woman took a breath as if she was about to… “My name is Pinkie Pie (Hello!)
And I am here to say (How ya doin’?)...”

Fuck me. Nightshade thought as things turned out.

A couple of hours as the train started to pull into the Magiville, and for the rest of the train ride everyone, but Nightshade was caught up in the song and have been singing it on repeat the entire time. “Come on everybody, smile, smile, smile
Fill her heart up with sunshine, sunshine
All she really needs is a smile, smile, smile
From all these happy friends of,” everyone else but Pinkie Pie sang as they neared the end of the song for … Nightshade forgot how many times, she gave up counting after the fourth repeat.

While Pinkie Pie sang, “Yes, the perfect gift for me,
is a smile as wide as a mile.
To make me as happy as can be,”

Everyone together sang “Smile, smile, smile, smile
Come on and smile,
Come on and smile,” after the song ended with everyone still on the train waving to Pinkie Pie as she waved back.

“That was the best train ride from Chantalot, ever.” Pinkie said as she turned to her friends and everyone else that exited the train as everyone boarding the train started to hum the song as well as everyone on the train, except for Nightshade who had been quietly seething the entire time the musical number had been going on. Unbeknownst to everyone else, Nightshade bumped into Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash almost recognized her but something seemed off. But Nightshade didn’t stay, she started to walk away. Pinkie saw the confused state of Rainbow Dash. “What’s the matter, Dashie,” Pinkie asked concerned for her friend. Nightshade almost gave herself away with a laugh at the silly nickname, as she was still on the train platform.

“I thought I saw...someone we dealt with some time ago, must be me imagining something exciting on account of how bland most of last night was,” said Rainbow Dash dismissing her suspicions. Nightshade wanted to laugh but she knew she had to lay low, until dusk. The first thing she needed to do was find a place that out of the way until the right time, not easy in a small town that might as well be backwater boonies for all the naively stupid stuff she saw going on in the streets. If she didn’t know any better she would swear she was going around in a town dedicated to making tourists think they were a good three centuries in the past, if she hadn’t seen someone looked like a punk rocker or DJ enter a house that looked like it had literally been built by slamming two halves of unrelated architecture together and had a door installed where the two met.

Back to the matter of a place to stay; a restaurant was too open and obvious, besides the three dining establishments she had seen were likely to close before her ‘appointment’ came up, facts she uncovered during several recons of the town. The library was also a bad idea, on top of likely closing before the appointed hour it also was the residence of the one most likely to ruin the plan and prevent Nightmare from claiming a new body. She couldn’t go to the fields or pond outside the town, those were too open. Hiding in an alley seemed her best option, but they were a bit cramped for her acquired sense of comfort, even her cell had been big enough to not feel cramped or claustrophobic. However, she did see something, a spa. If memory served her correctly only the Wonderbolt wannabe, saw her face. As long as she was able to hide her face and kept her wings unmanifested, it might work. It was a risk, but it was her best option. “Well, I use a decent massage.” Nightshade justified as she went towards the establishment.

Hours later, as the sun has set and night started, Rarity was about to close down Carousel Boutique, “Well just some minor tailoring jobs. Seriously, Time Turner needs to stop with his experiments, that trench coat of his has been patched up so many times he might as well order a new one.” Rarity then looked at her mail, “and a few orders for the dresses my friends and I wore. I’ll have to get back to the patrons to schedule for measurements.” Rarity said a load as she looked through the mail she got which she had not had a chance to look at before. Opalescence was just playing with a ball of yarn that Rarity set aside for her, more or less not interested in her mistress’ business. This was not lost on Rarity. “I know you don’t care, but if I don’t have orders I’ll have to send you and Sweetie Belle to live with my parents.” Opal stopped playing with her yawn and walked up to Rarity, and brushed her leg affectionately. “Don’t worry Opal-wopal,” Rarity said as she patted her cat. “I have no intentions of a repeat of … that weekend.” Rarity shivered at the unpleasant memory.

Just then the bell at the door rang. Rarity turned to see a woman enter. She was a Skyborn, and she carried herself with a sense of importance sauntered into the boutique. She seemed familiar for some reason, but Rarity couldn’t quite place why or how. “Good Evening. How can I help you?” Rarity asked the woman, little knowing she was talking to the Shadowbolt that escaped Rainbow Dash.

Nightshade turned to Rarity, “I am looking for a new dress.” She informed, “It’s been so long since I purchased one. I think I will need to take measurements.”

“Well, I can get your measurements, but we are about to close. So I don’t know if we have the time to look through the designs I have, let alone develop something unique for you.” Rarity said as she went over to her desk to get her measuring tape and notebook. As she turned she saw what Nightshade took out from a bag, a jar and open it. Befuddled at what her late hour patron was doing. “What are you do…” Rarity started to ask only to scream “AH!” as a thick onyx mist exited the jar and engulfed Rarity in a cocoon for a few minutes before flowing into itself, and later the ebony colored individual it left behind, wearing a slate-colored outfit that was identical in design to the one worn by the ivory enchantress, the tiara on her head had also changed to a darker shade of gold with the violet focusing gem a deeply darker shade than what she normally wore. The figure opened her eyes to reveal dragon-like irises and pupils.

“Now, Luna, it’s your move.” Nightmare said, with her voice sounding a little more like Rarity, as she started to laugh.

“I did what you asked,” Nightshade said addressing her co-conspirator, “so, what should I call you now? And what is it I get in return for this and my continued service? I don’t want to be cheated, like those shortsighted fools the Wonderbolts did to me.”

“True notoriety takes time, even when you force it,” said Nightmare as the mist seemed to flow into Rarity’s attire and transform it into a muted royal purple with her tiara turning into a crown that also had four pale opals, and with the gems were carved in the shape of a modified version of Rarity’s mark. “And since my host’s name is Rarity, and I don’t see much point inventing a new name around a name that can be grandiose in its own right, you may call me Nightmare Rarity.” She took a look over at the hissing Opalescence, “And what true queen would dare not have a loyal war beast to accompany her.” Her hand glowed with an umbra aura that also surrounded Opal. The cat then floated, while still fighting the transformation, to her side and was engulfed in a similar mist to Rarity herself. When the magical transformation was done the mist flowed back into Rarity’s body leaving behind an obediently sitting black serval wearing a collar with Nightmare’s new mark upon it next to Nightmare.

“What of the other?” Nightshade asked as she looked around the place.

“According to her memories, the younger sibling of my host is currently spending time away with her friends, with the apprentice shopping and won't likely back until tomorrow. As for your prior inquiry, once I have established my new power base you will have your own keep stocked full of all the provisions, weapons and toys you will need in the coming weeks. We must move fast, the friends of my host are sure to catch onto things, it is for the best we not be caught at the moment, my essence is still integrating with my host, the process could take a few hours.”

“1) It is night, 2) the paladin is a farm girl that lives out of town, 3) the druid lives near the Everfree, 4) the Wonderbolt wannabe lives in a cloud house that floats near the edge of town, 5) the jester lives in the bakery and likely has to be quiet so as to not to wake the bakers’ twins, 6) the apprentice of Celestia lives in the very center of town, 7) As you said the apprentice is still in Chantalot." Nightshade paused as she looked back at what she saw, "and 8) You already seem pretty powerful to me,” Nightshade finished as she counted off the things that were in their favor.

“What you witnessed was a fraction of my power, a piece that took more energy and time than it should have. The cat’s transformation should have been completed before it even reached me and resulted in it walking the rest of the way to me, and she should at least be the size of a leopard.” Nightmare Rarity countered. “Oh don’t worry, Darling. Mommy wuvs you all the same,” Nightmare said as she started to pet her cat. Just in that instant a man-shaped being appeared and kneeled to Nightmare Rarity. “Oh, you’re just on time, Tantabus.”

Nightshade looked at the being that Nightmare Rarity called ‘Tantabus’, he seemed familiar, but he seemed to more like some metamorphic spectral blob than the true human she remembered. It was like he has been lost to, and altered by some strange plane of existence. Maybe she has bitten off more than she could chew.

Author's Note

Alright, the start of this AU's take on the Nightmare Rarity arc. Please expect a fair amount of 'Do Princesses Dream of Magical Sheep'. Much like Silver Quil, I think that if that episode was aired earlier, I say in Season 3, it would have been better received. Personally, I think it could have made a great kickstart to the CMC Dream Trilogy or if the focus was on them and not the Mane 6, a great culmination if the CMC Dream Trilogy was all in Season 3.

A shot out to Ponyphonic, Duo Cartoonist and EileMony for the song at the start. I take no credit for the song. So check these awesome people out and support them.
I'll help you out along the path, watch the below video,

And a big thank you to everyone that has read everything I have written thus far and have waited since the end of 'My Little Mages: The Revenge of Nightmare Moon' and every epilogue of each of my other works for this. You are all so awesome. Rainbow Kisses for all of you :rainbowkiss:

One Last Sweet Dream

As Luna left her room, having rushed to dress, following her dream, she silently cursed herself for what happened. She had lost her hold of the Tantabus, Nightmare Moon managed to actually get into and alter her dreams, finding out her secret in the process, Twilight and her friends were in danger over Luna’s mistakes and if Celestia found out…

“If I found out what?” a tired Celestia asked, as the sisters almost bumped into each other.

Luna realized that the last part of her thoughts she must have said out loud. “Just a surprise We have planned. We cannot say more, lest the surprise is ruined,” Luna said much like how she spoke when she was In Magiville for her first Nightmare Night, hastily trying to hide what was on her mind. Most would have seen through the lie, but Celestia yawned in response. “Long day sister?” Luna asked.

“One guess,” Celestia stated bluntly as she stretched trying to stay awake if only long enough just to get to her bed.

“Blueblood,” Luna answered nervously about how Celestia would respond to her own situation if this was over Blueblood.

“Platinum is laughing at me in her grave.” Celestia clearly wanted to curse that particular founder. “I swear, if I didn’t promise Mother Clover on her deathbed to let the other founders’ lines be, I’d blast that worthless blowhard to the sun and be done with that vestigial linage.” Celestia was close to rage. After taking a calming breath, “You can manage a day or two of ruling the nation without me?”

“Well if worse comes to worse, even of We can always tell Cadance that she and Shining must call their honeymoon short,” Luna said nervously as she gave a big toothy nervous smile.

Again, due to her tired state, Celestia didn’t seem to notice something was off with her sister, which anyone else could see, “I don't think that will be necessary,” said Celestia followed by a yawn, “Although, if things get any worse with Blueblood I suppose you could call in Twilight, she’s the only other person besides ourselves and Cadance that seems to be able to curtail his less desirable behavior.” Celestia then yawned. “Then again, if I recall correctly you didn’t make the promise I did, so maybe a little atmosphere might do him some good.” Celestia then started to laugh, one step away from a villain, at the thought of Blueblood being blasted off the planet. “TO THE MOON!” Celestia shouted and chuckled clearly tired. Luna nervously laughed alongside her sister praying she had not been found out. After Celestia finished her laugh she gave a sigh, “Well good night, Sister.” Celestia then continued to her room.

Luna exhaled in relief. “That was close.” Luna then continued her walk in the castle. 'I have to see who she might try to po… TWILIGHT!!!' Luna thought and panicked. Knowing the potential of her sister’s apprentice, if Nightmare Moon was to possess her… Luna ran until she found a guard. “Guard! Tell Us, has Twilight Sparkle returned to Magiville?!” Luna almost shouted as she grabbed him by his shoulders.

“No your grace. Miss Sparkle had elected to spend the day in the capital with her friends’ little sisters and the four were all escorted by Chief Warrant Officer Sentry,” The guard informed maintaining his stoic tone and demeanor.

Luna released her hold and gave a sigh of relief. “We thank you for your information. You may return to your duties.”

“Yes, your highness,” the guard said with a nod of respect and returned to his patrol.

Luna felt a little better, if Twilight was here that meant the force that had possessed her and transformed her into Nightmare Moon couldn’t make its move on Twilight here, but if the Nightmare had just invaded her personal space to tell her that she was the next to make a move in some twisted game that could only mean one thing, that malevolent force had already taken control of one of Twilight’s friends. But which one, they were all powerful in their own right. She decided to make some deductions, whoever was left would be the most likely candidate. Applejack lived on temple grounds, holy ground typically meant that possession was a near impossibility; Rainbow Dash lived above the ground level in her floating house, chances were Nightmare would avoid choosing a host that could accidentally end up injured during the process; Fluttershy lived around a small army of creatures, chances were Nightmare would want to avoid alerting her intended target before getting to an optimal distance; so all of them were realistically out. That only left Pinkie Pie and Rarity. Pinkie Pie seemed to possess the ability to sense potential dangers and react to them in an instant, so that ruled her out. That only left Rarity as the viable host, but when and how could this come about? The Nightmare was just barely more than supercharged essence at this point, it would require a willing participant to help it with its machinations. Tantabus was out on that account, as long as Luna was a powerfully present force he would act in her service, which would mean he would or rather be made to side with the Nightmare after it had acquired a new host.

Then it came back, the night she returned. The only one of her minions was able to… “The Shadowbolt…” Luna realized. She tried to remember if she had been named, not just referred to by her title. Unfortunately for Luna, most of the memories from when she was Nightmare Moon were fragmented, distorted, corrupted or some mesh of the three. In short, she could barely remember the things related to her actions as Nightmare Moon. She needed some information about the Wonderbolts so she started towards the military records in the archives.

As Luna walked at a brisk pace around the grounds of the castle trying to think of a plan for once she found the information she needed, she could not but help but hear a laughter that was tried to be subdued. Curious, she looked for where the source was. She found the source of the laughter, Twilight and Flash were lying on the ground, looking into the sky, their heads next to each other but their bodies were arranged that if they sat up they would face in opposite directions. Luna couldn't help but watch happy for Twilight.

“Look there,” Twilight said as she pointed into the sky. “Doesn’t that cluster look like a book?”

“Twilight, I think you have a problem,” Flash said with a chuckle, “That’s the eighth book you have seen.” Flash then looked at the sky again and managed to make another image, “Hey,” Flash said as he pointed out another group of stars, “if you look to your left and look at the star third from the brightest you can see it as the start of a dragon. I think that’s a snapshot of Spike in a few centuries.”

Twilight looked and followed what Flash suggested. “Yeah, it might be what he could be like.” After that, the two were silent for a short while, before Twilight spoke again. “I noticed you haven’t tried to list off the stars, and maybe tell of few of their myths.”

“My father plays a man that saves princesses among them from an evil empire trying take over the universe, I really don’t want to know how wrong the science is on the show. And I doubt I can impress you, your father is the royal astrophysicist.”

“I suppose you have point there,” said Twilight, “but at least you could have heard some interesting stories inspired by the constellations.”

“Well, there is one that dad would say over and over again that was inspired by the constellations, it was one of the older episodes of dad’s run, that most followers of the series tend to forget.”

“Go on,” said Twilight.

“What do you know about the Scorpio and Hydriss constellations?” Flash asked as he tried to think of something.

“Quite a bit,” said Twilight.

“Well, one of the first episodes of my dad’s run, which is the current run, I think it was his fourth or fifth, involved crashing on a planet with a primitive tribe that worshipped a colossal water serpent the series referred to as the Hydriss being terrorized by a swarm of water scorpion-like creatures called the scorpios, and of course in order to save the day and get off the planet he had to find the Hydriss. Turned out it was actually a spaceship modeled after a serpent and had an active AI that forced it to keep the tribe safe until its power reserves were too depleted to operate anything. Long story short, he found out a quick way to recharge it was to expose the vessel to running water and diverted a portion of a river around it. He, with the help of the AI, saved the day, destroyed the active scorpios, collected the unhatched eggs and put them in cryo-storage and left the planet safer than it had been when he arrived. He kept the ship for two or three more episodes before it was mothballed and he went back to using the classic ship of the series.”

“Sounds like your father is quite the hero,” Twilight commented, actually in awe about the story. She always figured Smash Fortune was a character that only cared about the damsel in distress.

“Yeah, well dad said that the series needed to show the hero being a better role model for the younger generation,” Flash stated. As he turned to face Twilight, supporting himself on his arm. “You see when my great-grandfather started out, everything was new, filming was a recent invention, you know the black and white no sound, and the series was originally meant to be theatrical shorts of less than ten minutes, so they decided to keep things simple. Hero saves the day, saves the damsel, they have a romantic moment and then it’s off to the next adventure. As the technology changed, new techniques in filming, editing, etc, were developed, the ability to actually record sound and dialogue with the acting, filming in color, longer run times, etc, etc during Grandpa Bucky’s run, they kept the stories simple, so that the audience would not be lost. When dad was chosen to carry on the role, he decided that the characters needed to be a bit closer to the audience by being better examples, or more developed, either in how they acted or made decisions. In fact the whole episode I told you about was almost entirely pitched by dad, granted it was an idea that Grandpa Bucky and my great-grandfather had jotted down as wishful ideas,” Realizing he had gone on a tangent, Flash returned to his point, “But back to my dad, he was always a bit of an amateur astronomer thanks to the setting of the series while growing up with Grandpa Bucky and his grandfather as the hero. That episode was an attempt to make the hero more of a hero without the whole damsel element, and the studio liked the idea of the hero saving entire cultures for little to no fame and other such actions. Granted these were ideas the crew and cast of the two previous runs and my dad’s run wanted to do, but none of the corporates wanted to try it until Smash Fortune was well established beyond the shorts of the first run.”

“Oh,” Twilight commented as she listened to Flash, all the while thinking about why what he said made sense.

“Now that part of the character has actually continued in the series, turned out that episode, while mostly forgotten, has been the defining episode not only of my dad’s run but the entire series. It’s that episode that separated Smash Fortune from all other Space Operas. And was the introduction to everyone's favorite straight man and co-pilot, the AI. However, not everything held.” As Flash spoke Twilight also turned to face Flash and supported herself with her arm.

“What didn’t take root?” Twilight asked confused as she leaned farther up as Flash laid back on the ground.

Answering her, “I am given to understand that because the new ship didn’t test well with the audience, that’s why it was mothballed, and if Shining ranting about the ship when I brought it up was par for the course for fan reactions, then I can see why they went back to the old ship, then again everything was already set-up for the classic ship for filming and editing. Also, it was just easier to move around for the acting and directing, so can’t forget the cost.”

Twilight thought back to all the models her brother kept in his room, among them was a ship very much like what Flash had described in his display for ‘important’ pieces in his collection, she gave a little giggle, “You’ll find my brother is quite full of contradictions. What can you tell me about Shining Armor?”

“He’s a good soldier, a caring but no-nonsense commanding officer, a surprisingly brilliant strategist and tactician and is a role model for most of the guard in how he accords himself on and off duty.”

“Yes well, when he’s at home and with his family he’s a bit of a different story.” Flash gave Twilight a confused look, “Shining is a massive dork, I think a lot of those qualities rubbed off on Spike, my familiar. When he’s at home he’s not a stoic individual with an intense work ethic, he’s a colossal teddy bear with a spastic attention span for everything that doesn’t pertain to his interests. He also has a massive comic collection, and an impressive model collection, both spanning several series and genres.”

“I know,” Flash chuckled. “Found out when I told people my dad was Buck Gordon Rogers III. Never seen a bigger fanboy than him. Don’t tell him I said that.” Flash said as he panicked at the thought of what would happen to him if Shining heard that. Twilight giggled at Flash’s current state. Hearing that, “I should’ve seen that coming,” he said rolling his eyes. “But all of us have our own escape from our duties, mine is music,” Flash answered as he sat up and moved back to see Twilight’s face.

“You do more than sing?” Twilight asked as she sat up too, the two now looking each other in the face.

“I play the guitar. You should hear me play ‘Silent Night’ at my barrack’s Hearth’s Warming Eve party.” Twilight gave a soft laugh at the thought of Flash playing that song as Fluttershy sings it. After a few seconds of silence as the two looked into each other eyes, the two started to lean forward as they neared to...

As much as Luna felt the need to inform Twilight of the potential danger she did not want to interrupt this potential good memory between the two, she hoped she could wait just long enough for the moment to pass without endangering anything. “FLASH! HEY MAN, YOU HERE?” came a surprisingly calmed male voice, this was a relief for Luna as it gave her the opportunity to talk to Twilight without being the one to ruin the moment, but ended the attempt at a kiss.

Back to Twilight and Flash, upon hearing the voice, if Twilight was to guess, she figured that the man she heard would be a friend of Fluttershy if they two met. Flash silently cursed, “Great,” he said rolling his eyes. “I guess it’s time to introduce you to my squad mates,” Flash said as two men about his age found the opening in the gardens. One was an Earthborn and as slightly taller than Flash, he had green hair in dreadlocks and wore a leather vest, with a couple leather bands on his wrist, a dyed red fur shirt, and blue cotton plants. The other man was slightly shorter than Flash, he wore corrective lens, which Twilight could also tell were also his focus gems, a yellow long sleeve shirt with the ESM insignia branded on the upper right chest and brown pants with suspenders.

“Dude, told ya, my spirit guide would find him?” the Earthborn said, his companion giving him an annoyed look.

“It was a simple matter of deduction,” the Magicborn commented. “We were going to find him at some point and if I recall your guide wanted to check the other side of the castle, I wanted to do a quick check with the surveillance guards to narrow the search area down.”

“Twilight, my squadmates, Sandalwood, he’s a shaman,” Flash said pointing to the Earthborn. “And this is Micro Chips, you’ll probably never find a better technomancer, although he can get a little eccentric around pieces of technology that are new to him,” Flash said as he addressed the smaller of the two other men. As the two men offered their hands, “Guys this is Twilight Sparkle…” Flash started.

“The Twilight Sparkle, as in Shining’s little sister? Dude, I knew you had balls, but that’s suicidal.” Sandalwood commented as he shook Twilight’s hand, a little too forceful for Twilight’s liking. “Pleasure to meet you, Miss Sparkle.”

Mirco rolled his eyes, then it was his turn to shake Twilight’s hand. “Likewise for myself.” Turning back to Flash, “As they say the greater the risk the greater the reward. I hope for the best but the odds are not in your favor. So, Flash, what shall we engrave on your headstone?” Micro asked.

“Oh come on, my BBBFF can’t be that bad,” Twilight commented, only to get the two other men to have a deep laugh.

“Okay okay, enough, why are you guys looking for me at this hour?” Flash said getting the two to come back to the matter they wanted to discuss with Flash.

“Well, we have bad news, Flash.” Micro Chips stated nervously.

“Sorry dude, but our leave has been called short.” Sandalwood stated what needed to be said.

“What?” Flash asked in disbelief.

“Yeah, you see, Sandalwood and I have been assigned to the supporting garrison in Nyika,” Micro inform. “And here are your orders.” as he handed Flash and envelope.

Flash opened it and after reading the actual order, “They’re sending me to the Crystal Mountains? That far north?” He asked in bewilderment. “I didn’t even know we had installations that far,” Flash said with surprise as he read on, “Well at least they provided a train schedule for transit purposes,” as he looked at the schedule he noticed one slated for day after tomorrow at noon circled in red with the words ‘Miss it and be demoted back down to private for the rest of your career!’ “A little forceful, but I guess that’s how things are.” Flash commented before he gave a sigh and turned back to Twilight, “Guess we’re going to have to cut our date short,” Flash said, turning toward Twilight, “I need to get to work packing for this one, and maybe shopping for some extra gear.”

“It’s okay, I understand,” said Twilight feeling like something life-affirming had just been cheated away from her. However, as Twilight dipped her head depressed, a hand took her chin and before she knew it she was given a passionate kiss.

As the kiss ended, “What did you expect me to do?” Flash asked with a chuckle. “Leave you without at least a kiss goodbye and good night?” Flash said reassuringly. Looking only into Twilight’s eyes. “What I said this morning is still true. I hope to see you soon.” He then placed another kiss on Twilight’s left cheek. He then got up to his feet. “May I write..” Flash started.

“Golden Oak Library, Magiville.” Twilight cut Flash short at a speed that would make Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie seem slow. “That’s my address. I am the residential librarian.” Twilight said a little sheepishly while tapping her index fingers together.

Flash smiled, “My favorite book is Sword of the Stars, the first book in the ‘Musa Stellae’ series by BGR,” Flash informed, seeing a slight look of confusion on Twilight’s face. “I know I said Space Opera’s aren’t my thing, but I do like Science Fiction.”

“BGR?” Twilight asked.

“My great-grandfather,” Flash answered.

Seeing the confusion on Twilight’s face, “Yeah, the actor that is the face of the Space Opera genre, wrote the most sophisticated, world-building both on one world and across worlds, socially challenging, socially critical, complex … I can go on, but in short objectively the best science fiction novel series,” Micro Chips commented. “And the best part is that you can read the last novel alone and not lose anything, in fact, you can read any one of them and lose nothing if you elect to read none of the others.”

“And it has such a grasp and understanding of nature, and the conclusion is to accept that we are part of Nature and that everything we do and make is part of our Nature, and it is only by recognizing that and incorporating all are parts are we made full.” Sandalwood added. It was clear the two enjoyed the series as well. Micro Chips, Twilight could understand off the bat, but Sandalwood was a surprise.

“I’ll have to read it some time,” Twilight said, “But you’ve got to get going.” Flash weakly chuckled as Twilight got up. Twilight placed a kiss on his check, “To quote Applejack, ‘If you die, I’ll kill ya’.” Twilight said teasingly.

Flash frozen at that statement, as Micro laughed at him. Seeing his almost traumatized comrade, “Dude, a skilled mage like you, I don’t doubt that you know a few necromantic spells,” Sandalwood laughed as he grabbed Flash and started to head away. “Sorry for cutting your date short. Take care, dude.” Micro following not far behind still laughing at the joke that Twilight made.

After the three left, Luna elected that this was the time to talk to Twilight. As she came up next to Twilight she said softly, “You probably knew what you would be getting into, after all, he is a military man. Just because we know it doesn’t always mean we can properly guard against it. You’ll see him again, and hopefully, it will be for much longer before you get interrupted, if at all.”

Twilight gave a sigh, “Yeah, Shining said, ‘don’t date a soldier, unless you’re willing to cry often.’ I never got it, at least not until now.”

“W...I know this is not a good time, but I need your help.”

Twilight knew something was wrong with just that sentence, Luna never used the singular, always the Royal Plural. “What is it, Princess Luna?” Twilight asked.

“Do you remember Nightmare Moon?” Luna asked and Twilight nodded in response, “She is back and has possessed one of your friends. We must get to the emergency teleportation circle and gather the others,” Luna said as she grabbed Twilight’s hand and started towards the circle.

“Shouldn’t we…” Twilight started before she was lifted off of the ground as Luna flew fast enough to make Rainbow Dash think she needs to cut out the fat in her diet so not to be outshone.

“No, this is my watch, Celestia must not know, and we are short on time. At the very least I need to make an attempt to clean up this mess I’m some measure of responsibility for, we’ll bring in Celestia if we see things are nearing or at too out of hand,” Luna said, preemptively cutting off Twilight’s next arguing point. Seeing no point in questioning the Princess of the Night, Twilight gave a sigh and let her inquiry go. After they landed near the teleportation circle, Luna hid them with shadows so not to be spotted by the guard on patrol. After the guard past, Luna pulled Twilight into the circle with her, as she looked around as if to see if anyone else is around, not seeing any they proceeded into the actual complex housing the teleportation circle. On their way into the complex that housed the circle, since having one out the open could invite all sorts of problems, they almost bumped in the CMC. Luna quickly cut off anything the three were going to say before their mouths were even open, mostly to ensure the three young mages didn’t give away the secrecy that was being practiced by the two elder mages, with a zone of silence around the five. Twilight then fixed the three with a stern stare, the kind that could almost give Fluttershy’s a run for its money.

Motioning the need to be quiet Twilight whispered “What are you three doing here? I thought I left you asleep in a room on the third story.”

“Wah wanted to see the teleportation circle,” Apple Bloom answered in a hushed tone.

“Yeah there was a big deal about getting to it at your brother’s wedding,” Scootaloo added.

“We just wanted to see if it would have worked if we got here before the Changelings overwhelmed us.” Sweetie Belle finished.

Twilight was about to give an exasperated sigh, but Luna spoke, “You may come with us, but you must do exactly what I say to the letter, but we have to go now!” Luna said as she beckoned everyone into the circle proper.

After everyone entered. “When this is over we are going to have a long talk with Applejack and Rarity.” Twilight stated

“And Hot Stuff,” Scootaloo added jokingly.

“And Hot Stuff…” Twilight repeated just to have to hear all four of the other giggle at her as the teleportation circle activated, “WHAT!”

As the teleportation ended Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom fell to their knees and hands trying to gain some sort of sense of reference as they all arrived in front of the Golden Oak Library. “Teleportation spells are taxing on first time affected.” Luna commented as she looked around Magiville, “This place looked better during Nightmare Night.” Luna commented. “You three will rest in the Golden Oak, Twilight and I need to gather your sisters.” she ordered as she opened the door as Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle crawled in, “I’ll mail all the things you left in the castle,” Luna continued.

“Hold before we leave, SPIKE!” Twilight called, earning her a grunt from her dragon from upstairs. She then saw Owlowiscious looking at her a little confused. “Hey Owlowiscious, I’m home early, I need to get Applejack and everyone. Can you keep an eye on the CMC?” After a second or two, “And maybe get a few gems for Spike, I need him too.” The owl hooted as he flew to fetch the dragon. While the owl did that Twilight decided to grab her bag and staff, chances are they would be needed. A quick check of its contents told Twilight that what she had been hoping for were in it, however, her staff required a quick item summoning spell.

“Twilight, we must move quickly, time is of the essence,” Luna said as she pulled Twilight out and shut the door. “We need to gather your friends, whom should get first?” Luna asked.

“Well, Fluttershy’s cabin is the farthest...AWWWAAAYYY!!!” Twilight ended in a near scream as Luna took to the air and flew out of town. After a five minute flight, Luna landed with Twilight right out of Fluttershy’s cabin. “Must we be so…” Twilight started but stopped as Luna started pounding on the door.

“FLUTTERSHY! WE NEED YOU! WAKE UP!” Luna shouted in what Twilight thought was a panic. After a few more thumps on the door, it was opened but not by Fluttershy, Luna looked down and saw Angel Bunny, “We are most sorry for the intrusion,” Luna said upon noticing the lapin, “but an emergency that could require her services has come up, could retrieve her for us?”

Angel looked at the Night Princess with a critical eye before seeming to disappear into the structure. After a few seconds a yawn was heard, “Angel, what time is it?” Fluttershy asked clearly tired. After a few seconds, “Alright, alright.” Fluttershy’s voice is heard. A minute later, Fluttershy arrived at the door, while she is dressed, her eyes were barely open, with Angel on her left shoulder. “How can I help you?” she asked with a yawn.

“Sorry for waking you up so early, but we need your help,” Twilight said, weakly and somewhat regretfully. “We don’t have much time.”

“No time for tea?” Fluttershy asked with a yawn.

Luna grabbed both, Fluttershy and Twilight by their arms, “No time,” Luna said with a rapid tone and taking them and Angel and began her flight to Sweet Apple Temple. After a slightly longer flight than from the Golden Oak to Fluttershy’s cabin, with a still groggy Fluttershy, who had a slightly irritated Angel on her shoulder, they arrived at Sweet Apple Temple. This would require a bit more grace when you took into account the elderly Annie Smith and the other Apple siblings were inside, one of whom they required aid from. “Alright we need Applejack…” before Luna could knock on the door to the temple proper, which was where the Apples themselves lived, the door was opened with a nearly bare Big Mac, with just a set of boxers on, in the doorway.

After seeing the three women just stare at him for about a minute, Big Mac elected to start the conversation. “Eeyup,” he said breaking the three from their stupor.

“Sorry, Big Mac, we need AJ, could you go get her,” Twilight said recovering first. Big Mac then walked back into the temple. After a minute or two, there heard another door knocked and opened.

“Someone looking for mah?” Applejack asked with a yawn, which Twilight, Luna, and Fluttershy heard.

“Eeyup.” Big Mac replied.

“Twi back?”

“Eeyup.”

“Did shah come with Apple Bloom?”

“Enope.”

“Will yah put a kettle of coffee on?”

“Eeyup.”

After a couple of minutes, Big Mac returned and beckoned everyone into the temple and lead them into the kitchen. He put on a plain apron and started to make the coffee after he opened a window.

A couple of minutes as the coffee was brewing Applejack arrived, dressed in her usual attire and armor. Before anyone was allowed to say anything to the paladin. “After Ah have mah coffee.” Big Mac then poured for her a mug of coffee.

About ten minutes later, after half the kettle of a strong dark roast coffee with nothing added, Applejack had joined the group, Angel had also insisted Fluttershy have a few cups of the dark brew, which she reluctantly did, “Does anybody have the drift chart for Rainbow Dash’s home?” Luna inquired as she and Twilight also had one.

“One moment,” said Twilight before digging into her bag, which thankfully Luna let her grab along with her staff before leaving the library, and pulling up a pocket schedule with Rainbow’s mark on it, she took a quick skim through the pages before saying, “the good news is we won’t have to go far to get her, the bad news is that her home is currently directly over Sugar Cube Corner. Normal safety regulations state we can’t do anything to disturb the occupants of floating homes when they are hovering above other facilities.”

“I hate saying this,” said a more awake Fluttershy, “but if this really is an emergency then we’re going to have to disregard that concern, but we still need to provide compensation for any damages that occur as result, after the situation has been dealt with.”

Applejack took the chart, “Twilight, this is for tomorrow night, Rainbow Dash’s cloud house is going to hit the temple in.” Applejack paused and held up three fingers, “Three, two, one.” Applejack counted and then came a screaming Rainbow Dash through the window and crashing into the table. “The magic of the temple grounds prevents cloud houses and similar thin’s from allowin’ them to keep Skyborn from walking in them and negates Cloud Walking spells,” Applejack commented. Shortly after Tank, with his magical propeller activated, came flying into the house from the same window and he settled on the table.

Rainbow Dash rubbed her head and grunted in pain. After being offered a mug of coffee and a pain pill by Big Mac, “Thanks.” Rainbow Dash took the pill and then started to drink the coffee. “Why does this happens every third Wednesday.”

“Yah wanted a legal way to be able to gawk at Big Mac, while he sleeps,” Applejack commented. Rainbow Dash’s face was one shade short of purple as she hid her face at the reveal. Applejack turned to Twilight, "Every woman around our age has had a crush on him at some point." Applejack then turned to Big Mac, “Yah might want to put a shirt on, Big Mac.”

Luna got to her feet, “We need to move, we need Pinkie and Rarity, finish your mugs and let’s move.”

“I have to change, I’ll meet up with you at Sugar Cube Corner,” Rainbow said as she got back and took the air. Luna then grabbed Twilight, Fluttershy, and Applejack and bolted out of the Temple.

After a flight about the same time as Luna’s flight with Twilight, the three arrived outside of Suger Cube Corner, “So how do we get Pinkie Pie?”

“Well Ah’d knocked, but if wah wake up Pound and Pumpkin…” Applejack stopped as Fluttershy and Twilight shivered at the thought. However, getting into Sugar Cube Corner was one thing, the greatest challenge they all had, getting Pinkie out without making anything that could wake the other occupants of the bakery/home. This was made all the more difficult by the seemingly well-hidden gag security system components and rather noisy party products littering the room that acted as the pink jester’s place of occupancy.

Just then Rainbow arrived. “Alright, so what’s the plan?”

“We need Pinkie and to get her outside without waking the Cake Twins,” Twilight stated as just then a tired Pinkie stepped out, dressed in her usual attire. “Pinkie how did you kn...Pinkie Sense?” Twilight asked.

“No, I heard you arrive and didn’t want to wake the twins to tell you guys to leave,” Pinkie said in a hushed tone as she shut the door behind her. “So what are we doing?”

“We need to get Rarity, Princess Luna needs all our help, she’ll explain everything once we get everyone.” Twilight informed.

“So what’s the plan to get Rarity?” the jester asked.

“Ah cannot believe Ah’m going to say this, To tha Boutique,” Applejack said as she started towards Carousel Boutique. When they all arrived a few minutes later, Carousel Boutique was unsurprisingly locked. “Rarity is a rather heavy sleeper,” Rainbow Dash commented, “Remember the camping trip we and our sisters went on AJ?” Rainbow asked jokingly.

“Ya, but wah both know she’d insist on a more elegant term.” Applejack commented, “So how do wah wake her up?”

“With the number one party planner of Mystica’s iconic party tool,” Twilight stated. Everyone else but Luna shivered. “Pinkie I am going to teleport you inside Rarity’s room. You know what to do from there, Party cannon style,” Twilight said before she used a short-range teleportation spell on Pinkie to drop the pink-clad mage into the room.

“Why was Pinkie sent?” Luna asked.

“Well, of all us, Pinkie is the most likely to wake Rarity, with the least amount of effort,” Fluttershy answered the lunar princess. Luna nodded in agreement after some thought.

After a surprisingly quiet period, this was Pinkie Pie, Pinkie walked through the front door of the boutique, literally, “She’s not here, I cannot find her anywhere. Opal is gone, too.”

“I am too late,” Luna said in shock as she fell to her knees. “I failed,” She then looked into the sky, “What have I done?”

Glimpse of Yore

After seeing Luna fall to her knees and make her comment. “All right,” said Twilight as she turned to Luna, it was clear with the small frown on her face, Twilight was concerned about her friend. “I think it’s time for an explanation, Princess Luna.”

Luna got back to her feet, she took a breath before she spoke, “You all remember Nightmare Moon?” Everyone nodded. “Well, she has returned to do what she was not able to do when she and I were one.”

“So much for the break from saving the world, it’s like we are maids,” Rainbow commented rather disrespectfully and annoyed rolling her eyes.

“Count yourselves fortunate you even had a break since the wedding and you had a chance to celebrate. If you were to actually look into the first century of Celestia’s lone rule… well, count your blessings.” Luna informed as she glared at the elementalist. Rainbow then gave a weak ‘tehe’ as she backed down. Luna took a breath, “It would be best to show you from the beginning.” Luna said.

“Wait for us.” came Spike’s voice as he and the CMC came on the scene.

“Ah buck no!” Applejack said as she stepped in front of the four and taking command of the situation, “Y’all are goin’ home and go ta bed.”

“Come on, wah help yah with the Changelings, wah can help here too,” Apple Bloom challenged as she and Applejack stared each other down.

“We can discuss whether or not they can join us in our upcoming skirmish later!” Luna shouted and then her eyes glowed white and before everyone could tell what happened they saw that they were in a blizzard. “This is where my story began,” Luna said.

“Um...Princess Luna, not to be pedantic, but when did you start using the singular?” Fluttershy asked. Luna looked down, to the ground, not giving an answer. Before Fluttershy or anyone could press the matter

“HELP! (cough) HELP!” cried a girl, no more than five, the group turned and saw a five-year-old girl dressed in rags, in her arms was a bundle the size of an infant. The girl’s hair was exposed showing it to be bright pink and from her back was what looked like…

“Is that?” Twilight asked. “HELP IS HERE!” Twilight shouted as she ran to the girl only to run right through the girl like she was a ghost.

“HELP!” the girl then coughed again. Soon everyone heard a guttural growl. The girl’s eyes widened in fright. She looked around and there was nowhere she could go as soon spectral beings started to surround the girl. The creatures looked like humanoid bipedal wolves, with antlers, soon it was shown that their chests were empty ribcages and their heads were bare skulls, “HELP!!!” the girl shouted again before screaming as the creatures were about to pounce.

“BEGONE YOU DEMONS! YOU SHALLN’T HARM HER!!” came another female voice, this one belonging to a woman at least twenty years older than the girl. The woman replied the creatures with a blazing heart-shaped fire. “BACK TO THE FROZEN WASTES AND ROT THERE!!!” Twilight and the others were shocked as the blizzard calmed. The girl fell to the ground and fainted. The woman used her magic to levitate the girl and what she had in her arms. Holding the girl motherly and hearing the faint cry of a scared infant from the bundle, “You’re going to be fine,” said the woman who then turned to reveal a kind face in green clothing, upon which appeared to be a spectral blue clover with seven leaves. Her dark hair seemed to have a violet tint to it.

Twilight silently gasped, while she didn’t recognize the features of this woman she did recognize the mark, it was one that any of Mystica’s genuine magic scholars could recognize in almost an instant. “That’s--”

“Yes, Twilight,” said Luna, “Clover the Clever was much more to Celestia and me. In some ways, you are reminiscent of her. But that is not why we are here, maybe at some point in the future we will return for a better look, but for now, we have more pressing matters.”

Soon everything changed as they were inside a house, which looked a lot like the Pies’ farmhouse. The woman placed both the pink haired girl and the infant on a chair as before stoking the fire. After which she got warm blankets, and after getting the two out of their wet and frozen clothes, wrapped them. “You’re safe now.” She whispered as she rocked the two. Soon the pink haired girl woke.

“Where am… LUNA!” she shouted noticing the absence of what was in her arms.

“Shsh, you’re are both out of danger,” the woman said as she showed the infant, “I didn’t know her name was Luna.” seeing the girl shift nervously, “I am Clover, and I found you both surrounded by those windigos.” Turning to her door, “They are getting desperate, thankfully tomorrow is Hearth’s Warming.” she said in a hushed tone. Turning back to the girl, “So what is your name, ‘Sola’?

“What?” the girl asked.

“It means ‘sun’, I assumed that since your little sister is named Luna and that Luna means ‘moon’, you were named after the sun,” Clover answered.

“It’s Celestia” the girl answered.

“‘Heaven’ or ‘Sky’, that’s a beautiful name,” Clover commented with a smile. “You and Luna are safe here.”

Soon the infant Luna woke and looked at the woman holding her, it was clear she was confused. “Hey, there little angel,” Clover said motherly. “See, your big sister found my cabin just before she collapsed. All for you, little one.” Clover said she moved to let Luna see her big sister. “She was a brave girl, drove the windigo away from you both with her love.” Clover continued. “She’ll always look out for you,” Clover whispered to the infant Luna.

“So let mah get this straight, Clover tha Clever adopted yah an’ Princess Celestia and she lied about saving you both.” Applejack commented.

“Mother was always one to give the credit she was due to others, the fact is most of Star Swirl’s greatest feats were actually accomplished by her with him there.” As Luna informed Twilight was clearly befuddled at that comment about Star Swirl the Great. Luna carried on with her story. “Celestia would later tell me the truth, but from that moment on, Celestia would always stand up and be there for me.”

Everything changed again, now a ten-year-old Luna was at a desk trying to solve some sort of problem, the room looked a lot like a stereotypical wizard’s lab. Also in the room was an old man, with a long white beard, he wore a robe with stars imprinted on in with bells sewed on, it looked exactly like the costume Twilight wore at Nightmare Night. Also in the room was a fifteen-year-old Celestia watching on. The old man looked at a clock and gave an exasperated sigh. “I can’t believe I let Clover talk me into this.” He then turned his back and soon heard laughter. He turned and he saw Luna snicker at him. “What is so fun…” He turned his robes around to see a ‘connect the dots’ made with his stars. “...TIA!!!” he shouted and then Luna teleported her and Celestia away.

In which everyone followed, “Tia you are going to get in so much trouble when Master Star Swirl tells Mom.” Luna said after suppressing a giggle.

“Oh, but when she finds out you learned the teleportation spell, she’ll forgive me,” Celestia said reassuringly. “Besides, I will always have your back, Woona.” Celestia laughed again.

Luna pouted with her cheeks puffed out, earning a few snickers from Twilight and her friends at the cuteness of it all, “Only Mom can call me that, and you know it.” Celestia could only laugh in response and soon they heard the angry pacing of Star Swirl. Luna then used her magic to teleport again, this time right to their home with Clover. This caught Clover off guard as she almost screamed. “Mom, I learned how to teleport!”

“That’s great, Moonpie.” Clover embraced her younger adopted daughter. Then she realized something. After ending her embrace she turned to Celestia, “Celestia, what did you do?” she asked with a stern tone and face.

“What? Me? Why would I do anything?” Celestia asked trying to dismiss the accusation.

“Luna is never going to grow if you keep having her growth in magic based on her laughing at your pranks.” Clover scolded.

“But Star Swirl is so~ boring~. I almost died of it when he taught me, and Lulu waxes and wanes like the moon, she’s more likely to be bored sooner and more often.”

“And like the moon, she’ll get excited more often and sooner. Now, young lady, you’re doing Star Swirl’s laundry for the next month and if you pull another one of those pranks again…” Just then Star Swirl teleported in, he was starting to pant in anger. Seeing the red of his face contrasting with his white beard. Clover started to laugh at her teacher. Star Swirl groaned and stormed off as all three continued to laugh. After a few seconds, “You’re still doing his laundry, little missie.” Clover told Celestia. To which Celestia groaned. Luna, on the other hand, gave an adorable giggle that earned her a playful tap from her adoptive mother.

Everything changed to the construction of the Castle of the Two Sisters, Luna looked much like how was currently, most likely twenty or so, save she was dressed much like how she was depicted on the tapestry that hid the chamber where the Elements were stored before Discord’s escape, minus her tiara. Next to her was Celestia, who seemed to be just like she normally is but they all could tell that there isn’t the millennium of solo rule present in her aura and like Luna was in the same attire, again minus her tiara. “Think about it, Luna. A place of our own. Right in the center of our nation.” Celestia said with a smile, trying to encourage her sister.

“I am not sure if I am ready to rule with you, Sister. We both have seen the back and forth bickering of Hurricane, Platinum, and Puddinghead.” Luna commented nervously.

“There is no one I would trust to rule with me than you, little sister.” Celestia said reassuringly, “And unlike our three predecessors, we grew up with the wisdom of Pansy, Smart Cookie, and Mother. We can do this together. Tonight, you will show everyone you are fit.”

“But I never raised the moon before,” Luna countered.

Celestia smiled, “I know you can do it, Mother knows you can, Smart Cookie knows you can, everyone knows you can, even Star Swirl.” Celestia said reassuringly. Luna smiled as the two turned to the path to their temporary thrones.

“I suppose,” said Luna, still with uncertainty in her voice, “but why do we have to rule at all, we were doing just fine before those three announced it,” she gave an annoyed sigh.

“Because our natural magics are a…” Celestia started.

“Symphony of the natural magics of the tribes, I’m well aware of this,” Luna finished.

“You always were better at describing things, Lulu, always so poetic in that regard,” Celestia said with a smile.

Luna gave a mock scowl at her nickname, “Just because I know how to word things in a more pleasing manner does not mean I’m fit to rule, just handle politicians from time to time, you were always better at the whole political thing anyway.” Luna said as dipped her head unsure of everything.

“Oh Luna, politics is not much different than poetry, it's all about masking the truth,” Celestia said with a wink.

“But Mother said that poetry was about getting people to recognize the truth with a face they know, and politics was about getting people to not recognize it by giving it a face it that no-one knows.” Luna countered.

Celestia chuckled, “That is why I need you to rule with me, you are my balance, the night to my day, the water to my fire, the earth to my sky, the…” Celestia started.

“Moon to your sun, just like Mother said.” Luna finished.

“Just like Mother said,” Celestia said and embraced her sister. “Alright, here goes everything,” Celestia said as she turned herself and Luna to proceed out of the structure they were in and walk down the path to their thrones’ current location. All the while they received cheers as flower petals were thrown into the air. They stopped at the end and in front of them were the six founders, the three leader’s had removed the part of their regalia that was worn on their head.

Smart Cookie stepped forward, “Do you, Celestia and Luna, vow to uphold the laws of Mystica, to foster the growth of this nation in all areas, to defend its subjects and citizens at whatever necessary costs, to observe their rights, to pursue peaceful relationships with other nations first, to place the interests of Mystica first and foremost in any interactions with other nations, and all other responsibilities of the position you are about to ascend to?”

“I do, may Zacherle bind me to my word,” Celestia said with blazing confidence and conviction, much like the sun at high noon.

As Smart Cookie turned to Luna, Luna soon felt a rush of confidence and conviction, as if like the moon she was waxing, “I do, may Faust incarcerate me for my actions,” Luna proclaimed matching her sister.

“Then by the authority imparted to me and granted by the three tribes, I hereby and henceforth proclaim you the rulers of this fair nation for as long as you may live.” As Smart Cookie spoke, Pansy walked up with the tiara that Luna now wears and the tiara that now bears the Element of Magic. Smart Cookie took each tiara and placed them on their respective owners.

Everything then changed to a walkway in the castle, “Wait where are we?” Scootaloo asked. Before anyone answered they all saw Luna looking out one of the windows.

“Now the hour has come at last,
The soft and fading light
Has crossed the west horizon
And has bidden us goodnight
And what a lovely night it is
To walk a moonlit field
To see the softer shades
That are by starlight now revealed,” the Luna from the past started to sing. Everyone watched as she walked along the path and continued to sing. All the while they all noticed that Luna’s shadow was starting to stir and act as if it was a separate being.

“We are now at the birth of Nightmare Moon. This was the darkest moment in my life.” Luna said as they all watched as ‘Luna’ continued to sing and stop to look at the throne.

“Are We so wrong to wish that they
Would see things like We do?
And are We so wrong to think
That they might love Us too?” As the Luna of the past sang ‘see things like We do’, everyone saw her open her eyes and showing the pupils to be slits, and the irises took on a darker shade of color as if Luna was slowly shifting. The past Luna turned from the window, she looked around her seeing apparitions of small children turn from her and head towards the actual thrones. The apparitions were also seen by Twilight and company.

“It comes to this at last:
We will no longer yield the sky
If they cannot love
But one princess alone
See, the Moon is rising
She has come to claim the heavens for her own,” After seeing her work, she continued to sing. She turned as she looked towards the thrones, as the apparition of her sister got up and ran towards her seeming to beg Luna to stop but as it neared Luna she swatted it away forcing it and all the apparitions to vanish, all of them seem to dissolve in agony and pain. All the while everything was bathed not in a comforting argent light but in a harsh crimson light. Everyone that Luna was showing this shook in slight horror as darkness started to grow from ‘Luna’s’ heart and exponentially spread to encompass ‘Luna’ as Nightmare Moon emerged.

“And all will know the wonder
Of Our dark and jeweled sky
When all the world is wrapped in
An eternal lullaby
So say good night at this,
The final setting of the sun,
Tomorrow dawn's in darkness
The nighttime has begun!” Nightmare Moon finished the song as she laughed and then all the past images ended.

As they all returned to the present, “That was amazing~!” Pinkie shouted. “We totally need more history lessons taught like that.”

“Okay, we got a history lesson, what were we to see from it beyond the folktale?” Rainbow Dash asked. “As awesome as it was to see all the founders at that time, I fail to see anything of use to us, especially in kicking some butt.” Twilight and Applejack gave Rainbow a stern look, Fluttershy opted to not get involved and Pinkie seemed to be oblivious to the comment.

“Like the moon,” Twilight answered. “The moon waxes and wanes, but that is not the only part of it. The New Moon stage of the moon, when there is no light reflected off of it. Nightmare Moon is to Luna as the new moon stage is to the moon itself, it is the shadow.”

“Yes and my shadow, which had long been ignored and suppressed, has now taken over Rarity,” Luna stated as she dipped her head.

“What happened to my big sister? Is she going to be okay?” Sweetie asked the concern and worry on her face as tears started to form in the corners of her eyes as she ran up to Luna and took hold of the princess’ dress.

Luna took Sweetie Belle’s hands as she kneeled to look her in the eye, “Nightmare Moon was somehow set free by a minion she had, I only remember her title, Shadowbolt…”

“Nightshade!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, “She’s still alive?!” Rainbow shouted as she asked as she turned to Luna.

“If that is her name, then yes. Nightshade has somehow retrieved Nightmare Moon from the vaults the latter was imprisoned in. And released her on Rarity.”

“But why Rarity?” Sweetie Belle asked as her tears start to form more fervently.

“Well, Sweetie Belle, Twilight was with you, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom in Chantalot, Applejack lives on holy ground, Rainbow lives in a mobile flying house, Fluttershy is surrounded by animals and while my Pinkie Sense might not detect Nightmare Moon trying to possess me it would allow me sense general dangers that could come up before it got the chance,” said Pinkie in a chipper yet serious tone, “which leaves Rarity as the most viable choice. She has a natural talent for magics, as is the case with all Magicborn, mostly lives alone with the exceptions being you and her cat. Opal’s actually a pretty lazy kitty, so chances of her acting as an early warning were always pretty low. But what I want to know is, what happened to Opal after Nightmare took control of Rarity? Neither was in there when I checked.”

“I have no idea, but it wouldn’t surprise me if Nightmare Moon took on traits and mannerisms of her new host, she might have picked up Rarity’s feelings for the cat, but most likely altered the cat along with Rarity to better suit her desires.” Luna pondered.

“So what do we do?” Sweetie Belle asked getting Luna’s attention.

“We confront Nightmare Moon, or whatever name she has now chosen as…” Luna started,

“Hold on a second.” Pinkie said as she jumped out of this chapter, leaving everyone utterly dumbfounded, save Applejack.

“Ah’m gonna to need a bottle of my namesake, when this is all done.” Applejack deadpanned.

Meanwhile, Pinkie Pie went to read the first chapter of the story, ‘The Nightmare is Rarity’. After shimming it, she jumped back into the story. “Her name is now Nightmare Rarity, and Nightshade was the sad lady on the train that I tried to make smile.”

“Wait, was she the person in the trench coat, fedora and sunglasses that I dumped into?” Rainbow Dash asked as she thought back to earlier that day.

“Kind of obvious when you think about it,” Twilight commented as she rolled her eyes, commenting indirectly on Rainbow Dash’s tendency to be the dullest tool in the shed. “I probably would have pointed it out if I had been on the ride back with all of you.”

Applejack turned to her sister, “Yall can help, but if Ah tell yall need to go home and get help…”

“Wah’ll do it.” Apple Bloom finished. She then held out her hand and spat on it. Applejack did likewise and they shook hands.

Fluttershy gave some serious thought on what to do as she noticed that the go-to plan of using the Elements of Harmony would not work. “Since we cannot use the Elements, even if we had them here, we need a different plan.”

“Why can’t we use the Elements?” Rainbow Dash asked confused, as they used the Elements on Nightmare Moon.

“Oh Silly Dashie, don’t you remember the story?” Pinkie asked. Rainbow Dash looked at her in confusion. “Don’t worry Aunty Pinkie will explain.” Pinkie said as she pulled out of her hair a rocking chair, placed Rainbow on her lap as she sat down and pulled out of her hair a copy of The Elements of Harmony: A Reference Guide.

“I am…” Rainbow Dash started, as if to say ‘I am a year older than you’, but ended with a few grumbles as she remembered that she was younger than her five closest friends by a year, well two in the case of Fluttershy. Spike and the CMC could not help but laugh childlike at Rainbow’s situation.

Before Pinkie could start, “It’s because it would destroy the harmony shared between you, and if another attempt to remake the Element of Generosity and make a new harmony, Discord would very likely break free again,” Luna stated. “It happened when the Element of Magic was recreated and the harmony of you six was formed, and while Discord is not one for order, the Elements of Harmony are.” Unhappy Pinkie Pie let Rainbow Dash off her lap, and then put the chair and the book back into her hair.

“Alright Sugarcubes, let’s get this going. Any ideas where wah will find them?”

“Rarity mentioned a couple of times that the castle in the Everfree would make a great tourist site.” Sweetie Belle commented. “She said that if it was all fixed up, even if Princess Celestia and you don’t move back in if it was an attraction it would be a boost to Magiville’s local economy.”

“But I thought the Everfree was still hard to get in and out?” Luna commented as she tilted her head in confusion.

“Zecora has been sayin’ that the forest had seemed to calm down each time she came into town after the last Summer Sun Celebration, like an angry spirit that had been placated.” Apple Bloom answered. While it was not that great of an explanation, but it seemed to suffice Luna’s inquiry.

Luna nodded, not so much in understanding, but she was pressed for time. “Wah’ll need to exorcise her out of Rarity. Ah can do it, but Ah’ll need somethin’ given to or by Rarity, something that has value to Rarity and the other person,” Applejack said getting everyone attention.

“I know just the thing!” exclaimed Spike as he went into the Boutique. After a few minutes, he exited, holding a golden necklace with a fairly large heart-shaped red gem. “The fire ruby I gave her a week before my birthday. She never asked for it and wanted to leave after she saw it to not tempted herself, but…” Spike stopped and fell silent. In was clear to the young dragon, that the giving of that gem might as well been giving her his heart. The gravity of that was not lost on anyone.

“Oh, Spike," Twilight stated.

Spike shook his head and handed to Applejack the gem. “Let’s save her, but first we need to write Princess Celestia.”

“No, I need to take care of this myself. Nightmare is my responsibility, she always has been. Celestia cannot be allowed to know she returned, yet. For now, the danger isn’t so great as to involve her, Nightmare was always my problem to solve.”

“And we will help you. Let’s go save our friend and sister!” Rainbow Dash said as she started towards the Everfree, everyone then started after her.

As everyone headed towards the Everfree, Spike and Angel pulled back. The two headed for The Golden Oak. “Sorry Princess Luna,” the young dragon said in a near whisper as he dipped his head. He turned to Angel, “You better get the others,” he told the rabbit. Angel then hopped to that command.

Shadows of The Past

Author's Note

Let me preface this, Nightshade is responsible for her own decisions, for her own actions, etc. However, I intend to show that Nightshade is as much a product of circumstances beyond her control as much as she is a product of her own design. I intend to show that she's a narcissist because she only had herself to look after her and that she's an egoist because she only had her ego to her name. Now on to the chapter...

Shadows of The Past

In the Everfree Forest, in the ruins of The Castle of The Two Sisters, Nightmare Rarity, the Tantabus, Nightshade and the changed Opal arrived at the entrance. “This place needs quite a lot of fixing.” Nightmare Rarity commented. “And perhaps I could use a more… subtle appearance,” she added as she looked at her new moon like skin. She took a breath and after a few seconds her skin returned to the ivory-like skin of Rarity, within her hair white streaks appeared, her crown morphed back into the tiara Rarity wore with the four pale opals still present. A necklace formed around her neck with a similar look to her tiara. Her gown, however, altered to something a bit more extravagant; as the sides of her dress were split from the end up to below her hips just enough, the top half was a split in the front side that ended just far enough above her bellybutton and her black gloves ended just above her elbows.

“Yeah, so subtle,” Nightshade said looking at her co-conspirator's new attire, the sarcasm was oozing from her voice. “Leaves so much to be imagined.” She was then backhanded by The Tantabus.

“You will hold your tongue.” the demi-specter scolded, only to be sent to the wall by a blast of argent magic. He soon recovered with Nightmare Rarity looking down at him with Opal growling at him.

“You will treat your equal as an equal. Do you understand?” Nightmare Rarity questioned, the authority in her tone was inescapable.

As the Tantabus got up slowly, “Yes, milady,” he groaned.

Nightmare Rarity then turned back to the ruins of the castle. “Now for the matter at hand, Darlings. This place is a fixer-up. And I know just how to fix this up.” She then started to levitated the fallen stones. Both Nightshade and the Tantabus did notice that among the stones both those returned to their place and already in the wall started to twinkle like the stars.

As the three walked into the courtyard of the castle, the holes made by the Diamond Dogs were still, “Not surprising those curs couldn’t clean up after themselves.” Nightmare Rarity gave a sigh and enchanted the soil to start filling in the holes but itself. The three continued to walk into the throne room. After seeing the chandelier still on the ground. She then growled, “Useless fauns!” She then touched the chandelier and as it glowed a dark shade of sapphire blue as it started to levitate and after a minute the chandelier was reattached and hanging from the ceiling yet again.

She then walked to and sat on Celestia’s old throne. “Give me a minute, Darlings.” Nightmare Rarity then shut her eyes and soon an aura started to form around her as it glowed in a mixture of argent and sapphire. It then spread to encompass the room and then continued to spread to encompass the entire castle and after a minute, as Nightshade and the Tantabus were in stupefied awe as the castle was restored to how it was when it was finished but with a few differences. While the solar-themed aspects of the castle were still present it was significantly subdued that was barely noticed. In addition to that, there was a flare about it that just screamed ‘Rarity was here’.

As Nightmare Rarity took a breath to recover from her spell, Opal walked up to her master and place her head in her lap as she started to purr affectionately. “Now, what to call you,” said Nightmare Rarity as she turned her attention to the cat next to her as she lounged on the throne. “The old name you had wasn’t very well suited for inspiring fear, and there are no ways to do some clever wording around pieces of it to do that either.” The dark-colored serval just stared at her a bit then began grooming herself. Nightmare Rarity gave a little chuckle, “Of course you wouldn’t care what I name you, as long as you get mommy’s affection. Now let’s see variants of black are just not imposing enough, besides you need a name that is as tasteful as it is imposing.” Nightmare Rarity continued to muse as soon she found the perfect name, “Serendibite, Serena for short.”

That name rang a bell in Nightshade’s mind, it was her mother’s name and the last time she heard it was the day after she left Nightshade with the envelope.

Nightingale had waited for the twenty-four hours her mother ordered, and she never came back. Nightingale then left their shack and walked her way to the police station. It took her longer than she wanted or what she believed her mother would tolerate. Once inside she walked up to the officer at the reception desk. “Excuse me officer, is Officer Shady Tree available?

“Sorry kid,” said the receptionist, “she was called out to handle a case a few minutes ago if it’s important you can give it to me and I can tell her who it was from.”

Nightingale clutched the envelope close to her ragged form, these were her best clothes and they were clearly beyond use for anyone of more substantial means, “my mother said to only give it to Shady Tree, I don’t want to make her mad, she’s scary when she’s mad.” Nightingale said as she started to tear up.

“You can wait with me,” the officer said as he made space for Nightingale to sit. Nightingale was a little apprehensive, mostly due to her mother making her fearful to do anything new without her okay. But after a moment, Nightingale took the man on up on his offer. After twenty minutes a female police officer, dressed in the blue uniform of the Las Magus Police Department, her hair was blue and her eyes were green, arrived with a man in handcuffs. “Hey Shady, this little girl has something for you.”

“Thanks, Chuck, Hey can someone book this bozo and throw him in the drunk tank?” Shady Tree asked another officer took the man to booking. Turning to the receptionist, Shady noticed Nightingale. “Hey there,” she said in a reassuring truly motherly tone.

Nightingale held out the envelope given to her, “My mommy wanted me to give this to you.”

Officer Shady Tree accepted the envelope and opened it. There were several pages, most of which were in code. “…Serena...” Shady said in a whisper that Nightingale almost didn’t hear. “So she didn’t come back?” Shady asked. Nightingale shook her head. “Chuck can you keep an eye on Nightingale for a moment, I have to make a couple of calls.”

“Sure, Shades.”

After Shady left, just before she was out of earshot of Nightingale, “You idiot!” she exclaimed as if she was speaking to someone not there.

“Nightshade, Nightshade, Darling, are you alright?” Nightmare Rarity asked with some concern. “You seemed to space out, I hope this doesn’t mean your resolve is encountering...challenges.”

“No, just thinking of what I’m gonna do to all those people who deserve my ire,” Nightshade tried to deflect, the last thing she needed was to be questioned about her capabilities again. “I’d be more concerned about your near specter underling, aren't you afraid you'll lose him to the Void?”

Seeing the challenge, “I am our lady’s devotee, the highest ranked member of those in her service, that affords me certain...benefits,” said Tantabus as he slipped into the shadows and reappeared stand on the ceiling upside down, “you barely passed the initiation, acolyte of darkness, your skills in its ways are limited at best, even if you do have some level of talent.”

It was not worth arguing with the Tantabus, Nightshade knew, a demonstration was in order. Raising her left hand and pointing to the Tantabus, “What are you doing?” he asked only to notice too late that she was turning his very blood within the still human parts of him. He started to go ‘Ah, Ah,” in pain as he fell from the ceiling to the floor and started to twist and turn against his will as he was forced up to his knees. As he looked up to the face of his challenger, Nightshade ended her hold, “What are you?” He asked in a cross of horror and terror.

“Blood is mostly water, as is the human body. My mother taught me how to use my connection with water to do that.” Nightshade then started to walk away. “You may have been born to Darkness, but it chose me.” As she turned she started to hear Nightmare Rarity laugh at the Tantabus, having been upstaged by what he deemed to be a lower level agent. As she walked away she remembered the first time she used her power to show she was not someone to be pushed around.

It was almost a week since her mother’s failure to return home and Nightingale was placed in a foster home, but she didn’t seem to be cooperating with her foster family. What made things worse, at least in their eyes, was that she hadn’t ever attended a single day of school. So, they had enrolled her after only three days with them, despite her protests against it, and this day would now be her first official day of school. She hated the word and was pretty sure she’d hate it as a thing too.

As she stood in front of the class as the teacher introduced her, “Okay everyone, this is Nightingale and she’ll be joining our class.”

“She looks like a mangy dog.” a boy said in a clearly teasing manner

“Keep her away, I don’t want her lice.” a girl then shouted compounding the bullying as all the children mocked her in laughter.

Nightingale did not hear any more, she didn’t cry, even though tears started to form in the corners of her eyes. She started to breathe as if she was about to blow her top. She then stared at the girl that mocked her as she raised her left hand. “Sing for me!” Nightingale exclaimed as she started to bend her fingers and twist her wrist. The girl’s arm started to move on its own causing her to scream and cry in pain. “Sing.” All the children screamed in fright and ran to the farthest corner of the room from Nightingale.

“NIGHTINGALE! STOP IT!” the teacher ordered.

Nightingale released her hold, “My mother taught me that, I doubt your mother could teach you anything like it. Not bad for a mangy louse-ridden cur?” Nightingale asked the entire class rhetorically and then took an empty seat close to the door. She then turned to the boy that started it all as he cautiously returned to his seat, “I’ll deal with you after school, coward.” After seeing him wet his pants, Nightingale could do nothing but laugh at the boy’s own misery and fear. ‘Maybe school won’t be so bad,’ Nightingale thought to herself as she chuckled evilly.

After the eight or so hours that she was to be held in the school, which all things considered was better than the time her mother had her begging on the street for loose change, she thought she would be out of the school. Before she left the teacher told her to give a note to her foster parents, she didn’t think much of it since her mother and her mother’s ‘acquaintances’ had used her as a courier before. Why should a simple message be any trouble?

When she got back she gave the note to her foster parents and headed to ‘her room’ to do ‘homework’, best not get on the wrong side of the person that was responsible for almost eight hours of her day for five days out of the week.

Nightshade stopped along her walk, if worse came to worse she could still make anyone move to her will. She made the more spectral-like Tantabus, odds were the still flesh and blood demigoddesses and Nightmare Rarity would be more subjectable to that power. “Can’t underestimate a backup plan,” she whispered.

Back in the throne room, Nightmare Rarity finished her laugh and thought about what she just witnessed. Nightshade had successfully manipulated the blood of the Tantabus, and he was effectively three-fourth a specter. She frowned at the implications and inferences that can be made on the matter. She then got up from her throne. “She’s too dangerous to be left unchecked, especially if her loyalty is called into question. And my debt to her is far from repaid. If Luna somehow makes a better offer…” Nightmare Rarity then walked out of the throne room and caught up with Nightshade. “Nightshade, Darling, would you accompany me to the library. I think there might be a book with a spell that will ensure our victory.” Nightmare Rarity equivocate.

Not sensing any other motive, “Sure, whatever.” Nightshade said dismissively. After a ten minute walk, they arrived at the library within the castle. Nightmare Rarity then walked in as did Nightshade. After witnessing Nightmare Rarity started reading through books for what felt like forever, Nightshade elected to leave, maybe do a patrol, as she reached the wall of the castle she landed and couldn’t help but think about the last time she was actually in a library.

Still under the name, Nightingale and a week into her career as a Wonderbolt, Nightshade looked through the restricted section of the library, reading elemental tomes which were deemed forbidden. She needed an edge over her teammates so as to better stand out. As she made her way through the fifteenth tome, the others before seemed to hold promise but proved useless to her at the moment, she found a ritual for changing the elemental type of somebody from one type to any other given type, it even showed a chart indicating different elements and giving a summary of what they could potentially go along with their apparent rarity. At the bottom of the list it had light, with six known users listed as the number known, and darkness, with only three users known. When she read what darkness could do she smiled, that was the element more in line with her self-image. Water, while useful at times, was something she didn’t quite like using. The other Wonderbolts could be as flashy as they wanted, she wanted to have something that could allow her to subtly take what she wanted so as to not get anyone to claim she was ‘misusing’ her abilities.

What did any of them know about any of the common rabble, all of them had practically bragged about growing up in homes that weren’t in desperate need of funds to the point that the parents were literally abusing their children. Happy families like that made her sick, they knew nothing of strife or any of the other things that had come to define her childhood.

After some thought, she realized that she needed a new name. Nightingale was a soft name for a clueless little girl, she needed a name that better defined her. Nightshade, that was a much better name, it defined everything about her in a single word. Beautiful and Deadly.

“Nightshade, what are you doing?” came the voice of the Tantabus, breaking Nightshade from the reverie she was having as she looked down from the castle wall.

“Just thinking,” said Nightshade without turning around to face the other follower of Nightmare Rarity, “of some things from the past, and how I will correct the problems that still exist.”

“Just remember to not let your vendettas get in the way of doing your duty, you’re free to act on them as long as you maintain your obligations to our mistress.” The Tantabus ordered and then continued on his own walk.

After the Tantabus left, “I am not the one trying to do the same thing expecting a different result.” Nightshade commented as she looked out beyond the wall and her memories again took hold.

Nightshade arrived at the office of the commander of the Wonderbolts. “You called me in, Sir,” Nightshade said in salute.

“Yes, Nightingale. At ease.” Nightshade shifted her stance to be at the state of ease. “It’s about the promotion you have applied for.” the man said.

Nightshade silently grunted at her old name, “Yes Sir?” she asked.

He took a breath, “Well, there this no reason to beat around the bush. We are … how should I say… going in a different direction. Your mentee Spitfire came highly recommended. Maybe for the next opening, you are dismissed.” Nightshade left in silence, her anger slowly boiling. She had been turned down in favor of her still wet-eared mentee. She who developed all the new moves, she who figured out how to incorporate everyone’s element into the routine, she who was the leader of the largest wing, she who broke every old record and made thrice that many new ones, she who has highest recruitment rate and highest recruit success rate. This injustice will not stand.

About twenty minutes later in the locker room, Nightshade slammed her locker door with her fist. “Of course they would pick the ‘princess’ over me, her dad was a decorated member of this team while I’m an ‘unknown’ potential danger. It’s not my fault every month some fool can’t follow simple instructions.” When she opened the door to her locker she put so much force into it that the door made another loud slam and left a dent in the one next to hers.

“Looks like Nightinflail, got shot down.” one of the other female Wonderbolts in room teased Nightshade.

“Stow it, Crash Test,” said Nightshade with more vindication than usual. The other Skyborn, Comet Tail being her real name, flinched, said other member had joined around the same time as Nightingale, along with the other Wonderbolts in the locker room, Cloud Cover, Windswept, Speed O’Sound, Blitzwing, and Silverbolt, and earned the nickname that had practically oozed venom when Nightingale said it.

“Maybe if you weren’t so...abrasive they would have actually given you a shot,” Windswept added.

“Alright that’s enough, the facts are we screwed up in that practice run, Nightingale is the lead of our wing and seeing that they thought Nightingale was not command-material they decided to not give her a greater command. Don’t rub it in her face.” Silverbolt said as he tried to stop a fight erupting in the locker room. “Besides Spitfire is a joke, who gets crashed into by five newer recruits on the same day?” Everyone but Nightshade laughed.

“It’s not Nightingale.” Nightshade muttered, everyone stopped to see Nightshade shift around as if she was trying to contain something, “Nightingale was a stupid little girl that couldn’t even make it a day without whoring herself for six bits to the worst of deviants, Nightingale was a stupid little girl that would be called a mangy cur because she never had a real meal, Nightingale was a stupid little girl that couldn’t even deliver a message on time. I AM NOT NIGHTINGALE, I HAVEN’T BEEN SINCE I JOINED THE WONDERBOLTS! I AM NIGHTSHADE!! AND YOU’LL REMEMBER IT WHEN YOU SEE THE PEARLY GATES!!!” Nightshade shouted as she grabbed her bow and took aim.

Squeaky Clean was making his rounds, again, for longer than those hotshots like Nightingale had been around he had been the go-to cleaning guy for the Wonderbolts. What Nightingale and the others that were complaining didn’t get was that it wasn’t just their skills and attitude in a show or practice, it was also what they were like out of the spotlight as well. It was the duty of him and the rest of the support staff that most didn’t take much note of to report in on any rumors and actions on the Wonderbolts’ campus. Why did Spitfire practically jump in the rankings from seemingly nowhere? The answer was three key criteria, she actually took note of the support staff and acknowledged their plights, she knew when to put on an act and when to keep it stowed, she actually showed signs of noticing and correcting mistakes instead of repeating them dozens of times on some misguided belief that she was doing everything right the entire time. In short, she knew just how expansive the team was and how to notice areas that needed improvement in both herself and her fellow Wonderbolts.

“Whoa there,” said Silverbolt, “think about what you’re about to do, do you really want to deal with the consequences? I don’t just mean the immediate results, I mean the ones that can crop up later.”

Squeaky Clean cautiously approached, hoping his suspicions were wrong.

“You mean you all shutting up after I put a bolt or two through your throats?” Nightshade snarled.

“While that would indeed silence us, or worse,” said Silver addressing the the short-term outcome, “I’m talking about the big picture, what do you think it will look like if you waltz out of here with several injured or dead bodies lining the floor,” one thing about Silverbolt is he kept the group grounded by pointing out the worst case scenarios to get everyone to shape up, “you’ll go to trial and possibly found guilty. After that you’ll probably be stripped of your commission as a Wonderbolt, even if you are found innocent, have your bow taken away and stored at an undisclosed location and probably serve community service or jail time. Do you really want to risk all the hard work you’ve put into this team for some short-term satisfaction?”

Nightshade made a go at thinking it through for a few seconds before just shooting Silverbolt in the heart with an ebony colored arrow and saying, “The heart of the team is always the most worthless,” as it was clear the light was dying from his eyes. She then made good on her promise and shot more of the ebony colored bolts through the necks of her remaining wing members and chuckled as they fell to the dead.

Upon seeing the beginning of this, Squeaky Clean made a mad dash for the Wonderbolts’ command office. He barely managed to make it outside, and full view of the command office window that the Wonderbolts captain at the time, Air Strike, along with two of the captains before him and Spitfire were enjoying some cold cider while watching the events down below. Nightshade, however, followed him and as he exited the complex she riddled him with her bolts of elemental darkness. Seeing him fall she let loose enough ebony bolts that tore Squeaky’s body apart so bad that he was almost unrecognizable. Nightshade then heard the alarms, signifying that the MP was on their way. Nightshade knew she had nowhere to go and could not escape. A fight would have also been pointless. As soon as she heard Spitfire shout “On your knees,” she knew it was all over.

Nightshade snapped out of her memory as she noticed a group of people arrive in the area not far from the castle, she recognized most of them, namely the rainbow-haired elementalist, “Well kid, you just don’t seem to learn.” She muttered to herself, “Hey Tanny! We got company!” She shouted as she took to flight into the castle to alert her co-conspirators.

The Castle of Nightmare

The passage through the Everfree was surprisingly short, it was if the ground itself was moving, bringing the small army closer and closer to their destination “I don’t recall traveling this fast the last time we were here.” Fluttershy commented.

“We didn’t come here the last time.” Sweetie Belle pointed out the absence of her, Scootaloo and Apple Bloom the last time the group was there.

“Can we discuss this at a later point!” Luna exclaimed as she flew faster up ahead of the group. The rest of the run was silent, save for some labored breaths and within twenty minutes they arrived at the castle.

“Well, that took shorter than usual,” said Twilight, “we usually got assaulted by some of the flora or fauna when got a fourth of the way here.”

“Ooh, Ooh, I know those two,” said Pinkie with excitement, “they’re a wonderful pair of twins that…”

Twilight cut her pink-clad friend off, “What I said was a more academic way of saying plants and animals.”

“I know,” said Pinkie in her usual chipper voice, “but it’s more interesting knowing a pair of mages with those names, and imagining the pair attacking us since they’re some of the biggest softies you would ever meet.”

“Wow, way to go off topic Pinks,” said Rainbow Dash, “we’re about to re-fight the Nightmare and rescue Rarity from its hold, and you’re going way off to unrelated stuff that’s of little consequence.”

“It’s called trying to relieve some of the dramatic tension. And you weren’t complaining about me relieving your tension last night.”

“PINKIE!” Rainbow shouted as she covered her reddening face with her hands.

“Can we focus on the matter at hand.” Twilight rhetorically asked. “I have to admit, Nightmare really shaped this place up,” Twilight comment in slight awe of the restored castle.

Luna looked around, “Screams that it has been bedazzled,” she commented.

“No, it’s been Rarified,” Scootaloo countered. Earning her looks of confusion from everyone but her friends.

Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle looked at each other, as if to say ‘oh great, not this again’. “Should wah add that to our CMC dictionary?” Apple Bloom asked.

“It’s not a dictionary, it’s a collection of colloquialisms we have developed. I am going to put in the cadences pool.” Sweetie Belle commented as she jotted the term down, “We’ll put it to a vote later.”

“YES!” Scootaloo shouted as she jumped into the air, “I was not shot down right off the bat!” The rest of the group gave a quick look of confusion before returning to the matter before them.

“Now ain’t tha time, Sugarcube.” Applejack said as she led the way in. “Nightmare Rarity is waiting for us in the throne room.”

“How do you know?”Sweetie Belle asked.

“Simple, Nightmare had a strong urge to be the ruler when it was Luna as Nightmare Moon and Rarity has been enamored with being the spotlight for quite some time,” said Pinkie, with a curt nod like she was agreeing with something. Everyone more or less rolled their eyes as they all continued into the castle, through the courtyard and then into the throne room. There they saw Nightmare Rarity lounging in Celestia’s old throne, right next to her was a black serval.

“Oh Serena, our guests seem to have arrived.”

“What did you do to my sister and Opal!” Sweetie Belle shouted as she was about to run in front of everyone, only to be stopped by Applejack.

“Well I needed a more fitting warbeast, and while Opal-wopal was a lovely name, Mommy needed to give her a more imposing name.” Nightmare Rarity said as she rubbed her cheek with Serena’s affectionately.

“What about my sister! Give me back my sister!” Sweetie Belle all but screamed.

“And our friend!” Twilight announced.

Nightmare Rarity looked at everyone in front of her. She stopped showering her affections on Serena. “I think not, I rather enjoy this body. It is just absolutely fabulous, Darlings.” Nightmare Rarity then covered her mouth the back of her left hand as she laughed with a ‘huhuhuhuhu’.

“Nightmare,” declared Rainbow Dash loudly, “we’re here to take you down, again.”

Nightmare Rarity just gave her, and the rest of her uninvited guests a deadpan look, as she stroked her serval, before saying, “That depends on how well you last,” with the wave of her hand shadows gathered from all around and formed into a variety of large cats, all colored black, a baker’s dozen in count not accounting for Serena/Opal.

Luna was not having any of this, as she dove at Nightmare Rarity, tackling her and forcing her out of the throne room and through one of the opened windows. What neither knew was that the window in question was the window that Luna had looked out of as she changed the crescent moon to a total lunar eclipse a millennium ago.

As Luna flew she took her and Nightmare Rarity to a turret of the castle. All the while Twilight was able to see the location and it corresponded with the location of the emergency teleportation circle. However, she and the others had other matters to attend to. “So, what do we do?” Fluttershy asked nervously as Serena/Opal leaped into the throne as the shadow cats started to encircle the eight mages.

Applejack took to a knee with the point of her sword in the opponents and started chanting a prayer. At the same time, everyone seemed to form a circle around her, with Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle as the interior ring as the four older mages formed the exterior ring. “What kind of cat works in groups?” Scootaloo asked confused.

“Lionesses,” Fluttershy answered. “You might want to ask Zecora if she’ll be a guest teacher the next time you cover exotic fauna.”

“SIT LUX!” Applejack suddenly shouted as a light jettisoned from her and hit the five most in front of her causing them to vanish, breaking apart in the light. Applejack then started to pant, “Well that took more… Ah wish Big Mac was…” Applejack couldn’t finish her sentences as she tried to regain herself but was wobbly in her stance.

“Ya okay, Sis?” Apple Bloom asked with a small concern frown on her face.

Applejack had a hard time standing on her own, “Ah’m a paladin, not a cleric.” she stated. Just then the five shadow cats reformed. “BUCK MY ORCHARD!!!”

“If Granny heard that…” Apple Bloom started only to earn a glare from Applejack, “But this can be between the two of us.” Apple Bloom finished subdued. “Anyone with any other ideas?”

Rainbow Dash drew her bow and started firing bolts of elemental light into the thirteen shadow cats. Causing the cats to more or less exploded. “That took…” Rainbow Dash started only to stop as the shadow cats started to manifest again. “Okay that didn’t work,” said Rainbow Dash with fear and annoyance, “every time we knock one down it just springs up a few seconds later.”

“Twice is not every time!” Twilight countered. “However, a unified magical attack seems to be our best choice,” Twilight commented as she tried to assess the situation, “but if the spells are incompatible it might make things worse. These are shadow magic, that means they’re vulnerable to light magic, I haven’t learned any light spells that could be of use to us in this situation.”

“Et’s a risk we're gonna have ta take,” said Applejack, “Ah got a ‘cleansing light’ spell, but et’s a short range spell, only ten feet ‘r so.”

“I could cast an ‘entangle’ spell,” said Fluttershy, “but at best it could only hold up two of them.”

“I can shoot anywhere ya want me to,” said Rainbow, “because I’m awesome, I could probably add in a wind or fire spell to boost its effectiveness, not sure how that will help us here though.”

“I’m sure I can pull out a flash bomb from somewhere,” said Pinkie, “but will have a range of around fifteen feet, and because of the delayed activation time they’ll be able to retreat to a distance that prevents from getting hit, and won’t make them stay down for an extended period. We need something to keep their shadows from reforming them.”

Twilight took all of that into consideration, “Girls, we don’t have enough time, and this would be easier if Rarity were assisting us. I know a spell for bringing the spells you all said you have together, and that includes Pinkie’s summoned item. As far as I know, this ‘power merge’ spell hasn’t been used the way we’re about to, so be prepared for something horrific.”

While the older mages tried to form a plan, Scootaloo began to use her hands as sign-language to communicate with Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle (When you spend at least 80% of your free time trying to discover your talent, you learn a few things). It was a simple plan, Apple Bloom would light a candle and Sweetie Belle would sing to make it grew driving the cat’s away, The three then stepped forward, Apple Bloom lite the candle she had and Sweetie Belle then started to sing, “This little light on mine, I am gonna let it shine,
This little light of mine, I am gonna let it shine,
This little light of mine, I am gonna let shine.
Let it shine, Let it shine, Let it shine.” As Sweetie sang the light of the candle grew and grew and soon the entire room was awash in light. The shadow cats roared and bellowed in pain as they were torn apart by the light.

As the last one of them completely vanished into the light, “Hallelujah!” Apple Bloom shouted as if she was singing.

“Natural light… empowered by song,” Twilight said with surprise as she and the other older mages looked around and found that no sign of the shadow cats manifesting again. “How did we miss that?”

“Well, both divine light and elemental-light didn’t work, so I thought maybe natural light given a musical boost might work,” Scootaloo said with a grin forming on her face.

“That was so awesome, little buddy.” Rainbow Dash said as she rubbed the top of Scootaloo’s head like a big sister. She then readied her bow and pointed at Serena. “We got one more cat to skin.”

Seeing the challenge, serval Serena returned to her feet, ready for her own fight. Hissing at the elementalist. “We cannot hurt her!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed forcing Rainbow to lower her bow. “She’s still Opal!” Sweetie continued. Everyone looked back and forth among each other unsure what to do.

Then they all heard a propeller, “Tank?” Rainbow asked as the tortoise and the other pets arrived. “What the...?”

“They got Opal, let’s save Rarity!” Spike exclaimed as he ran into the room. “Come on he said as he ran past the transmuted cat.

“Spike! Wait up! You don’t know where to go!” Twilight all but scolded her familiar as she and the rest started to follow the young dragon.

Fluttershy was the last to leave, mostly out of concern for her companion, however, she saw that none of the pets needed her as Angel, Winona, and Owlowiscious alternated between distracting the transmuted Opal until Tank, using his shell, knocked Opal out. Angel then turned to face Fluttershy and held up his left paw as to give her a thumbs-up and smiled at her. Fluttershy smiled in turn and turned around to catch up with her friends.

Once the two crashed in the spot that Luna flew to, Luna leaped back into the air and landed across the room. Nightmare Rarity then got back to her feet and brushed herself off, “Well that was just rude!”

“You took over another being!” Luna challenged.

“Oh Darling, while the initial action was forceful, Rarity didn’t resist, in fact, it was like she welcomed me in. Which is quite surprising, most people would have put up some sort of resistant, but that’s neither here nor there.” Nightmare Rarity answered back. All the while the two walked in a circle in the room, watching each other, sizing each other up.

“Regardless if Rarity elected to…” Luna the stopped. If Rarity didn’t resist…” Luna’s eyes started to glow as she looked at Nightmare Rarity.

Confused at what Luna was doing, Nightmare Rarity paused as soon she was frozen, “What are you doing?”

What Nightmare Rarity didn’t know was that Luna was reaching into Nightmare Rarity to find
Rarity, after a few seconds Luna found the psyche of Rarity on a fainting couch reading a book. “Oh Princess Luna, Darling, how are you?” Rarity asked as she looked up from her book.

“Rarity, what are you doing?” Luna asked confused.

“Oh just waiting for when whoever tried to possess me slips up.” Rarity answered as she returned to her book. Even without seeing Luna befuddled face, “I am saving my own strength for when she’s at her weakest. You cannot believe how similar she is to the Diamond Dogs.” Rarity was still reading the book she had. Still feeling the presence of Luna. “No offense, your grace, but if you linger here any longer, she’s going to figure out that I am not lost to the ethers. So run along, Darling.”

Luna then snapped out of it and she was no longer in the mindscape of Nightmare Rarity and back, in reality, a little flustered over the event. Nightmare Rarity was also very shaken and off balance, “Well that’s a new one.” Nightmare Rarity commented. “But now we get down to the brass tacks.” Turning to Luna, “We shall see who is the true Lady of Shadows!” she declared to challenge Luna.

“Nay, I was never that,” Luna stated as she manifested a longsword and weighted chain that seemed to be crafted from the night sky itself, “You and I, Nightmare, we have always been the Princess of the Night, The Maiden of the Moon; part darkness and part light. The only reason that you exist separately from me, is because I let darkness grow with no light to temper it.”

“That is both a beautiful and foolish sentiment,” said Nightmare Rarity as she manifested a rapier and main gauche, “but sentiments will not earn you a victory.” The two then dove at each other.

As Nightmare Rarity and Luna engaged each other, Twilight and the rest ran in the castle trying to reach their friend from behind. “Okay run the plan by me again?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“We have to exorcise Nightmare Moon out of Rarity. With Princess Luna focusing on Nightmare as she currently is, it’s possible Luna could result in overkill.” Twilight commented as they ran.

“I get that, but how are we supposed to do that? If AJ’s holy magic can barely dismiss five of those shadow cats, which returned ten seconds later, I doubt she has any spells to exorcise Nightmare from Rarity. And I doubt anyone else has any spells that could be more effective.”

“Ah told yah, Ah would have ta use the use the Fire Ruby Spike gave Rarity!” Applejack exclaimed.

“A combination spell,” said Fluttershy, “just like the elements combined our magic together to stop Nightmare Moon if we use a combination spell to bring out her true nature and enhance her willpower we might be able to enable her to reject the presence of Nightmare on her own.”

“I like where you started there, Fluttershy,” said Twilight as they followed her along the causeways, “but the way that Princess Luna described the possession, it might be a partial merger, we’re gonna have to add in something to destabilize any anchors Nightmare’s presence has regarding Rarity for something like that to work.”

However, the group was forced to a screeching halt as an arrow of elemental darkness was fired into Applejack’s left arm forcing her to relinquish her hold on the necklace with the fire ruby Spike gave Rarity causing it to fall down to the bottom of the tower the eight mages, and the dragon, were climbing. “AH!!!” Applejack shouted as she leaned back to the right her back against the wall as she slowly felt her left arm go numb.

The all looked up ahead and to their left and saw Nightshade and the Tantabus hovering in the air. “You will go no further,” The Tantabus declared before he dove at the group slipping into the shadows only to reappear behind Pinkie Pie. “HOLD!” He shouted as he stabbed Pinkie Pie with a needle right in the nerve of her shin, only to find it had been a lifelike blow-up doll as it popped with an explosion of confetti in his face.

“Fool me once shame on you, Uncle Tanzanite!” Pinkie exclaimed as she brought her mallet down on him from behind, only to bounce off of his head like it was nothing. Pinkie started to laugh nervously as she threw the mallet to the side as she started to dig into her pockets trying to find something to fight with. As the Tantabus was about to slice her across the chest, she screamed.

However, before the priest’s blade made contact with Pinkie’s flesh, it was caught with a clang, as Applejack blocked it with her own sword, granted she could only use her right arm alone at this time. “Daring but foolish.” The Tantabus commented as he pulled back, and grabbing the hilt of his sword with both hands, brought his blow down with a greater amount of force than Applejack could handle, causing her to drop her blade as if the shock wave of the blow shattered the bones in her arm. Applejack stepped back, her arms mostly useless at this point. However, before the Tantabus could press home his advantage, Pinkie Pie slipped passed Applejack and picked up Applejack’s sword and the two started to fight. All the while Rainbow Dash was firing shots to intercept each of Nightshade’s attacks, as Fluttershy tended to Applejack’s injured and temporarily disabled arms.

Twilight was at a loss at what to do, they had just lost the means to exorcise Nightmare out of Rarity, both with the apparent loss of the fire ruby and the use of either of Applejack’s arms. She needed a new plan, but she was getting nowhere and fast.

Then Sweetie Belle spoke up, taking command, “Scoots, distraction, AB look for something to scrounge up and make into some kind of weapon, I’ll see about supporting everyone,” the young bard then turned to the young dragon, “and Spike, find that freaking fire ruby before things get any worse.” Sweetie then started singing a song about friendship and family that common among Hearth's Warming plays. Spike scurried away in the direction the gem had gone, down the stairs as fast as he could.

Twilight was impressed at how quickly Sweetie Bell took up the role of party leader, making quick tactical decisions that factored in the lack of equipment the CMC had at the moment. It probably wasn’t the best idea to leave their starter gear back in Chantalot for this.

Unsurprisingly the song got Scootaloo and Rainbow fired up, literally. Scootaloo was manifesting a fire aura, elemental monk techniques were not all that common to see, running on instinct Scootaloo was throwing ranged fire punches and kicks in the general directions of both the Tantabus and Nightshade. Rainbow’s arrows took on a more fire based theme as she readied her shots, and started moving around to make herself a harder target while also acting as distraction help her friends get into more advantageous positions.

Twilight was starting to think about what to do. Just then a fist of fire and arrow of fire made contact with Gloom Mark. The fire burnt Nightshade’s hand, causing her to let go of the bow. Seeing a chance to reduce the number of foes. She watched the bow fall and making some surprisingly fast and advanced mathematical calculations she then cast a spell to destroy the burning bow, ensuring no one could ever use it. “Azarath Metrion Zinthos!” Twilight shouted as she cast the spell she once used in her fight against Nightmare Moon, the better part of a year ago.

With Gloom Mark reduced to ashes, “Yeah!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed. “Try to stop us now!”

While Nightshade did fall to her knees as she held her side, gritting through the pain. “You will pay for that, you skank,” Nightshade she almost roared like a wounded hippo. She then rose back up and held out her hands.

“Oh please, what are you going…” Rainbow then fell to the ground as she started to bend and contort against her will. She cried out in immense pain.

“Rain…” Twilight started but was cut short as she and all the others started to fall to their knees as their bodies started to bend and contort as well. They each shouted in pain save for Applejack.

“When did she learn this?” Applejack asked gritting through the pain as she was forced to bend backward straining her back just short of the point of breaking it.

“Oh, my mother taught me that when I was five,” Nightshade replied. “You see blood, and the human body at large is mostly made of water. True for all of us, from regular mortals to natural demigods. I am in my forties, you little girls, I have been using this for over a decade longer than any of you have been alive. This is also my backup melee weapon, like all Wonderbolts, like Spitfire’s twin swords and Soarin’s iron fist. However, we all rely on our bows first and foremost.”

“Then why didn’t use it to stop us before?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“I still had Gloom Mark, what need would I have for a trick like this when I had the most powerful elemental bow ever seen? Just because I changed my element to darkness from water doesn’t mean I lost all the abilities tied to it, in fact, this little trick seems to have gotten a bit of a power boost from my element shift.”

As Nightshade continued to bend each of the heroes, alternating who was bent which way, Rainbow Dash had an idea. It was like a scene in a Daring Do book, Daring Do and The Gem of the Vampire Queen, in which Daring Do was forced to contort against her will after her rival, Dr. Caballeron, used the titular item to gain influence over blood, in a rare backstabbing of Ahuizotl by Dr. Caballeron. In it Daring Do was able to break free of Dr. Caballeron by making him lose concentration on her at just the right time, a knack Daring Do had. In the case of the book in question, Daring Do tricked Dr. Caballeron to throw her across the room and when Dr. Caballeron then turned his focus to torturing Ahuizotl all the while thinking Daring Do was knocked out. It was a gamble, but Rainbow Dash didn't have a better idea.

“So this is just a trick.” Rainbow Dash remarked trying to get under Nightshade’s skin. Nightshade just focused her hold on her causing her to give a scream of pain before giving a few labored chuckles, “you were right, this is more of a spectacle for entertainment than combat.” Nightshade, who up that point had been assured of her capabilities, started to lessen her grip on the others as she poured more of her focus on Rainbow Dash. There was one thing Nightshade hated more than being passed over, and that was being mocked, especially by, in Nightshade’s eyes, privileged little girls.

Rainbow Dash started to regret her plan as soon as she felt her lungs collapsing on themselves, her heart slowing down. She soon lost focus.

“Say hello to Silverbolt for me!” Nightshade shouted as she made Rainbow’s body levitate and threw her across the room. As far as Nightshade could tell Rainbow was dead. She then returned back to the others. “Oh, you’ll see her soon enough.” Nightshade then continued to contort and bend the bodies of the others.

Rainbow coughed and sputtered after she hit the wall, faking unconsciousness while manipulating the air around her had almost sapped all her strength. It had been gambit that paid off. However, it was far more taxing than she had anticipated. She needed time to regain her strength and power, time her friends likely didn’t have. She need a way to divert Nightshade’s attention from Twilight, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie or Applejack, any one of them had a few spells that could tie up the ex-Wonderbolt long enough for the others to catch their breath. But the question was, which of her friends should she free so they could save the others? Chances were Rainbow would only have one shot, two shots if she was really lucky before she returned to being helpless state and lost the element of surprise.

But soon she heard Scootaloo scream out in pain, “MY ARM!” Rainbow Dash knew she had to act. She grabbed her bow and in a near instant was back on her feet and sent an arrow of fire right to Nightshade’s heart, which would have made it mark had Nightshade been alone.

The Tantabus knocked the fire arrow of course with his sword and sent it flying back causing it to land at Rainbow’s feet causing the girl to turn and jump back.

After forcing Rainbow Dash back, the Tantabus then landed behind Nightshade, “Glad someone finally has my back.” Nightshade said as she made the others contort forcing them to the ground.

“About that,” The Tantabus started.

Despite being in pain, and being contorted against her will, Pinkie’s Pinkie Sense went off, her left eye started to spasm, “Wait, the last time that happened… NIGHTSHADE LOOK OUT!” Pinkie cried.

Nightshade was confused at what the pink-clad jester was getting at, only to learn too late as the Tantabus plunged his sword into her back. This ended her hold on everyone, which was not a surprise, but what was surprising was that instead of the blade coming out the other side of Nightshade’s body, it seemed to just dissolve into her body. She knew being stabbed in the back would hurt, but this was stupefyingly painful. She had been betrayed before, and as she heard chanting, in a tongue she didn’t understand, from the Tantabus, she felt her mind slip back into another memory.

It was two weeks after Nightshade’s rage. She was now bound in a straightjacket and to something like a dolly, secured to across the chest, each arm, across her waist, each leg and both of them. Only her head was allowed to move. To her right was a JAG officer functioning as the prosecutor of the court-martial. Right next to her to her left was the one assigned to defend her. In front of her was the current Marshal of the ESM who would be functioning as the judge. She turned to see the people in attendance and she could see Princess Celestia, Officer Shady Tree, Wind Ryder, Air Strike, Spitfire and a few others. The Marshal spoke, “Nighting…”

“NIGHTSHADE!” Nightshade shouted causing everyone the courtroom to shake in slight fright. “Nightingale was a stupid little girl, I am not Nightingale! My name is Nightshade! GET IT FUCKING RIGHT!”

“Nightingale!” Shady Tree exclaimed in horror and concern.

“Piss off, Shade! You threw me out the door two weeks into being my foster mother! You promised to be my forever mother! You promised on my mother’s grave!” Nightshade said as she turned her head to look at Shady Tree.

“ORDER!!! I will have Order in this courtroom!” the Marshall shouted as he pounded his gavel. After everything was quiet again, “Nightshade, you stand here accused of six counts of murder and one count of manslaughter…”

“Seven counts of murder, get it right!” Nightshade projected.

After giving an exhausted sigh, “How do you plea to the charges?” the Marshall asked.

The JAG assigned to defend her started to speak, “My client pleads in…” but she was cut short.

“Guilty as charged, mother fuckers!” Nightshade projected silencing her attorney as she entered the plea.

Shocked at this, “Nightingale!” Shady Tree exclaimed.

“My client is clearly suffering…”

“Oh piss off!” Nightshade exclaimed cutting her attorney off after she turning to her. “The insanity plea works at best 1 out of 10 times and that’s being ridiculously generous.” Turning to face the Marshall. “So what’s the sentence old timer? Death? Life Imprisonment? 25 to 50 of hard Labor? What?” She asked.

“Upon your admission of guilt, you are sentenced to life imprisonment at Stonlingrad Penitentiary in solitary confinement with a chance of parole in 30 years, your rank and status as a Wonderbolt will be stripped, all your records will be stricken from the records and all other rights tied to them will be revoked forthwith.” The Marshall decreed.

Princess Celestia rose, “Marshall, don’t you think that’s a little extreme,” the monarch spoke up.

“And normally I would agree with you, your majesty,” said the Marshall as he shook his head, “but the fact is that she committed an atrocity that hasn’t been seen in this nation since the time of our founders. As such her punishment should also act as an example to guard against any future cases. Let us also not forget she admitted to willingly performing the acts without being coerced and against the advice of her legal counsel.”

“What’s the matter? You can’t just kill me?” Nightshade asked as she laughed. “Of course you can’t. All you can do is just shine the brass.” Nightshade laughed again. “All the while just standing there and looking pretty. That’s the only thing a princess is good for.” Nightshade scoffed and continued to laugh at the princess and her perceived impotence as Nightshade was rolled out.

Two weeks after the court-martial, Nightshade was in her highly restrictive cell. She heard the sound of a chair being set down on the other side of her cell’s door, the warden had been instructed to not allow her to leave the cell for any reason. The sound of the door’s transparency spell coming to life caused her to look over and see Shady Tree on the other side wearing the special headset that allowed her to speak to and hear Nightshade. Nightshade said nothing, she just waited for Shady Tree to say something before she could throw it back in her face. “Nightie,” Nightshade almost smiled at the old nickname that only Shady Tree used… almost being the operative word, “I know you probably feel betrayed, but I couldn’t look after you as I was back then, even without sizable a promotion I wouldn’t be able to care for you, so I made sure you were in the care of people who could.” Nightshade didn’t respond, she really didn’t know where this was going, Shady Tree took long sigh, “I kept investigating everything with your mom’s disappearance and death, something about it all didn’t sit right with me,” Nightshade still kept quiet, she had a few thoughts about how Shady was trying to reconcile that weren’t right to voice at the moment, “About a month or so after you started school I found what was wrong, the coroner was on the payroll for one of the people your mom decided need to go down with her, he was working for us under a nearly undetectable alias. But that’s not all, turns out your mom cared enough about you that she left caches all over the city with things like places that were best for you to learn and work, even a surprising amount of money was supposed to be squirreled away at many of them, but all that prep work was undone during her torture, it was all stolen from you. I found out it all just a few days before I received word of your crime, I wanted to tell you sooner but it took just this long to get a few minutes with you at the holding facility, and when I tried to tell you at the trial you wouldn’t have any of it.”

“That’s one hell of an ‘I’m sorry’ speech,” said Nightshade with contempt dripping from her voice, “even if the smallest amount of any of that was true, and I believed one iota of that, it doesn’t change anything between us. And let’s not forget I have been bounced around all of Mystica from foster home to foster home, on average spending less than two weeks in each one, so ‘placed in the care of people who could’? Bite me!” Nightshade calmed down slightly before she continued. “So now that you’ve said your piece just leave.” Nightshade turned away.

“Nightie…” Shady started

Nightshade turned around and pointed her right index finger at Shady accusingly, “No! You don’t get to call me that! You don’t get to be forgiven! You made the promise to love me and raise me like you were my mother! To do all the things a mother could! To never send me away and you made that promise while the dirt wasn’t even settled on my mother’s grave! You were the adult! You knew that if there was a chance you couldn’t fulfill that promise you shouldn’t have made it and you still made it! And the fact is you broke it! My mother may have slapped me around, she may have whored me out, but she never hid from me how desperate our situation was! She never lied to me! She never broke her promise!” Nightshade’s words dripped with anger, with fury, with ire, with wrath, and with hate. It was clear she felt betrayed. She then turned away and walked to her cot. “There’s the door.” Nightshade finished as she laid down on it and dismissively pointed to the door out. Shady just got up in silence and started to the door.

“I still love you, Nightingale. I always will.” Hearing no response she left Nightshade to the hollowness of her cell.

As the Tantabus pulled his blade out, Nightshade felt all her magic pulled out as it passed from her. She was reduced to almost nothing, weaker than she was as a child. This moment was a thousand times worse. Back then she could use her magic, she could fly around her small cell. She was never this powerless before, even when she did the unspeakable things her mother sent her out to do, she still had some form of power. She was for once in her life, truly and utterly broken. She fell to her knees. The Tantabus then fled the scene by slipping into the shadows.

Seeing Nightshade in this state, and knowing now was the most likely chance she would get to get answers to her questions, Rainbow Dash plowed passed her friends and took Nightshade by her shoulders. “Tell me!” Rainbow ordered the now powerless Shadowbolt. “Are you my mother?” Rainbow asked. Nightshade was still silent, no matter how hard Rainbow shook her.

Nightshade looked into Rainbow’s eyes. She had seen those eyes before, “You have her eyes,” Nightshade said just barely audible.

“WHO!” Rainbow shouted. “Whose eye?”

“I should have figured Blaze would have picked her.”

“Who?” Rainbow asked.

“You really are the stupid one. Your fucking mother, you twat. You have your mother's eyes.” Nightshade said with a smirk starting to grow on her face, a smirk Rainbow was not able to see it.

Rainbow froze and slowly stepped back as the statement’s implications dawned on, “You mean you’re not… that you…”

“You’re the one that never vetted that statement. I needed to throw you for a loop, and it worked. You had someone to talk to and see if what I said was true. You didn't do the research.” Nightshade said with a slight chuckle.

Rainbow Dash charged at Nightshade as if to pound her into pudding but was stopped by Applejack running interference and catching the younger elementalist in an embrace. “She ain't worth it, Sugarcube. She ain't worth it.” Applejack said holding Rainbow Dash with a degree of difficulty.

“I mean I knew the guy wasn’t really anything special, figures a lameo like him would have such an intellectually challenged brat,” Nightshade added having seen that she got the responses she wanted out of Rainbow Dash each and every time she spoke. She couldn’t help but picture Rainbow Dash dancing to what beat she drummed, wiggling like a worm on a hook.

“Let me go, she’s mocking my dad,” Rainbow practically screamed in wrath almost breaking free of Applejack’s hold.

“She’s baiting you,” said Twilight assisting Applejack in holding Rainbow back, “she’s trying to get you to assault her, she wants something to go her way since she failed so utterly.”

“Can’t sah Ah blame her.” Apple Bloom commented. That comment earned her glares from everyone but her big sister, “Think about it, The Tantabus just pulled her magic right outta her and left her here to fend for herself. She’s outnumbered and has nothin’ left to lose.”

“Bloom’s right, Sugarcube. Let it go, yah can’t win this one.”

To everyone’s surprise, Rainbow took a deep breath and said, “I guess you guys are right, besides beating on someone so low isn’t something a hero should ever do, I doubt all the people I look up to would do anything like that.” Applejack and Twilight release their friend, believing her to be collected. However, Nightshade could not contain her laughter at the comment. After a few seconds, the younger elementalist round-house kicked knocking the Shadowbolt out cold. “But that doesn’t mean I can’t administer a little justice for anything she’s done up ‘til now.” Her friends and their sisters just gave her a set of disapproving stares. Scootaloo, on the other hand, was torn between praising her hero for sticking to her principles and making a show of disapproval alongside her friends.

“Come on wah got to go!”

“Wait for me!” Spike said as he finally caught up with the rest as they renewed their trek, the jewelry that the fire ruby was made from dangling over his shoulder and making jingling noises as it moved.

Nightmare to Dream

Nightmare Rarity knew she was at the major disadvantages, not only the difference in power between Rarity and Luna, a normal human versus a born demigod but also because Luna could fly. “I should have gone with the elementalist!” Nightmare Rarity cursed as Luna blasted the entire roof off of the tower, each having lost their melee weapons a fair while earlier in the fight. “Oh come on! Do you know how much magical energy it took to fix that!” As she looked at the rubble, she pouted at the destroyed craftsmanship, “And this was Late Union Era masonry, a lost art.” Luna groaned at that, there was a reason the Late Union Era style was more or less forgotten.

“Nostalgia blinds you to how shotty that masonry it was. And that’s not addressing the fact that Princess Platinum was the one that actually commissioned the construction.”

“Well just because something is not well done, doesn’t mean it should be discarded.” Nightmare Rarity countered as she sent the rubble into the air “And you grossly underestimate the quality of the craftsmanship!” However, the rubble was sent right back to her, “AH!” she screamed as she tried to dodge it, barely evading the assault.

“Grossly underestimated?! I lived in this castle for centuries!” Luna shouted as she started to conjure beams of magic and sent them and form a cage around the two. “Let’s end this Nightmare.” She then sent blasts of argent colored magic at Nightmare Rarity. Nightmare Rarity then fired back with blasts of sapphire colored magic. The resulting collision of the magical blasts formed resulted in an explosion causing Nightmare Rarity to be sent to her back causing her to be slightly dazed as Luna summoned another sword leaped into the air and landed looking down at Nightmare Moon. Nightmare Moon slowly recovered but before she could escape, Luna placed her left foot on her chest as if to pin her to the ground. “This is where it ends for you, Nightmare,” Luna bellowed as she lifted her sword u, preparing to bring it down on her foe.

“Not quite,” said Nightmare Rarity as she was grabbed by a hand in from the shadows and pulled to safety before the blow made contact with her. Luna looked about and saw the Tantabus and Nightmare Rarity appear. “But maybe in your dreams.” Nightmare Rarity chuckled as she ripped a hole in reality, Luna knew exactly where the two were heading, the realm of dreams, the dreamscape.

“NO!” Luna shouted in anger as the two entered the dreamscape.

“Where’s Nightmare Rarity?” Twilight asked as she and the other arrived just a second later. Seeing the split in what seemed to be the fabric of reality. “What is..” Twilight started to ask, but Luna didn’t answer as she surrounded the others in a clear night sky colored aura as she, the demigoddess, took them with her as she went through the rift.

Luna and company seemed to just float in the what appeared to be some mixture of a starry field, a rainbow of the entire visible light spectrum and images of random thoughts that blinked in and out at seemingly random moments. “Where are we?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Ah been here before.” Apple Bloom commented.

“Me too,” Scootaloo announced.

“Me too.” Sweetie Belle also announced.

The three then paused and then looking to Luna, “You brought me here to help me with my problem.” the three said in unison. They then turned to each other, “Why were you here?” they asked each other.

“I wanted Rainbow Dash to view me as awesome and be my big sister, but her stories were so scary I couldn’t sleep during that camping trip and…” Scootaloo trailed off not wanting to continue that. “You?”

“It was when I tried to sabotage the most recent commission made by Sapphire Shores, the headdress, which is why we went to Chantalot that time.” Sweetie Belle confessed. She and Scootaloo turned to Apple Bloom.

“Aht was when wah got the letter from Babs about discovering her mark. Ah was so worried about my future.”

“We can dwell on your growth and what my experience has helped foster later, we must find Nightmare and the Tantabus,” Luna almost scolded, getting everyone to focus on the task at hand. “They can be anywhere.”

“Well, Nightmare was born from you, in a sense,” said Twilight, “can you think of the most likely places she would go to consolidate her power?”

“You seem to forget that I have taken on some of your friend’s dramatic flairs, Darlings.” Came the disembodied voice of Nightmare Rarity, echoing in the dreamscape. “I am less like the Princess of the Night than I was when my title was Nightmare Moon.”

Luna was frantically looking around to find Nightmare Rarity and the Tantabus. Just them the Tantabus emerged and was about to strike Luna from behind but was tackled by Applejack and Pinkie Pie. “You don’t get to cheat!” Pinkie exclaimed as she, Applejack and The Tantabus tumbled away across the dreamscape.

“Aht’s up to yah, Fluttershy!” Applejack called back as she, Pinke and the Tantabus scrambled to get back to their feet.

“That’s not going to work. I am a druid, the form of divine magic I use is different than what is needed.” Fluttershy commented.

“Maybe I can find a spell that functions like a divine exorcism.” Twilight started as she conjured her spell book and started to scan through it. This was made fruitless as Nightmare Rarity managed to manifest above them, now with golden armor and tackled Luna sending her flying through the Dreamscape in a different direction. “Rainbow, Spike, girls, help Applejack and Pinkie Pie. Fluttershy, I need you to entangle Nightmare Rarity until I can find a spell!” Twilight ordered.

“NO!” shouted Luna, “Disable the Tantabus! As long as she has an agent, Nightmare can still come back!” Twilight and Fluttershy nodded and joined up with their friends to combat the Tantabus. All the while, Luna and Nightmare Rarity went back and forth with blasts of their respective magic. Luna seemed to take the lead as her magic caused the golden armor to dissolve into the Dreamscape. However, the two were closer to equal within the Dreamscape then in the waking realm (There is a reason why bad dreams are called ‘nightmares’). Granted Luna still had one thing that Nightmare Rarity didn’t, true flight, an advantage that Luna employed at every chance she had. However, Nightmare Rarity used her connection to the landscape of the Dreamscape, as Nightmare, to narrowly escape each of Luna’s assaults and attempt to catch Luna off guard from behind or above. The balance of power ever-shifting and the tides ever turning, from one to another and back in what seemed to be an endless loop.

All the while the Tantabus was effectively cornered and while he was still able to contend with his opponents, what no one knew, was that the tides turned and the balance of power shifted back and forth between Luna and Nightmare, The Tantabus felt his mind, his psyche, his soul, his heart, his spirit, all of the metaphysical aspects of him torn and smashed and even more. However, he was not allowed to intervene in the fight between the two. He was fired upon by Rainbow Dash, as Fluttershy and Twilight gave him another run for his money with the spells they rained upon him. Applejack and Pinkie Pinkie prevented him from homing his physical advantages, all the while Scootaloo bobbed in and out using her smaller size to punch and kick his legs and knees, one time the young monk landed a blow below his belt.

Seeing the Tantabus losing to the others, and the tearing of his loyalty, Nightmare Rarity slipped into the void and formed a shield around herself and the Tantabus. “Sorry Darling, but since you don’t seem to be using this.” Nightmare Rarity then turned the Tantabus to face her and she kissed him. However, this was not romantic, instead, it was almost as if she was orally raping him. All the while his body slowly and clearly painfully change back to into a true Nightborn male. However, Nightmare Rarity didn’t let up, as The Tantabus started to clearly age almost fifty years. After about two more seconds, Nightmare Rarity relinquished her hold on the Tantabus. “Thank you, dear.” She said as the Tantabus… no, he was no longer the Tantabus, he was Tanzanite Thrower Pie, dropped to his knees and then fell to the ground.

Tanzanite found himself questioning some of what he saw as pivotal life moments, how things could have been different if he had been aware of the options he now saw. But time does not flow backward for the vast majority of existence. All that can be done is moving forward. But right now all Tanzanite’s mind could do was look back. Tanzanite remembered when he first met Luna.

Tanzanite was fifteen and was reading a copy of the scriptures in the pews of a church, looking for something, some hint to find out what his talent was. He never seemed to have the knack for rocks like most the family, he had no control over any of the elements that he knew of like any Skyborn, which he is as a Nightborn. He then recalled how he was so often mocked in his village. He was frustrated and threw the copy he had. Before it could make contact with anything, it was caught in an aura of argent and midnight black, mixed with starry-white dots. “You should be more respectful with any book regardless of content, it all starts with burning them anyway.” which was followed by a chuckle.

Tanzanite turned to follow the floating book as it was accepted by a pair of slender, pale and beautiful hands belonging mostly likely to a lovely woman. Tanzanite could not see the rest of the woman, as she was hidden in simple monastic robes. “Sorry, Sister.” Tanzanite said as he walked to the woman and took the book back. “I know better, but there are times I just want to set this whole world ablaze.” Tanzanite was about to throw the book to the ground, but stopped himself “One’s True Mark! Talent in Magic! Apokalypsies! Why is it all so complicated?” He handed the book back and punched one of the building’s walls with his left hand. Needless to say, the wall fared much better than Tanzanite’s hand. Pulling his hand away revealed slight bruising on the hand with apparent damage to the wall.

As he clenched his hand in pain, “You are quite the passionate young man.” the woman giggled.

Gritting through the pain, “So I have been told,” Tanzanite commented

The woman still giggled at him, “Have you considered that your passion might be key to what you seek.”

Tanzanite looked out of the sanctuary to the night sky, “Maybe.” Tanzanite sighed. After a few seconds of looking at the night sky, “Sister, have you ever danced with the stars?”

The woman was slightly startled at that, “But you're still so young…” she trailed off.

“It’s just a dance.” Tanzanite retorted as he held out his hand and start to lift off the ground his ethereal wings being revealed. The woman then removed the hood showing her face. Tanzanite froze, “Princess Luna,” he muttered as he took to the ground and cow-towed to the diarch of the night. “I am…” He started. Luna couldn’t help but giggle at the youth. Blushing in shame, Tanzanite started to crawl away.

“On second thought,” Luna said causing Tanzanite to stop, “We will accept your offer… Pardon Us, We haven’t learned your name.”

As Tanzanite rose to his feet, “Tanzanite Thrower Pie, I prefer ‘Tanzanite’,” the youth answered. The two took each other's hands and hovering out of the church and started to dance to the silent music of the stars.

Back in the waking realm… as close to it as the Dreamscape could be. Nightmare Rarity sent dark blue blasts at each of the heroes back. “Oh, this is just too easy.” She laughed, with a boastful ‘hahahaha’. First, to sent back quite aways was Spike, then Scootaloo, followed by Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Twilight, Applejack, Apple Bloom and finally Sweetie Belle. Witnessing each of her allies Luna could not help but feel guilt and sadness. All of this was her fault. As Luna’s guilt ate wore at her, Nightmare Rarity seemed to become more and more powerful. As if everything she did was only emboldened Nightmare Rarity. Seeing no other option she manifested a broadsword and charge Nightmare Rarity. However, the latter saw that coming a mile away and she manifested her own blade. As the two blades clashed, Luna’s was sent flying into the dreamscape. Seeing her disarmed assailant, Nightmare Rarity backhanded Luna across the face and kicked her in the gut. Luna was forced to her knees. She was overwhelmed by the empowered Nightmare Rarity. Not only did Nightmare have the darker aspects of Luna’s own power, Rarity’s power, but the more recent addition of her Favored Soul, The Tantabus enriched with the power of Nightshade. And all her own negative emotions seemed to be fuelling Nightmare Rarity. “You can’t win, Luna. And you know why.”

“Luna, what is going on? What is she talking about?” Twilight asked as she was the first of the others to recover enough to ask.

“Well tell them, Luna, tell them the truth.” Nightmare Rarity ordered as she had her own blade ready to pierce the princess’ neck.

Tearing up, ashamed of her past, Luna reluctantly spoke. “I ordered the Tant... Tanzanite to haunt my dreams.”

“Oh, you had him do so much worse. Tell them.” Nightmare Rarity continued.

Luna gritted her teeth behind her tears before she spoke, “I ordered him to torture me, to torment me, to punish me for everything I’ve done as Nightmare Moon, so I could never forget the suffering I caused.” Luna confused.

This statement shook the core of everyone else there, they couldn't move they were so horrified at that revelation. As Luna lamented in her confession, unable to counter Nightmare Rarity. “And as your adopted mother said, ‘And the truth shall set you free’!’” Nightmare Rarity said as she pulled her blade back and was about to thrust it.

“How dare you bring her into this? I know she would be disappointed in me for what I did, I’m partially glad she wasn’t there to see what my jealousy of my sister became!” Luna yelled as she tried to tackle Nightmare Rarity.

However, the possessed and empowered enchantress was able to get out of the way and prepared to once again strike the nocturnal princess. “Give her my regards.”

“GET OUT OF OUR FRIEND!!!” Applejack shouted capitalizing on Nightmare being diverted by Luna, as she placed the fire ruby on her back in-line with her heart. Nightmare Rarity dropped to her weapon and to her knees as she felt the divine force of Applejack’s paladin magic enter into her. Soon it was amplified manyfold as Twilight, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, Sweetie Belle and Spike placed their hands on the paladin’s right arm and her shoulders. “OUR SISTER!!!” Nightmare Rarity arched backward unable to fight the magic as Applejack continued. “AND STAY OUT OF HER, YOU BITCH!!!” The paladin ordered and a black essence was forced out of Nightmare Rarity and forced to fair distance away. With that, Rarity changed back to her regular self, her hair was back to what it was, but her attire was still how Nightmare altered it.

“RARITY!” Sweetie Belle squeaked and screamed happily as she hugged Rarity from behind. She then broke the hug and renewed it from the front. “YOU’RE OKAY!” Sweetie held her sister as tight as she could.

“Please, Sweetie Belle, no need to yell,” Rarity said she embraced her sister.

“How do we know we got Nightmare out of Rarity?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“We could try that again,” Fluttershy suggested, just before Applejack almost fell over, but was caught by Apple Bloom. “Or perhaps, maybe we should try something else.”

“That won’t be necessary,” Luna said as she got back to her feet. “Rarity didn’t fight Nightmare as she took over. instead, Rarity elected to wait until the Nightmare either slipped up or was weaken.”

“So that was not a dream. I hope I wasn’t too rude.” Rarity said with a nervous chuckle.

“It is alright,” Luna said as she walked over to the drifting Tanzanite. “Now we have to discuss matters,” Luna said looking down at Tanzanite.

“I am not done yet!” came the disembodied voice of Nightmare Moon as it flew back towards Rarity.

“Not this time!” Rarity said as she used the necklace she now processed as a conduit to form a shield that repelled the essence. However, Nightmare continued to do it again and again, each time each of her friends aided with Rarity’s repulsion attempts. But Nightmare refused to let up. As Nightmare was about to dive and attempt to possess Rarity for the thirteenth time, she was blasted by pure unadulterated solar plasma. As everything cleared everyone saw there was an opening from the dreamscape into the waking world as Celestia, draped not in her usual white gown, but in golden armor adorned with every symbol that was ever affiliated with the sun, that covered her head to toe, arrived. Everyone froze as Celestia encased Nightmare in a ball of light. She then turned to Luna and started walking to her.

Luna fell to her knees and started to tear up, she knew she had messed up terribly. She knew what she did was almost unforgivable. She covered waiting for a slap right across her face, but after a minute she felt two arms wrap around her as she was pulled into another’s chest. “Please stop this. I threw my sister away a thousand years ago. Please, I just got her back. Please, don’t take her away from me.” Luna heard her sister’s voice, struggling to not break down in tears, all the while she felt Celestia’s tears land on her back and neck. “Please, stop killing yourself. Please, I can’t lose my sister again.”

“I … I…”

“I am so sorry for everything,” Celestia said in sorrow.

Luna the pushed Celestia back, “How? How can you feel sorry?” As she forced herself to look Celestia in the face.

Celestia moved her hands as to hold Luna’s face in them, “Because, you are still in pain over what I did.”

Luna turned her face away. “I have forgiven you long ago, Sister, I am the one that is still guilty…” Luna trailed off.

“I forgive you,” Celestia said.

Not believing what she heard, “How? How can you forgive me? How can I face you?” Luna asked still facing away from Celestia.

“Like this,” Celestia said using her left hand to turn Luna’s face to look at her. Celestia had on a pair of comedy glasses, with a fake nose and fake eyebrows, etc. Also in the right hand was simple squeaking horn. Celestia then squeaked the horn a few times causing the rest of the group to look at her curiously, especially Twilight.

Luna, however, started to laugh, and laugh and laugh. Slowly everyone else started to laugh, save Twilight. The young arcane mage’s right eye started to twitch and then she seemed to just freeze, everyone then stopped as they heard the sound of a porcelain plate fall to the ground and shatter. Twilight then fainted making contact with the ground as if she was a fallen tree. “Looks like you broke your appertinance, Sister,” Luna joked.

“It’s fine,” said Celestia slightly dismissively, “because of how cute I find it I do things like that every couple of months or so. And to be honest, she’s a bit serious for her age, she needs to lighten up a bit more.”

“That’s a terrible way to treat your protege, sister,” Luna chastised Celestia.

“Well, with Pinkie in her life that seems most likely to happen,” commented Rarity, “goodness, who knows how much of a stick in the mud I would be if she hadn’t made the effort to be my friend when we were younger!”

“We need to return to the matter at hand,” Celestia said as she turned to face Luna. “Luna, I care about you. I love you and I failed you. I promised to have your back and I let you down. I am sorry.”

Luna took a breath, “ I cannot forgive you because you were not the one in the wrong.” Luna took another breath before she continued. “I know I forced a hard decision on you when I arose as Nightmare Moon,” said Luna, “but if I had been in your place I probably would have done the same thing. I guess I couldn’t accept your forgiveness until I found how I could forgive myself.”

“So do you accept that you are not Nightmare Moon, that you are forgiven?” Celestia asked.

“No. Nightmare Moon is as much a part of me as the New Moon is to the moon. She always has been and always will be. Nightmare Moon and I are part of the same whole. But what I did as her, no longer defines me. I am ready to be …” Luna paused and took the trapped Nightmare, “Complete.” Luna finished as she opened the orb of light. Nightmare cried out in agony, pain, and defiance as it was pulled into Luna’s heart as if it was being scrubbed out of existence. After what sounded like a cry of terror of millions of voices, a pin dropped could be heard. “I am Luna.”

With everything else handled, Pinkie walked over to the unconscious Tanzanite and pulling his arm over her shoulder to carry him out, “Okay, Uncle Tanzanite, let’s get you home.”

“Let’s go back, this your domain sister,” Luna spoke up and everyone silent agreed with a nod. “After we wake Twilight.”

The return to the waking world was silent, arriving in the throne room of the castle. Celestia walked to her throne and sat down in it, all the while everyone else was focused on the pets and to check on the status of Opal, save Pinkie Pie, who had taken the unconscious Tanzanite to one of the walls and used her smelling salts. However, Luna could tell something was off concerning her elder sister. “Sister? The magic to reach that place is taxing to those who do not have the talent for it, even those of our kind.” Luna spoke in a whisper so that only Celestia could hear her.

“I know, I might need a very long nap after all this,” said Celestia with a short humorless chuckle, “regardless, I went a thousand years without being able to help my sister, and regretted it every day until you returned, Luna. I want to be here to help you, and something told me you need that too, and Spike’s letter did help.” The two had a small laugh. “Luna you have a problem, what you did was self-destructive.” Celestia said, not beating around the bush, “You need to see a psychotherapist, I cannot help you any more than I have. I am going to book an appointment, and in light of recent events, it is not optional. However there is a choice, the choice is either someone from Chantalot that everyone in the capital likely knows or someone much more discreet located in Magiville. Let me know tomorrow.”

Among the others, Twilight placed Owlowiscious on her shoulder, “You did well, Owlowiscious, you are such a clever bird.”

“Actually that was Angel’s idea. I had very little input, but I did make sure the plan was sound enough that none of us were seriously hurt.” Spike commented. “You have to give credit where credit is due.”

“Well, Angel Bunny, I am thankful you helped us out,” Fluttershy said as she kissed her companion's check. Angel just blushed slightly as Fluttershy then scratched his ear.

Applejack picked up, Winona, “Yah done good, girl. Let’s get yah home. Ah think there is a cow bone with yahr name all over it, Sugarcube.”

“Awesome entrance, Tank.” Rainbow said as she hugged her tortoise and rubbed his cheek with her, all the while not caring about how ‘uncool’ her affection to Tank was shown to be.

All the while, Gummy waddled up to Pinkie. “Hey, Gummy.” She turned to Tanzanite and back to the alligator. “This is my great-great-...thousand years worth of generations great grand uncle Tanzanite Thrower Pie.” Gummy just blinked once in response. At the moment Tanzanite woke up. As the old man saw the alligator and then to Pinkie, “This is Gummy, my pet baby alligator.”

“Pet? Alligator? Pet Alligator?” Tanzanite asked. He looked away as if to the readers, “Why?” he asked.

"Because he needs me," Pinkie answered. Tanzanite shook his head and threw up his hands in defeat.

At the same time, Rarity picked up Opal, as the cat had been returned to her normal form, but like Rarity, the cat’s new collar was there. “Oh Opal-wopal, what happened to you?” Rarity asked, only to get a tired meow. “Oh, you poor thing.” Rarity cooed. “Well let’s all go home, you and I really could use a nice long rest. Although the new collar is quite the fashion statement, what are your thoughts on it all?” Opal gave a tired glare. "Sorry, after we get some rest."

“We still have one more person to address,” Rainbow Dash commented, everyone then turned to look at the elementalist. “Nightshade.”

A Real Chance

Nightshade had long recovered from being knocked out and had walked out of the castle and was nearing the drawbridge. She dropped to her knees as she looked over the edge. Soon she felt tears forming in the corners of her eyes, the first time she had tears in over three decades. She contemplated just ending it by jumping into the spike-ridden moat below. Before she knew it she had slipped into that space occupied by memories and dreams in an almost equal measure.

Nightshade was still Nightingale, in fact, she was still in her first year of school. Officer Shady Tree, Nightingale’s new foster mother, walked into Nightingale’s new foster home. “Ms. Tree what’s wrong?” Nightingale asked seeing the frown on Shady’s face and the sadness in her eyes.

“We found your mother, she has been dead for 10 days, it also looks like she was held against her will and tortured for some time before they decided to end her life. The good news is that because of the information in the envelope we managed to arrest everyone responsible. In truth, she effectively took down the corrupt system that exploited the loopholes in the law.” Shady informed. “Looks like Las Magus will actually get a chance to be a great city. All thanks to your mother.” /i]

“But what about me?” Nightingale asked.

“I am sorry, Nightingale, but it looks like your mother had no contingency plan for you, this was a plan of mutually assured destruction between her and her… patrons. I’m sorry, but it looks like her endgame didn’t factor you into the equation.” In that moment Nightingale realized that no one truly cared for her, not even her own mother, from that day forth she would look after herself first and foremost. But before that she ran into her room and bundling into a ball, the tears didn’t stop, and while they were never visible since then, they were still flowing from her eyes.

Nightshade looked up and saw everyone she fought recently arrive at the area of the drawbridge. She didn't move, save to break down and cry. Her magic was stripped from her, her bow was beyond repair, the part of her very being in it was dead, she had everything she struggled for stripped from her and the worst part was she was going to live out her life in prison begging for a death that will never come. Everything she did throughout her life, whoring herself as a little girl just to have the smallest bite of food, all the hours training and researching just to get into Wonderbolt Academy, all the grunt work and bureaucratic BS she laboured under just to be overlooked if favour for some privileged little girl a decade younger without even a third of her talent or skill, it was just like the day she murdered her wing, now she could do nothing. “Just kill me,” she said through her tears. As she looked the heroes. They looked at each other in confusion, save the two princesses and the Tantabus, who was now a man clearly in his late eighties early nineties in appearance and was just as powerless as her.

“Why would we do that?” said Twilight, “yes, you’ve committed crimes against the nation and its citizens, but you need to serve out your sentence.”

“Everything that kept me going is gone. I have no magic, the bow that I spent months of my life scrounging to get pieces of is little more than dust in the wind, and I have been used as a shield by my so-called allies just for them to get a bit more time on their escape.”

“You’re right,” said Twilight, “most of that is true, but you haven’t truly lost your magic. You changed the nature of your magic with forbidden spells, but now that your altered magic has been purged from your system your natural magics will reassert themselves. However, they will never be as they were before. We can’t kill you because of three reasons.”

“And what are those,” moped Nightshade, she didn’t believe anything Twilight had said about magic, as far as Nightshade was concerned the young mage was just trying to comfort her.

“We don’t have the authority or desire, to do so,” started Twilight.

“But that doesn’t mean some of us aren’t above thinking you need a good beating,” said Rainbow bluntly ready to fight. The rest of the group gave their elementalist friend stern looks, and if Spike and Angel had been there they would of as well.

“Also, it is not in the interest of the nation to cater to demands, whims or wishes of known criminals. And lastly, you have already died as an elementalist, you will never again be able to perform those arts. While your natural water magic will return in time, how much is hard to say, you will not be able to use it as an elementalist no matter how hard you try.”

“You are wrong, Twilight.” Tanzanite informed forcing everyone to focus on him, there was no anger, no malice, no rage in his voice but a hint of sorrow, a sorrow spawned from knowing something and no one willing to listen to the truth as the charge forth on the path they selected. “I didn't just take her power over darkness, I took all of her magic, her flight, her ability to use water, all of it. I had planned to engage in a three-way fight with two beings both of them could with a whim strip me of vast portions of my own magic, as they come from being a high priest, and my foes were both halves of the demigod I swore fealty to.” Twilight remained unconvinced. Seeing this, “Cast Detect Magic and you’ll see that Nightshade and I are without any magic.”

Twilight took a breath and opening her tome, she found the spell. As she spoke the spell, she saw that around her, all her friends, Princess Celestia and Princess Luna were surrounded by light. But Nightshade and Tanzanite were… voids. There was no magic in either of them. Seeing the horror on Twilight’s face, “You see it don’t you. Everything I gave up. There are reasons why that spell is forbidden. Magic of all forms comes at a cost.” Nightshade informed, darkly. “Some at higher prices and with greater risks than others.”

“That is indeed true, all magic has a price that must be paid. But I also know there are flaws in every spell, no spell can be perfect. Just because you both are without magic now, and it cannot be detected through magic at this moment does not mean it completely gone. There’s still a chance that the levels are so low that a detection spell can’t pick it up, and if it is indeed true you are now voids then I will find a way to return your natural magic to you, but chances are they will not manifest as they once did, or ever will again.” Unseen to all Celestia and Luna gave little smiles.

“Your naive foolishness will be your undoing, given time,” Nightshade muttered before coughing.

“If it’s a fool’s work to find a way to restore what should have never been lost in the first place, then I’ll gladly play the fool. Magic is more than a tool, it is a part of our very being. With magic completely stripped from anything or anybody the side effects of such a loss are only theoretical at this point, but I swear I will do all in my power to find a way to fix this travesty before it becomes fatal.” Twilight informed but a hand was placed on her shoulder. Twilight looked to see Celestia and her master gave a closed-eyed frown as she shook her head. Just then Nightshade leaned forward and started to cough up and vomit not only blood but the content of her stomach.

“It’s too late,” Nightshade said after she got a chance to breathe. “I am already falling apart.” Nightshade continued weakly before starting to cough again vomiting more blood. After regaining her breath. “Just do it already.” She then started to wheeze until she was able to speak again. “You preach about following and upholding the laws, namely the execution of my sentence, what about the one on cruel and unusual punishment.” Nightshade stopped to take deep breaths, trying to cling to what little life she had, just long enough to be put out of her misery.

Applejack drew her sword and walked towards Nightshade. She placed the blade of her sword on the back of Nightshade’s neck. The divine runes lit up as she lifted the sword, “Wait!! Wait!” Rarity shouted as she gave Opal to Sweetie Belle to hold, causing Applejack to stop and step aside. “Don’t I get a say in all this, I am the most recent victim.” Rarity then walked and kneeled in front of Nightshade. She then took a gem she had as she placed her hand on Nightshade’s forehead. “Show us.” Rarity said as her eyes and Nightshade’s glowed as the gem drew a light from the two sets of glowing eyes and started to project each of Nightshade’s memories for all to see. As the memories were shown, Nightshade started to tear up again, as she was about to break down in tears again. As the last memory Nightshade dealt on finished, the light ended. “You never had a chance, did you?” Rarity said as she looked. “You are a poor unfortunate soul.” Rarity whispered as she hugged Nightshade. After the hug, she got back up and turned to the others. “I forgive for the effects and affects of her actions on me.”

Applejack then spoke, “What would yah ask mah to do?” the paladin asked.

“Nothing.” Rarity then turned to Princess Celestia, “Your grace, look at this miserable wreck. You saw that she never had a chance. Yes, she is a product of her choices, but also as much a product of circumstances beyond her control. She might not be redeemable now, or ever, but it is the duty of all of us to make sure those sorts of circumstances don’t continue so as to ensure someone like her that was effectively forced to choose between bad decisions in order to survive doesn’t happen again. Regardless, she still deserves the chance to try and genuinely redeem herself.”

“You’re just a big a fool as the apprentice,” rasped Nightshade, “I don’t have time left to make the attempt, all I can do is beg for a merciful end.”

Applejack nodded, almost as if she knew what Nightshade was getting at. But before she could do anything Princess Celestia walked past Rarity and kneeled to be on the level with Nightshade. “Rest now in moonlight's embrace
Bear up my lullaby, winds of the earth
Through cloud, and through sky, and through space
Carry the peace and the coolness of night.” Celestia sang as she placed her hands on Nightshade and soon the two were bathed in light. Everyone covered their eyes and turned away so not to be blinded by the light. After a few seconds, the lights vanished and the first thing everyone heard was the cry of a newborn girl. “May all your dreams be sweet tonight
Safe upon your bed of moonlight
And know not of sadness, pain, or care…” they then heard Celestia sing as the baby fell to sleep in her arms.

“Sister?” Luna asked as she and the other noticed the absence of Nightshade and confused at what Celestia just did.

Celestia turned to face everyone, “Everyone, Nightingale, You, I, Everyone, should be given a real chance.” What no one but Luna knew was that Celestia was actually paraphrasing Clover the Clever, their mother in all but blood. “And I know just the couple who will give Nightingale a real chance. And maybe with a mentor like Scootaloo,” Celestia said as she turned to Scootaloo, “she won’t become Nightshade again. But let us go back into town. I have a delivery to make.”

As they made their way back, “How am I supposed to be a good mentor to her?” Scootaloo asked no-one in particular, just voicing her concern.

“Don’t worry, Little Buddy. Just watch and learn from the Dashinator.”

“But yah might want ta focus more on what she did right, and note what not ta do.”

“Besides, by the time she’s old enough for school you’ll already have graduated from primary education and found your special talent,” said Pinkie without much thought to it.

“Pinkie’s likely right in this case,” said Twilight, “and no matter what your talent turns out to be, chances are some aspect of it will help you guide her. In a sense, you, Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom help guide each other. You inspire the others to take risks, Apple Bloom acts as the one to voice reason, and Sweetie is the one to help start all the ideas. You three play off each other well, you’ll probably find what you are best suited for before you realize it.”

As they all traveled back, Rainbow Dash didn’t fly, noticing this, “What’s the matter Dashie?” Pinkie asked.

Rainbow sighed, “I can’t believe I almost believed her.”

“We can,” Everyone else said back to her in near unison.

“So, Nightshade wasn’t your mom,” said Pinkie, “can you honestly say you would have enjoyed having a mom like that”

“No,” said Rainbow wiping her face down with her sleeve, “it’s just that whenever I asked dad about my mom, my real mom, he’d always find a way to dodge the question or deflect the conversation toward something else.”

“I have to agree with that,” Fluttershy said as she pulled back. “We all really can’t pick our families, please don’t get me started on Zephyr, but we can choose how we deal with them. This just means you can finally force the conversation with your dad, and it’s probably well overdue at this point. If your dad still doesn’t want to talk about it, you can always bring up how Nightshade almost tricked you, and what she said about him and your eyes.”

“Well, Darling, there is also your stepmother, if I am not mistaken, she would most likely tell you, if for no other reason than to attempt to better solidify her relationship with you.” Rarity said comfortingly as they all headed back to Magiville.

A few hours later, Luna and Tanzanite were alone on one of the benches located in the gardens of the castle in Chantalot. The two did not speak, but it was a tender moment of affectionate silence. For what could be said between the two. Soon Tanzanite started to cough.

After overcoming the cough, “I don’t have much time left do I?” He asked as he faced. Luna, turning away as he suffered another bout of coughing, but still able to see the sad nodded from the princess. “So my end will be the same as the Shadowbolt?” he asked after temporarily regaining his breath.

“Your fate is similar to that of Nightingale, with one key difference,” said Luna sternly.

“I know I don’t have long,” said Tanzanite, beginning to cough up blood.

“Do you remember the part of your oath about shadows returning?”

“Yes, it was rather poetic,” he coughed up more blood.

“Nay, twas not poetry for the sake of a beauteous harmony among those who have sworn to me, it was a magic to bind your spirit to this realm and force a reincarnation to atone for any sins you committed for any reason, justified or not. You shall return, an old soul in a young body with nary any memories of your past life save feelings in your new life that will lead you to your atonement. We have both committed great sins, I have a lifetime to try and atone for them now that I am returned, you would never have that luxury in the state you were in during both returns of Nightmare. You felt your loyalties divided because she was always a part of me and as such, following her did not violate your oath of service to me. Before you go, I feel we must amend some aspects of our relationship.”

“All I need is to hear three words and to say them. I will go first. Luna, I love you.” Tanzanite said as he looked at Luna, a smile on his face

“I love you, Tanzanite,” Luna said and the two kissed. Shortly after the kiss ended, Tanzanite dissolved in shadows, a smile on his face. After a second or two, his body was no more. However, his spirit lingered a little while longer as Luna felt embraced by him, like young lovers, one more time. “I will wait for you,” she whispered as if to a still sleeping lover, before the spirit left without any sorrow, sadness, or bitterness. And while the tears on her cheeks were unmistakable, she wore an authentic smile. “See you soon,” Luna said to herself. She then jumped into the night sky, all the while watching over the nation. Granted as many slept, she found joy in seeing people out and about, enjoying her nights, some even spotted her and waved greetings, a few shout, ‘We love you, Princess Luna!’. It was small consolation, but it was something none the less.

Around the same time, Bon Bon looked at the small jar holding the ashes of what was once a dangerous bow in that same facility and sighed. “Why is it I always get the troublesome jobs? Even the ashes of this thing are dangerous, I just hope all of them are here to be accounted for.” She said as she opened a small wooden cupboard that was concealed in one of the shelves and placed the jar containing the ashes of Gloom Mark inside then shut the door and went to a brass, iron and silver vault covered inside and out with arcane and divine symbols. Opening it there was a dark green satyr bell cast in bronze and etched all about with necromantic symbols, what appeared to be an obsidian dagger, a bronze shortsword covered with some sort of ancient text and what looked like a giant rainbow-colored pearl. Reaching into her bag she pulled out the retrieved the now lifeless remains of Nightmare, she mentally kicked herself several times for not placing such a dangerous artifact in the vault in the first place, and set it in this vault, noting that everything else from the vault she had been using, save Discord was already transferred, signed and dated by Princess Celestia, before closing it and making sure it was completely closed and locked.

Outside she was greeted by Princess Celestia, “Special Agent Sweetie Drops, I have this for you.” Celestia said as she handed Bonbon an envelope.

Bon Bon opened it and took out a letter, “I am being honorably discharged? All my benefits? A three hundred thousand bit severance package? I don’t have to keep lying to Lyra?” Bon Bon asked all of that in disbelief. Celestia nodded. As tears of joy started to form in her eyes, Bonbon hugged the princess in gratitude. “Thank you, thank you, thank you.”

Celestia ended the hug and looking at the cheerful agent, “Although, until a replacement is found you will still be the acting caretaker of this facility. I already took the liberty of officially giving Lyra and the Element Bearers authorization. I have a feeling they might be needing resources that this facility can provide. Also, as of nine hours ago, my sister is officially in charge of these matters, I’m just here as a formality.” As Celestia turned to leave. “However, Lyra has a surprise for you when you get home and congratulations.”

“On what?” Bon Bon asked confused.

“You two have been approved to adopt and your first child, an orphaned baby Skyborn girl named Nightingale, is with her. Act surprised when Lyra tells you.” Bon Bon froze and melt there in unadulterated bliss, she was completely and utterly surprised that she and Lyra were now mothers and couldn’t be any happier. When Princess Celestia was a fair way from anyone’s earshot as she headed to the archives. “It’s getting harder and harder to doctor the records to keep these things under wraps. Oh, how I miss the days when most of the population was illiterate and most of the literate only cared about writing and reading poetry.” she bemoaned and gave a sigh. “Oh, Platinium is most certainly laughing at me from beyond the grave. And Mother is probably shaking her head with how many secrets I’ve been keeping.”

Epilogue: A New Day

Dressed in a cloak that hid her wings and flowing hair, Luna arrived at Magiville General Hospital. She walked inside and to the reception desk. “I have an appointment with the residing psychotherapist,” Luna spoke to the receptionist.

“Name please?” the receptionist asked as she looked over for appointments for the doctors.

“Moonpie,” Luna answered blushing out of embarrassment over the use of the pseudonym her sister used to book the appointment.

“Floor D, Wing R, Room 001,” receptionist informed Luna about the location of her appointment. “Heads up, while he might spook new patients by his appearance, he’s actually harmless and very welcoming.”

Luna took the elevator near the reception desk to Floor D, and followed the arrow to Wing R, and arrived at the door of her appointment. “Psychotherapist, Psychologist, Accountant?” Luna read out loud, confused about the third one. She took a breath and opened the door, as she was about to enter the office, “Excuse me, I am Moonpie and I am here for my appointment.”

Elsewhere, Flash Sentry got off the train in uniform, as he was ordered to ‘hit the ground running’ with a sack over his left shoulder with most of his stuff. He was in the northernmost town of Mystica, a fair distance south of the Crystal Mountains, the northern border of Mystica. “So much for that leave,” he sighed as he dipped his head. He took something out of his pocket, it was a series of photos of him and Twilight in a random photobooth, making faces, and it brought a smile to his face, “Well, it was nice while I had it.” Flash then reported for duty and was assigned to lead a patrol of the area north of town.

As the patrol traversed the tundra on their way back, several hours later, something caught Flash’s eye, a glimmer. He turned and his mouth dropped. “Sir?” one of the other guards in his patrol asked, “What are your orders, Sir?”

“Princess Celestia has to be told,” Flash whispered before he gave his order, “We report back to HQ and follow protocol,” Flash ordered.

Author's Note

(Gets free) (breath, breath) Okay, this AU's answer to the Nightmare Rarity arch is over.

That took longer than I planned... Please don't ask.

I hope everyone got the reference in the epilogue.

Well, what is nex...

"Cccrrryyyssstttaaalllsss!"

Why do ask? :facehoof:. The King has entered the building.