Always Hungry

The next turn of the stars found Nightmare Moon once again descending the long path to the dungeons. She walked again past the pink princess, who lifted her head and watched her pass with blank, unreadable eyes.

The changeling's eyes were fiery green, and all too readable. They mocked her, flashing brightly as though it were Nightmare Moon behind the cell's bars and the changeling that was free. "Couldn't stay away, hmm?" said the changeling with a smirk. "Still seeking something to fill that void within?"

Nightmare Moon snarled wordlessly. She almost turned on her heel and left, but that would let the creature know that her barb had sunk home. "You are a foal, full of ridiculous delusions," she said instead.

"Your hatred tastes delicious. Bitter and complex and quite well-aged, like a good dark wine. I imagine your love would taste even better."

"Me? Love? You are a foal."

The changeling laughed. "Oh? Perhaps if I present you with a form you could love... This one might do." Suddenly the Princess Celestia stood in the cell, her rainbow hair floating about her.

Nightmare Moon's magic slapped the faux Celestia across the face. "Insolent insect! How dare you!"

"Quite easily." The grin was not Celestia's, twisting the familiar features into a mocking sneer they'd never worn in truth. "Ah such hate you have for your beloved sister. How sad. And yet..." The smile turned serenely smug, suddenly far, far, far too familiar. Nightmare Mood felt a flood of conflicting emotions. Hatred and rage, and yet also regret. She might never see the true owner of that face again, and it was her own hoof that had banished her sister. "There is love there, isn't there? Poor Nightmare. So alone."

"Take your pity and choke on it," hissed Nightmare Moon, hovering on the edge of a killing rage. She spun on her hoof and stormed away before she squashed the changeling queen like the bug she was.

Later, far above, when her rage at the changeling had cooled, she found she was angry at herself. She had let the creature goad her twice now. Well, she would not fall for such cheap tactics again. She would let the bug rot. Without love energy to fuel it, the Nightmare knew that the changeling would weaken and eventually die.