The evening came rather quickly as Jackboot, Sophie, and Perfect Pace arrived at the Golden Oaks Library. Earlier that day they were told to come to the library for a surprise party by a bubbly mare named Pinkie Pie. They would have gotten here sooner, but Sophie had to get changed into her dress. Her short dress that was blue with a white saddle and poofy shoulders of the same color.

“Strange place for a party, don’t you think?” Perfect asked.

“Strange place for a library, for that, matter.” Jackboot said, acknowledging that the library was inside of a tree. “At least you have access to extra paper.”

Sophie and Perfect chuckled at Jackboot’s joke.

Jackboot knocked on the door. The door then opened, revealing Pinkie Pie.

“Ah! You’re here!”

She then yanked Jackboot inside. Sophie and Perfect looked at one another before entering the library. Inside the library were streamers, balloons, and a table for refreshments. It looked like the entire town was invited. Given the size of the town, that might be a possibility.

“I’m so glad you came!” Pinkie said as she had Jackboot in a hug. Or, to Jackboot, the closest thing to a death grip. “Applejack! I told you they’d come!”

An orange mare with a blonde mane and a brown Stetson approached.

“Pinkie, ya might want to let him go.”

Pinkie then realized the tightness of her grip on Jackboot.

“Oops, sorry.”

She then let the gray stallion go, causing him to the gasp for breath.

The orange mare chuckled and approached Jackboot.

“Nice to meet ya.” She said as she stuck out her hoof. “I’m Applejack.”

Jackboot shook the mare’s hoof, feeling her grip to be firm, much like his.

“Jackboot. It is nice to meet you, Miss Applejack.”

He then introduced Applejack to Perfect and Sophie.

“I must say, Miss Applejack you have a firm grip on that hoof shake.” Perfect said. “I assume you do a lot of physical labor?”

“I sure do.” Applejack said. “I work on my family’s farm outside of town. We…”

Before Applejack could continue, Pinkie caught everypony’s attention.

“She’s coming!” She shouted. “Everypony back up against the wall!”

Everypony in the room backed up against the wall, leaving a space in the center of the large room. As Jackboot backed against the wall, he bumped into somepony. He looked and saw that it was Rarity.

“Hello, Jackboot.” She said. “Didn’t expect to see you here.”

“The feeling is mutual.” Jackboot replied. He started to feel the same way he did when he first met this indigo maned beauty. Not wanting to unsettle the mare in front of him, he decided to continue the conversation. “I must say, Miss Pie sure knows how to assemble a party. By the way, who is this party for exactly?”

“I believe it’s for…”

Suddenly, the lights turn off, causing Rarity to stop talking.

“Okay everypony, shhh!” Pinkie said.

Everypony went completely quiet as the door to the library opened, rather quickly as it practically slammed shut.

“Rude much?” Somepony asked.

“Sorry Spike.” Another said. “But I have to convince the Princess that Nightmare Moon and we’re running out of time.”

Jackboot immediately recognized the voices.

“Twilight? Spike? What are they doing here?” He then realized what Twilight has said. “Wait a moment, did she say Nightmare Moon?”

Twilight continued.

“I just need to be alone so I can study without ta bunch of crazy ponies trying to make friends all the time.”

As Twilight asked where the light switch was, the light suddenly turned on, followed by everypony shouting “surprise”. This caused Twilight to jump, evident that she was obviously not expecting such a welcome. Before she could question, Pinkie popped up in front of her.

“Surprise!” She said happily. “Hi, I’m Pinkie Pie and I threw this party just for you.” She then proceeded to bounce around Twilight, asking her if she was surprised.

“Very surprised.” Twilight answered. “But last I checked, libraries are supposed to be quiet.”

“Well that’s silly. What kind of welcome party would this be if it were quiet?” Pinkie said. “I mean, duh! Boring!”

As Pinkie rambled on as Twilight poured herself a drink, Jackboot thought about what Twilight said. “She knows about Nightmare Moon?” He asked. “Finally! Somepony who’s sane around here!”

He trotted over to Twilight as he drank from a cup. Before he could say anything, Twilight turned around, reveling that her cheeks were pure red and sweat and tears started going down her face.

“Are you alright, Sugercube?” Applejack asked.

Suddenly, Twilight jumped up, her mane caught fire, steam burst from her ears, and the sound of a whistle came from now where before she ran out of the room and up the stairs.

“What just happened?” Perfect Pace asked as he and Sophie approached. “Is she okay?”

Jackboot examined the bottle from which she gotten her drink.

“Hot sauce?” He asked. “What’s this doing here?”

Before anypony could answer Jackboot’s question, Pinkie took hold of the bottle of the hot flavored liquid, poured some of the contents on a cupcake, and ate the whole thing, leaving everypony shocked.

“What?” Pinkie asked with a mouthful, noticing the amount of eyes on her. “It’s good!”

“I’m not even going to bother with a question.” Perfect said.

The sky was dark as the party went on. Jackboot was introduced to a rainbow maned pegasus named Rainbow Dash, who works on the Ponyville weather team, and another pegasus with a pink mane and tail named Fluttershy. After speaking with the yellow mare, he learned that she is providing the music for the celebration with her birds, something that Jackboot found interesting. But what Jackboot was really interested in was what he heard Twilight say earlier. It may not look it, but he was absolutely ecstatic that somepony else was aware of Nightmare Moon. He then excused himself to use the washroom. This was both a fact, as he had consumed a lot of punch, and was an excuse as he also went to look for Twilight.

“Where did you go, Twilight?” He asked as he left the washroom.

His question was answered by Spike leaving a room and closing the door behind him. Unlike Twilight, he was really enjoying the party, to the point he was wearing a lampshade on his head. How that happened, Jackboot didn’t know.

“Hey, Jackboot.” The purple dragon said after spotting him. “Enjoying the party?”

“I am.” Jackboot said. “I can’t remember the last time I stayed up this late.”

He then looked over at the door Spike had shut.

“I assume Twilight is in there?”

“Yeah. She isn’t really much of a party pony.” Spike said. “If you want to talk to her, go ahead. But I don’t think she wants to.”

“Trust me; she’ll want to talk to me after what I tell her.” Jackboot said, producing a smirk on his face.

Spike smiled and nodded.

“Okay then.” He said. “We’ll be down stairs when you’re done.”

Jackboot nodded at the dragon and made his way to the door. Upon knocking on the wooden surface, he got a response.

“I said I’m not interested!”

Jackboot the opened the door and poked his head in. Despite the lack of light in the room, he saw Twilight on the bed on a loft.

“Are you alright in here, Twilight?”

Twilight’s ears poked up.

“Jackboot? What are you doing here?”

“Just seeing how you’re doing.” The stallion answered. “Not into parties?”

“It’s just annoying is what it is.” Twilight answered plainly. She let out a sigh. “I just want to do my research without this friend making thing getting in the way!”

Jackboot rolled his eyes.

“You can say that again.” He said as he closed the door behind him. “My parents have tried to get me to do the same thing.”

“Really?” Twilight asked. “How so?”

“Oh the usual.” Jackboot said as he sat down on the floor. “Trying to get me to go to parties, royal functions, and all that. I’m lucky if we get a major order at the metal shop or any other excuse not to go. I mean, I just to work to get enough money so I can get an apartment of my own. And all of this friend making stuff is hindering my progress.”

“At least you have good excuses.” Twilight said. “I’m still a student with only my studies to go on. It doesn’t help that it’s my teacher who wants me to socialize.”

“It also doesn’t help if you’re related to them.” Jackboot added. “Whether they are your parents or the ruler of the nation.”

Twilight smiled at Jackboot, who smiled in return. This may be the first actual conversation the two had with another pony, who wasn’t family, in a long time. Not only that, it was something the two can agree on. Before either of them could continue, the gray stallion thought of the reason he came up here in the first place.

“Twilight, I was wondering something.” He said. “I heard what you saying to Spike when you got here. Something about Nightmare Moon?”

Twilight sighed.

“I know, I know.” She said. “Celestia keeps telling me not worry about Nightmare Moon, Spike keeps telling me not worry about Nightmare Moon, and I’m pretty sure you’re going to tell me…”

“Tell you that legend has it that on the longest day of the thousandth year...” Jackboot said, cutting Twilight off. “…the stars will aid in her escape and she will bring about night time eternal. And that day is tomorrow.”

Twilight looked at Jackboot with wide eyes.

“You know about Nightmare Moon too?” She asked as she hoped off her bed and trotted to Jackboot. “How did you know?”

Before Jackboot could answer, Spike opened the door.

“Come on you two!” The little dragon said. “It’s time to watch the sunrise!”

The sky was black as the ponies made their way to Town Hall. Despite its size, the town was beginning to become rather crowded.

“So are you excited to see, Nightmare Moon?” Perfect asked, jokingly.

Jackboot smirked at Perfect.

“Well I’m excited.” He said. “Excited that I’m not the only pony who is aware of her.”

He then nudged his head toward Twilight was stood some feet away with Spike on her back, talking to Pinkie, or, Pinkie talking to her.

“Twilight?” Sophie asked. “She’s riled up about that foal’s tale too?”

Before Jackboot could respond, he was interrupted by a chorus of birds and music. A spotlight was aimed at the stage as a brown mare with a gray mane stood there, wearing a white color and teal cravat and a pair of glasses. From what they were told, this was the Mayor of Ponyville.

“Fillies and Gentlecolts!” She began. “As Mayor of Ponyville, it is my great pleasure to announce the beginning of the Summer Sun Celebration!”

Everypony cheered.

As the mayor continued, Jackboot looked up at the moon through the glass dome of the room. As he looked, he saw the image of an alicorn on its surface, where it was as long as he could remember.

Suddenly, he saw a brief flash, and the image had disappeared.

Jackboot gasped and trotted to Twilight, who had a worried look on her face.

“You saw it too?” He whispered, tapping her on the shoulder.

Twilight looked and him and nodded.

“And now it is my great honor to introduce to you, the ruler of our land, the very pony who gives us the sun and moon each and every day, the good, the wise, the bringer of harmony to of Equestria…!”

Jackboot frantically looked around.

“How did no pony else not see it too?”

“…Princess Celestia!”

Everypony’s attention went to the second floor balcony, where a curtain was placed. As the Mayor introduced the Princess, Rarity, who was positioned at the curtained, opened it as Fluttershy’s chorus of birds serenaded the Princess’s entrance as the spot light aimed at the Princess…

…or lack thereof, as the space was the Princess was to be introduced, was completely bare.

Everypony in the building started to become worried as the Mayor urged the crowd to remain calm. Rarity approached the balcony after disappearing behind the curtain.

“She’s gone!”

This time everypony gasped.

“This can’t be happening.” Sophie said with worry. “What’s going on?”

“It’s okay, dear.” Perfect said as he put a front leg around her. “There is probably a reasonable…”

“Look!”

At the top balcony, a cloud of mist in various shades of blue began to form. It grew bigger, and thicker, until, suddenly, it cleared, leaving behind a dark alicorn in blue armor.

“Nightmare Moon.” Jackboot and Twilight said in unison as Spike fainted.

“Oh, my beloved subjects.” The alicorn said. “It’s been so long since I’ve seen your precious little sun loving, faces.”

“What did you do with our Princess?”

The pony who asked that question was Rainbow Dash, who was being held back by Applejack.

Nightmare Moon laughed.

“Why? Am I not royal enough for you?” She asked. “Don’t you know who I am?”

“Does my crown not count after being imprisoned for a thousand years?” Nightmare Moon asked. “Did you not recall the legend? Did you not see the signs?”

“I did!”

Everypony looked and saw Twilight standing defiantly next to Jackboot.

“And we know who you are!” Jackboot said. “You’re the mare in the moon!”

“Nightmare Moon!” The two said in unison.

Everypony gasped.

“Was it not clear before, you idiots?” Jackboot thought bitterly.

“Well, well, well.” Nightmare Moon said. “Somepony who remembers me. Then also know why I am here?”

“You’re here to…” Twilight tried to say.

“…to bring about eternal night.” Jackboot said, finishing for here.

Nightmare Moon laughed again.

“Very good. Remember this day little ponies, for this will be your last.” She said. “From this moment forth, the night will last forever!”

Nightmare Moon then laughed again, this time more maniacally as the blue mist returned and thunder and lightning came from nowhere, as if to punctuate her words.

Jackboot stood there with his eyes wide.

“Out of all of the times I could have been wrong...” He thought. “…why couldn't it be now?”

Author's Note

The plot thickens!