I lead a small scouting force into the forest. When we reached our destination I was confused. Why was this town called Ponyville? That's like calling a town in Ashfeld Humansville. It literally makes no sense!

Anyway, I lead two Peacekeepers and a Warden into the town under the cover of darkness. Nobody should be awake at this time of night so that made our job a little easier. What was our Job? Find out about the locals and any potential threat to the Den. I lead the team because I wanted some time out in the field. Apollyon never really went unless absolutely necessary.

I was about to begin the trek into the center of town when I realized there were ponies celebrating everywhere. Fillies and Colts were running around dressed as different things whilst holding small pumpkin shaped buckets. There were adults monitoring the children dressing up as well. So much for easier.

"Hey, nice costume. You look really scary!" a small Colt said to me before running along with three other fillies. I looked back to my scouting party in pure befuddlement.

"Costume?" I asked. They merely shrugged in response. I hesitantly stepped out onto the street. Sure, a few looks were thrown my way but they were simply enjoying the festivities. I looked up to see a banner saying 'HAPPY NIGHTMARE NIGHT!!!' hanging over the street. "This is a very... interesting development. Hope, you and the others gather information through gossip. I wish to go and find out why this festivity is being held." They nodded and separated into the crowd. Ponies quickly began mentioning the matching costumes in passing conversations as I walked into the Town Hall.

"Excuse me?" I asked the Mare at the front desk. "Could you help educate me in something?" She looked up at me from her book and groaned. The lavender mare placed a bookmark into the tome.

"I guess I could help you learn something on my one day off from being a librarian. What do you want to know?" She asked me tiredly.

"How did Nightmare Night come to be?" She groaned tiredly and planted her face on the desk.

"Nightmare Night is a festival celebrated annually in Ponyville, in which foals dress up in costumes and go door-to-door collecting candy. Festival activities include a carnival with various games, musical entertainment, and a tradition in which candy is offered to the effigy of Nightmare Moon. Zecora tells in verse of the legend of Nightmare Moon, which explains the customs of the holiday. You wanna know more about it? Ask her." She said peaking my interest.

"Who's Nightmare Moon?" This question made her gaze shoot up to me.

"Ponies used to play in the day but shunned the night and slept through it, which made Princess Luna grow bitter, eventually refusing to lower the moon to make way for the dawn. Her bitterness transformed her into a wicked mare of darkness: Nightmare Moon. Her elder sister, Celestia, reluctantly harnessed the power of the Elements of Harmony and banished her permanently in the moon, taking responsibility for both sun and moon, maintaining harmony in Equestria. There was a prophecy about the Mare in the Moon that stated that on the longest day of the thousandth year, the stars would aid in her escape, and she would bring about eternal night. The prophecy came to pass, and Nightmare Moon appeared before the ponies of Ponyville during the Summer Sun Celebration. Me and my friends confronted Nightmare Moon and transformed her back into Princess Luna with the Elements of Harmony, and she remorsefully accepted Princess Celestia's offer to rule by her side again. There, happy now?" She explained before bringing her book up once more, glaring at the pages. "Now leave me alone. This is my first day off in three months."

I turned around, having gotten what I came for, and walked away. I went outside to see Hope gossiping with two male Guards. They seemed to be more focused on her hips than on her voice. I grabbed her arm and guided her into an alley where further down a stallion and a mare could faintly be heard mating.

"Get the others. I have new information. I know one of the Elements and I know one of their former enemies. Furthermore I know that she knows exactly whom the Elements are in the possession of." I explained. Hope nodded and went to get the rest of the group. I felt a knife poke at a part of my armor.

"Okay soldier boy, nice fake armor. The only thing that's going to stop this knife right now is you giving me all your bits." I heard a stallion say behind me. I turned around slowly, keeping my weapon out of sight. When I had turned around fully, I grabbed his hand and drove his own knife into his throat whilst he still held it.

As I walked away from the alley and the corpse and mating couple inhabiting it, I heard armored footsteps surround me. My scouting party had rejoined me. We walked back to the Den in silence.

Back at the Den I decided to have a little chat with Luna. I knocked on the door. No answer, I took off my helm and held my ear to the door to hear crying. I unlocked the door and in a flurry of motion Luna was hugging me with all her strength, sobbing into my chest.

"What's wrong Luna?" I asked the mare. She looked up at me through tear filled eyes.

"D...dost thou thinkest me... horrifying?" She asked in a trembling voice. I looked at her for what felt like an eternity.

"No." This seemed to appease her. Only for her to break down again.

"Our subjects have a... celebration." She said before losing it again.

"Nightmare Night. I know Luna. They fear what you once were. Do you know what you were?" She looked up to me and shook her head. I ran my thumb under her eye, wiping away the tears. "A wolf." I said gently.

She gave me a questioning look. "What dost thou mean? Why dost thou sayest we art a wolf when we art an Alicorn?" I laughed at her questions.

"Silly princess. You were powerful. Willing to fight for what you believed in. But your... Subjects and your Sister feared you. They didn't want you to win so they imprisoned you and when you got out... They shoved their lies down your throat. You were never in the wrong Luna. They only made you think you were."

She seemed moved by my answer. "Would thou sayest thou... likest our other half?" I already knew the answer. Nightmare Moon was like my mother Apollyon in many ways.

"Yes. Because she's a part of you. And because you could actually have what you always wanted." I said while offering her my hand. She took it and I led her to a balcony overlooking the keep and my army. "Your own kingdom. A family who'd love and respect you for who you want to be. Not who we want you to be. And... a friend who'd stand beside you." She turned to me. "I've come to care for you in the weeks I've known you Luna. I'd be honored to be your friend." She smiled to me.

"And I'd be honored to be yours Abigor."

Author's Note

Boom! NIghtmare NIght chapter! Didn't expect that did you? Also, I mentioned characters being OOC at times. And we all know our favourite egghead can be... irritable at times.

Is Luna going to consider becoming Nightmare Moon once again? What would Celestia have to say bout that? Is Abigor planning something or just making it up as he goes along?

Find out next time on: Her Wolves, His Pack.