We were nearing the edge of the Everfree when Nightmare Moon stopped and clicked her tongue in annoyance. Curious, I felt out the air, my method of sensing people, before sighing as well.

"It looks like we have a welcoming party. Your friends I believe." Nightmare Moon commented.

I started walking again as I replied, "It would appear that way. Guess I'll handle it."

As we emerged from the forest my friends ran up, relief evident on their faces. Berry exploded into a flurry of words, most of which I caught thanks to previous experience.

"You'rebackwe'resooooworriedittookyouforevertocomebackwewereabouttogoinafteryouandkickwhateverbigbadmeanywaskeepingyouawayfromthepartybutyou'rebacksoitsallgoodand... Who's she?" Berry asked when she finally noticed Nightmare.

"She was being held captive by the creature we slayed. We were taking her to see Aunt Twilight, Berry." I told her.

"Soooo, she's new!" Berry jumped in glee.

I realized my error too late as Berry disappeared in a flash, before reappearing with her mother's old 'Welcome to Ponyville' cart. I, and half our friends, dog-piled Berry before she got a chance to activate the contraption, thankfully. As we were getting up, Cinnamon picked Berry up to keep her out of further trouble.

"Later Berry," I scolded her. "We just got done fighting something that will give me nightmares for the rest of my life. If I were to describe it to you all, you'd likely suffer the same. It was that bad."

Berry at least had enough sense to look sheepishly ashamed. I turned to Paradox and asked her.

"Hey, think you could open a portal to the castle? I'd like to be considerate to our guest here." I said with a nod over to Nightmare.

"Ugh, fiiiine. But you owe me." She said with sass, and a smirk.

Paradox stuck a single talon of her claw into the air, acting as if she had actually poked something, before proceeding to drag her talon down and tearing a hole in space. A trick her father had taught her. On the other side was an empty hallway inside of Castle Friendship.

We all started towards the portal, Blake, Nightmare, and I first, and as I walked pass Paradox I said, "Well that would make it down to only 826 favors you still owe me then." I said with a smile as I patted her on the shoulder. Paradox just huffed in annoyance as I laughed and stepped through the portal.

Once everyone was through, Paradox did the process in reverse and made her portal disappear. After which Honeycrisp spoke up for our friends.

"I think I can speak for all of us, that we're glad you guys are safe. Though we need to get back to our families. They're going to get worried soon since they knew we were waiting for you guys at the forest's edge. We'll all catch up later, alright?" She said, getting nods from the others as she did.

"Sounds like a plan. Be safe you guys." I told them as they turned and made their way out of the castle.

That left Blake, Nightmare, Paradox, and I, though Paradox also left after she told us she had certain 'hobbies meant to be conducted in seclusion' to attend to. Which meant she was trying to find a new way to almost blow the castle sky high with her experiments.

So with only the company of Blake and Nightmare left, we made our way towards the Map room.

I could feel Father's energy beyond the door as we approached. It made me feel better knowing he was there, since I know Aunt Twilight's reaction to Nightmare Moon would likely not be good.

When we entered I saw Father pause his conversation with Aunt Twilight and turned to us with a smile. Aunt Twilight had a look of relief as we entered, smiling kindly as we approached the map.

"You're back, thank Faust. Who is this that you brought with you?" She asked me while rising from her throne.

I didn't know exactly how to respond, so I looked at Father and asked, "Father, please keep a hand on Aunt Twilight." He gave me a curious look but put his hand on Twilight's shoulder. Then I added, "It'll be best if I let her introduce herself."

Twilight looked at my father, then me, and finally resting on Nightmare, "Do I know you?" She asked Nightmare.

"Yes... and no." Nightmare Moon smirked as she replied.

Nightmare dramatically release her glamor, letting it slowly change her, starting from her hooves. Twilight stood stunned as she watched, terror evident on her features as Father tightened his grip on her slightly. He, to his credit, watched with nary an emotion to name. He just made sure to keep Twilight in place.

When her glamor was completely gone she gave a smirk at Twilight, who was now shaking mildly. Nightmare Moon, someone who I believe enjoys in being dramatic, announced herself.

"Greetings little Princess. It has been quite a while." Her tone confident.

Twilight steeled herself as she replied, "I suppose so. If it wasn't for the fact I just received a letter from Luna asking about the Everfree, I would assume a prank was being pulled on me." She paused before adding, "Which begs the questions, how are you here, why are you here, and what do you plan to do?"

To her credit, Aunt Twilight was handling this much better than I ever expected. Nightmare Moon looked amused as she stared at Twilight.

"You surprise me. I expected you to attack me, if I'm honest. I believe the young Guardian thought much the same, seeing as he had you guarded." Nightmare speculated. Of course being spot on.

"If it wasn't for the fact there are two Guardians with us, I might have. However, considering Crimson appears to have known who you were before you revealed yourself. I have to assume you are here on peaceful terms... for now." Twilight revealed.

Nightmare laughed at her logic, "I could have simply taken over his mind for all you know. Your theory is flawed."

Twilight just smiled and said, "I don't believe so. Go ahead, try what you claim."

It was Nightmare's turn to look surprised, "You wish me to corrupt this boy?" She questioned.

Twilight's expression didn't change as she replied, "I want you to understand why I feel safe, while standing in the same room as you."

Nightmare gaze turned curious, before snapping her arm up in my direction. Her horn glowed azure as a black mist flowed from her hand and crept along the floor towards me. It reached my feet and started to crawl up my legs like vines, the sensation making me shiver slightly. I stood quietly as the smoke enveloped me, understanding why Aunt Twilight was having this done.

I heard Nightmares voice in my head when as the smoke turned my vision black.

Heed me. She commanded.

I smirked as I focused my energy inwards. I could feel Nightmare's will attempting to suppress mine, however it wasn't only mine she needed to suppress.

I 'opened' my eyes to see a black void, with Nightmare standing across from me.

Resist if you like. It won't change anything. She told me with a smug expression.

You underestimate me. That isn't wise.

I am the Queen of Darkness. Who are you boy, to make such claims? She said, walking closer so she was looking down on me.

We are the Spirit of Loyalty and Fury.

I felt their presence as I created an image for them. Nightmare looked behind me, her expression changing to one of shock.

Two giant wolves, one black fur with red energy pouring off its body, the other white with blue energy pouring off him. My own green energy became visible in this mentalscape, joining with the wolves', linking us. When this happened the wolves' left eye let off a silver energy, Bael and Korvin had occupied the images.

They told her a single word, the force of it shaking the astral image.

Begone.

With that the image collapsed. When I next opened my eyes everyone was staring at me, Nightmare in particular looked... shocked.

Father left Twilight's side and walked over to me, putting a hand on my shoulder and whispered in my ear.

"That's enough son. Suppress him."

I realized then that my energy was being released rapidly. I felt my hair fall back to its natural state and the mild wind that had filled the room subside, when I suppressed my magical output.

Father clapped my shoulder and said, "Good, remember to not rely on them. You have the strength to handle such things yourself."

"Yes sir. I thought Aunt Twilight meant for me to show her." I explained myself.

"She did. I just want you to keep in mind that just because it's easier to allow them control, doesn't mean you should." Father reassured me.

With that he walked back over to Twilight, sitting down as he continued to watch.

"Does that help explain my confidence, Nightmare Moon?" Twilight asked.

Nightmare overcame her shock and replied, "Yes, I suppose so. That explains more than you realize." She walked over to me, this time looking down so we were looking each other in the eyes.

She stood there for a few moments, as though studying me for reasons only known to her.

"You have yet to answer my questions, Nightmare Moon." Twilight reminded her.

Nightmare turned around, her tail brushing across me as she walked back over to Twilight. Stepping past her, she looked over the map of Equis. She stood there quietly before starting a story.

"Do you know how I first appeared?" She cast a look to Twilight. Who in turn looked surprised, and shook her head. Nightmare laughed, "You know what you've been told. That I was Luna's jealousy, run rampant. That Luna created this persona, then I became dominant over her. This story is wrong, and I doubt that even Luna herself knows the truth.

"I was 'born' while Luna was attempting to 'make her nights more beautiful'. However she resorted to the one thing that doomed her, searching the restricted section of the library she herself help make. There she found a grimoire which was enchanted with a hex. I don't truly know what it did, but I was 'born' in the moment she unknowingly activated the hex. However, I was what could have been compared to a newborn. One filled with centuries of knowledge and emotions, many of which Luna had learned to suppress. I had no such chance to learn to suppress what I felt, so when I experienced Luna's feelings of inadequacy and anger, it shaped who I was.

"That was the moment the mare you are familiar with as Nightmare Moon came to be. However when you and your little friends used the Elements on me all those years ago, I wasn't destroyed like you likely assumed. The Elements are actually incapable of harming a living being. Instead, I was removed from Luna and sealed away in a place I call, the Void. This is a place outside of time and space. I existed there as nothing more than a collection of thoughts and a soul, for how long I don't exactly know. In the time I spent there, I had time to fully experience and understand the emotions that were forced upon me."

"Assuming you're telling the truth, that still doesn't explain how you are back from this 'Void'." Twilight interjected.

Nightmare cast a glance at her before continuing her tale, "How I'm back is not exactly clear to even myself. All I remember was the blackness around me, before a feeling of being pushed towards something. After the feeling, the next thing I remember was awaking in the tower of the ruins where you used the Elements on me. I used a glamor to enter Ponyville and find out about what had changed. This was just over twenty years ago now. When I saw a human, I carefully made inquiries and learned about them. That is when I learned about the portals and their collapse. Hearing this you've probably arrived to the same conclusion I reached many years ago."

"Somehow when the portals collapsed, you were rescued from the Void." Twilight answered.

"Rescued is not the word I'd use. More like it was removing a imperfection from its emptiness." Nightmare commented, "Though the reason matters not, the fact remains that I was returned to Equis."

"If you've been here for twenty years, why show yourself now?" Twilight questioned with suspicion.

"There wasn't much choice in that decision. A few weeks ago changelings entered the ruins of the Celestia and Luna's old castle, most were in chains, being guarded by a those of a hive I was not familiar with from Luna's experience. They entered the dungeons and there, used the cell meant for dragon prisoners to conduct a summoning ritual. When I realized what exactly they were attempting to summon, it was too late. They brought a nucklavee into this realm through that summoning, how such a thing is even possible , I know not.

"The fact remains that I had no means of stopping the monster. I had placed a ward on the dungeons to keep him down there but as I'm sure you can assume, he broke that ward today. Thankfully, then the young Guardian and his friend appeared in the ruins, and I made a plan of how to destroy the creature. However it had its own plans. In my preparations, the nucklavee found a way past those two and found me before I could complete a sealing ritual I was trying to create. In my fear I called out for help, and these two came to my rescue.

"We defeated the creature and sent its soul back the the blazing pits of Tartarus that spawned it. Though because of all this, I was revealed. Knowing I could not stay now that they had discovered me, I made the only logical choice. Willingly come and explain myself to you." Nightmare concluded.

Twilight was silent as she processed everything Nightmare Moon had told her. What exactly she was debating in her mind was anyone's guess.

"Well I suppose that answers the why and how of my questions. Though that still leaves the question, what are your plans?" Twilight asked, watching Nightmare closely.

"I've been trying to figure out what I want since I was brought back to this place." Nightmare said before turning to look at Twilight. Nightmare stared at Twilight for a moment, thinking of what to say. What she said was so simple I'm sure it caught Twilight off guard.

"I want to live." Nightmare declared.

Twilight blinked at hearing her response, "Live? I'm sorry, what do you mean by that?"

Nightmare giggled, a very innocent sound, but it felt odd considering the mare that was doing it.

"It's as simple as it sounds. I wish to exist without fear of being endangered by those around me. To not be attacked for the mare I used to be." She explained.

I could emphasize with her wish. Growing up, I was bullied because Father was a Guardian, along with being human. I still see it happen among children. With my experiences, and Father's stories, I knew that Ponies were set in their ways. Even figuring out who Nightmare was, I reacted similarly.

Twilight looked at Nightmare critically for a few moments. After which she sighed, walked pass her, and sat on her throne. Massaging her head, she replied in a tired voice.

"I don't know what to do." Twilight said aloud, not really speaking to anyone in particular. "You've honestly been cordial this entire time. I have no reason to decline your request." She paused before continuing, "However, that just makes this more difficult. Ponies are difficult to change, which I say from experience. You're known as one of the most feared beings in history. I have to tell my fellow princesses about you, and who knows what will happen when I do."

"I can't imagine Luna will react well." Father spoke up, "She is probably the one who fears you most. She even created a magical creature to punish herself because of what she did while fused with you."

Twilight sighed again, "The Tantabus, that was an ordeal. Though Andrew has a point. Luna's first reaction will likely be to fight you, I'm unsure what Celestia would do."

"I have a suggestion. Though it comes with some risk." Father spoke up again.

"I have a feeling I won't like this, but go ahead Andrew." Twilight told him.

"Instead of contacting Celestia and Luna after this, lets do a trial period. By that I mean keeping Nightmare Moon under observation for a time to judge if what she has been saying is true. Say a month, in that time we will assess her intentions and will then contact Luna and Celestia after we have some evidence to present to them that this is not the same Nightmare Moon in character that they once knew." Father explained.

Twilight sat up to pay closer attention before asking, "Ok, and explain to me exactly what risks you see in this plan? Because I see plenty myself."

"Probably much the same. Whoever watches Nightmare Moon will be doing so under your orders, so it still falls back to you if anything bad happens. Along with if for whatever reason Celestia or Luna discover Nightmare Moon here in Ponyville, and that you knew and chose to not tell them, their trust in you will be shaken. Now they truly can't fault you if you do tell them and explain the reasoning for not doing so immediately. You might still receive a slap on the wrist for not telling them, but that is better than the alternative." Father answers.

"So when you say risk, it's for me. Anyone else can justly claim to being under orders." Twilight scrutinizes.

Father gave a shrug, "It's as you say. High risk, with the reward of successfully reforming Nightmare Moon. You could always go with the safe option of telling the sisters now."

Twilight shot him a glare, "You know I can't do that having been presented with your option. If I just passed up the chance to help someone become better, I wouldn't be much of a Princess of Friendship. No, though the risk is high it would be wrong of me to deny Nightmare Moon the opportunity to prove her claims. Though that leaves the issue of who to assign to be her guard."

I saw Father give a small smile before he said, "Why not let Crimson? He is the one who likely is most qualified to choose."

Twilight gave Father a questioning look at his suggestion, with the occasional glance over to me and then to Nightmare.

"It would be better to ask them before deciding anything." Twilight said before locking her gaze on me.

I believe she would be referring to us. Bael spoke up.

Are you willing? I asked.

She will decide even without our input. Though there is knowledge they should be aware of.

Is that a yes?

Create an image for us, boy.

After my internal conversation I raised my hand and spoke under my breath a spell in the ancient tongue. A green mist-like energy flowed from my hand and formed to create the image of a large wolf. When its eyes opened, one was red and the other blue.

"Considerate to even ask us, Princess." Bael spoke.

Everyone shifted uneasily at the presence Bael exuded. Twilight answered him after a moment.

"You are aware of what we are assuming if Crimson watches over Nightmare Moon?" She asks, casting a glance over to the mare in question. Nightmare just looked on with a bit of amusement.

"You assume that if the little one tries to fool Crimson we would alert him." He states. Nightmare giving an evil look for being referred to as 'little one'.

"Would you?" Twilight asks again.

"It is not our concern what happens to the mare. Though if we judge her actions or words to endanger our vessel, we will do what we see fit to ensure his safety."

"I see. I suppose that is the best I can hope for." Twilight replied.

"We will add, the Void the mare speaks of exists. Though void is an inaccurate term. It is the space between dimensions. Where our kind originated and inhabited."

This information stunned the room. Nightmare actually spoke up to ask a question.

"If that is true, was it one of your kind that returned me here?" Nightmare asked.

Bael shifted his gaze to her, causing Nightmare to actually shift uncomfortably.

"They likely saw you as a disturbance. Removing you at their earliest convenience." Bael told her.

He apparently was done speaking, because after he return his gaze to Twilight I felt a strain on the image. I was forced to release the spell and Bael dissolved.

"I feel like I am out of place here." Blake stated, reminding everyone he was present.

Father turned to address him, "Blake, I appreciate your help with this situation. Though what you did was foolish by going with him. By the information we have been given, things might have gone much worse had you not gone with him." Blake puffed up with pride, but Father continued, "That being said, if you decide to do something so monumentally stupid again I will teach you why civilians and normal guards are supposed to leave matters like this to Guardians." Father warned, deflating Blake and his pride.

"Yes sir, understood." Blake said, looking down in shame.

"Good. It's hard enough knowing my son has to be a Guardian. I don't need to have the man I consider my second son also trying to give me heart attacks." Father said with a firm but caring tone.

Blake gave a nod before returning to watching.

Twilight spoke up, addressing Nightmare, "It would seem a decision about what to do has been reached. You wouldn't have any objections to what has been decided, would you?"

"I'm not exactly the one to be making demands now am I?" Nightmare replied with a smirk.

Twilight gave a small laugh of her own, "No, I suppose not. Though there is the matter of where you will be staying." She paused, giving it some thought. "There was a new house built on the far side of town that hasn't been bought yet. It should be able to comfortably house you, and Crimson as well for his time as your guard. I'll have the deed signed to Crimson, claim it as a reward for becoming Guardian and clearing out the Castle of the Celestial Sisters."

"I believe my thanks to you is in order, Princess." Nightmare said, managing a tone of sincerity and teasing at the same time.

Twilight turn to her and replied, "Don't thank me yet. If you give me the slightest reason, a letter will be sent to Canterlot and whatever happens after that will be on you."

Father took a step in between the staring mares, "I believe that's enough excitement for today. We all have places to be."

Twilight focused back on my Father before shaking her head and saying, "Apologizes, you're right. I'm sure the press will want an answer to what occurred today. I'll have to carefully deal with them and handle the paperwork for the house. Along with replying to Luna about the Nucklavee. Then there is the matter of the summoning circle in the the ruins. I'll need to catalog and research it, possibly I'll figure out something linking it to who made such an awful thing."

"I remember it had elements of what looked to be human runecraft. Father, you should also take a look at it." I spoke up.

Both Father and Twilight froze at my words. Father answering first, "Did you just say human runecraft?"

"I thought it was strange. Is another vessel somehow related to this?" I asked.

Twilight quickly stood and asked in a panicked voice, "What color were the changelings!?"

I was taken aback by her sudden energy, "M-mostly green, but they looked to be prisoners of some yellow ones."

"He finally shows back up then. Just at the perfect moment to cause problems." Father intoned.

"With that information, I suspect Nightmare Moon's ward breaking might have had a more external influence than the Nucklavee." Twilight theorized.

Father turned back to me and said, "You and I will talk about this tomorrow. For now worry about Nightmare Moon."

"What's going on, Father?" I asked him.

Twilight's horn glowed before a portal appeared before Nightmare and I, we could see a house on the other side. "We'll deal with this tomorrow. Stay at the house until I send you a letter. Your Father and I have things we need to check before we can bring you into this."

"Uh what about me?" Blake asked.

Twilight rolled her eyes before Blake was encased in a aura of her magic and was tossed through the portal. Getting the hint that talking was concluded, Nightmare and I stepped though the portal.

"Well that wasn't very nice." Blake said, rubbing his backside as he got up off the porch he had landed on.

"I don't think I've ever seen them that panicked." I told them as I walked into the house.

It was simple. White walls, only the essentials in terms of furnishings. Looked to have two bedroom, two bathrooms. A pleasant decent sized house.

Collapsing on the couch I said, "Today has been very strange."

Blake walked over to the fridge and opened it, "Empty. Guess I was hoping too much." He said closing it and starting to walk away. There was a 'pop' and a indigo flash, causing Blake to stop before returning to the fridge. Opening it again he found it fully stocked with a week's worth of food. "Or hoping just the right amount." He laughed.

Nightmare Moon sat in a chair across from me, and said "I suppose this must feel odd to you."

I opened one eye slightly before closing it again and saying, "With all that has happened, this is the most normal thing that I've gotten to do all day."

"It was only hours ago you were guarded against anything I said, now you lounge across from me, completely unguarded against what I might do." Nightmare sounded amused.

"Even if you managed to somehow kill me, what then? You'd be signing your death warrant if you commit violence at this time. Equis isn't as forgiving as it was before I was born, or so I'm told." I opened my eyes narrowly.

Nightmare looked pleased, as though she was testing something and received what she expected. Blake walked up behind me and clapped my shoulder.

"I'm getting out of here alright. Got my own place I get to sleep in." He told me, munching on a sandwich he'd made.

I looked up at him and replied, "Leaving me to fend for myself are you?"

He chuckled, "You fend better by yourself than with me here. Besides, not every day you get given a house to live in with a beautiful mare. Best to enjoy to experience alone."

"You're forgetting said mare is Nightmare Moon. Not quite the same." I chuckled back.

Then Blake surprised me by leaning down and whispering, "It's not as different as you think. Remember, she's just a mare."

After he said that, he stood back up and waved as he walked out of the house. Leaving me alone with a mare I thought no longer existed until a few hours ago.

"Do you dislike being around me?" Nightmare asked, her emotions unreadable.

I was a bit stunned at the sudden question, it took me a moment to reply. Closing my eyes again I said, "No, not dislike. It's more a feeling of unease, because I have this image of you that I was raised with. Though beyond your mannerisms staying on the more mysterious side, you don't really fit that image other than physically."

"Is that why you're muscles are tensed even though you look to be relaxing?" Nightmare smirked.

I opened my eyes to glare at her, annoyed she could recognized I was still on guard. Though I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. She rose from her chair and walked over so that she was standing over me, crossing her arms under her breasts. One thing I noticed with her standing so close was the subtle differences between her and Aunt Luna. Nightmare was slimmer, her breasts a size or two below Luna's, while she stood just slightly taller than Luna. Along with those observations, she seemed to have a more youthful presence. On curiosity I asked her.

"Nightmare Moon, how old would you say you are?"

She seemed amused by my question, "If you would throw out my imprisonments and consider I was 'born' when Luna was afflicted with that hex, I would be around 27."

I stared at her in shock. The fact that she was so young in actuality made my image of her crack further.

"Though you still remember all of Luna's life from before she was hexed." I said cautiously, not sure if my statement was right.

"I used to. When the Elements were used on us, they completely separated all links I had to her. So while I know I used to possess them,and still possess much of her knowledge of the world, I can recall her memories no longer." She explained.

"So how do you feel about what you did leading up to being sent to the moon?" I asked

"If you're asking if I regret what I did, the answer is no. Contrary to what you might think, Luna was the one primarily in control. It wasn't until very shortly before I attempted to usurp Celestia that I could do little more than provide minor influence to Luna's thoughts and actions. The only time I remember having control before that time was during a war with the Crystal Empire, the final battle in fact. In truth it was because of me that the Empire was banished. It was meant to be permanent, unlike my own banishment, however I've learned that foalish conqueror somehow manage to break the seal some time after my own return from the moon." Nightmare stated.

"You're referring to Sombra. I was told stories about that when I was little from Spike. It was unfortunate that the portals to Equis had not opened a few years earlier, if events had lead to the Guardians being made sooner perhaps some things could have been avoided or stopped more easily at least." I said with a shrug.

"The past is not anything to worry about. Only to learn from." Nightmare replied.

I gave a nod before asking, "How long do you intend on standing over me?"

"Do you dislike the view?" She asked in response.

I felt heat rise to my face involuntarily before I just closed my eyes again, "If your plan is to seduce me in hopes of corrupting me, you should find a better use of your time."

"Why would I try to seduce you? You've already proven to be incorruptible with spells meant to control the mind." She said coyly.

"Just because I don't dislike you, doesn't mean I trust you. You still have to earn that, like everyone else I've ever known."

She probably shrugged, as I heard no response as she waited just a moment before walking away.

"The day has been long, as I'm sure you agree. I will be retiring for the night." She stated.

I just raised an arm and gave her an OK, uncaring if she understood it or not, or even looked to see it. Today was exhausting, and the worst part of everything... it was only the beginning.

Author's Note

Another chapter! Not too bad considering my update record.

Hope everyone enjoyed the chapter. Considering NNM doesn't have much of a pre-established character beyond being a villain it gives me a fair amount of freedom. I hope no one is off put by my portrayal of her so far.

Next chapter will be where I introduce the primary conflict. So look forward to that.

Stay awesome everyone, Lyruil out.