The Nightmare is Still Alive
It was a normal night, or as normal as a princess who just returned from a 1000 year banishment could be. Yes, Princess Luna. She was so down, so much had changed. Bearers for the Elements of Harmony, she just got defeated, not to mention all the things she would have to catch up on in the 1000 years she wasn't there, and she didn't know a single pony (Excluding Celestia.) What was she to do?
As she walked into the castle, the new castle. Not the one she was familiar with. Now she had been in the new castle about two weeks, where she noticed many a guard. And as she watched them, she took note that they all noticed Celestia, all but one. He was different. Unlike the others that were white and brown, this one was dark grey. His eyes were also curious. She hadn't seen many ponies with yellow eyes. She didn't know if he was a unicorn, pegasus, or earth pony. At different points in time she saw what looked like bat wings, and other times what seemed to be a curved horn. She just shrugged it off for the time being.
The weird glances continued for the next couple of weeks. She wanted to learn more about him, so she did. She found out that his name was Night Storm, and he had joined about 11 years earlier. He had a perfect track record, he was tough, determined, strong, brave, and he seemed to have a distaste for Celestia. Luna noticed that the guard was always more entitled to listen to her, as he always seemed to try and look, act, and behave like a guard. Especially around her, like he was the most proper guard for her; a guard fit for the Princess of the night. She had him assigned to guard her bed chambers.
Over a couple weeks, Night Storm was exceeding in every task assigned him. She noticed that he always acted proper, tough, strong and brave. It was as if he wanted to make the best impression. So Luna made sure that he knew that he was doing fine. Whether it was nodding to him as she passed by, or telling him that he was doing a good job.
The guard never said much, and was usually so proper though that Luna had a hard time even seeing if he had feelings. He never showed any weakness, fault or flaw, and surely he never smiled. Luna wondered if she would ever get to see the real him. Or maybe this was the real him, and there wasn't to much emotion to begin with. This went on for so long, she wondered maybe he only did this because he, like pretty much all of Equestria; that he only served her so well, and without flaw because he was scared of her. She didn't like this feeling at all. It just somehow felt like maybe the only possible pony to make a friend with, was letting her down.
A few nights later, the guard heard something. He opened the door to the Princesses chambers, and he saw Princess Luna crying. Now he knew that she was a strong pony that never cried. But now as he watched, all his training and tough reputation was forgotten. He came in there with the full knowledge that he could, and possibly would loose his job. Maybe even worse. But he couldn't leave her like this, without a friend in the world. He realized his actions of mainlining his perfect record, might've hurt her feelings by him never trying to be nice, as a friend anyway.
She was lying face down on her bed. He gently picked her up, and gave her a hug. Now Princess Luna knew that some pony had come there, and she recognized who he was, and what he was doing. Now instead of pushing him away, telling him that she was fine, or more or less, fire him. She now started crying again, but into his fur, and he just held her more tightly. She eventually settled down, and the two of them just lay there. And something happened. There was a silent message and reassurance between them. And from that day forth, they were friends. He still tried to keep up the act in front of other ponies, but he now showed his more emotional side every now and then when they were alone.
Luna didn't like to go anywhere without him. So he got the promotion to be her personal guard. Now, their friendship grew and grew, until it blossomed into something else. Over the course of their friendship, Luna had discovered Night Storm to be a gentle, caring, kind, and amusing pony. He occasionally would crack a smile. And every now and then, if all was well, and they were alone he would even break out a chuckle here and there.
Everything was falling into place. Luna and Night Storm had found each other, and were good friends. Luna was slowly starting to get the hang of the new things 1000 years brought. And Night Storm was slowly, but surely, coming out of his shell. They both like to have long talks under the night sky. It was so peaceful, so calming... so right.
Luna would have previously told Celestia that she and her guard would be going out that night to patrol. And they did. They were still on the alert, but nothing it seemed was going to happen; that all was secure. They they would fly for a bit, not going anywhere specific. Apparently, Night Storm had the bat wings Luna had previously spotted. They weren't thin, but not to thick that you couldn't feel the pulse of his heartbeat.
When they were alone, Luna would teleport them to a silent meadow, where no pony else would stray, as it was so distant from everything else. Anyway, once there, they would just talk and lie in the cool grass as the breeze blew. The fireflies that glowed and danced to the crickets chirping music.
Author's Note
I hope that you enjoyed the 1st chapter. This was originally a one shot, but due to some request, it has become a multi chapter.
The Nightmare is Still Alive
Now, we all know that Nightmare Moon is gone. She has been long gone ever since the Elements of Harmony brought back Princess Luna back. To bad that all that did was to strip her of her power so that she would just have to wait to gain back her strength to take Luna over again. But, yet again, fate moves in mysterious ways; and the Elements of Harmony foresaw that.
One day, Luna gave Night Storm the task to see if he can retrieve some old books and artifacts from The Castle of the 2 Sisters. Just so that some history can be republished in today's society. He of course thinks nothing of it. Just a way to help his friend, do his job, and benefit Equestria. So, he leaves the Princess's Chambers. While Night Storm is off doing the task set for him, Luna is not feeling well. It felt as soon as Night Storm left, she got a really bad headache. As if something was searching for something in her head. Luna didn't think the worse, and just cast a spell to ease the pain.
What was really happening was that Nightmare Moon was slowly, every slowly; creeping, lurking for the right moment. And she now was putting her plan into action. She had waited for a long time for this, and she was one who took advantage of opportunity. Luna was having lunch by herself, waiting for Night Storm to return. But, as Night Storm is gone, Nightmare Moon strikes as swiftly and silently as a king cobra. It is fast, and since Luna was caught by surprise, not much of a struggle.
There was black smoke, some purplish magic, and an odd smell which seem to include: roses, blood, metal, lavender and rotten eggs. The smoke cleared, and when it did, an foe of old was back. Nightmare Moon opened up her strange reptilian eyes, got up off the ground, and looked around. She then looked down upon herself, and realized what had happened. She was now pondering what to do. She had taken over Princes Luna, but she didn't feel the same has when she had last been in Equestria.
Last time she had wanted to bring eternal night, get rid of her sister, and be the sole ruler of Equestria. She had been a cold and harsh ruler in the Alternate Universe. But now she was different. She still wanted recognition for her lovely night, but her heart wasn't filled with hate as it was before. Nightmare Moon did believe this to be strange, but brushed it aside believing it to be the effects of Luna and the Elements.
Now, after taking over Princess Luna, she followed Night Storm to the Everfree. There she made her first attempts to lower his guard before he arrived at the old castle. She knows about his and Luna's relationship, and wants to use this as an advantage to her. Not to soon after, Night Storm arrives, and begins to search around the old castle for the artifacts and books Luna requested.
Nightmare Moon watched silently. As Night Storm approached the old dusty library, Nightmare Moon flew down quietly and gently behind him. Night Storm had come across an old photo album, He flipped it opened at paused on a photo of Celestia and Luna when they were foals. He gave a slight smile and a small chuckle when as he looked at the adorable little Luna. He would have to show Luna this when he got back. As he took one more glance at the picture he noticed something glaring at Celestia from behind Luna. He blinked and rubbed his eyes. When he opened his eyes again, the shadowy figure was gone. Night Storm just brushed it off as a reflection or a figment of his imagination. But something still wasn't right. He quickly turned around, and was frozen in place with shock. Who was this before him, and what did it wish of him. Nightmare Moon looked down upon the soldier, and gave a cold toothless smile. She then introduced herself and explained her reasoning of being here.
She was Nightmare Moon, but she had learned quite a lot on the night she was defeated. She was different. All she wished is that she just wants to be recognized. She is also not going to harm her sister. Her sister will still help to rule the four daylight hours, while she does the rest. Her planned schedule is ten hrs of night, and two hours for Cadence to do dawn and sunrise, and four hours for Twilight to do sunset and dusk. The Main six are still going to help Twilight rule her shift. She will even make them alicorns, plus the ones they love immortal if they want. Princess Flurry Heart will also receive her share of four hours when she comes of age.
Celestia will help to keep the peace in Equestria when she is not governing the daylight hours. Twilight and her friends will teach a friendship school and individual subjects connecting with their Elements of Harmony. Cadence will still rule the Crystal Empire along with providing a northern light show twice a week during the night hours, and the dawn and sunrise will be hers. Love will also need to be spread of course. And she will rule the night hours, keep Equestria's military forces at maximum expertise, and will help to teach the magic school.
After Nightmare Moon is done explaining, Night Storm sees the change in her. How much more tolerable, reasonable, understanding, and peaceful she is. Especially when you compare her to before she was reformed by the Elements. Ah yes, reformed. The realization struck Night Storm as he pondered what he had been told. The Elements had helped Nightmare Moon realize the reality behind her actions, and how she needed to rework things. He could also see his friend Luna underneath this new exterior. It was kinda like she had just gotten a makeover and had new envisionings to help better Equestria.
He just wondered where he came into play. Nightmare Moon went on to explain how after her last entrance in Equestria, how others night not be so fond of her. That she really needed his help to bring around these changes to Equestria. To let her prove that she had changed, and just wanted to do what is best for Equestria and its citizens. Night Storm agreed, and he became then and there the first guard of the Lunar army. He also kept his position of personal body guard.
The only thing left to do now, was to make these changes. Therefore action was now key.
