The sky above Canterlot was bright and clear, save for a few pegasi resting on stray clouds. The day had been scheduled for a celebration of the one year wedding anniversary of Prince Shining Armor and Princess Cadance. It was an event that dwarfed the Grand Galloping Gala. The Wonderbolts had arrived in force: every flight team from Alpha to the reserves had shown up and torn through the sky with various tricks, which had Rainbow Dash at peak giddy levels. Pinkie Pie and the Cakes had worked diligently on preparing sweets of all kinds. Rarity had spared nothing in making dresses for the one year weds and Princess celestia. Fluttershy and her songbirds made sweet music throughout the event. Applejack's apple-made wares had sold nicely, much to Prince Blueblood's dismay. And Twilight enjoyed simply being around her mentor. But one pony had been absent.
Night fell. Ponies were going home to rest for their activities the next day, while the moon was slowly rising into the sky. After a while, all was quiet and still, except for one pony walking unseen through the Canterlot gardens.
Princess Luna walked slowly, soaking in the night time scenery. The bright stars of the night sky shone down upon her, blessing her with a kind of warmth that the sun could not provide her. She stopped and gazed at them for a bit, once again marveling at the sheer number of stars in the black sky. She felt akin to them: so beautiful, yet so lonely. During her first Nightmare night, she learned that there were ponies who truly did appreciate the night that she brings, but after returning home to Canterlot, the story remained the same. While some ponies in the royal city began to embrace the night for all of the peace and beauty it had to offer, plenty still saw it as a curse. And while none would say it to her face, plenty still saw Luna as a curse as well.
Everyone reveled in the daylight. Ponies laughed and played, and went about their normal routines. They always remarked at how marvelous the daytime sky was. Save for times of scheduled rain, the day sky was a rich shade of blue akin to an ocean of dreams. Pegasi in Cloudsdale spent so much time up there, away from the ground, seemingly just to be closer to that dream of being able to just fly away from it all.
But when night fell, it was a different story, at least back then. Ponies would hurry to their homes. Parents would warn their young about the ever-present dangers that lie in the shadow of night. Children would often play near the Everfree forest, much to their parents' dismay, but would never venture inside. At night, even the area around the forest's border was avoided, as it was thought that unknown creatures that lurked inside would snatch up and devour anyone caught near the edge, especially easy targets such as foals.
But as time passed, many ponies began to abandon ideas of the brutality of night. Ponies would venture out into the dark and enjoy the sense of peace that the slowness of night brought. Pegasi and other winged creatures would take off into the cool night air, reveling in the starlit sky. But there were still plenty of those who adhered to tradition, and would never cease to believe that the night, and those associated with it were damned.
As Luna dwelled on these thoughts, she heard hoofsteps beside her, and an all too familiar voice.
"It truly is a wonderful night, is it not?"
Luna turned her head, and before her once again, stood Nightmare Moon.
Everyone knew the evil Nightmare Moon had been expelled from Luna, but what they didn't know, and not even Celestia knew, was that Nightmare Moon was born from Luna's insecurities and jealousy, and was very much a part of her. While the malice had been vanquished from her, she remained. Luna regarded her as her as the only pony who truly understood her.
Her helmet: Who she really was, a ruler who wanted nothing but her subjects to accept her, was hidden behind a fearsome mask that only begot loathing. Her blackened skin: A truly penitent being who only wanted to make amends, was covered with the taint of past sins. Her voice: A soft whisper used to call out to her ponies for companionship, was heard as a death knell by the masses.
Luna knew that there were ponies out there who truly accepted her, but she couldn't find them. Except for one. A light smile made its way onto her face as she thought about Twilight Sparkle.
"You're thinking about her, aren't you?"
"I am," Luna replied.
"Indeed, she is the only one who truly understands us, sister."
I.....I wasn't always so receptive of you addressing me as your sister, but I've finally come to realize that we're in this together. You are as much a part of my family as you are a part of me. I can finally say that you are, my sister."
Nightmare Moon stepped closer to Luna and nuzzled her. "Thank you for not turning me away. All that I am may be ephemeral to this world, but all who I am, still lasts with you. How it felt to be stared down by the Elements of Harmony is just like how it feels to be stared down by our subjects. They only see a monster that needs to be destroyed."
Luna bowed her head. "Yes, but at least there's one pony who doesn't completely despise us."
Nightmare Moon started walking, with Luna following in step. "Yes, Celestia's personal student."
Luna smiled once more. "Twilight is so eager to learn, that she overlooks what I used to be."
Nightmare Moon giggled. "She has quite the thirst for knowledge. I'm surprised that she makes friends with her nose so deep in spell tomes."
"Celestia does know how to influence others. They listen to her," Luna wistfully said.
"And they would listen to us too, if they could shed their prejudice."
"Yes, they would, but at least Twilight was so quick to accept us. But did you have to reveal yourself to her all of a sudden?"
Nightmare Moon shrugged. "I don't see what the problem is."
"She almost woke Celestia with all her shouting! Not to mention having to hide her from the night guards who came to investigate all the noise!"
"Alright alright, so maybe I should have let you explain to her first," Nightmare Moon laughed.
Luna giggled. "Well at least she grew to understand you after that initial scare."
Nightmare Moon took flight into the night sky and hovered above the gardens, with Luna joining her a few second later.
"Yes, she just wouldn't stop with the questions. She wants to know the truth about everything in the world, including us. She doesn't just accept gossip and hearsay."
"Yes, she is highly intelligent, and getting smarter by the day."
"I think you mean that she's getting smarter by the night," Nightmare Moon corrected.
"You are right" Luna admitted. "While Celestia teaches Twilight only what she wants her to know, we teach her all there is to know."
"Indeed. There is no harm in introducing her to strong magic so early in her studies. She is a prodigy after all," Nightmare Moon said.
"Yes, but I feel bad that she can't show Celestia how much progress she's making. If Twilight were to suddenly showcase the full extent of her magic skills, especially the dark magic, Celestia would grill her until she gave the truth."
"Twilight would never betray us."
"She is Celestia's personal student. She practically worships her. She would never hold the truth from her if asked."
"I suppose you are right," Nightmare Moon said as she looked towards the full moon in the peak of the sky. "But I know that you wish for her to be your student."
"I do," Luna replied. "I would never hold anything back from her in an attempt to keep her safe. A powerful mage like her can handle anything she truly sets her mind to. She's not as weak as Celestia treats her. Twilight is destined for greatness, and I just want to further her along with that knowledge. She would not grow arrogant over time as her abilities continued to flourish, but would remain that plucky little unicorn with a passion for learning."
Both alicorns sat in quiet for a long time and watched the world around them. The moonlight illuminated various streams in the gardens, causing them to shimmer like jewels. The glinting of dewdrops on the flowers below made them even more beautiful, as if they were old in the day, yet brand new to the night. The cool breeze of the darkness was their only hauberk against the day.
The moon had since lowered before Nightmare Moon spoke.
"You know that Celestia wouldn't approve of us teaching her prized pupil more than she's comfortable with teaching Twilight herself?"
Luna listened to the call of a few male nightingales as she replied. "I know, and there's no way I can change her mind. She's set in her ways, but she means well."
"She means to assure that her place on the throne will go uncontested," Nightmare Moon hissed.
"Sister, you know that's not true!" Luna exclaimed.
"It's not as far-fetched an idea as you think. She rules the day and with it, its inhabitants. If someone was gaining strength at such a rapid rate, especially if that pony was following the teachings from children of the night, do you think that Celestia would not staunch such a potential threat? You must remember that Celestia does not truly understand us, and like her subjects, if they don't understand us, then they more than likely fear us. No matter you attachment to Celestia, you must not think of her as your ally."
"She would never raise a hoof against Twilight," Luna argued. "But, you're right, she doesn't understand us. She hadn't noticed anything wrong with me while I was being corrupted by that evil magic. It was only after the transformation that she took action, and I have 1,000 years of pent up loneliness to show for it. There had to be another way."
Luna looked towards her companion and noticed that she was growing transparent.
"No! Not yet!"
Nightmare Moon looked to the east and saw slivers of light creeping over the horizon.
"It is that time once again."
"Please, there has to be something we can do!" Luna said. She focused her magic on the moon to try and raise it again, but it was too far gone. She turned back towards the palace and saw Celestia standing on her bedroom's balcony, facing the sun as she brought about the day. She turned back to Nightmare Moon and saw that she was growing less and less visible.
Nightmare Moon sighed. "We go through this every night. You've held on to your sanity for 1,000 years of isolation. A mere day shouldn't faze you."
As the sunlight began to pierce through her fading figure, she spoke again. "Until the night, farewell." And then she was gone.
"No! Don't leave me!" Luna wailed, but her pleas fell on deaf ears. She couldn't do it. She just couldn't face the sun by herself. She flew close to the ground to avoid being seen by Celestia as she made her way back to her room, with only a slight trail of tears being the only clue that she was there.
