Monody of a Nightmare

The first thing that she does when she finds herself back on the surface of Terra is to turn her head upwards and send out a million thanks to Luna for the strength that she had lent Nightmare Moon.

The second action that Nightmare Moon takes is to immediately start gagging on the oxygen-rich air, her heart beginning to pump once more and sending the now unsettlingly unfamiliar sensation of circulation flowing throughout her body.

She doesn't notice that she's screaming until heavy hoofsteps that could only belong to an alicorn start running towards her, and suddenly the warmth of the sun is engulfing her, soft feathers brushing up against her spine and gentle, tear-coated lips pressing themselves all over her forehead and cheeks as Princess Celestia's horn glows with the magic of her - 'INVASIVE! That beeth Our TAIL, Celestia!' - medical check-up spells.

Finally, she feels that she's gotten enough air into her lungs, and stops screaming. Her hooves throb, and as her vision blurs, she comes to the rather upsetting realization that regaining blood flow means that she is now capable of feeling the full extent of the pain that her injuries have caused her.

Nightmare Moon opens her fanged muzzle and begins to shriek again.

Twilight Sparkle's first encounter with Nightmare Moon hadn't been what she'd expected. All of the stories about the dark mare had portrayed her as a powerful alicorn capable of taking down Princess Celestia herself, as a pony who could level cities when fueled by the excitements and terrors of war, as someone who could supposedly survive anything, even being imprisoned upon the moon for one thousand years.

Instead, she'd seen a frail skeleton of a pony who had appeared upon the special platform that Princess Celestia had had built for her, promptly started hyperventilating, then screaming, then, finally, had blacked out. She doesn't know whether she's more disappointed or terrified for the wellbeing of this strange mare that she's only ever "met" via history textbooks.

As she trots into Nightmare Moon's hospital room, she's greeted with the sight of Princess Celestia holding up a spoon laden with an unidentified, beige mush to her sister's upturned muzzle.

"We art not a foal, Celestia! We canst feed Ourselves!"

A little titter of a giggle escapes her, despite herself, and suddenly four godly eyes are upon her and she feels her heart stop in her chest. She gulps audibly.

"Um. H-Hello there, princesses." She bows awkwardly and comes up from it just in time to see Nightmare Moon open her mouth to say something, then have the spoon shoved into her mouth.

"Hello, Twilight. Have you come to meet my dear sister?" Princess Celestia's voice is nothing but pleasant, though there is just a hint of levity lacing her voice.

Twilight Sparkle nods, carefully walking closer to the two sisters and sitting down next to Celestia. Her horn glows as she pulls several things out of her saddlebags: A map of Equestria, a telescope, and her own personal copy of The Astrological Astronomer's Guide to All Things Astrology.

"I brought some things for you, Nightmare Moon! I figured you'd like to take some time to adjust to how things are here in Equestria while you're stuck in the hospital." She pauses, chewing on her bottom lip for a moment before offering a shy smile. "You kind of remind me of my new friend, Rainbow Dash. She's pretty boisterous, and I think she'd definitely climb the walls if she had to lay in a hospital bed all day with nothing to do. I'm sure that the doctors wouldn't mind if you wanted to do some stargazing or examine a map."

Suddenly, her cheeks flush red.

"O-Oh, I'm so sorry! I never introduced myself. I tend to get carried away when it comes to studies of...well, of anything, really. Anyways, my name is-"

"Twilight Sparkle. Yes, Our sister hath told Us many things about thee, Twilight Sparkle." Nightmare Moon smiles softly as she wiggles the forehoof currently hanging in a sling (much to the chagrin of her sister). "We wouldst offer thee a hoofshake, but as thou canst see, We art a bit tied up at the moment."

"Nightmare! Don't move that hoof or so help me, I'll call a nurse over and have them put you in a full-body cast. You've already gotten in trouble for trying to walk yourself to the restroom." Celestia sighs softly, though a good-natured little grin plays across her lips as she turns to her student. "As you can see, she's healing quite rapidly. I'm sure she'll be up and ready to meet the rest of your friends quite soon."

Another giggle escapes her, and she nods, smiling broadly. "I'd like that a lot, Princess. I think that we're all going to get along great." After setting Nightmare Moon's things down upon the hospital bedside's table, she stands back up, bowing politely to the solar and lunar diarchs. "I'll let you two catch up. I just wanted to stop by and introduce myself! I hope you feel better soon, Nightmare Moon. It was lovely meeting you."