Nightmare Moon's Reign

Twilight felt herself coming to. The last thing the purple unicorn remembered was that she was about to fall off a cliff thanks to Nightmare Moon's interference. When she yelled out for help, she expected Rainbow Dash at the least to grab her, but she didn't expect to be grabed by magic of some sort before being put to sleep. It was very obvious who grabbed the purple unicorn: Nightmare Moon.

"Ah, you are awake." A female voice said. Twilgiht recognized the voice.

"N-nightmare...moon..." Twilgiht said as she started to get up.

"It seems my sister saw much potential in you. Twilight Sparkle, I believe is what you go by yes? I've done my homework since our first encounter." Nightmare Moon said.

"Sister? I don't understand..." Twilight said.

"Of course you don't realize it do you. Or, would you like a reminder?" Nightmare Moon asked before levitating a book in front of Twilgiht.

Twilight gasped, recognizing the book. "Th-that's the book that told the legend of the two sisters." The purple unicorn said.

"Now your catching on." Nightmare Moon said. "Before I became Nightmare Moon, I was known as Princess Luna. But, as you had read, I had grown jealous of my sister, but not just because of the day and night cycle." She added. "While that was part of it, the full story is that of denial on Celestia's part." The black alicorn stated.

"D-denail? Princess Celestia would never--" Twilight said before Nightmare Moon started using a spell.

"Do not be alarmed, this spell is only to show you my memories." Nightmare Moon said. Twilgiht could see herself watching things play out in third person, as she watched who she assumed to be Princess Luna over time become disliked in favor of Princess Celestia, some ponies even protesting Princess Luna. And throughout it all, no matter what, Princess Celestia would not address her sister's worsening mindset.

"Ho-how could Princess Celestia...do this to her own sister?" Twilight asked. She knew that if Shining Armor ever did this to her, she would be understandably pissed.

"But there is one thing I do have to note Twilight Sparkle. From the memories I see of you, you like seeing the stars at night." Nightmare Moon said.

"I...have an interest in Astronomy in addition to my studies in magic. So sometimes on clear nights, I like looking at the stary night skies." Twilgiht said.

"When I was still in charge of the night, I would sometimes make the stars make special constalations in honor of a pony I felt deserved it. And yet, no one appreciated what I did." Nightmare Moon said.

"Why are you telling me all this?" Twilight asked.

"Tell me, Twilgiht Sparkle, when you realized my return, and you took your concerns to my sister, how exactly did she describe my return?" Nightmare Moon asked.

"...She treated it...like a myth." Twilight said.

"I was afraid you'd say that. It means even after a thousand years, she has not learnt to understand other's suffering." Nightmare Moon said.

"I...actually feel sorry for you now...Princess Luna. Err...you don't mind if..." Twilgiht said.

"No. Not while we are alone." Nightmare Moon said. "I can tell you understand. You have an older brother in your life. And you don't want what happened with me and Celestia to happen to you and him." She added.

Twilgiht went to Nightmare Moon, and rubbed her head against the alicorn. "I guess books can't teach everything about history." Twilgiht noted.

"Trust me, my sister most likely went to great lengths to purge most of my old self from various books and made sure the public didn't have the full story on purpose." Nightmare Moon said. "But the main reason I wanted to speak with you personally, is because I understand my sister's reasoning behind you specifically. For a unicorn like you, the amount of magic you have is far greater than any Unicorn who came before you or any unicorn who will come after you. In fact, I daresay you outclass even me with how much magic you truely have inside you." She explained.

Twilight's eyes went wide. "You...you mean I have more magic then even you?! But...that would mean I have powers that exceed Princess Celestia herself." She added.

"Indeed you do. But right now, you can't handle all that power. Yes, I think my sister's goal was for you to grow away from her, until doing something that would've unlocked your full magical potential by triggering events that would've no doubt made you an Alicorn Princess." Nightmare Moon said.

"And by that point...I wouldn't even think of turning on Princess Celestia..." Twilight noted.

"But if you wish, Twilight Sparkle, I can help you unlock this potential of yours much better then my sister would've ever allowed. I can help you become stronger then you ever have before. But don't worry about the ones that came into the forest with you. I plan on making sure they join you if that is what you wish." Nightmare Moon said.

Twilight thought about it. Even though those mares were complete strangers to her, whose to say they couldn't become real friends one day? Perhaps now was the perfect time to make them while also going beyond any book she could ever read. After all, Nightmare Moon said she had more magical power then even Starswirl the Bearded; her true idol. If she had more power then he could ever have documented, then why bother with learning magic from books anymore?

Her mind made up, Twilight stood up. "I accept your offer Nightmare Moon. And the others could also join your side so long as they remain the same as they are now." The purple unicorn said.

"A wise choice, and don't worry, I promise you that I will not change the personalities of the mares who came into the woods with you. You have my word." Nightmare Moon said. With a bit of magic, the dark alicorn gifted Twilight with the ability to see in the dark. "Consider this a gift from me to you, it will allow you to enjoy the night sky forever and for always." Nightmare Moon said.

"I will treasure this gift. So, shall we get started?" Twilight asked.

"Not yet. First, those potential friends of yours need attending to. And there's one who I want to personally bring in first." Nightmare Moon said before vanishing in her cloud of magic.

"...I think I know exactly which one she's going for first." Twilight said. She then grinned. "I can't wait for her to join me and Princess Luna AKA Queen Nightmare Moon." The unicorn said.