Nightmare's Dream

Queen Chrysalis looked up at the moon, a sliver away from being full, then back to the empty cliff face in front of her. He was late. Very late. Not that she expected much from somepony like him. The flies had caught wind of her, the glamour spell hiding her scent fading. They buzzed around her ears and jagged horn. She kicked her back leg, sending one flying through a hole in her hoof.

Where in Tartarus was-

Lightning cracked behind her. She spun, sucking in air, calling her magic to fend off the threat.

Discord stood before her, posed, right paw in the air, left talon-clad claw on his hip. She snorted out her breath and shook her head, her magic settling inside her. She stared at him for a second, expecting him to break his pose.

“You're late,” she said, standing tall, staying composed.

Discord raised a bushy eyebrow, beady eyes sweeping over her body. “And you look worse for wear, my dear.”

“Is that how this is going to start?” Chrysalis widened her stance. “With tardiness and petty insults? I am disappointed, Discord.”

“No need, little Changling, I-”

“Queen,” Chrysalis snapped her fangs at him. “I am more than my subjects, you ignorant mutt of a creature.”

Discord burst into a fit of deep giggles and slithered within inches of her face. “Relax, my Queen. I mean no disrespect.”

His salmon coloured dragon tail traced up her neck and brushed her cheek. She shivered involuntarily, lip curling. Had she really stooped this low? That she'd called upon this foul creature to aid her?

Discord chuckled and drew back, hoof and claw clomping and ticking with each step. He motioned over the cliff, glaring at the tiny lighted town in the far east, talons curling into a ball.

“You've picked an interesting place to meet, Queen,” he said. “So close to the town that sent both of us scurrying away like little fillies frightened of our own shadows.”

“That is in the past,” Chrysalis dared a few steps toward him, capturing his attention before distraction drove him from the cliff. “I didn't go to Tartarus and back to pull you from that spell for nothing. You and I both want the same thing-”

“Ah ah,” Discord waved his paw at her. “You mean to rule a country, have creatures bow for you, worship you. Now, worship would be nice, but ruling and order and structure have no appeal to me. To see ponies running the streets, neighbors turning on neighbors, and the status quo fall and break, that is where my desire lies, Queen Chrysalis.”

Her nostrils flared. She was losing control of this meeting, straying from her reasons and purpose. And, as much as she would hate to admit it, standing so close to Canterlot tugged on her nerves. To go back there alone or even with her army would be foolish, but the love and kindness she needed to survive and feed her subjects called to her. It itched her coat, tingled her mane, and made her salivate with need. She stepped up to the cliff edge beside Discord and glared down at Canterlot.

“You will get your chaos, Discord,” she said, voice rough with the anger growing inside her. “You will get your little ponies running in the streets and calling for help. You will get your complete disarray. But first we need order and plans. And we need more power.”

“Other than minions and petty creatures, who else is out there?” Discord stared down at her, his single fang glinting in the moonlight. Chrysalis smiled, stretching out her thin wings and raising her eyebrows to the glowing sphere above them.

“What say you if I told you I found a way to bring out Nightmare Moon. Separate her soul from our precious Princess Luna and bring her to life to aid us.”

Discord turned to her, a grin spreading across his long wrinkled face. “I say let the games begin.”

~ * ~ *

~ * ~

“More balloons!” Pinkie Pie bounced circles around Applejack, humming some made-up song. “More streamers, more...everything!”

Applejack sighed and looked around her barn, cringing on the inside. The cows would be mad for weeks if they didn't get this cleared out by the rainfall tomorrow afternoon. They were already ornery for some strange reason. The whole Apple Family was off today. Big Mac was fidgety and Apple Bloom slept in, forgetting to help Applejack with her morning chores. Granny Smith's theory was the full moon tonight. Applejack had rolled her eyes, chalking everypony's behavior up to sheer coincidence. But watching Pinkie Pie flounce around the barn, she started to doubt herself.

“Tell me again why we're havin' this party?” she asked.

Pinkie stopped mid-bounce and grinned. “It's the third Thursday of the month, Silly Willy Filly! Why wouldn't we have a party?”

“Because it's the third Thursday of the month...”Applejack sighed again and trotted over to the second package of balloons, ripping them open and tossing a mouthful to Pinkie.

As she took a breath, pink balloon in her mouth, the barn doors opened and Twilight Sparkle walked in, her face falling as she took in the sight of the barn.

“Hey Twi,” Applejack spat out the balloon, glad for the distraction. “How's it-”

“Twilight!” Pinkie sped past Applejack, sending her spinning into the decorations table. Pushing a pile of streamers from her face, Applejack clamored up and shook confetti from her mane.

“What do you think of the decorations?” Pinkie asked. “Aren't they super wonderfully fantastic? This party's going to rock!”

Twilight met Applejack's eyes. Applejack immediately looked away, knowing exactly what Twilight was thinking. The balloons drifting everywhere were every shade under the rainbow, no matching theme, no order. The confetti sat in piles, stacked on different hay bales, and streamers stuck to walls with tape.

Not one of Pinkie's best.

“It looks...great, Pinkie.” A small smile spread across Twilight's face. “I'm excited.”

“Yay!” Pinkie spun to Applejack and burst into laughter. “Applejack! You're not a party cannon, you can't fit confetti in you!”

“What?”

Pinkie burst into a fit of high pitched giggles and kept bouncing around, blowing up balloons at random. Twilight moved beside Applejack, horn glowing, picking out the confetti in Applejack's mane.

“What's up with Pinkie?” She whispered, setting the confetti in a pile.

“I have no idea,” Applejack said. “She's more...Pinkie than normal.”

They watched as Pinkie scampered around the barn, sticking up half inflated balloons, and wrinkled streamers.

“Well, if her only problem is planning random parties,” Twilight said. “Then we should all be fine. I'm feeling kind of weird too, now that I think about it.”

Pinkie galloped passed them, diving at a falling balloon, leaving a wake of napkins behind her. She caught the balloon and cradled it in her hooves. “You almost died little fella! But Super Pinkie saved you!”

Applejack nodded at Pinkie. “As weird as that?” She asked Twilight.

“Not quite,” she said. “But earlier I was re-organizing my library and halfway through I forgot the alphabet.”

Applejack glanced sideways, ears flat to her head. “Yeah, that's a real problem.”

Twilight nodded and started to the barn door. “I'd better let you two finish up. I just have to drop off a book for Apple Bloom. I'll see you-”

“Wait!” Pinkie shrieked and burst to Twilight, knocking the pony off her hooves. Twilight soared through the air, conjuring magic and pulling a pile of hay beneath her before she hit the ground. Applejack gasped and rushed forward.

“Pinkie,” she snapped. “What the hay are you doing?”

Applejack helped Twilight up and they watched as Pinkie scooped up a piece of blue confetti, stroking it gently.

“Clumsy Twilight almost squished this perfect confetti piece!” Pinkie rubbed the piece against her cheek and stuck it her hair. She skipped over to the corner of the barn. “It's perfect for first confetti out of the cannon.”

She plucked the piece from her hair and shoved it in a large cannon perched on half a dozen hay bales.

Applejack rubbed her eyes and stomped her hoof. “Where did that come from? It wasn't there a minute ago.”

Pinkie patted the cannon. “You betcha it was! It was just hiding on you. It does that sometimes.”

Twilight pushed open the door. “I'm going to go. I'll see you two tonight.”

“Bye, Twilight,” Applejack shut the door behind her and took a minute to breath, preparing herself for another couple hours with even-kookier Pinkie.

She turned and a loud boom shook the barn. A gust of air swooshed over her, hat popping off, confetti and streamers pelting her body, catching in her mane and coat. An apple smacked her shoulder, bursting into pieces. Another one hit her forehead, rolling down her face and off her nose, juice soaking her fur.

“Whoops!” Pinkie appeared in front of her. “I guess loading it with some apples was a bad idea. I will not be doing that for the party.”

Applejack spat out a streamer. It caught on her juice soaked chin and hung off her face.

“I have a bad feeling about this party,” she said, and shook herself.

~ * ~ * ~ *

~

Princess Luna closed her eyes calling to the ancient magic deep within her. It stirred to life and spread through her like lightning, climbing across her body and up her neck. Gathering at the base of her horn, she tensed, felt her eyes glaze over. The ground beneath her vibrated and she smiled.

The moon awakened.

Inside her large, oxygenated dome she'd created eons ago, Luna gave the air in front of her a nudge. The moon groaned and rose. Bowing her head, Luna urged her magic forward, sending the moon higher and higher into the sky. As they ascended, Luna counted in her head, bracing for the four minutes a night she hated.

Three, two one...

Pain washed over her body, every scar heating as if on fire. Scars from long ago, from defending the moon and its place in the sky. Years of small battles and a few wars left her body dotted in tiny silver lines. And for four minutes a night, the moon reminded her of every fight.

Teeth clenched, Luna held out, kept the moon rising.

Only two minutes.

Flashes of memories appeared. Battles against a myriad of creatures from the depths of Tartarus to the clashes with her sister.

One more minute.

This was the worst minute. The last minute. Inside Luna, kept at bay by magic, Nightmare Moon waited for any weak moment to take control and rampage. The last minute of raising a full moon, Nightmare reared her terrible head.

Luna tensed, tightened every muscle. Nightmare Moon roared inside her. Let me out. Let's have some fun with those precious little ponies.

Not tonight.

Luna lifted her head as the moon secured itself in the sky. With the moon firmly in place, Luna snorted and turned her magic on Nightmare Moon. Exhausted, sweat gleaming on her coat, legs quivering, Luna bucked. Inside her, Nightmare shrunk a little. No, please. One night. One glorious night for me to shine.

Luna coiled, legs stiff, ready to buck again. A blast knocked her off her hooves and she skidded across the moon's rough surface. Her magic broke and Nightmare whinnied inside her. Gasping, Luna leaped up and spun to her attacker.

A tall gnarled pony stood before her. Black coat chipped and cut, bits of skin and bone cut away creating holes through her limbs. Her mane and tail hung limp, and the thin skin on her wings were ripped. The twisted horn on her head glowed green, the glow spreading over her entire body.

Legs still shaking, and head pounding from the blast, Luna flared her nostrils, flicking her ears forward.

“State your name and your purpose,” she commanded.

The other pony laughed. “I am Queen Chrysalis, and I'm here to take Nightmare Moon off your hooves.”