“And it was during this time that the EUP of the Protective Pony Platoon was formed! If this name is unfamiliar, don't worry! This is only one of several names the Royal Guard has gone by throughout Equestria's history…” Cheerilee paused and turned to write some names on the chalkboard.
Kettle Corn was an average student with average grades because she gave an average amount of participation during class and while studying at home. She wasn't trying to commit every single subject Miss Cheerilee covered to memory. She just wanted to get a good enough grade to pass the class and keep her parents happy so she couldn't help it if she fell asleep during class at some points. Sure, this habit meant her grades suffered just a bit but c'mon! School can just be so boring!
So nopony could blame Kettle Corn if she started to doze off during a lecture on the many different name changes Princess Celestia's guard faced throughout Equestria's history. At least Kettle Corn thought so when she settled her hooves onto her desk and rested her chin upon them.
Within minutes, Kettle Corn was fast asleep and her dreams transported her away from the mundane setting of the classroom to a throne room unlike any she had ever seen before. It was unlike the throne room in Canterlot Castle, nor was it made of crystal as she would imagine the Crystal Empire’s to be and the presence of only two thrones signified that it was not Princess Twilight’s throne room either. The two thrones each had tapestries behind them - one was a calm blue while the other was once a graceful yellow. The yellow tapestry and the throne below it had been destroyed with blasts of magic if the scorch marks were anything to go by and were survived by strips of cloth and rubble.
Before Kettle Corn could ponder this more, a snicker could be heard that cruelly echoed out through the empty room. Slowly, between the two thrones, swirled dark magic on a cold wind that formed a dark mist. When it faded away, a creature was left behind.
Most ponies knew this creature that stood proudly with a wicked grin of sharp teeth. Stallion or mare, filly or colt- it haunted all of their nightmares. Nightmare Moon!
Now Kettle Corn, being faced with the mother of all nightmares, had a lot of strong emotions make themselves known within her. However, being just a little pony, she wasn’t sure what to do about these emotions and so expressed them in the one way she knew how - by crying. She cried loudly, tears flowing like rivers down her cheeks as Nightmare Moon cringed from the sudden attack being forced upon her ears but try as she might, her shouts and orders did not reach the little pony who only cried harder upon hearing them.
Nightmare Moon was not one for foals. She did not understand their inner workings. They could be so easily entertained and yet are prone to boredom, they eat so little but will eat very few things, they are masterminds of manipulation and schemes yet can hardly articulate what they want for lunch! They were truly maddening. After speculating about the child for a few moments, inspecting them from afar and using every trick and bit of knowledge she ever accumulated in her long, long life, she came up with a solution.
“There…there?”
It was enough, somehow. Kettle Corn's crying calmed and eventually petered out as she sniffled and wiped the tears from her cheeks. Her eyes landed on the large mare-formed entity who waited still upon the throne podium with a sense of trepidation. Would the little creature calm itself enough to converse now? Or would it become as unmanageable, ungovernable and unpredictable as Nightmare Moon knew its kind to be?
The filly just sat quietly in the same spot, surprising the older mare creature with the perceived obedience and acknowledgement of her higher status. However, her flickering eyes told Nightmare Moon that the creature wouldn't be still for long.
“Foal! Reveal to me your name and residence! Speak!” Nightmare Moon barked at the shivering filly, “I shall not ask again.”
Kettle Corn squeaked in fear before answering, “M-my name is Ket-Kettle Corn and I live with my p-parents in Ponyville…” she managed between shivers and attempts to hide behind her own tail, especially when Nightmare Moon grinned.
“Ponyville.” The name came out like a purr. How delicious an opportunity, “Kettle Corn, was it? I have a proposition for you. I have come to the conclusion that it is far too difficult, nay, impossible to battle the Princesses and especially the Elements of Harmony head on. No, I would need the help of ponies that hold the trust of every creature in Equestria. Foals. Your unassuming presence makes even the most powerful overlook you. With you as one of my saboteurs, I shall easily overthrow the Princess, squash the Elements of Harmony, and take my place as the rightful ruler of Equestria!”
This plan was so foolproof, so diabolical and so absolutely perfect that Nightmare Moon couldn’t help but laugh. She chortled heartily and the sound once again echoed throughout the room. Kettle Corn, on the other hoof, wasn’t too keen to the idea. She was sure she’d get in trouble for helping a supernatural entity overthrow the current government.
“No.” she said firmly, despite the cowering.
Nightmare Moon lurched as if slapped clean across the muzzle, “No?”
“No.”
“Stupid little foal, do you not understand what I am proposing to you? Riches and status well above any you could ever dream of. All you simply must do is pledge loyalty to me.”
Kettle Corn already knew her answer though, “No. I need to do my homework. If I get bad grades, Papa will take away my Critter Monster cards again!” Nightmare Moon was simply dumbfounded by the argument but had little time to continue as Kettle Corn was awoken from her nap in a sunny classroom in Ponyville.
“As I was saying, this project will be due next week and will be worth at least 40 percent of your grade.” Cheerilee slid a paper detailing the project onto Kettle Corn's desk as the bell rang, “Get home safe everypony!”
At home, Kettle Corn handed the paper over to her parents.The Corn parents frowned.
“What do you think honey? Will we have to cancel the trip?”
“Yes I believe so, dearest.”
“What?! Why?!” Kettle Corn did her best not to throw a tantrum, she was a big sister and needed to set an example, “Why would we need to cancel the trip?!”
“Because, honey, school is very very important! We can’t have you failing, possibly ruining your prospects and possibilities just for one weekend!”
“N-no! No, it’s ok!” Kettle Corn nibbled her hoof and lied with her full chest, “I already know all this stuff! I can just do it the night before class on Monday, when we get back!
The Corn parents glanced at each other, “Are you sure, Kettle Corn? Like we said…”
“Yeah! I promise it's ok! In fact, I promise to ace the project! Nothing less than an A plus with four pluses!” Please buy it please buy it pl-
“Ok! If you’re sure then let's get this pony show on the road!”
The Corn family bonded and had lots of fun that weekend. It was surely to be a memory Kettle Corn cherished for the rest of her life and would recount even as an old mare to her grandfoals. However, the matter of the project was still at hoof and Kettle Corn knew just who to ask for help.
During the ride back home, Kettle Corn took a nap and was summoned once again by Nightmare Moon in her dreams.
“Hello, Kettle Corn. Have you contemplated my offer? Nightmare Moon greeted the foal, the pair once again in that throne room and not a thing was different than the last time.
“Yes, Ms. Moon! I have!” Kettle Corn announced, her smirk and words betraying a firm resolve that made Nightmare Moon grin, “I have decided to join you IF and only IF you answer some questions for me. I mean, I can’t just trust anypony that appears in my dreams, afterall.”
Nightmare Moon rubbed her chin in thought before nodding, “Proceed foal. Ask whatever questions you like for I will know them all.”
Perfect! That A plus with four pluses was in the bag! “Yes! O-of course,” the filly cleared her throat, hoping her enthusiasm didn’t show through too much, “Can you tell me who the first general of the Equestrian Army was?”
For several minutes, Kettle Corn was able to get Nightmare Moon to talk about early Equestrian military leaders and even had insight into things most modern ponies wouldn’t know. Things lost to time, things only a pony who was there would know. She made sure to pay attention to every word, eager to see how many pluses this lost knowledge would grant her! Unfortunately for her, the mare in the room began to get suspicious.
“Child… You are asking many questions. What are you getting at?” the mare squinted at the filly who shrunk under her gaze, “Divulge your schemes to me now!”
Kettle Corn whined in frustration before answering, “Ok! Fine! I just wanted to get a good grade on my report! I slept through the lesson and don’t know any of this stuff but you’re Nightmare Moon! You were there! I figured you could help me ace it…”
“Kettle Corn…” Nightmare Moon sighed with a roll of her eyes, “If you join my ranks, you will not need to trouble yourself with tasks like homework and chores. You will be a Lady in my court, be waited on hand and hoof, have anything your little pony heart desires.”
“Like cotton candy and Critter Monster cards?” for once, the filly did not cower.
“Y-yes, those things and much more!”
Kettle Corn scuffed her hoof along the ground, contemplative, “Can I think it over?”
Before Nightmare Moon could answer, Kettle Corn was being shaken awake outside her home in Ponyville. Drowsily, she stumbled inside, dropped her bags in her room and got to writing down all the things she learned from her dream with Nightmare Moon.
The next day, she turned in her project and it was returned at the end of class with a big fat, red ‘F’. She hid it in her bag, upset at failing and scared of her parents finding it. She really didn’t want to get in trouble. That night, Kettle Corn fell asleep and once again was met with the visage of Nightmare Moon.
“Where do I sign up?”
