As my father went limp in my arms I felt an indescribable amount of rage, sadness, disbelief, I laid with my father throughout the entire night, only returning when the sun rose the next day. I walked through the streets of ponyville as all ponies had their eyes fixed on him, mumbles and rumors began to spread, I was coated in dirt and blood, disheveled and puffy eyed. I walked back into my house to my mother. my mother knew something terrible had happened just seeing Lumineer in this state. Lumineer explained everything that had happened, everything my father had said and done, everything I myself did.

My mother began to cry softly, despite this, her expression was unreadable as she looked out the window, as if to see if my father would walk back from the forest. She broke down as I just sat and watched, completely emotionally spent, all my tears and rage had already fallen to the ground with me near the treeline of the forest. I walked slowly to my own room as my mother’s sobs grew louder. I sat on the floor and began looking through all the drawings I and my father had made together, my father was truly talented. Nearly every night they would go out and spend hours just drawing the moon and the stars.

I sat in my room for what felt like hours just looking over drawings, able to remember each night nearly perfectly. I smiled at some, laughed and cried at others, crinkled some in embarrassment. I made sure though none were torn or lost, setting them back where I found them gently and carefully. I was knocked out of my daydreaming and sucked back to reality as I heard a slam, the front door.

I walked into the dining room of my home and saw only the faded and darkened muddy and bloody hoofprints, no sign of my mother, I called out for her softly, my voice hoarse. Nothing. It was completely silent other than the birds chirping outside and the occasional hoofsteps of a pony passing by my home. I explored my home and found a note left by her, it read to me that she had left for her tribe, and not to follow her, to stay in ponyville, she wrote she could not stay because of the others fear of her, my father being the only thing protecting her from rumors and demonization now gone.

All I could do was sit in the middle of the room and stare out the window, able to see her faintly over the treeline as she faded into the horizon.

I didn’t know what to do now, I was alone, completely and utterly alone. I sat there for a good hour or so, hardly any thoughts able to register as I continued to simply watch the clouds roll by, coming and going.

Next week would be my birthday, or as the other ponies celebrated it, the “summer sun celebration”... at least I would have that to look forward to.

After about a day completely dazed not knowing what to do, completely confused and consumed by grief, I began getting hungry. I had always watched my mother and father cook but was never allowed to touch the stove, but my mother had left her cookbook. Thankfully, I had been taught to read and write at an early age by my parents. I had to use a stool to allow myself to reach the top of the stove, and for the first time I made pancakes on my own, topped them with strawberries and whipped cream. They were a little burnt and coarse, but otherwise… they were pretty good, at least I thought. As I ate alone at the table I couldn’t help myself from beginning to tremble and crying softly as I chewed on the pancake… how proud my father would say he is of me… a pain filled my chest and stretched to my joints as I lowered my head to rest on the table and let out a shaky sigh, my mother would’ve made the perfect fluffy pancake… why, why did she have to leave. I understood plenty that my kind was feared by other ponies but I still couldn’t shake the fact that she left me… she abandoned me, leaving me with only what was in the house. I came to the conclusion that she simply did not love me, did not care for me the way my father did, which only made me feel worse, the aches in my chest and joints growing stronger.

I couldn’t bring myself to move from the table, I was exhausted, mentally and physically, I hardly slept the night after my mother left. I smiled softly as a thought came to me, my birthday was only a week away, I knew exactly where my parents had hid gifts and knew they always got them early, just in case.

I approached the small hallway closet and stared at the doorknob for a moment… I was always told I’d be grounded if I opened this before my birthday. I reached out to the doorknob and hesitated before pulling my hoof back… maybe I should wait until my birthday, I don't know why but it just doesn’t feel right doing that, opening them early just because my parents are gone, they… they’d want me to wait.

The following week got easier and harder simultaneously as cooking and chores became easier but ponies got more and more suspicious and worried as word got out. One night, I finally decided to enter my parents bedroom to clean the room, needing something to distract myself after cleaning the rest of the house, leaving it spotless. I approached my fathers side of the bed and glanced into my dresser… deeds to the house… some other government papers… boring stuff… I continued shuffling through the papers and about ten checks worth 200 bits each in my own name… Lumineer Sundowner… but, I hadn’t done any work in my life, where was this all coming from? I shuffled through the papers more… partial ownership of the elder-dusk plantation. My father had talked about my family occasionally, the farm they owned, how his job connected to the farm. I read further into the contract, “... one third of the bits from profit shall go to one Lumineer Sundowner, one fourth to one Sambucus Elderberry, and the remainder to the elder-dusk plantation.” But all these checks, this has to be years worth of profit… five at least.

I looked through more, another paper… a will, only half filled out, but signed. The will states that in the event of my father’s death that the portion of his profits and all that in his possession go directly to Lumineer Sundowner… I owned the house and my family's portion of my fathers business. But why not my mother? No where in the will is my mother mentioned, hell you couldn’t even tell if my father was married if the will was all you read about the man.

I shook my head slightly in confusion and re-read the will over a few times again, it was obviously a draft but… it was on a ponyville issued document, and signed. I knew that food was in short supply, my parents would buy food weekly. By myself, I had only gone through about half of the food but… oh what the hell. my birthday was tomorrow, I might as well cash this in and submit the will as a witness to my fathers death. The thought of going out alone was daunting but I knew I would eventually have to cash in those checks whether I wanted to or not.

I collected all the bills and put on my saddle bags, placing the papers and the will into my bags. I looked over at myself in the large mirror in my parents room and fixed my hair slightly, trying to flash a small smile, trying to look presentable, though a small discoloration of fur around the bottom of my eyes made me look perpetually tired. I shook my head slightly and began making my way to the bank first.

To my surprise, hardly anypony paid me mind. To be fair, I looked much different now than I did a week ago. Less disheveled, less bloody, less muddy, less guilty looking. I made my way into the bank and lowered my head slightly as I walked up to the teller, “Uhm, hello… I’ve come to cash in some checks,” I tried to smile warmly.

The bank teller glanced up from her book at Lumineer, “May I have the checks and your name please?”

I nodded as I grasped the checks with my teeth and gently placed them on the counter, “My name is Lumineer, Lumineer Sundowner.”

The teller paused as she shuffled through the checks and glanced up at me again, “Lumineer… are you Sambucus’ kid?”

I nodded softly, smiling a little as the teller continued, her expression changing to a soft caring smile, “I’m sorry for your loss, hun… no colt deserves to go through what you had to.” She examined me for a few moments, “Gosh you look just like him too, just a lighter mane, don't know how that's possible seeing his reflected light like a mirror.”

Lumineer’s smile faltered slightly as I spoke softer “ah, it‘s okay… thank you” but I knew it wasn’t, I hadn’t been able to share my grief with anypony, I’d been alone for days. Has anypony known of my mother leaving too? I decided not to ask her as I sighed softly, watching her file the checks.

She continued, “your father opened up a bank account for you quite a bit ago, seems he was prepared,” she glanced between the checks and a paper she was writing on.

Lumineer peeked over at the paper, not able to make out a word on it, “If I may ask, how much did I put on my balance?”

The teller finished with the checks and moved back to Lumineer, “in total, you have…” She glances back at the paper briefly before looking back at Lumineer, “... 4,284 bits''

My eyes widened softly, that can't be right, at most 2000 bits were on those checks… “but only 2000 bits were on those checks, where’d the extra money come from…?”

She continued, smiling softly “Your father has been depositing money weekly since you were born, the amount varied each time but, every week on a friday evening he would deposit money into your account. He’d make smalltalk, he was a pretty good friend of mine. Again I’m… sorry for your loss, Lumineer. Do you need anything else?”

Lumineer nodded softly, “uhm, yes, could I withdraw 200 bits please?”

The teller nodded softly, “mhm, one moment,” She made her way to the back and took out two bags, “two bags, 100 bits each. Anything else I can do?”

I shook my head slightly, placing the pouches in my bags, “no, thank you again,” I turned to walk out and paused before glancing over my shoulder, “what’s your name if I may ask?”

She smiled softly, “Magic Marigold, but you can just call me Marigold… I’ll see you around, okay? Stay safe Lumineer.”

I nodded softly as I flashed her a smile, “thank you, Marigold, see you around, and I will.” I exited the bank and sighed, that went a lot better than I expected. I thought maybe he’d need to show some ID but got lucky the teller was my father’s friend.

He trotted back home and searched through more papers to prove that Lumineer was who I would be saying I am, I was sure the government building wouldn’t be as hassle free as the bank. I went through the papers again searching for anything… no… not that either… What is this? I pulled out a drawing… looks like a bad quality drawing of mom, it’s laughable, no way dad would make this straight faced. I checked the corner my hoof was covering and a highly detailed self portrait was in the corner with my signature, Lumineer shook my head and giggled as I worked through the stack of more papers and finally, something. A birth certificate from ponyville hospital, perfect. I stuffed it in my side pouch and took out the bits, placing them on my own nightstand. I made my way back out of the door to my house and to the town hall, my father’s will and birth certificate in my pouch.

I walked up to the town hall and opened the door peeking inside before walking in slowly looking around, infront I saw a gathering area for ponies empty… well except for one, a very hard to miss pink pony hard at work setting up party favors and balloons, I knew this pony well, Pinkie Pie, it was hard NOT to know her. I looked around semi panic filled in hopes that Pinkie wouldn’t notice me and saw Mayor Mare and shuffled towards her, speaking softly as Ms. Mare seemed… asleep? “Ms. Mare?”

She shot up in her seat causing Lumineer to recoil slightly, “... oh, my apologies, yes that’s me, how can I help you?”

Lumineer began to pull out the will and placed it on her desk along with my birth certificate, “I’m here to submit a will, although I’m not entirely sure how this works, and that is all I have to identify myself currently…”

Mayor Mare put on her glasses and read over the will and glanced up at Lumineer sadly, “Oh my… you’re Lumineer, yes I recognize you now. I knew your father well… I am incredibly sorry for your loss”

I nodded softly, “thank you, Ms. Mare…” how many ponies did my father know as friends? “So uhm… how does a will work?”

She sighed and began reading over it again, “Well, seeing as he left you everything and I don’t have any other papers to sign at the moment… I can get this taken care of tonight, and everything should be transferred to be in your name starting tomorrow, which means the house your father owns, his stand in the farmer’s market, and all other items he purchased will be yours officially tomorrow.”

I nodded softly again, “is there anything I need to pay…? Taxes, bills, fees?”

Mayor Mare sighed shortly and shook her head, “Not really, there's property tax but that’s yearly and has already been taken care of for this year, the soonest you’d have to pay is April 1st. Even then it’s not that much, I could pull up old tax records if you give me a couple weeks, I’ll have them mailed to your house”

I nodded softly and smiled, “That would be great, thank you Ms. Mare,” I thought for a moment, “uhm… do I need to hold a funeral for my father? And if so, how would I do that?”

She nods softly, “I’d recommend having one, there's not a single mare or stallion in ponyville who wasn’t at least semi close to your father. And I could help you organize one right now if you’d like,” she smiled sadly but warmly at him.

He took a seat in front of her desk, “you’re not too busy? With the summer sun celebration and all?”

She shakes her head, “Nah, Celestia has sent some younger mare to check on preparations, I have the day off technically but that doesn’t stop me from working.”

I nodded again and we began going over the funeral expenses, how big it was going to be, if music should be played, how many were allowed to come, where it should be. I decided to have the official ceremony be at a local funeral home, the outside section was large enough for everypony to attend if they wanted to, I decided on the music and that was all. The funeral would be a few weeks from now, or about a month.

I and Ms. Mare said our goodbyes and I began to make my way out. I stared at the floor as I walked thinking about the conversation I’d just had, how casually it was spoken about, I felt guilty for not feeling more, although every night he’d weep for them I felt being content for even a second was… not right. I nearly bumped into a pony as I glanced up to see Pinkie Pie, but she didn’t immediately overwhelm me verbally.

Instead she offered a soft, sympathetic smile and spoke just as soft, “I’m sorry for your loss,” she hugged me gently.

It took everything I had to not just collapse in her arms into a puddle of tears and hug her back as tight as I could, but I held back, sniffling softly fighting tears and speaking shakily, “thank you.”

She pulled back from the hug and wore the same sympathetic smile as she spoke again, “if you need anything let me know okay, Lumi? I’m here for you.”

I smiled softly, nodding, “thank you, Pinkie,” I had hardly spoken to anypony outside my own family, even barely to Pinkie. But Pinkie was the only pony I talked to on a semi-regular basis, she was the only other pony to show up to my birthdays after the summer sun celebration.

She spoke up again, “If you’re not busy with anything, we’d love to celebrate your birthday tonight as well, have everypony here to sing and dance, eat cake, drink punch…”

I thought about it for a moment and nodded slightly, “sure… I’ll show up, you’re the only pony I’ll talk to though probably.”

Pinkie smiled slightly wider before beginning to walk out with me out of the town hall, “That’s fine… see you tonight then, Lumi.”

As they exited and parted ways I said goodbye as she bounced happily down the road. A sudden gasp escaping her after I took a few steps caused me to snap my head around to what she was surprised about but… she was already gone when I turned, the only pony in the road a purple unicorn with a magenta streak in her hair standing next to… some small creature? A dragon? I just shrugged and made my way back to my house to relax.

I spent the rest of the day making a list of my needs, some books I’d wanted to check out, and a list of food I’d need to make some of the recipes he’d be planning to cook, and doing more chores.

The evening quickly came, it was still before sunset and I thought I should leave a bit early, but I felt a nervous pit in my stomach begin to grow, I sighed softly glancing out of the window as the sun began to set and I began paced around my house a little. I didn’t know if Pinkie was serious about celebrating my birthday with everypony… but I thought more about this, this is Pinkie we’re talking about. I shook my head a little, overthinking more, on one hoof if no pony showed up I’d be disappointed, on the other hoof if everypony showed up I’d probably be overwhelmed, and on another hoof if I didn’t show up at all Pinkie would’ve been telling everypony about my birthday for nothing…

I bit my lip slightly and thought about everything again, shaking my head slightly and sighed. I might as well go, Pinkie seemed pretty genuine about this. I packed up some essentials, some bits just in case, some small snacks, and I was out, I opened the door and… I was stopped by Pinkie who spoke a bit too quickly to be entirely understood, “LUMI! Change of plans!” She seems a little out of breath, her hoof was up, looks like she was about to knock on my door anyway. She lowers her hoof as she speaks, “I met this pony! Huff I’ve never seen her before! Huff and-and when I realized I was all like GASP and I ran to go start telling everypony that we are throwing a surprise welcome party for her! Y'know to make her feel welcomed?”

I take a moment to process the information and my eyes dart around before going back towards her, “oh uhm, okay… do you know her name?”

She nods quickly, “Mhm! Her little…” she taps her chin a little, “I’m not entirely sure what the little guy was but she said her name was Twilight!”

I nodded slightly, “okay… so, I assume you’d know where I should go…?”

She nods again quickly, “Yes! Just this way, follow me!” She begins bouncing down the road, humming a song.

I followed behind her to a tree… house? Library? I don't know… and stopped just before the door, “are you sure we’re allowed to be in here? You did say it was a surprise part-”

I’m cut off by Pinkie practically pushing me in, “Yeah yeah, we're allowed, if not it’s my fault so don’t worry about it, just hang out in there for a little bit and I’ll be back to let everypony know she's coming. For now just enjoy punch and some oat crackers and cupcakes!”

I smiled softly and rolled my eyes as I stumbled slightly into the house, given another nudge by Pinkie, everypony glancing at me for a moment before going back to their conversations. I spotted the table where the goodies are and shuffled my way over to it and picked up a couple oat crackers to snack on, sitting on the ground next to the table, people watching and occasionally glancing out the window to look at… the clouds? They’re gone… not one in the sky… but I thought… whatever, I shrug and take a bite out of an oat cracker, now watching the stars as they twinkle. The oat crackers must be made by pinkie, they’re very sweet, overly so, tastes like there should be frosting on top of it but there is none.

I sigh softly, free food is free food I guess. I continue chowing on oat crackers and occasionally sipping the fruit punch until Pinkie bursts through the door, everypony’s eyes collectively widening at the noise as their focus shifts towards Pinkie. “SHE’S COMING EVERYPONY, LIGHTS OFF AND BE QUIET!”

Everypony mumbles and stands towards the center of the room and I follow suit, brushing off some crumbs from my coat and standing with the crowd. The lights go out and I hear a muffled voice from behind the front door, the door swings open and hears what I assume to be the friend that Twilight had with her, “Rude much?”

Twilight takes a few more steps into her home, the only sound audible being her hooves taking soft steps on the wooden floor and soft creaks before she continues, “Sorry Spike, but I have to convince the princess that Nightmare Moon is coming and we’re running out of time! I just need to be alone so I can study without a bunch of crazy ponies trying to make friends all the time. Now, where's the light?”

The light flicks on, everypony yelling simultaneously, “SURPRISE!” … What did she say? She knows about Nightmare Moon? And she’s coming…? But when… I began to think to myself, shaking my head slightly. I knew one of my birthdays would be the day she returned but, it was tonight!?

I watched Pinkie and Twilight talk but nothing more of Nightmare moon was brought up and I kept to the side of the table, I snacked on the cupcakes that remained as I eavesdropped. Twilight went silent and I glanced over at her, her face was red as she shot upstairs to her bedroom.

I snuck up to the door after Spike had left and returned to the party and pressed my ear against the door, hearing Twilight speak to herself, “... here I thought I’d have time to learn more about the elements of harmony…” Elements of harmony…? “... but, silly me, all this ridiculous friend making has kept me from it!” I smile slightly at her comment and almost let out a short giggle but I stifle it. She continues, “Legend has it that on the longest night of the thousandth year the stars will aid in her escape, and she will bring about everlasting night… I hope the princess was right, I hope it really is just an old ponytail…” This… this is what I was born for, this moment, I… I need to know more. Spike runs up the stairs and bursts through the door not noticing me as I casually sip on punch, trying not to seem out of place.

“Come on Twilight, it’s time to watch the sunrise!” he and her leave the room and I glance back to the downstairs area… I hadn’t even noticed it’s almost entirely cleared out, they must be at the townhall. I follow behind them, making my way out as well, as we make our way to the town hall as a small nervous pit begins to form in my stomach… something feels off.

I make my way closer to the front of the crowd as ponies pour into the town hall and spot Mayor Mare. As soon as everypony is settled, a spotlight comes down on her as she speaks, “fillies and gentle-colts! As mayor of ponyville it is my great pleasure to announce the beginning of the Summer Sun Celebration!” Everypony begins to cheer as I stand anxiously waiting for something to happen. “In just a few moments our town will witness the magic of the sunrise and celebrate this: the longest day of the year, and now,” something catches my eye as I glance upwards at the moon… I watch as the mare in the moon disappears… this is really it, it’s time, “it is my great honor to introduce to you the ruler of our land, the very pony who gives us the sun and the moon each and every day,” I roll my eyes slightly, Nightmare Moon gives you the moon, have they forgotten…? “the good, the wise, the bringer of harmony to all of Equestria,” I nearly scoff… harmony for everypony but my people… “Princess Celestia!” The curtains draw.

But the princess is not there, an empty podium illuminated by a spotlight. There is mumbling upon the crowd as Mayor Mare begins to speak again, “Remain calm everypony. There must be a reasonable explanation…”

A white, purple maned pony speaks over the balcony, appearing from behind the curtain, “She’s gone!” Everypony gasps and I simply glance up between the balcony and the moon.

An ethereal purple haze with a void like core takes over the balcony as more mumbles consume the crowd. The purple glow quickly coagulates into… my eyes widen as I feel something begin to tug at my brain through my skull, it's… it's really her… Nightmare Moon… and just as my legs had started to tremble they stop, a calm adrenaline washing over me, I suddenly feel as though I could easily lift three mantacores.

Nightmare Moon begins to speak, “Oh my beloved subjects, it’s been so long since I’ve seen your precious little… sun loving faces.”

A rainbow maned pegassi mare speaks up harshly, “What did you do with our princess?!” She nearly rushes towards Nightmare Moon but a farmer earth pony mare keeps her from flying. How dare she… do they not know of her promise? A beautiful everlasting night for a thousand years… how could they not want to gaze upon the moon and the stars that dotted and shone in her night sky like diamonds and sapphires… were they not bored by the monotony of the one sun that shone in the constant bright blue sky, too bright to even behold?!

Nightmare Moon laughs at this, “Why? Am I not royal enough for you? Don’t you know who I am?”

Pinkie Pie speaks up, “Oh! Oh! More guessing games, umm, Hokey Smokes! How about… Queen Meanie? No… Black Snooty! Black Sn-!” She’s cut off by the same farmer mare who stuffed an apple in her mouth.

Nightmare moon examines another pony as she continues speaking, a bit more impatiently “does my crown no longer count now that I have been imprisoned for a thousand years? Did you not recall the legend? Did you not see the signs!?”

Twilight speaks up, “I did! And I know who you are! You’re the mare in the moon! Nightmare Moon!” Everypony gasps at this revelation but… what is there to be surprised about, have they not heard the story? No, they have based on their reactions… have they all only casted it off as nonsense? As fiction? I begin to feel an anger, of likes the which I only felt when my father passed, a faint purple glow starting in my hooves. I hear something, a voice, the same one that beckoned me to the forest, one that is now beckoning me to take action, assisting in my goddesses return. But, that would require hurting Pinkie Pie… she… she does not deserve that. She… no… I cannot let emotion overtake me now, I must assist in aiding my goddess now, aid in the justice for my people, I begin backing away towards the door, watching over the crowd.

Nightmare Moon speaks up again, “Well, well, well… somepony that remembers me, then you also know why I’m here.”

Twilight speaks again, “you’re here to… “ she lowers her head, wincing softly as she cuts herself off.

Nightmare Moon bellows with laughter and starts again, “Remember this day little ponies, for it was your last. From this moment forth, the night will last forever!” She throws her head back, maniacally laughing now, growing louder with each second.

“Seize her! Only she knows where the princess is!” Mayor Mare orders as three royal guards approach Nightmare Moon.

“Stand back, you foals!” They are defeated easily, near effortlessly, struck down with lightning seemingly casted from thin air. Just as the guards hit the ground, Nightmare Moon rushes out of the front door returning to her hazy ethereal form, making her way to the everfree forest.

I watch as ponies begin to panic and I try to make my way through the crowd, eventually slipping out the front, nearly getting knocked to my feet a few times in the chaos. I need to find her, now. I focus on the voice in my head as it directs me towards where she went off to, making my way to the edge of the everfree forest.

I glance behind me and see six ponies, including Twilight and Pinkie making their way to… somewhere, doesn’t matter… I’ve got a bad feeling about them though, Twilight seemed earlier she was prepared to stop this. I cannot let this happen, this is the only chance that I have to ensure my goddess prevails.

As I trot closer to the edge of the forest I feel the voice grow louder, my legs moving faster involuntarily as I don't even stop at the tree line, this doesn’t feel right. I feel sick to my stomach as I turn through trees and rocks covered by moss, there's no path yet I’m being guided down one. I rush into the forest jumping spiked roots less and less as the path seems to clear for me, I glance behind me as the roots reappear behind me, re-sealing the path as if I hadn’t traveled it at all, the feeling leads me to a decrepit temple, holes in the stone and marble ceiling. I rush in and feel myself finally able to move freely, panting heavily. I glance up and see… her… Nightmare Moon. She’s faced away looking at a statue that holds 5 stone orbs as she speaks, softer than she did at the town hall, “Ah… at last, Lumineer,” I feel my knees buckle as I’m forced into a deep bow, “I have been watching you for quite some time, seeing the world from your eyes…” she turns to face me directly walking slowly to me, she is smiling softly, “Well? Have you nothing to say to me?”

I’m trembling, scared… Although she is supposed to be my savior I can’t help but feel this… abhorrent energy seep from her, an awful power, I shakily open my mouth to speak, “... h-hello… my goddess…”

She smiles softly still, the urge to bow leaving my body as she speaks softly, “rise, my child, we have much to discuss and little time,” she trots a bit closer, her hooves clacking rhythmically against the marble flooring of the temple.

I rise from my bow as she continues, “I have imbued part of myself within you, think of it as a gift… I have been with you since you were in the womb, Lumineer. You have proven yourself a worthy vessel, but I must say that was very recently… cutting it close, and you hardly noticed it, didn’t you, the moment you were worthy?”

I glance up at her slightly confused as she laughs softly at my expression, “worthy, your majesty?”

She lets out a small huff, amused, “your expression is humorous… when your father was injured, the timberwolves around you, what happened to them, hm? They did not simply run off into the forest, Lumineer.”

I try to think about what happened immediately after I came to my fathers side. Yes, I remember now, but… “I do not know what I did… I- was angry… and a-a flash happened… and they were nothing more than piles of sticks afterwards,” Nightmare moon smiles wider at this, her fangs bearing.

“Very good, Lumineer, what you did was cast magic. A dispelling sort, and without focus words either. For your first time casting, it is rather impressive,” She sits in front of me, “though I must gloat… it was partially my doing, that was my magic you casted, my power, and you did excellent, my child…”

I smile softly, my nerves fading slightly as I feel the same calm from the town hall flow over me like cool water on a mid-summer’s day. She's being very gentle and patient… kind… just as my mother said she would be, “you call me your child, why? I am only half thestral… I am not pure as your true descendants,” I glance up at her confused and mirroring her sat posture.

Her smile lessens, still soft and warm, “ah, a wonderful question, Lumineer,” she raises a hoof to where my heart is, “because I chose you, I made you, that cutie mark was not merely a miracle, I gave that to you, you are my product, my child, and I have raised you alongside your mother and father without you even knowing… I called you to the edge of the forest, do you remember? The voice you heard-”

I cut her off, “That was you…?” I look to the ground thinking a bit before speaking, “Then- then that means… you… my father died because of… you,” I look back up to her tears in my eyes, continuing softer, my voice cracking slightly, “why, my goddess? Why bring such… such sorrow and grief… I do not understand,” I search her eyes as she still looks down at me, still smiling slightly.

She continues softly, her voice soothing and stopping any of my tears before they fall, she places a hoof gently beneath my chin, “I did what was required, my child… there was not a single thing in this world that would have drawn out that initial spark of power I had gifted to you than losing the one closest to you… I do apologize, but it was a much needed loss for me to prevail, to ensure justice.”

I fight back the voices in my head that are trying to take hold of me, telling me what she was doing was right and a deep hatred begins to boil in my gut, working its way through my veins as my expression shifts into one of disbelief as I take a step back from her raising my voice slightly, “Much needed!?” I take another step back, my voice softening this time, “No… no loss is ‘much needed’… you… you a-are an evi-” before I can finish my sentence, I feel a tight vice around my neck, I’m not able to open my mouth. I am forced into a low bow again, my snout less than a millimeter from the floor.

Her smile is gone as she approaches me, “How… unfortunate, I thought giving you free will would better your chances in helping me effectively, but now I see that was a mistake. I thought you would see my reasoning,” she walks slightly past me, thinking before continuing, “no matter, I will teach you to distinguish what is truly right from wrong in this world. This does pose a minor issue as I intended for you to assist with me defeating this… ‘Twilight Sparkle’ who seeks to unite the elements of harmony. Though, I’m sure she will not prove an issue,” She speaks her name as though it is something revolting. She glances over her shoulder towards me, “I still feel sympathy for you my child… I am sorry for your loss, however something as silly as grief should not even be registered right now.” She turns back to the entrance to the room before I feel something tug at my legs again, they begin moving involuntarily as I’m forced behind a pillar, unseen and untouched by the moonlight. She continues, “They will be here soon, my distractions did not tempt any of them unfortunately, although it did allow this conversation. For now, my child, hide and stay put, you will act as a witness to my glory. My first victory as Nightmare Moon, the true power of my night,” she glances back at me and her eyes glow softly, I feel my limbs seize up, I can’t move, can’t speak, can’t make any noise, I can only breath and watch. “And do not worry… I promise, I will keep you safe, no matter what.”

Nightmare Moon seems to disappear into thin air as I’m left behind a pillar, the 6 enter the temple and approach the central statue, they all gaze upon it as I lose myself slightly in thought… Nimare Moon… she’s supposed to be our goddess, benevolent, all powerful… and yet she gave a portion of her power to me? It just seems too risky to me, willingly making yourself weaker in the hopes of more allies… and did she do this with more ponies? I glance up again seeing the ponies begin to walk out, the farmer mare from before speaking to them all as Twilight lays in the middle of the temple in front of the orbs, now on the ground, “come on now y’all, she needs to concentrate,” she’s the first out of temple as the others follow.

As Twilight’s horn glows a brighter purple the hazy lilac vapor, black to the core, begins to envelope the 5 orbs in a vortex, the same glow enveloping me. Twilight jumps into the vortex as the three of us are teleported into a slightly more enclosed room, Nightmare Moon on a raised part of the room as Twilight lay in the middle. I still can’t move, although I feel like I want to vomit from the teleportation. I'm hidden, teleported behind another pillar… convenient.

Nightmare Moon begins to cackle loudly and Twilight… rears at the ground, seemingly about to charge, is she serious? Nightmare Moon speaks up at the sight, “You’re kidding. You’re kidding right?” I watch as Twilight begins to rush towards her, her horn glowing furiously as Nightmare Moon matches her, rushing towards her as well. Just before they hit, Twilight teleports behind her, although a little dazed she attempts to cast… something on the orbs, “just one spark, cmon… cmon… “

Nightmare Moon turns and rushes to where she is in her ethereal form, appearing in front of her faster than I could process, blasting her backwards onto the temple floor. The orbs begin to spark and glow, an electricity surrounding them as Nightmare Moon speaks, her voice panicked, “No… No!” and just as quickly as they began glowing, they suddenly stopped, losing the electricity they had around them. Nightmare Moon begins cackling as Twilight looks on in slight disbelief, mumbling something too far from me to hear. Nightmare Moon raises herself up on her hindlegs before slamming into the ground, shattering the orbs, leaving only shards.

Twilight's expression is one of horror now as her ears fold back, Nightmare Moon continuing, “You little foal! Thinking you could defeat me!” Her mane juts upwards, looking as a purple raging flame as Twilight recoils, lowering herself more to the floor, “Now you will never see your princess or your sun! The night will last forever!” she bellows again, victorious.

Just then I can hear faint mumblind and glance towards the stairs leading up to the room, just then Twilight seems to have a revelation, her eyes widening and her hope and confidence returning, she glances back at Nightmare Moon, “you think you can destroy the elements of harmony just like that? Well you're wrong! Because the spirits of the elements of harmony are right here!” I glance slightly behind her, the other 5 ponies in the room. Just as she finishes speaking the shards begin to glow, as I look on in awe. Twilight begins to speak of her friends and their specialties, how they correlate with the elements… but she's missing the 6th still.

Nightmare Moon notices this as well and speaks slightly panicked, “You still don’t have the 6th element! The spark didn’t work!” She backs up slightly.

Twilight continues, “But it did… a different kind of spark!” she turns to face her friends “I felt it the very moment I realized how happy I was to hear you, to see you how much I cared about you, the spark ignited in me, when I realized you all… are my friends!” the 6th orb appears in a flash of light above them, I don’t pay attention to the rest of what twilight says as my attention is drawn to the orb as it glows impossibly bright, and suddenly as she finishes speaking the shards begin glowing, and I continue watching, completely blotting out what Twilight is saying. The shards change to necklaces, except for Twilight, the orb melding into a crown. They all float together in the air as a rainbow shoots out of all of them, my eyes widen as it envelopes Nightmare Moon, I can’t turn myself away from the increasingly blinding light as it envelopes the room, all I can do is shut my eyes tight. As I open them I feel looser, like I can move, but I stay, too scared to move a muscle. Scared of what the 6 may do to me, how they may punish me, I cannot believe it… I cannot believe my goddess was… defeated, and so easily. I slump down into a lying position, my expression matching that of Twilight’s when the orb was shattered. As I watch the others gain consciousness. They all talk amongst themselves as I keep my head down, thinking to myself over the events that had just occurred.

Suddenly I hear a voice in my head that is not my own, “Damn! I… this… this is your fault you worthless yaldson! If you had just helped me instead of prattling over your father I wouldn’t have failed, I would be in power, I would have won, you worthless whelp! I lied, I feel no sympathy for your father or mother! In fact, it serves you right that they’re gone, they would not want to see the failure you are!”

I wince slightly at her words and lower my head to the ground, tears welling up in my eyes… “Your words are none a goddess would speak, you are a tyrannical evil beast, a demon. Were you even going to help my kind?”

Nightmare Moon continues sounding offended, “your kind? You are not one of my children, you are a disgusting half blood! I chose you only because ponies other than thestrals would look upon you fondly as a diplomat… but other than that, you are a disgusting cretin, I should’ve let you fester in the womb as a stillborn.” I wince again at her harsh words, tears flowing down my face.

Just as she stops speaking I glance up, another tear falling from my face as the sun begins to rise and I can hear… no, see princess Celestia appear from a window in front of the 6 as they bow. Celestia speaks to Twilight as I hear something shuffle and glance over to the noise… it's where Nightmare Moon was, her spot taken by a younger looking mare, her cutie mark similar to Nightmare Moon’s. I hear Celestia speak her name “... Princess Luna,” Princess…? She awakens with a gasp as Celestiia approaches, she speaks softly to her, too soft for me to hear, but she speaks up towards the end of her sentence, “... we were meant to rule together, little sister, will you accept my friendship?” Luna thinks about this for a moment and begins to tear up before rushing to her sister's forelegs and apologizing as Celestia forgives her, shedding tears of her own.

I watch as they continue talking and eventually make their way out of the room, watching Luna in particular. She’s the last one out and she looks to where I was hiding, making eye contact with me as I’m still slumped in a shadow. I hear a voice, not of Nightmare Moon, as her horn glows very softly, “Stay put, I will be back later tonight to greet thee my child,” She tries to flash a warm smile before walking out of view completely.

I sigh and glance down at my hooves as I hear Nightmare Moon butt in, “pathetic… crocodile tears… she is erroneous and weak, they will see, they will never accept her as a co-ruler of Equestria. Again, now for an eternity the night will be shunned and disrespected…” She sighs, “and for what will feel like an eternity for me, I’m stuck with you, and you are more pathetic than her! I should have given your portion of my power to somepony who deserves it, who would’ve helped me… perhaps Spades would’ve performed better than you, but now I will never know.” She appears in front of me vaguely as a dark misty unicorn head, her eyes, or what I can make out of them, narrowing, “I’m bound to you as you are the main vessel of my power, truly an unfortunate thing for me,” she rolls her eyes… I think?

I speak up softly, “so you… the rest of your power has been sealed away?” My eyes narrow as well as I raise myself to be eye level speaking slightly louder, “and stuck with me? I think you have that backwards, I’m stuck with you, you’re the one that planted yourself in my brain!” I sat back down, sighing and speaking softer, “This is all your fault…”

She laughs softly in slight disbelief as she speaks, “oh really? You believe this to be my fault? Tell me then, really, what else could I have done, hm? Aside from not being able to account for your… stubbornness and woe is me attitude .”

I scoff, “The idea to split your power is something you shouldn’t have even considered until after you had secured your victory is one thing I can think of immediately…”

She’s silent for a moment, I can’t read her expression, “well… it was necessary… I am one mare after all, more brains helping me is a fundamentally good idea, anypony would think that,”

I raise an eyebrow, “one mare? You are… no… were a goddess, if you were at your full power you could have easily won, hell, you could have rivaled Celestia and the entire royal guard… maybe having brains to help after with diplomacy was a good idea, but splitting your power before you even see your opponent is stupid! Even a foal would know that given context…”

She rolls her eyes again, not wanting to admit she's wrong, “... half blood freakish child trying to lecture me…” Her form dissipates into thin air as she retreats from the argument.

I let out a long mixture of a sigh and a groan as I lower myself, sprawling out on the marble floor… Hopefully Luna is nicer than Nightmare Blowhard… Nightmare Moon’s eyes narrow again at the insult, I already forgot she's in my head now, she can hear my thoughts... It’s gonna be a long day today. I close my eyes and begin to drift off to sleep as I hear a loud screeching sound, my eyes flinging open as I flinch, looking around as I hear Nightmare Moon chuckle softly. Okay… this day is gonna be REALLY long…

Author's Note

Note: While writing, Nightmare Moon slapped my Jersey Mike's sub out of my hands, and then did a money spread, and then said "you fat, you stank, and you ugly, and you broke MONKEY."