Silent Night

Everypony stood in shock and fear. A shrill scream echoed from Roseluck and the town snapped to life, fleeing and screeching as they realized what was happening.

A loud laugh emanated from the black mare and her cat eyes snapped with triumph. She looked down at her boyfriend. "Oh Discord if only you could feel the whirlwind of emotions in your pathetic girlfriend. I can hear her thoughts, see her emotions. She's under so much stress, she feels so much pain. You have no idea how much she hurts everyday. Her sister dead, her friend injured, a small filly killed the stress of her new job and concern for you, now all she can feel is rage and fear. Rage that she found you with this pony," She pointed a hoof at Screwball, who shrank against her chair,"And fear that I have taken over her body."

Twilight felt tears coming to her eyes. She crouched down and tried to back away, but her hoof snapped a twig and it seemed to echo in the deserted streets. Her pupils shrank in fear and her ears flattened to her skull as she waited for the horror that would come to her and her foals.

Nightmare Moon turned to her. She shuddered once, then her eyes turned into Luna's eyes. "Twilight, help me!" Came Luna's voice, before the mare shook her head and glared at the unicorn. "Well if it isn't Twilight Sparkle, the unicorn who destroyed me. I'm back now Twilight, where are your precious friends?"

Her soft tone didn't fool Twilight. Her voice was ridden with venom and her eyes were full to the brim with hatred.

Twilight backed away. She knew that if Nightmare Moon could hear Luna's thoughts, then she was aware that Twilight was pregnant.

Nightmare Moon advanced, eyes bright with menace. "Pathetic Luna is pretty much screaming at me not to hurt your foals. Silly little Alicorn, does she really think I'll spare the chance of hurting you and your foals?" She was pretty much purring, the silky tone was laced with acid and she reared up, poised to bring her hooves down on the pregnant mare.

Twilight backed away more, hitting a tree and falling back against the trunk. Nightmare Moon's shadow engulfed her and she screamed, "No! Don't hurt my foals, please!" She wailed, placing her forehooves on her belly and shrinking away, eyes full of fear as she curled her legs over her body to protect her stomach.

Nightmare Moon laughed. "Oh Twilight, killing you means I'm going to get my revenge. Why not kill your foals? You can feel the pain I did when my body was broken into a purple cloud!" She ended the sentence in a hiss and brought her hooves down.

Twilight screamed again, closing her eyes as she waited for huge hooves to crush her. It never came, but a loud solid clang made her curious, despite her terror. She opened one eye a crack and then they flew open with shock, a smile formed on her face.

Flim stood in front of her, his horn alight with bright green. His eyes were blazing and he and Nightmare Moon's horns were pressed against each other. They were both sparking, magic blazing from the two. Flim was pushing the mare back with the strength he had earned from working on the farm. "Get. Away. From. My. WIFE!" He hollered, rearing up and lashing at her, his horn barely missing Nightmare Moon. He looked back at Twilight. "Run." He ordered.

Twilight shook her head. "As if." Flim's eyes shone with new power and the green glow strengthened. "Get ready for the best show of your life." He turned around with a battle cry that would've put a dragon's roar to shame and the 2 magical ponies clashed as Nightmare Moon lunged, eyes and horns blazing.

Twilight watched in sheer excitement and horror. Flim was thrown into the air with a yell, but he righted himself and blasted her with a blinding glow. He landed hard behind her on a green cloud of magic then leaped on her, hooves clamping down on her neck. Nightmare Moon writhed and twisted.

Flim heard something snap and he let out a cry of pain. He lifted his head and then brought it down, his horn impaling Nightmare Moon's neck, just below the slope of her head and driving right through her star-studded mane.

Nightmare Moon screamed and her form wavered. It seemed to melt and shrink.

She turned dark blue, her cutie mark black with the white moon. Her eyes flashed once, then turned dark blue. Her legs shrank and the Princess was on the ground, eyes closed and breathing heavily.

Flim collapsed beside her, eyes glazed with pain. One of his front legs was bleeding heavily and was twisted at a slight angle.

Twilight rushed over, fear flowing through her. "Flim! Princess Luna!" She cried, skidding to a halt beside her husband and nosing him. "Please wake up! The foals are safe!"

Flim looked up at her. "Get us... To hospital..." He wheezed, extending a foreleg before falling limp, unconscious. Blood spattered the ground and hit the side of his face, leaving deep scarlet splashes on his pale blonde fur.

Luna strugged to her hooves beside him, eyes wide with sheer horror. "The horror... All that agony, all that fury... It hurts." She whimpered, legs shaking. She staggered forwards, leaning over Flim. Her horn lightly touched his forehead and her voice murmured softly as she spoke to him,

"You're so brave, taking Nightmare Moon on by yourself. Thank you." She whispered, placing hoof lightly on his shoulder. A shudder passed through the stallion and a moan escaped him. Luna's horn flared and she levitated him, placing him on her back. "Come on Twilight." She urged.

Twilight had sat down, tears leaking from her eyes. She got to her hooves, legs shaking. She was about to follow when a blast of pain came from her stomach and she stumbled, hitting the dirt. "Sweet Celestia it hurts!" She cried, forelegs clasped her stomach as her eyes closed shut tight and her jaw locked in agony.

Luna looked at her, then remembered. "Twilight your foals! They're coming now!" Luna cried, looking around. "We need a unicorn or a pegasus, now!" She hollered.

Three fillies had just stepped outside of a store and rushed over when Princess Luna called out, two of them airborne.

Feather Weight and Scootaloo flapped over, followed by a turquoise unicorn with a bright yellow mane. Scootaloo pointed a hoof at the unicorn. "You levitate her, me and Feather Weight'll take her on our backs. Stick close to me." She turned to Feather Weight, who nodded.

Sun Glimmer's horn glowed and Twilight's form was lifted onto the backs of the two pegasi.

They buzzed their wings and lifted off, Sun Glimmer close behind them.

Luna flew after, careful not to knock her wings against Flim. She heard cries from Twilight and cursed Nightmare Moon over and over in her head.

~~~

Luna paced outside the door. Flim was sitting behind her, one foreleg bound with a thick cast. He was biting his lip before getting up, limping over. "I hope she's alright." He murmured, eyes darting back and forth from the door to the nurse at the desk. The door to the birthing room slammed open and Nurse Tenderheart stepped out. "Flim you're a father!" She announced.

Flim's eyes brightened and he rushed in, his cast thumping against the ground. Luna followed him and looked in on Twilight, who was in a bed with two little foals pressed against her. She looked up and smiled warmly, moving the blankets slightly and reaveling the foals.

Two little unicorns.

One was a colt and one was a mare. The mare was pale yellow like her father with a violet mane and tail. She let out a small gurgle and pressed against her mother, squeaking.

The colt was dark purple with a red and white candycane striped mane. He didn't make any noises except for the occasional 'goo' as his small hooves hit Twilight lightly.

Flim was already nuzzling his wife and he whispered sweet things into her ears. He'd never been so proud in his entire life, to hell with his useless brother, he had a wife and children now.

Luna smiled, sitting a little ways away. "Maybe things won't be so bad after all." Her smile faded and was replaced by a look of sheer horror. She galloped out of the room, out of the hospital and and back into the square.

She saw Discord sitting with Screwball again and stood beside them. "Discord! Oh I'm so sorry, I'm sorry I ever thought there was something going on. I love you Discord, please forgive me." She begged, eyes pleading.

Discord turned and looked at her. A ring of black surrounded his left eye. He looked at her for a moment, which seemed to last years. His eyes were cold and guarded as he looked at her calmly.

Then he turned his back on her and resumed talking to his daughter.