I was confronted by the reality of my situation before I was even aware I was in any sort of situation, restrained and on the ground. Looking over my shoulder in a way I knew I shouldn't be able to do, my eyes widened when I saw a familiar blue and black pony glaring down at me.

Her face was one of great anger and annoyance, clearly distrusting of me before any words could be spoken between us.

"Foul creature! Who art thou, and why doth thou take our visage?!" Princess Luna's words were laced with what I could only describe as a growl. To drive home the demand, she put more pressure on my arm that she had in a vice grip. The pain nearly made me groan as I looked around for any sort of escape.

My eyes caught the mirror on the far end of the room, and my blood ran cold.

That wasn't me that was being restrained by the princess of the night. Instead, it was a red version of Luna. The logical part of my brain wanted to deny it, to claim that what I was see was nothing more than an illusion or a nightmare. That reflection, Luna, the vice grip holding me to the ground, it wanted so desperately for it all to be fake.

But it wasn't; I could tell in the deepest pits of my heart that it was all real.

Moreover, I knew that red pony.

Princess Argent, a version of Luna that could only be described as pure evil. I... couldn't really say much else about her personality or actions, that's all faded from memory at one point or another. What I did know is that she had achieved everything that Nightmare Moon had wished to achieve. She had turned her Equestria into the Shadow Realm, reigning by absorbing fear and casting an eternal night over the world.

Hmm... Maybe I could work with this?

Definitely better than staying silent and letting my arm slowly be torn off.

I put on the haughtiest, most smug smile I could muster.

"Oh dear Luna, is that any way to treat a fellow princess of the night?" I asked with an almost sing-song tone. "I doubt dear old Starswirl would take too kindly to you treating your counterpart so roughly~."

That gave Luna pause, her ears perking up in a way that an animal did when they heard a stick break or an animal approach too loudly. I had her attention now, which was a good thing for the time being. Her grip on me loosened a bit as she responded.

"Explain thyself. What doth thy mean by such a claim?" She ordered an answer more than asked. "And what is thine uncouth way of articulation? It sounds unbecoming of one supposedly of equal standing to mineself."

I considered how to answer for the briefest of moments, sighing like I was considering entertaining a young child's question.

Luna did not take to kindly to that, her grip tightening once more.

"Oof! You really don't seem to enjoy my presence Lulu~." I giggled, keeping up the haughty attitude. I was never one of the theater kids growing up, but I could keep up a bit for a good long while when messing around with friends. "If you simply must know, I am your counterpart from another dimension. I travelled to Equestria using magics derived from those of Starswirl."

I changed to a more diplomatic smile, one that I hadn't used since my long string of job interviews. Polite, reaches the eyes, and giving a general sense of eagerness.

"Princess Argent, at your service~."

Luna looked at me, studying my features for a good long while. I wasn't sure what was going through her head at the moment, but it gave me enough time to think and rethink what I was going to say next, to consider where the conversation would go from here.

Eventually, the blue princess releases her grip, stepping back and crossing her ar- her front hooves.

Should probably get used to the pony terms.

Luna crossed the limbs over her torso, watching me for any sign that might show that I was lying, which I wasn't only by technicality. Had I not remembered any of Argent's most basic character details, this would have never worked.

"Very well 'Argent', what art thine intentions now that thou hath arrived in our realm?" She questioned; eyes narrowed in suspicion as she waited for an answer.

"I am in search of a fresh start, my cool blue counterpart." I explained, building a backstory in my head. I'd need to make sure to commit it to memory and ensure that it wouldn't crumble under questioning later, but for now I could play fast and loose with the whole idea. "After all, I achieved the very same goal that you've likely heard whispered in your ear a few times already~."

Luna froze, telling me that she knew exactly what I was talking about.

Perfect...

"W-We doth not know what the infers..." She tried to play off my statement, a bead of sweat noticeably forming on her brow. One might consider the sight strange, but equines actually can sweat.

Though I don't think that this was an intentionally accurate thing on the part of the show writers.

Still I pressed on, more and more enjoying the part of the smug, suave spoiled princess.

"Oh don't be so coy about this Luna. We both know what you've been hearing in the dark corners of your mind." I stepped closer. "To take the affection that you desire by force, overtaking the day and bathing the lands in... eternal night~."

Luna's eyes widened, her jaw dropping open as a lifeless gasp took in a much-needed breath of air for the mare.

"T-That is... pure and utter madness!" She shouted. "How could thou do such a thing?! What of thine sister?!"

"She had been banished for a time." I said like it wasn't a big deal. "I did say I was looking for a fresh start away from it for a reason."

Now the mare glared at me, viewing me with even more caution than before.

"...Expand on thine meaning." She demanded, plain and simple.

I let my smirk fall to an annoyed work, ready to deal the finishing blow on destroying Nightmare Moon before the idea could ever come to fruition.

"It was the worst decision I had ever made." I snarled, allowing the mask to fall for just the briefest of moments. My very real annoyance and hatred of the situation acting as an added fuel to the level of disgust I wanted to show for the thing that would have this mare banished for a thousand years. "Rather than acquiring the admiration I desired from my subjects, it only turned them to fear and hatred. Not a moment went by where I didn't wish to take it all back, to the point where I simply... left."

There was silence, complete and all encompassing. Just the two of us sitting in a room lit by the dim glow of the moon and stars, only the faint sounds of the forests acting as background for our empty conversation.

"T-This action... they art of the Nightmare Forces, art they not?" The princess's voice was quiet, almost pleading. It was as if she was scared of doing such a thing willingly. "W-We know that our sister and subjects hath not enjoyed our night as we hath wished, but to attempt something so... evil."

"I will not attempt to defend my past actions or make excuses." I stated without a hint of shame. "I am not proud of it, but I will not act as though I didn't do it."

Rather, I'm acting like I did do it, for your sake.

"...If we did the same, the results would not change... would it?" She asked, more to herself than me. "We would still find ourselves an outcast, would we not?"

I didn't speak this time, allowing the girl to come to the conclusion on her own.

When the deep huff escaped her muzzle, I knew I had managed to get through to her.

"As much as our soul aches to admit such an amoral thing, we believe we needed to hear that." Luna said with a shamed expression, looking down at the floor in defeat. "We were beginning to doubt our own judgement at times."

I smirked, gently draping my arm over the other mare's shoulder. The princess of the night was clearly surprised by the unannounced action, but thankfully didn't push back on me.

"You know, I've been thinking a lot about where I went wrong in my pursuit of recognition and admiration." I started as I circled around her, much like a serpent coiling around its prey. "And I think I've found it, in the form of public improvement."

"Public... improvement?" Was Luna's response, clearly lost as to what I meant.

"If we improve the lives of Equestria. Show them our ability to achieve peace and prosperity at a scale that Celestia can't match - if they know the princess of the night is the one behind it, then won't they be just so grateful to her?" I asked rhetorically, watching as the concept clicked together in the blue mare's brain. "That's it~. You're starting to get it."

I stepped back, crossing my own front legs.

"I mean, what even is the state of Equestria right now?"

Luna sighed.

"Tis none too prosperous, in spite of our sister and her entourage of nobles. Seems that no matter how many royal banquets they attend or gatherings our fellow princess has, things continue to decline. Trade is at an all-time low, crime hath reached an all-time high, and there hath been raising tensions between the three tribes."

"Then won't this be the perfect time for us to swoop in and fix things?" I practically whispered it, knowing that it's exactly what Luna wanted to hear. "If we figure out how to succeed where the Sun court failed, then we've shown our value."

A small smile seems to worm its way onto the mare's muzzle.

"P-Perhaps it is not such a horrid proposal." Luna admitted, before gesturing to me with a hoof. "Though, we doth still wonder where thineself fits into all of this."

"Isn't it obvious?" I smirked, holding my arms out wide and giving an overly dramatic bow. "You're looking at your new assistant and Regent, your highness."

"O-Our Reg-" She coughed, before beathing a bit in an attempt to calm herself down. "W-We apologize for such an unbecoming display. We were simply... unprepared for thine statement."

She looks me over, eyes wandering over me again.

"But we simply must ask how thine intents to fit in amongst the standard members of the court?" Luna asks, specifically pointing at my wings and horn. "Thine appearance would immediately draw eyes from every direction, and not the friendly kind."

My smirk only widened, feeling a power deep within my body.

I don't know if my being brought here involved some being intentionally messing with me, or if it was just by sheer chance and luck, but the magic in this body flowed out with a practiced ease. In the blink of an eye and a flash of light, my form had been covered in an illusion that gave me a more standard pony appearance.

I looked like Luna after being initially redeemed, only red and with only wings.

"A pegasu- the intends to act as our Regent in the guise of a pegasus?" The princess asks, taking in my new form with a bewildered expression.

"Whyever not?" I wink. "After all, having a non-unicorn in such a position will be the talk of the nation. Sure, it may not be popular with the nobility, but everyone else will be over the moon with you choosing a common pony to be your voice and assistant."

Luna blinked.

"Over the... moon?" She asked, the phrase new to her.

"Elated, excited, happy." I listed the synonyms. "All of those things and more."

The princess took a minute to digest my explanation, and once a couple of seconds had passed, smiled.

"Yes." She nodded in agreement. "They shall be over the moon, Regent Argent."

"I am simply glad to be of assistance~." I teased with a playful bow.

The hard part was done, now to get to the harder part.

Actually helping run a freaking feudal nation, and having to navigate my way through the world of political intrigue.

Author's Note

Jeez, how long has it been since you last saw me on here? If you're wondering what I've been doing, I was posting on another couple of sites with a new name, Brain Power over on Space Battles and Ao3. If you're interested in all of the non-mlp stuff I've been posting since I've been gone you can go look over there.

So here I am posting a new story, one that will hopefully last for a good long while. Hope you enjoyed and I'll see you guys next time!