Dog days.

"Ok Spike wake up." Twilight said, shaking him gently. "Spikey-wikey, wake up. Were off the train and going to the first pony."

He stretched and yawned, scratching his tail he looked around.

"So, this is Ponyville?" He asked. "I like it."

"Well good, because you might have to stay. For a while." She frowned.

"Stay? Why?"

"If what I'm after is in reach, then you might have to stay behind for quite a while." She said. "Don't ask, but it has a partial bit to do with Nightmare Moon."

He groaned before falling back on her.

Twilight looked around, scanning the scenery.

The sunlight was dotted on the ground, casting a shadow here and there while other bits were clearly lit, the homes and businesses looked as if they were colored with sharpie's, the cobblestone was surprisingly soft and gravely under her hooves. The suns warmth helped ease her nerves, taking in a breath of fresh air, she closed her eyes before opening them.

All she saw were two large blue circles with a smaller black one in the middle.

She blinked before backing up and seeing a vibrant pink mare.

"Um, hello?"

The mare gasped and jumped into the air, holding her position for a second before she vanished in a dust clone. Twilight merely stood there in shock.

She shook it off and continued on, squinting as a ray of light hit her int he eye.

'Alright, let's see who we have to go to first.' She thought as Spike belched her list up. 'Applejack, she's in charge of food. Where to find her, Sweetapple Acres.' She shrugged and followed the map on the back.

As she went, she began to notice the sun descending even more now. The town was slowly shrouded in an orange glow, giving the place an almost eerie feeling.

Sweetapple Acres

The trip was only an hour in itself, but her legs hurt, not only from the walk but from the bones wanting to break and regrow.

'I hope it doesn't become too bad at night.' She thought as she stumbled a bit.

She came upon a small house, a small sign welcoming her. The smell of apples was everywhere, apples littered the hills behind the house and partially by the sides. At one tree was an orange mare, bucking furiously.

"Excuse me, I'm Twilight Sparkle and I'm here-"

"Well howdy there Twilight!" Applejack trotted up with a grin. She took the lavender unicorns hoof in her own and shook her relentlessly. "We here at the farm just love makin' new friends! So, what brings ya down here?"

"I'm just here to make sure you have the food ready for the celebration. So, is it done?"

"Ya know it!" She grinned. "Now why don't ya... Hey, are ya feelin' bad? Your shaking worse than the back end of a rattlesnake. Maybe ya should get some tea..." Applejack said with worry in her voice as she reached out to the unicorn.

"No!" Applejack flinched. "I, mean, not thank you. I just need to check on the other few things and then go take a nap. I'll be better afterwards, bye."

"Bye! Now ya come back now, ya hear?" applejack said as she picked up the buckets of apples.

"She seemed nice." Spike noted as he woke up. "You weren't very friendly is you ask me."

"I just need some rest, that's all." She said, her voice almost straining. "You know just as much as I do what tonight is. You know how I get during the end of the month."

"Full moon, right." He nodded. "So, who's next?"

She lifted the list again and raised a brow.

"A pony named Fluttershy. She's in charge of the music."

He remained silent, his eyes switching back and forth on the page. He turned his head slightly, narrowing his eyes.

"Hey, Twilight, why don't you get her and I'll do the other two?" He suggested.

"No Spike, I couldn't." She nearly fell onto her knees when a tremor shook her frame.

"It's a good thing it wasn't a suggestion." He said. "I feel like I'm riding a mechanical bull. Now, you go check Fluttershy, and I'll get the other two. When I get to the library, I want to see you in the bed with an ice pack over your horn. Otherwise, I'll burn your breakfast."

"Oh no, burnt toast." She rolled her eyes. "Such a tragedy."

"Not toast," he shook his head. "Your entire breakfast. Toast, jam, hay bacon, pancakes. The whole pantry if I have too. Now," he jumped down and grabbed the list. "March."

She stared at him for a second, dumbfounded that he was giving orders to her.

'I can't believe this.' She thought. 'A princess one day, an unstoppable hunter the next, and now I'm being bossed around by my dragon hatchling assistant.'

As she hung her head low, he walked next to her, whistling merrily.

After a short walk back to town, Twilight had passed a few buildings before getting lost.

"Forget it, I don't have time for this." She said as she charged her horn.

In a flash, she appeared in the park. The vibrant greens stuck out against the brown of the tree trunks. Foals and other ponies played. A certain couple was sitting by the fountain, enjoying each others company.

The comforting melody of song birds filled her ears. The pony half of her wanted to stand and listen while her other half merely wanted to eat the birds. She shook her head clear of those thought's before passing through some bushes.

A butter yellow pegasus with a pink man was instructing a branch of birds. They stopped and looked at her, before the mare turned to look at her, she turned around, sensing the mares nervousness.

"Um, hello? Miss? C-Can I ask you to move... The birds can't do it with another pony around." She asked.

"Actually, I'm here to see if the song for the summer sun-ugh!" She gripped her head in a surge of pain. A low growl came from her throat, the pegasus backed away. "Celebration!" She spit out. "Is the music going just as instructed?"

"Y-Yes..." She replied, eyes wide at what she heard. "D-did you just growl?"

"No! I mean yes, but no. I'm just hungry, that's all. I need to get going, need to rest."

She left the bushes, leaving a slightly scared pegasus behind.

"I need to feed." She growled as her brow bunched and her lips peeled back. "No, I need to sleep." She reassured herself. 'To wait for the right time. Stupid wolf, stay down until tonight!' She ordered mentally.

The pain subsided, she stood there, awestruck. She looked at her hooves and noticed the holes weren't in them anymore, her legs felt sore but didn't hurt to walk on, and her teeth were flat and unmoving.

Not wanting to be in the open for when it strikes again, she disappeared and teleported away.

She reappeared on a wooden floor, the light's were out but she could see plain as day. She looked around in shock and surprise. Ponies were everywhere, smiling and looking in her direction. There was a large banner and a cake sitting on a snack table.

"I can see you all." She said. "Especially you next to me, can you step away? I'm not in a good mood and I'd prefer to get some sleep."

There was a gasp and the lights flashed on. The guests looked at her, she glared at the pink mare in front of her.

"How did you know we were here?" She asked. "Did somepony tell you?"

"No, I saw you all when I entered. Now, explain to me why you all are in my home and breaking four different rules in here?" She asked harshly.

"Were throwing you a surprise party!" She said blowing smiling. "Were you surprised?"

"No, but do you know what I am feeling?"

"What!?" Pinkie asked excitedly. "Tell me! I'm dying in anticipation!"

"The urge to start shooting fireballs and see if you can out run a lightning storm." She said flatly. "I'm going to bed, if your not here to get a book, please leave."

"But you cant leave! The party hasn't even started!" Pinkie said getting in her way.

"Listen," she gritted her teeth. "I am not feeling well, I have been very stressed lately and I still have a very large, and important project to take care of. The last thing I need is a party, or any loud noise." She said. "And, I'm just passing through, I'll be leaving tomorrow. Now goodnight."

"So, no party?" Pinkie tilted her head.

Twilight lit her horn and picked the pink mare up. She carried her to the front door and opened it, gently setting her on the porch, she shooed her away.

"No party." Twilight said. "All I need is some sleep. My head hurts, my legs ache and my mouth feels like it's being torn apart by the gums. Please, just go."

"Okey-dokey-lokey!" She grinned. "Pack it up! We've got another party at my place!"

The crowd of ponies nodded and packed everything away in a blur of hooves. In a line, guests carrying various items exited, Pinkie shut the door with a wave.

Twilight sighed and was bout to go up the stairs when she realized something.

"It's night?" She said aloud. "But... How? Did I mess my spell up?"

"Actually, my little pony, I did that."

Twilight turned around and bowed. Celestia undid her spell and she became visible again, with a tender smile she laid down.

"Princess, what are you doing here?" Twilight asked. "Shouldn't you be at the town... I'm supposed to be there!" She face-hoofed herself.

"Be calm Twilight," Celestia said. "You shall be fine. What I want to know, is are you ready?"

"Ready? Ready for what?" Twilight asked in mock curiosity.

"Nightmare Moon." She said. "I've read over your notes, an you haven't been studying about the Elements of Harmony. You've been studying magic dampening spells; you know only an experienced unicorn or even an alicorn has the strength to cast those. Why would you attempt at trying to cast them, and on a goddess?"

"I...I can't say. It's personal." She sighed. "Can we go to the celebration, it should be starting now." She gave a small smile as she felt the wolf begin to emerge again.

Celestia nodded and in a flash, Twilight was in the middle of a large crowd. She looked around and saw pillars wrapped in ribbon, a large banner over the balcony and Fluttershy up above with her birds.

She felt something jump on her back and saw Spike grinning. She smiled back before letting the wolf back in streams; she was going to need it's raw strength.

"Ladies and gentlecolts!" Rarity yelled from atop the balcony. "It is my great pleasure to have the princess here, to have us witness her raise the sun for the longest time of the year. If you would, here she is!"

The curtains opened and the crowd gasped. Twilight looked at the moon and saw the mares head, disappear in a shine of light. She grinned, letting the sharp teeth reflect the moon light.

As the ponies talked amongst themselves, a lightning storm filled the room. Appearing on the balcony in a cloud of purple magic appeared and split to reveal the dark empress.

"Oh our beloved subjects," she said, her voice motherly but filled with molten brimstone. "It has been so long since we have seen thy subjects faces."

"What have you done with the princess!?" Rainbow Dash yelled.

Before the dark mare could speak, a flash of bright light filled the room. The ponies bowed and moved back as Celestia made her way forward.

"Nightmare Moon." She said.

"Sister." Nightmare responded in tone, gliding down to meet her. "We had not to expect thee to present thy self."

"I am merely here so my student may retrieve the Elements." She stated calmly. "Twilight, leave and find them. I will keep her at bay."

"No, I need her."

The crowd looked at her, both of the alicorns looked at her in surprise.

"What use doth a simple wench, require our assistance for?" Nightmare asked.

"To help find a pony," she let her fangs show, her eyes glowing slightly as her horn began to glow a bright lavender. "Wench."

She fired and Nightmare raised a shield, the spell merely absorbed the magic and struck the dark mare. After a few convulsions, she then laid still.

"Get up, were going to the library." Twilight said.

Nightmare coughed before shakily getting up. She glared at the unicorn, charging her horn for a spell. She faltered and it fizzled out.

"What hast thou done to us!?" She shouted, the sheer volume of it making winds inside the room.

"I used an advance magic dampening spell." She said, letting her features return to normal. "I'm what you, yourself would call, moonblood."

Nightmares eyes widened before a fanged grin spread across her muzzle.

"Defeated by moonblood, how fitting." She said. "Very well, take us with thee. Thou has bested us in combat, we shalt help thee in thy quest."

"Just come on, Celestia, you too. I really don't want to lose control now." She flinched and gave a audible growl, the crowd backed up as she looked at them. A primal hunger in her eyes.

"What? You've never seen a werepony before?"

The crowd stared at her, she gave one snap and they fled out the doors. She smiled hatefully before teleporting the two goddesses to her library.