A squirrel scurried out of a tree, landing lightly on the ground. It was nibbling on an acorn, which was clutched in its paws, clearly not paying attention to it's surroundings.Hiding in the bushes was a camouflaged Pegasus, wings tucked to her sides, bent down, and ready to pounce.

The squirrel peered around, scanning the woods for danger. It seemed to have second thoughts about being were it was, but it was too late to reconsider. Out of the bushes came the Pegasus, wings apart to help her gain height. She landed on top of the squirrel who struggled in her grip.

The mare held her prey in between her hooves, squeezing, but not to hard. Just hard enough so that it couldn't move.

The mare's once chocolate brown irises changed to a teal, and eventually began to glow white. A trail of white smoke came from the squirrel, who was completely lifeless in the mare's grasp. When the last of the smoke was gone, the pony's eyes went from a burning white back to their chocolate brown, and the squirrel remained lifeless on the ground.

Ever since Nightmare Moon's defeat, the mare had spent her days in the Everfree Forest. She was now nothing but a string of dark blue mist, dependent off of her host, which in this case, was a brown-coated, green-maned, Pegasus who had been wondering the Everfree. Because of her lack of a body, Nightmare had to feed off the life-energy of other creatures. Life energy was ultimately the thing that kept everything alive, and every living thing had it.

Since Nightmare Moon lacked a body, she had to possess creatures and suck the life out of other creatures in order to live. But while Nightmare Moon needed nothing but life energy, the pony she possessed, Cami, needed actual food.

Nightmare Moon picked up her prey and buried it in a pile of dirt and leaves. The mare put her saddlebags around her neck and flew into the air, wind rustling in her mane. It felt nice, really, to just be in the air. To feel the cold breeze over her face, the setting sun beating down on her coat, and the view from her height was amazing.

Eventually, however, Nightmare Moon spotted her house. If you could call it a house.

Gracefully, Nightmare landed on the ground, and trotted into her house. It was a small cottage, in a small clearing, just a little ways away from where the old castle had once stood. The home had once belonged to an old earth pony colt. Well, he was dead now.

The Pegasus pushed open the door, and entered the home. It wasn't exactly a palace, but it was better than nothing.

The living room was nothing but a TV and a couch, and the kitchen was nothing more than a few dusty old cabinets and a wooden table which was never used. There were two doors, one for the bathroom, one for the bedroom, but both rooms were about the same size.

Nightmare never really did sleep in the bedroom. Even though she had once been some sort of evil Queen, she still hated how small and dark the bedroom was.

Flick, flick, Nightmare lit a match and threw it into the fireplace.

It got very cold at night, and it was Nightmare's only way of cooking her food. She could get life energy from anything, from a pony to a flower, but solid food was hard to come by.

The mare glanced into one of her old, creaky, dirty cabinets. She was clearly almost out of food, and knew it was about time she took a trip to Ponyvile.Nightmare Moon packed her saddlebags and headed out. The Sun was almost down, but usually ponies of Ponyville stayed up until at least seven o' clock.

Again, she flapped her wings and rose into the sky. The sensation of flying was now gone and replaced by pure dread. She was tired, hungry, and the last thing she wanted to do was go to Ponyville. While it was the closest town, Nightmare Moon dreaded seeing the Elements of Harmony all the time, they were always there!

But eventually the Pegasus came to Ponyville, which, for some reason, was very crowded.

And then she saw it.

Towering over her was a fairs wheel and a long line of ponies. "Out of the way!" Said a certain grown colt with two foals. "Yeah, back of the line!" A young foal exclaimed.

The Pegasus simply trotted away without responding. One day, she would get revenge on them. On all of them. They would all live in her eternal night, and all love her, and be great full to her.

But that day was not today, and today, Nightmare Moon was doing nothing than getting food for the body she possessed.

"Apples! Apple fritters! Apple pie! Apple sauce! Everything APPLES!" An orange earth pony mare announced. And Nightmare knew who she was. She was the Element of Honesty. Applejack.

"You there, would you like to buy some apples? We're having free sample, FREE SAMPLES, and you seem to be knew in Ponyville." The mare said, holding out a toothpick with a piece of apple pie on it.

"I'm not knew, I'm just passing through. But I'd love to try the samples." Applejack handed the Pegasus the sample. It looked good.

Nightmare stared at the piece of food for a bit. It smelled like apples and sugar, but she wasn't used to that smell. It had been so long since Nightmare Moon had had anything sweet or sugary, but the mare kind of missed it.

She took a bite of the pie, and immediately felt the different flavored touch her tongue. Apples, sugar, crust...pure goodness.

"Would you like to buy a pie? Ten for five bits." Applejack said, pointing to a giant sign posted on the side of the stand.

"Mah' little sister made this sign. Actually, she made all of the signs, her and her friends." Nightmare Moon raised an eyebrow. Surely this was something she could use against Applejack in the long run.

"You have...a sister?" Nightmare asked. Peering at her. "Yeah an' a brother. Big Mac and Applebloom. Do you?" Nightmare shook her head.

"No. I'm an only child. But, on a more serious note, I...don't have any bits. I'm trying to sell my things. To get bits." Applejack smiled.

"Don't worry. Hey, lemme see what ya' got." Nightmare handed the smiling earth pony a sack of rocks. They were all beautiful, and all very valuable. Clearly things found in the Everfree. "Well I'll be, I think Twilight would buy these. Maybe Rarity. Take a trip down the boutique. Can't be too hard to find, only one in Ponyville." The Pegasus nodded.

"But first...take a pie. Take five pies. For free." Applejack handed Nightmare five apple pies and the Pegasus slipped them into her saddlebags. "Thank you, Applejack." Applejack's eyes widened "How do you know my name?" She asked.

"Let's just say, we've met before." And with that, Nightmare Moon left, heading toward the boutique.

Ponies were everywhere, some with family, some with friends, and some with spouses or significant others.

There were games, rides, and lots and lots if food stands. The smell of popcorn drifted through the air, and trash littered the ground. Could it be anymore obvious?

It was obviously a fair.

And her suspicions were proven right, seeing as there was a big banner hanging on to trees that read "PONYVILLE FAIR".

"....BOO!" Nightmare Moon whipped around to see a pink earth pony and a cyan Pegasus behind her, snickering, laughing, rolling around on the ground...The Elements of Laughter and Loyalty.

"What was that for!" The Brown Pegasus exclaimed, rage boiling up inside her stomach. "How dare you-"

"Sorry, but we just couldn't resist! We couldn't help but notice you were knew to Ponyville, and well..."

"Your new! That means I just HAVE to throw you a party. What's your favorite color? What's-" Nightmare Moon's temper softened. All this mare wanted to do was throw her a party. But this was the same mare that defeated her three years ago...

"Thank you, but I'm not new to Ponyville. I'm simply passing through. At the moment, I'm looking for Rarity. Do you know where she is?" The cyan Pegasus and pink earth pony stared at each other, and then turned back to Nightmare.

"Yeah! She's our bestest, bestest, bestestestestest friend! But so is Fluttershy, and Twilight, and Applejack..." Rainbow put a hoof over Pinkie's mouth.

"She gets it. Anyway, yeah, we'll take you to the boutique, whatever." And the trio of three went on.

As always, Rainbow Dash was flying, and Pinkie Pie was hopping, while Nightmare Moon simply trotted along, with her wings folded to her sides.

"We're herrrrre!" Rainbow knocked on the door, and out came a curly-maned unicorn.

Of course, Nightmare thought. Another Element. She knew that this pony was an element. She had left quite an impression, with that curly mane and all, and even though Nightmare Moon hated to compliment her enemies, Rarity was beautiful.

"Why hello! Oh...you look like you could really do with some help...in the fashion department." The mare smiled, but the brown Pegasus knew that Rarity was disgusted at what she saw.

Come in! Lets see...your mane could...." Nightmare Moon jerked back "I didn't come here so that you could fix my mane, I came to sell you...these."

Nightmare Moon pulled out the bag of rocks from her saddlebags. They were beautiful, shiny, and all different colors. Rarity levitated her glasses to her eyes, and smiled in awe.

"Beautiful...I could certainly use this in a dress. Hmmm...crystal, ah! A price of gold. A small diamond, small indeed, but it must work." Rarity turned back to face Nightmare Moon who was sitting there scratching her head.

Meanwhile, Pinkie and Rainbow were playing Patty Cake on the opposite side of the boutique.

"Yes...I'll sell it to you for...twenty bits?" Nightmare Moon nodded. Rarity levitated a pile of bits into the air, and they landed on the ground in front of the green-maned Pegasus.

Nightmare Moon counted the bits and then slid ten towards the elegant unicorn. "You gave me ten extra." Rarity smiled.

"Dear, I meant to do that. Keep it." Nightmare smiled, and scooped the bits into her saddlebag.

"Oh, and darling I didn't catch your name."

"Cami."

"So...Cami, anywhere else you need to go?" Rainbow Dash asked. "We'd be happy to take you there. And prank a few ponies on the way." the rainbow-maned mare said, winking towards Pinkie. "Yeah! Wait...Rarity are gonna come too?"

Rarity shook her head while sewing what looked to be a wedding dress. "Oh no, darling. I have far too much work to do."

"Okie dokie!" And then, the three mares left the the boutique.

"So...where we headed to?" Rainbow asked. "Twilight Sparkle..." Nightmare said in a low voice. She hated Twilight Sparkle. Twilight Sparkle defeated her all those years ago, and besides, she was the student of the pony she hated so much...Celestia.

The trio trotted towards the library, which wasn't to far from the boutique it seemed. The whole way, Rainbow and Pinkie did nothing but laugh and play, and prank ponies, but Nightmare remained deep in thought.

These ponies...the ponies she hated, were showing such kindness to her...it was strange. But Nightmare knew they were only being nice to her because they didn't know who she really was. They didn't know she was Nightmare Moon.

But she could use this against them...she could get close to them and then attack. For years now, Nightmare Moon had plotted her revenge against the Elements, against Celestia...

The three ponies paused outside the door to the library. "You go on in, Cami. We're gonna go and prank some ponies. See ya'!" And then the two ponies raced off, Rainbow Dash flying, and Pinkie sprinting at a speed Applejack couldn't even reach.

Knock.

The door swung open and a small purple dragon stood at the door. "Twilight! There's a pony here!" Spike yelled. Twilight rushed to the door.

"Ummm...hi. Are you knew in Ponyville? I know most everypony in this town, but I've never seen you before." Part of Nightmare wanted to tear Twilight Sparkle apart, but another part wanted to have a civil conversation with her.

"I'm just visiting. No pony in particular...I live in the Everfree Forest. I need to come here every once and a while to get food and stuff." Twilight's eyes widened.

"You live in the forest! That's...how is it there? See any animals? Any strange stuff? I hear there are all sorts of things in there!" This was Twilight Sparkle.

"I've encountered a few dangerous animals, but I survive."

"So...what are you looking for?" Twilight asked. "I...wanted to sell you something. A few rocks to be exact." Nightmare pulled out another bag of rocks.

"Woah...these...wow! There great for studying! I've never seen any rocks like this!" Twilight said.

"Where was I...yes. I'd love to study these. How many bits?" Twilight asked.

Nightmare paused. "Twenty." Twilight levitated twenty bits toward Nightmare, counting them silently and mouthing the numbers.

"Twenty bits. By the way, what's your name?" Twilight asked. "Cami." Nightmare said.

"And I...kind of wanted to get a book." Twilight beamed at this "Really? I have tons of books! Romance novels, adventure novels, spell books, history books..."

"It's ok. I found it." Nightmare pulled out a large novel, obviously pretty long.

"I love those books" Twilight said. "Anyway, I guess you should get going. The sun is about to go down...see you next time!" Twilight waved at Nightmare, and she waved back.

Once she got outside, Nightmare Moon tucked the large book into her saddlebag and flew off. It just felt so...weird, having talked to the Elements as if they were her friends. But maybe...maybe Cami could become friends with the elements. Maybe Nightmare Moon could leave the Everfree and move to Ponyville.

Probably not.

But, a mare could dream. She thought about hanging out with Twilight, or having Rarity do her mane, or flying with Rainbow Dash, or bucking apples with Applejack, or even having Pinkie throw her a party. And she was sure Fluttershy was nice too.

Maybe...one day.

Nightmare Moon landed in front of her home, but realized something. She felt weak. The Pegasus walked over to the talk grass bordering the clearing, and began to take the life source from them. Her eyes grew to the teal slits, and then turned white. The white smoke then went into Nightmare's open mouth, and when little to none was left, the mare's eyes became normal and she sighed.

Living the way she did was a dreary existence. She lived in the forest, alone, in a small cottage, an had to feed off the life source of living things, something Nightmare took no pleasure in doing.

But that was how it was. That was the cruelty of life.

The Pegasus snapped back to reality. She realized the sun was gone, the sky was purple, and twilight was at its peak. It was dangerous to be in the forest at night, but Nightmare slept through the morning. She usually spent her nights inside reading or something.

The mare pushed the door open and came inside. Her stomach began to rumble and she paused. "BUCK! I forgot to get food!" She moaned. But then she remembered the apple pies in her saddlebag. She went into the "kitchen" and placed the five apple pies on the table. She unwrapped the plastic off of one of the pies, got a fork, sat down on the couch and began to eat.

When she had had her full, she wrapped the leftovers of the pie back in plastic, and pulled the book out of her saddlebag.

She leaned back on the couch, ready to enjoy the third installment of "Daring Doo".

Author's Note

I'm sorry about any mistakes in the story, I'm new at this whole story writing thing, so...yeah. Any helpful criticism is appreciated, and this was written on my phone, just to let you know. So...yeah.