Nightmares Don't Last Forever

by BB

Chapters

Night Time Eternal
Restless Repose and Rescue
Veils of Vassals and Villains
Portals to Parties or Palaces
Achievements to Ascend Arguments
Dying, Desires, and Discourse
Time Travels Transiently

Night Time Eternal

Nightmares Don’t Last Forever
Chapter 1
By BB

They had done it. She’d failed. Before the tyrant queen Nightmare Moon stood the six embodiments of harmony, newly affixed with their magical accessories. They had beaten her at every turn. They stood strong together and overcame every obstacle she had thrown at them. She felt… she felt…. so proud.

They were so brave to confront her. Face to face with an alicorn, practically a god. They sought to stop her with the belief in their new friend Twilight Sparkle and these elements that could best her. Perhaps proud is the wrong word Nightmare pondered in the scant moments she had before their oncoming attack. It’s not like I had done anything with them to be proud about. Sure I set the obstacles but it’s not like I helped them overcome their challenges or helped them grow into the ponies they are today. I did have a hand in their ancestors, so let’s say some kind of maternal pride. Yeah, let’s go with that; it sounds the least weird at least, the moon princess concluded.

I’m over thinking things again. This moment isn’t about me, or, it is, partly about me, but mostly them. My subjects, they should feel like heroes, if only for a little while longer. And the little purple unicorn had given such a heartfelt speech earlier concerning her friends; it took all of Nightmare’s strength to keep her sneering façade and not break out in a loving smile. The Princess thought she might have gone a bit overboard by breaking the elements but her sister’s student was more astute than she gave her credit for. She will be so useful.

Oh, how she had missed all of her little ponies, a thousand years is a long time. Granted, she wasn’t awake for most of it bu-

Oh wait, here comes the rainbow.

From the 6 floating ponies a light comprising of all their colors shot out; swirling and merging together into a magnificently ribbon like rainbow as it flew towards the dark queen. “NOOOOOOOOOOOO” she screeched pleadingly as the rainbow quickly encircled her. “NOOOOOOUUUUAAAAAAAAOOOOOO” she screamed again, perhaps overplaying it a bit much she sheepishly thought to herself. The princess tossed the thought aside, quickly focused on the task at hand. Weaving together the shield spell had taken quite a few more years to master than she was willing to admit (And even longer to come up with the concept of it), but she had plenty of time during her stay on the moon. Nightmare began surrounding herself in a dark shroud of chaos magic, counteracting the harmony of these ponies and their sparkly rainbow. The effect was so minimal it felt a bit anticlimactic. I might as well be sitting in an easy chair drinking a hot cup of cocoa while I’m inside this thing, the princess huffed, her impatience getting the best of her as she tapped a hoof impatiently on the base of her shield. Oh but I wish I could have fully appreciated the harmony magic in action. Perhaps I will get them to do their little trick again in one of my courts, the idea playing around in her head. It’s a shame I’m too busy keeping myself from being completely destroyed, that’s probably what would happen if I didn’t have this handy chaos shield spell. I’m almost sure of it.

After a few moments the princess felt the harmony magic slowly dissipating outside of the shield. Seizing the chance, she slipped into her cloud form and seeped into the cracks of the old decrepit castle. She moved outside of the now fading rainbow to assure its effects did not touch her. Better safe than sorry she mused. Nightmare moved quickly and reformed just behind the now unconscious group of ponies in a puff of smoke. Yes, it was most definitely maternal pride she felt while she stared at the exhausted group. Of course that doesn’t mean I have to be a loving mother Nightmare inwardly snickered.

“Oh, my little ponies, you tuckered yourselves out.” she cooed sarcastically working her way in between the sleeping group- suddenly stopping at the white unicorn and glancing down at her decapitated tail. “I might as well get that for you” Nightmare said in a huff, lowering her head and touching the scrap of a tail with her horn. A soft blue that matched her flowing star filled mane and tail spread from her horn and covered the white pony’s tail. Out of the magic sprang full, luscious new violet fur. Better than the last as it had not even seen a day’s worth of wear.

“I still can’t believe you helped that silly old serpent! I suppose I should go back and fix his ‘moostache’ too whenever I’m not too busy.” The princess all but giggled, remembering the event while she moved to the purple pony in front. “Ah Twilight Sparkle, my sister’s most faithful student, you have done well and served my sister to your best abilities” A wicked smirk played across Nightmare Moon’s face as she spoke “it is a shame my ever planning sister had not planned for me coming up with a counter plan! Mwah ha ha ha ha!” by the Stars playing the villain is so much fun she inwardly squealed in delight. But it was time to end this; they would be waking up soon… and look at that, right on time! What punctual ponies.

The group of six stirred and groaned, slowly finding their bearings “Oooh, my head” the blue pegasus pony groaned out, rubbing the side of her skull to alleviate some of the throbbing. Focusing the elements was not an easy task and had left the group thoroughly worn, Nightmare observed, as she settled into the cracks underneath them in her smoke form. This was good, she didn’t feel like actually fighting them, and in their weakened state she wouldn’t have to. Setting traps and blocking paths was one thing, but she wasn’t actually going to let anypony get hurt. Nightmare felt content simply waiting for her cue to return to the stage for her big finale.

Ooooh the goddess squealed to herself, having trouble concentrating with how excited she was getting. This is going to be so much fun!

“-but I reckon we really do represent the elements of friendship”

There it is!

“Indeed you do!” Came a dark hollow voice followed by a cackling laugh “Too bad it wasn’t enough to defeat ME!” The dark princess swirled up from the ground as she began to reconstitute her dark and terrible self, a lightning bolt or two was sent off around her for theatrical effect.

“No- no it can’t be!” Twilight gasped in disbelief. The group of ponies behind her mimiced her in her shocked horror struck face. “How did-”

“How did I withstand the elements of harmony?!” Nightmare cut her off in a booming, demanding voice. “The elements that I have already faced once before?! Do you take me for a foal TWILIGHT SPARKLE?” the princess sneered as she drew closer to the purple unicorn. Nightmare’s star filled mane wrapped itself around Twilight, lifting her into the air until she was eye to eye with the new ruler of Equestria.

“TWILIGHT!!” the recovering group of ponies yelled as the now limp unicorn was hoisted away from them.

“Face it, I have won, I am the ruler of these lands, I! Am! Victorious!” The princess’ eyes glowed menacingly white as the moon. They felt as if they were searing into Twilight’s very soul, and it petrified her. The unicorn could do nothing but stare back in blank horror. “And now I shall take my prize” a wicked grin played across the tyrants face. “YOU Twilight Sparkle. You are to be my slave from hereafter as punishment for your treasonous actions against your queen!”

Thi- this can’t be! Twilight’s mind floundered. I have to be dreaming, Celestia is gone, evil has won, I finally made some friends and now I have to leave them to be a slave to some usurper for the rest of my life!

Panic finally started to settle into Twilight. The purple unicorn struggled in the magical hair surrounding her “no, NO!” she tried to concentrate, find the magic; I just need enough to-

“Goodbye, my little ponies” Nightmare said in an evil hiss, her horn glowing with arcane power. She and Twilight were engulfed in a sparkling, white and blue light. The light faded leaving nothing in it’s place. They were gone, leaving behind an empty castle, and defeated friends.

The world burst into light. Twilight could feel herself being pulled into the magical stream. Its currents and waves of colors flowing around her, through her, and a feeling of weightlessness bore into her skin in strong waves. She opened her eyes and for a brief moment she saw a magnificent and powerful creature before her. Its deep shades of blues and resounding whites were in stark contrast with the surrounding cluster of swirling colors.

It was beautiful, this being was beautiful.

Then the world burst again. This time in darkness, the light was seemingly ripped away to be replaced with blindness. The creature faded into nothing along with everything else. Her eyes adjusted and found that this place wasn’t as dark as she thought, though dark it was, she could still see. Twilight began to survey her surroundings while she worked off her muddled state.

These columns, this tiling, this room, she recognized it. The purple unicorn was in Princess Celestia’s throne room. Though where are the guards, Twilight absentmindedly thought. The palace seems completely empty.

And I seem to be floating.

She remembered. Nightmare Moon came into view, staring her down. Terror washed over her once again, I have to get away I have to- no I have to face Nightmare- no I have to get away first, yes, first, concentrate.

Twilight focused her magic around herself, expelling the hair that entangled her in a burst of purple light. She landed, quickly rolling away and spinning to face her smiling captor: the alicorn goddess that was able to defeat Celestia, and the Elements of Harmony, and is currently the ruler of all of equestrian, all by herself- oh right there was a reason she was panicked. Panic was a perfectly natural and called for response to the current situation she was in.

So Twilight Sparkle, after reviewing her circumstances and weighing her options, which were nonexistent, decided to panic.

Her knees buckled. Her pupils became the size of peas. Twilight trembled as the moon princess sauntered closer to her. Nightmare let out a maniacal laugh. Wait… that wasn’t a maniacal laugh, that was…. a laugh, a regular bubbly light hearted laugh that cooled the soul in a way that you would expect a moon princess’s laugh to do.

Then she spoke. The black malice and arrogance missing from Nightmare’s speech, replaced with a sarcastic tone and… slightly less arrogance “I hope I didn’t scare you too bad Twilight, I do get carried away sometimes” she gave the unicorn as friendly a smile as her current black form and menacing armor would allow.

Surely somepony around is very good at ventriloquism or there was some sort of switch during that teleportation because this couldn’t be the same insane pony that had kidnapped me. Twilight scrounged up some half-baked reasoning while she felt her mind going numb.

“And please pick up your mouth, you’re going to get drool on my new floors” the princess joked, JOKED?!? She circled Twilight, using her goddess-like power to raise the purple pony’s jaw, which slapped up against the rest of the blank face that seemed to be plastered on. Twilight stared ahead, unable to comprehend what was happening anymore.

“Oh noo~” Nightmare said in a fake concerned tone, placing her hooves on her face in a worried expression “don’t tell me I broke you already! I was hoping to get some more fun first.” Nightmare’s hair whipped across Twilight’s flank, startling her out of her stupor.

The purple unicorn quickly backed away from Nightmare, the panicked look quickly reforming on her face “w- what’s going on?” she squeaked.

“Oh you know, coup of the millennia, nighttime eternal, getting furniture to match the new scene. I mean honestly all this gold and red just isn’t going to work out” the princess said nonchalantly, walking up towards her new throne.

“No!” Twilight said regaining some of her courage though still trembling “no why are you- why are you acting like this? Why aren’t you-” Nightmare cut her off, looking back at Twilight’s shaking frame “Completely insane? Off my rocker? Loooony? Well, I can’t help that my name is… never mind. I guess I can’t use that terrible joke anymore” and for a split second the princess almost looked… sad.

But that was impossible. You can’t just take over a country and be sad about anything, could you?

Whatever face she was making soon cleared as she perked back up “but let me guess, you’re wondering about my change in demeanor aren’t you? Well truth be told, that whole dark queen thing before. That, was the act. Wasn’t it fun though?” Nightmare quickly turned around and trotted up, coming face to face with Twilight. “Didn’t you have fun? You made all of those friends, and went on an adventure, and even fought a goddess, I know that would be fun in my book.”

Twilight was completely taken off guard, who was this menacing and sarcastic pony in front of her. “Yes… I… I did have fun, but-” Twilight shook her head attempting to dispel her confusion, priorities Sparkle priorities, pull yourself together. She’s just trying to mess with your head, Twilight assured herself. Ooooh if only the princess were here… “Wait! Where’s the princess, the real princess! What have you done with Celestia?!” The student demanded taking a step towards Nightmare.

The Princess’ smile spread from ear to ear. She had been waiting for that question. Quickly slipping into smoke and sliding across the room she solidified, now sitting regally atop the throne. “Oh that tired old mare” Nightmare sneered imposingly.

“Why…. I ATE her of course!!!” the princess’ eyes widened, her pupils grew smaller, and her smile seemed impossibly big for her face “Those sun goddesses are just delectable. Seasoned correctly they can be the finest meal you’d ever eaten. I saved some if you want to try it, no sense in letting it go to waste.”

Twilight stared back in disbelief, mouth agape yet again. She had lost track of how many times she had made this face tonight. “No, you’re lying!” the unicorn struggled.

Nightmare let out another maniac- regular moon princess laugh. “It’s not lying if you don’t expect anypony to believe you” she jested letting out another small laugh that garnered a rather unpleasant look from Twilight. “oooh~ fine… you big party pooper” the princess jested again leaning forward in her chair for emphasis. “Sweety. You can come in now” the princess seemingly called out to nopony.

The great engraved stone doors behind Twilight creaked open as a pony entered the throne room. The guest slowly made their way towards them. While it was still dark in the night lit castle room, Twilight could make out most of her features.

She was a nervous looking unicorn with light pink hair; wavy, with small curls at the ends. With a white coat that seemed to accentu- wait, she had wings. So that would make her a pega-… no… no it couldn’t be.

“Twilight Sparkle…” Nightmare announced. “I introduce to you… Sunny!” Even though Twilight wasn’t looking at the moon princess she could just hear the incredible smile sprawled on her dark face.

“Hello…” Sunny squeaked looking nervously at Twilight “um, Princess Nightmare Moon, it is rather dark in here. If it wouldn’t be too much bother could you-”

“Oh yes, of course, of course, where are my manners?” the princess’ horn glowed and the torches lining the room shot alight in a brilliant white flame. The illumination lit up the room and its occupants.

The light allowed Twilight to examine the white pony after a couple of blinks. She looked… well she looked like any other pony, completely normal. If it were not for her slightly longer horn and wings, Twilight wouldn’t even think that it might be, that it could possibly be… “is that… Princess Celestia?” her voice trembled. Twilight’s eyes then fell to the white alicorn’s flanks, and there it was. Celestia’s sun cutie mark blew any lingering doubts in Twilight’s mind.

“Why yes, she is. And it is quite rude to talk about a pony like that while they are standing in the room with you. Much less look at them in such a… lewd manner” Nightmare said in an annoyed and disgusted tone, though the smile on her face quickly dispelled any belief that she felt either emotion.

Too shocked to pay Nightmare any attention, the purple unicorn stared at sunny with a frightened look on her face. “You’re…” Twilight breathed.

“Celestia?” the pink mane’d pony helped with an unsure tone. “Apparently, or at least that’s what I’ve been told.” Sunny let out an unsure laugh as she stared between Twilight and Nightmare. “Though I like ‘Sunny’ better so um, if you wouldn’t mind...” The white alicorn wasn’t sure if she was supposed to say something else or get some silverware because she felt she could cut this tension with a knife. Oh that was a good one, maybe a joke will break the ice the sun princess thought. It is pretty chilly in here. Oh Sunny you are on a roll, the purveyor of ‘jokes’ complimented herself. Sunny took a deep breath “Should I go get some-”

“What did you do to her?” Twilight blurted out turning back to the residing princess, and away from the now disheartened one.

“Well if you must know… I took away her memories, her power, and all of her experiences” the Princess retorted with a matter of fact look on her face, the smile gone.

“You- you MONSTER!” Twilight choked out, her teacher, her mentor, the closest pony she had ever been to was… was…

“Monster?” Nightmare asked quietly, her eyes set aglow, the torches dwindled as the princess sucked in any ambient light around her.

“Monster?” she didn’t yell, she wasn’t even talking very loudly, but her voice cut through both of the ponies witnessing the scene. The dark princess’ edges shifted as her coat became an inky blackness that reflected not even a hint of light. Her eyes glowed ever brighter “a MONSTER would have sent her sister into the sun for exile!!!” the throne room shook and reverberated with each syllable. The blackness surrounding the princess whipped around the columns and furniture as she floated off her throne towards the two shaking ponies. “Would you like to go live on the sun SUNNY, Twilight seems to think you should, I hear it’s lovely this time of millennia!” the moon princess seethed as she closed in on the two frightened ponies too petrified to even look away.

Twilight knew for certain now that the Nightmare Moon that had crashed the summer sun festival was just acting. This was the real Queen of Equestria, and all her terrible glory.

Nightmare stared at the two quivering beings in front of her as her rage poured out. I lost control again the despondent moon goddess thought. Quickly berating herself she drew back her power to her previous form, relighting the torches she gave a heavy sigh “oh Sunny, I’m so sorry.” Nightmare sat slowly in front of the shuddering, smaller princess. She wrapped her dark hooves around the white pony bringing her in to a tight hug. Sunny flinched at her touch, energy from the dark rage still flowing around her. The terror, however, slowly ebbed away as she gently sank into the soft obsidian fur. “I would never, never hurt you” the moon princess comforted, stroking Sunny’s pink mane with a hoof. “Even if you betrayed me, even if you hurt me, even if… you exiled me for a thousand years, I would never hurt you. I love you so much Sunny.” Sunny’s trembling stopped as Nightmare slowly released her from the hug, small smiles played across both their faces “I love you so much, you know that don’t you?”

Sunny looked deep into the moon princess’ teal eyes and knew “yes, I know. I… I love you too sister” a warm smile spread across the white alicorns face.

“Oh and I love you sis” Nightmare responded bringing Sunny in for another hug, her voice cracking, betraying her emotional state.

The sun princess giggled to herself, burying her face in her sister’s arms “you already said that.”

“S- sister?!?” Twilight cried, interrupting the two hugging princesses who seemed to have forgotten she was even there.

“Oh Twilight Sparkle” Nightmare said with squinted eyes and an evil grin on her face “I especially love you!” letting go of Sunny, Nightmare strolled towards to Twilight, crossing her hooves playfully in front of her as she walked “I love you so much, my little slave” she said coyly.

“I am not a slave!” Twilight responded dejectedly.

“Well not looking like that you’re not” Nightmare retorted bringing her face up to Twilight’s. A small unnoticed blue shimmer ran up the dark alicorn’s horn “and don’t bother trying to take them off, you won’t be able to.”

“Take what-” she looked down at her two hooves. Yup, they were there all right, all purple and hoovy. She slowly looked back at the rest of herself… Yup; she was definitely purple, nothing out of the ordinary here. Just a purple magic unicorn purple pony.

“I think it looks kinda’… pretty” Sunny commented in a helpful tone.

“Pretty? Hah, ha ha. What’s pretty? I’m not wearing anything, yup, completely naked” Twilight responded in a high pitched voice, a small cracked smile on her face with pinprick sized irises of varied size.

Nightmare moon let out a bubbly laugh “oh now I most certainly broke her, what’s wrong Twilight? Don’t you like the clothes your sovereign has bestowed upon you?” she asked flirtatiously, tapping the unicorns new horn bracelet.

This seemed to awaken Twilight up out of whatever delusion she had placed herself in. The unicorn flustered “N- No I I I I do not like these these clothes you have forced on me! I- I look like some kind of… of… oriental belly dancer!”

And that is exactly what she looked like.

Her horn was outfitted with a small violet bracelet, letting down two chains that attached themselves to her tiara of harmony; now a similar shade of silver. On her neck rode a thick, similarly dyed metal bracer with a small silver moon engraved in the centerpiece. Tied to that were two long light purple pieces of easily seen-through silk that were draped loosely along her sides and flank, tied together again to her tail in a small bow. The extra length of silk flowed behind her, drooping between her haunches. The fabric’s end neatly embellished with tassels that nearly hit the floor. On each hoof was adorned a matching silk which spun down each leg in a tight wrapping ending in a small bow just above the base of her hooves. And the most striking piece of apparel was the long pieces of silk that connected her right and left hooves together. The ribbons held a slight similarity to the chains normally worn by the incarcerated. A completely unintentional similarity, a certain alicorn would respond if the subject were ever brought up.

The princess gasped mockingly “and where have you seen ‘oriental belly dancers’ young mare?”

Twilight looked away blushing causing her coat to turn a brighter purple “I’ve read books that have… illustrations” lowering her head she spoke quieter voice to herself “so many illustrations” with wide eyes, and a blushing face, she remembered just what those ponies had been doing in their similar garb.

At the confession Nightmare let out a gleeful laugh “oh by the stars I was informed you were a tad reclusive but I never would have thought that you didn’t get out at all” the way she put emphasis on those last two words caught Twilight’s attention.

“What do you mean by that?!” the purple mare asked incredulously.

“Tell me little filly have you ever even kissed anypony?” the moon princess asked with a sly smile.

“Yes! Of course I-”

“Parents don’t count” Nightmare cut her off.

The red faced pony quickly closed her mouth, looking away to blush yet again “I don’t see how that has any relevance to anything! Much less the current situation” Twilight said in a nervous business-like tone. Though something the princess had said buzzed through the unicorn’s head again “wait, ‘informed’? How do you know about me at all? I don’t imagine the moon gets much reception”.

“I told you before” Nightmare professed, ignoring the little moon comment “I took my sister’s memories, and… reviewed them a bit. Oh don’t give me that look I got her permission first. Now don’t change the subject!” The moon princess’ voice took on a sultry tone “you know, I can help you out with that little… problem of yours.” There it was again thought Twilight. The way she put emphasis on those words made Twilight feel a bit- no! She can’t get caught up in her games, stay focused; there is something much more important to discuss.

“No I think this is the perfect time to change the subject” Twilight said confidently planting herself directly in front of Nightmare Moon. “Because you can’t rule Equestria, you know why?”

“Why?” the princess asked with little enthusiasm.

“Because you would have night eternal, and if it were night eternal than everypony and everything would die from lack of sunlight! Granted, it would take the animals and ponies a bit longer to die than the plants, but that’s beside the point! If everyone were dead, you would have nobody to rule! So you might as well just stop now, and save everyone the trouble of dying.”

The moon goddess paused for a moment before responding “you think it’s the ruling that I want?”

“Huh?”

“Nothing nothing, well I guess we should get down to business. Twilight, Sunny, come with me if you would” the moon princess beckoned, turning away and walking out to the small balcony that overlooked most of Equestria.

Sunny put on a bright smile, lifting a hoof to her head in mock salute as she followed closely “yes ma’am! This is the part you said to look forward to right sis?”

“Yes, it most certainly is” Nightmare replied with a small smile.

Twilight stood perplexed as the two princesses walked away from her “what? What part is this?” she asked quickly as she galloped to catch up.

The two alicorns were sitting on the balcony staring up into the star filled sky when Twilight joined them. Nightmare let in a deep breath as she inhaled the magic of the night, gathering her power. “Hold on to your socks” she said in a dramatic voice looking at the purple unicorn “here comes the magic part.”

Twilight scoffed, “these” she held up one of her silk adorned hooves “are not-” a flash of light from Nightmare’s horn interrupted her. Magic was definitely coming, strong magic.

Twilight had seen Princess Celestia raise the sun and moon countless times and it didn’t take near as much effort as it appeared Nightmare Moon to be putting into it. The unicorn’s mind raced. Maybe she was weaker than her sister, no that couldn’t be it; maybe she wasn’t just raising a spatial entity. Though compared to that how many things could be harder?!

Twilight’s thoughts buzzed with the possibilities while Nightmare’s horn developed a cone of pure magic that encased it. Her forehead became completely hidden behind a sheet of blinding light. This is it girl, the princess thought to herself. Sink or swim, if you can’t do this then- No, that’s not going to happen, you can do this. You. Can. Do. This. Concentrate.

Wind was whipping around the group at the moon princess’ labor, except it wasn’t wind, it was night. Night was whipping around the group, smells of the crisp dark air. Sounds of the nocturnal animals making their rounds. Memories of the beautiful starry sky, the pearl colored moon, nights in solitude. The feeling of night invaded every sense.

Light began to peek over the edge of the world, not in shades of orange and yellow. No, there were no shades. This light was pure white and it mixed only minimally with the dark night around it sending off a small white corona. It shone with a purity that would make poets speak of its appearance in despairing tones, for they did not have enough words to describe it. Some tried and came pretty close though.

What rose above the horizon wasn’t the sun, but the moon. Not The Moon, but a moon. A moon with not a single crater marking its surface, shining with its own magical white light. A light that spread across all of Equestria. The colors from the surface’s plants and rivers rebounding more vivid than they ever did before.

And so the night stayed.

Behind the new moon shadowed the blackness of night, with pinpricks of stars poking through. As the new moon rose through the sky the stars just as visible as they were during the night bent around their new sibling in the sky. The earth was lit and the sky was black, a more surreal sight would be hard to find. And it was beautiful.

Twilight and Sunny were speechless, staring at this miracle before them. Twilight broke the silence “this… is amazing, the stars are exactly as they should be! There’s Altair, and and Arcturus, and there, there’s Capella” Twilight gushed like a school filly meeting a famous… star. “This is amazing! This is impossible!”

Twilight’s words began mumbling together as she talked faster and faster “the light coming offa thatthatthat moon is enough to light the ground just as much as the sun maybe even brighter which would mean that the atmosphere should be just as visible or more so absorbing and scattering the light before it hits the---” time passed. Then Twilight breathed, a huge smile playing across her face “it’s impossible, how did you do this?” she questioned looking back at Nightmare.

The princess scoffed “well it’s good to know at least some ponies will appreciate how… how hard that… was” suddenly she collapsed. Falling to her knees, her head lulling forward as her eyes unfocused a soft cry escaping her lips.

“Sister!” Sunny cried rushing to the moon princess’ side.

“I’m fine, I’m… fine” the moon princess weakly looked up at Sunny reassuringly “it just took a bit more out of me than I thought it would, I’m fine.” A low groan liberated itself from her heaving lungs “just… just let me sit here for a bit.”

Sunny sat with her, a pained expression on her face, not knowing what else she could do “sister…” Sunny whispered.

Nightmare gave a nervous cough as she examined Twilight “hm, the flabbergasted look suits the student well. How many times is that tonight? I lost track myself.”

Twilight was indeed flabbergasted, and it showed. Tonight had held one shocking surprise after another “how… why-”

“I’m afraid I’m going to have to cut you off there, there’s a bit of an important matter we need to discuss at the moment” the princess donned a somber face, her eyes unblinkingly trained on Twilight. “First, say my name.”

Twilight couldn’t help but comply with the demand. “… Nightmare Moon” the unicorn slowly announced.

“Good, you know who I am.” Nightmare lifted her head. “Sister to Celestia, ruler of Equestria, I will have night eternal, my subjects will live normally and happy… along with my sister as well. Nopony will be hurt through my actions as long as I am on the throne, and Equestria will thrive in peace and prosperity. So, there is just one thing I need to ask you.” Twilight froze; she knew the next question before the dark princess sitting in front of her asked

“Twilight Sparkle, will you stand against me?”

End Chapter 1

Restless Repose and Rescue

Nightmares Don’t Last Forever
Chapter 2

“Yes”

Twilight squeezed her eyes shut, expecting to be blasted to the sun at any moment for not showing allegiance to her new ruler.

A soft laugh answered “Well then I guess you had better get on with it.”

The purple unicorn opened an eye inquisitively still expecting some sort of discomforting repercussion. Many, many discomforting repercussions. Most scenarios spinning through her head involved copious amounts of dungeons and chains, and yet Nightmare Moon was just sitting serenely across from her. Flanking the moon princess sat her sister Sunny, the goddess previously known as Princess Celestia; a white alicorn who was busily trying to hide her distressed state with any number of distracting things around the balcony. Sunny was currently picking at a small crack in the floor, feeling yet again like she really didn’t, and shouldn’t, be around for so serious a conversation.

“Get on with what?” An inquisitive Twilight ventured. This has to be another one of her tricks the purple unicorn determined.

“Why, stopping me of course” Nightmare stated with a wide grin. “You aren’t going to get a much better time than now to do it. I mean just look how weak I am~” the princess voiced in a high pitched whiny tone. “I’m sure even your little yellow and pink friend could take me in my current state.” Time passed and the dark pony began tapping her hoof in mock annoyance “Well get on with it, it’s not like I have all ‘day’. Just blast me with some fire or maybe you want to use your signature special move, ‘Star Sparkle’ on me!”

“I’m not going to hurt you! And I most certainly do not have a signature move. And even if I did I wouldn’t call it that” Twilight said getting a little annoyed with the princess’ constant antics. Then the current situation dawned on Twilight. I… I could take her, couldn’t I? I mean, defeat her, Twilight quickly corrected herself. But I couldn’t just hurt a defenseless pony that isn’t fighting back, even if they were an evil, sarcastic, troublesome witch. “I… I’m not going to hurt you”. A thought surfaced in Twilight’s mind, spreading into a smug grin on her face “I’m just going to force you tell me how to restore Sunny, I mean Celestia… to her real self” Twilight said in a confident tone.

Sunny perked up at her mention. The floor had been a great distraction. She looked between Twilight and Nightmare, trying to read the mood. Oh, still tense huh? Sunny thought drearily. The mini sun princess’ thoughts turned inward, Twilight’s last remark compelling her to wonder just who her ‘self’ really was. I may have only a couple hours of memories but it doesn’t take a detective to figure out that I probably wasn’t the most social of ponies if this awkwardness I feel around other ponies is any clue. Though what kind of pony am I exactly? Let’s see, I like jokes, there’s an important discussion going on and I’m trying to ignore it so I’m probably very carefree, I’m very open and casual… as long as it’s around ponies I know, which is just my sister for right now, does that make me shy? Yeah I guess it does. But I would like to get to know Twilight Sparkle as well, she seems like such a nice pony. Which means I’m not antisocial at least, Sunny thought happily to herself. Oh I do so hope I can get to know more ponies, though I’m obviously no good at these tense discussions. I guess I’ll just resign to my personality and keep quiet while sister takes care of all the important stuff, the thought relieving the goddess of a great amount of worry.

During Sunny’s inward musings, Nightmare had gently picked herself up. She wobbled slightly while she addressed the purple pony in her now standard sarcastic tone “Sorry Sparkle, but even if you did have the skills to, coerce, the information out of me. I no longer have the means to restore my sister’s memories”

Twilight’s heart sunk, her demeanor deflating “No… you’re just lying again!” Twilight made a step towards Nightmare a desperate look on her face “just- just tell me!” A purple shimmer sprang up from Twilight’s horn.

“Easy now” Nightmare took a few short steps towards the purple unicorn, the effort making her wince. “Twilight, you are going to be interacting with me a lot in the future. And to make this go as smoothly as possible there’s something that I’m going to have to give you to stay by my side.”

Unease permeated Twilight’s voice “What are you giving me?” The purple unicorn kept her horn lit with caution at how close the dark princess was getting. Twilight gulped down the dread building in her throat, her slight muscles strung taught against her frame. Nightmare lowered her head, bringing her teal eyes level with Twilight’s violet. Her eyes, they’re so… exotic, the observation floated through Twilight’s head as she lost her train of thought. So much like a dragon’s, the teal color seemed to be drawing her focus like a gentle swirling whirlpool. The purple unicorn was lost in their depths.

“The truth.”

“Huh, whah?” Twilight snapped back into reality

“I’m going to give you the truth, all the time. I will never lie to you, and you will serve under me as my personal… attendant? We’ll think of a proper title for you later” Nightmare’s normal snappy mannerisms quickly returned. “But for now, I am feeling so very, very exhausted. Let us retire for the morning shall we?”

At the mere mention of rest the purple unicorn realized just how exhausted she was. She had a right to be exhausted, not only did she fail to sleep the previous night, but she braved the Everfree Forest, fought a goddess, and perhaps most taxing of all was dealing with said goddess in these last few conversations. And with the thought of rest came the overpowering sense of failure, and just how unfinished things seemed. I… can’t rest can I? I’ve been through so much these last two days. And it was all for nothing! I lost. I lost everything. These dark thoughts scattered through the unicorn’s mind, the weight of it all spread across her body.

Nightmare’s new sun must be increasing the gravity too somehow, I feel so heavy. The thought made no sense yet Twilight paid it no mind, her attention drifting back to her failures. I failed, I failed I failed I failed everyone. Twilight’s eyes watered as she fell to her knees. What am I supposed to do now?

“You’re supposed to be escorting me to bed” Nightmare said with a huff. The princess lit her horn and brought it down to Twilights head. The second it touched all of the purple unicorn’s apprehensions and misgivings were pulled away like cobwebs from her thoughts.

Twilight jumped back up, the weights on her lifted “How did you- what did- did you read my mind?!?” Twilight yelled in disbelief.

“Well, it’s not like I was trying to” Nightmare said indignantly. “You were practically yelling out your feelings, and our thought patterns are eerily in tune. Oh oh! Check this out” the moon princess bubbled in excitement. Testing TESTING 1 2 3, do you read me Twilight Sparkle? The princess yelled in her head.

“AH! Stop that!” Nightmare’s words sprang directly into Twilight’s brain.

The princess giggled at her attendant’s expense “Oh this is going to be fun. Just remember to keep your thoughts on a lower setting from now on. The more you feel about something the more it’s going to get leaked out. Fair warning, I’m not the only pony that’s adept at mind magic.” A smirk forms on Nightmare’s face. “Make sure especially to keep a lid on thoughts of the more, provocative nature. We wouldn’t want anypony else finding out your little tics, now would we?”

“I- I do not have provocative thoughts!” Twilight sputtered back

“You do now~”

An image popped up in Twilights head “AAAAAAAH I did not think that!”

Nightmare burst out laughing, earning her another death glare from Twilight.

Nightmare wobbled again “Oooh boy, I am losing it, way past my bedtime.” The princess looked down at Twilight who seemed to be suffering from similar sleep deprival symptoms. “Past both our bedtimes it seems.” Nightmare glanced behind her “Oh Sunny, would you mind lending us a shoulder? It would appear that both of us have forgotten how to walk.”

Sunny jumped at the chance to be included in the activities again. She had just gotten done counting the leaves on the nearby tree and had no idea what to do next. “Oh yes of course sister!”

“Wha-oh, I don’t think I need help walking-” Twilight began

Sunny swooped in between Twilight and Nightmare “Nonsense, you look like you’re about to fall over any second!” The sun princess extended her wings and wrapped them over the two ponies beside her, bringing them in to rest against her. “OH...” Sunny gasped, realizing just how forward she was being with her new acquaintance “Well, I mean, you really don’t have to- I don’t- if you don’t need my help, that’s ok too.” Sunny looked away nervously

“No no, it’s ok… Sunny” Twilight conceded. “Thank you very much, that is very nice of you” Twilight took some weight off of her tired legs as she rested up against her past mentor. They began their trek off the balcony, and through the castle’s arching marble corridors. “If only your sister were as thoughtful and considerate as you are” The unicorn said shooting a smirk over at Nightmare, who promptly sent back a stuck out tongue. The act of which forcing Twilight to cast a scrunchy face at the dark princess, who deemed it necessary to make an equally silly face by puffing up her cheeks.

A sun goddess’s giggle interrupted the exchange. “Thanks Twilight. By the way, the funny faces store had just called, and they were wondering if you could give them their funny faces back!” another giggle escaped the goddess’ lips at her own joke.

Polite, pity laughs escaped from the other two, each finding something else in the empty hallways to pretend to look at instead of Sunny.

“Eeeh, good one Sunny”

“Ha ha, yeah…”

A happily content Sunny accepted the new silence as another confrontation successfully averted. Oh, I must have been the best comedian princess ever, the “best comedian princess” thought to herself.

The trio walked along in silence until they reached the royal bedchambers. The room’s door crafted in a similar fashion to the one leading in to the throne room, though this one was considerably smaller. It arched high above anypony’s head, with two large engraved double doors sitting majestically against the elegant stone masonry that surrounded it. Sunny magically opened the doors which lead to a large circular domed room. Opposite the doorway stood an archway leading out to a small balcony that let in plenty of the new light coming from the bright moon.

The room was decorated with silver and gold banners and linings hanging from the walls. Down their line of sight the room seemed to be mirrored on either side with furniture suitable for a bedroom. Both sides had matching desks and dressers with seemed to try and keep the mesh of light and darker colors together as gold and silver lined each one evenly. The only noticeable differences in furniture style were the two large ornate beds lined against opposite ends of the wall. The left bed held soft pink covers and drapes, while the right sported a darker blue.

As Twilight took account of the contents of room she realized that she may be the only non-goddess pony to have set foot in these bedchambers since… ever. Princess Celestia’s room had always been private, even from her most faithful student. Twilight noticed the cluttered sun princess’ desk and general side of the room, and how in contrast the opposite side seemed completely devoid of any life. This can’t be a new addition, pondered Twilight. This furniture looks incredibly old. How long has Celestia had her room like this?

“Uuuuhg too bright!” Nightmare moaned. The heavy curtains hanging over the archway leading to the balcony fell as blue magical energy wrapped around them, shielding the room from the moonlight and plunging the occupants into a half-darkness, though small slivers of light still permeated the edges of the drapes. “Aah, that’s better. And yes, Sparkles, apparently the room has been like this since the castle was built, and no, I wasn’t reading your mind.” Nightmare stuck out her tongue “You’re just easy to follow.”

Twilight replied with a soft humph and mumble about the incorrect usage of her name and how she wasn’t thinking about that at all. The moon princess giggled as she put her full weight back on her hooves. Nightmare stretched and trotted over to the dark blue bed “Thank you very much for the escort Sunny. Now for some much needed rest.”

“No problem sis” Beamed Sunny as she began walking to her own appropriately colored bed.

“Well? Are you coming my little pony?” Nightmare said in a saucy tone, slowing down on her trot to sway her hips seductively “You must be so tired…”

“Wait, what? No, I am not sleeping in the same bed as you” Twilight said adamantly, also I don’t trust you to keep your dark little hooves to yourself. “I’m going to sleep with Ce-Sunny.” The unicorn scoffed and trotted slowly to the pink bed. Abruptly a blue corona surrounded Twilight, lifting her off the ground and above the dark blue bed the moon princess was now laying on.

“Oh Twilight~” Nightmare cooed “You act as if you have a choice.” Down plopped a frowning purple unicorn, her arms folded in defiant acceptance of her current situation. “Oh, and one more thing…” Nightmare leaned herself closer to Twilight, and lowered her head down to the purple unicorn’s horn. The moon pincess’s breath flowed across Twilights bangs, brushing them away from her forehead. The alicorn lightly tapped the silver bracelet with her snout. Lingering for a bit, the princess blew out a warm gust of air through her nose that hit Twilight’s horn dead on. Noting the small shiver play across the smaller pony’s body Nightmare smirked and pulled away “There, all naked and ready for bed.”

“What did-” Twilight looked down to realize that she was indeed without her garments, though at Nightmare’s comment wishing she was clothed in anything at the moment. The bracelet still adorning her horn hardly made a difference.

“Just a tap of that bracelet will bring out and pull back your lovely new outfit and tiara. Pretty handy huh?” Nightmare boasted

“Fascinating” Twilight said with a vacant uninterested face while Nightmare tapped the bracelet with her hoof a couple more times playfully. The garments swished in and out of the accessory at each of the moon princess’ tap.

“Oh, don’t pretend you aren’t simply frothing with questions as to how it works” Nightmare said, a quick flash from dark her horn liberated her own armor.

The scene gave pause to Twilight’s apathetic demeanor, awestruck with just how slender the moon princess looked without all of her intimidating armor. She might even be more fragile looking than Princess Celestia. Though she somehow kept that look of strength that let you know she could lop your head off with a flick of her hoof. And her star filled mane… Nightmare’s helmet must have been holding most of it down as it now naturally filled up the top of her head and surrounding her even more beautifully. The night mane even came forward a bit to cover one of her eyes a bit like Celestia’s hair had done. Twilight watched as the princess slipped under the covers across from her at the head of the bed. She moves so elegantly, even when- Twilight shook her head at what the princess just said, choosing to examine anything else at the moment “Uhhhg” how would I even ‘froth’ with questions. Twilight smartly chose not to argue with the alicorn on the subject. Later, when I’m not so exhausted, she determined.

“Well then, I guess I’ll be going to bed now. On this side of the bed” the purple unicorn stated flatly pointing to the foot of the bed as she grabbed one of the fluffy pillows. Luckily the bed was large enough that the two wouldn’t be meeting hooves in the middle, even if Twilight were as tall as Nightmare. The fact brought at least some solace to the unicorn.

“But what if I get cooold?” The moon princess whined in response.

“Goodnight!” Twilight snapped

“Good morning” A soft voice from the other side of the room corrected, followed by a small giggle.

A similar giggle came from the head of her bed “Good morning, Twilight Sparkle”

A light, grudging good morning and Twilight slipped under the covers, drifting off to sleep. Or, at least, that is what she would have liked to do. Unfortunately her mind was still buzzing, trying to sort out everything that had happened this long day, and then decide what to do with the future, and on what her new friends were doing, and if Spike will be ok, and if she left the oven on in that tree house in Ponyville, and that she had only been in it for a couple of hours and it was extremely silly to even think the oven would have-beside the point. She had a lot on her mind, and sleep was not going to come graciously to this purple pony.

After a few tries to shut off her brain, which took a good 30 minutes or so, Twilight gave up and deemed it impossible. Maybe I can try counting gems hopping over a fence, Twilight considered. Spike had said that worked for him plenty of times. Though maybe I should try a food I like. Is that the reason why he does that, because he likes gems? Or is it because of the aesthetic appearance that lulls him to sleep. I’ll have to perform a test, tonight I’ll count gems, and tomorrow I’ll count… grapes, or something. I like grapes. Oh but what if I don’t go to sleep at- something stirred on the other side of her bed, interrupting her train of thought. Twilight had nearly forgotten that she was sharing a bed with the current tyrant of Equestria. She peeked through a half closed eye to see if she could spot anything in the still darkness.

There! A large bulge in the sheets was steadily moving closer to her. It snuck quietly, and with as little disturbance to the bed as possible, and it was coming straight at her. Twilight was a quick thinker, or rather quick to jump to conclusions, and it didn’t take her long to figure out just what was going to happen now.

Twilight froze and her muscles clenched in fear. Ok Twilight, Twilight began talking to Twilight. You thought something like this would happen, it’s definitely not a surprise or anything. Especially after what she had you dressed in. Just stay calm and enact the plan you concocted for this very occasion.

Twilight hadn’t concocted any plans.

AAAAAAAH Horsefeathers! Hay! Horsefeathers! Horsefeathering Hay Celestia! I haven’t concocted any plan for this! I just wished really really really hard that it wouldn’t happen. The unicorn screamed silently to herself. I mean what am I supposed to do, just say ‘no’!? ‘No means No, my queen. Now I know that you could take me whether I agreed to it or not, but I have faith you’re going to respect my wishes and- oh by Celestia why are there tentacles coming out of your hair?!?’ Yes that is exactly what is going to happen, and they will be going everywhere!

Nightmare had just popped out of the covers directly behind Twilight, laying her head down on the same pillow. The purple unicorn could feel the princess’ hot breath playing against the back of her neck. She shivered uncontrollably at the heat. No, don’t do that! She yelled at herself, this isn’t enjoyable, you aren’t going to enjoy it. Oh! I know, just pretend you’re asleep, she definitely won’t do anything if you’re sleeping. Oh horsefeathers that is so dumb that is the dumbest thing ever dumb dumb dumby dumb, oh Celestia why isn’t she talking? I expected her to be taunting me in my powerless, weak, feeble, helplessness by now.

Nightmare’s front hoof lifted up and slowly traveled across Twilight’s upturned side, coming to a rest on her stomach. Twilight bit her lip harshly to keep herself from reacting to it. Why isn’t she saying anything, why isn’t she talking, she should be talking, the purple unicorn went through the possibilities. The hoof pulled her in, Twilight’s mind let out a small squeak in surprise though thanks to the biting she was able to suppress it before it escaped from her mouth. She was now pressing tightly against Nightmare’s stomach. The princess’ breathing and heartbeat could be clearly felt against Twilight’s back, the hoof twisted even tighter around Twilight’s abdomen. Nightmare’s larger form encircled Twilight in a curve that mirrored the moon. A single thought crossed both of the pony’s minds as their racing thoughts stilled, allowing them to drift off to sleep.

‘Warm’.

Sunny trotted down the long marble halls whistling a bright morning tune. She had just left the royal kitchen after preparing two meals for her dearest sister and hopeful new friend. The alicorn carried the newly made meals on a pair of foldable table trays, balanced squarely on her rump. Some forethought compelled her to bring along two cups of black bubbling coffee, with some cream and sugar in case they preferred their coffee a little sweeter. Sunny didn’t know how she knew what coffee was, with having her memories taken and everything. But she didn’t dwell on it seeing as it was magic and she didn’t have to explain it to anyone. Or she hoped she wouldn’t have to at least.

Sunny opened the doors leading back into the silent, dark bedchambers with Nightmare Moon and Twilight were still sleeping soundly on their bed. The sun princess had gotten up only a short while ago and thought that her two roommates would enjoy a nice breakfast when they woke up. It was now the middle of the day, the three ponies having slept for around 6 hours. Not a complete night’s sleep, but I can’t just have them wasting this new beautiful, day Sunny thought cheerily to herself.

Sunny extended the legs on the trays and plopped them down next to the bed, crawling out from underneath them. Looking towards the bunk, the white pony saw Twilight and Nightmare lying tangled up in the sheets in a bit of a compromising manner, but looking comfortable enough. “Some ponies must not be very good at sleeping” Giggled Sunny, examining the small mound of pony. Nightmare had curled into a ball, the sheets weaving in, out, and around her haphazardly, while in her dark hoofs were held a dark blue tail with purple and pink streaks going through it. Connected to that tail was one purple rump belonging to Twilight, who was entwined equally in fabric as well as in Nightmare Moon. The purple unicorn was hugging one of the dark princess’ back legs while her head rested on her crescent moon cutie mark. This scene, Sunny determined, was adorable. Yes, this is definitely what adorable means.

Sunny trotted over to the large curtains blocking the sunlight from entering the room. “Rise and shine girls!” The princess yelled as she pulled back the curtains. Light rushed into the room, much to the discomfort of the two sleeping ponies.

Annoyed hissing emanated from the bed, oddly enough from both of the ponies; neither of whom felt like rising nor shining today. Sunny giggled to herself again. Oh gosh those tired ponies really do need to ‘snake’ up! Ha ha, oh Sunny you are just too ‘punny’! Sunny snorted at her own pun mastery. The ‘punny’ alicorn headed back towards the two groaning ponies, a huge smile covering her face “Come on sleepy heads, I even got your breakfasts here. Though I guess it is a little late for breakfast. Are you guys ok with eating breakfast? I can go make something else if you want.” Sunny said in an apologizing tone.

Nightmare sat up, still holding Twilight’s tail “No… no…” she yawned “No it’s ok Sunny, breakfast sounds lovely.” Twilight, still too faint to think coherently, was groaning and trying to figure out why her butt was currently floating in the air. Twilight’s back legs kicked in confusion, alerting Nightmare that she was still holding the purple streaked tail; and that that tail was still connected to a pony. The moon princess briskly let go of the tail, landing Twilight squarely on her lap. “Ooooy, ge’ off!” Nightmare mumbled, shoving Twilight off and onto her back.

Twilight shaken from sleep, but not fully was now wondering why she was flying. The unicorn began kicking the air experimentally before resigning that she just didn’t care enough and wanted to go back to sleep. Her legs feebly went slack and fell quite unceremoniously to either side of her, giving the other two ponies quite a view.

“Oooh, Twilight Sprkle” The moon princess still drunk on sleep, slurred “I did not exchpect you to present yourself to me so shoon. I guess I have no choice… but to ravage you!”

“S-Sister!” Sunny exclaimed, shocked at her sister’s words.

But Nightmare wasn’t listening. There was only her, and this delicious purple mare in front of her. The dark princess opened her smiling jaws wide, and dove right in.

The alicorn gnawed at Twilight’s exposed belly. Biting haphazardly at the chunks taken into her mouth and blowing raspberries into the purple fur, Nightmare showed no remorse. Twilights eyes flashed open, chortling escaped her mouth in loud burst “AH NO haahaha NO STOP!” Twilight pleaded through bursts of laughter. The pleading only made Nightmare’s tickling harder.

“… So that’s how you ravage a pony” Sunny looked on in fascinated embarrassment before modesty compelled her to speak “Uuh… your food is going to get cold” Sunny squeaked, blushing. “Is it… is it normal for ponies to be so, um… familiar with each other like that?”

The silly ponies paused and looked down at the red faced alicorn. They coughed uncomfortably and straightened up on the bed, Twilight speaking up to break the awkward silence “Well no not really. Ponies only feel comfortable letting other ponies touch them when they have become friends, or are at least know each other very well.” Twilight glared at Nightmare for her rude awakening. “Unfortunately some ponies don’t know the meaning of personal space!”

“That’s not what you were saying last night” Nightmare sneered back with a grin.

“Oh my~” Sunny lowered hear head and used her hair to hide most of her face. She looked around the room to see if there was something else she could be doing right now.

“Fwha what no NO, nothing happened last night! Sunny nothing happened!” Twilight sputtered. “I-I-I-I mean I wouldn’t even-” Twilight sniffed the air. “Is… is that coffee?” the purple unicorn stared hungrily at the trays.

Nightmare perked up, noticing the distinct smell herself “Coffee? What’s coffee?”

Sunny stared blankly at her “… I have no idea. But, uh, I brought some!”

Twilight leaned closer to inspect the dark brew. She sniffed at it experimentally, not completely sure in Sunny’s coffee making skills. Just a small whiff, however, and surprise shot through the unicorn’s body. “Oh my gosh! This is the royal coffee, it’s only ever brought out during special occasions it has been forever since I’ve had a cup can I really have this Sunny!?” The unicorn managed to say in one breath, a hopeful smile shined directly at the sun princess.

“What is it?” Nightmare reiterated, eying her coffee with caution.

“Oh of course Twilight! Every morning is a special occasion when you’re with somepony else” Sunny cheerily replied

“What. Is. It.”

“Oooooh thankyouthankyouthankyou this is just what I need right now!” The purple pony praised. Twilight grabbed the cup between her hooves and brought it halfway to her eager mouth when she felt a small tap on her enchanted horn bracelet. The oriental outfit flew out over the confused pony as she looked over to see a tight lipped, pouting Nightmare Moon.

Twilight gave an embarrassed cough into a free hoof “Oh. Well. Um, coffee is a brewed beverage prepared from the beans of the coffee plant. It was originally discovere-”

“Uuuuuuhg just tell me why it’s so amazing” Nightmare moaned.

“Well I was getting to that! Coffee is most often used for its energizing properties, usually in the mornings or late at night when, for ponies like myself, really need a good pick-me-up.” Twilight stared at the apprehensive alicorn. “Just try it!”

Nightmare brought the cup of warm dark liquid up to her mouth. Banzai, Nightmare thought uncertainly, and then she threw her head back and gulped down a couple swallows of her drink. She suddenly stopped and brought the cup slowly away from her face. Nightmare turned to Twilight, who was watching with interest at how her reaction would be to the experience. Twilight was not disappointed as Nightmare grew a stern, serious expression.

“This is the best thing ever” The night princess swiftly brought the magical elixir back to her mouth for more.

The purple pony giggled at the sight of Nightmare Moon ravenously drinking a cup of coffee. She remembered her first time trying this drink and how similarly she had reacted. It was Celestia that gave me my first cup, Twilight reminisced staring into her own cup with a small smile. Granted it wasn’t as good as the royal brew but it was still really good, and it helped me get up for those early morning lessons after a night full of stargazing and studying. The unicorn shook her head to disperse the memories. There’s no point in thinking about any of that stuff now, I suppose.

Twilight eagerly drank her own cup, a content sigh slipped from her after each long sip of pure dark liquid. “Mmm, no sugar or cream necessary” The unicorn breathed, setting down her cup and pulling over her bowl of cinnamon oatmeal.

“Hey Sunny, aren’t you going to eat too?” Twilight questioned before sinking her nose into the bowl of food.

“Oh yes, of course, but I don’t eat food like you do!” Sunny cheerily said as she walked closer to the balcony.

Twilight stopped eating. The unicorn carefully raised her head out of the bowl, a couple pieces of oatmeal still clinging to her chin and nose. She turned her head to look at Sunny with a pensive look on her face “Uh… come again?”

“Yup, I eat the sun’s rays! I am a sun goddess after all” the sun goddess stated matter of factly. She turned towards the moon-sun and took a long deep breath. She closed her mouth sharply, trapping a good amount of air and… sun rays… which puffed out her cheeks considerably. The alicorn then swallowed the contents of her mouth and looked back at Twilight “and there we go, all re-energized… I think. Maybe I need to do it a couple more times…”

Twilight sat shocked, she had never known Princess Celestia to have done anything like this. Movement from beside Twilight caught her eye. The purple pony’s blank stare moved to the moon goddess who was shaking, hunched over, face first in her own bowl of oatmeal. Nightmare’s front legs were wrapped around the top of her head, covering all parts of her face.

“… you didn’t” Twilight breathed. Nightmare responded with even more shaking and a couple squeaks that had escaped her tight lips. “Sunny! Don’t listen to your sister, she’s playing a joke on you!”

“Huh?” Sunny stared back quizzically.

Loud muffled guffaws emanated from the oatmeal. Twilight huffed at Nightmare “You can’t eat the sun’s rays Sunny, you eat food like everypony else”.

“But…” Sunny looked even more confused as Nightmare fell back on the bed, rolling over it in laughter. The sun princess’ face quickly changed to anger and embarrassment. The goddess turned a bright red and puffed out her cheeks, daggers were thrown from her eyes at Nightmare “SIS! That is not funny!”

“HAHA, oh yeah? And I suppose you know what funny is?” The dark princess quieted her laughing to respond, small hiccups and giggles popping up instead.

“Yes!” The white alicorn pouted. “Like- like this morning, when I opened the curtains, and you two hissed. Something funny would be like ‘oh boy, those two ponies really need to, snake, up’!”

Nightmare stopped laughing and Twilight turned back to her food.

The dark princess sat bolt upright, a stoic unmoving, pitying expression filled her face. “Oh Sunny… I’m so, so sorry” The dark princess said sincerely.

Sunny pouted again with her puffed out cheeks “well, as long as you apologize it’s ok. Just make sure you know what’s funny.” The sun princess missed the real reason for the apology entirely.

Twilight was simply relieved to know Sunny couldn’t see that she shared the same pitying, stoic face as Nightmare. The purple pony felt just as sorry for the alicorn as the moon princess did. Oh… oh Sunny, Twilight grimaced, that was just horrible. These thoughts could never be said to the sun princess’ face.

“You can have my food Sunny.”

“I’m really not that hungry either.”

Twilight played with the silk that draped over her sides, lifting pieces up with her hoof and letting it fall back over her. “So, when is this thing supposed to be happening?” The unicorn tiredly asked Nightmare for the third time. The student sighed and rested her head on the dark blue carpeting that lead to the throne. Both Twilight and Sunny were seated diagonally in front of the sovereign’s chair, on which sat an equally bored Nightmare Moon.

“They should be coming soon” She absentmindedly replied “or at least I should hope they do. I gave the castle servants and guards the day off today in preparation for their arrival.” The three ponies had spent a good amount of the afternoon lounging in the throne room after the breakfast fiasco, waiting for whatever it was that Nightmare Moon had planned. The princess had instructed Sunny and Twilight separately on what their orders were to be after they entered the throne room. The ponies then spent the last couple hours making idle banter concerning the moon’s temperature, whether or not Nightmare was an old hag, how Twilight’s only friends before yesterday were encyclopedias, and bearing through the awkward silence that always permeated the room after one of Sunny’s jokes.

“Huh…” Twilight mumbled through one of her legs that she moved under her head for more cushioning “I was wondering where all the staff was. I just assumed you ate them or something.”

“Keep up that tone missy and I’m going to eat you too” Nightmare shot back in a hearty tone. “Unless that’s what you were hoping for. And by the way, you taste like some sort of exotic fruit”

Twilight jerked her head up “I assure you I do not!” the unicorn adamantly retorted. Do I… do I really taste like that? It’s not like I can taste myself, Twilight thought to herself.

“Oh yes, you most certainly do. Like some sort of dark and forbidden fruit from the recesses of an unknown jungle.” Nightmare licked her lips “I wonder what the other parts of your taste like…” the dark princess whispered just loud enough for Twilight to hear.

A faint, almost inaudible knocking on the large doors leading into the throne room interrupted Twilight as she was just breathing in to begin her long winded rebuttal.

“Sunny, you remember your instructions?” Nightmare asked, getting a sharp nod in return from the white alicorn. “And you Twilight?”

Again another set of knocks came from the door, somehow even quieter than the first set.

“All you told me was to keep my trap shut!” Twilight hastily hissed back, aware that the door could burst open at any second.

“Just making sure you can remember that much” Nightmare sneered at a glaring unicorn.

The doors slowly creaked open, the intruding object became visible. An extremely large cake rolled into the throne room on squeaky wheels. The squeaks filled the air as the car slowly made its way to the center of the room. The cake stopped, and from behind it stepped a meek looking yellow pegasus pony who had been apparently pushing it. The new pony had luscious flowing golden hair with a cake cutie mark adorning her flanks.

She spoke in a quiet whisper that the other ponies in the room had to strain to hear “Oh, hello miss, um, dark Queen Nightmare Moon, uh, I heard that you… took over Equestria, so I made you a cake” a large unsure smile crossed the pony’s face as she gestured to the cake. “To… to celebrate?” the pony managed to squeak out. Her wings clutched against her body, appearing to be capable of fainting at any moment.

Twilight gasped as this mysterious never before seen pony’s true identity became evident through her keen deductive skills (who could it be). “What are-” Twilight blurted out, only to be interrupted by a muzzle magically winding around her mouth.

“Be quiet slave!” Nightmare commanded. The dark princess’s horn aglow fastened the muzzle on tight, her star filled main whipping across Twilight’s flanks for emphasis.

“Mpfh!” Twilight cried through the muzzle “mfph Mmmfh-” cut off by another whip across her flanks. Grumbling she lowered her head again in unwilling submission, looking back at the small pegasus.

“Um, please don’t do that” the yellow pony whispered.

“What was that, cake maker? You were talking about this lovely cake before we were so rudely interrupted” the dark and intimidating voice that Nightmare had used when she first appeared was back. Venom and malice dripped off of every syllable she uttered.

“Yes, um, yes, it’s a cake I baked… for you?” The pegasus weakly replied.

Twilight took notice of just how large this cake really was. Large enough to hold say, four ponies, easily. They… couldn’t have. They couldn’t possibly be doing this, Twilight thought. What could they possibly hope to accomplish? They don’t think they could possibly defeat Nightmare Moon, do they? Twilight looked pleadingly at the fidgeting pony. They wouldn’t even stand a chance.

The buttercup pegasus met Twilight’s eyes; she smiled nervously, and squeaked.

End Chapter 2

Veils of Vassals and Villains

Nightmares Don’t Last Forever
Chapter 3

Nightmare Moon sniffed the air, “Hm, yes, it smells suitable enough for my tastes. I am quite hungry, baker. Let's cut open this cake now!” a large, ethereal knife appeared just in front of the moon princess. Nightmare took the knife with her magic, and pointed it menacingly at the cake.

“NO!” The yellow pegasus screamed, jumping in between the knife and cake with her arms outstretched to block its path. “I… I mean it’s… not ready yet…” The pony knocked a couple times on the cake, hollow thunks resonated from her taps “See? Definitely not ready” the baker gave an apologetic smile. Her eyes darted around the room wildly, before her hoof tapped on the cake again much more rapidly.

“Yes, I see what you mean, not ready at all. If no cake, then I will simply have to appease my appetite with one of my numerous slaves” Nightmare waved a hoof back to Twilight and Sunny as she licked her lips greedily.

“No! No… um, we just need to wait for...” The small fidgeting pony hid half of her face behind her hair as she scuffed the ground absentmindedly with a hoof. Half a minute of awkward nervous silence passed in the room while Nightmare waited for what this pony was going to say next. The baker looked around the room even more nervously than she was before; the ponies watching thought she was liable to faint any second.

The cake rattled. The pegasus let out a quiet squeak, and ducked behind it. Nightmare and her entourage watched dumfounded as the large cake shook a couple more times, nearly tipping itself over. Muffled words could be heard coming from inside the cake, it almost sounded annoyed.

“Baker… one thousand years have left me quite un-knowledgeable on current pastry dynamics, will the cake be done when it stops shaking and cursing?”

“Um….”

The cake exploded revealing a freckled orange earth pony with a blond ponytail mane standing in its broken midst.

“Yup!” Boomed her echoing response. “But we best not spoil ye’r appetite with sweets!” the earth pony bucked the remaining pieces of the nearby crumbling cake at the shocked princess. Nightmare awkwardly deflected the hardened icing projectiles as she was forced back to her throne. “Have some good ‘ol apples instead!” the orange pony lifted a couple apples out of her saddlebags and with practiced precision launched them lightning fast at the princess’s head.

The dark alicorn ducked leaving the apples to fly through her flowing mane. They hit the head of her throne leaving small apple craters in the apparently soft metal. “The Elements of Harmony!” Nightmare sneered “I should have known you would be coming to rescue your precious little friend eventually.”

Twilight’s ear’s perked up. They… they came to rescue me...? The thought hadn’t even crossed her mind.

“Really, Pinkie, the next time you encase us in a shell of icing, Celestia forbid we ever do this again, it would be good of you to include a door of some sort. Thank goodness Applejack was able to, ‘ahem’, accommodate us with an exit.” A white unicorn with purple curled locks huffed as she used her magic to move the remaining pieces of the cake away. Inside the faux confectionery sat three ponies and one delectably bizarre machine the likes of which most would never have seen.

“Sorry Rarity, I always forget to put doors on these things. And let me tell you some of those ponies have been pretty peeved at me afterward! I never got why they wanted to put a filly in their cake to begin with but the customer is always right I suppose.” the pinkest of ponies giggled in reply. The bubbly filly sat in the middle of the strange apparatus, a strap of licorice secured her to a seat of chewy gummy gum drops. Her hooves rested on pedals of hard candy cane that matched its gears and frame which connected in seemingly random points; and propeller that topped the entire machine. The base of the crafting housing only the finest of, wooden planks... The platform had been a last minute adjustment to the craft to accommodate the extra passengers. There would have been gingerbread or something if the pink pony was given more time.

“Quiet girls” The stetson wearing pony ordered “we got a job ta’ do.” The earth pony turned her steely gaze to the dark princess “you’re right, we’re here ta’ take our friend back. Might as well take that other little filly you got holed up in here as well while we’re at it” the blond pony waved a hoof in Sunny’s direction. “So how ‘bout you just give us what we’re after, and we won’t have ta whoop your dark… evil… as-”

Nightmare’s menacing laughter cut her off “Assuming that you’re even powerful enough to harm me, what makes you think Twilight wants to go back with you at all?” Nightmare dissipated and reappeared next to Twilight, grabbing the unicorn and clutching her close to her black chest. The princess petted Twilight’s blue and pink streaked mane with a hoof “oh the things that I have made her do. Oh, the things that she’s willingly done!” Nightmare grasped the purple unicorn tighter. Closing her eyes the princess let out a satisfied moan “mmm, it’s always the quiet ones. Isn’t that right, little yellow one” Nightmare shot the pegasus pony her most alluring bedroom eyes. The baker squeaked, and hid behind the pink earth pony in response.

Twilight looked on horror-struck at her friends who were glancing away, rubbing the back of their heads, or coughing uncomfortably “Mhmm! Mmmhmmm!” Twilight furiously shook her head, trying to pry free from the moon queen’s vice like grip. “Mh hmm hm hmhm!” She mumbled through her muzzle ineffectively.

“See, look, she doesn’t even want to go back! None of you could love her the way I do… well, maybe if you ganged up on her, and had a whole lot of-”

“Don’t worry none Twilight, we’ll get you out of here and away from that old witch!” Applejack mocked, picking up another set of apples to buck.

Nightmare dropped an exasperated Twilight to the ground. “Oh? And how do you expect to do that my little farmpony?” The princess strode threateningly towards the group of rag-tag mares. “Are you going to toss more apples at me?”

Applejack met Nightmare’s eyes with a determined glare and a smug grin. “When the time comes, yeah, ‘ah will. But first ‘ah just need ta get ya’ away from that pretty throne of yours”

The princess looked back at her throne, annoyance playing across her face “What are you-”.

“It’s called a distraction!” A cyan pegasus with rainbow streaked hair boisterously called while lazing atop the elegant seat. Sunny and Twilight stared, just as surprised at the rainbow pony’s entrance. “Not that I needed a distraction to sneak past you” the haughty pony hopped down from her resting spot. Landing between Twilight and Sunny the mare struck an intimidating pose “now, ladies, grab my hooves and we can blow this oatsicle stand”. The two awestruck ponies obliged their rescuer, mouths hanging open in awe… or rather, their mouths would be hanging open if they were both able to.

Nightmare Moon’s mane crackled with sparks of magic, anger boiling within her “you think I’m going to just let you-” an apple struck her dead center on the back of her head, interrupting her tirade. The princess stumbled, attempting to get her eyes under control while they spun madly in her head.

“And that’s where m’ah apples come in. Not a bad toss for a 'farmpony' huh?” Applejack smirked at the disoriented Nightmare Moon. The cyan pegasus now hovered just above the group of ponies and their candy contraption.

“HAHA double distraction! Eat those apples! I bet those didn’t ap-peal to ya’! Maybe we should call a-”

“Rainbow, hush sugarcube.”

“Oh fine…” Rainbow Dash moaned, gently setting down Sunny and Twilight onto the platform.

“Oh, uh, thank you very much for… flying me over here” Sunny nervously stammered.

“Hah, like I’d leave you here with that creepy… creep! The Dash leaves no pony behind!” the pegasus boasted as she took a seat just behind Pinkie.

“Oh gosh, you’re amazing!” Sunny marveled, eyes sparkling at the cyan pony.

Rainbow puffed up at the compliment “yeah, yeah I am aren’t I?”

“Shoot, like she needed a bigger ego” The orange earth pony chided.

Pinkie giggled “gee Dashy who’s your new friend?”

“I’m afraid introductions are going to have to wait until later, Pinkie. Though I think we already know who are new guest is” Rarity looked down to Sunny’s cutie mark and scrutinized her wings and horn.

“We do?” Chirped a pink voice.

“Quite. Now let’s not delay our departure. Pinkie, if you would, I think it’s time we take our leave” Rarity said with a scoff. The mare looked back at Nightmare to see that she was just shaking off the force of the apple.

“Oky doky loky!” Pinkie saluted and slammed a hoof down onto a small peppermint button. The machine whirred and clicked, the propeller at the top split open to reveal two large candy fans that sprang out, reaching just past the platform. The new propellers resting just above the ground spun into life, smoothly lifting the craft and its seven pony occupants off the ground. The pink pony straightened her pink flight cap and goggles and yelled with a large grin, “let’s fly!”

Nightmare Moon’s cackle filled the room “oh bravo, you managed to gather up all your little friends in one spot. How kind of you, I was going to seek you out and end you myself, but here you all are, presenting yourselves to me on a candy platter!” the moon princess’ hair grew rigid, forming together into long spears that grew from the enchanted star mane.

Rarity stepped to the front of the hovering platform, nudging Applejack to the side “I do believe it’s my turn now.” The unicorn opened her own bag, and brought out half a dozen gems of varying size and color, hanging them in the air around the craft with her magic. “I may not have much raw power, but what I do have…” the white pony smirked, her horn glowing brighter. The gems in the air twirled in place. Whipping through the air they blurred, gaining speed. Rarity flung her hair behind her, a sparkle shining in her eyes, “… is style!” The unicorn sent a sharp charge of magic through her horn into each of the gems, lighting them up in an incredible display of beauty and grace. They spun, and they glowed, and a small corona of magic enveloped each one with their respective colors.

Nightmare growled and shot one of her spears straight at the white enchantress. The magical mane collided with one of the spinning gems instead. A loud crash of metal upon metal resounded in the room as the spear was obstructed by the jewel’s glowing shield of light. A small tilt of the gem and the spear was deflected into one of the stained glass windows adorning the hall.

“There’s our exit girls!” Rarity yelled, not taking her eyes off of Nightmare for a second.

Pinkie Pie worked the pedals even faster, her hooves turning into a pink spiral blur. The hovercraft lifted higher off the ground. Rainbow Dash, taking her cue in the back seat, began her own work. The pegasus flapped her powerful wings, moving the flying machine towards the large broken window.

Nightmare screamed in rage, sending a barrage of spears at the ship. Each one expertly blocked and deflected by Rarity’s keen eyes. The rebounded projectiles crashed into walls, ceilings, and floors, smashing them into bits.

“Uh… hey Dashie?” the sound of gems and hair clashing filled the room.

“Kinda’ busy here Pinks!”

“Yeah but-”

“Biseee!” Rainbow’s head was down, using every bit of her strength to move the heavy load forward.

“We aren’t going to make it!”

“What!?”

“The window, it’s too small.”

Rainbow Dash looked up to see that Pinkie was right, the window was too narrow for the hovercraft to fit through. And the pegasus was doing too good of a job, it was coming towards them very fast “everypony hang on!” Rainbow yelled. The tenacious cyan pony wasn’t going to give up that easily. Calling upon every last ounce of stamina she developed through her rigorous training the pegasus pushed the left side of the craft down while raising the right. Twilight, Sunny, and the baker managed to grab hold of Pinkie but the defending unicorn couldn’t risk looking away for a second.

“Applejack, I need full concentration here!” Rarity pleaded, a twinge of panic in her voice as she felt the ship tilt

“I got ya’ Rares!” the orange earth pony grabbed the unicorn by her midsection and lifted her up, making sure she stayed level. With the extra weight Applejack began sliding off herself on the inclined plane. “Whoah there!” Applejack scrambled for a hoofhold, somewhere, anywhere “consarn’it!” Applejack cursed before punching a hole straight through the wood to grab hold of.

The tilted ship approached the opening quickly. Twilight and Sunny screamed as they flew straight through, the sides of the craft just breaking off the last pieces of remaining glass that hung onto the frame.

“Ha ha! We made it!” Dash exclaimed, panting for air. “Heh, heh, I think I’m gonna’ take a nap”

“Rainbow!” The yellow pegasus grabbed Dash and pulled her up just before she slid off the platform.

“Heh, thanks Shy. It’d be pretty lame if I just abandoned you girls now of all times” The cyan pony clambered back onto the wood and collapsed into a feathery heap.

“Oh, well, you know, I can take over flying us from here if you’re-” Fluttershy was interrupted by an enraged scream from the castle.

Rarity jumped to the back of the craft. “It’s not over yet!” A large spear, much bigger than the projectiles that had been sent so far lanced out of the broken window. The white unicorn brought together three of her largest gems into a spinning vortex to block the incoming attack. They collided with a resounding high pitched ting that rattled the teeth. Rarity slanted the gems like she had done before, and the spear slanted with them. The spear’s force was directed to the center of the three gems, curving with them at each tilt. “Oh dear” It wasn't being redirected. Panic crossed the unicorns face as she attempted to alter the spear’s trajectory.

“Should I be makin’ a habit of savin’ ya’ Rarity?” Applejack jumped in front of the unicorn and spun, bringing her hooves into a full force buck straight to the resonating gems. The impact burst the magic infused jewels, erupting color and sparks across the dark skies in a mock fireworks show. The ship was rocketed away from the castle in a burst of speed with the ponies just managing to hang on.

The craft slowed to their previous speed, the group attempting to adjust to what just happened “Aplejaaack, my geeeeeems~” Rarity whined with watering eyes.

“Oh, heheh. Um, whoops?” Applejack smiled apologetically at her pouting friend.

“Is it… is it over now?” Fluttershy spoke up, still holding onto Dash to prevent her from sliding off “did we win?”

Rarity composed herself; there would be time for grieving later. “Yes dear, I believe we have.” The unicorn edged across the platform to Twilight and said with an air of satisfaction, “we most certainly have.” Rarity’s horn lit up to encompass Twilight’s binding muzzle, unlatching and tossing it off the ship. “Well deary? Anything to say?” the unicorn quietly asked.

“You…” Twilight choked, rubbing her mouth and nose where the leather had been squeezing. “You… did all of this for me?” Tears began welling up in Twilight’s eyes. “I mean… I mean we’re friends but I never thought that you would go through all that…” The magician smeared a tear away on her lavender coat. “That you would go through all that just for-”

“Aw, shudup Twi” A tired pegasus looked out from one of her half-closed eyes, “you’re our friend, of course we’re going to fight evil jerk gods for you. At least, that’s what I do for my friends.”

“Oh, Rainbow!” Twilight picked up the limp and battered cyan pony and brought her into a tight hug. “Thank you so much!”

“Ah, ow ow not so tight!”

“Oh we were just so worried when that monster teleported away with you!” Rarity joined in on the hug.

“Owww!”

“So we spent the rest of our time coming up with a plan to rescue you” Fluttershy tentatively found a small open space of Twilight to hug. “While I wasn’t too thrilled about my part… I was the only pony that could do it. Rarity even dyed my hair and painted over my cutie mark as a disguise.”

“Uhhhg…”

“Bear with it a bit longer sugarcube” Applejack stifled a laugh at her friend’s misfortune, embracing the group of multicolored ponies.

“Whoo! Group hug!” Pinkie Pie rushed in and encircled the bundle of ponies in her hooves.

“Oh my!”

“Umm…”

“How are…”

“I just wanna’ sleeeep!”

“Now Pinkie I know ya wanna’ be a part of this but we’re gonna’ crash if ya don’t get yourself back on that thing.”

“Aw, pixie sticks!” Pinkie slumped her way back to the pedals of the craft. A soft sniffling rises above the sound of the blades spinning.

“Come now Pinkie, there’s no need to cry, we can all hug once we set down in Ponyville” Rarity awkwardly assured her saddened friend.

Pinkie turned around, dry eyed. “Huh? That’s not me.”

The group turned to see a small alicorn on the corner of the platform silently sobbing to herself.

“Sunny? Are… are you ok?” Twilight asked in a concerned tone.

Sunny sniffled a bit more and wiped her eyes with her wings before answering “yes, yes I’m fine. It’s just that that was… that was the most beautiful, fantastic, wonderful thing I’ve ever seeeeen~!” the sun princess’ waterworks sprang up again. A pink hoof extended a handkerchief, which the alicorn politely took and used to wipe her face and nose with. “Thank you.”

The other ponies sat and stared at the strange sight of a little pony princess god bawling her eyes out after witnessing a group hug. “Twilight? What exactly is happening?”

The purple pony sighed and grimaced as she looked between Sunny and her friends “It’s…. complicated. I’ll explain everything once we get back to the library. There’s still a certain someone I need to see.”

“And uh… Twilight? Sumthin’ kinda’ important…” Applejack apprehensively began.

“Yes?”

The group of ponies around Twilight began fidgeting and looking away “It’s just that… now you don’t have ta’ talk about it if ya’ don’t want to, but, uuuuh…”

“Applejack?” the unicorn asked completely baffled by her friend’s strange behavior.

Fluttershy put a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder “She didn’t… didn’t hurt you, did she?” the yellow pegasus said as sympathetically as she could.

Twilight gave a nervous laugh. “Haha, what? I’m fine, I don’t look hurt, do I?”

“It’s just that… well, your outfit darling. Like Applejack said, you don’t have to talk about it if you don’t want to.” Rarity stepped forward to give Twilight a sorrowful stare. “I’m sorry we couldn’t have rescued you sooner.”

“My outfi-” Twilight looked down to realize she was still wearing the oriental ribbons. Her pupils shrank as embarrassment froze her for a moment. “NO, nonononononoooooo no, nothing happened! Nothing happened!” Twilight quickly tapped the bracelet to disperse the outfit and looked at each of her friends pleadingly. “Seriously! Nothing!”

“Are you su-”

“Yes I’m sure!”

“We would understand if-”

“I’m sure you would, but nothing happened!” Twilight looked away, attempting to pull her short straight hair over her blushing red face. “Now if you wouldn’t mind, let’s never speak of this again!”

“………”

“… I’d like to do it with a goddess.”

“Rainbow!” Applejack smacked the cyan pegasus upside her head.

“Whaaat? I’m just sayin’. It sounds kinda’ interesting.”

“Well sure Rainbow, except Nightmare Moon is evil, so ‘twas probably all tentacle-y and-”

“Nothing happened!!!”

The rest of the trip passed in relative silence between the light flaps of Fluttershy’s wings and the spins of the propellers. The ship gently settled down in front of the Ponyville library. The new sun hung low in the sky with ponies nervously going about their daily routines, not knowing what else to do in this type of situation.

Twilight eagerly jumped off the platform and ran to the door. Just a few meters away it slammed open, a small dragon with purple scales and green spikes holding it. “Is she here?! Did you guys- Twilight!!”

“Spike!” The unicorn squealed as she ran forward and picked up the dragon with her front hooves. They embraced each other tightly, Twilight nuzzling the top of his head and Spike burying his face in her chest.

“I thought-” Spike choked, attempting to hold back tears that came anyways “I thought I would never see you again. When they- when they came back without you I thought-”

“Hey, hey, it’s ok now” Twilight consoled the young dragon. She pulled away to wipe a few of his tears. His eyes were puffy and red, attesting to just how much he'd been crying. “I’m here now, and everything’s going to be ok”

Spiked looked back up into her eyes, his tears stopping with one last sniffle. “Yeah… yeah I mean I knew you were going to be ok!” the dragon promptly hopped down from Twilight’s arms and straightened himself up. “Sure, yup, not a doubt in my mind you wouldn’t get out of there” Spike said haughtily. “I mean I did help come up with the plan to save you after all” the purple dragon gloated, brushing his chest and bringing his nails up for examination. “Yup, the perfect plan.”

Twilight giggled to herself. “Thank you Spike. If it weren’t for you, I wouldn’t have been rescued!” She leaned down, and planted a big sloppy kiss on his check.

“Uhg, gross Twilight!” Spike moaned wiping the kiss away

Twilight giggled again. “C’mon, let’s get everyone inside, and I’ll…. try, to explain everything”

Pinkie parked the craft next to the tree and jumped off with the others to head inside. “Oh, wait!” The pink pony looked back to the ship and pressed a small peppermint she was holding. The ship beeped twice in response “you can never be too safe!” a content Pinkie chirped, as she hopped past her confused friends into the library.

The group huddled around a small table covered with blueprints, designs, directions, and a shopping list. The purple unicorn took it all in, amazed at just how much her friends had planned this out. Wow… they really are my very best friends, Twilight thought as the wave of emotions swam through her once again. The unicorn composed herself quickly, she’d need it for the strange tale she was about to tell.

“Ok, first off, I just want you to know… none of you will believe me.” Twilight said simply, looking at each of the ponies and dragon in a serious manner.

“Ooooh, this should be good” Pinkie Pie said hopping up and down on her seat

Applejack laughed nervously to herself. “Heh, it can’t be that bad.”

“It is.”

“We’ve each seen some pretty strange things dear” Rarity couldn’t help but glance at Pinkie.

Pinkie looked back at Rarity. “Whaaat? I haven’t seen that many strange things!” The pinkest of ponies contested.

“Nothing like this”

“Just get on with it!” Rainbow bellowed, slumping down onto the table

“Ok ok, but secondly, no interruptions. If you guys are allowed to talk while I’m telling this story we’ll be here all night, ok?” Twilight looked expectantly at her surrounding friends who responded with nods and ‘okey-dokey-lokey’s'. The magician sighed, knowing full well how her story is going to sound, she wouldn’t have believed it if it hadn’t happened to her. “Well then…” She began.

“and then she said someone would be coming, or that she hoped that they would be coming. Then we… um… talked for a little when you guys knocked on the door, and she asked if Sunny and I remembered our instructions. And that’s that.” The magician breathed a sigh of relief at the finish of her story. It had taken longer than she anticipated even with the small amount of interruptions. The new sun was just about to set outside the window, casting a colorful purple tint onto everything it touched.

Twilight looked up at her friends. Well of course there hadn’t been many interruptions; each one had a zipper over their mouths. Each one fell to the need to blurt out a question or deny something, and each one was rewarded with a zipper. Well, everyone except Pinkie, who was simply content to eat her popcorn and drink her sarsaparilla. The rest of the group was now simply content to look at Twilight with wide bewildered eyes, the zippers completely unnecessary in their current state.

Pinkie who had stayed quiet through the entire story, save for a munch of popcorn and slurp of sarsaparilla, was the first to talk. “Hmmm, I dunno Twilight, the story’s dynamic seemed kind’uv off to me. Are you sure you didn’t leave any parts out?” She asked skeptically.

The rest of the group stared between Pinkie and Twilight, their thought process still somewhat diminished in their current state.

“Ha ha ha, what? Yeah, of course I didn’t leave anything out!” Twilight plastered on the widest grin she could muster. “Oh, uh, here let me get those zippers” The purple pony flashed her horn, vanishing the restraints on her friend’s mouths.

Each one stayed quiet, pondering exactly what they had just heard. “Well… ah gotta’ tell ya’ Twilight, I don’t know what to say” Applejack managed to say.

“I know what you mean” The purple unicorn groaned, resting her face on a couple of scattered schematics, “believe me it was much worse having to go through that. So, uh… any questions?”

The group was completely silent. A small yellow hoof raised tentatively from the side of the table “um… what were Sunny’s instructions?” The ponies around the table looked inquisitively at Sunny, who in turn looked blankly back at everyone.

“Oh!” Sunny exclaimed “ooooh, oh what time is it?” the alicorn fidgets around before looking out the door at the setting sun “oh, good. Just on time.” Sunny got up from the table and walked over to a nearby bookcase, everypony’s eyes following. “Well, uh, Sis told me to find this one book ‘History of Horseshoes’ and to uh… pick it up before the sun sets!” the princess browsed through the names of the books before finding what she was looking for. “Ah! Here it is.” Sunny pulled at the book only to find it come out halfway before getting stuck. A loud clunk, and the shifting of gears emanated from the bookshelf. Sunny slowly backed away from the strange noises. “Um… do bookshelves do that?” The bookshelf slowly raised into the ceiling, the protruding book moving back into its slot.

Twilight groaned, moving her front hooves to cover her face which was still resting on the table. Fluttershy squeaked and hid behind Applejack, peeking out from behind her.

“Uh, Twilight?” Applejack asked with a twinge of worry in her voice. “You know what’s goin’ on sugercube?” The ponies watched as the bookcase clicked into its new resting place in the ceiling.

“Well…” Twilight mumbled through her hooves “yes, and no”. A large stone arch sat in place of the bookcase. Runes placed all along its borders in a symmetrical fashion. Twilight lifted her head for a moment to examine the mystical device. “Never mind, I know exactly what’s happening.” The unicorn planted her face back on the desk “Nightmare Moon is coming.”

“Twilight? What do we do?” Fluttershy panicked as the surrounding ponies looked at their befallen friend. The sigils on the stone slowly began lighting.

“You’ve dealt with her the longest, Twilight. What’s the plan?” Applejack asked

The plan is to sit here and get teased by the Queen of Equestria! Twilight yelled in her head. What's even the point of doing anything? The unicorn looked around at each of her scared and confused friends… oh, right, Twilight remembered why she chose to oppose Nightmare.

The purple pony slammed a hoof onto the table, slowly raising herself up on it. “Ok! Here’s what you do. First, don’t let her scare you. She’s not evil, just sort of a… jerk. Second, I’m-… oh wow is that a grade three transportation hub? I hear they run on nearly no power and can-” Applejack coughed. “Oh, um, sorry, second. Second… I’m sorry to say but she let me escape, and I think she meant it when she said I was going to be her, slave…” Twilight raised a hoof to touch the metal bracelet around her horn. “So… so I’ll just give myself up to her, she is still dangerous and it will keep the rest of you out of harm’s way.” Twilight looked at each of her friends with a steely determination.

“… Baahahaha!” Rainbow let out a mirthful laugh much to Twilight’s surprise. “As if, Twilight, if that fakey princess wants to get you again, she’ll have to go through us…. Again, uh, that came out wrong”

“She’s right Twi, you’re our gal. An’ we ain’t gonna let nopony hurt ya” the orange earth pony rested a hoof reassuringly on the magician’s shoulder.

“But she-”

“Twilight…” Fluttershy walked up to the unicorn, her head down with locks of pink mane covering most of her face. She looked up at Twilight with her one visible eye and said “… nopony.”

“Yeah!” Spike yelled from atop Fluttershy’s back.

“Oh oh! Are we going to have another group hug?!?” Pinkie Pie asked energetically. “We should include Sunny, she’s in this with us too!” the pink pony appeared behind Sunny, giving her a quick nudge and a wink “Even if she did disappear the bookshelf”.

Sunny’s face lit up like the sun “oh yes yes yes please! I would like nothing better!” the princess squealed and clopped her hooves together softly in front of her mouth. “Ah, um, I’m sorry about the bookshelf, please don’t hate me, I’ll get you another!” the alicorn’s expression quickly changed to alarm and dread.

Applejack chuckled. “Well shoot, ah guess we couldn’t stay mad at the princess, get over here.” Sunny squealed again in delight, and rushed over to the group of ponies.

“What, no! No wait please I’m still sore just leave me-AAAAAAH” The second heartfelt group hug of the night ensued.

The arches gave off a low humming as the last sigils burned bright in blue ethereal energy. The ponies separated and placed themselves a good distance away from the portal. Each one took a stance, ready for whatever it was going to do. “We could simply run away” Rarity said hopefully.

“We really couldn’t” Twilight said in a settled tone. The portal flashed, a rippling silver now filled the once empty arch. “Last chance to book it girls” the unicorn said with a smirk.

“Hah, what’s the worst she can do?”

I could throw the moon at them, Nightmare thought to herself as she watched her sister and the Elements of Harmony fly away on their silly candy flying machine. The moon princess paused for a moment, why didn’t they use the balcony as an exit? Nightmare looked a few meters to the right of the now broken pane of glass at the large archway that led out to a grand view of Equestria.

The moon princess snickered, scrunching up her face. “But oh my Moon, that was bucking awesome!” Nightmare filled the room with her uproarious laughter. Shaking off her giggles, Nightmare began her short trek back to her throne. As the princess passed, a blue magical aura encased the shards of broken glass and cake that now littered the ground. “Those girls certainly know how to make a mess” the princess said with a wry smile. The pieces of pane lifted off the ground and began placing themselves back into the frame. A sound like shattering glass arose as the pieces slowly began fusing together. The cake littering the floor swept together and compressed itself into a small orb, slightly bigger than a marble.

Nightmare sat on her throne and appraised the hall to admire her handiwork, the small orb floating just to her side. An apple began reforming just in front of the alicorn’s face, bits and swirls appearing from behind her head. “That would have given somepony a concussion” Nightmare noted as she took a bite out of the now re-forged apple. “Oh goodness, you ponies have certainly increased the quality of fruit in a thousand years” Nightmare said to herself.

A few more bites and the moon princess became utterly bored. “So how long are you going to keep me waiting?” Nightmare huffed, throwing the orb’d cake into an empty corner of the hall. A very distinct plunk came from the empty space. “Ten points” Nightmare halfheartedly gloated.

The corner shimmered. Then as if a curtain had been dropped a pony became visible, looking slightly annoyed at a cup that was levitating in front of him. “My coffee…” He stated with a hint of disappointment. The unicorn had a pale blue coat, piercing eyes that were just a shade darker than his fur, and a light blond, wavy mane and tail that flipped ever so slightly at the ends giving his appearance a sort of roguish charm. His cutie mark was a simple splotch of yellow on his flank.

“You know I gave everyone the day off, what is it you want?” Nightmare asked coldly.

The unicorn bowed. “Forgive me, I simply wished to become more acquainted with the new boss, as it were” the light blue pony chuckled and flashed a disarming grin.

“Tell me is spying still frowned upon in this day in age?” the princess scoffed, looking out a window directly away from the stallion.

The pony chuckled again “sorry, I can be pretty nervous around new ponies.”

“Of course.” Lies, lies, so many lies! Does this pony do anything but lie? I bet his cutie mark is lying, Nightmare thought angrily to herself. “I mean, what kind of pony wouldn’t be nervous around the Tyrant Queen Nightmare Moon?”

“Not a one, your majesty” he flashed another grin “oh but where are my manners? I never introduced myself.” The unicorn let out another light laugh. “My name is Lucid Sky, I am your head of Civil Affairs.”

Well, at least half of that wasn’t a lie, the princess drearily admitted to herself. “I look forward to working with you, Mr. Sky. And sorry about your coffee, I can get quite bored sometimes.” Nightmare sniffed the air experimentally “I am new to this drink, but that smells familiar. That wouldn’t happen to be the ‘royal brew’, would it?”

Lucid plucked the small orb out of his cup. “Why yes it is. You have quite keen senses your majesty. I met the most lovely young lady this morning who granted me access to it. After I told her where it was of course, poor dear looked completely lost” The unicorn said in a sympathetic tone.

Nightmare glared daggers, but kept her voice even “Funny how she didn’t mention you.”

Another laugh. “Well, I do have that effect on ponies, I’m not exactly the most noticeable of ponies. Let us hope that you’re able to remember me at least” Lucid gave the princess a heartwarming smile. “Oh, and look at the time” The unicorn said not taking his eyes off of Nightmare. “I really must be going, it’s my night off after all.” A chuckle and the unicorn made to leave before abruptly stopping as if he forgot something “and one more thing, here is your dessert back.” Lucid drifted an orb over to the princess who caught it with her own magic. “Goodnight your majesty.” Again, Lucid made to leave.

This wasn’t the same orb that Nightmare shot into his drink. The pearl swirled with colors and magic and a pony. Nightmare peered into the small sphere.

Oh um, hi there, I’m sunny…… what’s coffee? ………sounds terrific! I’m sure they’ll love it especially with…………. thanks for showing me all this Mr. Sky……… oh heh, um, ok, Lucid…………sure, I’ll give her a message!

Nightmare groaned. So such magic still exists these days. “Lucid, wait, stop” Nightmare said as she lit her horn. The surprised unicorn was lifted off the ground and flew back towards the throne and Nightmare Moon.

“Um, uh, my Queen” Lucid chuckled nervously “whatever are you-”

“No, just stop. I don’t want to play this little game with you, I don’t want you near my sister, and I especially don’t want you stealing any more memories” Nightmare said grimly.

“I- I don’t know what you’re-”

The moon princess’s eyes shone bright “I said. I don’t. Want to play. Celestia may have been fond of your little chess match but I am not!”

“But- but, you can’t just not-” Lucid was interrupted by his windpipe, it was slowly caving in.

“Let me make this plain and clear Mr. Sky. I will kill you if you do anything that displeases me.” The queen gave an extra tug on his throat to drive her point across.

Lucid writhed and squirmed under the moon goddesses’ influence, wheezing out as many apologies as he could.

“Now get out of my sight, I have plans for tonight.” And with a flash Lucid was gone. Content that her business here was finished Nightmare resigned back to her bedchambers. The princess had to get ready for her trip to Ponyville come sundown.

A flash of light just outside the castle gates deposited a sky blue unicorn a few feet above the ground. He flopped to the hard gravel with a resounding thud. Slowly, he picked himself up and fixed his disheveled hair, careful to wipe off any dust that had stuck to him. He took a deep breath and looked down upon the city before him. This really is the best view, Lucid thought to himself. The pony smiled. Then he smiled even wider. Lucid Sky was so happy he decided he would smile even wider, he couldn’t remember the last time he smiled like this. His heart had been beating slowly up until this point “what kind of pony indeed” Lucid whispered to the wind. The unicorn couldn’t remember the last time his heart had raced either. Lucid laughed by himself; a really, really happy laugh. So many adjectives could be used to describe that laugh. A great and terrible many. But Lucid would just stick with ‘happy’. “Oh this is going to be so much fun~.”

End Chapter 3

Portals to Parties or Palaces

Nightmares Don’t Last Forever
Chapter 4

“Be prepared girls, we don’t know what that witch is going to throw at us” Rarity said to the surrounding group of battle ready ponies.

“Oh! Oh! Maybe she’s gonna to throw a cake!” said the pink, definitely not battle ready pony.

“What! Why the hay would she throw a cake?” Applejack asked skeptically.

Pinkie Pie tilted her head to give the orange earth pony a strange look. “Because we gave her a cake! It’d only be fair. Plus I didn’t get to eat any of ours so I’m kinda’ low on sweets right now and I’m suuuuper hungry!”

“I don’t think Nightmare Moon cares about your empty stomach, Pinks” Rainbow joked at her pink friend.

“Oh no! You really think so? Girls we have to make a cake right away!” the pink pony worriedly hopped in place, flinging her poofy pink hair up and down.

Applejack chuckled. “Well sure Sugarcube. We’ll get to that right after we beat up this here-”

A star filled mane poked through the liquid blue surface of the glyph covered arch.

The farm pony gulped. A bead of sweat trickled down the side of her face. “… Goddess.”

Nightmare's mane mystically flowed out of the portal, seemingly testing the air. More appeared until Nightmare Moon herself walked through the portal. Everypony in the room immediately fell silent. The dark princess’s mere presence and intimidating, dark, demeanor forced the group of ponies to freeze. They stared in dumfounded awe of her awesome power. Wait, no, that wasn’t her mane. That was her tail. Everypony in the room froze in dumfounded awe at Nightmare’s intimidating, taut flank.

Pinkie fell over onto her back, letting lose loud guffaws and snorts. “It’s a butt!” Her pink little hooves waved wildly in the air.

Rainbow broke her trance at Pinkie’s comment to stifle a laugh, snorting through her nose instead. The other ponies in the room busied themselves in trying to understand what was happening. Twilight herself was pulling her hooves across her face in exasperated silence. Nightmare Moon shifted the position of her bottom half that was sticking out of the portal.

“Do you… do you think she’s stuck?” Fluttershy squeaked from behind the table.

Nightmare pulled herself free of the liquid looking portal with a flourish of movements and stood regally before the elements. A broad smile crossed her face. “’Fraid not little one, but that is so nice of you to be worried about me.” Nightmare began gigging to herself “I almost didn’t do that too, I was thinking to myself ‘this seems a bit too juvenile, I mean really, maybe I should do something else‘” the night princess rambled while she walked past the group of ponies and sat at the table. “It was either that, or stick a plush version of me through the portal first. But you know what, I’m glad I went with the flank first approach.” Nightmare looked over at the still flailing and laughing pink pony before laughing again herself. “At least somepony can appreciate a good joke.”

Twilight trotted up and glared at Nightmare. “Why did you have to do anything at all?? Is acting like a normal pony really that hard?”

“First off…” Nightmare said with a snooty expression and closed eyes, “yes, yes it is very hard acting like a normal pony. Second…” Nightmare crossed her arms and looked away from Twilight as if she’d been hurt. “If I had come in normally I would have gotten a face full of apples, diamonds, and rainbows!”

“… She’s right, I was totally going to buck her in the face” Rainbow said flatly.

“Wait wait wait! Ain’t we supposed ta be fightin’ or somethin’!” Applejack flustered out as she rubbed a hoof on the side of her head, completely bewildered by the current situation.

“Fight? Why? Do you want to fight?” The moon princess stared blankly at the earth pony and cocked her head.

“Well, uh, no… but, uh…”

Rarity stepped in front of the befuddled orange pony. “We don’t want to fight. But if it’s to keep you from taking our friend away from us I for one can make an exception!”

Nightmare attempted to look as innocent as possible with a huge horsefeather eating grin on her face. “Why, whoever said I was coming here to steal her? I certainly didn’t. After all, you already rescued her.”

“But… but you let them rescue me” Twilight said, just as confused as everypony else in the room.

“Well, not exactly” The princess looked away in mock thought. Nightmare’s hair grew and picked up each of the ponies, setting them down at the table; Twilight and Sunny of course being placed on opposite sides of her. “Poor little Twilight would still be in my ‘evil clutches’ if it weren’t for the rest of you ponies” Nightmare said sweetly, rubbing a hoof across the purple unicorn’s cheek. Twilight shoved the hoof away while keeping her face half lidded and expressionless. “True, I gave you a handicap, but I was not by any means going easy on you. Anything less than what you did tonight, and I wouldn’t be letting Twilight stay here in Ponyville at all!”

“What?!” Twilight looked up wide eyed and hopeful at her mistress. “But I thought I was going to be your…”

“Slave? Yeah, you aren’t getting out of that one so easily. You’re still going to be at my every beck and call” Nightmare said absent-mindedly, examining one of her hooves for scuffs.

“But how can I-”

Nightmare pointed at the grade three portal sitting in the corner of the library.

“Oh… ooooh.”

“Yup. From here on out, Twilight Sparkle will be taking up residence in the Ponyville library, while attending to her Queen, me. And accompanying my dark and terrible self each morning” Nightmare finished in her regal, half caring voice.

“Oh, thank you so much Prince- wait! No!” Twilight slammed her face on the desk. “This isn’t something that I should be thankful for! I’m still playing slave to some crazy usurper!” Twilight groaned out from between her hooves.

Nightmare laughed as she got up from the table. “Tough break Sparkles. At least you have it better than Sunny! She has to come back with me to that old, cold, lonely, friendless castle… welp! C’mon Sunny, let’s get a move on” Nightmare beckoned the smaller princess with a wave of her hoof.

Sunny stared with wide, watery eyes between her sister and the group of ponies that she was hoping would become her very first friends. “But… but I don’t want to go back to the friendless castle” the alicorn cracked, almost breaking into tears.

“What? Are you sure? I mean, it’s pretty cold and dreary there. You probably wouldn’t even see another living pony half the time. Are you sure you don’t want to go back?” Nightmare asked in a concerned, reasoning tone.

Sunny shook her head back and forth, her hair bobbing wildly in the air.

“Hmmmm…” The dark princess pondered, obviously deep in thought. “Ok, you can stay here with Twilight, but you’re twisting my hoof on this. Also, you’ll have to wear this.” Nightmare flashed her horn, a deep magenta diamond imbedded in a light golden metal frame appeared in the air next to her. The night alicorn drifted the gem to the tip of Sunny’s horn, sliding down the length of it effortlessly. The jewel had no opening at its base where the horn was entering, and it didn’t appear through the other side as the foundation finally reached her forehead. The sun princess’s horn was simply gone, a piece of fine jewelry taking its place. “And yadda, yadda, yadda, your cutie mark is different too” Nightmare waved an uninterested hoof in the air.

Sunny looked to her flank and indeed her cutie mark had changed from an ornate regal sun to one that was a bit more simplistic and most certainly not one a princess would be wearing. “Ok… um, why?” the smaller princess asked with a confused look on her face.

Nightmare knelt down and squeezed Sunny’s cheeks together. “Because deary, if everypony knew you were the princess they would be too busy worshiping you to become your friend!”

“Oh… goodness, that won’t do at all” the princess said in a concerned voice, a serious expression across her face which was still being scrunched up by her sister’s hooves.

“Exactly.” The moon princess wrapped her hooves around her sister in a warm embrace. “Just make sure you come see me in the mornings when Twilight does. Not any other time though, I wouldn’t want to submit you to all the dull and uninteresting ponies that make up the political system!” Nightmare released her sister with a small ruffle of her pink mane, eliciting a small giggle from the little princess. “Twilight, see that this is so. And one more thing, my sister here is rather unknowledgeable about the world and interactions with other ponies. It will hereby be your secondary job to study the magic of friendship, and report your findings directly to her.”

“It’s… not like I needed you to tell me to help my ‘real’ princess” Twilight said, annoyed that she was being told what to do, and that she couldn’t and wouldn’t have said no to assisting Sunny.

“Oh don’t get your horn in a twist” the dark princess teased the purple unicorn. “I mean, not until later” Nightmare cooed, running her hoof down the girth of Twilight’s horn. “You haven’t lived until you’ve tried one of my horn twisters.”

Rarity gasped, covering her mouth and blushing face with a hoof.

The purple pony began laughing loudly, her eyes shrinking to small dots. “HA HA HA oh shucks Nightmare Moon you are such a kidder! HA HA HA. Ohlookatthetime you have to leave now!” Twilight’s voice turned a few octaves higher as she scurried behind Nightmare, sliding her across the floor to the portal. “You really are a treat, this visit has been ever so lovely, if you ever get the urge to visit, please don’t.”

“Goodness, Twilight, you can be so forceful sometimes, but we’re leaving? I thought you said you liked it when other ponies watched” Nightmare innocently questioned.

“I do not like other ponies watching!”

Pinkie flew into another fit of giggles while everything but her kicking legs disappeared beneath the table. Dash and Applejack managed to keep a bit more composure, simply looking away and shaking ever so slightly.

Nightmare snickered through a hoof. “Well fine. Oh girls, before I go I just wanted to say... make sure you give Twilight a taste. I can't for the life of me classify it and the closest thing I could come up with is an exotic jungle fruit. Our little Twilight is most certainly one mysterious pony.”

Twilight let out an exasperated scream as she threw Nightmare Moon into the portal which engulfed her soundlessly. “Never speak of this again!” the unicorn said, looking around the room wildly with a few stray hairs sticking out of her mane.

“… What’s a ‘horn twister’?”

“Rainbow!” Applejack shouted, smacking Dash upside her head.

“Whaaat? I’m just curious!” the cyan pegasus whined, rubbing the side of her head.

Sunny walked up to the still panting and blushing Twilight. “Hey, it’s ok Twilight. Like you said she’s only joking. I’m sure she didn’t mean to give everypony the wrong idea like-”

Nightmare Moon’s head popped out of the portal. “One more thing, make sure you treat Sunny horribly and be as unwelcoming as possible to her. Toodles~.” The queen smirked and pulled her head back through the portal.

Sunny gasped and looked around the room in wide eyed horror, tears appearing at the edges of her eyes.

Twilight sighed, straightening herself up she attempted to smile warmly at the panicked princess. “Sunny, don’t listen to her. She’s only trying to tease you again. Heh, I guess I should be taking my own advice.”

“You mean… you mean you aren’t going to hate me?” Sunny looked around the room with cautious hopefulness.

“Of course not!” Rainbow trotted up to Sunny. “You seem like a pretty cool mare, er- princess?”

“Well hay, ye’r highness. Ye’r the reason we set out ta fight Nightmare Moon in the first place” Applejack chimed in.

“And look!” Pinkie popped up from behind the sun princess. “We got our princess back, nopony is dying from eternal night, we get another new friend, and Twilight might have scored with a princess-”

“Did not!”

“-Do you know what this calls for?!” The peppy, pink, party pony all but yelled.

“Um… another group hug?” Sunny asked hopefully.

“Nope!”

The party was in full swing in less than half an hour. Pinkie had managed to scrounge together a cake, streamers, refreshments, and a couple party games from those cakes, streamers, refreshments, and party games she had found lying around the library. Pinkie Pie looked over her newest creation in pride. “You know girls, sometimes I even amaze myself! This has to be the fastest party I’ve ever set up! Good thing this library has enough forethought to be stocked with all the stuff I need for a party.”

“Pinkie…” Rainbow said through a party horn, giving it a small blow before continuing. “This stuff was already set up from the last party we had here. Remember, for Twilight?”

Pinkie blinked and stared blankly at Rainbow. “Oh yeah! You know I was wondering how a library could manage to misspell a pony’s name” the pink pony giggled, waving a hoof at a banner reading ‘Welcome Twilight Sparkle’. “I mean, their names aren’t even similar at all! You’d think a library would be smarter than that, right Dashie?”

“Uh-huh, sure Pinks” Rainbow laughed, following her pink friend to one of the nearby party games. The two passed Twilight and Rarity who were attempting to teach a pony princess how to play pin the tail on the pony.

“So… I’m not going to hurt them right?” Sunny asked as she slid the pin and tail to the side of her mouth. “Also, I can’t see a thing through this blindfold.”

“That’s the point, deary” Rarity happily assured her new friend. “And no, you don’t have to worry about hurting it. It’s only paper after all.”

“Now we just spin you around…” Twilight spun the princess around and stopped her directly in front of the paper pony. “And you have to pin the tail on the pony!”

Sunny stumbled forward, sticking the pin on where she assumed the flank would be. “Did I get it? Did I get it?” the alicorn excitedly asked as she ripped off her blindfold.

“Not quite, I’m afraid” Rarity giggled. The tail had been placed directly on the pony’s chin, giving him an incredibly distinguished, long beard. Sunny laughed along with Rarity at her failed attempt. Twilight, however, glanced over to the portal still active in the corner of the room. Nothing passes by Rarity undetected. “Sunny sweety, why don’t you go acquaint yourself with Fluttershy. The dear is even shyer than you but I have a feeling you two will get along swimmingly” Rarity said sweetly.

“Ok Rarity! Um… where-”

“You see the pink mane, sticking up from behind the refreshments table?”

“Oooh” Sunny said with a smile as she rushed off to make yet another friend.

“So, Twilight…” The white unicorn turned to her unicorn friend, the sudden attention snapping her back to reality. “I see you’re still thinking about you-know-who as well.”

“What-? How did-… can you read minds too?” Twilight said shocked, taking a step back from Rarity and blasting her favorite bedtime story as a filly through her head.

Rarity chuckled, raising a dainty hoof to cover her mouth. “Twilight dear, I don’t need mind reading to know what you’re thinking about.”

Twilight pouted and lowered her head. “Am I really that easy to read?” the unicorn asked herself.

“We’re all thinking the same thing dear… well… except for Pinkie of course” the fashionista corrected herself, waving a hoof dismissively. “Our entire world has been turned upside down. While some of us have been less affected by this than others… we’re all still worried about what will happen, Twilight.”

“Heads up!” A rainbow maned pegasus shouted from across the room.

Rarity ducked as a spinning plate flew over her head. The unicorn regained her composer immediately with a flip of her mane. “Well… most of us are still worried” the white pony corrected herself yet again. “I can live with it being night time eternal. But having someone like her be residing over me, and what she did to Celestia... the others might be fine with her current condition, but I, and of all ponies you, are certainly not. I don’t mean to put any pressure on you sweety… but we’re all counting on you.”

Twilight nervously laughed. “Right… no pressure.”

“Also just about every other living creature is counting on you too…”

“…”

“Oh… terribly sorry”

“Oh-kay, fillies and mares!” Pinkie exclaimed, silencing any conversations or merriment that had been ongoing. “It’s time for the good stuff… truth or dare!”

Applejack spit out the punch she was drinking, coughing up a good amount that went down the wrong way. “Now Pinkie! Remember what happened last time you played that game.”

“C’mon ya big worry wart!” Pinkie chirped, hopping to the center of the room “there aren’t even enough sweaters for everypony this time!”

“Yeah… ah guess so” The orange earth pony conceded reluctantly.

Twilight sat unmoving at the refreshments table, staring intently into her drink. She had just concluded it was definitely not hot sauce this time, drinking hot sauce for the fourth time would have gotten pretty silly, and was lost in thought as she swirled the liquid in her hooves.

“Something wrong Twilight?” Fluttershy asked, tentatively sitting down next to the purple pony. “I know Pinkie’s truth or dare game can be a bit… intimidating…” the pegasus squeaked. “But it is actually pretty fun… if… if that’s what you were worried about, I mean.”

“Thanks, Fluttershy. I was just thinking…” Twilight looked up from her drink. “About some stuff… Celestia…” Twilight let out a quiet sigh and looked back down to her hot sauce. She didn’t know how that kept happening. “And this old story that I read. Do you… do you think that evil queens of darkness can get lonely?”

“Everypony gets lonely, Twilight” Fluttershy responded simply. “Are you going to…?”

“Yeah. I shouldn’t be gone too long... cover for me? I don’t want anypony worrying” Twilight asked hesitantly.

“You can count on me” Fluttershy said as confidently as she could.

The night was cool. Twilight could feel the crisp air seeping into the room from the large open archway that led out to the balcony. Nightmare Moon was sitting at its very edge, her fur melding completely with the dark night that silhouetted her. Ironically, the princess’s star filled mane stood to be less like the night sky than her coat. Twilight looked around, examining her surroundings before continuing on. She was back in the royal bedroom, exactly as she had left it save for the new addition of the portal. With her location cleared, Twilight almost felt confident enough to ask those questions that had been burning through her head all night. The unicorn slowly walked out onto the balcony to seek audience with the queen, her small hooves quietly tapping on cold, stone floor. Nightmare Moon’s head was pointed towards the sky, though her eyes were closed. Twilight gulped down her unease. She had hoped she would do this without hesitation. “Nightmare?” the purple pony quietly spoke, nudging the dark alicorn’s side.

“AAH WOAH!” Nightmare screamed, flying meters into the air, bringing her hooves in front of her protectively. The princess looked down to see a surprised unicorn. “Twilight?!” Nightmare said incredulously while she started flapping her way back down to the balcony. “What- what are you doing here?” The alicorn landed, holding a hoof over her beating chest. “By the stars, don’t do that to me!”

Twilight blinked, attempting to formulate words. “I… I didn’t even know you could be scared.”

“I wasn’t scared!” Nightmare defended herself, a bit too heatedly to be believable. “I was just surprised! What are you even doing here? Shouldn’t you be enjoying the company of all your new friends, or something? Don’t tell me you’ve gotten tired of them already.”

“No, it’s just… there’s still something that’s been bothering me. Something that I need to know, maybe something that will...” Twilight paused, reluctant to say those next words.

Nightmare froze. Of course she’d ask all the right questions at the start, the princess thought drearily to herself.

“You said you’d tell me the truth, all the time. So... I want the truth.” Twilight closed her eyes and steadied her thoughts. “So why? Why are you doing this? All of it. Your sister… my Celestia… the sky... me?”

The moon princess nervously looked away. Horsefeathers.

End Chapter 4

Achievements to Ascend Arguments

Nightmares Don’t Last Forever
Chapter 5

Nightmare Moon sighed, glancing at the smaller purple pony that sat next to her. It’s cold tonight… I haven’t felt that in a while, the princess thought to herself. “Yes, fine. I will answer your questions, Twilight Sparkle,” The alicorn groaned to her companion. “But first let’s talk about something else!” Nightmare said, immediately perking up.

“You said you’d-”

“Yes! And I will, but first we’ll have to talk about things that won’t make you…” The princess paused, grinning awkwardly as she lowered her head. “Oh, hey! So what is the moonest thing that’s happened in the last thousand years?! Does the shrubbery still walk around when you turn your back?”

Twilight cocked her eyebrow apathetically. “Moonest?”

Nightmare laughed bashfully. “I’m… hoping it catches on.”

“Uh-huh. And the moving shrubbery?” The unicorn asked with a small smirk playing on the sides of her face.

“I made that part up,” the princess said, flashing a large grin at Twilight.

“Of course. Well, in the hopes of moving this along, I’ll fill you in on some of more important historical footnotes,” The purple pony said in a tone that was probably too excited. “Let’s start with-”

“Wait! Stop. I can already tell this is going to be boring,” Nightmare interrupted. “Tell me about stuff that I would be interested in.”

Twilight pouted and looked off into the night sky. The heavens were particularly clear and bright tonight, probably due mostly to Nightmare, the unicorn noted. “Well… astronomy has had a lot of advances in the last couple hundred years,” Twilight mentioned offhandedly.

“Wait, what!?” Nightmare ducked her head down to Twilight with a surprised look on her face; surprising Twilight just as much. “That… that actually got off the ground?” The princess whispered skeptically.

Twilight chuckled at Nightmare’s outburst. “Well, yeah. It has its own science and everything. And don’t get me started on the subcategories… no, really, you probably shouldn’t. Being anti-social isn’t the only reason I haven’t had any friends in the past” Twilight chuckled again, though this time out of embarrassment. “I’ve been told I could talk a pony’s ear off when it comes to astronomy.”

“You study astronomy?!” Nightmare cried in amazement. “There’s enough of it to talk a pony’s ear off!? But- but it was just a tiny club I made! How does that even…” Nightmare plopped onto the ground and stared blankly off into space. A dumb grin slowly slid across her dark face.

“Yes, and yes. Astronomy happens to be my favorite non-magic subject” Twilight proudly stated.

“Seriously?” The princess said, gaping at the purple pony.

“Yup! Sometimes, I stay up all night just looking at the stars. They really are beautiful, and I’ve gotten lost in them hundreds of times. Spike would get so mad when he’d see I hadn’t been to bed,” the unicorn professed while she stared dreamily at the night sky.

Nightmare’s mouth couldn’t hang any lower. “R- really?” The princess’s cheeks took on a blue hint of color.

Twilight looked back to Nightmare in confusion. “Well, yeah. What’s gotten you-…”

A flip switched in Twilight’s head.

Twilight looked away with an air of aloofness, hiding her smirk completely. This will be perfect, the purple pony giggled mischievously to herself. The unicorn’s voice took on a sultry, titillating quality as she picked up her words once more. “Yes… I cannot recount how many times I’ve refused sleep, instead watching the stars sparkle through my telescope, sifting through the masses of celestial bodies; each unique and more beautiful than the last. Oh, how I sometimes dread the thought of the rising sun, coming to obscure such a beautiful spectacle.” Twilight dramatically sighed, placing a hoof across her head. The unicorn paused for theatrical effect while she stared longingly at the stars through hooded eyes. “You know… there’s a game I sometimes play,” Twilight paused again, bringing the hoof to her lips. “It helps me remember all the names of the stars.” The pony gave the tip of her hoof a light sensual lick before raising it too the sky. “I outline each constellation with my hoof.” The unicorn slowly began caressing the outline of one of her favorite star formations. “Just sliding… ever so slightly around the edges, barely touching the stars themselves. And it help me memorize their shape.” Twilight slowly finished her sketch in the air, drooping her hoof slightly, only to raise it back up to give the constellation one last stroke. “Sometimes I almost feel like I can… touch them.” Ha ha ha I did it! I used the voice she uses! Twilight praised herself, making sure to keep her come hither gaze at the heavens. “What do you think, Nightmare Moon?” The unicorn innocently asked her princess. Twilight waited for a response but none was given. “Nightmare?” the purple pony broke her gaze with the sky to question her mistress.

Nightmare’s face was dominated by a deep blue. Her eyes were as wide as they could go, and her lips were pursed in utter shock. “Wh-… why did you tell me that?” The princess hesitantly spoke through her blush.

Whatever switch had triggered Twilight’s episode immediately slammed back into its original position. Realizing everything she had just said the unicorn quickly turned away, her own face felt like it would melt at any second. “I- I don’t know! Why do you say all of the stuff that you say!?“ The purple pony half accused the princess.

“Because it’s fun!” Nightmare squeaked out.

“Well, it’s fun for me-… HA HA HA let’s change the subject!” Twilight frantically looked around the room for something else to talk about. Her eyes stuck to the portal. “Ah, portal! Yes, um how did, uh… how did you… how did you get the portal in the library, anyways?” Twilight’s curiosity instantly eclipsed her panicking nature at the presentation of a plot hole.

“Oh… uh… that, well.” Nightmare coughed nervously, turning her head away to look at her kingdom. “Right after you left the library. I moved it in, installed the hidden door, and was able to catch up with you and your friends before you were in the forest for more than a couple minutes… Your dragon is a heavy sleeper by the way.”

Twilight giggled knowingly. “You should try waking him up some mornings…”

The princess fidgeted with her hooves, looking at a nearby piece of tile. “So did you… did you mean what you said?” Nightmare asked, almost masking hope in her voice.

“Umm… what part?” Twilight asked looking at a different tile on the opposite side of the balcony.

“The part about wanting to see the stars all the time,” The princess murmured.

“Uh… well, I… yeah, I have wished a couple times that the stars and the night sky would last-” A large squealing princess interrupted Twilight.

Nightmare laughed giddily, grabbing Twilight and flying straight up into the air, spinning wildly. The moon princess’s hair spun out into a beautiful blue corona that spread through the night sky as the duo rose higher. “Haha, Don’t you see Twilight! That is exactly what I’m doing here. I want to share my night with everypony! All the time! You understand me don’t you!”

Twilight screamed.

“Oh hush, you big baby” Nightmare teased, stopping her accent and slowly returning to the balcony. “I haven’t even done anything to make you scream yet,” Nightmare giggled, her good mood returning.

Twilight flopped out of Nightmare’s hooves once they were close enough to the balcony and hugged the cold stone floor. “Please… please! Don’t ever do that again,” The unicorn pleaded breathlessly.

“No promises.” Nightmare grinned.

Twilight coughed up a bit of trepidation and calmed her mind. “You… you just wanted the night sky?”

Nightmare nodded happily in reply. “I wanted everypony to have it!”

Twilight paused, still looking away from the princess. “So, let me get this straight... You were locked in the moon for a thousand years, took over a country, and mind wiped your own sister… so people could see the night sky all the time?”

Nightmare couldn’t see Twilight’s face, but the princess could imagine what it looked like. “It- it’s not exactly like that!” A bit of anxiety nipping on edge of the moon princess’s voice.

Twilight turned on the alicorn, glaring at her dark form. “Well, then why don’t you tell me what it is exactly like!”

“I… I just wanted ponies to appreciate the night…” Nightmare conceded, lowering her head dejectedly.

“That’s it!?” Twilight yelled, a small flame spurted from the side of her hair. “I read your story, but I didn’t think it was word for word! You’re so… you’re…”

“The queen!” Nightmare yelled back, wisps of her own hair whipping wildly.

“No! You’re a spoiled princess who thinks you can always get your way!”

“I will always get my way! I deserve it, I worked hard! You can’t even fathom how hard I worked to create the night sky! And nobody even cared… nobody appreciated… That’s never going to happen again. And nobody is going to stop me or stand in my way!”

“Not even your sister apparently! Who knew blood wasn’t as thick as selfishness!” Twilight chided, her hair licking up in spurts of red and orange.

Nightmare flinched “Th- that’s not-! Celestia just didn’t understand! Nopony does, and neither do you!” Nightmare sneered at the purple pony.

Twilight closed her eyes and screamed through her teeth. “I understand perfectly well!” The unicorn’s hair subsided with a sizzle, a small pillar of smoke lifting from her hair. “I understand perfectly well,” Twilight growled as she turned away from Nightmare and began walking back to the portal.

“Wh- where are you going?!” Nightmare demanded.

“Where does it look like?” Twilight jeered, not bothering to look back. “I’m going home…”

“You… better show up before sunrise tomorrow!” the alicorn called after her.

“How could I ever refuse you, princess~” the unicorn responded sarcastically.

“That’s Quee-” Nightmare was cut off as Twilight entered through the portal.

Nightmare slumped onto the railing of the balcony... Alone again, huh?

Twilight entered her library tree house, quite literally fuming. Ok Twilight, just calm down, the unicorn thought to herself. I’m with my friends now, away from that selfish brat, let’s just enjoy tonight. And then I’ll find a way to return Celestia to her- Oh my Celestia!! Twilight was not expecting this.

“WHYYY?! APPLEJACK WHYYYYY?!?” Rarity cried, holding a limp Applejack in her hooves. It looked like a bomb had gone off in the library. The room was a complete mess; ruined decorations, furniture, and ponies were laid haphazardly around building.

“Rarity!?” Twilight screamed in panic. “What happened?!”

The white unicorn promptly dropped Applejack with a thud, looking up at Twilight as if she’d seen a ghost. “Dear me… Twilight, um…” Rarity looked around the room nervously. “Pinkie’s game, may~ have gotten just a tad bit out of hand.”

A bubbly hiccup could be heard from the corner of the room behind a large cushiony upside-down sofa. A set of Pink hooves slung over the side of the upturned couch were the only visible parts of the very same exuberant party pony mainly responsible for the mess. A speedster cyan pony’s hooves were similarly situated on the sofa; though less visible as the pink ones were lying on top of them. It’s also worth noting that the sofa was definitely not a furnishing that adorned the library earlier that day.

A muffled groan sounded from the other side of the room. “Twilight…? Is- is that you?” Sunny managed to mumble while stumbling out of a pile of pillows. Nearly tripping over the cushions the sun princess looked like she could barely hold herself up. Sunny’s coordination was inhibited in most part from a large tube that completely covered her head and rose a couple feet into the air. A small unconscious dragon stuck out the other side. “Heh… heh… I’m a giraffe~” the alicorn blearily informed the wall next to Twilight. “Twilight… what’s a giraffe?”

Twilight blinked. She had seen and experienced too much these last couple days. The scene hardly fazed her in the slightest. “Well… it looks like you guys had fun,” the unicorn smirked at the fidgeting Rarity.

The white unicorn laughed apprehensively, looking around the room. “Yes, I suppose we did.”

“What were you doing when I came-”

“Just look at the time! I really must be off.” Rarity dashed for the door. “I’ll be sure to come by tomorrow morning to help clean up! Oh-!” The unicorn gasped, running back to the unconscious Applejack, grabbing the blond pony’s tail with her teeth. “And I’ll be taking this with me. Toodles~” Rarity said through the hair, then dashed out the door once again, dragging the orange earth pony behind her.

Twilight smiled and shook her head. “Over here Sunny, let’s get Spike off your head and get to bed, shall we?” The unicorn magically lifted the tubing off of Sunny’s head with a pop.

“Oh my” The princess said, blinking in the new light flooding her eyes. “Twilight! I have been having so much fun!” Sunny exclaimed, stumbling on the floor a bit. The alicorn shook her head to clear most of the wooziness. “Does having friends always mean this much fun?!”

“Well… I’m not exactly the best person to ask… yet,” Twilight giggled, a determined smirk on her face. “But I’d say most of tonight’s success should be credited to Pinkie Pie”

Another hiccup resounded from behind the couch.

“Let’s… just leave them there for now,” The unicorn smiled, raising an eyebrow in the couch’s direction before looking around the room again. “Hey, where’s Fluttershy? Did she go home already?”

“Fluttershy…” Sunny stared at Twilight for a moment in thought. The pony quickly froze and slowly lifted her head up to the ceiling.

Twilight quietly did the same. Fluttershy appeared to be unconscious and suspended by her tail, which tied around the ceiling fan, which was also a new furnishing that wasn’t in the house prior. The pegasus pony was peacefully being spun around the room by the ends of the propellers, making a quiet squeak whenever the pony got to a certain point on the circulation. The fan wasn’t the one that was squeaking. “Huh…” the unicorn said without an ounce of surprise. “You’ll have to tell me how this game is played while we get everyone comfortable.”

Sunny scampered up the last of the stairs and jumped excitedly into the bedroom. “-And that’s when it just flew out of the room!”

“Uh-huh,” Twilight said as if dealing with an excited little filly, which she was. The unicorn drudged up the rest of the stairs, an unconscious Spike resting on her back. “I’m… glad you’re having fun Sunny,” The purple pony managed to say with only a twinge of dejection in her voice.

“Oh, I am Twilight! Having friends… having friends is just the best thing ever!” The alicorn proclaimed gleefully, jumping up to the bed in the corner of the room and giving it a couple bounces. Sunny paused for a moment to look around the room. “So, where am I going to sleep?” The princess asked innocently.

Twilight rested Spike in his basket and pulled the covers up to his neck to tuck him in lovingly before turning to Sunny. “Well, with Fluttershy using the extra bed and my new… sofa being used by Pinkie and Rainbow, this is the last bed in the tree. We’ll just have to bunk together tonight” The unicorn stated absentmindedly.

Sunny immediately blushed and turned away, her hooves rubbed against each other anxiously. “Twilight, you…

“Yes, Sunny?”

“You aren’t going to… ‘ravage’ me are you?” the sun princess squeaked out.

“I- what! No!”

“It’s just… it did look a little fun with you and… sis. I don’t think I’m close enough to you, like you said before, for us to do that sort of thing. But- but if you really want to, I mean, I guess I can-”

“Wait! Stop! That’s not what that word means” Twilight said, completely frazzled. Well at least it’s good to know I can still be surprised. I was worried there for a while, the unicorn thought, a bit relieved by the notion. “Just make sure you only say that to somepony you’re very, very close to.”

“How do I know when-”

“Ah! Wait, sorry! No, never say that to anypony ever!” Twilight quickly corrected herself. “Let’s just… let’s just get some sleep,” The unicorn said, exhausted once again from her busy day. The unicorn quietly situated Sunny and herself in bed and quickly drifted off to sleep. Or, at least she tried to.

“Hey, Twilight?” Sunny called, turning to face the unicorn.

Twilight sighed and turned to face the alicorn. “Yeah, Sunny?”

“I’m not tired.”

“Have you tried counting gems?” The purple pony suggested.

“Huh?”

“Wait, nevermind. I never got around to testing that, did I… Well, how about a story?” Twilight offered hopefully.

“Oh yes that would be wonderful!” The alicorn commented happily, dipping her face half-way below the covers so only the top of her head and eyes poked out.

“Okay then, what to tell… what to tell…” The unicorn pondered. “Oh! How about I give you your very first friendship report!”

“Yeah!”

“Well then. Let’s start at the beginning. Now, I wasn’t exactly the most social of ponies, rather, I wasn’t social at all. I was too preoccupied with my studies of magic to have time for anything else. Well, one day in my studies, I stumbled across a book…”

“… And you know what lesson I learned that day, Sunny?”

Sunny blearily shook her head, her half-lidded eyes making it apparent she was ready to fall asleep at any moment.

“I learned that your friends will always be beside you to help you out… always be… beside” Twilight stopped, feeling the dampness of a tear rolling down her cheek. A much cherished memory surfaced to the front of Twilight’s mind. She was crying then, too…

“What’s wrong, my little pony?” A large white figure knelt down beside a bawling little purple filly that was nearly completely encased by a small fort of books.

“P- Princess…” The small unicorn cried, attempting to sniffle back her tears in the presence of her idol. “Th- the other ponies… they keep teasing me!”

“Whatever for, my faithful student?”

“B- because I read too many books!” The small filly looked down, a bit of her sadness replaced by anger, though her tears kept falling.

“You cannot simply run away when you are faced with a problem, Twilight Sparkle,” The large pony began levitating the books surrounding the filly away. “But that does not mean you have to face that problem alone.” The alicorn spread her wing to cover the filly in a warm, feathery embrace. “You will have friends beside you one day to help you.”

Twilight sniffled. “And… and you, princess?”

“… Yes… yes Twilight, I will be beside you…”

“… Always” Twlight breathed out the last word. The tears were flowing from her just as much as they had on that day. Twilight lowered head onto the now soundly sleeping Sunny. I’m sorry princess… I’m so, so sorry. You’re gone, and it’s all my fault. I’ll keep your memories alive… beside me, forever. “… You gave me my very first book that day,” The unicorn whispered, again revisiting her memory. The only place left where she could see her beloved Princess Cele-

“You were so small then.”

Twilight fell backwards off the bed with a thud. “S- Sunny?!” Twilight whispered loudly in disbelief.

The sun princess’s eyes were still closed, still in a deep state of sleep. “Introduction to Sorcery… such a big book for such a small filly,” Sunny mumbled and giggled before turning over, away from Twilight.

Twilight was dumbstruck, staring blankly at the back of the alicorn’s head. She… she remembered… she remembered. She remembered! She remembered! She remembered! I don’t know how but she did! Twilight’s thoughts floundered over each other upon her discovery. I don’t know how she did but she did! Was it the story I told her? Could friendship be the key to restoring Celestia’s memories? Was it my memory that did it? Can mind magic work like that? Wait, but I didn’t use any magic, that’s not how magic works. Could it have been-mmmmmMMMYesss yes yes yesyesyesYESSSS! Twilight jumped around the room in joy. She didn’t know how, but she was going to get her teacher back! But first she was going to sleep. These days are getting more and more exhausting.

Nightmare Moon tapped on the side of the balcony impatiently. Where is that pony?! The princess thought angrily to herself. She better show up! If she doesn’t show up I’ll… I’ll… remove all of her hair! An evil smirk formed on Nightmare’s face. Yesss that’ll show her. She will be so naked. She’ll rue the day she dared oppo-

Twilight trotted through the portal, chipper and raring to start the new day. “Good morning Nightmare Moon~” The unicorn called in a sing-song voice

“Oh, um… good morning… Sparkle” Nightmare replied, a bit unsure of Twilight’s new jubilant attitude. “What… what are you so happy about?”

“Well, it’s a brand new day of course! Why wouldn’t I be happy?” Twilight beamed a heart-meltingly warm smile at her mistress.

Nightmare only became even more unnerved. “…Riiiiight, well, uh… you’re a good little slave for coming” the princess attempted to goad the unicorn.

Twilight didn’t flinch at all, her smile was unfaltering. How couldn't she smile. The unicorn had just found hope to return Celestia to her rightful place as princess, and of course, teacher.

“Heh…” Nightmare laughed nervously. “So, where’s Sunny?”

“Oh, she partied a little too hard last night, so I’m letting her sleep in today.” She just kept smiling. “So are we going to raise the new sun or what?” Twilight asked innocently.

“Yes… of course…” Nightmare slowly turned out to the grand view the balcony revealed, and lit her horn. The alicorn shone bright and the night whipped around them in a repeat of the first morning Twilight had spent with Nightmare. It was just as beautiful and awe inspiring as it was the first time. Less poets wrote about it this time though. Nightmare finished her chore as the moon-sun began rising in the sky, shining brightly against the black backdrop of the night. “Phew!” Nightmare exclaimed, wobbling a bit. “That was much easier the second time around.”

“Hey, you never did explain how you managed to get such a bright celestial body in the sky, and keep the stars visible behind it,” Twilight’s smile fell as she was once again placed in front of an enticing puzzle.

“Pffft,” Nightmare chided. “It’s magic, I ain’t gotta’ e-” Nightmare was interrupted by the cold stone floor of the balcony that rushed up to meet her. The alicorn laid unmoving, sprawled on the ground.

“Whoah!” Twilight winced. “Nightmare, are you ok?” Twilight moved closer to the dark princess. “Uh… Nightmare?” The pony tentatively asked again with no response. Twilight knelt down next to Nightmare and slowly lowered her ear down to the princess’s chest. The uncorn’s coat turned a few shades whiter as she jumped up in panic. She looked around the room wildly before turning again down to the unmoving form of Nightmare Moon. Shaking her head, Twilight decisively lit her horn with a large charge of magic and jabbed it into the princess’s chest. Nightmare’s body jolted. Twilight lowered her ear back to the princess’ chest. The purple pony lit her horn again, brighter this time and jabbed again. Nightmare’s body jolted once more, followed by coughs and wheezing as the dark princess pulled her cooling hooves in closer to her body. Twilight fell to the floor, relief, and fatigue from such large spells filling her.

Nightmare coughed and groaned, looking up through bleary eyes at Twilight. “… what were we-” she coughed. “-talking about?”

Twilight looked down at the fallen princess with a mixture of utter shock and boiling anger. “Nightmare… WHAT THE FLYING HORSEFEATHER?!”

Nightmare coughed again. “You kiss your princess with that mouth?” The princess groaned out, and fell over.

End Chapter 5

Dying, Desires, and Discourse

Nightmares Don’t Last Forever
Chapter 6

Twilight grumbled, struggling to get back into the royal bedroom of the castle. The full weight of the night princess pressed down on the small of her back. “Why… why why why!” The unicorn grunted, continuing her pilgrimage. “Why is it all of a sudden nothing can make any sense ever! It’s like I’m in Bizarrequestria and it’s the social norm to be as confusing and vague as possible! Is everypony crazy? If everypony is crazy, does that mean I’m actually the crazy one. That must be it, as I don’t see any other way I could be so confounded non stop!” Twilight shouted as she dropped Nightmare Moon onto her bed with a loud thump. The unicorn glared down at the sprawled form of her mistress. “And this is all your fault!” Twilight accused Nightmare with an outstretched hoof. “Why do you have to be so- so-… unconscious” The purple pony mumbled the last word, looking around to make sure nopony had witnessed her embarrassing little outburst. The unicorn slumped down to the floor, resting her back against the bed. “Why can’t anything make any sense…”

“… Sorry” came a weak reply.

Twilight didn’t react, intent to stare at the floor in front of her. “You’ll have to be more specific than that. You have a lot to be sorry for.” The unicorn half-heartedly muttered.

“It can’t just be a general apology for everything?” Nightmare questioned, weakly opening her eyes.

“No.”

“Well then… sorry for dying, I suppose. I really didn’t plan on that happening…” The princess paused. “… So soon” She offhandedly slipped in.

“You planned on yourself dying?” Twilight turned skeptically to stare at the princess.

Nightmare let out a hoarse chuckle. “You did ask why I picked you.”

“What? So I’m just your defibrillator or something?” The unicorn scoffed and stared back at the floor.

“Well, that’s one of the reasons.”

“What are the other reasons?”

“I don’t have to tell you” Nightmare rejected the question.

“Tell me.”

“Fine, but you only get one” the princess conceded.

“Three!” Twilight demanded, raising her head a bit and lessening her frown.

“Two, and that’s final” The princess stated in a convincingly serious tone.

“Deal.”

Nightmare smirked, blowing out a victorious burst of air through her nose. “Hmph, I was going to tell you this one anyway.”

Twilight rolled her eyes.

“Well, I have been gone for… a while. And I’m not exactly the most familiar with customs and… social conduct of this time period. So I’ll need you to help me ‘adjust’” The princess said a bit awkwardly. “That’s one, now the second reason is… no, wait. Ah, no, I was sure I had more reasons than that! I mean- I- uh I thought I. I can’t tell you this one-” Nightmare sputtered out, completely against having to reveal her last reason.

The purple pony’s ears perked, looking back at the flustered Nightmare with a haughty grin on her face. “What’s wrong Nightmare? Something you don’t want me to know?” Twilight asked innocently, malice laced in her words.

The princess stumbled over her words. “AH! Sunny! Yes! That’s it!” Nightmare coughed, recollecting herself. “That’s it. I need you to keep my sister safe… at least until I get someone a little more suited.” The princess closed her eyes as she tried to prevent her smile from showing.

“Hey, what? I am perfectly capable of protecting somepony” Twilight retorted, hotly. “I just so happen to be the most powerful-…” The unicorn hesitated, realizing with a blush just what she was about to say. “I’m… I’m pretty powerful” Twilight admitted.

Nightmare chuckled, finding the strength to raise her head; cracking a few joints on the way. “Hm, no doubt” The princess teased. “But not exactly the most battle experienced pony are we?”

“Well I-”

“Or very quick to act.”

“Now hey I am-”

“Or flexible.”

“I most certainly am fl-” Twilight stopped herself just in time. The purple pony looked up at Nightmare who was holding a hoof in front of her smirking face. The unicorn grew a smile of her own. “Heh, nice try” The unicorn goaded while she slowly rose from her resting place. “But you know what? You lied.”

“What? No I didn’t!” The alicorn defended, bringing her hoof down onto the bed.

“Well, you didn’t do it on purpose, but you definitely did” Twilight said coyly, jumping onto the bed and laying down beside the princess. The purple pony’s tail flicked excitedly.

“Horsefeathers” Nightmare cursed, looking away from her helpless captive.

“That’s right missy. I know your third reason” The unicorn boasted, a sly grin plastered across her face. “It really wasn’t that hard to figure out. It was honestly the most obvious explanation. To anyone that’s read your story, that is.”

Twilight’s eyes pierced through the back of Nightmare’s head. The princess could just feel that little purple smirk looming behind her. “Shut up.”

“You~”

“Shut up shut up.”

“Are~”

Nightmare groaned, burying her face in her front hooves.

“Loooonleeeee~” Twilight finished in a sing-song voice as she rested her head playfully on the moon princess’s shoulder.

Chance! Nightmare exclaimed to herself in delight. “Oh, Twilight Sparkle… you are right” The moon princess said dolefully. First, catcher her off guard, create your own pace, the alicorn reviewed her strategy.

Twilight lifted her head off of Nightmare in surprise. “Um… I, am…” The unicorn replied nervously.

“I have been so very, very lonely” The alicorn continued in her saddened, melancholy voice. Nightmare flapped wing and spread it over Twilight, pulling the purple pony’s head back down to rest on her dark shoulders.

“Um, what?”

Now reel her in. “I should have known that you of all ponies would be able to see through my tough, uncaring façade. To the real, miserable, lonely, me” Nightmare cooed sadly while her wing gently brushed down the purple pony’s body. “That you and all your knowledge and insight could undress my convoluted psyche so easily.”

“Well, um, yes, that’s-” The purple pony attempted to get up but found the dark princess’s wing had her locked in place. Oh Celestia, I am not comfortable with this at all, Twilight squeaked to herself. It was still morning, she had just cast a couple high level revival spells, her head was fuzzy, and the princess’s body pressed up against her side along with her soft stroking feathers and… words, were certainly not helping matters. While Twilight is very much capable of dealing with a wide variety of situations, being seduced by a goddess is not one of them. The purple pony shrank helplessly into the bed.

Now go in for the kill. “I didn’t even realize, Twilight…” Nightmare lowered and turned her head, bringing herself eye to eye with Twilight. “But I’ve been waiting for a pony like you. Someone of your intellect, of your… prowess.”

Twilight squeaked, hiding the bottom half of her head, leaving her wide eyes to be the only visible part of her face.

The moon princess leaned her face in closer to the purple unicorn. “Twilight… there’s something I have to tell you” Nightmare hesitantly whispered.

The purple unicorn attempted to struggle free again. She was unsuccessful.

“I… You…” Nightmare bit her lip and looked away while her breathing became heavier. The moon princess brought herself nose to hoof covered nose with Twilight, locking her teal dragon eyes together with the unicorn’s. “You’re… You’re a thousand years too early to even attempt teasing me.” Nightmare’s grin grew to horsefeather-eating proportions.

Twilight blinked dumbly at her dark princess. The unicorn closed her eyes and buried her head underneath a pile of covers; and screamed.

“Goodness…” Nightmare said with an air of surprise. “Somepony~ is a little frustrated” The princess teased.

The purple pony glared up from her covers, sated enough with her outlet. Though she considered bash-a-queen would allow her to blow off more steam, she decided against it. For now. “Ok, yeah, you got me. Ha ha ha” Twilight said in a disgruntled, deadpanned tone.

Nightmare giggled before releasing the unicorn from her dark feathery hold. “Oh, don’t be such a spoilsport…” The princess looked at her still frowning companion. “Though, um… I might have overdone it a bit. Heh, sorry.”

Twilight scrunched up on the bed, turning herself away from Nightmare. “Uh-huh” The unicorn grumpily replied. Suddenly inspiration struck the purple pony, this wasn’t over yet. “Did you… did you mean any of that” Twilight asked innocently.

“Huh? You mean…”

“Yeah.”

“… Nice try, Sparkles.” Nightmare smirked. “But we’ve had this scene already” The princess said in a smug, confident tone.

“Blast” Twilight cursed to herself, scrunching up even further into the covers. It was over.

The princess looked uncomfortably at Twilight. Maybe I did go a little overboard… The alicorn reconsidered her actions. “Although… yeah I do… kinda, sorta’… meanallofthat” Nightmare managed to mumble, quickly looking away from the purple pony and her now adorable perking ears.

Twilight slowly raised her head from the bed. “You’re not forgiven yet” The unicorn adamantly pouted.

“Hmmm, demanding reparation, eh? Ok, I can give you a gift as an apology.” The moon princess tapped a hoof on her chin as she pondered her options. “Do you like harems?” Nightmare beamed a hopeful smile at the purple pony.

“…” Twilight remained silent.

“Oh… yeah, I guess you already have one of those” Nightmare said seriously, bringing the hoof back up to her chin.

Twilight’s tail flicked in an agitated manner.

“Hmmm, you’re a bookish, dork type, right…?” Nightmare happily noticed the purple pony’s tail to be flicking even faster. “Tell me, do you like making schedules?”

The purple pony’s ear twitched, her tail halted in place. “… Possibly” Twilight responded as her ear twitched again.

“-and the strangest thang, ah don’t even know how I made it home last night!” Applejack finished, shelving the last of the books that were lying on the ground. After working all morning the group of ponies had managed to get the library nearly spotless, with the occasional party decoration here or there.

“Hm, yes, quite a mystery indeed” Rarity offhandedly replied. Her horn glowed, the wisps of her magic picking up a couple stray streamers from the party the previous night.

The orange farmer pony eyed her unicorn friend suspiciously. “Oh, and something else. Ah smelled right like some kind of frilly fru-fru perfume. Now what did that smell like…” Applejack scratched the side of her head as she contemplated the distinct smell. “What was it… oh, it smelled almost exactly like spiced pumpkins...”

Rarity nearly lost her magical grip on the trash but managed to keep herself from flinching. “Oh hoho, quite the sense of smell you have there Applejack.”

“Say Rarity… weren’t you just bragin’ ‘bout your new perfume the other day? If memory serves, why, you called it pumpkin spice or some such-”

“Fragrance Spice’ a la Pumpkin Mix No. 6” Rarity interrupted before realizing what she’d said. The white unicorn coughed nervously. “I mean… I’ve heard of that perfume, yes. I’d never wear it though! Simply dreadful, so last year. You’d never catch me wearing it these days” The fashionista huffed, flipping her mane over her head.

Pinkie popped up from behind the white unicorn. “But Rarity, I though you said you loved-” Streamers flew into the pink pony’s mouth.

“HA HA HA be a dear and help me throw these away, Pinkie?” The unicorn hastily requested, her eye twitching ever so slightly.

Pinkie Pie nodded happily and tilted her head back, slurping up the remaining streamers that were sticking out of her mouth.

Rarity looked on in horror.

“What? They’re candy streamers!” Pinkie chirped, smiling broadly.

“I- wha- but, they were on the floor!” The unicorn exclaimed, a stray piece of hair falling in front of her face.

“Well so are your hooves but that doesn’t stop you from putting them in your mouth!” The pinkest of ponies responded in a frank tone.

“Eh… ueeeeeh” Rarity whined as she rubbed the sides of her head with her hooves.

Rainbow Dash trotted up laughing with a trashbag on her back. “Pinkie Pie, you are so random. Also, weren’t you the one that put the streamers in her mouth?” The cyan pegasus accused Rarity with a playful smirk.

“Well, yes, but I didn-“

A purple pony slumped through the portal in the corner of the room. The unicorn looked completely disheveled, with a few stray pieces of hair, legs that wouldn’t keep straight, and the faintest of an unfocused smile on her face. The group of ponies stared in silence as Twilight slowly got to her feet.

“Darling!” Rarity cried out. “Whatever happened to-”

“I knew it!” Rainbow exclaimed as she flew up to a confused and still wobbly Twilight. “I knew it I knew it!”

“What’re ya talkin’ ‘bout Rainbow?” The orange earth pony skeptically questioned her cyan friend.

“Oh c’mon AJ! Isn’t it obvious?” The pegasus said with a huff while she walked around the purple unicorn. “The long hours away, the seductive princess, and just look at her current state! That dazed goofy smile, those wobbling legs!” The cyan pony flew back around to the orange earth pony. “I told you it would be good!” Rainbow said arrogantly and triumphantly, pointing a hoof at the cowpony.

“Well, shoot Rainbow, ah guess you were right” Applejack conceded, scratching the side of her head as she eyed the aghast Twilight Sparkle, whose legs were still shaking.

Pinkie hopped up to the unicorn with a tiny happy smile. “Jeez Twilight, the party was supposed to be last night, not this morning!” The pink pony giggled, booping Twilight on the nose.

“I-… I have had just about enough of these- these false assumptions about my… more intimate life” The purple unicorn weakly stammered out, attempting to control her weak legs. “I was simply assisting Nightmare in organizing her schedule and I just… got a bit carried away” The unicorn blushed happily in remembrance of her earlier toiling. “… I really like organizing.”

The pink pony giggled again, scrunching up her face with her hooves. “Oh Twilight, we know you’re not makin’ woopie with the princess. It’s just really fun teasing you about it!”

“… I still think she is.” The cyan pegasus got smacked by an orange hoof. “Now cut that out!”

Twilight sighed, collecting her thoughts. “Where’s Fluttershy and Sunny? There’s something I need to- Oh, there you are.”

An excited Sunny and tentative but happy Fluttershy trotted into the library. “Twilight!” The pink haired alicorn yelled giddily. “It was so amazing, Fluttershy was showing me around town and there is just a shop for everything and there are so many nice ponies and we got some ice-cream and- oh, um, uh… thank you for last night, by the way. I really enjoyed it.” Sunny tilted her head down and blushed, twirling the tip of her front hoof on the ground.

Rainbow Dash rushed up to Twilight with large sparkling rose colored eyes. The pegasus deliberately rested her front hooves on the purple pony and pulled her closer. “Tell me how you do it” The cyan pony whispered in awe.

Twilight shoved Rainbow away apathetically. “Bed time story” the unicorn groaned out.

The pegasus pulled out a notepad and began scribbling furiously in it. “Bed time stories, gotcha!”

The unicorn ignored this. “It was no problem Sunny, really” Twilight said sweetly. “Now… there’s something really important I have to talk about with you. About what exactly is going on, and what happened to you” The purple unicorn said dejectedly.

“Um… you mean how my sister erased my memories, and became the new princess?” Sunny shyly replied.

“You- you knew?” The unicorn asked with wide eyes.

“Well, yeah. Sis told me everything.”

“And you’re ok with her doing that to you, and takeing over your kingdom?” Twilight asked almost shocked.

“Um, uh, no? I mean-” The alicorn stumbled through her words. “I kinda wasn’t ok with it. But- but she promised we would be able to live happily this way” Sunny mumbled, rubbing her hooves together nervously. “I’m sorry…”

“I’m not mad at you Sunny… just a little confused” The unicorn said reassuringly, resting a hoof on Sunny’s back. “You do… want your memories back though, right?”

Sunny bit her lip as she looked away from Twilight. “I… I just want us- I just want everypony to be happy” The alicorn murmured. “But I want my memories back too!” the white pony said decisively, staring intently back at Twilight.

“Don’t worry Sunny. I’ll make sure both of those happen!” The purple pony smiled confidently at her princess. “We can get your memories back Sunny, I know we can. Nightmare is wrong. Last night, you remembered something.”

“I did?”

“Um, well, you were sort of asleep.” Twilight laughed nervously, bringing her hoof back to scratch the back of her head. She decided to leave out the emotional bit. “Do you remember anything after the story I told you?”

“Well, there was this really weird dream” The alicorn explained. “I was really tall in it, and you were soooo small!” The sun princess giggled as she thought back to the scene. “And there was an oddly large book with you too… I think I was giving it to you.”

“And this will be our main objective, to restore your memories Sunny!” Twilight exclaimed, striking a heroic pose. “And our other objective is to keep Nightmare Moon from dying.”

“Why… would that need to be an objective?” Sunny questioned innocently.

“Oh, because she died this morning” The unicorn stated bluntly.

“W- WHAT?!?” Sunny screamed hysterically, her wings extended in shock and her eyes grew as big as saucers.

“AH, no, wait! She’s fine now. She’s all better!” Twilight quickly blurted out

“Oh, thank goodness.” The alicorn fell to the floor breathlessly, her wings outstretched and twitching.

“But there’s still a good chance she’ll die again tomorrow” The purple pony added as if it were the most natural thing to say at the time.

Sunny looked up, somehow even paler than normal. The sun princess took in a gulp of air before fainting unceremoniously.

“… Not exactly the most tactful of conversations, Twilight dear” Rarity stated, looking down at the collapsed alicorn.

“Huh, never woulda’ thought the princess would have such weak stuff” Rainbow added, poking one of the princess’s wings.

“Twilight, c’mere sugarcube” Applejack beckoned, a dissatisfied look on her face.

The purple unicorn sighed, forlornly walking over to the earth farmpony. “I know, I know.” Twilight said sadly as she was lightly bopped on the back of the head by her friend’s hoof. “Ow!” The unicorn cringed and flicked her ear at the dull pain. “I need to work on talking to ponies” Twilight stated as the surrounding group nodded in agreement.

Twilight jumped out of the portal and into the bedroom, a bit more chipper than usual. “Ok Nightmare, I think I have it this time. Now I know I’ve said that before, and you died a couple of those times…” The unicorn added in a hushed voice. “But this time I am certain of it!”

Nightmare was sitting stoically on the balcony, looking up at her early morning stars; not reacting to Twilight’s entrance.

“Uh, Nightmare?”

“Twilight Sparkle, there is something that has been on my mind these past few days” The moon princess announced, still staring ahead with her back to Twilight. “That first day that you came to me… you were happy then, extremely happy.”

“Uh… yeah, I-” Twilight stammered out before being interrupted.

“I have been completely honest with you, Twilight. I would expect the same treatment in return.” Ice clung to every word the moon princess spoke.

Twilight froze, mind buzzing with the ramifications of what she would say next. “I… just…” The purple pony weakly attempted to respond. She couldn’t lie and she couldn’t tell the truth. “I’m sorry, I just can’t tell you” Twilight said, her voice wavering.

“I see. So… she remembered something.”

End Chapter 6

Time Travels Transiently

Nightmares Don’t Last Forever
Chapter 7

“Thank ya’ kindly Twilight, for helping me out. Now you gotta’ finish up your story. Ah bet you must’ve flipped your hay when Nightmare told ya’ she knew about Sunny’s memories” Applejack kindly requested. The farm pony slowly trotted down a path through her family’s apple orchard, two buckets full of apples bouncing on her sides.

“Nope, nope… nope” a purple dragon atop a purple unicorn commented as he examined apples plucked from the baskets hanging next to him.

“No problem at all, Applejack” Twilight responded, carrying the dragon and two bushels of apples across her back. “And, yes, I admit I was a little alarmed when she said that” The unicorn confessed with pride. “But, I was able to keep a level head, and stay on top of the situation.”

Horsefeathers horsefeathers horsefeathers horsefeathers, Twilight Sparkle shouted in her head. What am I going to do?! What’s going to happen to Sunny?! I can’t let Nightmare near Sunny, thank Celestia she hasn’t come through the portal yet... wait. No! No time for waiting! Yes. Portal. I’ll run through the portal, grab Sunny, and run some more, away from the portal. Yes! Twilight exclaimed in her head as she inched incredibly conspicuously towards her exit. Wait, I need to stall her, yes, that’s what ponies do in these situations. They stall! “So-” Twilight squeaked out. “So… you know Sunny remembered something.” Yessss good good.

“Yes, I did just say that” Nightmare Moon stated, continuing to stare at her starry sky.

Twilight took another couple nervous steps towards the portal. “So… so what are you going to do?”

“So, what’d she do?” Applejack excitedly asked.

“I’m getting to that” The purple unicorn patiently retorted.

Nightmare Moon turned questioningly towards Twilight. “Do, Twilight Sparkle? You say that as if this is some sort of problem for me” The dark queen stated flatly.

“But I- uh… What?” Twilight stuttered out, shaking her head quickly which caused a few strands to stick out.

“Whoah Nelly! Ain’t that’a surprise! I bet you musta’ been runnin’ in circles at that” The orange earth pony chuckled at her purple friend.

“What? No!” Twilight defended herself probably a little too fiercely. “I mean, yes, I was a bit confused. Sunny regaining her memories would pretty much mean the end of her rule. But she said…”

“Aww my pretty little purple pony, did you think I would leave you in such a compromising position with my sister, if I thought you would actually be able to take advantage of it?” Nightmare taunted, that oh so familiar smirk on her face.

“… she said I couldn’t do it” Twilight looked away from her friend, a small blush crossing her cheeks.

Applejack chuckled again. “Lemme guess. You paid her no mind on the subject, huh?”

“Absolutely!” The unicorn exclaimed, raising her head high as the wind blew her main and tail heroically. “I’m going to get Sunny’s memories back, no matter what that dark mare says!”

“Atta’ girl” The farm pony enthusiastically encouraged. “So what happened after that?”

“Well, uh… I’m not sure if I should say” The purple pony said quietly, smiling awkwardly at the white alicorn pony behind her.

Sunny trotted along behind Twilight, carrying her own two baskets full of apples. “I-… I would rather you didn’t” The princess said blushing, lowering her head to look at the ground.

Applejack slowed until she was side by side with Sunny, beaming a bright, honest smile at the princess. “Oh c’mon princess! You haf’ta tell me whacha did.”

“Well…” The alicorn looked up with an embarrassed, half smile on her face.

“Where is my sister by the way?” Nightmare questioned, looking around the bedroom curiously.

The purple pony grumbled in response, turning away from the dark princess. “She was just behind me before I went through the portal.”

“Well, I guess we can-” A large curtain muffled the rest of the moon princess’s words.

Sunny yelled and jumped on the now covered Nightmare Moon, latching onto her back and tightening the curtain around her sister even more. “Ha hah!” The sun princess triumphantly shouted. “Twilight, my plan worked! Quick go get me a- a cell, or something!” Sunny urgently demanded.

“I… what?!?” Twilight shouted in response, quite bewildered.

A muffled sigh came from the curtain covering Nightmare. “Sunny, what are you doing?” The night princess stifled out.

“Stopping you! You’re aren’t going to raise the sun anymore! You- you keep getting hurt!” The sun princess clutched tighter as her voice wavered.

Nightmare phased into a glittering smoke and flew out the underside of the curtain, materializing just next to a surprised Sunny. “You always were horrible at scheming” The moon princess said disapprovingly.

Sunny dropped abruptly to the floor atop the pile sheets with a faint squeak. “Oh… you can turn into smoke” the white alicorn said dejectedly, laying her head in between her hooves.

“Sunny…” Nightmare said sympathetically. “Why don’t you just-”

“Why do you have to do all of this?!” Sunny interrupted, her voice cracking as she looked up with watering eyes. “Why do you have to get hurt just to do this?”

“… Sacrifices have to be made to realize any dream, sister” The moon princess quietly responded, closing her eyes and lowering her head.

“Well… YOUR DREAM IS STUPID!!” Sunny cracked, the tears started flowing as her white wings flared in her agitated state. Nightmare flinched as if struck but kept her head down. The sun princess attempted to wipe her eyes and collect herself, to little effect with how much she was crying. “I- I’m not going to let-” Sunny sniffed. “-Let you if you’re just hurting yourself!”

“Sunny, it’s not li-” The dark alicorn looked up apprehensively only to be cut off.

“I’m not letting you!” Sunny shouted again, stamping her hoof into cloth.

“But that’s just it Sunny! I won’t be getting hurt anymore” Nightmare said confidently with a small smile. The night princess trotted beside Twilight and rested a hoof over the purple pony’s shoulders. “Isn’t that right Twilight?” The princess asked as she beamed a reassuring smile at Sunny

“I- what?”

“Why, Twilight was just telling me about how she figured out the perfect way to keep me safe” The princess said happily.

“I- wha-” A kick to her purple flanks stopped Twilight short. “Oh… ooh, yes!” Twilight agreed, catching on. “Yes, I definitely found… a way… to stop that” The unicorn said awkwardly, flashing a smile just as sure as her words.

The sun princess sniffed as she looked between the two dark ponies. “R- really? You won’t be hurt at all?”

“Of co-ho-hoourse~ not” Nightmare reassured her bawling sister, tilting a hoof forward dramatically for emphasis. “Now if you’ll excuse us we need some time to prepare” The princess quickly said while she dragged Twilight out onto the balcony. “Just wait right there!”

Sunny sniffled again and nodded her head blissfully, pulling together the curtain for a comfier seat.

Once on the balcony and out of earshot, Nightmare grabbed the purple unicorn tighter and hissed quietly into her ear “Ok, seriously. Real smooth move telling her about me dying and everything!”

“Well, it’s not like I knew it was a secret or something!” Twilight whispered back, huddling closer to the princess.

“So what, you just tell ponies whenever their family members die or something?!”

“Well, yeah! You do-”

“Shutup. It doesn’t matter now” Nightmare interrupted hotly. “From now on, me dying is on a need to know basis. And nobody needs to know!”

“Right, well at least we’ve got that cleared up” The purple pony said sarcastically, rolling her eyes away from her mistress.

“Speaking of, why am I still dying? I thought you said you were going to stop that from happening” The moon princess continued whispering, taking a quick peek back at Sunny to make sure she wasn’t getting any closer.

“Well, I’ve been trying” Twilight groaned. “It doesn’t help when the pony you’re trying to save has a death wish.”

“I DO NO-” The dark alicorn nearly yelled out. “-I do not have a death wish!” Nightmare said in a more appropriate whispered tone.

“Says the ‘sacrifice’.” The unicorn glared at the foreboding form above her.

“Whatever!” The princess breathed bitterly, looking away from the purple pony. “Your solution for today, is it going to work?”

“… Well…”

“You said earlier it would work!”

“Well I’m not completely sure it will work…” Twilight responded in an unsure tone, rubbing a hoof against her leg.

“How sure are you?” Nightmare asked crossly, tightening her grip on the unicorn.

“Um… fifteen percent sure?” The purple pony flashed the princess a sheepish smile.

A crooked grin grew on the night alicorn’s face, her grip on Twilight tightening just a smidgen more. “You realize that’s not going to cut it tonight” Nightmare said ever so sweetly.

“I know I know!” Twilight squirmed in her black clutches. “Just give me a second or two to think!” Twilight didn’t even need a second to think. The purple pony already knew she was out of options and had to call upon her last resort; she wasn’t going to have the princess cry on her watch. “Ok, so, I have something… but it might be a little risky.”

“Right. Because, I haven’t been dying. Or anything” Nightmare stated in a flat tone.

“Shutup. I’m going to be involved this time” Twilight retorted.

“What?” Nightmare kept her flat tone.

“I’m going to help you with your spell” The unicorn responded in a serious manner.

“You can’t possibly think- like I would even let you-”

“I realize the dangers, I’m confident in my abilities, and… you don’t really have much of a choice” Twilight interrupted, her expression telling Nightmare she was completely determined to go through with this.

The moon princess grumbled, looking around nervously. “Fine” She finally conceded. “Just- just don’t die. If you do I swear I’ll make you regret it.”

“Well then I have nothing to worry about because we’ll both be dead!” The unicorn smirked at her princess. Her princess stared blankly back at the purple pony. “… That was a joke” Twilight continued.

“Ha, ha” The dark princess said, straightening her back and shaking her head to prepare for her early morning endeavor. “Let’s do it then…”

“Ok” Twilight said hesitantly. “Do I need to get on your back or something? Do our… do our horns need to be touching?” Twilight gulped down her rising anxiety.

“What? No! Don’t be stupid.” Nightmare quickly responded self-consciously. “I mean- I don’t know- just… just touch my hoof… or something” The moon princess slid her hoof closer to Twilight as she tried to hide her distressed appearance.

“Right- right” Twilight muttered, resting her hoof nonchalantly on the princess’s. “It would also be nice if I knew what I’d be doing.”

“It’s hard to explain. You just sorta… keep the night, instead of bringing in the new day” Nightmare fumbled with her words, uneasily shifting her stance.

“Wait… so you aren’t just making the atmosphere invisible or something?” The unicorn skeptically asked.

“No! What? How would I even do that? I’m princess of the night, not princess of the atmosphere. Just… I’ll concentrate on the moon, you concentrate on the stars” The alicorn finished anxiously.

“What exactly am I-”

“I’ll guide you. Don’t worry, just follow the flow.” Nightmare slowly breathed in to calm herself. In exhaling the night princess drew upon her powers, the night enveloping her and lighting her horn the same as so many other mornings. She wasn’t going to start just yet, this was just a warm-up. Nightmare sent a small taste of the magic through her hoof and into Twilight; a dark, cool wind visibly flowing along its path through their bodies.

Twilight gasped as the foreign magic invaded her, scrunching her eyes tight at the feeling.

“Please don’t make weird sounds like that” The moon princess murmured, looking away from Twilight.

“Sorry” The unicorn said sheepishly. “It was just a little surprising…” Twilight shook her head and concentrated on the new magic flowing through her body. It was soothing, incredibly so. This feeling, the purple pony experienced it every morning when she accompanied Nightmare, but this was so much more intense. Before, she could feel the dark night air, smell the coldness of the sky, but now she was one with all of those things. Twilight could touch the stars in the sky and move them however she pleased if she wanted to. The unicorn activated her own magic and reached out a tentative, ethereal hoof towards the stars.

“Stop that” Nightmare calmly said, lightly smacking Twilight’s magic away from the stars. “I like them the way they are.”

“Sorry” the unicorn said sheepishly again.

“Are you ready? Once I start, you’re going to have to keep up or fall off” The night princess stated.

“I’m ready… let’s do it.” Twilight’s mind was literally, in a figurative manner, swept off its feet. The moment Nightmare began casting her magic the purple pony felt as if a mountain of pure power was suddenly growing right next to her. And the moon princess was right, Twilight was going to fall off. The unicorn quickly grabbed tightly onto the ever growing mass of magic around her, gaining a hoofhold; but not for long. Twilight needed to raise her own mountain if she wanted her plan to work, simply piggybacking on the night princess’s magic wasn’t going to cut it. So the magician rose, using her hold on Nightmare’s magic, the unicorn pushed her own magic higher and higher until she lost track of just how high she or the princess were. The unicorn abruptly stopped, completely out of breath. She had reached her limits.

Wow, I didn’t actually think you could do it The wispy magical form of Nightmare stated, utterly surprised.

Twilight would have blinked in confusion if she could have. Seeing as she was an ethereal magical form herself she wasn’t currently able to, nor would it have done anything. Whah- where… Twilight stopped herself as she looked around. The now rose colored magical pony was surrounded by utter darkness, interrupted by little pinpoints of small lights. We’re in… space? Twilight said with a mixture of skepticism and disappointment, cocking her head at the shining blue form standing next to her.

No! At least I don’t think… no, no we’re definitely, probably not in space Nightmare stated with confidence. We’re in the Night, capital N. And that’s not your real body either in case you were wondering. We left our bodies pretty much the second we started.

Oh… Twilight waved a hoof experimentally in front of her face, watching it shimmer and fade as it moved. So, you come here whenever you change the day to night, and night to day? The unicorn asked curiously.

Not as fun as it sounds Nightmare reached out and stopped Twilight’s waving hoof. Now concentrate because this is the important part. If you don’t do this right… the sky might freeze. The alicorn bluntly said.

What? Twilight questioned flatly, resting her hooves back onto the imaginary ground.

Don’t worry, I only said that to get you more focused. There’s only a medium sized chance that will actually happen The moon princess beamed a blurry ethereal smile at the smaller pony. And don’t bother panicking, that won’t do anyone any good.

Twilight groaned and slammed her head on the previously mentioned imaginary ground. Ok… ok, no panicking The unicorn perked up, slapping on a small smile. Ok, yeah, I can do this. Let’s do this. We can do this. How do I do this?

I just said don’t panic.

Yeah, ok, like that was actually going to happen!

Calm down, this is the easy part. You just kept up with a goddess in terms of power. Who else can even say that? Nightmare reassured her smaller companion.

Heh… yeah… you did help with that though… Twilight nervously chuckled. Yeah… ok The unicorn took in a couple abstract breaths, only the motions themselves helping to calm her. What do I need to do?

Your job is simple. Like I said before, just hold the Night still. I’ll take care of the rest.

Applejack stared blankly at Sunny. Then at Twilight who was pretending as if she hadn’t been listening to Sunny’s story and was looking off in the opposite direction. The orange earth pony then looked up at the dark, star filled sky and bright shining moon, and finally back to Twilight. “Huh… and ah thought ah had busy mornings…” Applejack slowly trotted up next to Twilight who was still pretending she wasn’t part of the conversation. “So, Twi…” Applejack leaned in closer to the purple pony. “How’s it feel to be as strong as a princess” The farmpony teased with a knowing smile.

“I am not as strong as a princess!” Twilight defended herself blushing, quickening her pace to get slightly away from Applejack.

Applejack laughed hardily, pulling Twilight back by her tail. “Aw c’mon ya silly filly ah’m only foolin’. No need to run off on us”

Twilight grumbled, still blushing heavily.

“And princess, let me just say ah’m proud of what you tried ta do” Applejack tipped her hat to Sunny, flashing a bright friendly smile.

“Um… cover my sister in a curtain?” The alicorn asked awkwardly.

“Well, not that part exactly.” The orange pony rubbed the back of her head feeling just as awkward. “But trying to stop yer sister from hurting herself. I can relate ta how ya feel. Ya always have to look out fer family, even if they’re not looking out for themselves” Applejack confidently stated, rubbing the top of Sunny’s head affectionately. “And your story reminds me of the time my own little sister escaped from the moon and took over the apple farm.”

Twilight and Sunny stared blankly at the earth pony.

Applejack chuckled uneasily. “Uh… that was a joke.”

“Ah-hah!” Spike exclaimed as he held up a juicy red apple.

“Oh, Spike! That looks del-” The purple pony was interrupted by a gurgling in the small dragon assistant’s stomach.

The purple dragon belched out a green lick of fire that engulfed the apple completely, leaving a scroll stamped with the royal seal in its place. “Aww, my apple” Spike whined as he held up the scroll.

Twilight groaned, looking away from the letter. “It’s a letter from Nightmare Moon”

Spike quickly hopped off of the purple pony and unrolled the scroll, clearing his throat before beginning. ”Dear Twilight Sparkle. I hate writing letters so I’ll keep this short. For being such an obedient subject I have decided to give you a reward. Enclosed are two tickets to the Grand Galloping Gala, for yourself, and one guest. Have fun picking who gets to go with you. P.S. Sunny doesn’t get one because she’s stupid.” Two golden tickets fell to the ground as Spike finished.

“Whaaat?” Sunny whined, disappointment written all over her face.

Twilight magically picked up the tickets and scrutinized them carefully. “But… I don’t even want to go.”

Nightmare Moon and Twilight trotted into the royal bedroom through the balcony’s archway. “And yet another beautiful morning. You are definitely improving your control Twilight. Maybe I should take you on as my student” The moon princess coyly suggested. “I could teach you so many, many things.”

“Yeeeah, how about we just stick to casual enemies, and we can leave all of your little teacher fantasies to your hundreds and hundreds of suitors lining up at the door” The unicorn snarkily responded, rolling her eyes.

“Oooooh~ you are getting feisty!” Nightmare snarled playfully, batting a hoof. The moon princess passed Twilight and trotted up to a smaller, white alicorn that was sitting patiently on the floor. “And as you can see sister, yet another hapless free morning” Nightmare triumphantly stated, before bending down to peck the smaller pony on the forehead.

The sun princess giggled at the kiss. “I’m sorry sister. I should really learn to trust your decisions more often” Sunny sweetly apologized.

“No you shouldn’t” Twilight added from across the room.

“It’s just…” Sunny continued. “It’s just, I wish I could have helped you somehow…” The alicorn sadly said, looking away from her big sister.

“Oh Sunny” Nightmare quietly consoled, lifting the smaller pony’s head. “You did everything you could, and you tried your hardest. Believe me, I couldn’t ask for a better sister. Now get out of here before I throw you out” The moon princess teased, smacking the smaller sister’s flank as she walked past.

The sun princess giggled again, waving her hoof as she moved towards the portal. “Bye~ see you tomorrow then” The alicorn happily bid farewell before disappearing through the portal’s liquid depths.

Twilight scrunched up her face in thought “Wait… did you mean you and Celestia tried to do what we’re doing? Why didn’t it work?”

“Twilight, there are many different frequencies of magic, and my sister’s was just too bright and sunny to actually pull off this sort of thing. I swear she nearly scorched my stars when we tried” The alicorn grumbled to herself. “… Wait a second… Twilight, what day is it?”

“The date? Why it’s-”

“TWILIGHT!” Nightmare jumped to the purple pony and grabbed her abruptly with her hooves.

“AAH! What?!” The purple pony screamed back, falling limp in the princess’s clutches.

“This is horrible, today is horrible, I thought I was ready for it but I’m not! Not for today!” The moon princess blurted out. “I am nowhere near ready!”

“What? What’s happening? What’s so bad?” The unicorn quickly questioned, a tinge of worry lacing her words.

Nightmare gently set Twilight back down and started wringing her hooves together, eyes darting around the room. “You know how time moves forward, and events and dates move closer… well time must be broken because this event has come way too fast! I didn’t even notice but it’s already here!”

“Time isn’t moving faster, just tell me what it is!”

“Summer is over Sparkle! Summer. Is. Over!” The alicorn hysterically shrieked.

“… So?”

“So summer vacation is over, which means school is back, which means children will be back, which means I have to talk in front of a bunch of tiny, whiny, bipolar, foals!”

“…” Twilight stared at Nightmare with a mixture of shock and irritability.

“It starts in an hour and I need your help! Go talk to them, you’re a student! You have so much in common! You’ll be like twins! Warm them up for me or something, I’m going to go- go- go fly around!” And with that Nightmare bolted out through the archway, soaring into the sky.

The unicorn stared after her mistress before shaking her head. “Me… and an entire class… are going to be like twins…” Twilight groaned and walked out into the hallway, closing the door carefully behind her. The unicorn slowly began making her way to the castle classroom that was used specifically for young unicorn foals to become better acquainted with their power, and have a rare opportunity to have the princess herself teach them. “I guess that duty falls to Nightmare now” Twilight drearily said to herself. “Honestly, that mare. Being scared of children. Sometimes I don’t even know what’s going on in her head” The unicorn chuckled to herself. “What am I saying, I never know what’s going on in-” The purple pony’s monologue was interrupted by a pale blue hoof that pulled her out of the hallway and into a nearby doorway, the door slamming shut behind her.

“Twilight Sparkle, I need your help! That monster is going to kill me!” The voice and hoof came from a rather handsome, if not slightly disheveled, sky blue stallion with a messy blond mane and blood shot eyes that gave him the appearance of one who had not slept in days.

“Wh- what? Are you ok? Who’s trying to kill you?” Twilight sympathetically asked the worn out, ragged unicorn.

“Nightmare Moon!” The pony exclaimed. “She has told me as much herself! Oh… um, excuse me” The stallion released Twilight from his grip and attempted to fix his hair. “I’m very sorry, I’ve been a bit at odds ever since my…” The pony rubbed his neck apprehensively. “Encounter” The unicorn hoarsely chuckled. “But the fear of death is no excuse for bad manners.”

“This- this can’t be right, Nightmare wouldn’t-” Twilight began

“Listen, I’m sorry but I don’t have much time. You’re Twilight Sparkle, Celestia’s most faithful student, and you still are. I know this. And I understand that you are probably the pony that can do the least for me. After all, you are in the most danger, not to mention your friends…”

“What are you saying?” The purple pony breathed out.

“I’m saying you cannot trust Nightmare. She is a monster, and a liar. She will destroy anything that stands in her way… I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have stopped you. Dragging a pony such as yourself into this is the last thing I wanted to do” The blond pony sadly commented, running a hoof through his ragged hair. “Just… please be careful, and know that you have allies. My name is Lucid Skies, and it was a pleasure meeting you Miss Sparkle” Lucid formally complimented Twilight as he raised her purple hoof and kissed it. “Remember, don’t believe anything she says.” And with a flash a golden sparks the unicorn disappeared from the room.

Twilight stood alone, shocked at what she had heard.

End Chapter 7