I brushed my flat, red mane out of my eyes. I didn't know how Fluttershy went around like that, but I sure couldn't. It was annoying. I surveyed the troops I had been given with delight. These ponies would follow me to hell and back just because I thought it furthered our cause. At the moment, they were organized in rank and file, as I had just called for. I smiled as I looked over them. We had our orders. In three days' time, we were going to march on one of the Elements. More succinctly, we were marching on Trixie's place. We wanted her for the morale hit. If their troops lost the Element of Laughter, they wouldn't have much to be happy about. Sad troops didn't fight as well.

"Alright, you know what's going down. We're hitting them hard and fast, and the Mage-Commander will be with us to abduct the Element of Laughter in the midst of battle. Once she returns and signals mission complete, we'll withdraw, but we still need to train so we don't get overwhelmed before she can get away with the Element bearer. Alright, get to it!" I cringed at being so mean in speaking to them, but it was necessary. Military doesn't respond well to people saying 'please' or 'if you want to.' I looked off into the distance, where a mountain separated us from them. It would be a hard day of marching to reach their position once we were given the signal in three days, but it would be worth it to see the look of surprise on their faces. We knew there was a spy in Canterlot somewhere, but nopony could weed it out. So, for now, only Twilight and Nightmare Moon had any idea we were down here. That meant no reinforcements if they happened upon us, because Twilight couldn't afford to be away from Canterlot before the march, and Nightmare Moon was distracting them with raids on one of the other Element bearers, making them think we were pushing somewhere else. I surveyed the field as the ponies before me were engaged in mock battle and strategic maneuvers all over.

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I dropped the scrying plate and dropped back in my chair. Pinkamina was doing wonderfully with her new command. I knew that she was a mare of her word, so I shouldn't be so cautious, but still. Not everypony would be so willing to throw in with me, and I had to get used to watching them in action from afar. I seemed to wilt in my chair, my head drifting down in exhaustion as my entire body relaxed as if I were asleep. I pretty much was. I was so drained I could barely look around me. I had scried for hours, and channeling magic like that was sure to leave me like this. I fell out of my chair and crawled the short distance between there and my bed. As soon as my head hit the pillow, I was out.

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Twilight was doing wonderful as Mage-Commander. She had already broken and sworn in a general, and one of the Elements, no less. I wandered the halls, seeking her out. She didn't tell me where she was going when she left my chambers earlier tonight, so I had to guess, and keep guessing. Suddenly, I detected a bad dream forming, and as Princess of Eternal Night, it was my job to keep them away. I jumped out the nearby window, immediately unfurling my wings, and then I realized it was in the northwest tower. Odd, that'd be Twilight's chambers...

I threw myself against the sound barrier, soaring faster than I'd ever flown before. In seconds, I had traveled the entire distance and landed in the open top floor, skidding a little on the stone floor as I flared my wings to stop myself from falling out the other side. I shot down the stairs and opened the door to her room just as the dream formed, striking forward towards its target. I ran to her side, throwing a dreamcatcher shield around her. It was a special shield, and anyone sleeping within would have restful, dreamless sleep. I leaned down and nuzzled her gently as she slept, glad that I had diverted her dreams. I laid down beside her, embracing her with my wings. She seemed happy, and for that I was happy as well. A knock on the door sounded, and I got up to answer it, my shield keeping Twilight from hearing. I opened the door to admit a guard. He looked flustered at my being there, and I bid him tell me what the problem was.

"It's weird, Princess, all's quiet on the front. It's as if the defenders retreated from their barricades, though I can't see why," the guard whispered, in courtesy of his commander sleeping in the room. I flared my wings, and he snapped his gaze up to me. I growled, almost silently.

"Push the advantage. If an Element is spotted, tell me immediately." The guard couldn't leave fast enough, and I sighed, shutting the door behind him. I returned to Twilight's side, humming an old, enchanted melody. Anypony that heard it would fall asleep after time. It was also good for keeping them asleep once they finally drift off. I sighed, holding her to my chest while stroking her mane. I sat like that for a long while, until Twilight woke up from her sleep, despite my humming.

"N-Nightmare...?" She stretched, then noticed my presence. I responded by holding her tighter. She seemed to enjoy it, and giggled.

"I love you, Nightmare Moon." I blushed, as always, hearing her talk thusly. I responded in kind, earning a delighted giggle from her. There was a knock at the door. I extricated myself from Twilight, going to answer the door while she put her armor back on. The necessity of such things as armor made me shudder. I waited for the day Twilight could shed it for the last time with impatience. However, that day seemed long in coming. Another guard stood there. I waited for his report, which he seemed to understand after a few moments.

"Ah, Princess, I was hoping to give the Mage-Commander a reminder that she is meant to leave in one hour. That is all." The guard left with that, not waiting for a dismissal. It was lack of discipline in the strongest sense of the word. However, I turned to Twilight, a little regretfully.

"You have somewhere to be? Outside of Canterlot?" I couldn't hide a slight accusation from my voice. She sighed and turned to face me. There were tears in her eyes, just begging to be shed.

"I have to go assist General Pinkamina in assaulting Laughter, remember? We are the only ones that actually know she's out there, and we must secure Laughter or risk morale overcoming training and winning the war. Losing Pinkamina didn't hurt them a whole lot, cause she was obviously expendable since she came to the most obvious place to start a resistance. The whole reason we attacked what we have in the meantime was to draw their attention away from that area so we could launch a surprise assault." Twilight had gone into full-lecture mode, explaining everything down to the last detail. Part of the reason I appointed her Mage-Commander, after all, was her impeccable attention to detail and memory.

"Of course, of course, I nearly forgot. Please, give Pinkamina my regards when you reach them." I chuckled, leaving her to her preparations, before my emotions could get the better of my resolve and try to keep her from going. Of course, acquiring the Element of Laughter was important. But I didn't have to like that Twilight would be the only one capable of reaching her in all the chaos, myself and my enthralled sister aside. Of course, in order for her to be able to do that, she would have to have full control of herself, and that would be a disaster. She'd probably as soon jump the fence as do anything to aid my cause. I went to my own room and slept for awhile, having not slept in days.

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I trotted over to the nexus plateau, where they made all the outgoing teleportation nexuses that we used to move troops and supplies between Canterlot and the areas of combat. I had tasked the unicorn in charge to make an open nexus, which I could program from inside. It took a lot longer to make than a pre-destined nexus, but I had time and predisposition. I know there's a spy in our midst, so the less ponies that know about my doings, the less that can be given away to the resistance. I threw myself into the nexus, envisioning the plains that Pinkamina's army had taken in secret.

In short order, a flash of purple light signalled my arrival right in the middle of it. I looked around, and saw them in the midst of preparations, tents being packed away, gear stowed in saddlebags, et cetera. I spied Pinkamina on a nearby hill and teleported over to her.

"Well, General, it looks like you've got good discipline in your soldiers," I spoke softly, so only she could hear. She smirked at me, sure of herself.

"Why, yes, Mage-Commander, I'd say that, too. It's an honor to lead them, and I thank you for your trust in me." Yeah, right, trust. I'll get right on that. I nodded, then turned in the direction of the city we would siege in a couple hours.

"Well, it's about that time, General Pie. Give the order when you're ready."

Author's Note

Well, no clop in this one. A few cuddles before Twilight leaves for Pinkamina's fields, thats about it. This chapter was very hard for me to write for no apparent reason, I kept thinking, rethinking, and rethinking again a line or two here, or that paragraph over there, and it was a little frustrating that I kept feeling I didn't do the scene justice. Finally, I ended up with this. Hope ya'll enjoy it, and any feedback is welcome. Sorry for the delay.