Perils of the Past: Reflections, ch 9.

By Somber

The afternoon light transformed the library into a patina of yellows and golds. The books, treasures from all across Equestria for their lore and scarcity, lay in neatly tended rows on the shelves in careful alphabetic order by category. Marble pillars rose to a graceful dome overhead; the stone apparently seamless thanks to Earth pony skill and Unicorn magic. The large round window set high in the wall created a spotlight effect in the center of the floor; and framed by golden light stood Princess Virtue calmly watching as a white unicorn taught Princess Celestia her letters.

"Mommy?" Princess Luna asked timidly as she poked her head around the leg of a table. Gentle golden eyes turned to regard her daughter and she knelt. "Mommy!" She cried and rushed to her, nuzzling against her side as her mother knelt as gently stroked her neck.

"What's the matter, Luna?" The Princess asked, softly running her hoof along her flank. Celestia looked over from her book in concern.

"Princess Celestia, focus," the young pale green Unicorn mare with a jade mane said softly as she gestured back at the book.

"I just want to see my sister, True Heart."

"And you will. Later. For now you must focus." True Heart said in soft and precise words. She may have been only a year or two older than Celestia, but the young green unicorn obviously knew a great deal about self control.

"What is it, my dear?" Princess Virtue said softly as she gazed into Luna's eyes.

"I couldn't find you or daddy or Clesta or any pony!" Luna wailed, "I thought I'd be alone forever!"

"Oh Luna." Princess Virtue said softly as she touched her horn to Luna's, "As long as you have love, you'll never really be alone." Luna smiled at that thought, nuzzling her happily.

True Heart walked from where Celestia studied, the white Alicorn giving an almost envious look at her sister with their mother, and said in a low voice, "I must apologize your majesty, but I'm afraid this is distracting the Princess."

"This Princess is scared, True Heart," Princess Virtue said softly.

"Indeed, but she's recovered." Her eyes settled on Luna a moment, "I believe I may have a solution." She clapped her hooves together and from the edge of the room scampered a lavender unicorn only a few years older than Princess Luna.

"Y…y…y…yes, my l….lady?" she stammered, giving a hasty bob of her head and she looked nervously from True Heart to Princess Virtue to Luna.

"Decorum," True Heart said without moving her lips. The lavender unicorn with darker purple mane took a few seconds to compose herself. Giving a satisfied nod, the pale green unicorn smiled at the Princesses. "Mother took this young lady into our service just a few days ago. I hardly need another hoof maid, but it occurs to me that Princess Luna has none at all. I humbly entreat you to accept her into your service, your majesty." Emerald eyes glanced at Princess Luna, "The Princess is fast approaching the age where she will need attendants."

"You're giving me a pony?" Luna said in bafflement. "Momma, can she do that?"

The lavender maid swallowed and bobbed her head, "I… I p…p…p…promise to s…s…serve…f…" she stammered horribly, not able to look either of them in the eye.

"I suppose you're right, True Heart. My daughters will need attendants to help with their duties." Princess Virtue looked at the unicorn maid with her radiant smile. "I trust that you will see to my daughter's needs?"

"Y…y…y…" she tried to speak, grimacing as she struggled to say the simple word. Princess Virtue just smiled at the young lavender unicorn till she finished, "Y…yes your M…m…m…ma…majesty." The lavender unicorn positively beamed at the accomplishment of simple speach.

"There. I so enjoy it when things come together nicely," True Heart said primly as she walked back to where Celestia sat alone in ill humor. Perhaps she wasn't aware of how voices carried in the library, but Luna heard the green unicorn say to her sister, "Now that Luna has her babysitter, perhaps we can return to important matters."

Princess Virtue reached out to nuzzle Luna once again before rising, "All better now?" Luna certainly didn't feel all better, but she knew what answer her mother needed to hear and nodded. "That's a good girl. Now I need to go find your father. Some pony needs to keep all these silly ponies from fighting each other."

As her mother left Luna followed her into the hall, watching her walk away. Princess Virtue looked back at her at with a warm smile before disappearing around the corner. Princess Luna then looked at the lavender maid and frowned. The unicorn blanched. "You. What's your name?"

"M…m…m…"

"Spit it out!"

"M… m… m…" she seemed to be fighting to say the words, and Luna's frown turned a little more concerned. "M…Morning…. m… m… m… Mist." She breathed hard, as if the act of speaking was physically taxing for Morning Mist.

She narrowed her gaze up at her baby sitter, "Morning Mist?" The Unicorn nodded. "I hate you."

Twilight Sparkle watched the young Luna trot away in the vision, her jaw dropping at the devastated expression on Morning Mist's face. "Luna!" She turned to the dark Alicorn as the vision disappeared around them like night giving way to the dawn. They were in flight towards the castle and Twilight had asked the Princess to share her memories of the unicorn who would become Nightmare Strife. "That was terrible!"

The dark gray Alicorn covered her head with her hooves as she leaned against the rail of the chariot. "I know! I know I was terrible. I was barely older than a foal back then." She sighed as she sat, looking at the terrain passing underneath the chariot. "I resented being treated like a baby, even though I practically was a baby."

"Ah, don't worry about it none, sugar cube," Applejack said with an easy smile, "You shoulda seen me when I was your age. Whoo nelly, wasn't I a terror fer Big Macintosh?" Twilight Sparkle and her friends rode with Luna in one large chariot while Celestia, Dignity, and Honesty travelled in another.

"So Morning Mist was your hoof maid?" Rarity asked. Luna nodded.

"Um, excuse me, but for all of us that aren't up on all the rich fancy smanchy stuff, what the heck is a hoof maid and why would any pony want one?" Rainbow Dash asked crossly.

Rarity sighed with a smile, "Oh a hoof maid is simply a darling companion to help one dress, keep one's hooves neat and polished, bring you your tea, and take care of all those annoying little distractions in life." She saw all of her friends looking at her oddly, "Or so I've heard," she quickly added.

"It was also a good job for a young filly or mare," Twilight added, taking some of the heat off Rarity. "In old times when jobs were scarce and often dangerous, a filly would be lucky to serve as a royal hoof maid. Believe it or not, True Heart was actually doing Morning Mist a favor."

Rainbow Dash stuck out her tongue, blowing a raspberry as she crossed her hooves. "Well it sure doesn't seem right to me. You'll never see me with one!"

"I think that goes without saying." Rarity replied with a smile.

Suddenly a blast of wind shook the chariot and her friends dug in their hooves as it rocked wildly. When the gust past Twilight Sparkle sat up and rubbed her head. "Ugh, what happened?"

"Rogue weather," Rainbow Dash said as she pointed at a bank of dark clouds to the west. Lightning flickered along the edge. "Since Cloudsdale's rainstorm, the weather across Equestria's been wonky. There isn't enough Pegasus out and about right now to kick it all back in line. They're mostly still working at Cloudsdale and Ponyville."

"Can't you do something about it, Princess? Oooh! Ohhh! Point your horn at it and give it a big zap! Bye bye you big rainy meany!" Pinkie Pie asked Princess Luna as she waved her hoof at bank of clouds like she could just wave away the storm front.

"Weather magic is very dangerous," Princess Luna said as she looked at the approaching storm. "There's a lot of magical power in a storm. If I just try to get rid of it then all that magic has to go somewhere. I could make the weather a lot worse. Tornadoes instead of just thunder storms, or start a drought. That's why we leave it to Pegasus. They're better at it than Alicorns," she said as she looked at the cyan Pegasus. Rainbow Dash's eyes widened and she flushed with pride at the complement.

"We're almost to the castle anyway. Hopefully all of this will just blow over." Twilight Sparkle looked at Fluttershy, shaking as she wrapped her hooves around the rail with her eyes clenched tight.

"Yeah. I just hope no pony gets caught up in that. Wild storms are no picnic at all." Rainbow Dash said solemnly as the distant growl of thunder rolled across the valley.

"It seems the Great and Powerful Trixie is forced to endure another rainstorm," the Great and Powerful Trixie said to herself as she hunkered in the meager shelter of a tree on the edge of a large grassland. She could make out the glorious lighted towers of Canterlot far above, but that wasn't her destination. In reality, the Great and Powerful Trixie was at a loss to find any place impressed by greatness or power. Ever since her disastrous showing in Ponyville word had gotten around Equestria that she was a liar, hack, and something of a joke. It was on nights like this that she missed her covered wagon.

"Well the Great and Powerful… nnngghh…." She sighed as she pressed her hooves to the sides of her head. "Ugh, who am I even talking to?" She sighed as there was another roll of thunder. The rain began to fall, much colder than the season warranted. She carefully collected whatever dry sticks she could and lit a fire with her horn. "I need to try some new venue. Maybe Manehattan. There's so many ponies there surely some of them would be impressed by the Great and Powerful Trixie."

From the rain came a long low laugh. In the gloom the blue unicorn spotted a shape slowly approaching with leisurely steps. There was something ominous in that lazy gate that made her horn itch. She rose to her hooves, "You! I warn you, the Great and Powerful Trixie is in no mood for… for whoever you are!" She adopted the most imperious tone she could muster, "The Great and Powerful Trixie bids you be gone!"

"Great and Powerful," the stranger said in a harsh, grating voice. "I've known great ponies. I've known powerful ones too. I don't think I've ever seen both at the same time though… well… except for the Great and Powerful Nightmare Screamer." The blood red mare who stepped into the wan light of Trixie's fire looked at her with a cruel twist of her lips. "Ever hear of me?" Slowly a grin appeared as blue white lightning crackled along her midnight blue mane.

"The… the Great and… and…" She swallowed as she backed up against the tree.

"Powerful, right?" Nightmare Screamer said as she slowly walked a slow circle around Trixie. "Do you have a clue what power is? What it really means?"

Trixie's horn flashed and from her bags emerged a rope that snaked itself around the red Pegasus's legs and wings. Seeing her tied tight, Trixie managed a nervous smile. "Clearly, the Great and Powerful Trixie has shown you…" her words died as lightning crackled over the red pegasus' body and incinerated the rope. "…oh dear…" she muttered.

The nightmare cocked her head and seemed to address the rainy night. "Please tell me I can just kill this one and find a pony that doesn't speak in the third person?" A pause and a sigh. "I never get what I want…"

Trixie's horn flared as she summoned a black cloud over Nightmare Screamer. She pushed as much magic into the attack she could, and forked lightning snapped down to zap Screamer's black lightning bolt cutie mark.

"Really? I have lightning coming out my mane and you zap me? Brilliant." She said as blue crackled along her legs and sent up smoke from the wet ground. "That's not how you do it, anyway." The air flashed and filled with a resounding boom that struck the tree and ripped the trunk in two. The detonation sent Trixie rolling through the leaves, her ears ringing. The Nightmare turned and faced her with a murderous smile. "That's how you do it."

Trixie gave up any illusion of fighting at that point and focused on flight. A bolt of lightning blew a hole in the turf in front of her, bringing her to a skidding stop. "A little to the left," Screamer said as she panned her gaze to follow Trixie's flight. Another bolt slammed down in front of Trixie, this time making her roll several times. "Run. Run. Or you'll be well done!" Screamer laughed as Trixie looked on in horror.

The world became white light and pain. When she came to she lay on her side, paralyzed and twitching. She couldn't seem to draw breath. She couldn't even feel her heart beating. Screamer filled her vision as she stood over her, darkness closing in around her. "What a waste," Nightmare Screamer said dismissively as hooves were pressed to Trixie's chest. An incredible pain and pressure jerked through her body as she spasmed and writhed. However, when Screamer stepped away she could once more feel her heart beating inside her chest. She trembled as she drew a shaky breath.

"Now, listen," Screamer said softly as she looked up at the castle. Trixie stared at her in shock and fear, but the Nightmare said nothing.

Listen? To what? But as Trixie lay there she started to become aware of a noise underneath the hiss of rain, the grumble of thunder, and the creek of trees in the wind. It was as if all these sound combined, muted, and transformed into the softest whisper within her ears.

"I apologize on Screamer's behalf. She's been in a foul mood for a very, very long time," the mare whispered in her ear. "I do hope that she's made an impression on what power truly means Great and Powerful Trixie."

"Who are you?" Trixie whispered.

"No pony of consequence. I'm just looking for mares with the drive, ambition, and courage to seize the kind of potential that is possible within you. One who is not afraid of real power. Power enough to show all of Equestria how Great and Powerful Trixie really is."

Trixie's eyes widened as she stared at the Nightmare whose mane crackled with lightning. Power that could defeat an ursa minor with ease; power that she could take back to Ponyville and put Twilight Sparkle in her place. She lay in the rain, her mind tantalized by the possibilities. Then she whispered softly, "What do I have to do?"

The whispery voice laughed softly. "Tell me, Great and Powerful Trixie, have you ever wondered about your cutie mark?"

Luna awoke to the rising of the sun breaking the horizon. Sitting up in her bed, she ran her hoof through the mussed hair; her wavy star mane a mass of tangles and spikes. On a cot besides her snored Firedamp, legs spread wide as her tongue lolled out the side of her mouth. They'd spent all night talking after Luna had seen to raising the moon and sent it on its way through the skies. She slipped from her bed, walking to the window to see her sister flying in the east and guiding the brilliant sphere of flame up into the sky.

Once she'd have flown out to talk with her and ask her about magic. Now she simply looked from afar. After all there were meetings and appearances and studies and a thousand things more important than bothering with her sister. Celestia had a kingdom to run. Luna had only Luna to run.

Firedamp let out a deep snort as she rolled on her side and started to drool all over her pillow. Luna smiled at the ridiculous sight. Maybe not only Luna anymore. She stretched and looked around, curious where Morning Mist was. The unicorn had an uncanny knack for knowing when Luna was awake and they'd developed a tolerable routine. Carefully she walked to the door and heard voices in the hall. The servants were all ready about tending to their duties.

All except for four at the end of the hall. Morning Mist stood there surrounded by three other hoof maids. "Why do you even bother talking at all if you don't know how?" asked a unicorn with a mean little smirk.

"I… I… I…" Morning Mist stammered, struggling to back away from the knot as she held a levitated tray in her magic grip.

"I… I… I… Idiot?" Snickered another. "That's obvious."

"S…S…"

"Stupid?" Cracked the one with imagined wit.

Morning Mist looked near tears as she looked down towards Luna's door. Luna ducked her head back, "D…D…"

"Dummy?" suggested the second.

The third glanced down the hall as well. "Maybe we should get to work. The gentlefolk are waking."

"You're only Luna's hoof maid because True Heart handed you over. I can only guess she keeps you around because it's funny to have a stammering idiot." The first said sharply, "One day she's going to get tired of your babbling and then she'll have a decent hoof maid for once, like me."

Had Luna witnessed this a few days ago she would have closed the door and done all she could to forget about it. Glancing back at Firedamp, she remembered how the scruffy pony had come to her rescue. Looking back out the door her eyes hardened and she swallowed hard as she stepped out. "You! What do you think you're doing?" She said as she stormed up towards the four. She must have been such a sight with her bed mane tangled up around her.

Morning Mist lowered her head, clenching her eyes shut as the three others backed away with their polite little smiles. Those smiles didn't last as Princess Luna walked right up to the first one who seemed to think she would be such a better replacement. "How dare you distract Morning Mist from her duties? How dare you delay her for your own entertainment? And how dare you think that you could ever take her place?"

"Y… you… your majesty! I… I…" The blue unicorn suddenly looked neither confident nor amused.

"Now who's a stammering idiot?" Luna said as she glared up at the older pony. Her eyes snapped at the second, "And you! Morning Mist knows perfectly well how to talk. And she knows how to keep her mouth closed. And she knows that being mean doesn't mean you're being smart." She glared at the third, but clenched her jaw. "I'm of a mind to tell the palace house mare what you three have done!" Luna would never do so, the strict mare terrified her, but she was riding a thrilling wave of rigorousness.

"N…n…no!" Morning Mist stammered, to four surprised looks. "P…p…p…." she struggled and swallowed before spitting out, "Please… d…d…don't."

Luna saw the expression on the three other hoof maids; surprise, but in at least two others there was shame too. "You should thank her," Luna said firmly as she turned to return to her chambers. She didn't dare look back until they were out of sight. Once the door closed Luna slumped. "Oh my… oh my! I can't believe I just did that! Did you see that?" She looked at Morning Mist's nervous expression and gave a sheepish smile. "Are you sure you don't want me to get them in trouble? I'm a Princess. I think that means I can throw them in jail or something if I want."

"N… n… n…" she tried to say quickly, struggling so hard that she almost dropped the tray holding Luna's breakfast.

Luna reached out and put her hooves on Morning Mist's shoulders. "Shhh… it's okay…" That was always what they did. She'd tell it was okay and she'd stop trying to talk. But as Luna looked into the lavender Unicorn's pink eyes she realized she didn't want her to stop. "Take a deep breath… talk slow…"

Morning Mist's eyes widened and she took several slow breaths. "No, P…Princess Lu… Luna. That w…won't make m…m…me t…talk a…any… b…b…b…better." She hung her head a little. "T…t….t…they're r…right. I… I… I… am a d…d…."

"If you say dummy I will kick you," Luna said firmly, "You are not a dummy. You just need to… to practice. Practice talking with me. I know you can get better." She brushed her violet hair out of her eyes. "I know you have things to say, Mist."

A loud yawn from the door announced Firedamp's arrival. The majority of the rust pony's mane stuck straight up along her spine. "What's going on?" She asked, rubbing her orange eyes.

Luna looked at her hoof maid for the last time and smiled at Firedamp. "Fire? This is my friend, Morning Mist. Morning Mist, this is my friend, Firedamp." Morning Mist's eyes grew wide, and for the first time since they'd met, she gave a true smile of happiness.

As the illusion faded away, Twilight Sparkle's returned to the dark Alicorn. "You defended her, Luna," Twilight Sparkle said with a smile. Princess Celestia had watched the memory with a wistful, regretful expression. "Did her speaking improve?"

Luna nodded, "With time. She learned to be slow and careful with her words."

"I wish I'd known she'd been harassed like that. That both of you were. I just assumed that everything was all right," Celestia said solemnly.

"You were dealing with a hundred problems at once," Honesty said calmly, the pale little pony having watched the exchange with an oddly pensive expression. "You couldn't manage every hoof maid in the castle."

"I know. I just see these and wish I had done something. That I'd even known." Princess Celestia gave an apologetic smile to Luna.

"It's okay," Luna said quietly as she went to her sister. "Dealing with aristoponies like Blueblood was a full time job for you."

"Not that waltzin down memory lane isn't interestin, but how is this supposed to help us deal with Nightmare Strife?" Applejack asked from her cushion. Her ears folded down, "It's hard when ya'll find out about em. I mean, when Fury was nice ta Apple Bloom it nearly kicked my cart."

Twilight Sparkle looked at her friends, "When I faced Nightmare Moon, I had to feel a spark for the Elements of Harmony to work. I think…" She looked over at Luna, her ears folding a little. "I think that… well… Nightmare Moon wanted to be beaten when she saw all of us together. I mean, she had the power to stop the sun from rising. The six of us shouldn't have been a problem. I think even Nightmare Moon wanted friends." She pressed her hoof to her chest. "When I realized you were all my friends... I felt it. I was happy. And I think Nightmare Moon was too at the end. That was why we were able to turn her back."

"Wait a minute. Then why did it take so long for us to zap Fury back to normal?" Rainbow Dash asked as she pointed a hoof at Twilight.

"Because I didn't understand her, Rainbow. It took Luna's memories for me to realize Fury didn't want to destroy anything except herself. She was guilty. She wanted punishment and thought she deserved only the gravest." Twilight Sparkle slowly walked around the study looking at her friends, "When I could share that feeling, it made me able to connect to her. I could help her then, because I knew what to help."

Rarity looked to Twilight as she said, "You know, I never imagined the Elements of Harmony to be so complicated. Wouldn't it be easier if it was just a spell you cast?"

"No pony knows why the elements of harmony exist, Rarity. It's not just magic. It's something... something more," Twilight Sparkle said as she looked out at the flickers of lightning growing closer. "When we have them I feel like I'm touching something… something powerful. Something so vast and wonderful that it's almost frightening." Twilight looked at her friends soberly, "I'm glad it's not easy. Power like that shouldn't be easy. Otherwise I'd be just like a Nightmare."

"It makes me wonder if the phenomenon is related," Honesty said as she pushed back her glasses. "Nightmares scar themselves to tap into an immense source of power permanently. The elements of harmony let the magic flow through them, but only when the gate is open."

"But that doesn't make sense! I mean who wouldn't just take super awesome power if they could?" Rainbow Dash complained.

"Would you?" Dignity asked in a soft voice as the blue unicorn gazed coolly at the cyan Pegasus. "You're the competitor as I recall. Do you work hard for your speed and skill?"

"You know it!" Rainbow Dash said proudly.

"Then would you throw all that work away for a short cut to amazing speed? Would you live every day of your life knowing that you win only because you cheated? Face your friends with them knowing you have the powers that you have by rejecting the person who was their friend?" Dignity asked as she stared down at Dash in disdain. "Would you become a monster simply to win?"

"Well… no…," Rainbow said as she ran her hoof through her mane. "When I win, it'll be one hundred and twenty percent Dash."

"And that's why no pony would ever become a Nightmare unless they truly felt they had no other choice. It's a violation of self," Dignity concluded with a proper little nod.

"Ya know, you seem to have thought about this a might more than your average pony," Applejack observed of Dignity.

The blue Unicorn looked back with an expression of haughty dismissal, "I know something of regrets. That is all you need to know."

Twilight Sparkle stepped between the two of them. "Stop, please. If we're going to face her then we'll need to work together." Dignity looked at Applejack and gave a cool nod of her head. Twilight looked at Luna. "Can you show us something else? Some memory of Mist that was important?"

Luna paused, glancing over at Celestia before looking out the window. "Well. There was one time…" The light caught the tip of her horn and splintered. The beams of light refracted and split to weave into the magical illusion that draped the chamber.

Luna stood with her five friends on the balcony overlooking the city. Far below they could see the fires and hear the angry shouts rising through the night air. "Are they still rioting?" Firedamp asked sullenly as she folded her front legs on the rail. "This has been what, the third night? And still nothing from the unicorns?"

"They maintain that the Earth Pony foals should not have been in Blueblood's way. Their injuries were their own fault," Briar Rose said solemnly as the gray Pegasus sighed softly. "Until there's an apology I doubt that it'll stop any time soon."

"Some pony should ride Blueblood down and break his legs 'accidentally'," Firedamp said as she looked at her friends, "I nominate me! Anyone second it?" She looked around, but there weren't any takers. She sighed and frowned, looking back into the burning night.

Luna's wings shifted as she gazed down sadly. "So much work for nothing. I don't understand. Do they want to go back to how things were before? Ponies killing ponies… enslaving ponies…"

"It's not like that," Evening Star said as the Pegasus hopped nimbly on the rail. "No pony wants that. It's just that no matter how we want it to be, ponies are different. Unicorns don't associate with Pegasus. Earth Ponies don't work with Unicorns. Pegasus can't stand either." She crossed her front legs and sighed, "All three might be living in the same city, but that doesn't mean that they're friends."

"But it doesn't have to be that way!" Luna said as she spread her wings and hooves wide. "Look at us! All three kinds of ponies and we're friends. We don't have to fight and be suspicious. Look at all the fun we have together."

"You're right Luna, but how do we convince them of that?" Evening Star asked, nodding her head towards the fires below the castle.

They all exchanged looks, but then Luna noticed the lavender Unicorn wasn't listening. Her pink eyes stared down at the fires. "Misty?" Luna asked softly, "What are you thinking?"

Morning Mist started, the bit her lip as she thought. "W…well… I think we should throw a party."

"City's burning and you want to celebrate?" Firedamp asked as she cocked a brow in bafflement.

"No. Not that." She said softly, flushing. "I mean we should throw a party. A great big party. One so big that all three kinds of ponies will attend."

Luna rubbed her chin thoughtfully. "Well… it's unusual. But how does that stop a riot?"

"Well, if the Earth Ponies know they're invited to a royal party held by a princess, then they'll have to stop rioting to come. Parties are usually for the aristocrats." She said and she turned to Evening Star, "And you know that Blueblood never misses a public appearance. If we require him to extend a… a pittance to those two foals and give a speech on compassion for our fellow ponies then that's a small price to pay for him to strut around," Mist said, her voice quavering and pausing frequently as she presented the idea.

"That might work. You ask Blueblood to give a speech and that ass will bray all day," Evening Star said as she hovered over the rail. "But what about the Pegasus? I mean, we're not one for parties."

Mist, however, smiled as she looked up at the blue Pegasus, "No, but you are for flying. What if some of the best flyers in Equestria came and performed some of their best maneuvers for the guests? I know that there's lots of Pegasus who would attend just to see that. If they did, they might also see how other ponies are in awe of their flying skills. And we could find some unicorns to perform tricks. Ask Earth ponies to cook the meals and have a cooking contest," Mist was positively gushing now, her pink eyes aglow with possibilities.

Her enthusiasm was catching. "But my dear, when are we going to do this? Every pony works all day and there won't be any time off till winter. That's months off," Briar Rose pointed out. "And what about paying for it all?"

"Well, why not do it at night?" That made Luna's ears stick right up in interest. "You can raise the moon to start it off, and we can play all night. As for the money, you're a princess too. Surely Celestia could give you some gold to cover it."

"Equestria being saved by a party…." Firedamp chuckled and shook her head. "If this works it'll be the party no pony ever forgets. But what are we going to call it? Luna's Festival? The Moon Party?"

"How about," Morning Mist said softly, "The Grand Galloping Gala?"

Rainbow Dash's voice broke the illusion as she nearly shouted, "That's how the Grand Galloping Gala got started?" As the images faded as every pony turned to regard her. "What?"

Luna turned to face Rainbow, "It was. It wasn't easy, but when I announced a party for all ponies, the Earth ponies stopped the riots long enough to address the injury Blueblood the third caused galloping through a marketplace. The thought of not appearing in front of hundreds of ponies was too much and Blueblood agreed to pay for his damages." Luna saw Celestia looking at her oddly.

"Why didn't you tell me that was why you wanted to throw a party?" Celestia asked with a wondering smile. "I thought that you simply wanted to appear in the public eye and cooked up the Gala as an excuse!"

"Well… we weren't talking then, remember? And we shouted a lot about the money."

Celestia rose and walked stiffly to Luna, wrapping her legs around her sister in a hug, "You are a genius, Luna. I'm sorry it took me a thousand years to recognize it." Luna flushed, but hugged her back before they parted.

"Well, it was Mist's idea. I just had to do something to help," Luna said awkwardly as Celestia positively beamed at her.

Pinkie Pie slowly leaned towards Luna, her eyes wide as her grin as she seemed to almost vibrate. "Ooh! Ooh! Can I see it? I wanna see it! Please let me see the first Gala ever!" She fell and hugged Luna's hoof. "Oh please! Please please please!"

"Heh. Betcha it was as rotten then as it is today," Applejack said to Rainbow Dash as Luna formed the illusion.

It wasn't.

There had to be a thousand or more ponies in a great courtyard in the center of the city. Tables were loaded with all sorts of delectable and heart foods mixed together on the serving tables. Mugs of foamy beer, glasses of delicate wines, and bottles of potent brandy were all in abundance. Earth Ponies squared off to dance in rows and squares, pulling along wide eyed Unicorns and Pegasus into the milling throng. Dozens of musicians played whatever music came to them alone, in small groups, or, in the case of one corner of the party, as an impromptu orchestra formed. Pegasus squads maneuvered and performed spectacular stunts with magical lights trailing behind them as each vied for more fame and recognition. On tables and raised platforms, Unicorns juggled fire, levitated ropes, created mesmerizing illusions, and shot sparklers over wide eyed audiences. Blueblood gave a speech that no one paid any attention to.

Then Luna raised the moon above the horizon, her dark form silhouetted by its ivory glow and enmeshed in a starry cloak that shimmered around her. The night filled with so many glimmering gems of light that it almost seemed like a new dawn. And the thronging masses looked up in awe and wonder at the other Princess of Equestria. In ones and two, then by dozens, then hundreds, then thousands, they started to cheer and chant her name.

The illusion faded save for one voice. "Lu-na! Lu-na!" Pinkie Pie called out from the table she stood upon. Then she looked around at all the others, "What? You got to admit that was amazing! The cakes and the tricks and the woosh and weee!" She spun and tumbled down on to her rear. That didn't slow Pinkie Pie down as she grinned at Luna, "You gotta do next year's Grand Galloping Gala, Luna! You just gotta! And let me help!" She said as she bounced on her hooves in front of the embarrassed Alicorn.

Twilight Sparkle looked over at Celestia. The princess looked terribly sad. "Princess Celestia? What's wrong?" She kept her voice down as Pinkie Pie spewed forth a rush of ideas.

"I didn't go," Celestia said softly. "I thought it a terrible waste of time and money. I thought it was only a coincidence the stress in the city abated afterwards." She clenched her eyes closed and then said, "No. Actually, I thought that I was the one responsible for it in spite of the Gala's success. I was such a fool, Twilight." Celestia looked across at Luna, "How many opportunities did I miss to save our relationship? How many times did I let stubborn pride over ride my love and common sense? I know the stresses of governance pushed me but how much of it was my own impatience, hubris, and jealousy?"

"Princess," Twilight Sparkle said softly as she listened to her friends going on and on about how amazing that was to their experiences. "What happened was in the past. You can't change it. All you can do is learn from it, so that this time, things go all right."

Celestia slowly smiled and put her hoof on Twilight's shoulder. "Twilight Sparkle, you are my dearest and most faithful student," she said softly, and then said, "You are also sometimes my teacher as well."

Trixie clung to Nightmare Screamer's back with the strength of absolute terror. Every part of her body ached, her soft blue mane blackened at the tip, and scorch marks marred her hide. Flying through the storm, Nightmare Screamer whooped and laughed as she made her way toward the royal palace. She flashed through the towers as lightning danced behind her. Finally they flitted over the outer wall and landed on a tower. Her hooves shaking, Trixie happily dropped to wet tower top.

"Do you have everything?" Nightmare Screamer asked as she leaned towards her, a wing riding to shield her from the rain.

Trixie opened her bag and levitated out the small glass vial of crushed purple leaves. Just touching it made her coat crawl.

"Excellent. And where does it go?"

"Pantry. Porcelain jar of Hoofington's finest. Mix in well," Trixie said quietly, flinching at each flash of lightning.

"And then?" Screamer asked softly in her grating voice.

"Down into the vault to the mirror."

"And then?"

Trixie refused to answer as she swallowed hard. Finally she swallowed hard, "Shatter it."

"Good girl," Nightmare Screamer said as she stood. "If it makes it easier, just keep in mind how many pieces you'll be blasted into if you don't. That should keep your conscience clear."

Trixie didn't answer as she replaced the vial. "And you? Where will you be?"

Screamer looked up at the stormy sky and said with relish, "I'm going to go pull a Fury."

For a thousand years Canterlot rose above the lands of Equestria like a crystalline orchid clinging to the cliff face. It was the political, historical, educational, and magical heart of the kingdom, and just as modern Equestria rest upon the foundation of Canterlot, so did the city rest upon the foundation of the royal palace. Towers connected by impossibly thin and graceful bridges rest upon the magical fundament of the palace that was its heart. And the foundation of the palace itself was the magic of its creator, Princess Celestia.

But before the magical spires of Canterlot raised high above the lands around it, something else had clung to the cliffs and stark mountain sides. And as Twilight Sparkle and her friends descended into the cliff face, the glorious alabaster and marble gave way to hard chipped granite. Severe pegasus seemed to glare down at their little procession, hooves raised as if to crush any non-winged interlopers. It seemed a particularly appropriately foreboding place to lock away an enchanted mirror.

"What is this place?" Twilight Sparkle asked Princess Celestia. They passed a gruesome mural of pegasus flying over running herds of ponies, raining spears upon them.

"An eyrie of the Thunder King, last ruler of the Pegasus. Hundreds of earth pony and unicorn slaves were forced to labor here to carve out these tunnels. When they served their purpose they were marched out over the edge en masse. Pointless slaughter of a savage era," Princess Celestia said gravely, illuminating their way with their horns.

"I never knew that Canterlot was founded on something so… gruesome," Twilight Sparkle admitted.

"With Old Canterlot razed and our old castle left in ruin we were forced to find a defendable position. Pegasus flight with unicorn magic and earth pony ingenuity created the Canterlot of today. I prefer to think of these tunnels and passages as reminders of all that we've accomplished over a thousand years." Celestia said with firm determination. "As Equestria settled, New Canterlot changed from a fortress to a proper community."

"It's not so usual, Twilight," Honesty said as they trotted along. "Manehattan rests on the ruins of Queen Arcana's capitol, and Ponyville was once a refuge for earth ponies in dark times before it was abandoned and then refounded. Many are hidden by powerful and lost magics, and others lost by the simple passage of time."

Twilight Sparkle noticed the pale mare hobbling a little more than usual. "Are you all right, Honesty?"

"Simply bad memories. Since we started talking about Nightmare Strife I keep remembering that night. We chased her back to Imbrium manor, where she'd been born. Sadly, she'd all ready built up an intrigue with Lord Imbrium. We were able to bind her with the three of us, but we underestimated her. We thought she'd be helpless. She wasn't. When we faced her, she momentarily took hold of Celestia. I'm afraid a moment was long enough." The albino closed her watery blue eyes and shuttered.

"You said she almost broke all your bones," Twilight Sparkle said softly. "I was hoping that was a euphemism for being hurt bad."

"As do I. It was actually more of a literal description," Honesty said softly as they approached a large metal door. It showed an engraving of Celestia that looked positively terrifying. "I hope you'll understand if I wait out here."

"As will I," said Dignity, and she looked at Luna and Celestia, "As should your majesties as well. The danger of Strife getting control of either of you is too great."

"Interesting, Dignity. It sounds as if you were implying the rest of us are expendable," Rarity said with a dismissive toss of her head.

The blue unicorn looked back at Rarity and said calmly, "There are other dress designers in Equestria."

"You know, the more I know that Unicorn the less I like her," Dash said sourly.

Celestia's head rose and from her horn shot a golden beam on the horn of the carving. There was a resounding crunch and grind as the heavy stone doors opened. A shimmering field of yellow greeted them. "A part of the binding. I don't know precisely what it would do to any nightmare that passed through it, but I am sure it would be unpleasant," Celestia said calmly.

"Be wary. We don't know what condition the spell or Nightmare Strife are in. Just remember she will manipulate you if you are unwary." Celestia glanced at Honesty, who flinched. "Also… if you break the mirror, you'll kill the nightmare inside."

"Kill her?" Twilight Sparkle gulped as Celestia nodded.

Together Twilight Sparkle and her friends stepped through the magical field. It filled Twilight Sparkle with a warmth like lounging in a summer sun. That made the interior all the more shocking as her hooves slipped and slid on the rime of frost that covered the floor of the square chamber. For a few moments she wondered if there was some mistake and the room was empty. Then she spotted the mirror.

"That's it?" Rainbow Dash snorted. Somehow Twilight Sparkle imagined a huge intimidating mirror the size of a small building. This was barely as high as high and wide as a pony. The edges were delicate silver tracing holding a glass pane covered in frost. It rest in the corner of the room as if it'd been discarded or forgotten when the rest of the room had been cleared out.

"It doesn't have to be big to be dangerous," Twilight Sparkle warned as they carefully fanned out in front of it. She cleared her throat and then said softly, "Nightmare Strife. My name is Twilight Sparkle. I'd like to have a word."

Nothing. Their breath puffed in the air as her friends glanced at each other. Twilight tried to feel for the spark inside her; something that would let her make a connection with the Nightmare within. Nothing. Slowly she extended a hoof toward the frost covered mirror to wipe the frost away.

"Woah nelly," Applejack said softly, stepping up to Twilight. "You better take a step back. If this nightmare critter's gonna mess with one of us, it best be one without magic or wings."

"But Applejack…" Twilight began when the orange pony shook her head firmly.

"Nothin doin," the orange pony turned back to the mirror, and received a faceful of curly pink tail. "Pinkie Pie! What are ya doin?" Applejack demanded as she tried to push the pink pony aside.

Pinkie pie looked back over her shoulder with a grin, "What? You think I wanna get applebucked? If she takes me over then all she can do is throw a spectacular party!" Pinkie Pie reached up and tapped the surface of the mirror. "Knock knock, is any pony home? Calling all Nightmares!" she said before the frost fell from the mirror in a sparkling sheet of white. With the frost sparkling around her hooves, Pinkie Pie looked at her reflection in confusion.

"Huh? Maybe I have to say a magic word or something?" She said as she looked at herself. Then her mouth opened and closed as she fought for her next comment. Then she gave herself a disgusted look. "Such a stupid joke…" she said to herself.

"Pinkie Pie?" Fluttershy whispered as she flew closer.

Then Pinkie Pie turned to look at them. Contempt covered her face as she looked up at Fluttershy, "Yes, doormat?" Her eyes were like a winter sky as she grinned up at the shocked yellow Pegasus. "What? Going to cry? That always works for you, doesn't it, Fluttershy? Cry and act bashful and pray that no pony stomps on you too hard."

"Pinkie Pie!" Rarity gasped.

"No. Not Pinkie Pie," Twilight Sparkle stood before her friend. "Nightmare Strife, I presume?"

"Wouldn't that make it easy?" Pinkie Pie laughed, but her laugh was hard and cold. "The Nightmare made her say it. That way you can pretend your friends are all sweet and kind and wonderful. No dark secrets. No suspicion. Must be nice," Pinkie Pie said with the cruel twist of her lips. "I have to wonder if you're more pathetic than Fluttershy though, Twilight. She's every pony's punching bag, but you? What are you but Princess Celestia's little stooge?"

"I am the Princess' student!" Twilight retorted, and Pinkie Pie's smirk grew as her eyes narrowed.

"Oh? Interesting way of teaching: throwing you against nightmares and monsters… and for what? To learn about friendship? You're a tool, Twilight Sparkle, with a fixed value." She pointed a hoof towards the door. "She's the supremely powerful thousand year old Alicorn princess. She raises the sun. Do you really think she wants to be your friend? That she ever could?"

"Don't listen to her, Twilight. Clearly this is all the Nightmare's influence." Rarity said imperiously. Twilight felt a horror creeping through her as she saw a terrified desperation on the face of Pinkie Pie's reflection.

Pinkie Pie laughed, high and jarring as she rocked back on her flanks. "Oh that's precious, coming from the would be princess." She cackled as she hugged herself in cruel mirth. "How did you get so full of yourself, hmmm, Rarity? Is it genetic? How does a stuck up like you end up in Ponyville as a seamstress? Mommy and daddy cut you off? Is that it?"

"How dare you?" Rarity roared.

"It's not hard!" Pinkie Pie cackled back as she hopped to her hooves and glanced up at Rainbow Dash. "Ooooohhhh Dashie!" She called as her grin widened. "How's that whole Wonderbolts thing coming?"

"Oh, so it's my turn, is it?" Rainbow Dash crossed her hooves with her own cocky smirk. "Bring it on!"

"Okie dokie lokie," Pinkie Pie replied. "I'm curious, when you finally do manage to get into the Wonderbolts, is that finally going to be the confirmation that you're not a total loser?"

"Who you calling a loser, Pinkie- I mean, Nightmare?"

"You. And you know it. You're not half as cool as you pretend to be, and the second you think we're going to find out you fall all to pieces." She mocked, blatantly feigning sympathy, "Because you know the truth: your flying means nothing. Applejack and Rarity make things. Twilight serves a princess. I actually make people happy. Fluttershy's nice. But you? You fly. And the second the spot light is off you? You're nothing."

Rainbow Dash looked ready to strangle Pinkie Pie, or cry, or both. But Applejack stepped in front of Pinkie Pie before Dash could throttle her. "Guess it's my turn, right? Shoot."

"Stepping up? Oh so noble, Applejack," she said with a snort. "You know, you give Rarity a run for most stuck up pony. Oh, not in attitude, but in pride. You have to be able to do anything and everything because deep down the only pony you really trust is yourself isn't it? You just know that someday you'll turn to one of us and we won't be there. And you know what? You're right!" She yelled into Applejack's stoic face. "So what do you think of those apples? Huh?"

"I reckon you're right," Applejack said quietly, and Pinkie Pie jerked as if slapped. "I know it's wrong of me, Pinkie Pie. I've always had to be tough and push myself. Guess it's just natural I'm wary of trusting another. But I'm trying to be better."

Pinkie Pie's eyes slowly widened as her sneer melted. Her curls unwound into flat straight sheets as horror crept over her features. Tears ran down her face as her mouth worked silently. "Applejack…" she whimpered as she looked up at her friend. Applejack just smiled and put her hooves around the pink pony as she began to sob uncontrollably.

Applejack gently stroked her mane. "Shh. It's s'alright. I forgive ya."

"But… that was the Nightmare… wasn't it?" Rainbow Dash asked in confusion, clearly no happier about this than any pony else.

"Was it?" Twilight Sparkle felt her lips moving, the words spilling out.

"Or did your friend just confess what she really feels?" Fluttershy whispered, and put her hooves to her mouth in shock.

"So many little resentments," Rarity murmured.

"So many petty hatreds," Applejack said quietly as she hugged Pinkie Pie.

"You call yourself friends?" Rainbow Dash said, and then glared at the mirror with undisguised loathing.

Twilight slowly stood in front of the mirror. "Now I understand why Celestia was concerned," she said, watching her reflection turn intrigued even as she spoke. She could feel her face aping the reflection. "You don't possess ponies, do you? You just make us bring out all the horrible things we keep locked away inside."

That meant it hadn't been Nightmare Strife that had nearly crushed Honesty…

Her reflection's smile widened, "I would never hurt any pony. But making ponies hurt each other? Oh yes."

"I want to help you," Twilight said calmly to herself.

"Why? So I can get hurt again?" her reflection asked with a disdainful sniff. "Let me tell you the absolute best thing about being a Nightmare: you never… ever… have to feel remorse."

Twilight Sparkle looked at her friends. She felt closer, but she didn't know how to summon the elements yet for Nightmare Strife. Her horn glowed as she summoned a cloth and covered the mirror with it. Then she looked at the five upset friends. She wished that she'd gone after Vicious instead. She wished that she'd never left Ponyville to fight another Nightmare.

Suddenly Dignity shouted through the sparkling golden field, "Twilight! Hurry! Canterlot is being attacked!"

From the darkness and the storm above the castle her magic reached out to command the winds to twist in dark funnels and the clouds to blast with lightning. She hovered in a nimbus of crackling light and shouted with glee, "Good evening Equestria! Nightmare Screamer is back in town!" With that she dove to attack.