A black alicorn slowly faded into existence. Had one been watching, they would have seen an empty space, with just the slightest hint of blackness to it. A blink later and the blackness would have become a shape, one of some being. Another blink and the being becomes a pony, tall and majestic, laying on its side. A final blink and she was there, as if she always had been. Alas, there were none who saw this calm and slow spectacle. For there was only this pony upon the moon, and no telescope was strong enough to pierce the distance between Equestria and the lunar surface.

It was a few minutes before the alicorn slowly opened her eyes. Her teal irises and slitted pupils looked around, slowly taking in the sight before her. She blinked in confusion, wondering why the world was on its side. As the realization of her position dawned upon her she turned, rolling to her stomach. Again, she blinked, still slightly confused, though now her confusion was directed towards her surroundings. She knew of no place on Equestria as pale and empty as this.

Slowly she rose, intent upon getting a better view of her surroundings. She found her legs sore and stiff, barely able to hold her weight. I feel like I’ve walked the length and breadth of Equestria, she thought to herself. But still, she rose, sighing deeply as she stood, tall and proud. She was, after all, a proud pony. A short scan around her revealed she was in some form of bowl, curving up and away from her. Her eyes trailed up, finding the horizon quickly. The sky above it was black as night. It would be a climb to reach, but she knew she had to leave her present location if she was to determine more about where she was.

The sides of the bowl weren’t that steep, though they quickly tired the mare out. Upon reaching the cusp she collapsed onto the ground, surprised at being so winded. As she inhaled deeply, intent on catching her breath, the sight before her caused the air to catch in her lungs. The blank whiteness of the bowl continued, stretching out before her in every direction she could see. Again she shakily rose to her hooves, turning slowly. Around her, in every direction, was the same blank landscape. The only mark upon them the numerous craters that she could make out between her and the horizon. A single thought crossed her mind as she stared. This is the moon. The thought had barely exited her mind before she fainted, her mind not willing to accept her surroundings. She crashed to the ground, her legs buckling underneath her, a cloud of lunar dust billowing out around her.

As the pony awoke, she bolted to her feet, her eyes sweeping out over the landscape in front of her. It had not changed, much to her dismay. So I am on the moon, She thought with a sigh. Why am I on the moon? was her next thought. Her mind slowly ordered her memories, going over the important pieces leading up to waking up on the moon. Everything was jumbled around, and it took her some time. There was the war she had waged against her sister. It had lasted years, and was the most prominent memory she had. But that war had ended. I ended it myself. And it had ended with her defeat. But then.... what? The black alicorn slowly worked through her memories, a frown spreading across her face. I surrendered. She remembered. I went to Celestia, and gave myself up. We were losing the war, and I knew it would be over soon. I didn’t want any more casualties, on either side.

The mare slowly opened her eyes, a sad smile spreading across her face. So this is my fate. This is how the Elements of Harmony decided to punish me. She shook her head, her mane falling to lay next to her, the unseen breeze not present on the lunar surface. So this is the end of me, the end of Nightmare Moon. Nightmare sat down, tired. I had a good run. I just wish Luna’s plan had worked. She deserves the love of her subjects.

They will never love me, Nightmare. A soft voice responded, followed by a long sigh.

Nightmare jumped up, staring around wildly. “Luna?” she cried out, spinning around, trying to find the blue alicorn. The voice had seemed to come from all around her.

Yes, it’s me. Though I don’t know where I am. Luna responded slowly. She sounded almost tired. As if it took almost everything she had just to speak. Where are you?

“I’m on the moon.” Nightmare replied. Her eyes narrowed, trying to more accurately scan the lunar surface. “What can you see? I’ll come find you.”

I don’t think I’m anywhere Nightmare. Luna responded after a moment. I can’t see or feel anything. I can’t even feel myself. There’s just your voice and mine here... wherever here is.... Luna trailed off, the fatigue evident in her voice growing stronger.

Nightmare stopped, a hoof in the air. She had been about to take off at a gallop to look for Luna, but now she didn’t know what to do. I have to get back to Equestria. She decided suddenly. I don’t want to stay here, and I know Celestia needs her sister, and Equestria needs her princess of the night. She put her hoof back down, and sat, starting to form a plan.

Nightmare, don’t bother. Luna responded after a short pause. Nightmare jumped, not having expected Luna to hear her thoughts. Don’t worry about me, Tia can rule Equestria without me. It’s better if we don’t return. Another short pause. Nightmare was about to call out when Luna continued. They don’t want us anyway.

“No, Luna,” Nightmare replied sternly. “They don’t want me. I’m the one they’re scared of. And I know your sister misses you. Celestia wants you back, I can feel it.” Nightmare sat down slowly, almost tiredly. “I’m going to get you back Luna.” She added, a small smile across her lips. “Even if it kills me.”

Luna sighed, fading back from Nightmare. The black alicorn felt Luna’s presence leave her, noting the strange loneliness that she felt. She hadn’t noticed it before, but now that Luna was gone, the space left felt like a void in her mind, in her heart. A quick shake of her head brought her mind back to the task at hand. It won’t be easy, overpowering the Elements. I have to work in small, slow ways. Nightmare sat, her brow furrowed as she planned. I can use the stars though. If I store enough magic in them, when the time is right, I can use it to undo this prison. I can return Luna home. Her horn began to glow as she weaved the spell to break her and Luna free.

Though she may not have acted like it to the outside, Nightmare had always cared for Luna. She had tried to take over Equestria, she had tried to bring about eternal night, but it had not been out of malice or hate. She had done it to cheer Luna up. Luna had been miserable for centuries. She felt alone and unloved so Nightmare had tried to bring her the love of the ponies. When Luna felt that her sister was ignoring her, Nightmare had risen up, trying to force Celestia to take note. And when that failed, she had lashed out in anger, enraged at Celestia’s apparent lack of concern for her own sister. Her anger had only been directed towards Celestia, she held no ill will towards the ponies they had ruled over.

She smiled as the spell cast, laying itself amongst the stars. It would lay dormant until she unleashed its power. Between now and then, it would grow, slowly soaking up the raw energy the stars constantly produced. Her smile quickly faded though as her thoughts turned back. I lashed out like a child. She thought bitterly. I was naive and a fool. I shouldn’t have just attacked Celestia. If anypony is to beat her, they need to plan, and to slowly work their plan. I should have planned. Nightmare shook her head. That’s the past now. Right now, I need to focus on getting Luna back. I can take my revenge on Celestia later, if ever.

Nightmare Moon fell back onto her flank, a cloud of lunar dust rising up around her. A heavy sigh escaped her lips as she looked up at the vast expanse of space. It was empty, save the stars, and the giant blue and green disk that was Equestria. Nightmare knew every inch of the ball in front of her, having watched it turn and change above her for the past millennium. And though she couldn’t see it at the time, Nightmare knew the sun was just on the other side of Equestria, floating just out of sight. Another deep sigh rolled out of her mouth, barely disturbing the dust around her.

“Soon, we shall return Luna. And we will try again.” She spoke aloud, her eyes never leaving the orb floating above her. A smile touched her lips as her eyes narrowed. “We will make the ponies of Equestria love our night. And we will put Celestia in her place.”

No Nightmare. Luna’s voice slowly responded in Nightmare’s mind. Not again. Luna’s voice was faint and weak, as if it took every ounce of strength she had to say those few words. Nightmare felt Luna take a deep breath, preparing for more. We tried to force them before and you tried to take on Celestia. And you see where that got us.

Nightmare’s face fell. She knew the truth in Luna’s weak voice, no matter how much she wanted to deny it. Trying to force the ponies to love their night would never work. And even if she tried again, Celestia would surely use the Elements again. Even if it meant risking the life of her sister, she would do it to protect Equestria. “Fine. Then what will we do? We still want the ponies to love our night as much as Celestia’s day.”

A prolonged silence followed Nightmare’s statement. She was about to ask again when Luna spoke. I don’t know, Nightmare. Another silence followed, though much shorter, before Luna continued. But hopefully, in time, they will. Nightmare could feel Luna’s presence fade, knowing she had used up the last of her energy.

The black alicorn slowly rose, turning around. The distant, and slightly obscured, glow from Celestia’s sun was enough to light the lunar surface, though it cast long shadows everywhere. With Equestria at her back, she trotted off, looking for the crater from which she would leave.

She slowly made her way across the surface, smiling as she reached the blackened craters. The very same magic that trapped her here had marked her once pristine moon. Though they had originally annoyed her, she had come to appreciate them. She had spent years wandering through them, tracing their shape. And long ago she had realized that they made a very stylized face on the surface, to anypony who looked up at night. She had wondered just how many ponies had noticed over the years, if any.

In the middle was a single clear crater. Though it had confused her at first, once she realized the image that was formed, she recognized it as the eye of the face. It was the very place she had woken up in when she first arrived, a thousand years ago. “And the place from which I shall leave.” She chuckled to herself. “And even if Luna wants me to give up the eternal night thing, I won’t. Not yet. I’ll give it one last chance. And perhaps that will be the end of me.” Nightmare sat in the center of the crater, her magic slowly reaching out, finding the energy in the stars around her. The spell she had cast a thousand years ago was ready. It was imbued with a millennium of stellar output, creating a spell powerful enough to break the hold the Elements of Harmony had on her. She cast a small spell, letting the intricate weaving she had laid into the stars take hold, slowly breaking the prison around her.

As she waited for the spell to finish, her thoughts turned back to what was about to happen. She knew that she would once again attempt to bring about eternal night. It was worth a chance, even if it was doomed to fail. And it was certain to annoy Celestia, which easily made it worth it. But, she knew the Elements of Harmony would rise up to stop her if she tried. They always would rise up to prevent such chaos from taking seed in the world, that was their role. Whether Celestia herself would wield them, or mortal ponies blessed with their power, it made no difference. They would be there to stop her. But it would be her who was stopped, who was sealed away, not Luna. With a heavy sigh her face fell. And perhaps this time they’ll destroy me, and return Luna to how she should be. After all, I’m nothing more than a piece of her mind, here to help her get what she wants. I have to return eventually. Nightmare shook her head, her mane falling about her face. Perhaps it is Luna who will truly come out victorious after all this, she thought with a smile. I’ve had my chance. I suppose it is time for me to go. Nightmare looked up, a sad smile on her face as the spell finished. She felt the wave of magic rush out over the moon, destroying the last traces of the prison that held her. She knew that if anypony was watching, they would see the face on the moon vanish in a flash of light from the nearest stars. Show time. She thought, teleporting back to Equestria, back home.

As she stood on the platform the town had prepared for Celestia, looking down at the crowd, she wondered who would take up the Elements to stop her. A purple unicorn in the crowd caught her attention, and named her. Perhaps she will lead them. Nightmare thought. Perhaps it won’t be Celestia who faces me this time. As the sun goddess hadn’t shown up yet, Nightmare could only assume that six mortal ponies would take up the mantle of the Elements. She flashed some lightning, sending the few guards scattering. Not like I know where she is. She thought with a huff, turning herself into black smoke before flying away. I didn’t do a thing. That coward likely doesn’t want to face me. She quickly doubled back, scanning the town, looking for the ponies whose fate it was to stop her. I may be playing this role for now, the villain, so that Luna can return, but that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy it. And perhaps I can help them along the way. Below her, the same unicorn who had named her was running through the street, a baby dragon on her back. Nightmare followed her, wondering if it would be she would would rise against her. Shortly after a group of five ponies, two pegasi, two earth ponies and a unicorn followed in. They conversed for a while before the purple one found a book. Nightmare listened in as the unicorn read off the list of the known Elements of Harmony. It will be her who rises against me. And those five. I hope they’re up to the task.

With a smile she flew off, making her way to the Everfree forest. She stripped off a few pieces of herself as she flew, setting them around the forest, in hope they would create the ‘obstacles’ the girls would have to overcome to become the true bearers. After all, while five of them may be good friends, only if all six are as close as can be will they be able to wield the Elements. She then continued on to her old castle, smiling as she landed. Such a wonderful place. And as good of a place as any for a final battle. She thought with a smile. After all, my time is at an end. It will soon be time for Luna to take the reigns.

As Twilight counted off the Elements, Nightmare found herself smiling inwardly. Good to see that the mortal ponies are able to take up the mantle of the Elements. She wanted to congratulate them, end the fight now and surrender. But she had a role to play. And if she didn’t, not only would Luna never be free, but the Elements would never accent their bearers. She let them have their moment, knowing her time was close at hand. She grinned as the magic of the elements took hold, empowered by the spirits of the ponies they had chosen. A rainbow colored burst of light erupted from the group, arcing through the air towards her. And though her lips screamed ‘no’ as the magic of the elements shot towards her, her mind screamed ‘yes’. It is time. Goodbye Equestria. Don’t blame Luna for my mistakes. And Luna, good luck.

And with that, Nightmare Moon knew no more. And Luna awoke.

Author's Notes:

Thanks to Faoiltiama for their wonderful help with editing this thing.
On a side note, this chapter, as with all in this story, have some serious formatting. And it doesn't translate from Google-docs very well. As such, I had to redo all the formatting when I posted here, so I may have missed something. If you notice any errors, formatting or otherwise, let me know, I'll fix them.