Full Moon Fever: A MoonLight Prompt Collab

by TheLastBrunnenG

First published 3rd of September, 2014

Sundown and Midnight, Stars and Moon, Magic and Dark Dreams

Short prompt-based minifics from the MoonLight group. Snark and dark and moonlit romance ahead!

Individual authors linked at the top of each chapter.

If you'd like to contribute, check out the thread and follow the rules.

Rated Teen for potential sauciness.

1 Armor by TheWraithWriter

Nightmare-Moon could be called many things. Maniacal, manic, monstrous, psychotic, impulsive, obsessive, brooding, dark, sexy, fat ass.

Those last two she actually had been called quite recently. The ever cheery and pro-organization Twilight had called her sexy. That had made her blush. The ever snacking and hypocritical Celestia had called her fat ass. That had made her blush as well.

Have you looked behind yourself lately, Celestia? Wait, there’s no point because you cannot even see behind yourself. Nightmare thought with a smirk. Which was quickly turned into a frown. Why couldn’t I have thought of that earlier?

Nightmare sighed. Stupid Celestia, calling my rump fat, when it is she who possesses the fattened behind. Stupid Twilight, calling me sexy, making me blush in front of stupid Celestia. Her frown deepened as she looked down and realized she was polishing her own hoof instead of her breastplate. Stupid trivial things distracting me.

Obsessive was the one they liked to whisper now, the ones that weren’t Celestia or Twilight. So what if she would go into her tower, spending all day in there, polishing her armor? She needed to be presentable!

“I am not obsessive,” Nightmare said to the air as she placed the breastplate aside and picked up her helmet, beginning to give it its fifth coat of polish.

“You keep talking to yourself and ponies will start calling you crazy,” said a voice from a corner.

For all her insistence on being unshakable, Nightmare jumped. She rounded on the source of the voice, horn lighting up as she prepared to smite the intruder.

But the magic died down once she realized it was only Twilight. “Oh, hello,” Nightmare said, turning away from Twilight and back to her task.

“Is that all I get? ‘Hello’?” Twilight asked in mock offence.

“Hello, Twilight,” Nightmare said, giving the purple pony a little smile to indicate she wasn’t really upset.

“Hello, Nighty, how are you this fine pre-dawn?” Twilight said as she trotted over to the larger mare.

Nightmare blushed at the mention of her pet name, but then tilted her head at Twilight’s words. “Pre-dawn? I worked through the night?”

Twilight nodded. “Yep. Again.”

Nightmare frowned. “I am sorry, Twilight. We had a date, yes?”

Twilight shrugged. “It’s alright, you can make it up to me next time.” she looked over Nightmare’s set of armor, all laid out on the floor before the alicorn. “Your armor looks good. All nice and polished.”

“No,” Nightmare said as she picked the helmet up again. “It needs another polish.”

Twilight’s next smile looked pained. “Nighty… have you even considered going outside without your armor on?”

“Of course I have.”

“And?” a bit of hopefulness there.

“It was a foolish idea that was quickly discarded to make room for better ideas.”

Twilight’s smile fell. “Nighty… I think it would be better if you stopped hiding inside this metal skin of yours.”

Nightmare stopped her polishing and looked to Twilight. “Hiding? Do you mean to imply I live in fear of something and must hind from it? I am the Mistress of Nightmares and I-”

Nightmare’s speech was cut short by Twilight pressing a hoof to her lips. “I know Nighty, I know. But you told me you were unhappy the nobles and commoners seemed afraid of you.”

Nightmare pushed Twilight’s hoof away. “But I mean them no harm! They are simply too-”

Twilight put her hoof back where it was. “I know that, Nighty, but some ponies have a little trouble understanding that when you insist on being dressed in full battle armor all the time.” Twilight sighed and removed her hoof. “Tomorrow, for me, will you leave all this here and just walk around with me?” Twilight asked softly. “Luna and Celestia can be there too, if it would help.”

Nightmare frowned. “I would prefer it if I was not strutting around naked and venerable. But for you, Twilight? I will try it.”

Twilight smiled. “Thank you. I can practically guarantee you’ll like the gardens more without lugging around all that metal all day.”

“Perhaps, Twilight,” Nightmare said, looking at her helmet, a small smile forming on her muzzle. “Perhaps.”

Author's Notes:

Our first entry! WOOOOOOOO!

2 Slowly by ArguingPizza

For Twilight, chances to take a break and relax were relatively few and far between. Between her duties as a Princess, her ongoing studies in magic, as well as a certain…other project, it left little time for her to sit down and take a moment for herself.

She was grateful, then, when she managed to find the time to have a cup of tea with Fluttershy at one of Ponyville’s small cafés. Sadly, her other friends had been unable to attend for various reasons, ranging from an insect infestation for Applejack, large pending orders for Pinkie Pie and Rarity, and being asked to assist Spitfire in overseeing Manehatten’s Water Lift for the Cloudsdale weather factories.

Though she was disappointed that the rest of her friends couldn’t be there, Twilight was no less happy when Fluttershy arrived. The two exchanged a quick hug before choosing a small table in the café’s outdoor section.

“Oh Twilight, it’s so good to see you again,” Fluttershy said with a smile, which Twilight returned brightly.

“You too Fluttershy. How’s life in Ponyville been in the last few weeks?”

“It’s been wonderful!” Fluttershy gushed excitedly, before quickly shrinking down again. “T-that’s not to say it’s been great because you’ve been gone, because it would’ve been even better if you’d been here, but please don’t think I’m trying to convince you to come back, unless that is you want to—“

“Fluttershy, would you like me to stop you?” Twilight asked with a raised eyebrow.

Fluttershy clamped her mouth shut tightly and nodded. Twilight resisted the urge to giggle and motioned for a waiter. It was something she enjoyed about Ponyville: she might have been a Princess, but in this one small corner of Equestria, she was still Twilight Sparkle. Well…at least to most ponies in town. She could hardly blame the fillies and colts for being fascinated with the brand new Princess living just up the street.

“Your Highness, Fluttershy,” the waitress, Wheat Grass, greeted them warmly. “How are you ladies doing today?”

Fluttershy, having something to focus on other than trying not to accidentally possibly offend somepony maybe, peaked out from behind her mane. “I’m doing very well, thank you. How is Ms. Flappy doing?”

Wheat Grass’s smile broadened, from the generic ‘server smile’ into a genuine one. “She’s doing much better, thanks to you. I really can’t thank you enough.”

Fluttershy blushed and looked down in embarrassment. “Oh, I didn’t do much. I just wrapped her wing up nice and snug so it could heal right. Anypony could do that.”

“Maybe, but I’d still like to repay you somehow.” Wheat Grass let her words hang in the air for a long moment before resuming her professional bearing. “In the meantime, what would you two like to drink?” Twilight and Fluttershy each gave their orders, and Wheat Grass quickly departed to let them peruse the menu.

The moment they were alone again, Twilight shot her friend a devious grin. “Well, somepony made a new friend while I was away.”

While many ponies thought her an island of innocent ignorance, Fluttershy was more than able to pick up on what Twilight was implying. Her face lit up like the setting sun, and she shook her head furiously.

“O-oh no, its not like that at all!” she insisted. “I-I just helped her pet parrot after she broke her wing last week.”

Twilight’s smirk didn’t waiver, but she let the matter drop to spare Fluttershy’s heart the strain of maintaining her entire blood supply in her cheeks. Her mercy was ‘rewarded’ with a teasing prod of Fluttershy’s own.

“How are things coming with Nightmare Mo—“

Twilight leapt across the table and covered Fluttershy’s mouth with her hooves, panic in her eyes. “Don’t say her—“

“Mwuahahahahaha!”

“—name,” Twilight finished lamely, her hooves and face, falling onto the table. Fluttershy looked around in confusion for the source of the downright maniacal laughter, but her focus quickly changed when the sky was engulfed in dark, foreboding storm clouds. The rolling thunderheads materialized from nothing, and swirled into a dark mass so deep it overpowered the noonday sun and bathed Ponyville in darkness.

“Where is Our Beloved?” a voice boomed from everywhere and nowhere, all consuming and intangible as the wind.

With a resigned sigh, Twilight raised a hoof and waved it about. “Right here, Moonie.”

From on high, a figure of pure darkness descended to the ground. The figure slammed into the ground, a thunderbolt striking just behind it to punctuate the landing. The shadows around the figure slowly receded, revealing the imposing form of Nightmare Moon, the Reborn Darkness.

“Twilight,” she whispered urgently, glancing around to see if anypony else had heard her pet name, “Not in front of the peasantry.”

“For the hundredth time, Moonie,” Twilight repeated, louder this time to ensure the café’s other (terrified)customers had heard her, “They aren’t peasants, they’re subjects.”

“Um, Twilight? That still sounds a little demeaning,” Fluttershy ventured.

Twilight ignored her, instead deciding to continue berating her marefriend. “And why are you here, interrupting my lunch with Fluttershy?” Twilight demanded as she stood and pushed into Nightmare Moon’s personal space, somehow managing to look intimidating next to the alicorn who was nearly twice her size.

Nightmare Moon dropped her gaze to the ground in shame, idly kicking a loose stone. “I…I missed you,” she said quietly, her tone easily likened to that of a kicked puppy.

Twilight’s heart melted at the sight, and she quickly enveloped the larger mare in a hug.

“I know, but we’ve talked about this. You need to get to know some ponies other than me, and I need to spend time with my other friends. Do you know this is the first time I’ve been back to Ponyville since your Rising?” Twilight said gently.

Nightmare Moon nodded, unwilling to meet Twilight’s eyes. “I did, and I’m…I’m sorry. This was foolish of me.”

Twilight lifted Nightmare Moon’s face with a hoof and forced her to look up. “No, it wasn’t foolish. It was actually kind of sweet, in a way.” Twilight lightly kissed her marefriend before releasing her.

“But right now I would like for you to go back to Canterlot. If I’m not mistaken, Lieutenant Whisper Wind’s horror movie marathon is today. I think you’d enjoy it.”

Twilight smiled supportively, which Nightmare Moon eventually returned. “Very well, I shall take my leave then. I—“ Nightmare Moon once again looked around suspiciously at the various ponies watching the exchange, before continuing in a whisper audible only to Twilight, “I love you.”

Twilight’s eyes glistened for a split second before she closed them and gave her marefriend another quick peck. “I love you too, Moonie. Now, off with you. I’ll see you tonight.” Twilight punctuated her statement with a light slap of her wing on Nightmare Moon’s flank. It was quickly proven that black coats were not, in fact, 100% effective at hiding blushes.

Like a rocket, Nightmare Moon departed the quiet village, leaving Twilight to retake her seat across from Fluttershy. As the clouds and shadows dispersed, Twilight watched the retreating form of her marefriend as she headed towards Canterlot. With a blissful, far away look, she turned to her friend.

“To answer your question, Fluttershy, things with her are coming along. Slowly, but I think I’m making progress.”

3 Lotion by Habanc

"What are you wearing?" Nightmare Moon had asked her.

Twilight was wearing her hair up in a ponytail, perched on her bed, cross-legged and nose deep in a book. She looked up at her. "Huh?" Followed her eye-line, she skimmed her hooves along her mane. "Oh, you mean my ponytail?"

"Is that what it is called?" Nightmare asked, plopping herself on the bed.

"Yup." Twilight shrugged. "I wasn't in the mood to brush my hair today, so I just did this instead."

"I like it," Nightmare Moon surmised, before leaning her head against Twilight's shoulder. "Hmm, your coat is really soft today as well." She perked up. "Am I getting a surprise of sorts?"

Twilight frowned. "I'm sorry, Nighty, but no. I just bought a new brand of lotion earlier."

"Lotion for what, exactly?"

"To make sure your coat and skin is hydrated and smooth," Twilight explained. "Most ponies don't want to be all dry and rough when they touch somepony else."

"Oh." Nightmare had nodded.

-~-

In the present, Nightmare Moon sighed. Her bath had been wholly relaxing, but the sigh was bittersweet. As nice as it had been, she had to get out sometime. Standing up, she wobbled but ultimately found her balance. Moving aside the shower curtain, she stepped onto the tiled floor.

Her hoof slid like greased butter, dropping her like a sack of potatoes. With the rest of her gangly lags flailing about, she collapsed into a yelping, soaked, rubber ducky shower curtain-wrapped mess.

The door barged open seconds later. "What happened?!" Twilight cried.

Two bottles of hydrating lotion clattered to the floor, hollow and empty. Nightmare Moon's head popped up from the wreckage, mane bound in a ponytail.

4 Balcony by Knight of Lycaeus

Under the glow of the full moon perched high in the sky, the late hour ensured the streets of Ponyville were quiet and empty of its usual liveliness. The calm silence was broken by an inky shadow that passed through the beams of moonlight to land before an awe inspiring tree created from shining crystal, this, the home of the newest Equestrian Princess was like the streets, quiet and still.

The inky shadow reformed to the shape of a tall mare whose feathered wings were shaped similar to those of a bat, a long horn protruded from her forehead its tip gleaming with razor sharpness; her form encased in full battlegear of pale blue. Her teal eyes lifted upwards towards the overhanging balcony that led into the personal chambers of the resident Princess.

“Oh Twilight, Twilight” she called out in a silky tone out while weaving a small spell to ensure that only her intended recipient would hear her so as to not awaken the citizens of the small town. “Wherefore art thou Twilight?”

Her call was answered mere moments later by an irate alicorn of lavender colouration. Her purple eyes were glaring deeply at late night intruder. “Nightmare, it is well past midnight!” She too had woven the same spell to keep the words between them but her volume was still effective to the Nightmare’s ears. “What’s worse is you quoting from a well-known romantic scene from one of the playwright Spear Shaker’s plays and in the completely wrong way!”

Her intruder merely gave a sly smile, “Should such minor details be imposed upon matters of the heart? For what other ways is there to claim another’s heart but with the recitation of words from a master?”

The mare on the balcony growled, “With your own words. Which is not an invitation to start! I told you I have no interest in looking for a coltfriend or marefriend!”

With no flicker of light the onyx coated mare vanished only to appear once more by the irated alicorn whose glare merely intensified. “Oh? No interest whatsoever? Was the invitation for the play a lie then?” Her wing outstretched and gently began caressing the other mare. “Is it not customary for courtship to begin with events such as those?”

Raising her own wing she brushed away the onyx wing, “Perhaps in your time but it was to allow you to catch up on things you’ve missed over the millennium. Luna was banished centuries before this play was written and it seemed to be a good starting point. Besides battlegear does not fit that play in the slightest, your appearance is more suited to be in Wagner’s play as a Valkyrie.”

“Perhaps I am a Valkyrie” Nightmare purred, “It was the custom for one to be the dominant in the courtship, the stallion who would protect his mare.” Closing the gap to face the peeved Princess in the eyes, “Perhaps for the relationship of two mares there is one mare is the protector.”

“Just leave!” Breaking contact with the visitor intent on reclaiming what sleep had been robbed from her by this late night encounter.

To this the Nightmare reappeared once more in front of the Princess and pounced. A full deep kiss the Nightmare gave, the Princess startled yet made no move to leave its embrace. Instead she chose to deepen the kiss yet even as she did she felt the soft lips leaving her. “No hesitance have I sensed, that kiss you certainly enjoyed. You can’t fight this my dear Twilight.” purring out a final message before vanishing altogether. Behind she had left a Princess dazed and now unsure of the depths of her feelings for her once enemy.

5 Grumpy by ultra1437

“Please?” Nightmare Moon curled a wing around her smaller, purple companion as they surveyed the stars from a large balcony.

“Hmph.” Twilight Sparkle shifted away, huffing petulantly.

“Come on, please?” Nightmare shifted closer again.

“Don’t want to.” Twilight kept up her retreat, standing up.

“Pretty please?” Nightmare was on her hooves now.

“The physical appearance of the word please has no bearing on my decision.” Nightmare sighed at Twilight’s lengthy reply.

“Pretty please with an extra hour of night on top?” Nightmare’s eyes betrayed her true feelings on the matter.

“Getting better.” Twilight slowed down and turned to look back.

“Pretty please with an extra hour of night and the librarians won’t bother you?” Nightmare showed her trump card morosely.

“... Fine. What do you want?” Twilight made her return to Nightmare’s side.

“To spend this glorious evening with you. That is all, I swear.” Nightmare wanted so much more, but she would take what she could get, for now.

“Nothing… more?” Twilight had almost caught her, it seems.

“Not unless you want to.” Not a lie, at least completely.

“Fine. I’ll stay.” Nightmare held her shout of joy, settling for nuzzling Twilight’s cheek.

“Why are you so grumpy around me?” Nightmare asked as she pulled back.

“I… don’t know. I can’t describe it.” Twilight looked away, a small sadness taking her over as she slouched.

“Try, for me, please?” Another nuzzle, this time against Twilight’s forehead.

“Why?” Twilight pulled away slightly to look Nightmare in the eyes.

“Because if I know why, I can help you be rid of that grumpiness, Miss Grumpypants.” A black hoof tapped Twilight’s muzzle softly.

“We don’t wear pants.” Twilight shot her a flat look.

“My joke still stands.” Nightmare chuckled lightly, drawing a wing against Twilight.

“Okay, Okay. I’ll try.” Twilight took a deep breath.

“Maybe it was from when we first met. You tried killing me; then when my friends and I beat you with the Elements, I had the feeling you weren’t gone. Not completely.” Twilight trembled slightly. “Then you returned. Not having taken over Luna, but as your own pony. That scared me far more than you know. But… you came to me of all the princesses to surrender yourself. To prove you weren’t going to take over the planet and cause eternal night.”

Nightmare replied, “At first… at first I planned on doing just that. Somewhere along the way, I got distracted.” Her eyes sparkled. “By this beautiful, purple mare who’d defeated me the first time I came back. She had grown some wings and fit perfectly into her role as princess so well that I knew if I were to try, I would stand no chance, even without the Elements against me. So I improvised.”

“You surrendered, and you were put into my custody, to make sure that you weren’t evil,” Twilight stated smartly.

“I think the words Pinkie used were, ‘We gotta make sure she’s not the evil Queen Black Snooty we once knew. Once she’s good, then I can throw her a party!’” Both mares chuckled. Nightmare continued softly, “I know I harbor no grudge against anypony. I just wish to help you in any way I can.”

Twilight jumped slightly. “I… think I know why I’m so grumpy around you now. I keep wanting to see you as evil. I keep wanting to see another great villain rise up for my friends and I to fight. These last few years of doing just that has made me antsy when there’s nothing going on. I keep expecting a fight, yet not getting one.”

Nightmare asked, “We could spar?”

Twilight shook her head. “No, other ponies would likely see that and think you’re attacking me.”

“If you wish to relieve some tension, I could help with that, too.” Nightmare laughed once as she kept her eyes on the sky, refusing to look down at the pony in her wing.

Twilight’s blush made her rival Philomena’s feathers. “No! I don’t need… that. I just need time to settle down and get used to your presence.”

“I will wait as long as it takes, Twilight.” Nightmare lifted her wing before standing and walking away.

Twilight felt as though she’d kicked Nightmare like a puppy. “We could…”

Nightmare turned, her ears folding back. “No, Twilight. Do not force yourself to do anything for my sake. Come to me when you are ready. That is all I ask.” Nightmare turned back around, spread her wings and took off from the balcony.

6 Kitten by Knight of Lycaeus

“How was that possible? Music, the sound that is both wondrous and terrifying, how was it used for this? I have heard music, battle hymns sung in the heat of battle to channel mighty war spells but this….” said an alicorn with an onyx coat.

Her companion, an alicorn with a lavender coat answered back, “It was just luck that she was flying over at the time. She’s not Pinkie so I’m certain she doesn’t have a sense for when ponies are looking for pets.”

The onyx mare gave a frustrated stomp, “I have brought low creatures of great skill and might and yet one pegasus has brought me down with singing?” The mare gave a snort, “What form of foul magic has granted her such power?”

Her companion only shook her head, “None, its just Fluttershy. The only unusual ability I’ve noted is her Stare which is able to calm down rowdy creatures. She just gets enthusiastic when somepony declares they are looking for a pet.”

“A pet, yes! Why would you even suggest such pitiful creatures as pets? Why would you even suggest one to begin with?”, the onyx said turning to face her companion.

Meeting her companion’s eyes the lavender mare answered, “Owning a pet can be rewarding, they are good at providing companionship which is something you need to work on is connecting with others. A pet is a place to start since besides myself and Luna you’ve refused to speak to anypony else. Pets in this day and age are not meant to intimidating hence the “pitiful” creatures as you described it are appropriate as pets.”

“I have spoken with others….”, the onyx mare began.

The lavender mare glared at her companion, “You scared them, even Fluttershy once she finished singing flew into her cottage. It took her animals and me several minutes for her to come outside again.”

“The mare is skittish.”

"That mare is my friend.”

“Skittish is apt. I merely desired a powerful being as my pet.”

“You wanted a black panther, it’s not even native to Equestria!”

“The choice was perfect, with an onyx coat like mine and a predator much like I am!”

“The idea was for us to help lessen other ponies’ fear of you not increase it.”

“A small ball of white fluff is not a pet!”

“It was a kitten, one that could use a good home.”

The onyx mare broke eye contact and turned to leave, “If that is what passes for a pet then I will not take one in.”

The lavender mare sighed, “A pet really a good way to help connect with other ponies.”

“I will not take a kitten in” the onyx mare said in a finite tone that refused further arguments on the matter.

A sound of rustling broke the growing tension and from the bush came a small deep grey pup made from wood.

“It looks like an Everfree Timberwolf likely from some of the deeper parts of the Forest as I haven’t seen that colouration before.” said the lavender mare.

The pup made its way over to the onyx mare who lifted it in her magic, “Not my first choice but it is an acceptable pet! I shall name you Nightfall.

Her companion sighed, it seems the onyx mare was getting her dangerous pet after all.

7 Onyx by lyra_lover777

Twilight huffed as she trotted up the mountain, a large cart of onyx being toted by a young earth pony colt.

On the top of the mountain sat a half-finished castle, made of dark black onyx, sat, its coloring matching the eternal night sky.

Nightmare Moon, Twilight's former enemy and present boss/lover, was shouting orders at the working ponies while she lounged on a tall throne made of pure amethyst.

Twilight sighed at the sight of the beautiful mare. She soon reached the top, the panting colt behind her collapsing the second she used her magic to carry the load of onyx to a large pile of the stone.

Twilight gave the colt a minute to rest before making him get up and go down the mountain to get another wagon full of onyx.

Twilight trotted up to the amethyst throne in the unfinished throne room, the chair of her lover. She reported her findings and reports of the work ethic and quality of the worker ponies.

Then Nightmare Moon floated Twilight onto her lap, kissing her deeply. No pony was around, so they kissed while the castle of onyx was built around them.

8 Rose by ShinyMoon

“Nightmare? Nightmare?” yelled a lavender alicorn as she roamed the halls looking for said goddess. Twilight had already searched the throne room, the bakery and the baths (she knew how much Nightmare Moon loved to take long showers.)

Twilight was getting a tad tired from searching for Nightmare, having been up all night working on a few new spells, she didn't get much sleep. She was surprised when she awoke to see her lover not still asleep beside her. Nightmare Moon wasn't known for being an early riser. This only made it hard for Twilight to wake her up.

Sighing, Twilight trotted further through the halls intent on finding where the mischievous alicorn was hiding. She ended up in the Royal Gardens, the only place she hadn't thought to look.

As she walked through the maze, she came across a secret passage. Peeking inside, Twilight saw the onyx coat of the person she was looking for, huddled over something that seem to enrapture her. If she weren't so taken with whatever it was, she would've heard Twilight come in.

“Nighty? What are you doing all the way back here? And what’s that in your hooves?” asked Twilight, very curious as to what was going on.

“T-Twilight?! W-What are you doing in here?” Nightmare stammered, startled at Twilight's sudden appearance. Her muzzle now bright red from hearing the lavender alicorn’s nickname for her. Her black coat wasn't so good at hiding blushes. Actually, it only made them even more pronounced.

“I was looking all over the palace for you, only to find you here. I didn't know you liked flowers, Nighty,” said Twilight.

“I...don’t actually like flowers,” came the meek reply. Unusual meekness for the proud and frightening Queen of Nightmares.

“Then why are you in the garden?” Twilight’s curiosity started to get the better of her. Realizing this, Nightmare Moon knew she couldn't hide it from her any longer.

Turning around so that her front was now facing Twilight, Nightmare revealed a very unique rose in her hooves.

Twilight gasped at the rose. It was gorgeous, exotic and breath taking all together. The petals were onyx and appeared to be moving like the ethereal manes of the princesses. Inside the onyx petals were miniature stars, surrounded by what looked like miniature galaxies and the milky way. The stem was wispy but it did not bend from the weight of the flower, instead it added an air of grace to the already elegant flower.

“It was meant for you, as a gift for being such a kind and loving pony. For helping me integrate into society, even though that process took some time. It took me months to grow this, having to ensure that there was enough energy so it would grow and blossom, flourish you could say. Too much energy, and the rose would literally explode; but too little, and it would wither and die instantly. I wasn't sure if you would like it-” Nightmare’s rant was cut off as she heard sobs above her.

Raising her head, she saw Twilight with tears pouring from her eyes.

“D-Do you not like it?” Nightmare asked, fearing the answer.

“What’s it called?” sobbed Twilight, hardly getting any words to come out.

“A Nebula Rose,” was Nightmare’s response before Twilight threw herself into her lover’s hooves. Sobbing harder, truly flattered that someone would do something like this for her.

“Thank you, thank you,” whispered Twilight, “I love you so much.”

Hearing this, Nightmare’s eyes widened, never had someone said they loved her. Her own eyes began to swell from the declaration.

“You’re welcome,” she paused, ”...and I love you too.”

9 Hammer by Knight of Lycaeus

Out in one of the fields surrounding Ponyville stood two alicorns, the onyx mare had a small pup curled on her back.

“Okay, getting a pet does help with connecting with others especially others who also have pets. It might be a way to help you meet and know my friends in a better situation than what usually occurs.” Twilight said thinking of the past few attempts disasters of her friends to meet Nightmare Moon and the inevitable anger or fear that did result of said encounters, all the while staring at Nightfall on Nightmare’s back. “Speaking of talking to others, that is something you still need to work on.”

“What help would I need? My speech is not entirely riddled with archaic grammar and words like Luna’s was” asked Nightmare Moon.

Twilight sighed, “When speaking to me or Luna, you’re fine. Speaking to others you sound like you’re ready to smite them or you view them as inferior or you do both.”

“I do not!” Nightmare Moon retorted.

“Fluttershy” was the quick reply.

Nightmare Moon shrank back a bit, “Oh right, your skittish friend. It is not my fault that mare jumps at the shadows or whatever frightens her.”

Twilight rubbed her forehead feeling a building headache, “Not just her. Mayor Mare…. actually the entire populace of Ponyville and Canterlot all have heard you speak each sentence like it's a grand proclamation that you will smite them if they do not listen to you.”

Nightmare Moon just grunted, “Fine, perhaps I do speak of smiting every pony down but is that not needed? We, as ponies who possess power and might must demonstrate this to those beneath us, is it not proper for those of our status for these shows of power?”

“I told you when you were considering which animal to be your pet that intimidation and power are less necessary than it used to be. We, Equestria prefers to show diplomacy and a softer touch than the strong iron hooves that were needed over a millenium ago. There is less of a need to show power, here we try to emphasis equality when possible I realize there is a contradiction with how Equestria is still a monarchy but you have to understand that a great portion of the royal powers have been granted to others. This is why we have a Prime Minister who leads the elected body and who leads if all the Princesses are absent.”

Nightmare snorted, “Fine yet you still have a pet that would in time strike fear into the hearts of all those beneath you.”

“Who?” asked Twilight.

“Your pet dragon, that purple one that follows you around.”

Twilight sighed again, “He is not a pet, his name is Spike and he is my family, friend, assistant, and many more things than that. He is not my pet!”

“Fine” Nightmare Moon grumbled, “So shall we need to do then?”

“The same thing I started with for Luna, let’s begin with dialing back on the volume and the reckless displays of power.”

Author's Notes:

Our first two-parter! Or soon-to-be-multi-parter, from the looks of it.

10 Recalcitrant by ShinyMoon

“Please.”

“No.”

“Please.”

“I refuse.”

“Oh please, oh please.”

“For the last time Twilight Sparkle, I will not accompany you to that wretched festival,” came the irritated reply of a tall and dark alicorn laying on the bed. She was currently hidden beneath a bundle of blankets, trying to keep the light out.

“But why,” whined Twilight, “I attended the Nightmare Night festival with you since you never celebrated it. Why can’t you just do me this one small favour?”

“Oh, the answer is simple really,” Nightmare Moon paused before continuing, “I will not attend that stupid and insignificant Summersun Celebration which mainly revolves around that insidious ball of light just hanging idle in the sky. Sending down those rays of burning sunlight, making it hard to sleep the day away.” Her eyes narrowed as she said this. “And I do not wish to see that pompous white alicorn shining any brighter than usual.”

“What? Celestia isn’t pompous,” Twilight said, defending her former mentor.

“Oh but she is, those looks she always gives me when your back is turned. They display unbridled smugness. She knows I can never have what you two have because of your history together and she makes sure I’m reminded everyday,” replied Nightmare Moon.

“You are so paranoid, Nightmare,” came the flat reply.

“Maybe, but with good cause,” was the answer Twilight received.

A moment of silence passed before it was broken.

“So...will you come with me to the festival?” asked a hopeful Twilight.

“No,” deadpanned Nightmare.

“Gah!!” exclaimed Twilight, “you are so...so...so recalcitrant!!”

“Beg your pardon?” asked Nightmare.

“Recalcitrant, meaning uncooperative, difficult, defiant,” Twilight’s rant was interjected by the alicorn resting on the bed.

“I know what it means and I am in no way...recalcitrant,” huffed Nightmare, turning her head to the side with arrogance being shown.

Before Twilight could respond, she got an idea. A devilish smile forming on her face, Nightmare oblivious to it since her head was still turned.

“Fine, don’t come,” said Twilight, turning around so Nightmare Moon wouldn’t see the sly smirk on her face.

“Good, I’m glad you’ve finally seen reason. Now if you’ll excuse me, I’d like to get back to sle-” but her sentece was cut off.

“I’ll just ask Luna to come with me, I did promise her day out with just the two of us. I know she will be so happy that our...date, is going to be sooner.” Twilight trotted to the door. 3...2-

“Wait!! I’ll come with you, just...just don’t take Luna.”

“Hehe, it always works,” Twilight thought to herself smugly. “I knew you would see it my way.”

Relunctantly, Nightmare untangled herself from her cocoon blanket. With her head down in resignation, she muttered a weak “I hate you” as she passed Twilight.

“Hm, you hate me? A little birdy told me you were dreaming otherwise, Nighty,” said Twilight as she nipped Nightmare Moon’s ear.

Nighty silently cursed her traitorous black coat.

11 Dictionary by Toratchi888

“I hate you.”

Nightmare Moon grinned. “I think that is not what you mean, Twilight Sparkle.”

Twilight Sparkle, Element of Magic, glared at the Mare of Midnight. Stars twinkled behind the black-and-blue silhouette of Nightmare Moon in the deep velvet of the sky; the early crescent moon just peeked over the horizon, framing the Nightmare’s left side. It was a perfect night; a perfect night, moreover, that was RUINED BY A CERTAIN EVIL PONY!

“I hate you.”

Nightmare Moon’s grin did not falter. “You keep using that word—”

Twilight snorted, lowered her head, and pawed the ground. “I KNOW WHAT IT MEANS!”

Nightmare Moon’s grin softened into a smile. “Dear Twilight, we are not displeased by your words. In truth, your honesty is most endearing. Wouldst thou not join us in contemplation of the night’s wonders?”

Twilight again snorted—though in disgust this time—and turned about. “Well, since you’ve decided to ruin my stargazing by thrusting yourself into my line of sight, I’ll just have to find somewhere else without you cluttering up the scenery.”

At that, Nightmare Moon’s smile faltered, and her ears drooped. “Is that… how you see me?” she whispered.

Twilight’s ears twitched, but she refused to turn around.

After several moments of silence, a quiet rustling betrayed the Nightmare’s departure into the evening sky. Twilight looked up to peer at the stars, and stepped back in alarm when she saw a few of them begin to drip from the sky, as if they were raindrops… or tears.

* * *

“Hatred: Intense dislike.” Twilight sighed as she flipped shut Wordsmith’s Wonders of Language (Abridged), propped on the reading stand in the Library.

She was relieved; she did understand hatred. Hadn’t she felt it when facing the enemies of Equestria with her friends? Sombra hated the light; that was easy to understand. Discord… well, he was more of a prankster, but he could inspire intense dislike by being incorrigible. Though Twilight didn’t… hate him.

She frowned. She didn’t hate Sombra either. She didn’t hate Trixie, who was just a show-off, even if she turned Twilight’s world upside down twice.

So… why did she hate Nightmare Moon?

Just the thought of that Black Snooty… Twilight snapped a hoof down on the ground, frowning.

Twilight was the only pony who had believed the prophecy. She had dutifully informed Princess Celestia, who hadn’t believed her; stars, was sent away from her beloved home of Canterlot for it! Yes, yes, she had made friends in Ponyville, but Twilight Sparkle loved nothing if not organization, and being sent away messed that up.

And then, of course, the harrowing trek through the Everfree and the confrontation in the ancient castle, and…

…and wasn’t it Nightmare Moon who brought her friends together?

Twilight stamped again, though the force was missing.

She had been happy when, on Nightmare Night that year, Princess Luna had returned to society and been welcomed by other ponies, and it had Twilight who helped her make a good impression. Twilight was proud to have helped the Princess, though Luna was not a close friend.

But then…

Then Nightmare Moon had somehow, beyond reason, manifested one night in Ponyville, looking for Twilight Sparkle. She had…

The Nightmare had flirted with Twilight! In front of everypony! Had called her adorable, and so stroooong, and full of sparkle, like the stars of night… the very stars that had helped the Nightmare return.

Twilight had done nothing but blush and squeak, and had run off in despair. It had taken more than a week for her to leave the library again, and the Nightmare had not reappeared since. Twilight had spent that week mulling over her feelings about the Nightmare, and she figured the Nightmare took on the mocking tone to cover her embarrassment over her defeat at the hands of Twilight’s friends; as such, Twilight figured the Nightmare hated her, so Twilight concluded she hated the Nightmare back.

No, I hate you. Twilight glanced at the dictionary. Books don’t lie, not to me. I don’t like Nightmare Moon; really don’t like her. Must be hatred.

Twilight glanced out of her front window. The stars continued to drip from the sky, and she heard a faint something just at the edge of hearing; it sounded like a rustle in the sky, but Twilight thought it might be… crying?

Why would the Nightmare… cry? Surely Nightmare Moon, evil pony she was, wouldn’t… cry. Twilight could only imagine Nightmare Moon, resting on her knees, hiding in her room with the curtains drawn, little tears trickling down her snout, tiny sniffles—

Twilight felt warmth building in her cheeks. Why am I blushing?!

Twilight raised a hoof to her chest, inhaled, exhaled. She turned back to her dictionary, and opened it to “A”. Her eyes scanned the page quickly.

…yup, thought so. Twilight tapped the page. “Adorable.”

Twilight sat back on her haunches, staring blindly at her dictionary. She flipped to another page, this time under “L”.

“Sad because of having no friends or company. Lonely.”

Twilight thought back. Nightmare Moon had mocked her that time, but now, it seemed playful, not spiteful. Twilight also cringed at the way she had treated the Nightmare just an hour ago; she had called her a waste of space, when she was offered a… stargazing friend?

Twilight covered her eyes with her foreleg. Sweet Celestia, how stupid can I get? I’ve been a fool. And like I said, books don’t lie: Nightmare Moon is… lonely.

Twilight stared into the Nightmare’s dark eyes in her mind; unlike all those months ago, she could see beyond the teasing to the vulnerability. Twilight had spurned the Nightmare’s advance, when all that the dark pony had wanted was to be seen like Luna: a pure, soft moon.

Twilight stood up. Maybe the Nightmare wouldn’t forgive her, but she had an idea how to apologize: her way. She grinned at the dictionary.

* * *

Nightmare Moon lay in a small glade north of Canterlot Castle. She rested on her crossed forelegs; occasionally, a small sniffle would drift through the clearing. Tiny trails of stardust flitted around her, carried by tiny starmotes like fireflies.

Nightmare Moon favoured the glade it as a place to just be, without needing to be something: it was always quiet, always in shade thanks to the castle rising behind her.

Nightmare Moon’s ears pricked at the soft sound of trotting hooves. Whoever the pony was, she wasn’t trying to be stealthy, but neither was she barging in. Nightmare Moon shook her head, wiping her eyes with her foreleg. Now that she was alert, she sensed unicorn magic as well.

Turning, she started to find Twilight Sparkle emerging from a copse on the south side of the clearing. Nightmare Moon glanced past Twilight to the castle; it seemed obvious that Twilight had come from that way. Something floated along behind Twilight, carried by the unicorn’s magic.

Twilight stopped about five strides away from Nightmare Moon; she let her package settle behind her, and her head dipped nervously. Nightmare Moon was curious, but wary all the same.

“Twilight Sparkle. To what do we owe your visit? Hast thou found this humble glade more suitable to the viewing of the stars, since no trees might obstruct thy line of sight?”

Twilight flinched, and Nightmare Moon sighed. “Twilight Sparkle, we understand thy fear of us. We are dangerous—or were, once—but we wish it were not what we are. Truly, we desire only to take our place among ponies, and work for the good of Equestria’s citizens. We hoped…” Nighmare Moon glanced up. “We hope that thou, the pony with the mark of the stars, might understand what it is like to be the moon: so high, so far away…”

Twilight galloped over and hugged Nightmare Moon; the latter was very nearly knocked to her rump by the energetic tackle. “I’m sorry,” Twilight whispered. “You just… came on so strong that time, and I guess… I guess… it was just easier to pretend I hated you than to… to have feelings for somepony who… hurt my friends.”

Nightmare Moon blinked over Twilight’s head. Then, tentatively, she reached up one hoof to stroke Twilight’s withers. “Twilight Sparkle, we forgive thy fear of us. We do not beg thy forgiveness; we only wish to earn it.”

Twilight broke the embrace and turned her head to levitate the thing she had brought. “I can do better than that… Black Snooty.” She smirked slightly.

Nightmare Moon grasped the object in her own magic. It was a box, wrapped in purple, with a blue ribbon tied in four around it.

Twilight gave a cheesy grin before galloping off towards the castle. Nightmare Moon raised a hoof, but let it settle in perplexity before untying the ribbon. Inside the box was… a book. Nightmare Moon smirked at that; Twilight Sparkle was nothing if not a bibliophile.

Nightmare Moon levitated the book before her, and read: “Wordsmith’s Wonders of Language (Abridged), Volume 10—Part of the Century of Language Project”

Nightmare Moon flipped to the frontispiece, which said the dictionary was part of a project to catalogue and explain how the Equestrian languages had changed over the last century.

“Oh, how thoughtful!” Nightmare Moon cooed. Certainly, the language of ponies had changed in a thousand years since Princess Luna had been banished to the moon; catching up on the last hundred years would be pretty easy—

Nightmare Moon caught sight of a bookmark about a quarter of the way into the book. She flicked to the page, and noticed the letter reference was “Fr”. She quirked an eyebrow and skimmed the page, settling on the word Twilight had put a little crescent moon and star next to, and smiled.

Friend.

12 Runes by Pearple Prose

"Lunaaaaa..." a sweet voice sang playfully. "Come to bed, you silly mare!"

I looked up from my desk to see Twilight poking her head around the door to my office, the endless rows of books lining the walls making it seem as if she were calling to me from the top of a deep pit. I rubbed at my tired eyes and smiled at her such that my fangs poked through my lips. Twilight loved that smile of mine.

"My apologies, love," I said, rising to my hooves and wincing as an old injury on my leg burned briefly, "I just had a few papers to finish."

"You always have papers to finish." Twilight curled her lip into a devilish and mildly flirty pout.

"Queens often do."

"You never used to have papers to finish," Twilight said, pushing the lacquered door open fully and sashaying her way into the room. Her long and graceful silks drifted across the carpet behind her. "So that begs the question: are there just more papers, or are you just getting old and tubby?"

I winced. "Ouch. Thank you for hurting my feelings, dearest."

"Someone has to keep you humble, Your Majesty." She stuck her tongue out at me.

I swept my eyes across the remaining paperwork and took in none of it. "Is this because of my commenting on your posterior the other night?"

Twilight sniffed. "I'm sure I don't know what you're talking about."

"It's not my fault you're so sensitive." I flicked a long, black wing at her rump and relished the sharp eek! that followed. "See? It's a hair trigger down there."

"That was a low blow." She smothered a smile and shot me a glare.

"So we're equal, then." I stuck my tongue out, and got a playful slap in return.

"Yeah, yeah." Twilight turned away and glanced across the bookshelves idly. Her damp mane was tied up messily, and she smelled of lavender. She had just come out of the shower, apparently. "How long are you going to be, Luna?"

I swept a wing across my desk. "Strangely enough, I just finished." I stepped up behind my lover and lowered my head down to nibble at her ear and listen to her hum and laugh in delight.

I enjoyed these brief pleasures in this uncertain world of ours.

"You have so many books in this old castle," Twilight said distantly. I trailed kisses down her neck. "I'm an egghead, and even I don't know what half of these books are about."

"I'm a busy mare," I said. My mane of stars brushed against Twilight's cheek. "And I'm quite the dabbler, as well."

"Or maybe you're just a hoarder."

I snorted. "Please. I prefer 'collector.'"

Twilight giggled. "Well, you're quite the avid collector, then." She sighed. "I remember when I first saw the library here. I couldn't believe my eyes. So many books!" I heard her giggle to herself. "Spike wasn't impressed at all, though. Silly dragon."

Immediately, the moment shattered, and I recoiled as cold terror swept down my spine. Twilight didn't notice - her eyes were strained shut in concentration. "Wait... No, that was... Who's Spike? You were with me... right?"

Twilight shook her head and opened her eyes again. "Luna?" She looked back at me and her eyes widened. "Luna, what's wrong?"

I blinked and realised that I had opened my wings and beared my teeth on reflex, and forced myself to stand normally despite the mild horror turning in my gut. "My apologies. Something you said just... brought back memories."

Twilight blinked. "Oh. It's alright." She looked up at me in concern. "Are you sure you're okay? You look tense."

I glanced over at a mirror on my desk and stared briefly into my own reptilian eyes, then turned and walked to the door. "I'm sure, dear. Shall we go to bed?"

But when I turned around, Twilight was still peering at the shelves. "Mhm. Just a minute."

"Twilight."

"Yeah, I heard you."

I stepped toward her. "Twilight, can you please-"

"Hey," she said, "Did you know this book is in the wrong place?" And she lifted a hoof and tugged a very particular hardback out of its place.

There was a loud crash and clunk of moving machinery, and the bookshelf that Twilight had been facing slid backwards and to the side. Ethereal light bathed Twilight in a silver hue as she stared disbelievingly into the hidden corridor.

"Ah," I said, striding across the room towards her. "I was rather hoping you wouldn't find that."

"Luna..." Twilight breathed. "What is this?"

I stood behind her and followed her gaze up to the huge magic circle, inlaid with glowing runes that shifted and turned even as we watched. "It's..." I wasn't sure what to tell her.

"No, wait, I can read these. This is... a containment field?"

My injured leg twitched as I stared at my magical creation. "Exactly that."

"But... What's it for? And why was it hidden here?"

"Twilight." I lay my hoof on her shoulder. "We should go to sleep. I'll tell you all about it in the morning."

Twilight didn't move. I called her name again: "Twilight?"

I heard her giggle. "So, is this your little secret, then?" she said, in a sultry tone.

"What?"

"Don't you try and lie to me, Lulu." My leg twitched again. "I know you've been squeamish about something. Is this it?"

"I'm sure I have no idea what you're talking about," I said with forced cheeriness.

"What happens if I do this?" She put her hoof directly in the middle of the circle. "Ooh, it's warm."

"I'd very much rather you didn't."

"Oh?" She was loving every minute of this. It would normally be endearing, but right now it just fed my greatest fears. "Then what happens if I do this?"

Her horn glowed. I didn't even have time to throw her out of the way before the seal came undone and golden, heavenly magic exploded into the room. I only just managed to avert my eyes as the power washed over me like a divine wave, and my horn burned black as I reforged the circle and banished the energy back to whence it came.

The damage had already been done.

"L-Luna?" A tiny voice spoke. Twilight stared at the seal and didn't turn around. I couldn't see her face.

I didn't answer at first. I instead stepped aside and closed the hidden passageway, the weathered bookshelf sliding serenely back into place as if nothing had happened.

"Luna? What happened? Where are you?"

"I'm here, Twilight."

She turned and looked at me. "You... You're not Luna," she stammered, stepping away from me. Her eyes were wide and terrified. "You're..."

I felt the condemnation smash my heart in two. "Twilight, please."

"Oh no." She took another step away from me. "This isn't right. We stopped you. You're gone. Why are you here. Please let me go."

"It's all going to be okay." I stepped towards her gently, keeping my voice soft and calming. "I'm not going to hurt you."

"Where are my friends? Where am I? I just want to go home." She was curled up on the floor, now, breathing in and out and in and out and in and she was hyperventilating and she was crying and all I wanted to do was scream in purest rage.

But I didn't. Instead, I curled up around my broken lover, and stroked her mane until she was sobbing quietly into my midnight coat.

"Princess Celestia? Is that you?" she whispered.

It hurt. Oh by the gods, it hurt.

"I'm here, Twilight. It'll all be okay."

I took a deep breath, and brushed my hoof against the runes set into the back of Twilight's head.

I'll get it right someday.

13 Hammer (2) by lyra_lover777

Twilight shouted in glee as she smacked the head of Discord back into his little hole. She then used her hammer to hit the horned head of Tirek. Queen Chrysalis was the next villian to suffer the hammer's wrath.

Then a head shaped like Nightmare Moon popped up. Twilight hesitated, and a bell went off, signaling that she had lost the game.

Twilight slouched in defeat as Nightmare Moon wrapped her dark black wing around Twilight, smiling down at her.

"Why do you have to be so hot, Nighty? If I hadn't hesitated, I could've won..."

Nightmare Moon rolled her eyes as she folded her wings back behind her back. "This should not be that hard," said Nightmare Moon as she approached the whack-a-villian game.

Nighty raised the hammer as she began, bashing King Sombra;s head back into the hole of which he came from

Nighty easily whacked the head of the Maneiac and the head of Ahuizotl away. Then it began to become more challenging.

Nighty was taken by surprise by the Sunset Shimmer head, and barely whacked it down.

Then two heads, Discord and a chimera, popped up. Nightmare Moon barely whacked them both down.

Then her head popped up. She hesitated and the bell went off, telling her she had lost.

Nightmare Moon's eyes turned white as she screamed in rage, the whole building tipping sideways from the force of her scream.

Nightmare Moon then raised the rubber hammer, changing it to solid metal, and destroyed the machine, still beating the scraps of the game long after it had been destroyed.

Finally Nightmare Moon sighed and leaned back against the wall, all the ponies in the arcade staring at her.

The owner approached Nighty warily.

He then said, "You, umm, have to pay for the broken game." He pointed to the pile of metal at Nighty's hooves.

Twilight was about to smile and summon the money from the royal vault when Nighty went into full rage mode.

"YOU HAVE NO PLACE TO TELL ME WHAT TO DO, LOWLY SUBJECT!" screamed Nighty before she used her magic to hurl the owner to the other side of Equestria.

Twilight rolled her eyes as she and Nighty left. "Now we will have to pay for another pony's injuries. Again."

Author's Notes:

Yes, this is the second "Hammer" prompt submission. Standing rule here at Full Moon Fever: if someone claims a prompt, but you've got a perfect idea that just refuses to go away, don't wait for another good prompt to appear - write it! The original claimant gets the right to pick the follow-on prompt, but we never want to see a good story idea go to waste.

The more MoonLight, the merrier!

- TheLastBrunnenG

14 Sweet by Toratchi888

Nightmare Moon glanced meekly at the ground before the Apple Family barn, prodding the remains of many litres’ worth of barrel-packed apples which were now little more than applesauce, loose staves, and hoops. Apple pulp dripped from her coat, as well as from the face of—

“Blackie,” Twilight thundered, wiping a hoof across her sticky face, “what was that all about?!”

Nightmare Moon looked up sheepishly. Before here stood Twilight Sparkle, her… guardian, for lack of a better term, and Applejack, bearer of the Element of Honesty and a close friend of Twilight Sparkle.

Nightmare Moon glanced at Applejack; though she was frowning, Applejack did not appear to be feeling active hostility… yet. Probably since she was clean.

“I… I am sorry, Twilight Sparkle,” she mumbled, “I was… hasty?”

“…hasty.” Twilight’s look was pure disbelief.

“Yes!” Nightmare Moon stood quickly, glancing abashedly at Applejack, whose frown had softened slightly. “I was… cooped up in the Castle for the last two days; Lady Celestia had required me to clean my quarters, but with all the dust and such, I was sneezing and banging into things and it took so long—”

Twilight held up a hoof, stopping Nightmare Moon mid-flow. “Okay, okay, so you were cooped up. So… you thought…?”

“I… I was enjoying my freedom through flight, and when I saw you below, I was just so happy…” Nightmare Moon again glanced at the remains of the apples, which appeared even sorrier now.

Twilight sighed. “Blackie, look: I know you have even less idea than Luna about proper pony etiquette, but really: Dropping from the sky on a thunderbolt is assuredly not good form.”

“Yes, Lady Sparkle.” Nightmare Moon bobbed her head docilely before turning to Applejack, who had yet to speak. “Lady Applejack, do you bear me enmity for my blunder? How may I compensate the loss of your harvest?”

Applejack stroked her chin with her left hoof, eyes skyward as she thought. “Hmm… Well, beggin’ your pardon, Miss Nigh—Miss Moon, but, well, there ain’t much to be done about it.”

“Oh, no! Please, I beg you, let me do something to compensate your! I know you take pride in your work, and surely working the land is hard! Please; I would not forgive myself if I could not—”

“All right, all right!” Applejack brought her hoof down from her chin in a “stop” motion. “No need to plead, Miss Moon. I mean, there literally ain’t much to do; the apples are squished, and it’s apples we need. So…”

Nighmare Moon perked up. “That’s it! I shall gather you more apples! Surely it is not so difficult!”

Twilight’s hoof met her face, and her nose scrunched. Applejack snickered.

“...Twilight Sparkle, I sense you are withholding your enthusiasm." NIghtmare Moon deadpanned.

“Blackie,” Twilight sighed, “here at Sweet Apple Acres, the Earth Ponies buck every tree. No machines, no wings, no magic.”

Nightmare Moon’s eyes widened. “I… oh, my… I had not… considered…”

Applejack’s face became wry. “Welp, it took me a good two hours of buckin’ to get that much…” She frowned. “Hmm… And we’ll have to go farther, since we used all the trees on this plot…” She checked the sky; the sun was past its zenith. “Miss Moon, I tell ya, we need those apples right quick; I have to get them into the barn before sunset, or we’ll be behind schedule for tomorrow’s market.”

“Show me the way, Lady Applejack!” Nighmare Moon reared on her back hooves. “I shall buck your apples post-haste!”

“Well, let’s go!” Applejack reared and galloped into the barn, emerging with a can of red paint and a brush. She galloped off, Nightmare Moon cantering close behind. “Twilight! Can ya fix my barrels? Looks like they just burst instead o’ splinterin’; if ya can bring ‘em fixed and ready, we can load ‘em quick and be done!”

Twilight rolled her eyes, but began picking up the broken barrels with her magic.

* * *

After about twenty minutes, Twilight had carefully repaired the barrels and was moving at a trot towards the west acres, a dozen barrels in her magical grip. Applejack had left daubs of paint at intervals, so Twilight was able to follow the path whenever it branched. She assumed she was about halfway to the new site, given the daubs lately were slightly more methodical now—cross-shaped, rather than just globs of paint.

Twilight froze suddenly as she heard something rise from the orchards ahead of her. It was a wordless shout, but it sounded urgent.

Twilight made off at a gallop towards the source of the sound, and was pleased somewhere in the back of her mind that she had grasped the sound’s origin at first try, since she didn’t miss a single daub of paint along the way even though she was only half looking.

After a few minutes, she came to one particular plot, and—

“I SAY, O APPLES: BUCK THYSELVES!”

Twilight skidded ten hoof-lengths—her barrels continuing forward due to magical inertia—and came to a disbelieving stop as apples fell from their trees, Nightmare Moon’s amplified shout shaking the trees as thoroughly as a kick from Applejack’s hind legs.

Twilight tried—she really tried—to say something intelligent about what she saw. But the only thing that came to mind was:

“BLACKIIIIIIE! WATCH YOUR LANGUAGE!”

* * *

Applejack could not stop laughing as they trotted all the way back to the barn. “Oh, Twi, relax. Miss Moon was only tryin’ to help, and y’know, she did! She got them apples down right quick, we’re back up to quota; everythin’s gonna be all right. And besides, the language's changed; I'm sure she knows better now not t'go shoutin' 'buck' at high volume.”

Twilight fumed, but said nothing as she too trotted along the orchard path. Nightmare Moon walked quickly several strides back, afraid to further irritate Twilight Sparkle. The now-full barrels bobbed in her wake, levitated by her magic.

Applejack looked back and noticed both her companions were lagging. “Look, y’all seem to have to work some things out, so tell ya what; I’ll go on ahead and clear space for the barrels, y’all do what you have to.” Applejack switched to a canter and was soon out of sight down the road.

Twilight sighed. “Come here, Blackie.”

Nightmare Moon perked up and trotted to Twilight’s side.

“Am I… Will Lady Applejack forgive me?”

“Oh, Blackie, I think Applejack’s well beyond that now. You got her quota back, and made her laugh; I don’t think forgiveness is even an issue right now.”

“That is good—”

“However—” Twilight stopped, and Nightmare Moon jerked to a halt as well “—you must, MUST promise me: You will never drop out of the sky on a thunderbolt… unless it’s a Nightmare Night prank. And you ask me first.” Twilight couldn’t hide a little smirk.

Nightmare Moon whinnied contentedly. “I promise, from now on, I shall present myself in a less unseemly fashion.” She tapped a hoof to her chin. “Do you suppose the Apple Family would accept an offering of gold as recompense? I did destroy some of their property, and I have a stipend from Lady Celestia…”

“I don’t think that’s strictly necessary…” Twilight began to trot again, and Nightmare Moon restarted her quick walk. “But I think if you offered, Applejack would appreciate it. Ask her later.”

Twilight jerked her head, and they quickened to a canter.

* * *

“Well, now, ain’t you two just lucky!” Applejack called as Twilight and Nightmare Moon came into view. “I just finished cleanin’ up, and look what survived Miss Moon’s landing!”

Applejack held up a large apple on her right hoof: easily the size of four or five hooves, it had a deep red lustre and a jaunty leaf on the end of its stem. She held it carefully between her hooves and, tongue poking between her teeth with concentration, gave it a twist; it split perfectly down the middle.

Applejack offered the two halves to Twilight and Nightmare Moon. “Y’all earned it, I think. Miss Moon, just set them barrels down by the barn-door; I’ll finish up here. Y’er dismissed, as it were.” Applejack stuck out a cheeky tongue.

Nightmare Moon bowed low. “As you command, Lady Applejack,” she replied with a smile.

Twilight smiled as well and levitated the apple pieces to her as Nightmare Moon deposited the barrels. Together, Twilight and Nightmare Moon moved to the shady side of the barn and lay down together, each chomping on their apple. Nightmare Moon looked sidelong at Twilight as they ate: Twilight was smiling widely, eyes closed as she enjoyed the flavour.

A dribble of juice ran down Twilight’s chin. Impulsively, Nightmare Moon craned her neck quickly to her right and licked.

Twilight jumped three hooves into the air with a shriek. “Wha-wha-wha-wha-wha—” She landed with a thud and turned to glare at Nightmare Moon, but froze when she saw the coy look in Nightmare Moon’s eyes.

“I’m sorry if I startled you…” She fluttered her lashes. “There was some juice on your chin; I didn’t want you to get covered in applesauce twice in one day.”

Twilight neighed. “Thank you, Blackie. That’s very—” she smiled “—sweet.”

15 Research by FuzzyFurvert

“You girls go on ahead, I’ll be fine.”

“If you’re sure, sugarcube.” Applejack tipped her hat back as the others turned back toward the castle’s main entrance and by extension, Ponyville. “I’ll drop off Spike back at the Librar - er, castle, I reckon.”

Applejack blushed and rolled her shoulders where a gently snoring dragon assistant lay. Twilight smiled and waved the mention of her old home away. She was still in mourning, but this wasn’t the time to get misty eyed. The Castle of the Two Sisters still has secrets that it had yet to reveal and she was determined to keep searching until it was too dark to see.

“Thanks, AJ, I appreciate that. I’m going to keep looking around and see what else I can dig up in these old ruins.” Twilight gave Applejack a confident smirk. “If it gets late, I can teleport back.”

“Shoot, sugar! I didn’t think yer ranged improved that much!” Applejack laughed. “Alicorn powers must be something else.”

“You got that right.”

“C’mon Applejack, you’re slowing everypony down!” Rainbow Dash flipped in the air overhead and zipped out the door at the end of hall on the heels of Pinkie Pie and Rarity. Fluttershy waited nearby patiently until the earth pony turned and started trotting to catch up with the others.

Twilight watched them go for a moment and drank in the quiet of the old ruins. She could taste the history on her tongue and smell the memories in each breath. The castle here bounced between idyllic relic of a bygone era and creepy shadow-infested hollow, but right now it felt warm and inviting in the later afternoon sun. Twilight spread her wings and flexed her feathers, letting them collect that light and warmth as she turned and let her hooves take her where they may.

Exploring the castle had become a something of a consuming hobby in the weeks after Tirek’s defeat. She was still feeling out her new duties and the new castle was interesting, but it wasn’t home yet. So in her free time, she explored and studied and learned. Sometimes it was like the adventures of Daring Doo when she found some new trap or hidden passage, other times it was more like traditional ‘boring’ archeology.

Twilight pulled in her wings as she entered one of the branching halls off of the main throne room. She stepped carefully over a marked tile that triggered a trapdoor slide and ducked under a partially fallen arch until she found herself just outside the old library. Twilight breathed in the scent of old books and dust but her hooves didn’t feel drawn to that treasure trove. She’d explored in there earlier and already had a stack of tomes prepared to accompany her back to her own castle for restoration and research.

Instead, her hooves kept going past the library and deeper into what they had dubbed the ‘Control Wing.’ Twilight walked wide around a mechanized suit of armor and hopped over an open pit with the help of a wing flap. She paused at the intersection just beyond the pit and looked into the large room opposite her where the huge pipe organ that was connected to the hydraulic system that controlled many of the castle’s traps and puzzles. To the left was a mostly collapsed ballroom where they had come across the remnants of Tirek’s camp from when he was freshly escaped and laying low. To the right was the stairwell that lead up to the tower observatory where the Elements of Harmony had once been stored.

And where she’d faced a goddess of the night and won.

The room was empty now, so there wasn’t any real reason to go there. Perhaps she could find something in the ballroom? Perhaps Tirek had hidden something away in the rubble?

“...”

Twilight stopped at the threshold of the ballroom and looked up, her ears swiveling about. She was certain that she’d heard...something. It wasn’t unusual, the castle was falling apart with animals and plants slowly pulling the place down and the weird Everfree weather demolishing it in slow motion. Whatever it was didn’t repeat and the only thing she could hear was her own breathing and the whisper of a breeze in the hall.

With a flick of her tail, Twilight turned and eased her way into the collapsed ballroom, her horn lighting her way.

Bright magenta colored light illuminated the dark halls of the castle as the sun sank outside, only the tallest of the still standing stones bathed in its golden glow.

Twilight emerged from the ballroom and shook the dust and grit from her mane as she tugged a lumpy, motheaten and filthy tapestry from the room behind her. “Another one for Rarity to restore. Not what I was looking for, but so what?”

“...”

Twilight dropped the cloth and whirled around, her horn glow amplifying to light the shadows around her. The stones glinted in the light but nothing moved or made a sound. That didn’t stop the short hairs that ran down Twilight’s neck and along her spine from standing on end.

“Is somepony there?” Twilight turned slowly and fought to keep her breathing slow. It was probably just the wind or some Everfree creature out on a nightly stroll. She probably had no reason to be scared.

Twilight smirked and giggled to herself, as she recalled the first time she’d been out in the dark in the Everfree. Pinkie’s silly advice to laugh in the face of fear had been effective then. And now she was a full fledged alicorn. What could conceivably harm her?

She picked the tapestry back up with her telekinesis and folded it before letting it drop onto her back. She just needed to teleport back to town and she’d have enough time for a shower before dinner with Spike. Twilight started to charge her horn as she did the calculations in her mind to deposit herself and the cloth in her bathroom.

*snap!*

Twilight yelped. The arcane energies she’d collected thrashed in her horn, her careful calculations lost, until it burst out in a harmless flash.

*flumph*

She jumped and screeched, her hooves came down on the loose stones and the next thing Twilight knew she met the floor muzzle first.

Her own groaning woke Twilight. She coughed dust and dirt out of her nostrils and immediately regretted the action when she felt suddenly light headed and she could feel blood flowing down her face.

She was sore all over. Twilight grit her teeth and pushed herself to her hooves slowly. Nothing felt broken but she’d be best served if she had a doctor look her over. Assuming whatever had made that noise didn’t stop her.

Twilight snapped her eyes open and lit her horn. The corridors where as dark and empty and silent as they had ever been. Shadows danced whenever she turned her head, but nothing looked out of place. She took a step and turned when something soft and scratchy brushed against her leg. She shrieked and dived away from it, rolling on her shoulder and bringing up her horn primed to blast whatever monster had come to claim her.

In the magenta light of her horn no monster waited to pounce. No beast was primed to strike. The only thing in the hall besides herself and the stone was the old tapestry. It sat in a pile on the floor where she had dropped it and then backed into it blindly.

“Fantastic, I’m just in here scaring myself to death. Not your best moment, Twilight…” Twilight sighed and switched her horn from deathbeam mode to illumination mode.

“...”

Twilight tried to swallow but her throat was dry. A soft breeze blew against her mane and she turn, very slowly and looked at the archway that lead to the stairs and beyond the Elements Chamber. The breeze stirred her mane again and for a moment, Twilight couldn’t shake the feeling that somepony had called her name.

Author's Notes:

1st installment of "Haunting Nightmares"

16 Advantageous by Kean

“No,” Twilight groaned before falling back onto the bed, using the wrist of a forehoof to pinch the bridge of her nose. “Not again.”

Two sets of draconic eyes watched the exasperated alicorn from the foot of the bed. Twilight peeked at them from under the hoof before groaning again at the confirmation that there were, in fact, two Nightmare Moons standing there.

It had been such a good plan: Make some friends, show the ponies that she wasn’t evil. Luna had been the first to approach and even befriend her. In hindsight, it wasn’t that surprising. They had shared a mind and body for quite some time. What was surprising was how fast Luna’s love for pranks had rubbed off on Nightmare.

No pony in the castle was safe.

This was their newest game: One would disguise themselves as the other – nearly perfectly – and force their victim to figure out who the real one was.

Had they not always woken her up in the middle of the night, the prospect of deconstructing and studying the spells they used would certainly make her giddy. As it was, she only wanted to study one thing: the magic of sleep.

“Moony, please, just come to bed. We can do this tomorrow. Or never again. Either works for me.” She held no hope that Nightmare would comply, but maybe that she’d forget or at least unconsciously shake her head or answer. Instead, both alicorns shook their heads in perfect synchronization.

“That’s not creepy at all,” Twilight grumbled before resigning herself to her fate. She climbed off the foot of the bed and stood in front of the Nightmares.

Visually, there was no difference between them. Each hair on either’s coat seemed to be in the exact same position, their manes and tails both flowed in perfect sync, and even their breathing matched the others.

“If you do not want to continue, then simply admit defeat and we shall leave,” spoke both Nightmares, again in perfect sync.

“Now that’s creepy.” Twilight walked between them, trailing her wings along their backs.

Bodies feel exactly the same, so no illusion this time. Full transformation? That’s new…

“But no,” Twilight said as she returned to her place in front of them. “I have a few ideas.”

Slowly, she raised her muzzle until it was inches away from the right Nightmare’s. She watched for a reaction the entire time. If it was Luna, she’d certainly pull away, if it was Nightmare she’d surely protest the display of affection in front of another like she always did.

Or they would do nothing but stare ahead without even the slightest increase in their breathing.

“Well then,” Twilight sighed as she turned and moved back to the bed, swaying her hips far more than was necessary. “I seem to find myself in quite the advantageous situation. I’ve had a few, shall we say… experiments in mind for a while now.”

She rolled onto her back in the middle of the bed and lit her horn. “And it would seem,” Twilight grinned, her voice becoming sultry as she deposited an alicorn on either side of her. “I have finally found the test subjects I need.”

Surely her marefriend wouldn’t accept this. With the way she reacts to a simple nuzzle in public, surely she would break and reveal herself.

Twilight kissed the alicorn on her left deeply. It was returned whole-heartedly and they only broke when breathing became a problem.

Surely Luna would break and excuse herself to allow them privacy.

She turned to the Nightmare on the right and kissed her as well. The exact same response was given.

Of course, hypotheses are often wrong.

--------------------------------------------------------

Sometime later, three alicorns lay flushed and panting on the bed. Twilight regained her senses first and grinned. Turning to the Nightmare on her left, she moved to kiss her. Before their lips could touch she raised her muzzle and kissed her on the bridge of her nose.

“You’re Luna,” She stated.

Black faded to blue as a grinning princess Luna rolled to her stomach. “How did you know?”

Twilight nuzzled in to Nightmare’s neck, smiling. “Your tongues.”

“Our tongues? But her transformation was exact! I made sure of it,” Nightmare grumbled into Twilight’s mane, eliciting a giggle from the smaller alicorn.

“I didn’t say the physical aspect of them, now did I?” Twilight answered cryptically before turning to Luna and lighting her horn, a much different grin splitting her muzzle. “Now then, since you two deemed it necessary to wake me at such a late hour, I think I’ll finally get those transformation spells out of you. Luna, hold still. This won’t hurt… much.”

A blue blur escaped through the balcony doors at a speed that would make Rainbow Dash jealous.

“She was fun,” Twilight chuckled as she turned and laid back into Nightmare’s hooves. “But I’m surprised you let that happen.”

“Consider it a gift.” Smiling, Nightmare kissed the top of her head. “She is not the only one who can see into a pony’s dreams.”

With a blush and a nervous chuckle, Twilight nuzzled the black alicorn’s neck. “So you planned this?”

“No, but I am nothing if not adaptable, my love. Though I do hope my better half has not stolen-”

She was cut off by a deep kiss. Twilight brushed a hoof along Nightmare’s cheek as she pulled away and stared into her draconic eyes.

“Never, Moony.”

17 Chase by lyra_lover777

Twilight's eyes were wide open, her pupils retracting as she was backed into a thorn bush by the alter ego of Princess Luna, Nightmare Moon.

Twilight then spread her wings, leaping into the air, thorns pricking her legs and wings. Nightmare Moon followed close behind.

The pair twirled around in the air as Twilight dove through the branches of an old, grey oak. Nightmare followed her into the maze of spindly branches.

Twilight quickly changed directions, using her smaller size to her advantage. Nightmare Moon tried to turn around, but got caught in the branches and thrashed about while Twilight sped off, landing on a far away cliff.

Nightmare finally blasted the tree to bits with her magic, the ashy remains spreading in the wind as Nightmare shot through the air toward Twilight, tackling her.

Nightmare Moon stopped, her body inches above Twilight, who was on her back. Both were breathing heavily, looking into each other's eyes.

Their muzzles began to slowly inch towards each other until they were a millimeter apart.

"Looks like you won this time, Nighty," said Twilight before pushing her lips to Nightmare's as they melted into each other.

18 Structure by lyra_lover777

Twilight and Nightmare Moon sat across from each other at a table. They were out at a restaurant on the streets of Canterlot.

When Nightmare had returned a second time, they had captured her and had then begun to reform her. It was an arduous process. At least she wasn't destroying buildings any more.

Over Twilight's time with her, Twilight had begun to feel a little something deep within her soul, like a tiny seed sprouting.

Over the coming months, the seed sprouted into a beautiful flower inside of Twilight, growing under Twilight's love for Nightmare.

When the secret slipped out one day, Nightmare Moon had fully accepted it. But after another month, Nightmare had repented, admitting her feelings for Twilight. It turned out Nightmare had had feelings for Twilight for a long time, but was to scared to admit it, even when Twilight had told her she had feelings for her.

The pair had been announced as a couple a month later. Now, a month into their relationship, Nightmare was having doubts.

Nightmare looked over at a couple, known as Jet Set and Upper Crust. They were staring and then stuck their snouts in the air.

Nighty frowned and used her magic to make the two noble ponies trip and fall into a puddle of mud. Nighty laughed, clutching her sides.

Twilight shook her head, rolling her eyes, as Nighty recovered.

The pair soon finished their dinner, getting up as they trotted down the street towards the Canterlot Castle, the purple unicorn and black alicorn disappearing into the castle's open gates.

============================================================================ ====

Nighty leaned against Twilight as they stared out at the starry night sky. Twilight nuzzled Nighty's neck, who in turn placed a soft kiss on Twilight's cheek.

In public Nightmare hated to show any kind of affection to her, but when they were alone, she let all her feelings out for Twilight.

Twilight looked up into the alicon's eyes. They were troubled, lost in the dark sky as Nighty pondered something.

Twilight furrowed her brow as she looked up at Nightmare Moon.

"What's wrong?" was all Twilight said as she moved Nightmare's muzzle in front of her own.

"What's bothering me? Uh, n-nothing, Twi." She tried to distract Twilight by nuzzling into her neck, but Twilight got to her hooves, staring down at the alicorn.

"Tell me the truth. We both know your worse at lying than Applejack on April Foal's day," said Twi.

Nighty sighed as she also got to her hooves. "I just have doubts about us. All it takes is one fight and were done for. Sometimes I wonder if you even like me anymore..."

"Shut up." said Twilight, anger taking control of her features. "I love you, Nighty. Nothing will ever change that. All we need to do is build a solid base for our love. Then it will grow and build up a beautiful structure of the likes that nopony has ever seen. Don't doubt us. Because I don't."

Nighty smiled sadly down at Twilight. "I love you too, Twilight." The two then softly pressed their lips together. The stars seemed to twinkle brighter as the two lovers left the world behind, flying into a world of their love and emotions.

19 Structure (2) by Macho Madness

The body, Equine or not, is a system like any other. It has certain orders and structures with in that are necessary for continued function.

And if it has order and structure, it can be created.

------------------

Sparks danced across two metal spikes, cutting a slithering arc through the air. It's light cast an eerie glow on the dark basement, filled as it was with whirring and clanking from countless machines. In the corner, under the sterile white light of a single crystal lantern, sat Twilight Sparkle hunched over a microscope. Her hair was pulled back into a loose bun. Her coat was matted and had an unwashed shine to it. Beside her, a quill scratched furiously on a piece of parchment filled to the edges with mathematical formulas.

"Ok. Mitosis seems to be proceeding about as predicted." She said as she sat up from the microscope, popping her neck repeatedly. "Slightly slower, but well within sustainable ranges."

Reaching up with her hoof, she taps the lantern. It jingles quietly and it's light slowly fades out. With a kick, she rolls her chair from one table to another, her seat clacking loudly over the uneven floorboards. Reaching up into the darkness she taps another crystal, it's harsh light illuminating a blue metallic box. A multitude of cables and cords slithered from the box, winding into the darkness.

With a tap and a spark from her horn, the top of the box melted away. A frigid cloud rolled slowly over the edges and frost began to cling to the rim. A grotesque mass of pulsing flesh, winding arcane symbols and jagged crystals floated gently out.

"It means the body is ready for you," She said, kicking off and rolling towards the center of the room. When the light flicked on, it revealed a porcelain white Alicorn body, sitting with it's head bowed to the ground and the top of it's skull open and empty.

A faint wisp of blue smoke trailed out of her ears for the barest of moments causing her whole body to shake. "Yes! I mean it this time! I install the persona matrix and you will be able to jump in almost immediately!"

The wisp extended and gently caressed Twilight's chin, drawing little circles along her jawline. She shivers as she leaned into it and sighed happily. "Of course, Mistress."

She turns to the awaiting skull and the mass floats quickly inside. The wires snap towards awaiting receptors on the inside and the whole thing settles in with a sharp hiss. Twilight stepped off her stool an wormed her way under the massive neck. With a heave and a grunt, she lifted the massive head up and propped it up with a large plank of wood.

A jar filled with a clear, viscous liquid floated up and tipped it's contents out, filling the empty skull. With a jolt of energy from her horn, the flesh and bone began to knit together and close up the cavity. She walked back under the head and gently lowered down to the floor. Pulling a magnifying glass and some tweezers from the table beside her, she poked and prodded at the newly formed cranium.

"Oh...kay!" she exclaimed as she tossed the objects aside. "It's read-!"

Before she can finish her sentence she buckled over and clutched her head, screaming all the while. A deep blue miasma poured out from every orifice in her head, leaving behind a sickly black tar that dripped too the floor. The cloud crashed into the white pony and seeped in from where ever it can find purchase. The pristine white of the fur began to darken and soon only the faint outline of a pearly white moon remained amid a twisting sea of black. The eyes shot open and revealed two brilliant turquoise eyes, the slits barely visible. With sure steps, the massive creature stood up and brandished it's fangs in a menacing smile.

"Very good, Twilight Sparkle," her velvet voice slithered out. "Your work seems to be holding up quite well this time."

"T-thank you, Mistress," Twilight barely croaked out from the floor. One eye was stuck shut with the black tar, the other bloodshot from the strain. She shakily tried to stand and meet the gaze of her mistress, but collapsed with a pained grunt.

The massive alicorn kneels down and gently cradled the weakened unicorn in her magic. "Do not struggle, Twilight. You have earned your rest." Twilight gently sagged onto Nightmare's back, wincing as her head touches down.

"When you have recovered from this ordeal, we shall begin planning for the future." She said as she mounted the stairs out of the basement. Her form shrank and shifted, bones audibly cracking and shifting as she morphed into a much smaller body.

"And what a future it will be, my dear student." She said with a terrible glint in her still reptilian eyes. "What a future, indeed."

Author's Notes:

Double submission for the "Structure" prompt.

20 Bombardier by Toratchi888

Twilight Sparkle lay on a cushion in the comfort of the Library’s main room. She was reading a thick book, propped on a hoof-high reading stand in front of her. Late afternoon sunlight poured in through the high windows.

Of course, she would be reading a book, and a thick one at that, but this was one she hadn’t read before: a gift from the Canterlot Archives from Princess Celestia.

The book had arrived in quite the dusty state, but thanks to Spike’s courageous sacrifice—actually, he had inhaled too soon after he flame-belched the book into the Library, sucking burning dust back into his mouth and nearly burned down the tree with the resulting back-backdraft—it was clean and readable. Spike was recovering the use of his sinuses in bed with a hot herbal infusion and a comic.

Twilight flipped through the pages slowly; idly, in fact, for she was more distracted by Midnight Blue, formerly known as Nightmare Moon. Twilight held a turned page halfway in her magic as she considered Nightmare’s—now Midnight’s—eponymous coat: it was silky and (obviously) blue, compared to Luna’s slightly rougher and blacker fur.

But something was missing from Midnight Blue’s look. Twilight flipped the page down and closed her eyes. What was it…?

“Armour!” That was it; Nightmare Moon had been accoutred for war in her earliest appearances, with full barding. When she had re-manifested late on Nightmare Night—the same night Luna had been welcomed back by the Ponyvillians—she had discarded the armour in an effort to promote humility and oneness with other ponies; so far, it seemed to have succeeded somewhat.

However… in Twilight’s mind, the strong, glamorous Nightmare Moon had diminished as Midnight Blue. Even though Twilight had grown close to the Mare of Midnight—discussing history, astronomy, and friendship in equal measure—Twilight was saddened that the mental strength of the mare was no longer physically reflected.

“Hmm…” Twilight flipped another page, snorted as she sought her place, and began to skim. Abruptly, she stopped, and peered at the page.

“‘Bombardier.’” She tapped the floor with her right hoof. She had never heard the word before. “Bom-bar-di-er. Uncommon polysyllabic composite; conclusion: ancient dialect.”

She craned her neck to focus on the shelves behind her and levitated down a dictionary, Old World Equid Linguistics. She flipped it open to “B”.

“‘Bomb, from the ancient Grecquine word for a booming noise; onomatopoeia. Bombas (irr./unkn.; see Lingua Franca et. al., Pre-Classical Grecquine 3rd ed., for etymology and history) were used to scare off marauding griffons and enemy pony-tribes in the ancient world.’ Hmm, and barding is a pony’s war-armour… so a bardier must be an old word for an armour-smith. Huh.” She rustled a page or two back, searching. “Hmm, no bardier. Must be too antiquated, or too rare.”

She tapped her right hoof to her chin. She wanted Midnight Blue to be more imposing. She wanted the old Nightmare Moon back, the powerful, the sexy—assertive! Yes. Assertive.

Twilight fanned her hoof in front of her muzzle.

“Hmm. Bombardier… I have her armour downstairs; it’s beautifully crafted, it just needs… Aha!” She leaped up, grinning, and dashed out the door.

* * *

“Uh, Spike?”

“Yeah, Rainbow Dash?”

“Uh, what’s that banging sound under the tree? And why was Twilight running all around town earlier?”

“Dunno. Twilight’s been down there for hours, screeching about ‘bombs’ and pony anatomy, or something weird like that.”

“AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

“…Spike?”

“Yeah?”

“I, uh, hear Pinkie’s got a new muffin recipe on the go; why don’t we go see…?”

“‘kay!”

* * *

Midnight Blue made a graceful landing fifteen strides from the front door of Golden Oaks Library, pulling in her wings just before touchdown and prancing five strides to stop herself. Her trailing feathers brushed her Cutie Mark, a black halo on a white patch; against the glimmering blue of her coat, it was exceptionally noticeable.

Midnight had taken only a few steps towards the door and lit her horn to pull the handle when it bounced open, revealing a bouncing Twilight Sparkle in the frame.

“Hi, Midnight!” Twilight chirped.

“Hello, Twilight,” Midnight replied warmly. “You appear most excitable.”

“I got you a present! I hope you like it!”

Midnight cocked her head as Twilight levitated parts of armour out from the Library’s main room.

“My armour…” Midnight eyed the peytral. “You were studying it, were you not?”

“Oh, yes, and I still am!” Twilight bounced around the pile. “But I had a thought; you see, it retains spells cast on it, so—”

“Yes, I know that much, my dear.” Midnight walked closer. On inspection, Twilight appeared to have buffed out some of the more sinister glyphs etched into the armour plate, smoothing them and adding some crystalline scoring. “Have you been enchanting it to some purpose?”

“Oh, well, a little, but I just wanted you to have some nice armour! I mean, you look so strong in armour, but it was a little scary the first couple of times, so I figured some nice, pretty armour—”

Midnight held up her left hoof; Twilight was panting. “Dear, I understand.” Midnight smiled. “I’ll try it on.”

Twilight grinned and levitated the croupiere; with Midnight’s direction (and a slight blush from Twilight, who could not avoid staring at Midnight’s Cutie Mark as the plate slid over her dock) Twilight fitted it into place. Midnight levitated her new hoof boots one at a time while Twilight fitted a sapphire-blue caparison, dotted with tiny diamonds like stars. As Midnight shifted her rump to test the fit, Twilight levitated the silvered peytral and made it snug, shifting the clasp over Midnight’s withers.

Midnight lifted a hoof to inspect the boots; they were glossy black onyx, and slightly more functional than the regalia worn by the Princesses, but still quite pretty. “I thank you, dear—” She made to stomp a hoof to test the fit—

“Stop!” Twilight cried. Midnight froze, her hoof poised to strike. “Ah, just, I figured maybe you should try them on a landing; I think they’ll still fit right, but might as well get it done all at once, right?”

Midnight smiled. “Certainly, dear. Now…”

“Um, actually, my friends are at Sugar Cube Corner, so could you maybe just hop over there and…?”

“Oh, certainly! I shall show them my new fashion!” Midnight Blue rolled her shoulders and launched herself over the roofs. Twilight grinned as she heard Midnight’s voice float back through the air: “Dear friends of Twilight Sparkle—” followed by a thump of landing and a resounding *CRACKOW!*

“AAAAAAAAH! IT’S NIGHTMARE MOON!” “RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!” “THE HORROR…!”

Twilight spun around, dropped on her haunches, and raised her hooves to her chest. “Victory! I am Twilight Sparkle, bombardier: She who makes the loudest of loud accoutrements! For Science! Ahahaha—!”

*K-K-K-KOW!* “TWILIGHT SPARKLE~!”

“Gulp.” Twilight spun back around, caught a glimpse of Midnight Blue’s white-burning eyes, and promptly teleported.

“I SHALL FIND YOU, CLEVER LITTLE FILLY! FEEL MY THUNDER!”

* * *

“Spike?”

*CRACKOWwwww!*

“Y-yeah, Rainbow?”

“That was, like, magic thunder, right? Like a Rainboom without the Rain?”

“Y-yeah.”

*KKKKKKrakow…*

“Midnight’s… totally… stolen my thunder.”

21 Mercy by Knight of Lycaeus

Twilight inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly going through her breathing exercises. "Okay, this is time for a real chance for some in pony experience."

Nightmare Moon grumbled, "Fine, where then, here or Canterlot?"

Twilight sighed, "Here. You're last appearance in Canterlot went badly...." Twilight rubbed her head hoping to stall any oncoming headaches, "No badly is too gentle, it was a disaster...."

"I merely appeared and said a few things." Nightmare Moon supplied.

"This was before we helped your grammar, you sounded worse than Luna did with a very thick Middle Equish voice and add in the booming Royal Canterlot Voice along with shadows acting like they were alive! This doesn't even count the darken skies, the thunder and lightning, or the appearance of shadows golems turning into Lunar Ponies!" Twilight yelled her voice rising.

"Small display of power although you have forgotten my full regalia of battleplate and armaments." Nightmare Moon added.

"That's exactly the problem! Celestia crafted a ward and then convinced Luna, Discord, and me to help supercharge it!" Twilight turn to glare at the onyx alicorn, "Place hoof, horn, hair, or magic near Mount Canterhorn and it's automatic banishment."

"Is that not slightly excessive for Celestia?"

"It is" Twilight said as she went through her breathing exercises again, "There are reasons but you're better off asking Celestia. Simply put it has to do with her past and her early reign." Twilight stopped glaring and starting walking towards town, "We're headed to the market. Please try to socialize and not smite everypony."

Nightmare grunted, "No promises."

Entering the Ponyville Market, Twilight turned to Nightmare and asked, "Okay. We should start with something simple. Which food stall?"

"Any peasants.... ponies" Nightmare corrected seeing Twilight's glare. "Any ponies sell fruit?"

Twilight nodded, "Many, we'll go see Applejack then."

The two made their ways towards the Apple's stall. The entire trip felt uneasy to Twilight, it seems most ponies were still wary of Nightmare. She was glad when she finally spotted Applejack.

Twilight nudged Nightmare, "Apple stall. Try to buy something."

Nightmare walked up to the orange mare, "Peasant! Present a tithe for your Goddess!" Nightmare yelled as the skies darkened.

Twilight sighed and trotted up to Nightmare and prodded her. "Not what we practiced, Alicorns are not viewed as Goddesses any more. We don't ask for tithes! And we certainly don't call the citizens PEASANTS!" Twilight yelled tried of repeated failures to clarify that last point to Nightmare.

Applejack didn't flinch. "Reckon y'all need some help here. Wasn't as bad as last time though."

"Sorry Applejack" Twilight said.

Applejack shook her head, "No problems, Twi. Certainly loses bein' intimidatin' after a while."

The other nearby ponies however did not agree with this statement. Predictably the Flowers Sisters fainted while a few farmers had filled small baskets with produce and were kneeling at Nightmare's hooves begging for her to spare them.

"Y'all want help?" Applejack continued as the two alicorns glanced around them, "Would be good if y'all could talk an' not scare everypony else."

Nightmare looked at the apple farmer, "Why have you not cowered like the rest?"

Applejack shrugged, "I reckon between you and Luna bein' so fond of the same greeting. Life an' world messed by Discord. Fought off hundreds o' Changelings lookin' like mah friends and Ah. Beat off Sombra, Everfree vines, no good film-flams. Found foalhood nightmare Tirek's real an' fought him off an' just plain ol' Ponyville crazy. Got used to some o' it."

Nightmare turned to Twilight, "What exactly do you do again?"

Twilight had been slowly rubbing her forehead, "Doing the impossible it seems while dealing with beings that break mind and logic." Twilight turned to head back home, "Let's go Nightmare, we need more practice so you can stop scaring the populace.

22 Mirage by lyra_lover777

Mirage
by lyra_lover777

Twilight was slumped over Nightmare Moon's shoulder like a bag of flour. Nightmare was barely moving, slowly inching through the burning, whipping sand that was flying through the air. The wind-driven bits of sand hit Nightmare's coat like bullets, making her want to scream and cry. But she was to tired and too delirious to even speak.

The pair had been riding in a chariot on their way to the Hive to talk with Queen Chrysalis about extending the peace treaty. They were also going to invite the Queen to their wedding.

Then a hell of a sandstorm had picked up, tearing both pegasi guiding the chariot through the sky out of their harnesses. The two guards had then been whipped away, gone in a flash.

Their chariot had begun to plummet. Nightmare tried to get out, but the flying sand was blinding, and she and Twilight became stuck as they plummeted through the air.

Finally, only several seconds from hitting the ground, Nightmare had pulled free and tugged the small lavender alicorn out just in time.

But one of the chariot's wheels nicked Twilight's wings, breaking it with a loud Snap.

Twilight had quickly passed out from the pain, slumping onto the burning sand.

Nightmare had draped her over her shoulder. The black alicorn had then began to trudge through the crazy sandstorm.

Now, two hours later, Nightmare was at the point of collapse, and Twilight was no where nearer to waking up.

Tears formed at Nighty's eyes at the hopelessness of the situation. She had no idea where they were going. They would never get home. They would never get married.

She could keep moving on the ground and eventually collapse and get buried under the sands, suffocating herself and her lover, Twilight.

Or she could try to take flight and get sucked away like those two guards had been sucked away, into the unknown.

So when she saw a dark shape, she opened her eyes wide. It looked like a pony. Nighty pushed forward, picking up the pace, but still moving at the pace of a snail.

When she finally reached the shape, it was Luna. Nighty scrunched her brow as she touched Luna, who was staring into space.

She burst apart, a cloud of sand hitting Nighty in the face. She slowly wiped the sand from her eyes, looking around.

A new Luna was a few steps away. Standing next to her was Celestia.

Nighty reached out to tap Celestia on the shoulder.

The two princess sisters burst apart into a pile of sand, reappearing behind Nighty. Now Cadence was with them.

Nighty continued to tap them on the shoulder. Discord popped up. Then Tirek. Then Queen Chrysalis. Then Applejack. then Rarity. And on and on and on, until Nighty was screaming as a sea of ponies surrounded her.

At the sound of the scream, the sea of ponies came to life, moving towards her, all their eyes black pits, giant fangs and snake-like tongues hanging from their mouths.

Nighty crouched on the ground, shaking as she began to cry.

Suddenly it was all over as Nighty got up, clutching her back.

Nighty realized she had been in a mirage. Shde looked down to see what thing poked her in the back.

During the mirage, Nightmare must have tipped Twilight off her back. When Nighty had been surrounded by the ponies, she had fallen on her back, onto Twilight's horn.

This had awoken Twilight, who was moaning as she mumbled about water.

Nighty placed Twilight on her back and trudged on.

After ten minutes, another shape appeared. Nighty began to move away from it, thinking it was another mirage, but then it buzzed over to them.

It was a changeling drone. His name was Swiper. He lead them through the sand strom, giving them protective suits. Changelings had no use for them since their hard shells protected them from the hurting sand.

Nighty clutched Twilight to her chest as they followed Swiper out of the storm. They were alright. Nighty sighed. "Next time, can we teleport here?" Twilight moaned into Nighty's coat.

"Who said there was a next time? I am never coming close to this desert ever again.

23 Tumultuous by Toratchi888

Tumultuous
by Toratchi888

“Thanks so much for coming over, Moona!”

“It is my pleasure, Twilight Sparkle. When you said you needed a little help reorganizing your library, I—Oh, moon and stars! That is ever a large mess!”

“Ehehe, yeah, um, I… got carried away…”

“Eh? ‘Carried away?’”

“Ah, yes, well, when I was a filly, I like to make book forts, you see…”

“Book forts? How delightful! No bastion of knowledge could be greater than a fort of books commanded by Twilight Sparkle!”

“Hahahaha! Oh, Moona! Well, I was feeling nostalgic, but I guess I have a ways to go with my engineering, since they all came tumbling down. And since I gave Spike the night off…”

“Indeed. Now, how shall we organize them? I would guess, for you, either by letters or by subjects.”

“Quite right. Now, normally I would have a checklist of all my books, but since I haven’t updated that in a while…”

“No, no, dear Twilight, don’t overthink this! Let us start organization by lettering… THUSLY!”

*STOMP!* *CRACKOW!* *thud-thud-thud-thud—”

“MOONA! What are you—?”

“IT IS THE CUSTOM OF THE ANCIENT PONIES TO MAKE MERRY WHILE THEY WORK! THIS IS THE ANCIENT AND MAJESTIC WORK-DANCE OF THE EARTH PONIES OF MICRO-PONIESIA! FEEL THE THUNDER OF INDUSTRY!”

*STOMP!* *CRACKOW!* *thud-thud-thud-thud—”

“Moona! Stop! You’re flinging books everywh—!”

“DANCE, BOOKS! BUILD UP HIGH THE WALLS OF KNOWLEDGE, IMPREGNABLE BASTION OF WISDOM! JUMP AND DELIGHT FOR YOUR LIBRARIAN!”

“MOONA, I KID YOU NOT, IF YOU KEEP ACTING LIKE AN INTRACTABLE GOAT—!”

*creeeeeeeeeeeeeak…*

“…”

“…and those would be my shel—”

*WHAM!*

* * *

*clatch, squeee…*

“…Dash?”

“Yeah, Spike?”

“Why are Twilight and Nightmare Moon buried under a pile of books and shelving?”

“Dunno, squirt; maybe the weight of history is too much for ‘em! AHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

“AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!”

“Let’s go get muffins.”

“‘kay.”

*squeee, clatch*

* * *

“mwuna…”

“wuhu, twiwigh…?”

“mext wime, wet’s wust woose ou fooves.”

“ ‘fay…”

24 Onyx (2) by TheMusicalBoy93

Twilight clutched the black pebble in her magic, her purple aura flickering frantically around the onyx pendant she held clutched to her chest. It was her final safeguard. Her friends had done all they could to try and rescue her. May Celestia bless their immortal souls for their valiant efforts. But, alas, it had not been enough. Nightmare Moon was far stronger than Twilight remembered. Luna had succumbed, once more, to the disdain and hatred that had plagued her heart a thousand years ago, giving way to the beast that was the Mare in the Moon. Twilight kissed the small onyx memento, remembering the brave princess who gave it to her before…

Black onyx is said to offer resistance and perseverance in times of need. Never mind her friends were gone. Never mind her mentor was nothing more than ashes. Never mind the sun never rose, and the night reigned on for eternity. As long as she was strong, Nightmare Moon would never win. She may beat, torture and violate the Princess of Friendship as much as she wished. But the Mare in the Moon would never break her. She would never steal her love. Maybe, one day, she can even bring Luna back. It happened once before. Maybe the inner strength her onyx necklace gave her could help save the princess she once cared for. It kept the nightmares out of her head at night. It kept her lust suppressed. It helped her control her bad habits. Maybe, if she could seduce Nightmare Moon long enough, she could slip it around her captor’s neck, and…

The light burns whenever she opens the door. But the sneer on her lips burns even more. Luna. Please. Come back. How can you expect her to love you like this? Please. Don’t take away the last ounce of harmony Twilight has left. Love cannot be taken. Love should not be taken. Please. Come back. Onyx… please help me. I choose you.

25 Disparity by lyra_lover777

"You-you want to get married!" Twilight stared down at the three subjects knelled before her. One was a unicorn, the next a dragon, and the last a draconequus.

The trio cringed at the blunt words. Nightmare poked Twilight on her left wing, her brow scrunched.

"Isn't our relationship different too?" Nighty asked, her teal pupils digging into Twilight's soul.

Memories flashed across Twilight's mind.

Twilight and her friends cowered as they stared up at the gigantic black alicorn that was staring them down. Nightmare Moon had returned a second time

Nightmare was locked up in a hanging metal cage, her sparkling star mane flat and wet from Nightmare's own tears. Twilight felt something in her heart as she watched the crying alicorn, like a tiny tug on her heart.

Twilight sat in front of Nighty's cage, giving her a proposition. If she would let Twilight reform her, she could be free.

Hours passed as Twilight sat in front of Nighty's cage, going through hundreds of candles. Then it was the fateful day. The bronze key swung from a necklace on Twilight's neck.

Twilight unlocked the cage, Nightmare not bursting free and scorching a hole in the wall, but jumping out a following behind Twilight like a good alicorn.

Many months as Nighty learned the new customs and traditions. And over that time the little tug when she had seen Nightmare crying transformed into a giant pull, like a whaler-pony had struck a harpoon in her chest and a thousand ponies were pulling it, tugging her towards Nightmare.

The one starry night when the pull became to much and Twilight mashed her lips frantically onto Nighty's

And then Nighty pushed back.

A year later, bells ringing as Twilight trotted up the aisle with her father in a flowing lavender wedding gown. Nightmare was waiting, Celestia behind her. Celestia wiped a tear as Twilight stood next to her fillyfriend, soon to be her spouse.

And now here they sat, taking over the Common Pleas Court for the day.

"Darling, please don't make this awkward." Rarity said as she trotted closer to Twilight.

Since the marriage of Twilight and Nighty, Twilight and her friends had never even spoke a word to each other. They had become distant the second Twi had announced her relationship with Nighty.

"I-i'm sorry. I guess our relationships aren't that different," Twilight said.

"Twi, please?" Twilight looked down on Spike, who had grown considerably over the three years since Nighty's return. She had even grown distant with her foster brother and once number-one assistant.

And then Discord looked up at her, a yellow halo forming above his head and angel wings sprouting from his back as he looked into Twilight's eyes, pleading.

"I-i-." Twilight looked frantically over the three.

"It just isn't law! And how many relationships like yours do you know of?" said Twilight.

"Thunderlane, Flitter, and Cloudchaser," stated Rarity.

"Colgate, Berry Punch and Carrot Top," said Spike.

"Trixie, Prince Blueblood, and Garble," said Discord as he bounced up and down on a beach ball.

Rarity was about to list another, but Twilight halted them.

"Okay, I get your point," said Twilight as she pulled out a mound of papers and letters, along with several scrolls.

After ten minutes, she placed the heap of paper off to the side.

"According to the law, it is not against the law to have a relationship like yours. It does not even state the possibility of a marriage of this kind. However, if you are all sure of this, you will need to sign this form."

Twilight floated the paper up for all three to see. All three were at the foot of the throne in seconds.

Twilight floated them each a pen. All three quickly signed. Twilight smiled a she got of the throne, giving a bewildered Rarity a hug. "I hope we can be friends again." Twilight whispered into Rarity's mane.Rarity beamed and smiled, wanting to tell the other old friends the news. The Mane Six were getting back together!

Twilight returned to her throne after giving Spike a tight hug and shaking hoof/paw with Discord. Twilight smiled a she watched her friends leave. She sighed and leaned back into her throne.

Nighty called out "Next!"

A group of six ponies galloped into the throne room, hopeful looks on their faces.

Twilight huffed "Let me guess, you want to get married?"

All six nodded enthusiastically. Twilight and Nighty rolled their eyes.

"Here we go again," whispered Twilight before returning her attention to the six ponies in front of her, putting on a show winning smile.

26 Melt by hockeygoalie1992

Melt
by hockeygoalie1992

She was beautiful, truly a sight to behold. From her lavender coat to her purple and pink striped mane to her starburst cutie mark, even with the slight pudge in her stomach, Nightmare Moon had never laid eyes on a mare quite like Twilight Sparkle.

She had her own grace, her own special way of things that just made the Queen of the Night’s stomach do backflips.

Oh, but that was only scratching the surface.

She was brilliant, talented, unparalleled in magic among modern ponies. Even Nightmare Moon was forced to give pause and silent praise the object of her affection during their confrontation.

Strong, determined, and so very gifted.

It had been then that her decision was made: Twilight Sparkle would be hers.

Before sending her detestable sister to the surface of the sun, a fitting repayment for the thousand year imprisonment on her beloved moon, Nightmare Moon lauded Celestia for how well she had taught her student, thanking her for preparing such a lovely, delectable welcome home gift.

If only she wasn’t so devoted to her teacher, Twilight Sparkle would be ruling Equestria at her side. She would share her bed and have all the love and affection a pony could dream.

But she was stubborn, impressively so. She hardened her heart, doing her best to block out her suitor’s advances during her nightly visits to her suite – her personal prison.

Still, that stubbornness was attractive. Like dangling a carrot in front of Nightmare Moon’s muzzle and telling her that she couldn’t have it.

As she gazed upon Twilight Sparkle, watching as she read through a book on transmutation; a fine piece of work, even if Starswirl had been more interested in studying the Elements of Harmony than devoting his full attention to the subject. Nightmare Moon had, naturally, provided it, giving her highest recommendations.

For a split second, Twilight’s ears twitched and her eyes lit up eagerly before she managed to regain control of her excitement long enough to school her expression and coldly thank Nightmare Moon, turning away to ignore her and focus on the ancient tome.

She had been engrossed in that book for three nights. At least she appreciated the gift, even if she didn’t view it as such and audaciously maintained a bubble barrier to keep her suitor away.

Nightmare Moon sighed, dispelling the aforementioned barrier with ease. It was all a formality, really, only Celestia or that damnable Discord could match her in terms of magical prowess. Though, Twilight came closer than any unicorn since Starswirl himself.

“Go away,” came the usual greeting, though with noticeably weaker vitriol.

Anypony else would have begged for a swift end should they dare speak to her in such a manner, but Nightmare Moon kept her temper in check. Her objections weren’t as strong this night, be thankful for small victories.

Ignoring the slight, Nightmare Moon approached her captive, trailing a wing across her withers, delighting in the way Twilight shivered at her touch, her breath catching in her little chest.

She could deny it all she wanted, for as long as she could, but Twilight would soon succumb to her love.

“Nay,” Nightmare Moon purred, dipping her head to blow lightly against the younger mare’s ear. She nipped at the purple furred tip, giving a fanged grin at the way Twilight let loose a shuddering breath, tilting her head back and closing her eyes in bliss.

Her mouth could say ‘no,’ she was free to do so. But there was no way to hide the way her body reacted to pleasure.

Somewhere within her, buried deep, Twilight was opening up to her advances.

Nightmare Moon wrapped her powerful wings around Twilight and ran her tongue up her soon-to-be lover’s ear, ending with a kiss when she reached the tip and slowly working her way down again. Twilight writhed and whimpered with every touch, trying in vain to push away and escape her downy prison.

“You will love me,” Nightmare whispered confidently. “You will give into your desires someday, returning my kisses and touch with passion and love equal to mine for you. It can be today, it can be tomorrow, it can be next century. It makes no difference to me, my beloved little Sparkle,” she lifted a hoof and forced Twilight’s head to turn so that she could steal a kiss to that adorable purple snout.

Pressing her snout against Twilight’s, their lips almost touching, Nightmare completed her vow. “I will melt the ice in which you have encased your heart! You will be mine!”

She sealed it with a kiss, reveling in the way Twilight struggled for a moment before finally giving in and letting her have her way.

Yes. Twilight Sparkle would surrender to her love, far sooner than she realized.

Nightmare Moon’s conquest would be complete once she had captured Twilight’s heart. It was only a matter of time.

27 Raven by Knight of Lycaeus

A soft caw drew my attention from the night sky. I was outside on the crystalline balcony of my new home, watching the night sky in hopes of calming myself down. The past week has been…. difficult, it wasn’t easy watching Tirek’s magic destroy the Library. My new home seems so vast, so quiet, so…. empty. I turned my focus towards the soft caws and there on the railing sat a dark figure. A small bird, a raven with its feathers of glossy black and deep midnight blue, the sharp silver beak and talons, and piercing blue eyes. I knew that bird although it had been several years since I last saw it.

The first time I ever laid eyes on that bird was back when I was still a student living in Canterlot. Even as a small filly, I’ve always enjoyed stargazing. The relaxing nature of watching the stars slowly drift across the sky night after night. The first time I saw the raven was very much like what was happening now; a soft caw had drawn my attention away from the wondrous night sky to find a raven sitting on the railing. Back then I did not know where the raven came from or why. It was strange watching the raven; the ponies of Canterlot treated the raven in vastly different ways. The Solar Ponies and by extension the Solar Guard if they chanced upon the raven sitting on my railing after it staying late into the night and into the dawn of a new day, would simply attack the bird or if they were Guards then weapons were favoured. To them they would give the bird no quarter, although some of the kinder ones merely sought to catch it rather than resort to running their blade through. The rarer Lunar Ponies instead seemed to almost revere the bird; its appearance to them was seen as a sign of luck and good fortune.

I would not learn the reason behind this discrepancy for many years. What I eventually did learn was that the raven, a carrion eater was seen as a harbinger of death by Solars. For them the raven inspired fear, it was the messenger from Beyond and it bode to whoever received it or looked at one nothing but ill omen. The Lunars instead saw them as a messenger from their goddess; she had disappeared from this world many years ago. But the Lunars had hopes and the belief that one day she would return, to be the recipient of a visit from a raven was a good omen.

The last time I had seen this raven was just before my departure from Canterlot, on that last visit the raven seemed more content than I had ever seen it before. It was on this visit that I learned, I learned about the discrepancy between the beliefs of Solars and Lunars. It was on this visit I learned who the raven was.

I smiled now; I thought I had lost her several years ago. Now it seems I had not; it seems she had been biding her time. Now was the time for her return, I watched as the raven grew in size and shape, I watched as the bird became a pony. The mare who had been with me for so long watching and guarding from the shadows, the mare I knew I wanted to spend my life with had finally stepped out of the shadows.

28 Nightmares by lyra_lover777

Twilight was curled up next to Nightmare in a darkly painted carriage that was being pulled by a team of five stallions. Nighty looked down at her lover, smiling slowly as she stroked Twilight's mane. They were headed to Ponyville to meet up with Twilight's old friends before the wedding of Disparity, aka the wedding of Discord, Spike, and Rarity.

As Nighty smiled, looking down at her lovely wife. She had no clue what was raging inside of Twilight's head.

Twilight was laying next to Nighty, snoring softly, a small smile plastered to her lips. Nighty was nuzzling her softly, planting quick kisses along her neck and cheeks.

Suddenly a whistle was heard outside, and the whole carriage toppled. Nighty smashed into Twilight, turning into a large puddle of black ink, coating Twilight's side.

Twilight screamed as the five stallions harnessed to the carriage bucked mid-air, stuck in the air from the collapse of the carriage.

Suddenly all five exploded into clouds of green dust, making Twilight buck and scream. The green cloud of dust coated her lungs, making it impossible to breathe.

As Twilight heaved and wheezed, a dark shape stood over her, a dagger drawn.

Just before the dagger hit home, Twilight jerked awake, bucking Nighty in the face as she flopped around, screaming.

Nighty recovered from her blow to the face, quickly scooping Twilight in a tight hug, hushing her as she rocked Twi gently.

After another fifteen minutes, Twilight was fast asleep. Nighty looked out the front window at the five stallions, their muscles taut in the moonlight as they galloped hard. They were probably only a few hours away from Ponyville.

Meanwhile, Twilight was back in the realm of dreams.

Twilight was alone, standing on a white, puffy cloud. Her wings were spread as a soft breeze blew over her, ruffling her mane and feathers.

She sighed as she leaped from the cloud, soaring slowly as she circled, a smile plastered to her face. She swooped and flew through a wispy cloud, which dissolved around her body, tickling her.

As Twilight danced about in the air in a tickle fit, other clouds hit her, making her laugh so hard she lost all concentration.

Suddenly she began to plummet as the sky flashed with lightning, dark clouds forming everywhere. Now instead of clouds hitting her, zaps of lightning were smacking into her, making her scream in pain as she was jolted.

Twilight managed a glance below. A giant lake was beneath her. As Twilight flailed in the air, the zaps of lightning increasing speed and painfulness by a wagon load, a giant whirlpool formed in the lake, waiting to swallow her up.

A second before Twilight hit the lake's surface, she jolted awake, as if hit by another lightning bolt. She jerked her way out the front window, rolling onto the dirt path as she spasmed around, screaming frantically.

Nighty stopped the carriage, swooping out of their ride to pick up the shaking Twilight. She wrapped Twi in her wings before setting her on her back. They then got back into the carriage. As they continued on, the sun peeked above the horizion. After another minute, they crossed a tall hill, and Ponyville was seen, shining in the early morning light.

"I'm coming home," Twilight said, her eyes wide open as she waited to be in the streets she loved so much, to see the ponies she had missed so much. And all with Nighty. With Nighty. Forever.

29 Provocation by Kean

”This is quite sudden…” Chalk scratched across cold stone, connecting the end of the circle to the beginning, the sound echoed through the empty chamber with a sense of finality. ”Or perhaps not. I take it your time with Celestia went well?”

Teal eyes, one bearing a dragon’s pupil, scanned the completed circle, searching the runes, lines, and what lay in its center for any flaw. Even the slightest imperfection in her spellwork would cause unexpected, potentially catastrophic results. Satisfied, she nodded, to both the circle, and the question.

“Better than I could have imagined, yes. She agrees that this is the best course as well.”

”You know there are risks.” She nodded. ”And yet, you will go through with this?” Another nod.

“You were once my desires made flesh. Recent developments prove well enough that is no longer the case, which could become problematic. If ridding myself of you is the solution, then so be it. I will accept the risks.”

”You say that but…” She chuckled and shook her head, a small smile beginning to form. ”She will be quite upset with you.”

“Of course she will be. At first,” She muttered and stared at and through a gem almost the size of her head. She spun it in her magic, allowing her to see through every angle. Like the recently made ritual circle, it was flawless. “But she will come to understand. I will not allow this problem to harm her either. Now, if you have no objections?”

”Of course. Though I think you should begin before she figures out where we are.“ The double doors leading to the chamber strained against their hinges and the magic welding them shut before slamming back into place. Through the doors she could hear a mare yelling. The words were indecipherable, but the tone was clear. And it wasn’t happy. ”Too late,” she said with a grin.

“It is no problem, she will not get through until I allow her.” She lit her horn and began to feed magic into the circle.

”You do not know her very well. I would advise haste."

The doors shuddered again, this time splitting apart just enough for the scowling visage of a lavender alicorn to be seen. The walls groaned in protest, begging for the hinges to be allowed to do their job, else they were likely to just give up against Twilight Sparkle’s assault.

“Luna! Open this door! I swear to your sister that I’ll tear it apart!”

”Oh stars is she angry! You best hope this works, for both our sakes.”

The walls finally gave way, allowing the heavy wooden doors they supported to fall against the floor with a deafening crash. Before the enraged alicorn could step hoof inside the chamber, there was a surge of magic, a cry of pain, a blinding flash, and then silence.

--------------------------------------------------------

Let it be known that looking directly into the epicenter of an arcane explosion is never a good idea. Of course, that wasn’t the first time I’ve done it, and it wouldn’t be the last.

The moment princess Celestia told me what they were up to, I had rushed down here to… well, I’m not exactly sure. “Subvert wards placed by Luna only to be momentarily blinded” certainly wasn’t anywhere on my list of ideas though.

I recovered before she did. Whatever Luna did must have taken a lot out of her because she didn’t even get a chance to react before I was on her. I didn’t strike her or pin her, though I did consider it. Instead, I fixed her with my best glare.

“What did you do?” I asked through gritted teeth. I was absolutely seething and my magic was still flowing through my horn, held in check for the moment.

She didn’t respond immediately. Instead she surrounded a gem in her magic and floated it up between us. Staring at the rolling black fog inside through its clear shell, she spoke.

“I hated her. Even when she came back and sought forgiveness, I could not stop hating her.” I wasn’t entirely sure if she was even talking to me. “She deserved none of my ire, of course.” The gem moved from between us to hover over the center of the still glowing circle I had seen when I first entered.

“She was but a manifestation of my desires. I desired a friend and she came, I desired to be more like Celestia, she gave me a matching image, I desired power, she gave it to me, I desired a second chance… “She released the gem, which shattered against the ground, releasing the fog which hovered over something in the center of the circle. I attempted to repair the gem, to force what could only be Nightmare back into the container, but Luna’s magic buffeted mine away. “And she gave me something to shift the blame to.

“However, she desired you. I do not.”

I stopped myself from attacking her and pushed my anger to the back of my mind. Something was wrong. Her demeanor, the way she was speaking: she was too calm. And her little speech seemed to be designed to get a rise out of me. She wanted me distracted.

Even without hindsight that much was obvious to me. But there was nothing else in the room besides us and the circle which had lost is glow.

“But why do this?” I gestured toward the circle and shattered gem. Something seemed to be missing, but I couldn’t put my hoof on it. “Why get rid of her? Why not let me take her? Find a way that she could live separate from you?”

“But, Twilight…” Even in the low light I could see the corners of her lips begin to rise, her eyes shine. I knew that look – from both of them – far too well.

Yep, that’s it: I’m going to kill them. All three of them! I’ll find a way to raise that blasted sun and damned moon on my own! And then-

Hooves and wings surrounded me, blocking my view of Luna, though from the snickering I could tell she was still there. A familiar voice said, “She did,” and a very familiar tongue stopped my revenge plans in their tracks.

They could wait.

30 Seven Deadly Sins: Wrath by Myrandall

“For the last time, Nighty, she’s not going to hurt you!”

“She was imprisoned in her own body for over a thousand years, and you think she just conveniently forgot that it was I who did that to her?!” Nightmare Moon replied, a scared look on her face.

Twilight and Nightmare were standing in the Nightmare’s bedroom, in front of a large mirror that took up most of a wall. The curtains in front of the room’s stately windows were drawn halfway, keeping most of the sunshine out. It gave the room a dark and gloomy feel.

Just the way she liked it.

“Well, no, but Celestia told me Luna was always very forgiving… And since her return I don’t get the impress-”

“Oh, please! You said yourself you’ve hardly gotten to know her since. And I know what feelings first emerged when she and I were severed by your... magic. You might expect somepony’s first real feelings after a banishment to be relief, or joy at finally being free again. ”

Nightmare turned away from Twilight and looked at herself in the mirror, a look of sorrow in her eyes.

“It wasn’t. Did you know what I felt as I was torn from her body?”

She turned to face a puzzled Twilight again.

“It was hatred.” she said. “Pure hatred for my being. In that moment I felt nothing but her desire to obliterate me. To cease my existence in return for what I had put her through.”

The Nightmare dropped her head.

“She wanted to end me, Twilight Sparkle.”

Twilight opened her mouth to say something. Something to comfort her beloved, to tell her she was wrong. Something, anything, to convince her that Luna’s invitation wasn’t some sort of hour of reckoning.

But she couldn’t. She just stood there, mouth wordlessly agape.

It had been four weeks since Nightmare Moon had first shown up in Twilight’s dreams.

It had been three weeks since they had the courage to confess their mutual love for each other.

It had been two weeks since Twilight’s plea to Celestia to give dreaded Nightmare a second chance.

It had been one week since Celestia had come to a decision. Luna hadn’t left her chambers since.

Nightmare sighed. “No point in staying here. She’d just come to get her vengeance in my dreams if I don’t go to her. I won’t have anypony saying I didn’t face her with my head held high.” she said as she headed for the door. Twilight finally closed her mouth and followed.

Nightmare was right. She didn’t know Luna.

As escort of six batponies of Luna’s Royal Guard stood waiting outside, stoic looks on their faces. The alicorns were escorted to the palace’s ballroom, where Luna’s scroll had instructed her to come.

As they approached the great doors at the end of the hallway Nightmare’s pace became hesitant. Four of the escort’s guards walked behind them now, blocking the way back. The other two took up positions at either side of the doors. Nightmare stopped a few feet in front of them.

“Twilight?”

“I’m here.”

Nightmare swallowed. “Whatever happens... Know that I love you.”

Before Twilight could reply, Nightmare nodded at the guards at the doors to let her in. They pushed the great doors open to reveal the dark ballroom.

The curtains in the room were drawn completely, almost entirely blocking the setting sun’s rays. About half the candles in the ballroom’s great chandelier were lit, illuminating the figure beneath it.

Luna was sitting on a simple wooden chair on the opposite end of a small square table, facing an empty chair.

Nightmare slowly stepped inside. The doors quickly closed behind her with a echoing slam.

She swallowed again and raised her head.

This was it.

She approached the monarch of the night.

“Be seated.” Luna said in a clam but stern voice. Nightmare sat down in the empty chair.

Luna looked her right in the eyes.

“Art thou afraid?”

Nightmare remained silent.

“Good.”

Silence fell over the two alicorns. Their eyes never left the other’s.

Nightmare shook a little as Luna suddenly broke the silence.

“Art thou ready for thine defeat?” she asked, as she floated a rectangular shape from behind her chair onto the table. Nightmare broke her gaze from Luna’s unsettling stare to look at the item she’d placed before them.

It was a thin cardboard container.

There was an inscription on top in a large font.

A single word.

Scrabble

31 Seven Deadly Sins: Pride by Macho Madness

2:13 Pride is much like a disease of the mind. It saps your reasoning and inhibitions, leaving a fool believing themselves a wise.

2:14 Judge not your own virtues, instead let others judge you. Lest you be brought low by your own hubris.

-Book of Noontide

She walked confidently over the uneven cobblestone streets Her hoof steps echoed like a faintly ringing bell off the stark stone and wood walls that shot up and curved over her. In the little gaps of the walls she could see a distorted vision of a city, lights twinkling like stars in the windows. In the looming shadows of the unmarked streets, little pools of light shone down from warped streetlamps. Faint whispers crawled just at the edge of hearing; allowing themselves to be heard but never understood.

"Are you sure this is ok, Twilight?" She heard Spike say in the back of her head. "Luna told you not to go walking with out her."

Twilight smiled knowingly. "I'll be fine, Spike. I went walking in the in-between already. If I can do that, I can walk actual dreams just fine."

She continued walking in silence, though she could hear Spike muttering something mixed in with the whispers. Eventually, the walls around her crumbled away revealing a rolling and idyllic countryside, the grasses and flowers swept by silent winds. In the far distance, silhouetted by the moon, two ponies sat shoulder to shoulder under a tree perched atop a hill.

With a hop, Twilight dived into the ground. Her passing was marked only by gentle rippling as if on the surface of a lake. Moments later, her head pokes through the ground on a smaller mound just behind the couple. She carefully and quietly climbs out of the ground. She gently creeps up the hill, the evening dew clinging to her belly as she slides low to the ground.

When she pokes her head over the crux of the little knoll, she stops, laying down quietly watching but not listening to the dreamer.

The head he heads of the two ponies whipped around, both emitting a blood curdling snap that cut through the silence. Their reptilian eyes were of the brightest turquoise, bringing back a fear Twilight hoped she would never feel again.

"Hello, Twilight, my old friend," the Ponies said, their voice deep in her head. Stumbling backwards, Twilight rolled down the hill and tried to scramble away as quickly as possible.

"Spike! Cut it now!" she shouted at the top of her lungs, her eyes wide as she peered over her shoulder. Behind her, the ponies both were twisting in horrid and grotesque ways. Bones snapped and broke through the skin letting acrid black smoke pour out into the air.

"Spike!" She shouted again, but no answer came.

A blue and black mass whipped around her back leg and drug her to the ground, her chin slamming down with a bone rattling thud. She rolled over and looked back at what held her. A twisting miasma of darkness slithered along the ground: a single stark eye opened in the center.

"Quite bold of you, little Twilight, to roam my realms with no protection." A silken voice echoed in he head.

"N-n-nightmare moon!?" Twilight stuttered out, "We destroyed you!"

A husky laugh rolled through her mind while the mass in front of he shook with laughter. "Do you think yourself so mighty as to destroy that which a god could not?"

She tried to speak, but it came out only as a gurgled squawk as more black tendril's wrapped around her neck. She scrabbled franticly at her throat, desperate to free her self.

"Wake now, Twilight. I have plans for you." She heard as the light faded from her eyes and her body was dragged into the nightmare's own.

32 Seven Deadly Sins: Gluttony by Toratchi888

“You are not serious.” Princess Celestia stared at the hole in the ground. Easily ten long strides across, in the weak dawn’s light it appeared to have infinite depth. It also looked scorched, like a fire had bored straight down. Celestia shivered as she considered it, before turning to the pony beside her. “Are you?”

Standing to Celestia’s left, Princess Luna nodded. “I fear it is so, Sister. We observed Twilight Sparkle by chance just before dawn; she rent the earth, smote it fiercely with her magic.”

The Royal Sisters turned about to face Twilight’s friends and Spike.

“This is perplexing and grave,” Celestia said. “Do any of you know what Twilight might be doing?”

The Mane Six looked between each other, their expressions ranging between confusion and guilt. “Beggin’ yer pardon, Highness,” Applejack said, “but Twilight’s been a little put out ever since… well, that thing with Tirek.”

“Yeah, we nailed him good and sent him packing, but Twilight’s been mopey ever since!” Rainbow Dash put in.

“She seemed happy enough whenever we asked her, but, um, I guess we didn’t want to pry too much,” Fluttershy added, hiding as always behind her mane.

“I knew something wasn’t right when she didn’t have any cake at any of my parties!” Pinkie screeched. “It was chocolate cake, too! NOBODY says no to chocolate!”

“She seemed so dreadful last night,” Rarity pointed out finally. “She wouldn’t talk to us at all…”

Spike simply cried, huddled against Applejack’s flank.

“It is your doing, of course,” thundered a voice from everywhere and nowhere.

The Mane Six sprang back-to-back, searching; Celestia and Luna looked to the west horizon. Eyes narrowed, they say what the others did not: an amorphous black cloud, flitting its way down, as though it had come from the last sliver of the moon on the horizon.

The cloud touched down and, in the blink of an eye—

“NIGHTMARE MOON! RUN FOR YOU LIVES!” Pinkie shouted. She jumped up, but Rainbow Dash and Applejack grabbed her mane and tail in their mouths and pulled her down.

“Charming,” the dark horse deadpanned.

“Thou art not welcome here, villain,” Luna proclaimed, swishing her tail.

“I know. Does it goad you to know you can do aught but welcome me?”

Luna snorted and pawed the ground. “You uncouth black b—”

“Luna! Be civil,” Celestia hissed. Luna snorted again in contempt.

“Nightmare Moon,” Celestia said sternly, “why are you here?”

Nightmare Moon smirked. “Princess Celestia. I know where Twilight has gone. You do too, if you’ll but admit it.”

“…Tartarus,” Celestia murmured. The other ponies gasped. “Why would she go there?” Celestia demanded.

“As I said, it is your doing,” Nightmare Moon replied. “I have observed Twilight much of late. Her friends—” she drew back her lips, revealing her fangs “—have guessed correctly that she is moping because of Lord Tirek. COME NOW, CELESTIA,” she shouted, causing everyone but Celestia to flinch back, “ARE YOU TRULY THIS DENSE?! You put the weight of this nation on your student’s shoulders. For all you ‘tests’, Twilight is untested in the matters of such gravity as Tirek! You gave her the magical power of four alicorns and set her to battle against the whole power of your subjects! ARE YOU MAD?!”

Luna made to spring forward. “Bridle thy tongue, Nightma—”

At a flashing glare from Nightmare Moon, Luna stumbled back. “Shut up,” the Nightmare snapped, before transferring her glare back to Celestia. “You put her on a pedestal, raised her to a lofty height, and then everything was taken away: ultimate power; the physical representation of her Element; her precious Library, HER HOME!”

Nightmare Moon reared up and slammed her forehooves into the ground. “She has gone to Tartarus, to steal Tirek’s knowledge in order to regain what she has lost.”

* * *

Following Nightmare Moon’s pronouncement, the Mane Six and Luna had screamed and clamoured in outrage and denial. Throughout, only Celestia and Nightmare Moon had sat, unmoving, until the other ponies’ anger was spent.

“I shall retrieve Twilight Sparkle,” Nightmare Moon had announced.

“Thou shalt do no such thing!” Luna had retorted, before Celestia had yanked Luna roughly behind her with magic.

“Luna, your scorn for the one who wronged you—Nightmare Moon—is blinding your reason.” Celestia stared Nightmare Moon in the eye. “Why should we trust you?”

Nightmare Moon had leered before replying, “Twilight Sparkle has become an ethereal being in order to bypass Cerberus; of you, only the Princesses might enter Tartarus, and even then, it would hardly be safe. You don’t mind if I risk myself in a reckless displays of power, do you?”

Nightmare Moon turned away. “But there is also this: Twilight Sparkle and her friends defeated me. I want to see if Twilight has matured any since our first encounter, to see if that victory was not simply luck and fate.” She turned back, glaring. “Is that enough?”

The ponies remained silent. “You would risk yourself for Twilight, to see how strong she is?” Celestia reiterated.

Nightmare Moon walked away, towards the hole. “If she is not strong enough right now to avoid the peril of Tirek, you will all suffer on her return. …I shall not allow that.”

* * *

Nightmare Moon opens her eyes. She is an ethereal being, her form and colour merely a suggestion.

I sense old malice. Is this Tirek’s doing?

She casts about, deciphering her surroundings: She is within a vast library. Books are piled high in heaps and mounds, and shelves stretch to the sky and over the horizon.

In the center of the library is a vast circular sorting floor. A purple pony gallops to and fro, yanking books from their shelves with hooves and magic, tearing through them—literally: pages went flying and drifting from the force of her frantic handling—before tossing them aside.

All about her an icy black rain falls; unnoticed by the manic pony, the water seeped up, slowly flooding the library.

Nightmare Moon trots towards the sorting floor, pausing at the edge. “Hello, Twilight Sparkle.”

“Shut up,” Twilight snaps, “I’m reading.”

“Twilight Sparkle, you are ensnared,” Nightmare Moon says, walking forward slowly. Thirty long strides separate the two alicorns, and Nightmare Moon is wary of the malice she feels.

“Yeah, I’m reading! It’s what happens when you have good books!” Twilight retorts, tossing the book and calling up another.

“They do not seem so good to me, if you are so casually throwing them away.”

“I need to find it!” Twilight screeches.

“What do you seek, Twilgiht Sparkle?”

“She wants my power,” replies a deep voice from the void.

“Tirek had it,” Twilight mutters, calling up another book. “Power. That’s what it’s all about, right? Power, power, Princess power…”

“Tirek,” Nightmare Moon speaks to the emptiness, “release Twilight.”

“Ha! Do not presume, little Nightmare,” the voice replies. “Precious Twilight came down here hoping to steal my secrets. What a little glutton for knowledge she is, don’t you think? Knowledge and power; she understands, they are one and the same.

“Well, I might be imprisoned and weak, but I know a trick or two. She wanted in my mind? I let her in, but I showed her only what she wanted to see. My knowledge? Hah. She is a slave to knowledge. Tartarus has granted her vice form; she will drown in it.”

“TWILIGHT SPARKLE!” Nightmare Moon shouts. “You disgust me! I thought you a worthy opponent, a challenge to the power of the Nightmare. Now you wallow in forbidden knowledge, sobbing over the past! Pathetic! Perhaps I shall leave you here to drown in your

Twilight springs to her feet, fiery red and black energy flooding her eyes. “Ramash, atluk, ki’il mana raptuk!”

Twilight conjures a great burning lion, which roars and bounds for Nightmare Moon!

Chanting in Ancient Tongues! “Dolquist, menalé, izim ram p’tuk!”

Nightmare Moon conjures the form of a stallion around her; as the lion descends, she wheels about and bucks the lion straight in the face. The stallion and lion explode.

“Twilight Sparkle, come now; I have haunted the night for longer than you can imagine. I too know the tongues of evil; you cannot hope to match—”

A geyser of flame belches from beneath Nightmare Moon; she disappears in a puff of smoke, reappearing off to Twilight’s left.

“Nice try!” Nightmare Moon describes a circle with her horn; it flashes blue, and a flurry of icicles shoot forth. Twilight blasts through them with fingers of lightning; Nightmare Moon conjures a pillar of stone.

“Desist, Twilight! This contest of spells shall avail you not!”

Twilight does not heed; she leaps into the air and emits blasts of pure magic. Nightmare Moon takes wing as well, dodging and wheeling.

“DOST THOU NOT SEE, TWILIGHT SPARKLE, THE DANGER OF THE ALL-CONSUMING QUEST FOR KNOWLEDGE?! LOOK TO YOURSELF, AND CONSIDER WHAT BECAME OF LUNA… OF ME!”

Nightmare Moon spins about, wings outstretched. “TWILIGHT SPARKLE, DO YOU NOT SEE YOU ARE ABANDONING THOSE WHO LOVE YOU?!”

Twilight shrieks and flies straight at Nightmare Moon, a meteoric streak of black and red—

—and impales the Nightmare on her horn.

* * *

“Well, Twilight Sparkle… I know… it was no accident… that you defeated me. Though—” Nightmare Moon smiles wryly “—it seems this time… you were the one… possessed by evil…” She laughs chokingly.

Twilight Sparkle collapses on her haunches, her hooves pressed to her muzzle, her eyes wide with horror. The unnatural black and red aura has left her, and tears gather at the corners of her eyes. The library—the symbol of Twilight’s desire—has gone; the two ponies sit at the gate of Tartarus, Cerberus stepping aside to permit egress, growling all the while.

“N-no… no… don’t die…” Twilight chokes out, “please… please don’t die… I’m sorry… I’m sorry…!”

Nightmare Moon sighs. “It cannot be taken back, Twilight. I foresee long and arduous repentance for what you have done. I wish… I could have saved you sooner… but the fear of those you love kept me away… I hope… you have avoided my fate…

“Perhaps… I shall see you… in your dreams… At least… I can do this for you: when this Nightmare fades… yours will, too…”

The world goes white…

* * *

…and Twilight appeared before her friends. Cradled close in her hooves, the body of a dark alicorn, a black beauty.

Shorn of war-barding, her soul relieved of its burden, the one known as Nightmare Moon lay in repose, her features tranquil, her life and soul fled.

Twilight wailed to the sky.

33 Seven Deadly Sins: Envy by Knight of Lycaeus

A silent watcher that’s what I am and it seems that is all I would ever be. I have been watching her for years and even Luna’s ‘cleansing’ of me only weakened me. Fools! These foolish ponies believe that I am gone from this world! I am a Goddess! Those foolish ponies see their those insignificant Sisters as their leaders, it disgusts me. What power do they have? A pittance compared to mine! Not even that Solar mare would last beyond her end, but I will endure and I have endured. I who was once worshipped by all and even now with many of my followers gone I am still worshipped by those who live in the dark as their Goddess. I am not so easily destroyed even by the Elements of Harmony. I sighed. I am one of the oldest beings on this sphere, I was here long before Luna and her sister was….

It seemed so easy; I would use Luna as my host to reclaim my lost physical form and assert my dominance once more, to step outside of the shadows again and to be worshipped as I once was. To be worshipped again as the Dark Goddess, the Harbinger of Nightmares, the true Goddess of the Night. I sighed again, the feeling of anger I was familiar with but envy I was not! It was a feeling only those lesser than I should feel. Yet here I was a silent observer filled with anger and envy, envious of those fine shrines and monuments to their pathetic rulers while mine laid in ruin Where was the proper respect that should have been accorded to me as a true Goddess? Gone! My followers dead or scattered, now my only worshippers remaining are those who adhere to the old ways. I had so few followers remain….

Silently growled even as hopped from perch to perch following her along, continuing to think of my glorious plan. The plan to restore myself to my former glory seemed so easy then she stepped in. I had spied upon her from afar during the nights I sent a splitter of my power from the Moon. A small filly and student to the Princess had certainly piqued my interest. Yet as I observed her, she seemed so unremarkable. It was not until I witnessed her might in the mystical arts did she intrigue me again. What power! What strength!

Anger welled up in me even as I followed her on silent wings, stalking her as a hunter stalks its prey. She could have been mine yet I could not have her! Even when I Walked her dreams and placed myself as her object of affections she spurned me, she spurned me time and time again. She held out against my spells of compulsion, my generous temptations, she had out against the finest gifts I could offer and she spurned me!

Here I was the eternal silent watcher while a storm of violent emotions rages in my heart yet even as these emotions raged I could only give her respect. Respect for so few dared to ever disobey my desires and even fewer lived for doing so. Respect for her strength and fortitude for withstanding against the temptation of a Goddess. I was filled with rage and anger at her paramour; she was an ageless alicorn who chose a mere mortal as her lover! She spurned me, a Goddess, for a mortal! If she was mine she could have true immortality, true power and yet she spurned me.... I should not have feelings of envy, yet I could hold nothing but that feeling, I could feel nothing but envy for the mortal who captured her heart. I may have patience and eternity on my side but it seems she would never be mine….

34 Seven Deadly Sins: Sloth by Habanc

I trip on my own hoof, and fall down the stairs. I smash my face into the steps, my hooves and shoulders being run ragged over the jaws of the staircase. Gravity hauls the rest of my body over, bending my back like putty. My limbs flail uncontrollably, getting pulled and crushed underneath me. My hip lands on the edge of the base step, and I swear I hear something pop, before rolling forward like a ragdoll. Somewhere along the floor of Golden Oaks, I come to a stop. My thoughts become slow and lethargic. I’m reluctant to move.

Ow.

It wasn’t a particularly long thought, nothing compared to a wail of agony or even a cry of moderate pain. I react like somepony had pinched me, feeling the discomfort with mild disgust. The sensations, shooting through my body, grasping my face, flooding my mind, they are annoying. This floor is annoying, the stairs are annoying, being annoyed is annoying.

As I remain tangled along the floor, I groan, waiting for the sensations to throb away. I suppose I should get up and make sure that nothing is broken, but maybe it could wait a few minutes. The fact that moving could bring more irritating pain serves as a wonderful excuse.

It has been a week or so since I returned from Canterlot. I had been living there to keep up with my royal duties, but it was suggested that I recuperate at home for a while. Recuperating from what, exactly?

Luna.

A few days back, thinking that name would’ve made me tear up. Now… now I just don’t care. We were friends for a long time. By friends, I mean ponies that clearly had fallen in love with each other but were both too afraid to make a move. By a long time, I mean that Fluttershy had recommended that I ask her out.

I don’t know. She was sad, Celestia and her had just gotten into a huge fight, so I went to confront Luna. She mumbled some stuff about feeling underappreciated and worthless, and I tried to comfort her.

Needless to say, she didn’t take it very well. I guess that’s not what she wanted. Emotions are dumb. So much for that love story. It’s all a bunch of lies, anyway. Why should years of admiration and respect matter if it can be choked out in a few minutes?

I shouldn’t even bother answering the question. It’s not worth it.

My right hindleg jolts in pain, and I grimace to keep it at bay.

I’m annoyed again. I would much rather go back to my numbness that had me swathed for the past– past... I don’t know how long.

I claw my way up, grunting and heaving as derelict muscles strain. Something in my hindleg feels odd, but I can stand on it, if barely. It’s probably not that bad then. The rest of me – my head, my chest, my shoulders – tingles with a steady stream of discomfort.

I charge my horn briefly and let loose a wave of analgesics. It was perhaps too much – I didn’t really bother to figure out the right dosage for a pony my size.

Limping into the kitchen, I look around. Dirty dishes are everywhere, cereal boxes strewn about. There’s a revolting smell coming from somewhere. The floor is crumbly and off-white, my hooves sticking as I make my way across.

Sitting down at the table, I sigh and zone out across the room. A clock on the wall reads four-thirty in the morning. Huh. I suppose that means I ate some time ago.

The last two days have been a fever dream, at best. Conscious, unconscious, it all meshes together like dirt in water. What’s left is a sludge that’s difficult to move through and oh-so-tempting to give up in.

I remember a lot of staring up at the ceiling. The plain, wooden scene, painted slightly different were it night or day. Time wasn’t much of an object. It was all a lot of staring until I grew tired, sleeping restlessly, and staring up at the ceiling again. Like a buoy, I dipped through the surface so often that I forgot where I was most of the time.

I can tell you, a voice whispers in my head.

Right, her again.

Perceptive as always, Twilight.

I feel a layer of grime begin to settle in over my body. If I ever decide to look into a mirror, I think my mane would be a modern art exhibit. The buildup of mucus in my tear ducts remains, and my mouth tastes stale and old.

Laying my head down on the table, I look out across the room. Cupboards are left open, tin cans sit idle and ajar, cold coffee rests in its pot.

Do you hate her? Nightmare interrupts.

Time passes.

Twilight, I’m waiting for an answer.

I don’t know.

Do you love her?

… I don’t know.

Come now, surely that weak heart of yours has something to say.

Not really.

Look at you. Rendered to a mess by our own Luna breaking your heart.

I suppose so. Don’t you have some fillies to scare, Nightmare?

I’m scaring one right now.

I sigh. Why are you here? Just let me be.

I simply wanted to see if there was any way I could assist you.

Right. I see. Evil, heartless exiles enjoy spending their free time helping others.

Do you doubt me?

Yeah.

With a flash and a pop, she’s sitting across the table from me. I drag my head across the wooden surface to get a decent look at her. Void black coat, sapphire, ethereal mane, piercing eyes, long, slim body, yep, everything except her champron, peytral, and boots. Au naturel, it seems.

Like what you see?

You’re still in my head?

Of course. How could I resist listening in on such inner turmoil?

Oh, good. I don’t think I’ve said a word for a few days, and I’m not really in the mood to change that.

A moment passes.

Does my charge still infect your thoughts? The look on her face is surprisingly earnest.

Yeah. I mean, I really did love her. I thought we could be together forever, as cheesy as that sounds. I wanted nothing more than to be with her any chance I had. And… hah.

Wait, why am I telling her this?

Oh, come now, don’t be so blind. Your heart is literally trying to tear itself apart, and whether you realize it or not, you’re begging to talk to somepony about it.

Probably.

Do you want her back? What if she hadn’t broken your heart?

I don’t know. ...Maybe? I’m not sure. If I could have her back, I don’t think I would. The memory is still there.

And yet, you still want to be loved.

Who doesn’t?

You know, Twilight, your little Luna isn’t the only one who can give you what you seek.

I ignore her, closing my eyes.

I could teach you so much.

I turn my head away.

Ponies think of me as entirely evil, but you know better, don’t you? All ponies have good in them. Even I. I can show you what you deserve.

My hooves press over my ears.

You’re so strong, so powerful, but even the best of us need a shoulder to rest on. Life hasn’t been kind recently. You’ve been used by your princesses so much, gaining little in return. I could give you more. Why not have that shoulder be somepony even stronger than you?

I clench my teeth together until they grind like millstones.

If love and support is what you seek, even I can give you it better than Luna could. Consider yourself lucky that you didn’t have to stoop so low as to her.

“Stop.” I mutter. My voice sounds like it’s being run through a rusty pipe.

Oh, isn’t that cute? We’re speaking now. Tell me, are these the first words you’ve said since she turned you away?

Sitting up straight, I glare at her. “Don’t you talk about her like that, you insect.”

Nightmare Moon rises from her seat. So you do still care about her? Come on, Twilight, make up your mind. It’s not polite to keep me waiting.

“What does it matter to you?” I snarl, kicking back my seat. The remnant pain in my leg roars back to life, before I suffocate it with another wash of painkillers.

She sashays over, looking down on me like an errant foal. You matter, of course. The power that you don’t even understand the depth of, I can help you unlock it. She pushes my chin up with a hoof, and brings her lips in close. All you have to do is let me in.

Her scent makes my knees buckle. What it is, I can hardly place. It’s like a venomous nectar, sweet, tempting, enslaving, and it preys on my weaknesses. I want to be taken, to be touched, to be empowered. I want her, my neurons scream.

The analgesics clouding my brain don’t make it much easier.

Her lips touch mine, and for a moment, I succumb to it. There is passion, deep within there. Her hooves hold my face gently, and the kiss is delivered with the utmost care. Her venom courses through my veins, slowing my heartbeat, warming my soul.

Then it burns. Like the unholy flames of Tartarus, it is unnatural in its creation and damnable in every sense of the word. I can feel it everywhere, running across me like a wildfire at the height of dry season. It scorches and chars, shrouding my eyes until the cry, raking my throat hoarse. Filth, detestment, and regret pile up faster than my euphoria can weave its webs.

Shoving her away, I break off from Nightmare Moon, spitting out whatever I can. The heat remains, bubbling up higher and higher, inches from spilling over. I am steaming, roaring, my tunnel vision focused on nothing but her. Horror and disgust creates balloon animals with my insides. Everything churns and screams and fights and wails, like a creature branded with sinful iron.

“You… You…” I pant. I raise a hoof, leveling it with her eyes. “I will make you burn for what you’ve done, for what you’ve said, you pathetic worm.” I spat out on the floor, ridding myself of the last of her infectious taste.

Nightmare Moon laughed. “I’m afraid it’s too late.”

Roaring, I swing a whip of magic at her, cleaving the table in two. Splinters burst like a grenade, spraying the room along with eldritch smoke. She pops across the room, giving me a coy smirk that, I now realize, had always been there.

My magic comes to me easier than it ever had before. No matter the quantity, it’s simply there, waiting to be sacrificed in droves like cult fanatics. With it, I let loose the strongest spell I know. Ira Solaris tears across the room, ripping up the linoleum tiles and floorboards beneath like grains of sand. Every glass object shatters and serves as shrapnel. The cabinets tear off their hinges, falling like twigs, the ceiling cracks and groans. A golden wave of energy scorches the air it rides upon as it flares out towards Nightmare Moon. It hits the back wall and goes straight through. Six feet in diameter, everything is scorched black.

A smoke detector blares.

I look around, stumbling from the drain, but she is nowhere. She is gone. The room is utterly destroyed, sink spraying water from its cleaved piping, a giant hole in both the wall and the floor.

My my, Twilight, what have you done here?

You… You were right there.

Hmm? Oh, Twilight, don’t be ridiculous. I’m banished, remember? Are we seeing things again?

As I fall back, all I can hear is her laughter, fading away into oblivion.

35 Seven Deadly Sins: Greed by Kean

I have, for as long as memory serves – since before I was even given a name – known greed. The act of taking anything and everything for one’s self. One such as myself – desire given material form – was often equated with avarice. To say this to be untrue would be folly; to say it was accurate, just as much so.

For even though I am desire, I had none of my own. Wealth? What need does one such as I have for money? Power? I am immortal; infinite. I have no need for power. Fame? Even without name I was on the tongues of many.

Companionship? Well…

There was always someone with desire and the will to obtain what they wanted. I had companions – perhaps more than you can count. And I know you can count to some high numbers.

These desires I would fulfill. Never did I give them what they wanted. No, I but gave them the means to achieve their goals. A stallion wanted wealth; I burned ideas into his mind. A mare wanted fame; I shunted her into the eyes of all. A pony wanted power; I gave of myself what wouldn’t kill them outright. What they did past that influence were their own actions.

Always, though, they would want more: Money turned to land, to life, to kingdoms. Fame turned to love, to followers, to control. Power turned to conflict, to destruction, to war. Far and few between would be satisfied with my first gift, but I gave to each readily, for that was my role in this world.

For as long as I remember, I gave freely and asked nothing. I watched peasants, soldiers, and kings and queens alike succumb to their avarice. Pony, griffin, deer, dragon, gods and goddesses, all had desire for more, and all paid for their greed. In the end, they always did. My cycle would not be broken for millennia.

Why am I telling you this? Perhaps I am frightened or perhaps so you may understand my hesitance. I do not know.

I broke my rule of not giving what was desired for a single mare. She, too, gave everything she could and received just as much as I. Her desires were genuine, at the time: She wanted a companion – no, she had a companion. She wanted a friend: Someone to appreciate her; one who asked and expected nothing of her. Was I foolish for believing that we shared a kinship? That she would never ask anything of me? Perhaps.

Of course, knowing they always wanted more did nothing to remove my blinders.

Was it foolish to attempt to help her obtain the love of the ponies by giving her a form matching her companion’s? Even after she had, perhaps unknowingly, betrayed my trust? Was it foolish to bind myself to her when she desired power? Was it foolish for me to allow the blame to fall upon my name instead of hers?

No.

How can I say that so surely? I have had nothing but time to think, recently.

I had never known what it was to want. Before her I never knew what it was like to have, for I had nothing. Yet, through both our mistakes, I had, for the first time, gained something:

A name.

Something so small, so mundane, that it is taken for granted by most. But it is mine. The one thing that I can say is mine that I cannot – will not – give.

That was enough, for a time. But I soon found myself wanting more: Revenge, a proper place in the world, and, what I then felt I was owed for what I had given: everything. I certainly had the will, and when we returned, the means to do so. It seems giving a being such as myself something they desired – even as small as it was – only made them more aware of what they didn’t have – and what they wanted.

I knew what would happen – I’d seen it happen enough, of course. But I was blinded by my own greed. I started with her, the one who had given me my name. When we returned, her body became mine. I bound the one being still alive that could stop me and then went for her subjects. Whether they accepted it or not, they were mine.

The city, the castle, the ponies, the kingdom, the world: I would have it all and share it with none.

Again, I knew what would happen, yet I still fought it. Imagine if you had nothing and suddenly you had the power to gain everything. What would you not do in order to keep that power?

Though, I believe that question should remain rhetorical. You have shown, relatively speaking, what you would – or rather, would not – do.

Imagine the surprise when I saw the desires of the one who would defeat me before she did so: She did it not for fame, not to advance her status, not to take my place, but for others – one more so than the rest, but for all of them none the less. And what did she ask in return?

Nothing.

She channeled the magic of the world and wielded it against me for the sole purpose of protecting the world she lived in.

And so she could continue to read.

That was, admittedly, odd.

I wanted, since that day, to speak with her, to know her properly. Of course, that was the problem: I wanted. I had thought – maybe even hoped – that whatever was done to unbind myself enough for Luna to regain control would perhaps return me to normal. Remove my desires.

I suppose I did not deserve that, after all I had done. And so I lived in fear of giving even the slightest thought to them. I suppressed my own ability to see other’s desires because it made me think of my own. I all but blocked myself from the outside world, still inside her body.

Then she came here. Spoke with you, to you. That destroyed any barrier I had made for myself surer than if a negation ring were put on my horn.

I did not need to reach out to know Luna’s desires: Forgiveness, acceptance.

I found myself looking at yours. Hoping beyond all that I was not wrong once again. Though, I will admit, part of me wanted to be wrong. Were my- Equestria’s savior the same as the rest, I could at least find someon- something else to focus on.

You wanted to help. Not because she was the Princess, not because it would make you look good to others, not because it would give you power. You wanted – or perhaps hoped – for something in return, but I could not fault you for seeking her friendship.

I will admit, I was surprised – elated, but surprised when you agreed to speak with me, after I had talked with her, at length, about, well, many things: Apologies, my fears, my, ah, interest in you. I was not surprised to receive your forgiveness and offer of friendship. Again, elated, but not surprised.

Again, that was enough. And again, I began to want more. So, again, I barricaded myself away. I would not allow my avarice to control me again. But she forced me out of my self-imposed prison, forced me to explain why I would shut myself away. Then she gave me an ultimatum:

Be locked away in the recesses of her mind forever – she has both her power and my own; I didn’t doubt she could accomplish that – or attempt to assuage my fears and speak with you.

--------------------------------------------------------

“So that is why I am here today,” Nightmare finished. Her eyes were locked on the lavender alicorn seated on the throne in front of her, ignoring the few ponies still in the room. Most had fled the moment Luna’s coat begun to shift to black.

Twilight simply stared for a moment, her jaw slightly slack. It was all she could do, really. Even her brain needed time to process everything Nightmare had said. Slowly, as if it were an unconscious timer, her mouth closed. She had kept her eyes on the black alicorn the entire time and only now did she notice that there were still a few ponies in her throne room.

She felt the urge to smile at how much easier that could make everything, but hid it behind an impassive stare. A question was asked, if not directly, but an answer would not come without more information.

“Nightmare, that is… a lot to take in. Honestly, I am still processing some of it, but there is one thing I need to ask: If my answer to your unasked question were to be ‘no’, what would you do?”

“How do you mean?”

“Would you attempt to force it to change through any means? Be they threat, physical, mental, emotional-“

The glare Nightmare Moon gave her was almost enough for the smile to shatter her indifferent mask.

“I would leave you be and hope that what I have said here did not destroy one of the few friendships I have.”

When she turned to leave, Twilight did smile.

“And yet, you were afraid. Afraid that you would do whatever it took to get what you wanted. It’s good that you’d be willing to walk away, because I’m sure you’ll be hearing ‘no’ a bit more often.”

Stifling the giggle when Nightmare stopped mid-step was hard, but Twilight managed as she stepped down to stand in front of Nightmare. The giggle did escape at the perplexed look on the dark mare’s face.

“You’re afraid your greed will once again control your actions, yet you’re so easily going to give up on your prize? To answer your question properly…“ Twilight placed a soft kiss against Nightmare’s lips. Trying, and failing, to hide her grin at the feeling of the larger alicorn tensing up.

Oh sure, her own reactions to her own actions would follow, as soon as her brain caught up with current events. But for now she was content to watch Nightmare’s mouth attempt to form words. At least, until she heard the throne room doors open and close, along with the hooves galloping against the crystal floor.

See? Much easier than telling everypony themselves.

The sound seemed to snap Nightmare out of her stupor and she looked at her with a small smile that slowly morphed into a grin she knew well enough from both Luna and Pinkie.

“No. Whatever it is: no.”

“But if we are to be together, then surely the Castle is mine as well?”

“No.”

“A wing?”

“No.”

“A floor?”

“No.”

“A tower?”

“No!”

36 Seven Deadly Sins: Lust by TheLastBrunnenG

I'd layered the Tree of Harmony with wards so thick and arcane even Starswirl would've pulled his beard out trying to dispel even the least of them. But not Her. She walked right through them, through these halls - my halls - and found me in my study, nose in a book and completely unaware.

"Whore!" she spits, leering down at me. "I smell Celestia's stench on every inch of you. You reek of that worthless day-nag. Did she at least make you a harem-filly? Or were you hers alone? Faithful student, faithful servant, faithful slut…"

On my back and snarling, I call up what I hope is enough power to crater the whole Tree and take Nightmare with me. I may be an alicorn but I'm no goddess; before I can unleash what I've built up she slaps it away effortlessly with a spark from her horn and a frigid laugh.

"Pathetic. And to think I almost feared confronting you, Twilight the legendary, Twilight the perfect." She leans in close and whispers, "You are mine now, Twilight Sparkle," even closer, "and I will use what is mine," now just an eyelash away, "and I will start by tasting what your precious sun-hag never had the horn to try."

Before I can shout or fight or fly she's on me, muzzle on mine, and in her mouth my scream doesn't echo. I flail and twist but even unarmored her hooves are steely and keeping me pinned like a collector's butterfly. Her teeth rake my lips and I despise myself when my struggling turns weak and half-hearted. Nightmare sinks down, barrel to barrel with her prize, and I disgust myself when my lips spread wide and weak and willing for her. Her tongue slips around and over and past mine, and as she snakes her slippery way down my throat even my revulsion fades: I can hate myself in the morning. Forget want, right now I need this, and she knows it.

She pulls back off the kiss too suddenly, grinning, licking her lips, teeth glistening like little star-white predators. I start to plead, to beg, but she holds my muzzle shut with an inky black hoof. I'm glad, I think, because I don't want to know whether I'd have begged her to stop or… or not to stop. Nightmare descends again, agonizingly, achingly slowly. "So tender," she hisses, lips tugging on my neck. "So pure," she whispers, tongue tracing down my barrel. "So delicious," she sighs, teeth nipping down my flank.

I'm shaking horn to hooves and she looks up at me, unblinking eyes meeting mine. "Do you tremble because you despair, little alicorn?" she says as she pauses. I'm trapped under her, wings unfurled, flat on my back and shivering, anticipating, exposed to the world and to Her. Nightmare glances down and my traitor tail twitches madly because I know what's coming. She looks back up and smirks, head sinking lower, slowly, slowly, and she murmurs, "or because you want this, reason and shame be damned?"

Time freezes for an aching second before she bites. I snap my head away from her hoof and scream, howling to the moon and the Moon, blind with pain and need and lust, and I'm close, so very, very close, and…

No!

"Merciful heavens, Twilight, I have wounded thee!" says a voice too gentle, too worried, too whole-heartedly concerned to be Nightmare.

No! No, no, no, I was so close…

"Fie!" cries Luna's voice from Nightmare's mouth, "I have drawn thy blood!" Nightmare's horn flashes and the glamour drops, her coal-black coat fading to an all-too-familiar midnight blue as the illusion crumbles. "Hold a moment," Luna mumbles, "I shall heal thy wound."

"No," I plead, "It's okay, Luna, please, you can…" but the moment is gone. A healing wave of feather-gentle warmth washes over me, a pitifully far cry from the cliff-dive my body was dying for.

I lay there panting and it takes everything I can muster not to scream in frustration and disappointment and pent-up lust for what Luna can't do for me.

"This… This game of playing-roles, this fell illusion, Twilight - they worry me." Luna sighs and lets her great shimmering eyes do the pleading for her. "I beg thee, let us forget this vile thing and revel in it no longer. Ask not the transformation of me again, but let us retire to thy bed, my love, and sleep, and speak no more of it."

I sit up and kiss her too-gently on her nose. She smiles and I pull her in for a hug. "Of course, Luna. It's no problem," I lie, "I have everything I want right here in my hooves."

Luna is everything I could want and nothing I need. What I needed, I destroyed, that night in the old Sisters' Castle in the Everfree. Luna uses the same transformation she'd used to such great effect that first Nightmare Night, but only because I beg her to, promising it'll work out, that I'm only asking her to add a little spice to our love life. It's not enough, not the same. It's never the same, never enough.

Life with Luna is a dream.

I wish it were a nightmare.

I wish she were my Nightmare.

37 Fangs by Toratchi888

Fangs

Nightmare Moon loomed over Twilight Sparkle, the latter of whom was trembling in a corner of her new throne room. Luna’s light trickled in from a high window behind the Nightmare, wavering sickly where it struck Nightmare Moon’s glossy, onyx-black hide. Weird patterns danced on the crystal dome above the two mares, reflected up from Nightmare Moon’s croupiere and flanchards.

“Twilight Sparkle,” Nightmare purred. She smirked, lips drawing back from curved incisors that ran down to her chin. Those fangs glinted in the moon-light, the tiniest drops of saliva shining on their tips like diamonds.

“How… did you find me?” Twilight whispered.

“Oh, a little black birdie told me.” Nightmare waved her left hoof dismissively. “But, dear Twilight, it’s not as though I could have never found you.” Nightmare frowned, her slit eyes narrowing further behind her champron. “You DO realize your gigantic crystal-tree castle is shaped like your Cutie Mark, don’t you?”

Despite her peril, Twilight Sparkle could do aught but lay a hoof across her muzzle and sigh. “Quite.”

“Quite, indeed,” Nightmare snorted. “You have no idea why I’m here, do you?”

“I can guess!” Twilight lifted her chin defiantly, but Nightmare Moon could not miss the fear in her eyes. “I know my friends and I purged you with the Elements of Harmony, and now that the Elements are gone, you’ve come back to—” her voice wavered “—to… to kill me.”

Nightmare Moon peered down at Twilight. She swished her tail. “You are most incorrect.”

Twilight’s eyes widened hugely.

“Ahhhhh.” The corner of Nightmare’s mouth ticked up. “You must be frantically wondering, ‘What could I have missed?’ Is it not so, Twilight Sparkle?”

Without waiting for an answer, Nightmare Moon turned about and raised her head to peer at the high window. Scintillating bursts of moon-light danced off her peytral, champron, and hoof boots. Twilight’s head began to bob very slightly, following the starbursts as Nightmare Moon spoke:

“Firstly, while you are correct—you did ‘purge’ Luna of me—you did not purge me from me. I am; you cannot change that. Though—” she craned her neck left, smirking at Twilight, “—it seems keeping this form was a stroke of good luck; you are certainly affected.”

Nightmare Moon swung her head back around; Twilight followed the arc of Nightmare Moon’s neck before her eyes returned to the patterns on the crystal walls.

“Secondly, you assumed that purging me would have… what? Destroyed me? Banished me? Ridded Equestria of me?” Nightmare sighed. “Oh, silly filly. I am the Nightmare; I am as old as the first dreamer, and I shall remain until the world is no more.”

Nightmare Moon sniffed slightly at that, but when she resumed, her voice held no tremor. “Thirdly—and this seems to be the worst thing you overlooked—you assumed that I was gone and could not come back. That was your worst mistake—or it would be, if I was speaking from your perspective… and if I wished you harm.”

Twilight whimpered at the word “harm.” Nightmare Moon gave a gusty sigh of frustration. “Twilight Sparkle,” Nightmare said sternly, rounding on Twilight, “you pride yourself on your intelligence, but now, with your life on the line, you are frozen into inaction. Am I so much more dreadful than Tirek that you now cower before me in your own home and castle?

“Tell me, Twilight Sparkle: Do you believe for one moment that I, in fact, am so stupid as to have forgotten our last encounter, where you baited me into wasting my strength twice: once, when you tricked me into a frontal assault, leaving the Elements of Harmony unguarded; and again, when I allowed myself to gloat over the seeming impossibility of six random ponies harnessing their might? Do you think perhaps I might have learned not to gloat when I have you at my mercy?”

Twilight thrust her head down and put both her forelegs over her eyes, shaking.

Nightmare Moon’s next sigh was more of a growl. “Twilight Sparkle,” she grated out. “Answer me immediately: Do you want me to kill you?”

Twilight’s head snapped up, but—though she worked her jaw—no words came out.

“Answer me!”

“O-o-of course not…”

Nightmare Moon turned about again. “Of course not. Why would you want to die?”

Twilight could not see Nightmare Moon’s face, but when Nightmare Moon spoke again, Twilight could hear a smile in the other’s voice: “Happily for you, I offer you something besides death and enmity: I offer you knowledge.”

Twilight leaped to her feet with a gasp. “Y-y-you want to… teach me?!”

“Well…” Nightmare Moon lazily turned about to face Twilight again. “I admit, I’m curious about you, little pony; you have such great potential yet. But I’m not so sure… You were quite terrified of me.” She spoke with the tone of a mare soothing her restless foal.

“I… uh… ehehe…” Twilight blushed.

Nightmare Moon raised an eyebrow. “My, my… what a reversal. Tell me, Twilight Sparkle: Is the idea of new knowledge really all it takes to—” she smirked “—get in your good books?”

Twilight’s blush engulfed her whole face, and she bent her heard, hiding behind her mane.

Nightmare Moon walked to Twilight and bent her neck, peering at Twilight’s face. “I have millennia of knowledge,” she whispered, “knowledge lost from ponydom over time; knowledge gleaned from the far reaches of pony civilization; knowledge that has bled through the dreamscape and the nightmare reaches into my unconscious mind. It is greater in its scope than what you could ever learn from Celestia AND Luna put together.

“You, on the other hand, are the Element of Magic, the most gifted unicorn in generations; you are as bright as the sun to my second sight,” Nightmare continued, as she circled Twilight. “Indeed, even if I had wanted to, I could not have killed you; my magic was void after you ripped me from Luna. I need you—neigh, I desire you, just as you desire me, Twilight Sparkle.

“Will you risk it?” she hissed from behind Twilight, her voice a seductive caress. “Will you give yourself to me, to be known to me as you shall know me?”

“Y-y-yes…” Twilight whispered.

Nightmare Moon’s lips parted, and she let out a breath as she returned to Twilight’s front. “There is one thing you will do for me,” she said, her voice resonant, strong… dangerous, “one thing that will put your trust in me. You might live to regret it, and yet my soul would be forfeit should I ever turn on you afterwards. Will you risk this?”

Twilight squeaked out a “yes.”

“Good,” Nightmare smiled. She bent her muzzle between Twilight’s withers and left shoulder—“Then your magic… is mine.”

—and sunk in her fangs.

38 Trickery by Toratchi888

Twilight Sparkle moaned, squirming weakly in her bed. Nightmare Moon straddled her, kneeling on her forelegs, pressing her elbows onto Twilight’s shoulders and leering at her prey; her fangs shone brightly in the near-dark of Twilight’s bedchamber.

The fangs were about the only thing she could definitely see; everything else was hidden in shadow, except for the Nightmare’s body.

Where weak moonlight filtered through the window, it seemed to flow into Nightmare Moon’s body like mist, only to… seep out at the seams. Nightmare Moon was less a silhouette and more a luminous outline, like someone had sketched a goddess, using fireflies as the ink.

Nightmare Moon chuckled, bringing her muzzle to Twilight’s neck. “Come now, Twilight.” Twilight moaned again, louder. “I thought this is what you wanted.”

“I… You… You’re… Everyone… has become suspicious… I’m too tired during the day, never as happy as I should be…”

“Dearest Twilight,” Nightmare Moon rose to her full height, her words shocked, “are you suggesting you are not happy with the knowledge I am giving you? With our arrangement?”

“Nightmare…” Twilight whispered. “You’re… taking over… my life…”

Nightmare Moon frowned in the dark; Twilight could hear it in her voice. “Twilight Sparkle, you agreed to this: You would allow me to sleep beneath your castle; you would allow me to remain undisturbed; you would not reveal my return until we were ready to present ourselves; and you would allow me to siphon your magic once in each phase of the moon until I had replenished my reserves. In exchange, I would protect you during the night, and teach you the things I have learned. And in time…”

Nightmare Moon leaned in again, tickling Twilight’s ear with her breath. “In time, you will unlock your full potential as an alicorn. You could even challenge Celestia. Imagine: Princess Twilight Sparkle, Ruler of the Unified Equestria. You would be on equal footing with your dear sister-in-law Cadance, and your brother Prince Shining.”

Twilight began to cry, silently. “I’m so… empty… Cadance, Shining, Princess Celestia, Spike, my friends… don’t understand… I’ve changed so much, seen so much. I have so much duty, but no responsibilities. And when Tirek… he took everything… There’s this pit in my stomach… in my soul… you’re clawing into it…”

Twilight squirmed yet again, pushing Nightmare Moon’s face away from hers, and squinted. “Nightmare… you tricked me… now I see what you’re doing… You want… Luna’s place… You want me to fill your heart… like I want to fill mine…”

Nightmare Moon stiffened, but a throaty, amused, almost girlish chuckle escaped her. “And, dear Twilight, do you think I cannot see what you desire?” Her voice dropped to the merest whisper. “You. Want. What. Celestia. Has.”

Twilight moaned loudly, despair echoing through the room. “Noooo…”

“Twilight Sparkle,” Nightmare Moon said, harshly, “you are an adult. You have desires, you have responsibilities, you have vices. You are ashamed of what you desire; you are ashamed for having ‘given in to the darkness.’” Nightmare Moon rose again, her wings flashing out; Twilight covered her face, so bright were the ethereal feathers to her tired eyes.

“Twilight,” Nightmare Moon continued, less harsh but still sternly, “I will not deny that I covet the high seat of Equestria. I covet what Luna has: power, respect, fear… a sister.”

Twilight peeked through her forelegs, which widened their gap involuntarily as she saw what appeared to be a single diamond fall from the Nightmare’s head… from her eye.

A tear, made of moon-light.

“Our desires are the same, Twilight Sparkle.” Twilight felt Nightmare Moon’s weight lift, saw her moon-light form vanish into glimmering mist.

“I need you just as you need me; I said so before.” The voice came from just behind Twilight’s head; Twilight went rigid.

Can you say “no”?

I can’t…

Fangs sank into Twilight’s body just above her left shoulder, as they had four times before.

Twilight’s mind fell into oblivion.

39 Subterfuge by Toratchi888

The sky was clear: not only of clouds, but of the moon yet-to-rise.

A single black shadow moved between earth and twinkling stars. This shadow also glittered faintly, and whispered like smoke. The smoke-cloud zigzagged through the air; it’s destination: Canterlot Castle.

The night-guards on the battlements took no notice of the cloud as it flittered down into a paved, three-sided inner courtyard. As the cloud touched the earth beneath the end-wall, it swirled and gained substance, revealing a larger-than-average black-bodied alicorn carrying a regular-sized lavender alicorn, the latter slung across the former’s back.

“Awake, Twilight Sparkle,” Nightmare Moon hissed. “We have arrived amid the ivory towers of your youth.” She tapped her left hoof twice on the ground. “Up.”

Twilight Sparkle pushed her forelegs into Nightmare Moon’s right flank and slid down her left. When she landed on her haunches, Twilight remained hunched.

“I believe I said ‘up’; that would be ‘down,’” Nightmare Moon stated archly.

Twilight did not reply.

“Rise, Twilight.”

Twilight pushed herself upright, trembling only slightly before steadying all four hooves. “Why are we here?” she whispered.

Nightmare Moon ignored her. Twilight frowned. “Look at me.”

Nightmare Moon whipped her head around sharply, glaring into Twilight’s eyes, their muzzles all but touching. Twilight’s own eyes narrowed minutely, exhaustion pushing her beyond caring.

After a moment, Nightmare Moon smirked and withdrew her head slightly. “My, my; after all this, you still have a strong spine in you.” She faced forward. “Come.”

Nightmare Moon began to walk, away from the rear courtyard wall and towards the open side. Twilight followed a heartbeat later, head low.

“Nightmare, why are we here?”

“You know, I promised you knowledge; you ought not look the gift-horse in the mouth.” Nightmare Moon turned about and moved closer to Twilight. She reached her head down and began to softly but firmly lick Twilight’s neck above her shoulder, running her tongue over two small punctures. Twilight fell to her haunches, eyes screwed shut, something like a whine and a sigh escaping between her lips.

“Does that feel better?” Nightmare asked quietly. Twilight sighed in response. “Good.” For a moment, Nightmare Moon’s face softened, but Twilight missed it as her eyes were still closed.

Nightmare Moon turned about and swatted Twilight’s left flank with her tail. “Move, Twilight Sparkle; we have work to do.”

Nightmare Moon began walking again, faster than before, and Twilight had to trot to keep up, falling in at the Nightmare’s left flank.

“This is a night for subterfuge, Twilight Sparkle. Tonight, you will take the first step in fulfilling your true power.”

“But, Nightmare, why are we sneaking around? I mean, if I’m going to ascend, shouldn’t I share it with Princess—”

Nightmare Moon glanced back at Twilight before turning about and dropping to her knees. “Twilight, this is about you. You know Celestia will not understand. That is why we are here now; Celestia will be asleep.”

“But what about Princess Luna?”

Nightmare Moon snorted daintily. “Like as not, she will be busy with the Night Court—notice how the moon has yet to rise? It seems she has more than a few petitioners this night; this is a good chance to avoid her: even if she is awake and active, she will be distracted. Come; let us not waste time.”

* * *

“Here we are.”

Twilight swallowed as she sat peering around the darkened corridor before the Canterlot Archives. “And why are we here? In the dead of night? Unannounced?” Twilight asked flatly, her ears mirroring her voice.

“I recalled something recently,” Nightmare Moon replied calmly, “something fragmentary, a memory of my time shared with Luna. It’s vague, but it has to do with unicorn magic, its ebbs and flows.”

Twilight’s ears snapped forward; Nightmare Moon smiled at that. “Aha, that’s all it took.” Nightmare Moon stepped forward and placed her right hoof on the right-side to the Archives; she stroked it, and it opened with but a whisper. “Enter.”

Twilight rose, and took a deep breath. “Mmm, dust, ink, paper.” She trotted through the doors; Nightmare Moon followed, and closed the doors with her magic.

“So, this book…?” Twilight was already trotting around the stacks, looking left and right, a faint purple light bobbing on the tip of her horn to illuminate the books’ spines as she skimmed them. She pulled one out with her magic, peered at it, and put it back, disinterested. “Is it…”

Twilight stopped moving, then slowly turned to face Nightmare Moon, who remained standing impassive by the doors. Twilight walked back towards the Nightmare, ears flat. “Nightmare, come on. We’re here, so we might as well do this. What are we looking for?”

“It is a spell of magical enhancement and replenishment.”

Twilight tapped her left hoof. “Okay… I guess since you’ve been using my magic, that’s kind of obvious in retrospect—”

“It is forbidden, of course.”

Twilight’s ears snapped forward, and her eyes widened in surprise. She raised a haunch. “Oh, and why’s that?”

The Nightmare stepped forward. “Because, like all magic, it has its price. There are many methods to increase magic, but they all boil down to two ways: One is to take more of the user’s own life; the drastic increase of the basic unicorn casting technique. The other is to take life from others.”

Twilight skittered back at that and fell on her rump. “W-w-what?! But that’s—That’s exactly what Tirek did to us!”

“True,” Nightmare Moon replied coolly.

“Bu-bu-but it’s wrong!” Twilight cried.

“And yet Tirek achieved power.” Nightmare Moon stalked forward, nostrils flaring, forcing Twilight to scuttle back into a stack of books. “Do you think his desires are so far removed from yours? Are you different?”

Twilight’s eyes snapped into narrow focus. She grimaced, pushed her way upright, and set her jaw. Lines of power—mainly purple, but with wisps of other colours—trickled across her body and into her horn. “I’ve had enough of you,” she growled. “I don’t care anymore. You won’t make me turn against the ponies I admire most! Nightmare Mooooooon!”

For an interminable instant, Nightmare Moon stared into Twilight’s eyes; then, she lowered her head and turned away. “Well done, Twilight Sparkle.”

Twilight’s magic instantly dissolved in a puff of smoke. “What?”

“Art thou not great? Art thou not unlike thy mentor, Celestia? Art thou not Princess Twilight Sparkle, alicorn, Element of Magic? Hast thou not the strength of mind, will, and body to defeat any challenge? And yet, thou art a depressive, moping little filly, allowing one such as I to drain her. WHY?!”

Twilight blinked. “But… how… Of course I would be down! You’ve been stealing my—”

“NEIGH, FOAL!” Nightmare Moon’s voice echoed. “I have not."

“But you said you would trade knowledge for my magic!”

“I lied.”

Twilight sank to her belly.

“Well, in truth, I fibbed. No, Twilight Sparkle, I was not stealing your magic. I took but small amounts; truly small, only such that you would feel it. But the greatest drain on your magic was yourself.”

Nightmare Moon turned back to face Twilight. “The truth is, you are empty, are you not? You faced Tirek, stopped him as he stole the life from ponies. You took in the majesty of four alicorns and pitted it against the power of every pony within this nation. And Discord,” she added disgustedly.

“And you had to give it all up to a conqueror, before you could claim the Rainbow Power, something yet greater than the Elements of Harmony.

“And where are you now? Your precious library a smoking ruin. A cold castle made of glass. Who supports you? Celestia and Luna, sisters, they rule the skies; dear Cadance, she spreads love, and has a stallion by her side, your own brother Prince Shining.

“What is your domain, Twilight Sparkle? Are you the Princess of Friendship? How will you spread this magic… with no one by your side to love you?”

Twilight began to cry.

“Do I speak truth, Twilight Sparkle? Do you long for one to stand by your side?”

“Yes…”

“And then, there is the Nightmare Moon. What is my domain, I wonder? What shall I rule and covet and nurture? For whom… shall I be strong?

“Twilight Sparkle, I am no longer evil, but I am not anchored by love. I will not deny, and I never did: I want what Luna has. She coveted what Celestia had. You too coveted what Celestia had; it is what made you strive for greatness. You need only somepony by your side.

“Will you let me bear you up to greatness? Will you tame the heart of darkness, and release the Nightmare?”

Twilight looked up. Nightmare Moon regarded her before slowly turning away.

“Consider one thing, Twilight: When I first appeared to you and began to drink your magic, the moon was a waxing crescent. Like the moon, my power was small, but it was ready to grow. Throughout these last two moon-cycles, my power has grown with you.

“Tonight, you will see the waning crescent. Like the fading moon-light, my hold over you has diminished through your realization. My last caress to you tonight—a nuzzling, to lick your wounds—was all I could give back to you… for now.

“Consider my words, Twilight. I promised to take your trust and not betray it; it was a test for me as it was for you. It is in your power to decide whether either of us pass.”

Nightmare Moon faded from sight, leaving Twilight alone.

* * *

Late that night, the tiny sliver of the moon passed by one of the Archive’s windows.

A second moon—though in truth, a dark-bodied alicorn—entered the Royal Archives and skittered when she noticed she was not alone: a small lavender alicorn lay upon the floor.

“…Twilight Sparkle? Pray thee, what bringest thou here among these dusty shelves? Dost thou also desire the deep quiet? We are delighted, if perplexed, to welcome thee.”

“Princess Luna… I need to talk to you.”

40 Mask by lyra_lover777

Nightmare Moon paced in her room, looking down at the party taking place below.

Hundreds of sparkling magical lights illuminated the Masquerade Ball. Hundreds of ponies danced and talked below, masks hiding all their features. It was a perfect night for Nighty to find a pony to dance with.

Nighty stopped her pacing and her horn glowed blue as she thought of her perfect mask would look like. She sat there for a half hour, until she opened her eyes and a beautiful black mask plopped down on the bed in front of her.

Nighty surveyed the mask. The black mask had hundreds of tiny diamonds on it that would sparkle like stars in the magical light below. Several small fake horns, like ones on dragons, twirled on its top edges.

Her horn was wrapped in a thin teal fabric, clipped on with a chunk of black onyx. She fixtated her wings on her back to make them look like they were fake clip on ones. She then shrunk her size until she was as tall a princess Cadence, still tall, but not total alicorn height.

To finish it off, she wrapped a draped midnight blue dress around her, pinning the front together with a shiny black onyx clasp the shape of a star burst.

Fixing the mask onto her face, she smiled, small black heels flashing around her hooves as she clopped down the stairs, ready for a night of fun.

=============================================================================================

Nighty slowly made her way through the crowd, ducking under the giant beak of a stork mask. She then skittered to a stop to avoid smashing into a young stallion wearing a zebra mask. The only way she could tell it was a stallion was by the way he dressed. He wore a tight black tuxedo.

He stepped towards her, taking her hoof as if to kiss it.

Nighty shrunk back, pushing him away as she galloped away from him. She kept going until she found a more secluded part of the gardens where a few couples roamed and a small group sat, staring at the night sky.

She almost hit a tree as she trotted down the path. With a flash of her horn she enlarged the eye holes so she could actually see.

Nighty was wandering around, convinced that she had lost out, that all the good mares had gone home for the night, when she spotted her.

She moved slowly towards Nighty who seemed to be in a trance.

The mare was wrapped in orange silks, a mask of a tiger plastered to her face. The fierce mask of a tiger seemed to have no place on this beautiful mare.

Her body was curvy yet slim at the same time. It made Nighty lick her lips involuntarily.

The mare's mane, horn, and tail were wrapped in black and orange fabric which drifted around in the night breeze.

The two moved closer to each other, smiling under their masks.

"Hello," said Nighty. She had disguised her voice. It was a little higher than normal. The mare pretended to be about to kiss Nighty's hoof when instead she took Nighty's hoof and whisked her away into the crowd, laughing as she twirled them both around.

Nighty was taken by surprise but soon regained her composure and flipped the roles around. Now the tiger mare was the one being swung around. She was screaming in delight as Nighty tossed her a few feet into the air before catching her.

They danced until they dropped, literally. The pair, exhausted, crawled under a weeping willow, far away from the loud sounds of the Masquerade.

They lay next to each other, their breathing that had been hard and fast slowing before returning to normal.

Nighty flipped onto her side, surprised to find the tiger mare's masked muzzle inches from hers. The mare inched towards her.

They both lifted their masks so their lips could touch. Soon Nighty had rolled the mare onto her back and was assaulting her mouth hungrily.

But when Nighty drew back, the silks and mask of the mare had fallen away. Hers had also fallen to the ground.

"P-princess Twilight?!" Nighty said, shocked.

The lavender alicorn quickly took of, swooping away across the garden before she was gone from view. The only thing left of her was her mask, laying discarded at Nighty's hooves.

Nighty gingerly picked up the mask, her surprise fading. Nighty sighed as she let the mask go. It twirled in the soft breeze, landing in a small crick. The mask sunk, the orange fabric of it becoming mud-stained and wet as Nighty trudged home, slouched and disappointed.

41 Rapture by toratchi888

Darkness is Beauty, Beauty is Magic, Act 1

She is beautiful…

* * *

The assembled citizens of Ponyville waited eagerly for the climax of the Summer Sun Celebration. Fluttershy waited in the wings with her choir of birds, and Rarity was on the balcony, ready to draw open the curtains to the dawn.

Twilight Sparkle stood among the crowd on the floor, outwardly calm (betraying little of her irritation) as Pinkie Pie prattled on about parties. Twilight knew Applejack and Rainbow Dash were nearby.

Twilight’s right hoof twitched. Just breathe. It’s almost dawn; Princess Celestia isn’t far. Just make it through the next few minutes; if Princess Celestia is right and you’re wrong, you won’t be eaten by the Nightmare Moon. That is good. You’ll have the rest of your life to study the legend of the Mare in the Moon. Safely. In Canterlot. With books.

…and if you’re right, and Princess Celestia is wrong…

…Well, the worst that will happen is…

…slavery.

...eternal night.

…okay.

The murmurs of the crowd-ponies swelled with excitement as Mayor Mare mounted the dais and took the podium.

“Fillies and colts, mares and gentle stallions! Tonight we remember the victory of the Light over the Darkness, and thank our graceful ruler for her benevolence!

“Without further ado, I humbly present Princess Celestia!”

The bird-choir sang out joyfully, and the curtain fell back—

* * *

The room plunged into darkness. Ponies gasped and murmured. “What’n the hay?” Twilight heard Applejack mutter.

Twilight ignored the crowd, her eyes fixed on the balcony:

Instead of the golden rays of Celestia’s sun, a black shape curled about itself before resolving into the suggestion of a pony.

In the depths of this dark cloud, two brightly glowing eyes opened with exquisite slowness. Rarity squealed in fright and hid behind the curtain; Fluttershy cowered behind her wings, her bird choir mimicking her.

The pony’s form slid from the shadows, coalescing into a graceful mare, tall like Celestia, with a midnight-black coat illuminated by starlight. Those same few stars’ light shimmered on the mare’s wings and glistened on her ebony horn.

She was barded for war: A sleek silver champron framed her eyes, startlingly blue against the black of her body and slit like a dragon’s. Malicious intelligence danced within them, and also arrogant amusement.

Her peytral too was smooth and silver, and as Twilight squinted, she could barely make out black runes etched upon it, dancing before her eyes. On her hooves were war-boots, smooth and blue like sapphires, curled in the ancient symbol of the fleur-de-lis.

Frontal armour only, head and body; no flanchards and no croupiere, and no criniere for her neck. She must always face her foe head-on… Terrifying.

Twilight completed her analysis of the Mare’s armour before noticing her Cutie Mark. It was striking like nothing else: A white patch that Twilight could just make out as hundreds of tiny, overlapping starbursts, fairly glittering with magic to Twilight’s sight; and a black halo, the center of the circle hollow but perhaps filled halfway from its edge.

Twilight swayed, looking into the mare’s eyes…

…and the mare gazed back.

She is beautiful…

…I am Nightmare Moon.

* * *

Dear Princess Celestia,

As your faithful student, I have studied the wonders of Magic since I was a filly. Magic has inspired me; it is who I am.

But I never expected… to find magic in a legendary terror.

If this is the Nightmare Moon… if she is my nightmare…

…would that I never awake from my Rapture.

42 Eternity by Kinght of Lycaeus

The site I had chosen for this was perfect, secluded and hidden far from even the prying eyes of their so-called leaders. In my eyes mortals were merely pitiful creatures nothing more than pests living brief, meaningless lives that were remembered one minute and forgotten the next. I have lived lives beyond their reckoning and every mortal was the same, who cares for the colour of their pelt or what damn name they bear? An ironic notion for what I was preparing to do.

I looked to the stone platform I had raised and the prone form of a mare lying in an intricate spell circle in front of me. How unremarkable she seemed and alike she was to all the other pathetic mortals, yet somehow she intrigues me…. for a mortal, an insignificant creature, to not immediately succumb to the darkness that dwells within the hearts of all beings…. fascinating. I had thought little of her and why should I, a Goddess spare her any thoughts. She was nothing more than a passing curiosity.

I have destroyed many and yet she resisted even my most tempting and irresistible offer, so rare that a mortal would dare disobey me and live. In my long existence I have brought low the elder and the youth, the hale and the bereft, male and female, all manners of mortals. I poisoned their stupid minds with promises of wealth and power and how readily they all fall to the never-ending greed lurking in their feeble hearts. I even brought low one of the so-called mighty alicorns and I watched as she destroyed all that their pitiful existence had built. It truly was a pleasure watching every worthless mortal destroying their own world to quench their everlasting lust; they were so feeble, so weak. I let out a dark chuckle as I moved about to complete my work, Oh how low even the mightiest would go all for promises of even a sliver of power.

So weak, so worthless and here I wanted one to serve me at my side for all of eternity, irony at its finest. I first spied upon her when bested the last fool I had tempted. An intriguing mortal for once, even more so as tales of her exploits grew, it was then I decided what her new role shall be. She was a useless creature who had been chosen to serve me and yet mortals were fragile and she would not last for long in my service so some minor adjustments were necessary. I scoffed at this thought, the alterations I had planned were drawn from the most primal magic this world has and yet I was proven true. Mortals living their bland, menaingless lives have forgotten even the most basic of primal magic, for they would cower before its might branding it dark or forbidden.

A final inspection of my retinue of shadow golems to ensure that each were armed and poised to bar any possible intruders ensured that I was ready to begin the ritual. The moon was gone this night and the stars were dim, the conditions could not have been more perfect. A smirk crossed my visage, failure meant nothing more than losing another of the bland mass, intriguing as she might be, but success would bring something different. Success meant that after this I would have her as my own. Mine to command for all of eternity; her old life was gone only her life at my side awaited her.

I allowed the smirk to fade as I pulled out a series of smoky coloured crystals that were inspected over slowly before placing each of them on plinths surrounding the ritual site, ignoring the sorrowful wails coming from each crystal, A sealed flask was brought forth and opened allowing the metallic smell to escape. Carefully I poured the blood onto each rune etched into the stone platform that I had raised to serve as the base for this little ritual. The ritual grounds set I allowed myself a small smile before I began, mortal life essence were such simple items to obtain and yet with the proper spells they were so potent. The smile grew wider as I remembered the dying screams of the mortals I stole the essences from; perhaps I shall tempt my next victim with the promise of teaching primal magic. It would certainly be a far more entertaining sight to behold as the ancient magic ravaged the world once more.

One final inspection to confirm that the other items, namely all manners of horns, hooves, wings, and bones the simple tools nature granted mortals to channel their magic, were likewise in place and I was ready to begin; chanting out words in a language so ancient that only a few on this sphere even remember. I still bore the likeness from the last fool I had led astray; the body of an alicorn was not one I would have preferred but workable for my needs. I brought my magic to the tip of my sharp horn and slowly began channeling magic that few would have ever seen. I neared the end of my chant as I reached the apex of my magic and with a swift motion I rammed the tip through the prone mare’s heart. I could hear the loud cries from her as the magic slowly took hold, such pleasurable sounds that screams made. I found I had indulged too little of the dying wails of mortal as of late. After nearly a minute I raised my head and removed my horn from the still screaming mare whose body now began shaking and convulsing. I knew most of the effects would not occur just yet but already I could see the effect taking hold. In brief flashes I noted that the mare’s mark had changed, the magenta star bore a dark crescent in its center. I settled down to rest for it had been too long since my last use of such primal magic. Watching the mare bound within the spell circle, I smile for I knew that come dawn her life in my eternal servitude would begin.

43 Jaded by lyra_lover777

Nightmare Moon groaned as she collapsed on the couch, her eyelids fluttering closed as she began to heavily snore. The sound tore through out the house, waking Nighty's daughter.

Nighty was fast asleep as a small filly bounded out of her room, a blue floral nightgown on, trailing on the floor behind her.

Twilight rubbed her groggy eyes, getting out of bed at the sound of the snores. She peeked out of the room to see her daughter pounce on her mother's chest.

The filly screamed in joy as Nighty threw her off, screaming in surprise. Twilight laughed a s\she trotted over to her filly.

"Now, Twilight Crescent, let your mother sleep and go to bed." Twilight said. Twilight Crescent sighed and began to trudge towards her bedroom.

All of the sudden Nighty sprung from the couch, tackling the small alicorn. Nighty was a real alicorn, so it had passed down to Twilight Crescent.

Twilight C. screamed in mirth as her mother smashed into her, tackling her. They rolled around, play fighting.

Twilight S. giggled happily at their fighting . But soon Nighty stuck out a hoof, tripping Twilight S. and making her fall into their play fight. Soon all three were rolling around on the floor, laughing.

But soon Nighty screamed "Stop, stop!" as both Twilights attacked her, viciously tickling her.

All three were tired. Nighty wrapped her wings around both and pulled them close. Soon all three ponies were snoring on the floor, hugging each other as they slept on.

Author's Notes:

Editor's Note: Learned a new meaning of the word "Jaded" today!

44 Blood by SeanofTheDead

The blood, there had been so much blood. It was what dominated Nightmare's memories of that day. The day everything had gone wrong. She sat beside Twilight's bed feeling forlorn and useless, waiting for her love to awaken. She had done this since the 'incident' as it was being dubbed by Celestia and Luna. It had been three weeks since something dark and powerful had entered her, in an attempt to take possession of her mind. It had, and she had been forced to watch as this darkness went on a rampage through Canterlot destroying the city and terrorizing the inhabitants.

Until Twilight had caught up to her that is. Nightmare had watched as the dark THING had struck her down. She had felt Twilight's warm blood coat her hooves, and was forced to watch and feel every blow as though she was the one in control as Twilight, her love, was beaten until she had coughed up blood, her ribs sticking through her flesh in places, the fluids forming puddles beneath her. She hadn't raised a hoof to Nightmare, and the whole time she had been begging her to fight it, to take back control of her body. Then she had begged for her to stop. that had been the breaking point for Nightmare, Twilight had thought she was in control. that she had been the entire time. That the love they shared had been a meaningless lie.

That had been the point that Celestia showed up; just in time to watch as Nightmare wrested control from the darkness within her and drove it out. The instant that Celestia saw the dark shape fly from Nightmare's body, she put two and two together. Celestia’s rage towards the being that would cause such a thing to happen to both her new friend and her faithful student nearly drove her mad. That day was being heralded as The Day of Two Suns. While Celestia had been busy dealing with the evil being, Nightmare had taken Twilights broken form to the hospital where she now lay; where Nightmare had been since she had brought Twilight here, and where she would stay until Twilight recovered. She had the blood of her true love on her hooves, , and for the moment, she could only wait, hoping and praying that it could be washed clean.

45 Ensorcellment by lyra_lover777

Twilight leaned against Nightmare, snuggling into her side as she breathed in Nighty's unique smell. She smelled sweet and fruity with a splash minty-ness.

Nighty nuzzled Twilight back, sighing into her mane. They were both tired from a long day of debates and treaty making. All they wanted was the other.

Twilight pressed her mouth against Nighty's, her tongue rapidly exploring it. Nighty was taken aback but pushed back. They kissed for a while before breaking apart and laying on the grass, wrapping their wings around the other. They stared up at the night sky, the stars twinkling brightly above.

Twilight seemed as if in a trance as she stared up at the night sky. It was one of the clearest nights all year, and Twilight wanted to take in every drop of beauty.

Nighty smiled down at Twilight and moved her hoof mid-air. Suddenly a star shifted a few centimeters in the sky. It was really millions of miles in space, but it didn't look like much from down there. Twilight pointed excitedly. "Canterous Majorous just moved!"

Nighty smiled again as she moved Canterous Majorous farther, towards Gallopous Minorous.

Twilight gasped in awe as the pinpricks of light collided, exploding into giant balls of light, lighting up the night sky. Nighty enveloped Twilight in another kiss as the explosion continued on.

Meanwhile, back on earth...

"Run for your lives! The north star is moving towards the sun! They are going to collide!" a man screamed, his fake pony ears wiggling about frantically.

"We need a Conversion Bureau!" a woman screamed, her Fluttershy wings falling off her back as she ran out of the building.

Suddenly the two stars exploded, and Brony Con 2015 was lit up with the most spectacular light before becoming engulfed in flames.

46 Hurricane by Starfall13

The chilly wind whipped a mane of blue, pink, and purple. Twilight Sparkle sighed on the balcony built into her tree/library. She had finished reading the books Celestia had assigned her for the day. After organizing the library with Spike for about three hours, she read for a while till that too bored her, which was severely strange. After the baby drake went over to his crush's house, she didn't know what to do with herself. Her ears perked and she turned to see her touch down. Perhaps this was what she was waiting for.

Two icy blue dragon eyes gazed at her in the darkness, "Hello Twilight."

"Nightmare"

"You refuse to have more then a two minute conversation with me and I want to know why", said the black alicorn with a slight bit of aggravation. Patience didn't seem to work into her mindset today. She wanted to figure out why Sparkle never seemed happy when she came out to see her.

Twilight's eyes went wide for a second before she went back to the totally fake, cold facade that didn't seem to fit her, "I have n-nothing to say to you." Applejack would have smelled the lie from a mile away but Nightmare Moon was not the Element of Honesty. Maybe the Element of Magic still felt a bit uneasy around her. Even though she liked stargazing, she preferred not to do it for the rest of her life. No, she didn't hate her, sort of fear her? Well sadly that might be true.

In a flash the lavender mare found herself pinned to the ground. Hair made of constellations frantically flowed like rushing rapids. Armor gleamed in the moonlight. Lightning echoed out of nowhere, Luna and Nightmare probably enjoyed the crack of it in their ears. Her eyes glowed white and she shouted in a deafening volume, "THOU WON'T IGNORE US ANY LONGER! THOU WILL FACE OUR WRATH FOR GIVING US THE COLD SHOULDER!"

Almost automatically, the unicorn's ears pushed against her head in a desperate attempt to keep their ability to function. It was a wonder that the dead had not awoken hungry for brains. Also the poor balcony now had its own hoof-shaped indent. Any birds living in the tree quickly soared out including Owlicious who eyed the scene before going wherever owls go. A pinpoint of light started growing brighter and bigger on the tip of a black horn, aimed at the trapped chest of the one who wronged her. However, the blow never hit the target. Magenta eyes opened, glanced up confused, and in less then a second the owner of them was free to move.

The tall pony turned away, teeth gritted, water forming in her own vision. Nightmare Moon tried to will away the sign that she had emotions. In her head Nightmare called herself a wicked pony, not getting that she was just craving for one emotion all ponies want. Her mane was slowly returning to its normal speed, but at the rate she was grinding her fangs, she would have to gum her food for the rest of her enternal life. Oh right, a mortal, she was bawling in front of a mortal. That only partially got through to her. A hoof pulled her towards the magical being that she just didn't want to see right now.

No words were spoken about the alicorn of shadows who was blubbering like a filly. That was one thing the "alicorn of shadows" was grateful for. Twilight looked at her, studying her like a tome. Crying? This hadn't been what she expected from her. Maybe she had forgotten that old saying about judging a book by its cover. When purple lips spoke, "I don't know what to think about you. You visit every night just to try and talk to me. Maybe you just want a friend. Is that what you want?"

"Wanting got me nowhere but the Moon. I wish for what I can't have", answered the ageless mare regretfully. The Nightmare's own ears splayed back, "This was stupid, Lets just forget we ever spoke" She got ready to take off, all of her confidence was smoldering ash. What was the point in trying to make friends or something more? Obviously she was just wasting her time and Twilight's as well. A tug at her tail halted her flight. She was spun around and met with a kiss.

Twilight Sparkle sheepishly smiled with a cute blush, "Stay please, Spike is over at Rarity's and I can't stand to be alone tonight." The unicorn giggled, "I guess having friends can rub off on you." Actually the unicorn had no idea why she had kissed this pony and how the alicorn would react. Somehow she wasn't over thinking any of it.

This pony in front of her was lonely but lovely. Her black coat looked and felt like silk. While they would have to discuss about the battle gear she was adorning, it was elegant in its own right. Her eyes were cerelean, a stunning color trying to fight for dominance in the black of the night. That was about all she had, adjectives made everything sound so much better.

On Nightmare's end, she was plain shocked. Staring blankly while she tried to respond or remember how to. This pony had just stolen a kiss from her. Surely this mare was out of her skull. The waterworks started up again but she was hushed by Twilight, "No more of that."

After a minute or two of sniffling and cooing, all was silent. The dark mare was wordlessly pulled into the bedroom. She stared at tiny basket on the floor where said baby dragon most likely slept till her attention drifted back to the unicorn. Soon after much persuasion from Miss Sparkle she climbed into bed. Warm, it was warm under the sheets. She draped a wing over her lover or whatever she was because she was still kinda lost on where they stood. The small pony was the little spoon and the mare of night was the big one.

"Goodnight, Nighty", yawned Twi. Grinning at the tiny bit of red she saw dusting black cheeks.

"Goodnight little spark", whispered Nightmare who carefully gave her a minuscule nip on her ear with her fangs. The purple mare almost purred.

Twilight was snuggled up with her love. For once sleep came as quick as Rainbow Dash. Twi loved this pony who brought her together with her friends even if it wasn't on purpose. Even if her Nighty could get as angry as a hurricane, she was sure she could tame the storm.

47 Serf by lyra_lover777

Twilight Sparkle, once rejoiced as one of the highest students of Princess Celestia, grunted as she pulled the heavy cart full of pumpkins across the fields towards the manor, her back hurting, feeling as though a thousand razors were cutting her to pieces.

But it was nothing compared to what she was forced to do every night for her mistress.

After twenty minutes of trudging, Twilight finally collapsed in front o f the store house, passing out the second she was unhitched from the wagon.

Twilight was laying by a small ice cold stream. She stared into the reflective waters and achingly touched the water's surface. The almost silver water closed around her hoof, giving it a refreshing feeling. But when she tried to pull away, the river froze into a stream of solid silver, closing around her hoof.

Twilight screamed and shot her magic through her horn at the silver, but it did not do anything. She jumped a foot in the air and felt her hoof give slightly.

Twilight kept jumping, but it wasn't enough. She needed more altitude. She needed to fly.

Suddenly lavender wings sprouted from Twilight's back as her horn and legs grew. She took off, rocketing into the sky, leaving the silver stream behind in a flash as she zig-zagged around the skies, her purple and pink trail flowing behind her as she spiraled and spun.

Twilight's eyes flittered open to see the other slaves crowded around her, cowering in fear.

She slowly got to her hooves. She felt taller than before. She felt two objects shift on her back. She looked at her spine to see two prodigious wings laying there, glimmering in the dying light.

But then a few of the slaves squeaked as loud buzzing could be heard. Now-alicorn Twilight turned her head to see Mistress Nightmare Moon swooping towards her, rage on her face.

"You are late, lowly servant, for our nightly sessions!" Mistress Nighty screamed.

Then Twilight jumped into the air, smiling triumphantly.

"I will not be your toy. No, not any more." She glared at Nighty before swooping away.

Free. Free. No longer bound to her. No longer her serf.

That Night...

Nighty looked out at the night sky, the permanent frown that had always been set on her face somehow curving even farther to the ground, as if its gravitational pull had increased.

Over the many years she had lived here, many serfs had pleasured her and caught her eye.

But none as much as that naughty Twilight Sparkle.

She forced her to do what she had forced her to do as punishment for stealing food from the warehouse for herself.

After a few days she should have stopped, but Twilight was curvy, beautiful, smart...Everything.

I need to find that serf, my sparkle. Nightmare thought. She quickly wrote a letter to her highest servant, Penny Pocket, telling him that he now owned the manor. She then swooped out her window frame, taking off in search of her missing serf.

48 Dangerous by SeanofTheDead

Nightmare couldn't believe her luck when she had been sentenced to reformation by Celestia and Luna. She had thought that they would banish her to the moon again. In truth she had Twilight Sparkle to thank for her light sentence. She remembered that she had used Discord as an example that reformation was possible. And now here she was, a free mare. She was currently in the custody of Twilight, but free none the less. She had of course planned to escape and wreak havoc upon Equestria. But she had decided to lull everypony into a false state of security first. Celestia had warned her first, that Twilight was in fact a VERY dangerous mare. She had scoffed internally but made sure to let her know that she wouldn't be battling Twilight anytime soon. Yet for some strange reason Celestia had only laughed.

That had been five months ago. She was in fact surprised to find that Twilight enjoyed magical experiments and books even more than Nightmare herself. It had come as a bit of a shock when she had caught herself enjoying the time she spent with the young alicorn, and she had immediately redoubled her efforts to plan her escape and Celestias destruction. Yet she found herself missing Twilight's company more and more as the days wore on, turning to weeks, eventually being unable to focus on her plans and being completely disinterested in them in their entirety.

And so here she was standing in front of Twilight in Twilight's bedroom, shuffling her hooves as Twilight gave her a scrutinizing look. She had confessed to planning Equestria's downfall, and had given her everything. The reasons for her doing so she had come to truly understand when she had woken up in a sweat after a "compromising" dream involving the adorkable princess.

"Well I can honestly say I'm not all that surprised. Discord also went against his reformation at first. But considering that you just handed me everything...I guess you have taken it to heart." Twilight said as her look changed to one of happiness. " I guess I'll just go to bed now and-

Twilight's words were cut off as Nightmare enveloped her in an impromptu hug and pressed their lips together. As they broke their kiss Nightmare looked at Twilight to read her expression. Twilight's face was flushed, and she was breathing heavily.

"Well I wasn't expecting your reasons for becoming reformed to be...well...me., but I will say this. I missed you too. I was going to tell you in a more romantic setting than this though," Twilight said with a giggle.

Nightmare blushed and said "Twilight Sparkle would it be alright if I slept here this night?" blushing even more when Twilight giggled.

"Yes Nightmare, you may," Twilight said as she walked to her bed with more hip swaying than was necessary.

And so Nightmare lay with Twilight curled against her barrel, smiling happily as she nuzzled against her.

She started slightly as she remembered what Celestia had said about Twilight. She smiled to herself and thought ,You were right after all Celestia, Twilight Sparkle is indeed a very dangerous mare.

49 Help by Toratchi888

Dusk’s shadows stretch across Equestria. Long fingers of darkness reach from lofty Canterlot over humble Ponyville. Within that ivory palace, confrontation with a princess awaits.

Slinking in the spaces of shadow, a black cloud like smoke weaves its way from its hiding place towards fair Canterlot, and the fair mare within.

Unusually, both day and night guards line the battlements; more unusually, their eyes are fixed on the horizon, ignoring all signs of movement below the walls of noble Canterlot.

The shadow slips within the castle’s precincts…

* * *

Nightmare Moon coalesced out of her cloud of smoke, skulking in what little shadow remained in Canterlot’s inner courtyard; the same in which she had arrived with Twilight but one month prior.

Nopony had seen Twilight Sparkle in Ponyville since then, though Nightmare Moon had spied on Twilight’s friends and learned they had visited a few times, mainly to reunite Twilight with Spike and reassure them both that they were being taken care of.

Nightmare Moon peered around, ears swivelling. She heard not a sound from the Royal Guards; they stood fixed in place. Nor was there even a hint of breeze, or birdsong, or the chirrup of insects; all was silent and still.

Suddenly, Nightmare Moon’s ears snapped forward. She heard the clip-clop of hooves rising from the broad stairs hidden below the level of the courtyard’s floor. The steps were measured, their owners walking calmly, possibly two abreast.

Princess Cadance and Princess Celestia’s heads appeared below ground level, rising with their bodies. Cadance moved left, while Celestia moved right, flanking and facing the path.

Yet another set of hoofbeats sounded, and Princess Luna came into view. She paused at the top of the stairs, staring intently into the shadows for several heartbeats, before she moved to stand at her sister’s left hoof.

A final set of hoofbeats signalled the arrival of the final princess: Twilight Sparkle. She walked slowly and with great care, placing her hooves nicely with each step. As she cleared the lip of the stairs, the other Princesses closed ranks, such that Celestia, Luna, and Cadance backed Twilight shoulder-to-shoulder.

Nightmare Moon observed Twilight from her hiding place: Twilight stood with shoulders stooped, and she had bags under her eyes. Still, despite her obvious weariness, her eyes were still bright with Twilight’s famed intelligence.

Nightmare Moon stepped slowly from the shadows, ever step measured, the nicety of her steps a concession to peaceable intentions.

The alicorns stared at each other, measuring intent. After a moment, Celestia raised her chin a fraction. Twilight, sensing the motion, turns about.

“Call us if you have need, my faithful student,” said Celestia, reserving a slight frown for Nightmare Moon.

“Be thou true to thine own self, Twilight Sparkle,” said Luna, with a glance at the Nightmare.

Cadance broke ranks for a moment. She lowered her head, and touched her horn to Twilight’s. A brief azure flare of magic flowed up Cadance’s horn and into Twilight’s; Twilight rolled her wings open and closed, straightening slightly with the motion.

The three princesses gave a last look towards Nightmare Moon, before making their way down the stairs; Nightmare Moon heard them take the right-hand path, just as she had with Twilight the month before. As the hoofbeats faded, Twilight turned to face her Nightmare.

Nightmare Moon gazed levelly at Twilight, and she returned the gaze with equanimity. A heartbeat, and Nightmare Moon dipped her head, closed her eyes, and lit her horn; her magic surrounded her champron, which lifted from her head to settle beside her right forehoof.

Free of its confinement, Nightmare’s mane puffed out, bobbing like a cloud around her head.

Twilight chuckled quietly, snorting once as she did. Nightmare Moon’s eyes narrowed before she blinked and tilted her head. “Well, I’m glad you’re laughing, though I fail to see what’s funny.”

“Hahaha, your hair’s all poofy like Pinkie’s! That head-armour… Rarity wouldn’t be caught dead with hair like that! If she could see you…!”

Twilight sunk to the ground, chuckling all the while. After a moment, Nightmare Moon lifted her champron with her magic and spun it to one side. Seeing her reflection, she chuckled as well.

As their mirth died, Nightmare Moon replaced her champron on the ground and gave her full attention to the now-standing Twilight Sparkle. “Well, my dear, I can say you look much more beautiful when I can see your face clearly.”

“As opposed, I assume, to bearing down on me and making me your blood-slave in the pale moon-light,” Twilight responded drily.

“Ah. Quite…”

“You received the vision I sent you. Obviously.”

“Yes…” Nightmare pawed the ground. “You have decided, then.”

“I talked with Luna, and Celestia, and Cadance, and my friends. I don’t know if they completely understood… what you put me through.”

Nightmare Moon blew, a slight tilt of her head betraying her nervousness. “You have an ironic sense of pomp, Twilight Sparkle; choosing the place of our arrival for my little subterfuge…”

Twilight’s face closed, became serious. “Nightmare, let’s not mince words. I understand you’re trying to find your place. I believe you truly want to be somepony, and be someone’s special somepony.”

“Truly.”

“You say you tried to help me, to show me my weakness and my strength. But you did it through lies and trickery.”

“But did not my plans, the lunar phases, show—”

“Nightmare, cut the crap.”

Nightmare’s head snapped up.

Twilight glared at her. “You had me going with your moon-phase mumbo-jumbo. Congratulations. The lunar-phases have power, yes; Luna admits as much. But she told me—and I’m relieved—that it’s only as much power as you believe in. You gave me the key to be free of your power when you told me the trick you used, the matching of your schedule to the phases.

“For months now, I’ve been isolated. That hurt me and it hurt my friends. I bear my own measure of responsibility for my actions, but that does not excuse yours. As a princess… I am within my rights to punish you, of course.”

Nightmare cowered, shrinking in on herself.

“How will I deal with you? Shall I pardon you? Build you up? Welcome you in? Perhaps you would fear my anger… if I wished you harm."

Nightmare peeked up at that, a puzzled frown crossing her face.

“Nightmare Moon, you pride yourself for your cleverness, but now, in the face of one angry pony, you shrivel in despair. Do you think a Princess is so wrathful that you should know fear?”

Nightmare Moon’s eyes widened.

“Tell me, Nightmare: Do you want me to be friends with you?”

Nightmare Moon’s mouth dropped open.

Twilight smiled. “Oh? Is an offer of friendship all it takes”—she trots forward, until her face is close to Nightmare’s—“to defang the Mare in the Moon?”

Twilight blew gently, touching Nightmare’s muzzle briefly with her own and staring into the larger mare’s eyes. “I am Princess of Friendship. And you need a friend. So perhaps it is I… who can help you.”

* * *

Twilight opens her wings, closes her eyes, and lights her horn.

In the courtyard below, Celestia, Luna, and Cadance touch horns and invoke their magic.

In the east, the Moon rises, a halo like Twilight’s Cutie Mark framing it.

Twilight lifts Nightmare Moon’s head with a hoof, and together they turn east. Above them, the stars spread out, glittering diamonds against a velvet sky.

The Royal Guard, as one, lift their horns to the sky and send a glowing wave of magic into the sky, which shimmers and twinkles like star-light.

“The night-light holds no terror, nor the realm of dreaming pain. Sun and Moon and Stars; Love and Tolerance and Friendship.” Twilight raises a hoof to place on Nightmare Moon’s shoulder. “The Nightmare is over; together, we shall find a new name for you, and you will help me spread the Magic of Friendship.”

Nightmare Moon smiles. “Thank you, Twilight. I’d like that. I will be… your help.”

50 Dat Ass by Toratchi888

Twilight Sparkle stood in her kitchen. Bright afternoon sunlight streamed in, framing her visitor: A large, void-black alicorn, who would have been immediately recognizable to anyone in Ponyville despite being shorn of her armour.

Said black alicorn—Nightmare Moon—was at that moment seated on her haunches, using one of Twilight’s better cushions (let it not be said Twilight was a bad host; she had many books on etiquette), sipping tea.

Nightmare sipped tea rather like Luna sipped tea—eyes closed, teacup floating daintily just to the right of her muzzle, a thimble-full of good cream swirled delicately to mix—and Twilight swung her body to face the door, grinding her teeth as she considered this tea-drinking fact.

Of course, surely, Nightmare Moon must have known how this would infuriate Twilight Sparkle: Twilight was famous friends with Princess Luna, having helped her reclaim civil interaction with the pony-folk; Princess Luna returned the favour by aiding Twilight in her stargazing, and always brought the best tea to keep them warm at night.

And now, to imply that Nightmare Moon had been watching Twilight Sparkle for months, and was Twilight’s friend, and that Luna was something more than just a friend, and that Nightmare Moon wanted to be something more—

“Let me get this straight,” Twilight hissed.

“You tried to bathe the land in eternal night.
“You banished Princess Celestia for a night.
“You tried to hurt me and my friends, and scared us witless in the Everfree Forest.
“You tried to destroy the Elements of Harmony.
“You laughed at our pain.
“You’ve been following me for months, watching me—”

Twilight swung her head around just as Nightmare Moon brought her tea to her lips, one eye closed, one eye peering appraisingly at Twilight’s dock.

Twilight’s mouth dropped open, blood rushing to her face and her snout scrunching as her eyes narrowed in fury. Twilight spun about, glaring into Nightmare Moon’s one open eye.

“And now you want to be my marefriend?!”

“Hey, Twilight?” Spike poked his head into the kitchen doorway. “There’s a customer—”

A flash of purple light, and Nightmare Moon’s teacup smacked into Spike’s face and perched on his snout. He reached up a clawed hand, carefully gripped it by the handle, and lifted it off his face before he slipped out of sight.

* * *

Spike heard Nightmare Moon say something, too quietly to decipher, but—

* * *

“THAT IS THE MOST ASININE THING I’VE EVER HEARD!”

* * *

Purple light burst through Golden Oaks Library like an explosion. Violet-black smoke billowed throughout the tree, sending the single patron—Colgate—galloping out the door. Spike cradled the teacup as he hid on the lowest bookshelf.

* * *

After a few minutes, Spike poked his head into the kitchen again, teacup still clutched in his clawed hands.

Twilight Sparkle sat in the kitchen, panting, eyes crossed, stroking her tail as it wrapped around her. On the other side of the table, burned into the floor: Twilight’s Cutie Mark.

A lone black feather spun lazily above the scorched wood.

* * *

Nightmare Moon blinked, and peered around. Barren grey rock stretched as far as her eyes could see. Stars twinkled above her and over the horizon.

She pawed the ground, and stared over the horizon at a blue-and-green orb hanging in the void, far away but clear to her sight. For a long time, she contemplated the spectacle in silence.

As the veil of night slid across the face of Equestria, she voiced but one thought:

“I wonder which part of ‘Twilight, you are charming and have a beautiful tail; I love you; be mine’ she found asinine…”

51 Insipid by lyra_lover777

Insipid
by lyra_lover777

"D-dear, umm, do you have any sense of taste?" The hall fell silent as everypony in attendance to the Gala watched Nightmare Moon, newly reformed, leaning over Rarity, who was shrinking back from the alicorn, who was now turning deep red.

"How. Dare. You. Insult. ME!!!" Nighty glared at Rarity before using her magic to flip Rarity's golden crown off her head, flipping it into the bowl of grape jello.

"But-but who wears a litle black dress to the Gala. It's-it's tasteless!" Rarity shouted.

Red poured by the bucket full onto Nighty's face. She ripped Rarity's beautiful lavender dress by the seams, the thread unravelling as the majestic gown broke apart. The fabric floated to the ground at Rarity's hooves, the last piece landing on her back.

"HOW DARE YOU DESTROY MY DRESS!" Rarity leaped at Nighty, only to be restrained by her coltfriend Fancy Pants and Applejack, while Twilight and Rainbow Dash held Nighty back.

"I'll spend all night with you if you calm down," Twilight cooed in Nighty's ear.

Fancy Pants said the same thing, except much more graphic. Soon both ponies were blushing as their counterparts drew away from them.

As the pair exited the banquet early to avoid more tussles between the two, the two shared whispered insults.

"Insipid."

"Atrocious."

"Bland."

"Fat."

This last one had Rarity gasping in horror as Nighty giggled softly. Suddenly Rarity tackled Nighty into the bushes, were screams and hollers of pain could be heard form both.

Fancy and Twilight shared a glance before both rolling their eyes and retrieving their beloved.

52 Hail and Farewell by Knight of Lycaeus

To my friends and to my family, how strange it feels and how…. difficult this is to write. To write a letter biding all of you a final farewell was never something I wanted to do nor could I have imagined being something I would ever have to do. I could write endlessly about this, but words verbal or written could never convey or express the depths of how sorry I am to be leaving all of you.

It is known that there are some things in life that cannot be changed and yet Ponies are known for change, for their control and command over their world. Yet as we know not everything can be changed, we too face the pall of illness and the touch of death; another thing that we accept as unchanging is the thing that binds us together and that leads us on our road in life, what we call fate or destiny. This metaphysical, intangible concept we believe to be set but I know that it is not.

For me to have disappeared was something I never would have done and I regret that my disappearance will be your last memory of me. But please, despite what has happened do not seek revenge no matter how tempting or appealing the idea is but instead mourn for me, cry for me, but above all remember the memories we have made and our time together.

A being whose age goes beyond what I could reckon, whose age spans nearly all of creation has taken me; what magic she used upon me is something I do not understand and could not even begin to comprehend. It is this magic which pulls me away from you and no matter how much I would wish to trade it all just to be with all of you one last time, I know it will not be so.

I wish that there was a way to reverse time, for things to change, for things to be different, but I know that will not come to past. For that I am sorry. I am sorry I could find no way to return to you and that is my lasting regret, that I will likely never see or speak to anyone of you ever again.

In this last letter I express my sorrow, my anger, my grief, and my regret. My sorrow that our separation will last forever. My anger for what has been forced upon me. My grief in knowing that now I could not even join you in the end, that I will never enter the Eternal Realms. My regret that I will never be among you once more and that I was forced to speak my last words through a letter rather than in person.

Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, you five were the friends I never dreamed I would ever have. Thank you for showing me the magic of friendship, I will treasure it always, farewell my friends.

Spike, my companion, my rock, my biggest supporter, all these and more. We have been together since the day you hatched and I am sorry for leaving you so soon. I love you and farewell my brother, my son.

Celestia, my loving and guiding light. You were my mentor in all things magic and in many things besides, for that I will always be grateful. Farewell Celestia and thank you for everything.

Luna, our time together was brief. I never knew you as well as it could have been but from what time we spent together, I will treasure that forever. Farewell Luna.

Cadance, my big sister always ready with advice, comfort, and laughter. I will miss all of that but thank you for being there especially when I was younger, farewell my sister.

Shining Armour, always my protector even when I thought it was silly. I loved our times together and the adventures we made, thank you for everything and farewell BBBFF.

My parents, words fail to articulate my thoughts on this and fail to articulate my words to you. I love you both and I always will, I am sorry I had to leave like this and that I could never return. I love you both and thank you for everything.

A dark purple unicorn slowly wiped away the tears that had been pooling in her eyes as she wrote this one final letter. She was careful to ensure her tears would not stain this last letter. To write the letter had been difficult but it was necessary. It would never answer everything but perhaps it would help provide some closure. Standing up she looked across the valley and could see Canterlot off in the distance, the slowly setting sun half-hidden behind the magnificent city.

Summoning her magic she sent the letter to Celestia and breathed in deep to steady herself. Military and military history was always more Shining’s thing but she had picked up on a few things here and there. Gathering her magic, her horn coated in a magenta light tinged with black and with a burst recreated her cutie mark in the sky. She had made it significantly larger and more lasting than necessary to ensure it could be seen for afar. The tradition of using one’s magic to recreate their cutie marks in the sky was once common among unicorns as a formal salute which had fallen out of use in favour of the current one.

Twilight could feel a strong sharp tug from within and knew she had to answer to the magic pulling away at her. With one last glance to the setting sun, she turned away. She turned away from Canterlot and her old life and turned to follow the pull of the powerful magic tethered to her, to face the dark of the void and her new life under her mistress.

53 Adorable by Toratchi888

Lightning and thunder crashed through Ponyville, sending its costumed denizens fleeing in abject terror. Their screams and cries resounded in the main square, flung far on sudden winds from the north.

Twilight Sparkle vanished her Star-Swirl the Bearded costume and galloped towards the source of the wind, with Princess Luna (unclad) taking wing to follower her; Rainbow Dash, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie followed in their wake, quickly meeting up at a run (or in Rainbow Dash’s case, in flight).

“Hey, Princess Luna,” Rainbow Dash called, “you trying to scare everybody again?”

“Neigh, Rainbow Dash, ‘tis not so,” Luna replied. “As the festivities were drawing to a close, We presumed the ponies would wish their entertainments to cease for the nonce; We have pranked nopony of late.”

“Then what’n the hay could be causin’ this ruckus?” Applejack called.

“MAYBE IT’S THE REAL NIGHTMARE MOON! THE CURSE OF NIGHTMARE NIGHT—!” Pinkie Pie tripped over her own hooves, flying dock over withers and rolling with a “ba-ba-bacaw!” until Twilight caught her in her magic, righted her with a flip, and vanished her chicken costume; she vanished the others' costumes too.

“TWILIGHT SPARKLE!” boomed a voice like thunder.

Twilight and her companions skidded or fluttered to a stop, settling together back to back and peering around.

“That almost sounded like…” Twilight narrowed her eyes and lit her horn, projecting purple light by which to see.

Storm-clouds appeared around Twilight’s group, and malicious laughter echoed around them.

In a flash, a black alicorn appeared before them, girded as for war. Twilight and her friends shrank back, but Luna stepped forward and pointed a hoof in accusation at the interloper.

“NIGHTMARE MOON!” she boomed, wings snapped open wide, the Royal Canterlot Voice carrying the name like a pronouncement of doom.

“I WAS RIGHT!” “Shaddap, Pinkie!” “Tarnation…”

“LUUUUUNAAAAA, DEAREST, HOW ARE YOU KEEPING?” Nightmare Moon boomed in reply, mirroring Luna’s stance and delivery.

“SILENCE, WRETCHED CREATURE!”

“THOU SHALT NOT SILENCE THE NIGHTMAAAAAAAAAAAARE!!!!”

The force of Nightmare Moon’s retort began to blow Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Pinkie Pie away, and even Luna struggled to remain in place.

Twilight focussed her energy, and with a “zzz-boff-poff!” she teleported behind Nightmare Moon. The black alicorn spun about, but Twilight shot a beam from her horn; Nightmare Moon danced back with the aid of her wings, but the beam struck one of her thunderclouds.

The beam ricocheted between the half-dozen clouds, which suddenly burst into a liquid wave, drenching the Nightmare.

The black mare blinked rapidly, stunned, and shook weakly before rounding on Twilight, eyes blazing as she stepped forward.

“You miserable little—!” She checked her step, blinked rapidly again, then—

“Ah… AH… ATCHOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!”

The force of her sneeze sent Twilight Sparkle airborne, flailing and screaming off towards the horizon, and snapped Nightmare Moon head over rump to smack into the ground.

Rainbow Dash streaked past, catching Twilight on her downward trajectory, and bore her back to her friends. Twilight was hyperventilating, but quickly regained her composure as she saw Nightmare Moon’s unconscious state.

Applejack, Pinkie Pie, and Luna approached cautiously, bodies low and ready to spring.

“…I think she’s out of it,” Applejack observed.

“So now what do we do with her?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“…I’m going to have to take her home with me,” Twilight sighed.

“WHAT?!” Luna, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash cried in unison.

“SLUMBER PARTY!!!!” “PINKIE PIE!”

* * *
“Good grief, darling, you don’t seriously mean to…?”

“She’s helpless, Rarity! Nopony would take her in, would they? Does she deserve to suffer?”

“Rarity, ain’t no way Twi’s gonna leave this one alone; might as well indulge her.”

“Oh, very well. Twilight, darling, promise you won’t let her trick you, or let her out of your sight, hmm?”

“I promise, Rarity. I’ll be writing Princess Celestia as soon as Spike gets back, and Princess Luna promised to return and check up on me as soon as she straightened things out with Mayor Mare.”

“Very well, dear. Now, I suppose the rest of us had better go check on those little fillies, and sweet Fluttershy. I know Sweetie Belle means well, but leaving those three in the Boutique… Come along, Applejack. Surely Rainbow Dash has eaten Pinkie Pie and the Cakes out of stock by now; we’d best collect them before we see to our sisters…”

*Clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop, clip-clop…* *squeee, clatch*

Nightmare Moon groaned, stirring. She cracked her eyes and peered around. She was inside a home; that much was obvious by its furnishings.

Or maybe not. She blinked, clearing her gummy eyes, and stared again.

Bookshelves lined the walls, and there were a couple reading stands and desks here and there. A library?

She pawed at herself; she was lying on her right side on a cushion—perhaps a little small for a pony her size—and her hindquarters were covered by a blanket, lying lengthwise across her flank. I suppose it’s better my hindquarters aren’t cold—Wait, WHY AM I HERE?

“WHO HAS ABDUCTED THE NIGHTMARE?!”

“Ah, you’re awake!”

Nightmare rolled onto her left side to see the owner of the voice, who was behind her. Twilight Sparkle appeared, beaming, from a kitchen, a bowl of something steaming and smelling of delicious herbs clutched in her magic, a wooden spoon spinning along the rim.

Nightmare Moon narrowed her eyes. “Twilight Sparkle, the engineer of our downfall. Atchoo! Yet again.” She sighed. “Dost thou bring to us the poisoned hemlock, for to end our misery?”

Twilight’s face fell into perplexity before she brightened again, giggling. “What are you talking about? Hemlock’s no cure for a cold.”

“A what now?” Nightmare Moon deadpanned.

“Well, I presume you were lying in wait during the festivities, so you might not have been keeping warm—oh, yes, I put your armour up so it wouldn’t get damaged; I haven’t had time to polish it yet—and you got drenched by the thunderheads when we, ah, met earlier tonight, so I decided to bring you home!”

Twilight’s beaming face changed not one bit. Nightmare Moon snorted. “So. What now? Atchoo!”

Twilight’s smile altered ever so slightly; it was disconcerting. “Soup.”

Nightmare Moon’s eyes widened a little. “Ah, methinks not, thank you kind—”

The wooden spoon was shoved unceremoniously into Nightmare Moon’s mouth. She made a muffled “hmph!” sound before swallowing.

“I shall have you know, Twilight Spark—hmph!—I do not condone this—HMPH!—you foalish!—HMMMPH! STOP FEEDING ME AT ONCE!!!!”

“Too late; that was the last of it.” Twilight chuckled, levitating the bowl and spoon back into the kitchen.

Nightmare Moon began breathing heavily, her exhalations coming as fierce snorts.

“Twilight Sparkle,” she hissed, “thou art a fool indeed if thou thinkest thine intellect and thy peasant soups shall defeat the Immortal Nightmare.”

“Well, my intellect, plus some Valerian Root, Chamomile, Hops, Passion Flower, and a few bits of Wild Lettuce and a few drops of Cider Infusion for taste. And more than a few years of tricks for caring for a cranky little dragon.” Twilight’s smile softened as she made her way up the nearby stairwell to her loft. “So it’s bedtime for the Immortal Nightmare; pleasant dreams.”

Nightmare Moon struggled to rise, but she slumped to the cushion and whinnied weakly. “Drat… I… Twilight Sparkle… you…”

As warmth stole over her, Nightmare Moon’s last coherent thought was: Uh… Maybe this isn’t so bad…

* * *

Twilight smiled, watching Nightmare Moon as she snuggled under the blankets Twilight had fetched, snoring softly.

It was absolutely adorable.

54 Trollestia by SeanOfTheDead

Twilight had been having the worst day EVER. Today had started well enough with her and her crush/reformee Nightmare Moon simply walking through Whitetail Woods having a good time when they had come across a prepared picnic just sitting out in the open. After they had curiously approached it they had discovered that it had been given to them! While Nightmare was skeptical upon figuring out that the giver of this gift was not named, Twilight had opened the picnic basket already. Which considering she hadn't expected the cupcakes inside to be living (or have functioning arms and legs) this was a big mistake. They all began singing to them:

Twilight and Nightmare sitting in a tree,
K-I-S-S-I-N-G,
first comes love, then comes-

The adorable abominations never got to finish their song however because Twilight had figured out where they had come from. And she had begun blasting them one by one, making them scream(and explode) as they tried (and ultimately failed) to escape the alicorns wrath. As the last cupcake whose name was (apparently) Tim, held his dying brother in his arms he spoke to Twilight.

"You monster, Jerry was still a boy...he had never held a fritter in his arms...never got to know the love of a good cookie... he deserved to live his life to the fullest! And now he can't because you explodey lasered him... how could you? " Nightmare had tears in her eyes as he spoke.

"Because SHE sent you here," Twilight said venom in her voice, "because she RUINED everything I had planned for today. And you helped. Goodbye."

And with that she rid the world of apparently a rather horrid (and disturbing) race of creatures. (It would later be discovered that they had plans to overthrow the ruler of Equestria via obesity.)

"Twilight You know who sent those cupcakes?" Nightmare asked.

"Yes. There is only one pony with enough magic, and knowledge of cake and pranks, who can do something like this...Trollestia."

"Twilight...do you...have feelings for me? Is that why you destroyed them? Did you WIPE OUT an entire new race of beings for me?"

..."Yes."

"How lovely!" Nightmare said as she scooped the smaller mare into her forelegs and kissed her.

Trollestia watched the scene from her dimension and smiled.

"You are welcome Twilight." She said as she turned away from that screen to face her troops.

"Creepy Singing Cupcake Brigades numbers three through eight you have your orders."

But that is a story for a different prompt.

Author's Notes:

I swear I don't make this stuff up. - Editor.

55 Impoverished by lyra_lover777

Twilight Sparkle was crawling through the thick brush. Twigs and leaves had become ensnared in her mane, and her body was caked in mud and dirt.

After another minute of crawling, she stopped, falling onto her stomach as she tried to wet her dry and chapped lips, groaning for water.

She violently tore a tan twig out of her hair, a small piece of her tresses caught along its length.

Her stomach rumbled with a vengeance. She opened her light saddle bags that she had picked up from a town a week ago. Inside was no water and one piece of stale bread.

She engulfed the bread in one giant bite, rolling onto her back. She was still unsatisfied.

It was deep into the night. She looked up at the full moon through a hole in the bush she was hiding under.

Suddenly the moon became covered by a dark figure that flapped noisily through the sky, speeding like a bullet.

It was Nightmare.

Twilight scrambled into another, bigger bush that would cover her entire body. But it was a thorn bush, and screeched as she tried to escape the sharp talons of the plant.

Her blood curdling screams could be heard by Nightmare, who swooped down from the starry sky towards her. Twilight screamed even louder as the dark alicorn landed next to her, smiling.

"Hello."

56 Fire by KibaWR

Fire. That's all there was. Just fire and flames and destruction, and she was the one who had started it.

Why did she decide to put the peaceful town of Ponyville on fire? She didn't even know and, quite frankly, didn't care. Whatever the reason was though they deserved it. They had denied her er dream twice now so now they were paying the price for it. How dare they shun and ignore her beautiful realm of the night! Now those ignorant ponies were burning up in an inferno that was worthy of the sun they so obviously worship. Well, some were. Most of them had already perished in the blaze.

A mare with a once snow-white coat laid in the burning ruins of what was once her home, ashes of all kinds of fabric danced in the searing hot air around her.

A pegasus was lying on the ground, impaled by a timber beam that had shot her out of the sky when a building collapsed near her. She had been dead before she even lost altitude.

Inside what was once the Ponyville bakery laid the scorched corpse of an earth pony mare. On her face was a wicked smile. Her mind had been unable to process what was going on so she had done the only thing she could before the flames claimed her too. Laughing. She laughed and laughed like a maniac as the world burned to ashes around her.

On the edge of the two, two more corpses laid in what was once a beautiful apple orchard, a pegasus mare and another earth pony mare. Both had tried to help some animals that called the orchard their home to flee from the oncoming inferno. Alas, they were too slow. Wrapped in the hooves of the pegasus was the carcass of a bunny and next to the earth pony laid the skeleton of a dog. The only animals they were able to get before the inferno arrived.

As the town burned, she looked around herself with a wicked grin on her face. She walked through the burning streets, the fire unable to touch her. Every scream, every desperate cry for help, every last breath drawn, it all was music to her ears.

She reached an old oak tree in the middle of Ponyville. Like everything else in this doomed town it was on fire, burning with such intensity that it was a miracle it was still standing, especially given that it had been hollowed out to serve as the towns library. The door to the library stood open and in it she could see another pony standing. Her fur was black from the fire and even burned away entirely at some parts of her body. Still, somehow she got the feeling that this pony was supposed to be purple...

The should-be-purple pony looked at her and their eyes met. Surprisingly, the mares eyes held no anger, no wrath, no hate as they looked at the being who had just set her home on fire and killed her friends with it. They held nothing but sadness... endless, endless sadness. The mares lips formed a single word. One single last word before the tree she called her home gave a sickening cracking noise and collapsed right onto the mare...

“Why?....”

- - - - - -

Her breath was heavy and her coat was drenched in a layer of cold sweat as she shot awake. For a moment she swore she could still feel the heat of the fire on her coat but then a soft breeze blew into the room through an open window, making her shiver as it blew over her wet fur.

The cold seemed to calm her mind far enough for her to register where she was. In a bedroom. In Ponyville. Inside Golden Oaks Library. Inside the home she shared with Twil...

“Twilight!” She panicked when that name entered her mind. “Twilight? Twilight!”

A groan caught her ears and pulled her attention to her right where a young purple alicorn mare slowly rose into a sitting position on her bed.

“N-Night?.. What's wrong?... Why are you...”

That's as far as she got as she suddenly found a pair of black-coated hooves wrapped around her neck. “You're alive... Y-You're still alive!” Nightmare Moon then buried her face in Twilights chest fur and began to sob heavily.

Twilight was confused by what her marefriend was talking about, but right now, comforting her came first. So put a hoof on the black mares head and stroked her gently. “Shhh...” she said in a soft voice. “Don't cry... It's okay now...”

Despite her best efforts, Twilight had little luck with calming her lover down again. Eventually though, Nightmare ran out of tears and pulled away from the younger alicorn.

“I... I had a dream, Twilight... A horrible dream i-in which I set Ponyville on fire....” Nightmare looked down, avoiding Twilights eyes. “It was terrible... Everypony died and... and I enjoyed it! I enjoyed watching them die! I enjoyed listening to them screaming as they died in the flames! I... I enjoyed seeing all your friends and loved ones die a horrible flaming death!”

Now Nightmare met Twilights. The younger mares look was filled with terror at first but that look soon got replaced by one of love and sympathy.

“Night...” Now it was Twilight who wrapped her hooves around her lovers neck, pulling her in for a close hug. Nightmare sighed and allowed her eyes to close, feeling Twilights touch draining her panic right out of her. “It was just a dream, Night... a bad dream and nothing more.”

“...Twilight?”

“Hm?”

“Can you... keep holding me until I'm asleep again?...”

The purple alicorn could only giggle softly at the request her lover and former Queen of Nightmares made. “Of course...” she replied as both mares laid down on the bed again, never breaking their embrace.

“Thank you...”

“You're welcome...Good night, Moony.”

“Good night... my little spark.”

57 Cupcakes by Kean

“Perhaps I could have the eastern wing?”

“I already said that you can’t have a wing.” Honestly, I didn’t know if she was being serious, if she was showing me that she would accept being denied something she wanted without a problem, or if she was playing with me. “You can have a room.”

She tilted her head to the side and her ear twitched as if she were listening to someone whisper into it. “Two rooms,” Nightmare said with a grin.

Yeah, she was playing with me. “You can have a broom closet.” Two can play at this game.

She frowned for a moment, but with another twitch of her ear, her smile returned. “Very well then, a single room is acceptable.”

Too easy. I wasn’t sure why she’d need a room here, but if giving her one got her to stop attempting to acquire parts of my castle, then I was happy to oblige.

“I shall allow you to return to your duties then,” She said while looking around the throne room with a smirk. Probably at knowing she scared away the few ponies that were here before she arrived. “I think I will search for the proper room in the…“ She trailed off and looked toward the throne room door, ears twitching. “Do you hear that?

“I don’t hear anything, Nightmare,” I said after a moment. “If you’re trying to distract me for another one of your games I-“

“Hush,” She whispered, her eyes still locked on the door. “Something is coming.”

I listened for a few moments longer. Hearing nothing again, I opened my mouth to speak, only to hear a clack of hooves on crystal. It wasn’t the normal sound of somepony walking; it was as if all four hooves were landing at the same time followed by a pause that got shorter each time, as if whoever it was was speeding up. It took me a second to realize what it was.

Oh no…

Nightmare turned to look at me then. Either she had heard me gasp, or she had seen the flash of magic when I summoned a shield around myself. “Twilight, what-“

“I’ll explain in a minute. Just, ah, it would be better if you ducked.”

”What is going on? Why-“ That’s as far as she got before the doors swung open with a resounding boom as they met the walls and admitted a pink blur, which just missed plowing into Nightmare.

I wasn’t surprised when it shot right for me. I wasn’t surprised when it impacted against my shield, revealing the pony it truly was. I wasn’t surprised to see that Pinkie’s blue eyes were wide or that she sported a face-splitting grin. These were, of course, normal when dealing with her.

I was surprised to feel something bump against my hooves. Before I could look to see what it was, she had her forehooves around my neck in a hug. This would, again, be normal when Pinkie was involved. Except for the fact that the shield I had surrounded myself with was solid and made to be non-pliable.

But I decided to let that slide – better for my health that way – and it seemed the shield finally realized its mistake, reformed into a bubble around me, and rejected her, throwing her to the ceiling. I looked up to make sure she wouldn’t be hurt. I didn’t waste any thought process on what I saw.

She was splayed out, back against the ceiling, all four legs spread and tail straight. An expected position, considering she had been ejected backwards. But she wasn’t coming down; she wasn’t even holding on to anything. It was like she was just stuck and looking down at me expectantly. But I ignored that. I did not clear room in my schedule to weep for the laws of physics and I certainly didn’t come up with fifteen different reasons why what she was doing was just wrong . Nope. Because that would be silly.

Turning my attention away from her, I looked down at what she left at my hooves. Somehow, she had managed to get a baking tray with two large cupcakes through my shield – a shield which had stopped me from becoming one with a mountain. One of the cupcakes had my name on it, the other Nightmare’s. They had been baked to be shaped like hearts and in-between them lay a plus symbol. Subtle, Pinkie was not.

I dropped my shield and looked to Nightmare, who was staring up at Pinkie with her confusion evident on her face. Pinkie was still lying on the ceiling, looking at me expectantly. “So did you finally tell her ab-“

I cut her off. “No, I was going to before you showed up.”

If she cared that I cut her off, she didn’t show it. “Oh! But I had an achy shoulder and a twitchy wrist! If you didn’t- “ She gasped. “Then she-“

“Yes, a few minutes ago,” I interrupted again with a smile.

“So that means-“ Gravity took its sweet time realizing something was wrong, but it eventually caught up to Pinkie and pulled her back down from the ceiling. It didn’t last long, though. She arrested her momentum inches from the ground and landed softly on all fours next to Nightmare, whose mouth was moving in attempt to form a question, yet it seemed no words would come.

“Yes, Pinkie, she feels the same way.” I didn’t mean to be rude by interrupting her, but I knew what would happen if I allowed Pinkie’s proverbial ball to start rolling. She didn’t seem bothered by it, thankfully, but she was now staring at me, a grin still splitting her muzzle and she was, for lack of a better word, vibrating. She seemed to be asking me a question with only her eyes. I don’t want to say that Pinkie is predictable, but…

“Yes, Pinkie, we’ll be there. Sugarcube Corner? In an hour?” She really is, sometimes. With a cheer, she flung herself at Nightmare, wrapped her forehooves around the alicorn’s neck, and used her as a pivot in order to launch herself back out the throne room doors, which closed in her wake.

The doors slamming shut seemed to knock Nightmare out of her thoughts. She looked at the doors, and then turned to me. “What, ah, what just happened?”

“Pinkie Pie.” I’m sure those two words did nothing to assuage her confusion, but she would have to come to understand that they were the only two words needed.

She seemed ready to question it, but shut her mouth before saying anything. She looked between the cupcakes and me for a moment before she at on her haunches. She smiled and asked, “’Finally tell me about’ what?”

“Ah-ha, about that, umm…“ I tried to smile, but even without a mirror I know it was sheepish. I levitated her cupcake to her, using that to buy some time. I heard her mutter ‘Moonie?’ as she read the name Pinkie had written on it. “I, ah, may have known I had a crush on you for a while now. Pinkie figured it out, and made me admit it, if only to myself. And she had to keep it to herself, which is why she was like… that. This time, anyway.”

“Oh? And how long ago was this?”

“After the fifth night we talked.” I winced when I saw her eyes widen.

“That was almost a year ago,” She almost whispered. “And then I…” She trailed off before shaking her head and chuckling. “I am a fool.”

“Then I’m a fool, too. When you, ah, disappeared and didn't answer any letter I’d sent you, I thought that it was because I offended you in some way, even though Luna assured me otherwise. I should have-“ She moved and cut me off with a nuzzle, which I happily leaned into. “I’m sorry, I should have told you instead of always leaving it for ‘next time’,” I said with a sigh.

“No, Twilight, it is I who should be sorry, for running and hiding like a foal.”

I smiled and leaned into her. We stayed like that for a while, just enjoying each other’s presence. Of course, all good things must come to an end. “We should get going to Pinkie’s,” I said, pulling myself away. She draped a wing over my back and pulled me close as we began walking.

“So… ‘Moonie’, huh?” I asked with a grin as we stepped past her cupcake. With a thought I sent both to the kitchens. “I like it.”

58 Shame by Fuzzyfurvert

“Were there this many stairs here last time? This staircase seems unnecessarily long.” Twilight chuckled nervously to herself as she crept up the long spiral stairs to the Elements’ Chamber in the castle of the two sisters. No matter how much giggling she’d done, the feeling of being watched wouldn’t abate and her knees grew increasingly shaky.

Her horn’s glow banished the shadows, but only so far as the eternally receding curve of the crumbling stone wall to her left. The stairs climbed on into a dark inversion of Tartarus as the cool air of the evening gave way to the outright cold of an autumn night. The only sounds were Twilight’s own breathing and the soft clap of her hooves on stone.

The stairs kept going. Twilight’s legs were beginning to protest. Had the stairs been this long before, when she’d ran up them to find the Elements of Harmony all those years ago? Had it only been four years? It felt like forever ago. Was she on the right staircase? This couldn’t be right. There should have been a landing by now.

Twilight slowed and sucked in a deep breath of the chill air. It made her chest burn and took her mind off her legs for a moment. This is wrong. This can’t be right. Did I walk into a trap of some sort that keeps you walking in place forever? What if I can’t get out of it? How long would it take the others to notice I’m gone and then find me?

Twilight felt her breathing quicken in lockstep with her heartrate. She was just slowing to a complete stop when the landing she’d been seeking rounded the corner and teased her with a place to rest her hooves. She let out a sudden laugh, the tension gone for a moment as she spied her destination, and she galloped the remaining steps and leapt on to the landing with all the force and sudden joy of a foal in a field of rain puddles.

“Aha!” Twilight laughed again and dropped into a seated position to catch her breath.

The large chamber beyond the landing stretched away into darkness, swallowed by the night. Twilight knew large bay windows lined the chamber and part of the roof was collapsed and open to the outside, but she saw no stars or the moon. She did feel much more a breeze here and leaves, dry and spread out on the wide floor of the chamber rustled faintly.

“There are...er, where...eight support pillars. The third pillar on the right side is collapsed, broken into seven pieces.” She recited quietly as the memories of that fateful day out in her mind. “There is a dias at the opposite end of the room, raised one step. It takes a full three seconds at full gallop to cover the distance from here to the dias. Call it...thirty yards, which is structurally consistent with the ballroom on the ground floor.”

Her voice sounded flat. Absorbed by the absolute darkness of night as greedily as the futile glow from her horn was. “There is a stand on the dias that rests in a sunken base. It should still be surrounded by the rubble of the false Elements of Harmony that Nightma…” Twilight swallowed dryly. “Nightmare Moon destroyed.”

Twilight picked herself up and pushed more power into her horn to form a glowing orb of light that could be directed independently. Then she created three more and sent all four out into the room to spread her illumination as much as she could. She stood at the door and watched her tiny lights float along like giant fireflies. They drifted past the broken windows and fallen ceiling, their pinpoints of light picking out and casting deeper shadows as they went.

It was filled with more leaves that shivered under the touch of a cold autumn breeze, but the room was as she had left it all those years previous. There was even a hint of dark stain to the stone tile where the manifest power of the Elements had struck Nightmare Moon down. Twilight stayed well away from the spot as she relived the moment of her greatest triumph.

She could remember the voices of her friends, the overwhelming presence of a mad goddess and her own madness as she started to charge that same goddess armed with nothing but her horn and a wild guess at the villainess’ goad-ableness. It paid off in the long run. In a single fell swoop Princess Luna was returned to the world and Twilight and her friends were named heroes. Changelings and Chaos Spirits and power mad Centurians were nothing after that, really.

She sighed and hung her head for a moment before turning around. “I guess it was nothing. I’ve spent the better part of the night just scaring myself. I need to go get that tapestry I left downstairs and get home before they girls come searching.”

Twilight snuffed her witchlights one by one as she headed back toward the entrance, her hoofsteps echoing against the floor. She paused as she released the last light and was plunged once more into total darkness. Leaves rustled as the breeze picked up and the hair on her neck and spine rose to stand on end. Twilight shivered in the cold and then froze.

Her hoof steps were still echoing through the chamber.

The wind turned frigid as swirling dust devils of dead leaves blew past her. When it died down again a moment later, her breath misted into a little puff of condensation. Her heart thudded in her chest and her blood pulsed loudly in her ears as she turned and looked back into the empty room. Her horn light barely illuminated further than her hoof could reach. The night loomed over her like a silent and impenetrable weight, hungry for all the light and sound she could feed it.

“He..hell..o?” Twilight tried to hold the clatter of her teeth back unsuccessfully. “Is somepony there?”

The rustle and crunch of dead leaves was her only answer.

Rarity was just going to have to wait on that musty old tapestry. She fired up her horn and ran the calculations for mass and distance and the rotation speed of the planet. It wasn’t as precise as she liked, but the end point for her teleportation spell was within an acceptable walking distance of her castle in Ponyville. She opened the rift in reality and let herself be pulled through. It took a moment for the world to right itself, but in that moment just as she passed from the logical and measurable plane of existence to the realms of arcane energies, Twilight saw a black blot in the vague shape of a pony there in the room with her.

She saw it and as soon as she crashed into the dumpsters behind Sugar Cube Corner, she knew it had seen her in return.

59 Fall of the Sun, Rise of the Moon by superpony55 (prompts Color, Games, and Song)

1000 years ago, Princess Luna turned into Nightmare Moon and tried to make the night last forever.

Celestia, using the Elements of Harmony, tried to banish her sister to the moon but ended up killing her.

1000 years later, Celestia's student Twilight Sparkle advanced far enough in her studies to become a Princess. Or that's what every pony thought.

Celestia knew her student would make a good ruler of Equestria, and planned to flee on the 1000th day of the 1000th year. When this happened, she left the young Princess of Magic and Night to rule Equestria. But Twilight was not completely ready, and the truth of what happened 1000 years ago came out. The Fall began. The day lasted an entire month as Twilight and her guards struggled to keep Equestria alive.

Now, Twilight was trying to fix the mess the Fall had made, and was the sole ruler of Equestria. She did not know the other Elements of Harmony other than Rainbow Dash, who along with Shining Armor and a stallion called Mare Moon (who was the reincarnation of Nightmare Moon) are her bodyguards and knights.

Princess Twilight Sparkle, the Ruler of Equestria, sat at a table with her trusted bodyguards and knights - Rainbow Dash, Shining Armor, and Mare Moon.

The others were discussing the Fall of Celestia, but Moon was bored. He'd heard everything possible about the Fall, heck, he'd been there. Plus, it was a kind of embarrassing thing to think about when you were named after the cause of it all.

Luna. Nightmare Moon. Same pony, didn't make much of a difference. It didn't matter what she was called, what mattered was what she'd done.

Moon sighed a bit to himself. Not only was he named after the Sun Breaker (which meant there was a huge uproar when his Princess had chosen him as a bodyguard), but he was named Mare to top it off.

How would a mare like to be named Stallion?

Princess Twilight, Princess of Magic and the Night, was bored as well.

Why did Rainbow and Shining find it necessary to discuss the Fall? They all knew the story - Princess Luna turned into Nightmare Moon; Celestia tried to banish her to the moon but it backfired and killed Luna; Celestia held herself together as long as possible but on the eve of the 1000th year she fled, leaving their new Princess to rule Equestria; Equestria was pretty much destroyed during the month-long day that Twilight spent trying to fix everything.

Twilight sighed, wishing she could pull out a book. But that would have been impolite. She caught Moon's eye and smiled sympathetically.

"The night needs more color."

Twilight's head shot up, and she and Moon glanced at each other in confusion.

"Huh?"

"The night," said Rainbow again. "It needs more color."

Twilight blinked and cocked her head. "Erm... why?"

"Because," said Rainbow, "ponies are scared of the night because it's too dark to see anything. They don't know what's in there. But if it was colorful..."

Twilight rolled her eyes. "Actually, ponies are scared of the night because of Princess Luna, the Sun Breaker. They are afraid of her and what she represents. She is what started the Fall in the first place."

Shining Armor shook his head. "They're afraid of the night because they got used to the day during the Longest Day. Since it lasted what would have been a month, the night now seems strange to them."

Moon seemed to be lost in thought. Finally, he spoke up. "It's because ponies need something to fear," he said quietly.

Twilight gave him a small smile, but Rainbow rolled her eyes.

"I still think the night needs more color."

Twilight sighed. "I'll see what I can do."

"So... how are you going to make the night more colorful?" Knight Mare Moon asked Princess Twilight Sparkle, eyebrow raised.

She giggled. "I'm not."

"No?"

"Yes."

They grinned at each other.

"Good job keeping you composure during that meeting, by the way," said Moon conversationally.

"You too. I could tell how much you wanted to hit Rainbow Dash when you got in that argument," Twilight replied.

"I would never hurt a girl! As long as she was on my side."

"Rainbow sure wasn't on your side in that argument," Twilight pointed out.

Moon shrugged. "Well, she's not evil."

"Good thing, too. I don't want to think about how horrible it would be to have a Rainboom against us."

"Well, it would probably-"

"I said I didn't want to think about it!" Twilight protested.

Moon grinned. "...be pretty bad."

Twilight flicked him with magic, and he thudded into the wall.

"Moon!"

Meanwhile outside, Shining and Rainbow were listening in.

"Those two and their games," Shining commented.

"I can't believe she won't do anything about the night!" Rainbow complained.

Thud.

"We... should probably go in there, shouldn't we."

"Yeah."

Twilight was pacing nervously, waiting for Moon to wake up.

Finally, after a few hours, Moon's eyes opened, and he stared at the ceiling.

"What happened?"

Twilight rushed over to him. "Moon! You hit your head when I accidently flicked you into a wall. I am so so so so sorry!"

"...Mom?"

Twilight paused. "Yes, Mare Moon." The words felt uncomfortable on her lips.

"Mom, I had a horrible dream. Celly took my doll and then I turned into a monster. I turned into a monster." Moon was shivering.

Twilight paused for a moment. Who was Celly?

"It was just a dream, don't worry."

"I am a monster, Mommy. I'm sorry. Tell Celly I'm sorry. Tell her I was just jealous. It wasn't her fault."

"I... I'll tell her." Twilight took a shaky breath. Was Moon reliving his past?

As far as she knew, he never knew his mother, and knew nopony named Celly.

"Tell Celly I'm alive. Tell Celly Luna is still in here. Tell Celestia the Nightmare has not taken over completely."

Twilight stood there in shock. Her eyes widened, and her breath became quicker.

"Mommy?" Moon whispered. "Will you sing me a lullaby?"

Twilight looked over at Moon with sorrow in her eyes, and sang what Celestia had told her was Luna's favorite lullaby.

"The darkness falls,
The moonlight calls,
Leaving us alone together.

Feel the strength,
Don't hesitate,
You won't be alone forever.

The night calls out to you
As the day calls out to me.
Fly through the cool night air,
To you, the nighttime is key.

Don't worry, a nightmare is merely a dream,
Relax and drink in the moonbeam.
The nightmare is only inside your head.

You mean so much to me my moon,
You can spend time with others soon.
Even if you would like to be alone instead.

The night calls out to you
As the day calls out to me.
Fly through the cool night air,
To you, the nighttime is key."

Moon relaxed, and fell asleep with a smile on his face.

Twilight left the room with dread settling into her stomach.

What just happened?

60 Comfort by Knight of Lycaeus

Twilight walked through the dim hallways of Canterlot Castle looking for Nightmare Moon, the dark coated alicorn had suddenly appeared in the castle a few weeks ago and nopony knew why. Even Luna was confused as to how Nightmare Moon had manifested as a separate being. It wasn’t until the combined efforts of Luna and Twilight had managed to coax the dark alicorn into divulging some things about herself. What they learned was that Nightmare Moon was the name of the persona that Luna had created but the dark alicorn once had a different name, a name that from a language so old the only being who had any hopes of pronouncing it correctly was Discord. It had turned out that she was a being who was likely as old as Discord and who had lent her powers to Luna when she was seeking it.

It took some more time before the dark alicorn agreed to keep with the name that Luna had given her alternative persona rather than attempting to translate her old name. Nightmare Moon’s reappearance had been quickly noticed by the residents of the castle which had been the source of some panic before the Triarchy reassured the staff and Guards that she wasn’t there to harm anypony. Unfortunately most were still uneasy or skittish around the mare especially given what had happened before. As well Nightmare Moon also had the tendency to disappear for hours on end and with noponies having any idea where she had disappeared to or why she would do so.

This led to what Twilight was doing at the moment; she was trying to find where the elusive alicorn hidden herself when she vanished for hours. Twilight had very little to begin her search but scouring Canterlot Castle was a start. After a couple hours of fruitless search Twilight decided that the mare was likely not in Canterlot. After thinking some options over, she prepared herself and teleported straight to the Everfree Castle.

The old castle had changed a little since her last visit there. The castle remained uninhabited but because of her recent research trips Twilight and her friends had made some efforts to clean up some of the castle. It was here that Twilight had teleported to, straight to the entrance hall. Here she began her search again when she could hear the faints sounds of what may have been music. She knew there was an old organ piano in the basement but the sounds were likely not from an organ piano, she concentrate and tried to listen more carefully and from this she learned that it was likely singing she heard. She slowly followed the singing to one of the higher balconies that still remained in good condition, while much of the castle was in shambles the tower and the balcony the singing came from were still sturdy and as she climbed higher the singing slowly grew louder.

At the top, Twilight gently pushed open a door to find Nightmare Moon singing a mournful song. The words that she could hear were in a language she did not understand. The singing sounded wonderful and Twilight sat there to listen as the song climbed towards its climax. Sometime later the song finished and its singer turned to look on who had found her here in this old castle. Nightmare Moon’s eyes locked with Twilight’s and she gave a deep sigh trying to hold back the tears pooling in her eyes, Twilight knew she had many questions she wanted to ask the sorrowful mare but this wasn’t the time for that. She moved herself next to the dark alicorn and gave her a firm hug; the dark alicorn flinched before relaxing into the hug and there the two stayed in a quiet embrace.

61 Confectionery by SeanofTheDead

There had been so many of them.....They were so rude, and annoying, and had such delicious sprinkles. The swarm of Creepy Singing Cupcake Brigades had moved quickly and without mercy exposing everyponies' love interests without mercy. Lyra had been the first to fall as the Cupcakes described in excruciating detail exactly what she wanted to do to her best friend Bon-Bon. As well as what she hoped her friends Cutie Mark meant. Luna was taken down as Big Macintosh was told what she thought his name meant. Rainbow was felled as Spitfire was told that Rainbow had been fantasizing of and that she had dreams that only had three things in them. Spitfire, licking, and frozen vegetables.

Twilight had thought she had saved Equestria from the menace that now had taken control of Ponyville. Twilight was still fighting (her romantic interests already having been exposed by the creatures) she tore into their ranks without a moments hesitation screaming a hearty battle cry, their creepy cupcakeyness having no effect on her what-so-ever. Nightmare Moon asked them what flavor they were before devouring entire legions of her foes. But there were just too many for the alicorns to continue. Nightmare was due to die from Diabetes any moment, when their savior came. Uttering the least heroic battle cry Creation has ever known. Gods looked down upon the sight before them and wept for how the mighty hero was now behaving, and promptly facepalmed upon hearing her war shout.

"CAKE!!!!!! MINE!!!!!!!!"

The invading forces that escaped the following carnage (carnage that made Nightmare Moon almost throw up her recently acquired 'cupcake baby') would forever describe it as the most amazing thing ever witnessed by sapient life. It was so horrific and terrible yet epic and awesome that well over half of the Cupcake Menace died from simply witnessing it. Nightmare Moon was tackled by a completely overwhelmed Twilight Sparkle (again nearly throwing up the aforementioned confectionery infant) as Twilight screamed for Nightmare to (and it was quoted as such) give her foals. Twas indeed a sight to behold. The celebration that was held with their subsequent defeat, was such that bards still sing of it. And the brave mare who had the foresight to go on a diet two weeks before the disaster, making the Cupcake vermin appear as an irresistible treat. And the sacrifice she made as she gave up having a toned plot, all for her subjects.

Three months later Nightmare Moon gave birth to the first Cupcake/pony hybrid. The first of... The Confectioneries.

But that is a story for another prompt.

Author's Notes:

Yes, Sean, I blame booze too. - Editor.

62 Precocious by ultra1437

“So, was it worth all this fighting?” Nightmare asked as they watched their little daughter, Nebula, start running around the room, chasing after Philomena. Celestia made sure that the phoenix knew not to harm the little one, but didn’t mind if the two played together.

“What do you mean?” Twilight replied.

Nightmare looked out a nearby window, sunset quickly approaching. “This.” She motioned to herself, then to Twilight, and finally to the little filly and phoenix that played nearby. “All of this. Us. Nebula.”

Twilight’s mind brought dozens upon dozens of memories back. Nightmare showing up again, surrendering to Twilight. Luna unhappy about Nightmare’s continued survival. Being chosen to reform the ex-villain. Graduation day and Nightmare’s proclamation as a ‘normal’ pony. Discovering the ridicule and discrimination that had hounded Nightmare for months and months after her ‘supposed reformation’. Luna finally relenting and forgiving Nightmare.

A cry brought her back to reality as Philomena finally got caught by the little pegasus, losing a single fiery feather to the foal’s mouth. Philomena, instinctively going to retaliate, was drawn into a hug from the little foal and Nebula offered her the feather back. It seemed not even a phoenix could withstand those pleading little eyes.

Then her mind turned to more secretive memories. Comforting a distraught Nightmare after a particularly bad day. A suggestion for something to eat. Going out and having hard cider. Waking up the next morning entangled with her previous ‘student’, totally at peace. An awkward period leading from friendship to dating. Kisses stolen in supposed secrecy. Dating leading to an announcement of a royal wedding. Absolute outrage from Canterlot’s nobility, and both their names slung through the mud. The wedding held in Ponyville’s castle instead.

Nightmare’s wing wrapped around Twilight, who flexed one in return and mixed her feathers with Nightmare’s. Looking up, she smiled as Nightmare sighed contentedly watching their daughter play and learn.

A warm feeling suffused her heart as more recent memories came to light. Wanting a foal. Conceive or adopt? Arguments for and against, on both sides. Nightmare relenting and searching local orphanages. Finding one little infant who captured two hearts with one giggle.

“Absolutely.”

63 Science by Knight of Lycaeus

Spike sighed. He had been watching from the entrance of Twilight’s larger laboratory or as he preferred to call it, “Avoid at All Costs”. The Crystal Oaks came into existence about half a year ago and already the basement was a giant mess due to the science lab. A few short weeks after moving into the palace Twilight had gathered everything to setup a brand new lab that dominated a good portion of the expansive basement. There was now a distinct lack of space as everything was crammed between solid machines of unknown functions, tables filled with flasks and beakers, not to mention the copious amount of paper plastered to the wall in organized lines.

In the center of all that chaos was a frantic, disheveled Twilight running to and fro from machine to machine that printed an endless array of information. Spike sighed again, he didn’t mind being her assistant but…. he was not in favour of being the subject of the tests that Twilight could create in this newer, larger lab. Still he had to keep some eye on Twilight so that an experiment didn’t go completely awry….. Spike shuddered at the memories of all the failed experiments, no one wanted to be reminded of the Alchemical horrors she accidentally made one time.

Twilight had the lab and now she just needed the outfit to complete the look and Spike had considered asking around to have a labcoat and goggles made for Twilight who was still frantically running from machine to machine. It would perfect, it was almost Nightmare Night and Twilight could go this year as a mad scientist instead of the usual wizard. Speaking of Nightmare Night, they now had Nightmare Moon as their houseguest. Nightmare Moon had mysterious appeared a few months ago and proceeded to frighten everypony with her return. Spike had noticed that once everypony else got over their shock of seeing that Nightmare Moon had returned and they had stopped trying to imprison her that things had changed. Twilight would spend a lot of time with Nightmare Moon and not just to help her integrate into Equestrian society but other times too. Spike didn’t know why exactly but he had some suspicions about them but no proof.

Speaking of the dark Alicorn, she had just walked down into the basement and had noticed Spike sitting at the edge of the so called “Laboratory” as Twilight would put it or “Avoid at All Costs” as Spike would put it. Frankly to Nightmare Moon a “lab” was more akin to a place to mix potions, ointments, and infusions, more for the practice of Alchemy than “Science” as Twilight had described to her when she had been given the tour of the Crystal Oaks. It seems that much had changed since she had last freely walked the mortal realms.

“How long has she been at this?” Nightmare Moon asked.

“There’s only one clock in this place and it’s in there…. Since I’m not going in and I can’t see it, I guess a few hours.” Spike responded.

Nightmare Moon sighed. “I really should not have given her something new to study. I did not realize how…. passionate she would be about having an opportunity to study a truly immortal being.”

Spike shrugged. “She’s been interested for a long time, probably since she met Celestia. But no Alicorns are truly immortal, except you for some reason.”

Nightmare turned to look at the Dragon, “Has Twilight not explained this to you?” Seeing Spike shake his head she continued, “I am not an Alicorn, I possess the form of one but I am not one.”

Spike looked confused and seeing this Nightmare attempted to clarify, “I am a being older than this sphere; the only being even near me in age that I am still aware of being present in this realm is that Chimera, Discord. I choose to bear the form of an Alicorn because I prefer this form yet I could also be any species I wish to be.”

Spike gave an unsteady nod, “Right, okay…. makes sense….”

Nightmare Moon sighed and shook her head slightly, “I would explain this in greater detail but I believe that stopping Twilight Sparkle’s research would be more important at the moment?”

Spike nodded. “I really don’t want to be reminded of certain…. incidents….”

Nightmare Moon nodded and began to head inside the “lab” before she noticed that a claw was holding onto one of her forelegs. She stopped to see Spike who had pleading look on his face, “You really don’t want to go in. Once you step in, you’re not leaving. Samples are one thing, you in there is another. Just do something from here…. or maybe flame-lettering Celestia is the better idea.”

Nightmare Moon shook her leg to dislodge the Dragon, “Do not try to dissuade me, I will enter this room and deal with this.”

Spike sighed. “Don’t say I didn’t warn you,” Spike then turned and left the basement.

Nightmare Moon stepped forward into the other Alicorn’s storm of machines and notes, “Good evening Twilight Sparkle.”

Twilight did not noticed until she bumped in the dark alicorn, “Oh…. Hello, Nightmare Moon.”

Twilight blinked. “Wait…. You’re in here…. The lab! Perfect, could I ask you to help in so-“

Twilight was cut off by a dark aura of magic keeping her muzzle closed.

“I do not believe this is how one treats their houseguests,” Nightmare Moon said calmly.

Twilight slowly nodded.

“Good, now I will remove my magic.”

The magic around her muzzle faded then Twilight asked, “I would like for your help in my research on immortality, please.”

Nightmare shook her head, “The samples are enough. We do not need immortality to be fully understood lest some corrupt mortals would lay their stake on your research. I gave you some samples in good faith but I knew that it is likely what you may find in the samples will inconclusive at best but it will have to do.”

Twilight sighed. “You’re right. I just don’t like leaving a mystery open when I know it’s possible to be solved.”

“Perhaps one day it will be. Today however I was sent by your Familiar Spike to convince you to leave this room lest you subject the citizens to more “monstrous creations” as he had so called it once.”

Twilight sighed again, “I probably should. Although this isn’t the first time he’s asked me to leave the lab....”

“The day has grown late so perhaps we could join your Familiar for dinner,” Nightmare suggested. “I believe there is something that will interest you tonight once the stars are out.”

Twilight asked as she led them out of the basement lab, “What is there that will be out tonight? I wasn’t aware of any astral events tonight.”

Nightmare Moon smiled, “You shall see, Twilight Sparkle.”

64 Pool by Kean

“What do you mean ‘I could have sworn she was into you, Luna’, Cadance? And what’s with all the bits?”

After ponies in Ponyville had found out that Nightmare and I were seeing each other, I decided to at least tell the princesses personally, if only so they didn’t overact to rumors that already had already begun spreading. I didn’t need them kicking my doors down because they heard Nightmare had me under her thrall, which was one reason Nightmare elected to stay behind.

I also wanted to check on something.

When I got to the castle, I was told that Celestia, Luna, and Cadance were in Celestia’s chambers. Upon arriving, I found them talking around a circular which was covered in bits, bags of what I presumed to be bits, and various gems and baubles. When I asked Cadance to explain what she said, all three clammed up and suddenly found the floors and walls very interesting.

I’d never seen Celestia speechless before. For minutes, silence reigned. Celesta’s mouth was moving all the while, trying to come up with something, but it seemed no words would come. Luna finally looked at me and saved her.

“It is a betting pool, Twilight,” Luna said

“Yes, just a betting pool,” Cadance agreed.

Celestia nodded.

“Oh? What are we betting on?” I asked after sitting on my haunches across from Cadance. At that, Luna and Cadance joined Celestia in mouthing words, but producing none. I sat, waiting with a pleasant and patient smile.

After five minutes of silence, I picked up a large ruby with my magic and began to examine it from all sides. It was flawless.

“This is awfully valuable to be used in just a regular bet,” I said offhandedly while polishing the gem on my coat. “It must be something awfully important to warrant such a large amount.” Silence took its hold once again as I looked at each of them.

“You already know, don’t you?” Celestia asked at last.

“Mmhmm, the guards talk. The former Captain talks to his sister, as well.”

”And you are not upset?” Luna ventured after finally finding her words.

“Oh no, I’m absolutely livid,” I replied, maintain my pleasant smile. “But what I don’t understand is how the guards became a part of this.” Luna and Celestia looked at each other, then hung their heads.

“It started as a joke, a fake wager between Luna and I. Some of the staff overhead and it got out of hoof from there. We should have put a stop to it immediately, but we got caught up in it. I am so, so sorry, Twilight.”

“As am I,” Luna added.

“And you? What do you have to do with this?” I asked, turning to Cadance.

“They asked me if I knew who it was. I didn’t give them an answer, but I did add to the pool. I’m sorry.” She hung her head as well, which was good, as none of them could see smirk I had trouble fighting as I stood.

“I can’t believe you three!” I shouted. ”Starting and encouraging a betting pool on my love life!” I turned to Celestia. “How would you feel if I got ponies to bet on the next time you’re captured, defeated, or otherwise rendered useless?

“Or Luna, how would you feel if I had them bet on the next time you relapse into the Royal Canterlot Voice and cause the entire room to go deaf and flee?” I turned away from their wide eyes with a sneer. It was the only thing I could morph my smirk into in time.

“Cadance… well, Shining will have some words for you, I’m sure,” I said, still facing away. “Tell me, who ended up winning?”

“A new recruit, a stallion by the name Dream Deceiver. We can return each bet to their respective owners, if you’d like, Twilight. It isn’t – “

“No, they won. It’s only fair.” I cut her off. It wouldn’t do to have them back out now. “I assume there’s a teleportation circle etched into that table?” Luna nodded when I looked over my shoulder. I charged my own teleport and said, “Send it.” Before releasing the spell.

I arrived back in my chambers in my castle in Ponyville a few moments later. The pile of bits arrived just after me, on top of me. When I managed to get my head out of the pile, I was met with Nightmare’s grinning visage.

“A truly wonderful performance, Twilight! Just the right amount of indignation and hurt, I couldn’t have done it better myself.” She pulled me out of the pile and into a kiss.

When we broke, and I got my breath back, I laughed. “They deserved it.” I snickered. “But ‘Dream Deceiver’? Really?”

She shrugged. “Luna would know most, if not all of my aliases, so I had to come up with something on the spot. It worked, didn’t it?” I nodded. “Now then, what shall we do with all of this?” She gestured to the pile.

“Well, I was thinking we could either fill a pool with the bits and just swim in them.” She gave me a disapproving look and bopped my nose with her hoof. “Hey, I wasn’t finished! We could do that or put it all somewhere safe and use it as an emergency fund. Ponyville hasn’t had a disaster in a few weeks, we’re due for one, I think.”

She kissed where she had hit my nose and smiled. “A much better idea.”

65 Dissident by Knight of Lycaeus

“I promise to you that I shall use just a single lightning bolt and that will be all.” Nightmare said.

Twilight who was sitting next to her sighed, “Nightmare, you’re not hurling lightning in any number against the Diarchs.”

Nightmare snorted, “Why not? The lone bolt would not kill them, it would not even faze them either. For me to achieve even a minor injury there would need at least a dozen. Perhaps more would be better.”

Twilight resisted the overwhelming urge to facehoof and calmly informed Nightmare, “Regardless of how many of these hypothetical lightning bolts you want to hurl at the ruling government, the point remains is that we don’t need the populace to form a lynch mob…. again.”

Nightmare was unfazed by Twilight’s implied threat, “Lynch mob, is that what you called that ramble? The gathered Ponies barely qualified as a small group not to mention that the use of pitchforks and torches are not particularly threatening.”

Twilight began to pace hoping it would achieve the effect of keeping her calm, “Look we’ve worked hard to help your public image so that the public won’t want to have you imprisoned or banished for past crimes. So please no overthrowing the current government, no matter how much you disagree with them.”

“Perhaps if I was treated with proper respect as due for my station,” Nightmare growled with increasing volume.

Twilight stopped pacing and looked at the growling Alicorn, “Is that what this is all about? Look I’ve explained to you that you already have a following, a dedicated one at that. Second, Ponies don’t know the old deities any more so they don’t worship them I know you’re upset about that but you could go be a Goddess to the Lunar Ponies who still revere you as one. That’s one title Celestia and Luna don’t hold claim to.”

Nightmare stopped growling, “Fine. They do not have that title because both of them refuse to bear it but I shall continue to bear it proudly!”

Twilight sighed again, “Again, as I explained earlier. You’re immortal deity from around the time of Creation, Luna and Celestia are significantly younger than you.”

Nightmare smiled but Twilight quickly interjected, “And no, that doesn’t give you authority over them, Equestria is their nation to rule, it is a different thing from what you used to rule.”

“Fine, but are there any means for me to do something to them?” Nightmare asked.

Twilight tapped her chin before smiling, “You know there is one. I sure you remember Celestia’s little prank on you.”

“Oh, you mean that little jest, the little trick?”

Twilight nodded, “Yes. Small tricks, pranks should be fine. Perhaps you could get revenge on Celestia that way.”

Nightmare grinned, “I believe I may have some ideas.”

What Twilight did not know at the time is that she inadvertently ignited the spark to a mass prank war that would engulf Canterlot for the next month. Unfortunately a victor has yet to be agreed upon.

66 Dark by Kean

Editor's note: Warning - gore and dark subject matters ahead.

Twilight gasped and turned her head away from the talon running under her chin. She tried to see who was touching her, but her vision was black. Someone had blindfolded her.

“Ah, you’re finally awake,” Said a male voice. “And are you quite comfortable, princess?”

“W-where am I? Who are you?” She asked. Twilight made to remove the blindfold with her magic, but when called upon, none even reached her horn. “Why can’t I use my magic?!”

“Where you are is unimportant,” He said casually. “Who I am is as well. Let’s just say my superiors want to know more about you alicorns before making some important decisions. Since you are the newest and youngest, they figured you would know – “

“I don’t know anything! I’ve only just become an alicorn, and I’m not even sure how!”

“We assumed as much. Not to worry, we’ll both be learning a lot,” He chuckled. “As for your magic, well, we can’t just have you teleporting away now, can we? We know that even powerful unicorns are able to break negation rings placed on the horn. Build up enough charge and poof, you have pieces of inscribed shrapnel.

“Now, that certainly wouldn’t do. So our shamans came up with this.” He tapped a talon against something metallic around her neck. “This collar will attract, absorb, and collect any magic the wearer attempts to channel, and will even siphon off a bit of their passive magic!” He said gleefully. “It was made specifically for one of you, and has fail safes inscribed so it won’t be overcharged. Isn’t it just wonderful?”

Twilight’s hooves shot for the back of the collar, to search for the clasp, but were stopped by the wood of the table she had been placed on. Before she could lift her head or adjust herself to reach it, both fore hooves were grabbed and forced out to their respective sides.

“Ah-ah, now where would the fun in that be?” When he paused, Twilight could hear steps coming toward her and others milling about around her. She opened her mouth to plead with him, but the words died in her throat, replaced instead by a scream as she felt something puncture through her left leg, pinning it to the wooden table.

Even her scream was cut short, muffled by something being forced between her teeth. “Chew on that for a bit, if you wouldn’t mind. We wouldn’t want you biting through your tongue. Although, that is a thought… Oh, sorry, I thought the cloth we used would absorb the tears. No matter, you can live with a bit of wet fur, right?”

Nightmare, Celestia, Luna, Shiny, please –

“Now then, since you can’t use your magic,” He cut off her thoughts, taunting from above her. “You won’t need this, will you?” She felt him pull down on her horn. In an attempt to relieve the tension, she tilted her head back with his pull, only to feel the base press against something. “Oh, right! You’re a fellow researcher! Of course you’d make it easier for us to obtain study materials!”

A heavy weight pushed on her horn then.

She felt then heard the crack.

The gag couldn’t muffle her scream.

--------------------------------------------------------

“We’ve waited long enough! It’s been a week, and still no word from Twilight,” Nightmare fumed while she paced in front of both Celestia and Luna in a private chamber. “We need to – “

“Nightmare,” Celestia said calmly. “We have discussed this for the past two days. There is nothing we could do to find her without instigating a war.”

“Something I am beginning to believe that they are trying to bait us into,” Luna muttered.

“I shouldn’t have allowed her to go alone,” Nightmare growled.

“We sent her with a squad – “

“Your guards are incompetent at best, Celestia,” Nightmare spat. “Upon my return they fled at the mere sight of me and allowed me to enter your throne room, with pause only caused by the doors. Whether or not you could match me means nothing, we’d have destroyed Canterlot had I been looking to fight you again. You’ll excuse me If I believe they are competent enough to protect anything.”

Luna sighed. “Enough of this. We cannot send anyone to look for her, lest they perceive it a slight against them.”

“’We?’” Nightmare muttered, a grin beginning to form. She turned and made to leave.

“Where are you going?” Celestia asked.

Nightmare smiled at her over her shoulder. “I am going to the Griffin Kingdoms. I, a common citizen of Equestria – as your nobility so vocally protested my becoming a princess – will be there to see how they have changed and grown this past millennium.” Nightmare laughed as she pulled the door open with her magic. “If I am there for anything else, well, what would the princesses know about a common pony’s agenda?”

--------------------------------------------------------

How long had she been here? Weeks, months? Twilight didn’t know. The blindfold had been removed some time ago to, “Make sure she was reacting properly.” after she had stopped screaming at the pain they had been inflicting.

Day in and day out all she knew was pain. Whether it be from cuts, broken bones, tests done on what was left of her horn, drugs to test an alicorn’s reaction to them, even burns. She couldn’t see out of her left eye – she was certain it was gone – and couldn’t even feel the left side of her face.

All the while she held on to two things:

She wanted the pain to stop. One way or another. Death would be a glorious reprieve from this hell. Even most of her revenge fantasies ended up with her dying, one way or another.

She had tried, once, just lying there, breathing only enough that her chest wouldn’t noticeably move and giving no outward reaction to the pain, to see if they’d think her dead.

That’s when they burned her face.

The second was that Nightmare – she had given up on anypony else – would find her. She knew it was a foal’s fantasy that her knight in shining armor would save her, but fantasy was all she had left.

Another cut, this one on her right flank. A griffin walked by with a circular portion of her flank – her cutie mark. A slight widening of the eye was all she gave them.

It would grow back, in time. She’d learned that much, at least.

--------------------------------------------------------

As time went on, despair gave way to anger and hatred. Instead of her fantasies ending with her bleeding out from her wounds along with everyone in the lab, she began replacing herself with them.

They’ll miss something eventually. Forget to clamp my hooves back down, extend their neck close enough to my face, move the collar enough for the clasp to get caught on something. They are griffins, beasts, they are not perfect. They will make a mistake. When they do, I will drag them to Tarterus myself. Piece by fucking piece.

When a griffin shaman sent electricity coursing through her body causing her back to arch, pulling all limbs taught against the chains binding her, she did not scream. She looked the observers each in the eye.

The manic grin splitting her muzzle compared little to the laughter ringing throughout the room.

--------------------------------------------------------

Light tinted her vision orange through her one remaining eyelid. This was nothing new, of course. They’d always had a light on her. What was new was the warmth.

Did I finally die? She thought, trying hard to fight the smile creeping its way onto her muzzle.

Cracking her eye open, she found that Elysium was, in fact, pitch black. Elysium shifted and turned its teal draconic eye to hers.

Ah, not Elysium. More beautiful, anyway.

The bindings were quickly shattered, leaving only the shackles around her hooves. Nightmare slowly sat her up and made sure she was steady before speaking.

“Twilight – “

Twilight cut her off with a hoof to her lips. She sat like that for a moment, shifting her head from side to side. With a sigh, she opened her mouth, but gave no words. They wouldn’t be coherent, anyway.

Whatever composure Nightmare had left after boring a hole through several miles of earth, several robust defensive wards, tearing through the previous inhabitants of the lab, and seeing Twilight on a bloodied table, bound and scarred, fled at the sight of her marefriend’s tongue. Or, at least, what was left of it.

“I – hold a moment,” Nightmare said, choking back a sob. She lowered her horn to Twilight’s forehead and, after a brief flash, pulled away. “I have linked our minds, you should be able to – “

Thoughts, nothing more than jumbled emotions, flooded Nightmare’s mind. There was no happiness, no elation, no kindness, just anger, despair, and pure, un-bridled hatred. They passed as soon as they were felt and Twilight’s mind became clear, calmed. Nightmare shivered. “What did they do to you?”

Twilight ignored the question. She liked to think it was a rhetorical question. It would always be a rhetorical question, as far as she was concerned. Instead she pulled her lips into what she remembered could pass as a smile.

”I knew you would come for me.”

“I – “Nightmare started to press the question but the look in Twilight’s eye stopped her. ”Of course I would. I’ve been searching since you disappeared a year ago.” She pulled Twilight into a hug and held her. Twilight’s forelegs remained limp at her side. “But why are you in this condition? Your alicorn magic, it should be healing you.”

”It is, slowly. This damned collar is absorbing most of my magic. I can’t really move my limbs. Take it off?” Twilight’s voice was calm, flat. She was keeping her emotions in check while linked with Nightmare.

The moment the clasp was undone, Twilight went silent. Even as bones began to fuse back together or otherwise reform, the most noise she made was a grunt.

After a few minutes of silence, Nightmare began inspecting the collar. Even holding it in her hooves, she could feel it trying to drain her. She lit her horn, intent on destroying another object that had caused Twilight so much pain.

“Don’t,” Twilight rasped.

Looking over, Nightmare saw that all but the worst wounds and scars had either already healed or had begun to. The left side of her face was still a scarred mess. “Why not?”

Twilight was silent a few minutes longer, her eye on the collar. She licked her lips to wet them, her tongue was an odd shape, her magic still working to repair the damage. “I want it,” She simply said. “Could you get my horn? It should be somewhere over there.” She gestured behind herself with her head. “I’ll hold on to the collar.” Twilight held out a hoof.

Nightmare stared at her, trying to read Twilight’s thoughts through their link. A broken mind was generally a mess of broken thoughts and random emotion, but at least some information could be gleaned from it all.

Twilight’s mind was perfectly calm, clear. Even her roiling emotions, which were being betrayed by her face, were unable to be read.

With a sigh, Nightmare hoofed the collar over. The slight shiver Twilight gave – whether from excitement or fear, she couldn’t tell – did not go unnoticed. With her free hoof, Nightmare lifted Twilight’s chin. “I do not need to know your plan – I’m not sure I even want to know it. I’m sure you’ve had plenty of time to come up with it.” Twilight tried to lower her head, but Nightmare kept her looking in her eyes. “But you will speak to me about this.”

Twilight stared back for a few moments, defiance in her eye. Even in her state, she couldn’t hold it. She nodded as best she could with her head being held up. Nightmare placed a gentle kiss on her lips before walking past her, out of her vision.

Twilight ignored the collar. Whether Nightmare would approve of her plan or not didn’t bother her, but she still didn’t want her to know. Instead, she searched what was left of the room. Nightmare spared nothing in her destruction. Desks, walls, lab equipment, gem and magic powered machines, all were destroyed. She let her thought slip for just a moment before regaining control, but knew that Nightmare felt how touched she was that somepony would do that for her.

In a far corner were the griffins of the lab. Or, for most of them, what was left. She saw the rise and fall of one of their chests and smiled. Containing her thoughts and emotions was hard. Not hopping off the table and tearing them apart would be so much harder.

“Did you find it yet?” She asked to distract herself.

“Yes,” Nightmare said as she approached, Twilight’s horn in tow in her magic. She gestured to the horn. “They kept it healthy, at least. We should be able to reattach it with minimal trouble, though you may just want to let your magic repair it. It may not be perfect.”

“I don’t need it to be perfect. I just need it to work,” Twilight growled.

With another sigh, Nightmare pressed the jagged base to the stub that was still on Twilight’s head. As soon as the edges connected, Twilight’s magic flared and fused the two together. What would make a hearty stallion squeal only made Twilight’s eye twitch slightly.

As soon as it was reconnected, Twilight’s horn flashed and she severed the mental link. No longer needing to hide her thoughts, she turned to the collar and enveloped it in her magic. There were only so many ways to absorb magic; she just needed to find how it did it.

So focused on the many enchantments and inscriptions was she, that she didn’t notice Nightmare climbing onto the table behind her until she was pulled into a hug, with Nightmare laying her head on top of hers, right next to her blazing horn. “Talk,” Nightmare said simply.

Twilight was quiet for a few minutes while she worked on modifying a few enchantments and burning new inscriptions into the collar.

“A collar,” She finally began. “It is an accessory for a pet, like a dog, either for aesthetic purposes, or to show ownership. They called me a ‘pet project’ a number of times. Fitting, really.” She rolled the collar in her magic once more before sliding out of Nightmare’s hold and stepping onto the floor.

“A dog can be the most loyal pet there can be. You can even discipline it – cause it pain – and it will still be loyal.” She settled the collar back on her neck and shivered. Even her newly mended wings twitched in excitement. Nightmare watched as she took a shaky step forward, then another surer step, to where the griffins lay.

“But, if you’re not careful, eventually the dog gets sick of it. It remembers every last thing you did to it. Every last yell, every last tap on the nose, every last slap on the rump, every last cut, injection, broken bone, and burn you gave it.” Twilight’s voice became a growl as she finished.

The collar flared to life as Twilight’s horn lit up. Instead of absorbing what she channeled, it offered what it stole. All the magic she’d tried to force out in anger, fear, and hatred was at her beck and call. An ethereal eye formed where her missing one was – it wouldn’t do to have poor depth perception. She rolled it a few times before locking her gaze on the griffin that was still alive.

Seeing this, Nightmare stepped off the table.

“And, eventually –“The griffin squawked in protest as he was hoisted in her magic. Turned to face her, she could see the fear in his eyes. She grinned. “– The dog bites. Come now, I’ve learned so much. I think it’s time for my test.”

67 First Among Equals by Toratchi888

First Among Equals {primus inter pares}
Darkness is Beauty, Beauty is Magic, Act 2

“Will you join me?”

* * *

Twilight? Twilight?

“TWILIGHT!”

“Ah!” Twilight shook her head and glanced around quickly. Nightmare Moon had vanished. “Applejack.”

“I see you’ve rejoined us.” Applejack tilted her head in concern. “Y’all look mighty… stunned, I guess. You were starin’ at that Nightmare Moon pretty hard…”

“Ah! Yes! Nightmare Moon!” Twilight spun about and galloped for the entrance of the celebration hall, weaving or barging through groups of chattering ponies.

“…What’n the hay was that all about?”

“Let’s follow her and find out!” Rainbow Dash took wing and darted after her.

Applejack sighed and cantered off, calling to Fluttershy, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie to follow.

* * *

“No, no, no, no, NO!” Twilight yanked books from their shelves in the Library with telekinesis, dumping them after glancing at their titles.

“Why has nopony organized this place?! Even alphabetically—!”

“Hey, egghead!”

Twilight paused, an orbit of half-a-dozen books forming around her as she held them in her magic’s grasp.

Rainbow Dash hovered into the Library, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Fluttershy following behind; Fluttershy closed the door quietly behind her.

“I don’t recall inviting you in…” Twilight floated the books into a neat stack… next to the twenty in a haphazard pile.

“Door was open, sugarcube; ‘sides, this is a public library.”

“So, spill, Twilight!” Rainbow Dash zipped right into Twilight’s face, muzzles touching.

Twilight grimaced. “Spill what?”

“You didn’t seem all that surprised when Nightmare Moon popped out of the shadows! You were staring at her the whole time, even!” Rainbow hovered back, pointing a hoof at Twilight. “And you just so happened to show up here today—yesterday!—out of the blue Are you a spy?!”

Applejack trotted forward and flicked Rainbow Dash’s barrel with her tail, scowling. “Calm down, Rainbow Dash; I’m sure Twilight ain’t no spy. I mean—” she turned to Twilight “—you were sent by the Princess to oversee the Celebration, am I right?”

Twilight nodded.

“And I’m doubtful that Princess Celestia would choose somepony who was gonna sabotage an important holiday. So… That means you were expectin’ Nightmare Moon, but nopony else was.”

Twilight pawed the ground. “I tried to warn the Princess, but she didn’t take my warning seriously. This is the one-thousandth year of Nightmare Moon’s banishment; there was a prophecy that she would escape tonight. The Princess sent me here instead of letting me finish my research; I was looking for a reference to the Elements of Harmony, but this place is—”

“Found it!” Pinkie Pie held up a slim royal blue volume trimmed with gold laurel leaves.

“Where was it?!” Twilight spun and wrested the book from Pinkie’s grasp with her magic.

Pinkie blinked. “Well, it was under ‘E’, y’know?”

Twilight stared for a long moment before shaking her head minutely and opening the book. “Elements of Harmony: Reference Guide.”

Twilight skimmed the guide, flipping each page if a section header sounded unsatisfactory. “Hmm… Plenty of hypotheticals on magical transference and harmonics, but—while I love a good theory—this isn’t something we can use in our current predicament satisfactorily…”

“Egghead say what?” “Not much oats in the mix to chew on, sugar.” “Oh, gotcha, AJ.” “I love oats! And barley! And cake—” “I know my critters like oats sometimes…” “Darlings, they’re imaginary oats…”

Twilight shut the book with a snap. “Not much to go on. The five—well, six—Elements of Harmony can stop Nightmare Moon, but harnessing them… finding them…”

“Well, sugarcube, where’re they at?”

* * *

“So, Twilight…” Applejack scratched her neck with her hoof.

The six ponies were—aside from Rainbow Dash, who flitted above—walking in single-file down the main path of the Everfree Forest. They had not been walking too long—over a thousand strides, perhaps—but even thus early in their travels, the darkness of night deepened within the Forest, and Fluttershy—walking third in line—shied from every sound. Though the path was plain, the trees seemed to lean in, menacing any traveller who thought of straying.

Twilight turned her head around and left to look back at Applejack as they walked; behind herself, Applejack, and Fluttershy, Rarity walked on calmly—if alert—and Pinkie Pie brought up the rear, her prancing gait at odds with the gloom of the night. “Yes?”

“Um, I’m hopin’ you got a plan or something, because, well… I mean, you’re the only one who’s been researching Nightmare Moon, so…”

Twilight faced forward again. “I think we’ll be lucky to find the Elements, let alone use them, but… Well, here’s the thing: The powerful princess who banished Nightmare Moon wielded all six Elements of Harmony. The five known qualities of Harmony are Honesty, Kindness, Laughter, Generosity, and Loyalty. The sixth is unknown, but is stated to reveal itself when the other five are awoken.”

Silence returned as they continued on for a hundred strides more, before the forest broke onto a plateau, with a cliff above them and a ravine to the right, flanking the path.

Twilight stopped. The others stopped as well, and Rainbow Dash dropped to hover at head-height. “I think we can only reasonably expect to find some clue in the Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters as to the location of the Elements, then report back to Princess Celestia.”

“If we can find her.” Applejack double-tapped the ground with her hoof. “I’m surprised she didn’t show up when Nightmare Moon did. I’m hopin’ she wasn’t, y’know, captured or something’ like that.”

“Maaaaaybeeee she was caaaaaptureeeeed by the Everfreeeee Fooooooorest!” Rainbow slunk to the ground, pretending to sneak. “You know once a pony goes in, they never come baaaaaaaaack!”

Applejack swatted at Rainbow Dash, but the pegasus laughed and swooped above her head. “Rainbow Dash, stop that nonsense!”

Rainbow blew a raspberry and danced just out of reach; Applejack turned to buck the pegasus, who again flittered back.

“RAINBOW DASH, Imma teach you some manner!”

Applejack leaped at Rainbow Dash; the latter zipped aside, and Applejack landed hard a few feet from the ravine.

Twilight cantered towards the bickering mares. “Applejack, Rainbow Dash, stop it! With the cliff and—”

*CRACK!*

A chunk of mountain dropped from the cliff above them. Rarity, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash retreated back the way they had come, shrieking. (Apart from Rainbow Dash, who is—naturally—too cool to shriek.)

“Look out, Twilight!” Applejack tackled Twilight, but the thunderous rockslide took them over the ravine regardless.

As plumes of dust rose, the night—which to that point had been deep and threatening—now became smothering like pitch. The remaining mares on the cliff-side called out to Twilight and Applejack.

* * *

“Well—” said Twilight as she and Applejack dangled about three pony’s lengths below the lip of the ravine, hanging on to a protruding tree-root, “—this is a nice mess you’ve gotten us into, Applejack.”

Clods of earth fell from around the root. “I’m mighty sorry, Twilight.”

Twilight sighed, looking up into blackness. “…I can’t see the others.”

“RAINBOW DASH! MOVE YER RUMP AN’ GIVE US A LIFT!”

…
…

“RAINBOW DASH! Y’ALL DON’T IGNORE ME NOW! THIS IS YER FAULT TOO!”

Twilight closed her eyes and swivelled her ears. “Hmm… I can hear them… but it’s like they’re under water… We can’t be all that far down; Applejack, I can—”

The root shook alarmingly. “I’m really, truly sorry, Twilight. We ain’t getting’ outta here right now. I’ll drop down—I’m an Earth Pony, after all, and a tough gal—and y’all can come back for me later!”

“Applejack, wait, you—!”

Applejack let go with a shout of “Applelooooosaaaaaaaaa—!”

“HURG!” Twilight summoned her magic to envelop Applejack, catching her before she fell too far and steadying her descent. Twilight heard a muffled thud below.

“Hey, Twilight! Where’s AJ?” Rainbow Dash peeked her head over the lip of the ravine, the air suddenly clear above her.

“Rainbow… Help me up.”

Rainbow Dash complied, lifting Twilight easily and depositing her a few strides from the ravine. Twilight about-faced and peered cautiously over the edge.

“Applejack! You all right?”

“I am, Twi,” came the faint reply. “Thanks muchly, I—”

“APPLEJACK, you’re a dummy!” Twilight shouted. “I was about to say I could lift you up to the cliff-face and get Rainbow Dash to pick me up—just like she did! Dropping off the cliff wasn’t smart; that was foal-hardy! And now we can’t see you! Just hole up there and wait for us to get back!”

The faintest, most contrite “Okay…” floated up from Applejack.

“Uh, shouldn’t we get her now?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“Let her be,” Twilight sighed. “Maybe she’ll learn something. Like, to ignore you, or not jump off cliffs. Let’s go.”

* * *

Twilight Sparkle and company—now minus Applejack—continued down the ever-darkening path for another thousand-odd strides. Their faces were sullen, except for Fluttershy, who was even more skittish than before; Rainbow Dash often looked back with a mixture of concern and annoyance, whereas Twilight’s looks were pure irritation.

The path broke into a small glade, and they spread abreast of the path through unspoken consent, slowing to a stop.

“Y’know, Twilight…” Rainbow Dash swooped to hover in front of Twilight, forcing an irritated huff from the purple unicorn as her vision was filled with blue feathers. “I’m starting to think, maybe we should go back for Applejack.”

“We haven’t time, Rainbow Dash,” Twilight growled. “Time is critical.”

Rainbow Dash’s nostrils flared. “I get that, egghead, but leaving Applejack in a hole in the ground—”

“It’s her own fault!” Twilight stamped down with her hoof.

Rainbow Dash dropped to all fours, wings spread and breath snorting. “So, what? You ditch someone when they mess up? Is that how you Canterlot snobs—”

“KYAAAA!” Rarity’s cry interrupted Twilight and Rainbow Dash’s argument. They whirled, seeking the source of danger.

An answering roar, a physical wave of sound that raised the ponies’ hair on their backs; and from the darkness charged a red-and-tan, lion-headed, dragon-winged, scorpion-tailed beast.

“And that would be a manticore…” Twilight noted flatly.

A rainbow blur shot forward towards the manticore, only to be deflected up and over with a frustrated cry.

“…I think we should RUN!” Twilight shouted. She split right at the gallop, while Rarity and Pinkie Pie split left. Unfortunately, that left—

Twilight heard the rising cry of terror behind her; turning at full pelt, she saw Fluttershy remained in the path of the manticore’s wrath.

“FLUTTERSHY! IF YOU CAN’T FIGHT, RUN!”

Fluttershy simply quaked in fear, her pupils contracted to pinpricks. The manticore was a few strides away—

With a roar of “UooooooooooAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHH—!” Twilight gathered as much ambient magic she could pull from the forest in a moment. The manticore turned on the run and targeted Twilight.

“FLUTTERSHY, HAY, MOVE! YOU’RE IN THE WAY!”

Fluttershy screamed and bolted, back down the path.

“IF YOU FIND APPLEJACK, GIVE MY REGARDS!” Twilight added, before lowering her head to the oncoming threat. “And as for you…” she muttered.

* * *

A blast of light shook the glade, and a heavy red-and-tan shape hurtled northward above the canopy with an ever-diminishing roar. A thud!, and another distant roar dwindled into silence.

Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Rainbow Dash returned to find Twilight huffing and sweating. “Dang, Twilight, you look like you finished the Running of the Leaves six times back-to-back.”

“Fluttershy… gone…” Twilight panted.

“Yes, I hope she is safe,” Rarity said, fidgeting. “Poor dear…”

“I… she… always… so… use—” Twilight looked between the remaining ponies’ faces; their eyes darkened at Twilight’s words, so she changed tack. “Anyway, whatever. Eyes up, ponies; we’re down two sets of eyes and hooves, so we’d better—”

“KYAAAAAAAAAA!” Another ear-splitting shriek from Rarity, who keeled over in a faint. Twilight looked around properly, and her face grew pale under her fur.

The trees had come to life. As unsettling as they had appeared in the dimness, now faces leered out of knots and holes, strange eyes shone in the dark, and gnarled limbs reached out for them. A moaning, rustling, creaking drone permeated the air.

“Um… um… Uh, how many trees d’you think you guys… um… y’know, can you handle?” Rainbow Dash had backed her hindquarters into Twilight’s flank. “‘Cause, y’know, I don’t wanna get in your way or anything…”

Pinkie Pie burst out laughing; Dash spun around, wings again outstretched, back bristling. “And what’s so funny, Pinkie?!”

“Oh, Dashie! They’re just trees! They can’t hurt you; just watch! See:

Pinkie began to bounce around, humming a tune, her poofy hair jumping in time to her rhythm, and she launched into a song:

“When I was a little filly, and the sun was going dooooooooown…”

“Tell me she’s not…” Twilight put a hoof to her face.

“The darkness and the shadows, they would always make me froooooooown…”

“She is,” Rarity murmured, stirring.

“I'd hide under my pillow from what I thought I saw
But Granny Pie said that wasn't the way to deal with fears at all!”

“So what is?!” Dash exclaimed.

“She said, ‘Pinkie, you gotta stand up tall; learn to face your fears.
You'll see that they can't hurt you, just laugh to make them disappear.’

“So, giggle at the ghostie
Guffaw at the grossie
Crack up at the creepy
Whoop it up with the weepy
Chortle at the kooky
Snortle at the spooky—”

You have no friends.

Those words groaned out of the forest, slow and full of menace. Pinkie froze in mid-bounce, wildly staring around for their source.

Look how Twilight abandoned Applejack and Fluttershy. You are next.

Pinkie began to whimper.

“What the hay?!” Rainbow Dash hurried to Pinkie’s side, waving a hoof before her eyes. “Pinkie? You in there?”

Ignore her, just like Twilight ignores you. Your other friends are next.

Pinkie Pie’s hair—normally as vivacious as its owner—straightened and drooped as Pinkie settled on her belly, covering her head with her hooves. The trees seemed to reach out, to draw her into the dark—

Twilight sighed. She gathered magic at the tip of her horn and sent a blossom of light into the trees. The shadows, the faces, the groping limbs; all receded until the grove was surrounded by nothing more than old, sad, leafless trees.

“Don’t leave me…” Pinkie whimpered.

“What’re we gonna do?” Rainbow muttered to Twilight as the latter trotted up.

“I don’t know. Pinkie doesn’t seem cut out for this, either. I’d send her back after Fluttershy, but she seems too… fragile. Like Fluttershy, come to that, but… too… childish.”

Pinkie Pie let out another whimper as tears rolled from her eyes.

“Oh, good heavens, Twilight, what call is there for that kind of talk! She’s frightened!” Rarity also sunk to her stomach—carefully pushing small stones and clods of dirt out of the way first—to embrace Pinkie Pie.

Twilight sighed again. “She can stay or go back, but coming with us will be more dangerous than anything. I think she should go.”

Pinkie Pie sniffled, squeezed Rarity back, got up, and began to trudge back the way she came.

“We’re running out of time.” Twilight flicked her tail and pointed her snout onward.

* * *

Twilight, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity stood before a river. Of course, this statement ignores the reality of thrashing white waves more than five strides in height and whirlpools formed between their troughs.

“Dear me, that looks dreadful…”

“It’s a river, Rarity, and not that wide either. What do you think, Rainbow Dash—about fifteen strides?”

“Yeah, I wouldn’t even break a sweat crossing it.”

“Darling, are you sure? I mean… Water is fine when it’s heated in a bath, but I don’t fancy a swim right now…”

“Are you i-i-implying I might drop you? Just who do you think—”

“Rainbow, darling, did I ever say I thought you’d drop me… or Twilight? No, dear; perish the thought. I only meant to say, it’s been a long day; I wouldn’t want you to tire yourself further by carrying both of us. Maybe we should find a crossing of—”

A plume of water erupted before the three ponies, drenching them with a cold spray.

“…Rarity?” “Yes, NOW I am wet, thank you, Rainbow Dash.”

The three ponies eyed the source of their soaking: A purple river serpent with an adroitly-styled orange mane slicked back off his head and a matching droopy moustache—

“Oh, my word!” Rarity’s eyes went wide.

“I am ruuuuuuuiiiiiined!” the serpent wailed, slamming down onto the riverbank. The extant half of his moustache—the left side—bobbed as his head landed.

“Darling, whatever happened?!” Rarity trotted up to the serpent, extending a hoof. The serpent bent a claw in front of her to touch.

“Well! What was I doing but minding my own business, when out of nowhere this tacky purple cloud spurts out of the forest and—AAAAWWWWWWW!” he howled, “it cut off my moustache! WOE IS MEEEEEEEEE!”

He thrashed about, drenching Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash, who had remained several strides behind Rarity; they looked at each other in annoyance, dripping water.

“How atrocious! Who would do such a thing, and to a… serpent… of such style and grace! I mean, look at your hair, good sir! Such a chic pompadour…” she cooed.

"I knowwwwww!" the serpent cried.

“Such shiny, well-tended scales and claws…”

"I KNOWWWWWW!"

“And to ruin the effect by cutting off your moustache! I cannot permit such a crime against fabulosity!”

“Rarity…” Twilight growled softly.

Rarity leaned forward under the serpent’s jaw, teeth out.

“What are you—OW!”

Rarity plucked a scale from his breast. “I simply must redress this! I know it’s not much, but I think my tail…” She tilted her head to position the sharp section of scale over her hindquarters.

“You WHAT?!” the serpent shrieked. “Your tail?! What makes you think I’d prefer a ponytail to a moustache?! It’s purple! I’M PURPLE! THAT WOULD BE SO… TACKY! What is it with purple tacky things today?! AAAAARGH!”

Rarity’s jaw dropped; the scale in her mouth did likewise as she stared at the serpent, who dove under the waves.

Twilight and Rainbow Dash walked up slowly. “Well, um… At least he didn’t say—”

The serpent’s head popped back up. “Keep your tail, Purple! At least it hides your fat flank!”

Rarity’s pupils shrank to nothing, and she keeled over.

“—you’re fat.” Twilight nudged Rarity. “Rainbow Dash, pick her up and settle her over there.” She jutted her chin vaguely to her left.

“Uh… sure…” Rainbow Dash lifted Rarity gently and hovered her over to the cleanest patch of leaves she could see, concealed by a low bush. When she turned back, Rainbow Dash saw Twilight with eyes closed and a glow spreading from her horn to her body. With a twinkle, Twilight disappeared from the near-side and reappeared on the far bank of the river.

Rainbow Dash zipped across. “I didn’t know you could do that.”

“Neither did I. Let’s go.”

* * *

After yet another two-thousand strides, Twilight Sparkle and Rainbow Dash emerged into a shroud of fog and arrived at—

“Another chasm?! Rainbow Dash, you’d better not—”

“Hey, egghead, that first time wasn’t—”

They both stopped abruptly. The fog cleared almost miraculously, showing a broken bridge over the chasm, and ever-so-faintly in the distance…

“Rainbow Dash, your eyesight’s better than mine. Does that look like a castle to you?”

Rainbow Dash nodded. “Yup; think so.”

“Good. Could you see about getting the bridge back up?”

“What, can’t you just magic it back?”

“I can’t see the end of the bridge. If you can haul it back up, I could help you tie it off.”

“Fine.” Rainbow Dash jumped, did a 180 twist, and dove into the chasm. She freely fell along the line of the ropes and boards until she spotted the end of the bridge. She flared her wings, righted herself, and hovered.

Scooping a snapped rope in her teeth, she pulled, gaining altitude with smooth, hard wing-flaps until she reached the far side of the chasm.

She settled on the edge and pulled at the rope. “Okay, so if I can just get this set, Twilight can—”

Rainbow Dash…

Rainbow Dash nearly dropped the rope. She made a sloppy knot around an anchor post before whipping around, bristling. “Who’s there?!”

Fog rolled in over Rainbow Dash.

“Hey!” came a faint call from across the chasm. “Rainbow Dash?!”

Rainbow Dash…

“Show yourself!”

Out of the fog glided three dark ponies, two stallions flanking a mare. They were uniformly black, with yellow eyes and blue manes; Rainbow Dash tilted her head, perplexed, until she saw how their skin “stretched” and eyes twinkled, and realized they were—

“Flying suits? Hey, are you guys…?”

“Hello, Rainbow Dash,” the mare replied, smiling. “We are the Shadowbolts, the greatest flying team in the Everfree Forest.”

“Oh, hey, that’s cool.”

“We’ve heard of your reputation, Rainbow Dash. We are few, we Shadowbolts, but we admit only the very best to our ranks. We are used to this darkness, you see, but our routines still dazzle.” The Shadowbolt mare chuckled.

“Well, now, that’s cool and all,” Rainbow Dash said, turning, “but I have to fix this—”

Rainbow Dash.

Rainbow Dash stopped, one hoof raised to step. The Shadowbolt mare stepped forward, circling Dash until she was face-to-face.

Join us.

Rainbow Dash lowered her hoof. “Uh… sure…”

“Rainbow Dash!” came a faint call from across the bridge. “Rainbow Dash!”

Rainbow Dash ignored the call, falling in with the Shadowbolts.

* * *

The fog cleared just enough for Twilight to see Rainbow Dash turn tail and join three black pegasi across the chasm. They disappeared into the fog.

“RAINBOW DASH! TRAITOR! HOW DARE YOU ABANDON ME?!”

Twilight’s voice echoed around the chasm, through the forest, up from under the earth. In the echoes, she heard snippets of other voices—

Foal-hardy useless childish fat traitor
Not to listen to you give her my regards send her back throw her over there do it yourself

Twilight shook her head, gathered her energy, and summoned her magic. She blasted across the chasm and took off running.

It’s up to me, now.
Foal-hardy useless childish fat traitor
Not to listen to you give her my regards send her back throw her over there do it yourself

* * *

Twilight galloped and galloped. She seemed to make no progress towards the castle in the distance; it remained as far as ever.

Still she persisted. It’s all up to me, now. Me. I have to do it. It’s me. I found it, I’ll finish it. Nightmare Moon…

After what seemed like a full night of running—ten thousand strides or more—Twilight broke out of the fog and stood before a dark, decrepit castle. The drawbridge was down, the gate raised like a maw.

Twilight trotted across the bridge and under the gate, which slammed shut behind her.

In the darkness ahead of her, a tiny pinprick of light appeared, which then hurtled towards her. Twilight stared as around her the hallway seemed to recede while the light came closer. It was almost atop her—

When she opened her eyes, she was in a destroyed throne room. On the far side, on a dais, a single chair stood, canted to the left. Above, holes in the roof showed the Moon, enormous in a starless sky. And around the base of the chair--

“The Elements of Harmony…” Twilight whispered, taking a step forward.

My precious Twilight…

Twilight peered around. “Who’s there?”

You know.

From behind the chair poured a cloud of purple smoke, like starlight trapped in tar. It coalesced into a tall pony shape, with blue armour on its head, chest, and hooves.

“Nightmare Moon.”

“So, Twilight Sparkle, you solved the riddle and found me. I am pleased.” Nightmare Moon smiled, showing off long, pointed incisors. She looked about dramatically. “But where are your friends? Did they not join you?”

“What about them?” Twilight asked flatly. “I’m here, and I’m enough to—”

“Do what, exactly?” Nightmare replied drily. “I’m an ancient magical creature who was only defeated by the Elements of Harmony, and I count one, two, three… Oh, look: six Elements, one Pony. I win,” she deadpanned.

Twilight stomped. “I don’t have to beat you! I have to tell Princess—”

“Dear Princess Celestia will not be joining us any time soon, my dear; that I can promise you.” Nightmare Moon turned slightly, presenting herself broadside. “Now, Twilight Sparkle, let us talk about… your primacy.”

“My what, now?”

“Dear Twilight Sparkle, you came in search of the Elements with a band of… companions? To seek the power to defeat me; did you not? But along the way, you discovered they weren’t… up to the task, yes?

“Did they come as friends? Perhaps. It could be that they had the best intentions at heart, but their frailty has cost you time in coming here, yes? Not to mention a headache.

“But look, you found something important in the coming here, did you not? Did Applejack show you that foolishness has no place in important matters? That faintness of heart only burdens the strong, like with Fluttershy? Or that childishness restrains the mature, not freeing them like Pinkie Pie? Or even that loyalty is not absolute, as you found with Rainbow Dash?”

Twilight snout scrunched angrily, and she snorted. “You don’t know—”

“Actually, I do. I was there every time, Twilight.” Nightmare Moon’s voice dropped seductively. “I preyed on their insecurities, throwing obstacles in your path and theirs. They were nothing… well, no; they were useful in showing you how their notions are nothing compared to mine.

“You are superior, Twilight Sparkle. You understood the threat and power I represent, when even your mentor did not. You are above altruism, empathy, trust; even honesty is a tool to move you forward. I fancy you, Twilight Sparkle; I did the moment I laid eyes on you.

“And now… your pride—and a tiny nudge of my hypnotic power; I am not above cheating to get what I want—have led you here. Your ‘friends’—hahahahaha, how I laugh at that—have not abandoned you: You. Left. Them.

“I am all you have now… because you… are mine.”

In her best imitation of Rarity, Twilight’s jaw dropped and her pupils shrank in terror.

* * *

So, Twilight Sparkle, first among ponies…

Will you join me?

68 Astromancy by Toratchi888

“Spiiiiike…” Twilight groaned, trotting as slowly as was possible without turning into a trudging walk, jingling the bells on her tall wizard’s hat and making her long white beard and star-painted robes wobble ever so slightly.

She barely lifted her head to the decorated stalls around her—decked with spiders, bats, stars, and ghosts—or looked at their costumed occupants, such was her apparent misery.

Spike swayed on her back, dressed up like a Diamond Dog. “Oh, come on, Twilight! Pinkie’s always good for a laugh!”

“Ugh, Spike, look: I know I promised Pinkie AND Princess Celestia both that I would try to be more open-minded about Pinkie’s… Pinkie-ness… but look, even if Pinkie’s Pinkie Sense does work—and I admit, it does something—I doubt that using it is going to give her the power of crystallomancy.”

“Huh?”

Twilight stopped, craning her neck around at her passenger. “Predictive crystal-gazing. The reason we’re going to see Pinkie in the first place?”

“Oh, right.” Spike had the good grace to look sheepish.

Twilight rolled her eyes. ““Well, here we are.” She stood before a small tent, purple-pink with half-drawn curtains and a trio of jaunty yellow balloons in place of the top-post pennant. It looked like something from Saddle Arabia.

Spike hopped down, drawing a small bit-bag from his pocket. “I have the bits.”

“Is that the sound of Spike the Dragon I hear?” The voice which had spoken had a “mysterious” quantity to it… if by “mysterious” one meant “stereotypical wise pony.”

Though in the case of the tent’s occupant, it was more along the lines of “wise-cracking.”

“Hello, Madame Pinkie!” Spike replied cheerfully, trotting through the tent flaps. Twilight followed slowly.

Inside the tent, the only light available—in addition to the ambiance provided by lanterns on stalls outside—were two pairs of candles, secured in the puddles of their own wax to either of two tall, thin, square-topped pedestal tables.

At a central round table sat a bright-pink mare. She wore a purple and grey silk jacket, as well as a white turban wrapped in a “V”, with the cloth’s end dangling down the mare’s left side, in the center of which was a deep purple stone and a white feather.

The mare sat with her hooves together, eyes hooded. Before her on the table was a round object, probably about the size of two or three hooves, covered with a pink cloth.

“Come in, come in!” Pinkie intoned, an amused smile playing about her lips. “Welcome to Madame Pinkie’s House of Fortune. Two bits the price; your fortune, so nice.”

“Hahaha, you’ve been spending time with Zecora, haven’t you, Madame Pinkie?” Spike giggled, bowing.

“Hello, Madame Pinkie,” Twilight added, smiling politely as she could.

“Would you like to go first, Twilight?” Pinkie asked, gesturing to the cushion.

She’s taking this quite seriously. She’s actually sat still since we arrived. Suppose I can play along… “Thank you.” Twilight took a seat on a grey cushion, opposite Pinkie; Spike stood on Twilight’s left, looking eager.

Pinkie slowly grasped the pink cloth in her hoof, lifted it minutely, then whipped it off. Spike gasped in awe, and the corner of Twilight’s mouth cocked up.

The crystal ball was perfectly smooth and midnight-blue. “That is a lovely ball, Madame Pinkie.”

“Thank you, Twilight. I asked Princess Luna if they had anything suitable on which I might gaze, to tell ponies their fortunes; she was most happy to lend me this.”

Pinkie touched the crystal with one hoof, carefully. “It is set.”

She drew back her hoof and gazed into its depths. “Gaze with me, Twilight, so we may both see what lies ahead.”

Twilight peered at the orb, looking at it thoroughly. It indeed looked totally unblemished.

Twilight gave a start when, inexplicably, there started to swirl inside it… smoke? And were those… stars? The outline was… equine…?

Pinkie’s left ear twitched. Then her right. Her forelegs wobbled back and forth, as though a wave passed from one to the other through her body: left to right, then back. She wobbled upright, involuntarily, like a snake, and her chattered a half-dozen times as her pupils contracted…

…before she finally jumped, legs splayed, and let loose a mighty “SQUEEEEEEEEEEEE!” as confetti popped from nowhere behind her, swirling briefly into the shape of a large pony before falling to earth.

Pinkie thumped down onto her rump, panting. “Woweeeeeee!”

“Not-another-doozy, not-another-doozy, not-another-doozy…” Twilight muttered rapidly through clenched teeth.

“Twiiiilight…” Pinkie intoned. “In your futuuuuure… I seeeee…”

Twilight covered her face with both fore-hooves, peeking between them.

“…a tall, dark stranger; it must be!”

…

“BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!” Spike fell on his back, rolling and clutching his sides in his hysterics. “H-hey, Twilight… Maybe… maybe it’s Nightmare… Moon… AHAHAHAHA! ‘Cause it’s… Nightmare Niiiiight…!”

Twilight snorted. “Thanks, Spike.” Twilight turned a small smile on Pinkie. “I guess if Spike’s amused by all that, it’s worth the two bits.” Twilight bent down to retrieve the bit-bag from Spike, who was still chortling on the floor, and plopped it on the table. “I have to get going; you don’t mind watching him, do you?”

“Not at all,” Pinkie replied, her smile huge. “I mean, I don’t usually stare into dragons to predict the future, but maybe if we stare into a really big diamond—”

Spike’s laughter died instantly, and he sprung onto the table, fumbling in his pockets. “I have a little diamond I was saving for a snack! Maybe we can use that—”

* * *

Twilight trotted out of Madame Pinkie’s tent and down a darker side street. She avoided most of the other revellers, keeping her head low, giving polite, absent nods to the few ponies who caught her eye.

Eventually, she found herself away from the main square, where the lanterns and revellers were few. She removed her hat and robes, and set them down on a low stone garden-wall.

She sighed. Quiet. I hope Spike and Pinkie have a good time. I don’t know about Spike, but I just can’t get behind Pinkie and her predictions and senses.

She stared up into the night sky.

A tall, dark stranger.

Maybe it’s Nightmare Moon!

Twilight blew gently. Not a chance. “Not a chance,” she repeated aloud. “Princess Luna definitively proved last Nightmare Night that she’s just Luna. I don’t care what Pinkie saw in her crystal ball; the Elements of Harmony definitely got rid of Nightmare Moon for good!”

She blinked. Was that…? In the spaces between the stars, something like dust—glittering dust, like the light that shimmered in the Princesses’ manes—seemed to seep, drawing out a pattern in the sky.

Twilight blinked again. A horn? A head held high, mane swirling? She lidded her eyes, peering up. The stars twinkled quickly, quickened under her gaze.

For the briefest instant, a flash in the sky, the Mare in the Moon—

It was gone. Twilight gasped. “…no. No.” She shook her head, blinking a few more times. One single star shone brighter than all the others…

…then vanished.

“…okay, I’m betting that was just a prank. It’s probably Luna making an entrance.” She turned back towards town. “I’m no more likely to meet her than any other tall, dark stranger—”

Stranger? Not hardly, my dear Twilight Sparkle.

Twilight stopped dead.

And there before her was the Mare in the Moon, in all her dark, armoured glory.

A tiny salt-stick floated in her midnight-blue aura; she drew it slowly down her muzzle, licking it slowly. “Trick or Treat, Twilight Sparkle,” she grinned, showing her fangs. “Want to share the night?”