"How are you feeling?" Chocolate Cherry asked, her voice just above a whisper.

Nightmare Moon wanted to let out a growl, but the throb of her head made it seem like a bad idea. Her front legs gripped at the toilet as her head rested on the edge. The cool ceramic felt kind of nice at the moment. She kept her eyes closed, grateful that the lights were off (the light of the morning sun had been a stabbing sensation not too long ago). Her throat still burned and ached, and her mouth tasted absolutely horrible.

"I didn't know that you could get a hangover," Cherry said from the bathroom door. "Even if I did, I didn't think it would be this bad. I mean you still seemed pretty responsive and coherent last night." One of her ears gave a flick as she shifted.

"Hangover?" Nightmare asked. "Is..." her stomach shifted. "Is that..."

Gripping the bowl she raised her head as liquid forced its way from her stomach, up her throat, and out her mouth. This was about the third time it was happening to her this morning. It had been quite a surprise to her when she woke up, tried to move, and had it happen for the first time. Fortunately, Cherry was familiar with the event enough to guide Nightmare to the bathroom before the second one occurred.

"A hangover is what happens to some ponies when they drink too much," explained Cherry, "or at all. Headaches, nausea, and vomiting, are all pretty common results."

Nightmare coughed and spat out the last little bit of whatever was in her mouth, still feeling the burning sensation in her throat and tasting whatever it was on her tongue.

"Which is this?" Nightmare asked as she motioned at the toilet.

"What?"

"Which of those terms currently has me on the floor expelling the content of my stomach?"

"Vomiting," Cherry answered. This got a groan in reaction from Nightmare Moon, her head resting against the edge of the toilet bowl once again.

"So this actually happens often enough that it has a name for it," Nightmare grumbled. "What other horrors of mortality do I have to look forward to?"

"Good morning!" a voice shouted out, causing Nightmare to wince as her head throbbed.

"Caramel!" Cherry hissed. "Not so loud."

"Did a friend of yours end up partyi.... Are you wearing a collar?"

"Yes," Cherry answered, "to both."

A stallion -- Nightmare figured it must be Caramel -- poked his head into the doorway. It was too dim too make out much about him, but Nightmare could tell that he was staring at her.

"Ooh, she looks tough," he said. "And kind of on the tall side." He turned to Cherry. "Does she have a brother?"

"Caramel!" Cherry growled. "This is her first hangover. Be nice."

"First, huh?" Caramel turned back to the bathroom. "Congratulations then. Couldn't have picked a better mare to help guide you through it.

"Where are you two in the whole process?"

Chocolate Cherry turned to Nightmare and asked "do you think you can keep something down now?"

"How would I know?" Nightmare growled. "This entire experience of mortality is new to me."

"Mortality?" Caramel asked. "What does she mean by that?"

"I'll explain later," Cherry said. "Could you go ahead and start on the biscuits?"

"Alright," he huffed. "Fine."

"Biscuits?" Nightmare asked, raising an eyebrow.

"From my experience, it's one of the few things that can be kept down at a time like this," Cherry explained. Stepping into the bathroom, she grabbed a cup by the sink and started filling it with water. "If you can get up, I can help you feel better."

After taking a deep breath, Nightmare Moon tried to stand back up. Her legs tensed and wobbled, but they were able to support her without any trouble. As she got up, her stomach seemed to shift. She paused for a moment, worried that she would end up vomiting again. When it did not happen, she continued to rise until she was fully standing once again.

Meanwhile, Chocolate Cherry had set the cup aside and reached up to the mirror. Pulling on it, she took a hold of a small container and opened it, taking out two pills.

"Take these." She held out the pills. "They'll help with the headache. The best way is to try and get them as far back into your mouth as you can without tasting them, then washing them down with the water."

Nightmare took the little white pills and looked at them. She had no idea what they were. A part of her was uncertain about taking them. Could they be dangerous? Could Chocolate Cherry be trying to poison her?

No. No. That was silly. It was doubtful that any pony would want to her dead. She had yet to put into motion any plans that would make her more enemies. Besides, if Cherry wanted her dead, there would have been ample opportunity last night while Nightmare was asleep.

Closing her eyes, Nightmare tossed the pills into her mouth, feeling them hit the back of her throat. She then grabbed the glass of water and started drinking.

"Slowly," Chocolate Cherry stated. "Too fast and your stomach might get upset again."

One of Nightmare's ears gave a flick of acknowledgement and of annoyance. The latter was not directed specifically at Chocolate Cherry. It was more to do with the situation. Yet another nuisance having to do with mortality. Pain if they do not eat. Pain if they imbibe too much alcohol. Pain if they overexert themselves. Pain, pain, pain, exhaustion, vomiting and who knows what else. She was getting tired of it all already, to really hate being mortal.

Oh how she missed her power and immortal power from the dream realm. At least when she was able to possess mortal ponies, she had no need to worry about such matters. At worst, if something happened to her host, she would simply be sent back to the realm and have to recover before trying again.

Now the worst case scenario is that she might actually die. Considering the way things seemed to be going already, maybe that would not be so bad after all. At least then she would not have to worry about things that could wound or kill her.

"Now for a nice hot shower," Chocolate Cherry announced. Taking the collar off, she set it onto the counter. Cherry then made her way past Nightmare Moon and toward the bathtub shower stall combination.

"Just give me a second." She gripped one of the knobs and turned it, causing water to pour out of a faucet just above the tub. Cherry continued to twist the same knob several times, before turning her attention to the other one. After sticking her hoof under the spout, she fiddled with the knobs a little longer.

"Okay. It's ready for you to come in."

With a deep breath, Nightmare took a slow step forward. For a second, she thought she felt something in her stomach begin to come up. Once it passed without incident, she continued to make her way to the tub and climb in.

"Are you ready?" Cherry asked as she closed the curtain. She then grabbed a third knob and twisted it.

As Nightmare Moon watched, the water stopped flowing from the bathtub faucet. A sound reached her ears before the first spray of water struck her, causing her wings to flare out in surprise.

Slowly, she began to relax as the shower continued. It felt like a warm rain. Not quite gentle, but not irritatingly rough or anything either. It was comforting, relaxing, and pleasant. She could feel the water soaking into her fur, and it felt like the warmth was sinking into her very body. The sensation seemed to make her body relax. It did not make the pains vanish completely, but it did alleviate it quite a bit.

"Oh, yes," Nightmare Moon purred out, moving to let the water flow through her mane and over her face. "I do enjoy the feel of this."

"Letting it hit the back of your neck and head really helps," Cherry suggested. "Have you never experienced a shower before?"

"I have never taken the opportunity to bathe while in a host," Nightmare Moon responded. "Besides, showers didn't exist when Luna was around, and Rarity preferred soaking in a bubble bath."

She tilted her head down and leaned forward, letting the water spray directly against the back of her neck and through her mane. Cherry was right about it helping with the headache. It was like the warmth was able to climb right up her neck and ease the pain. Unfortunately, it still did not get rid of it completely, but at least she no longer felt like somepony was taking an axe to the inside of her skull.

The moment of relaxation was lost as there was a series of thundering booms. Each one sent a bolt of lightning through Nightmare's skull.

"Cherry," Caramel called out, "somepony is here to see your friend. And I don't think you'll believe who it is."

"Tell Twilight Sparkle that I will be out in a minute," Nightmare called out. With a huff, she rolled her eyes and gave a shake of her head. Leave it to Twilight Sparkle to ruin something that seemed to be going so well. Again. It was like Twilight was the princess of perfectly horrible timing or something.

"Twilight Sparkle?" Chocolate Cherry asked, rousing Nightmare Moon from her thoughts. "As in Princess Twilight Sparkle?"

"Unfortunately," Nightmare answered. "How do I turn this thing off?"

"Wow," Cherry said as she turned off the shower. "That's surprising. I mean, I knew she was kind of the one you were staying with and all, but I thought she would have some sort of guard or something assigned to you. I never thought she would come find you herself." Hopping out of the shower, she gave herself a shake and looked around.

"Oh, shit. I forgot the towels. If you don't mind waiting, I'll go grab you one."

Nightmare turned to Chocolate Cherry to reply, and stopped. She stared at the dripping wet mare. Something about the soaking wet mane running down Cherry's back, droplets of water tracing along her curves... wet fur clinging to shapely curvy...

Chocolate Cherry left the bathroom, her hips, rump, and wet tail swaying as she went.

What is wrong with me? Nightmare Moon thought. Reaching up, she rubbed a hoof against her forehead. She was supposed to be a terror that haunted dreams as spooked foals to behave or be eaten. She wanted to rule over ponies and have them bend to her power and serve her. It was supposed to be about revenge, power, and control. Nightmare Moon did not want to be a pony, and she did not like ponies, and she certainly did not want to make friends with them.

So why did she have an interest in Chocolate Cherry? A mare that Nightmare barely knew, having just met, and yet felt... comfortable around her. Last night could have been chalked up to inebriation, curiosity, and the appeal of a pony praising and fawning over her. She should have no real interest in a simple regular pony.

Perhaps Chocolate Cherry was not a regular pony. Perhaps she was actually a changeling that had disguised itself as a pony and had been given some training on exactly what Nightmare Moon wanted to hear. That way, this disguised changeling could ingratiate itself to Nightmare, get intimately close, then steal the feelings and use them to feed the hive.

No. No. That was silly. If changelings were able to invade Equestria without being noticed, there would be sources that were more readily available.

Could it be that she did not actually care for Chocolate Cherry, but enjoyed the praise and affection that was given? That made sense in a way. But if she were honest, it just did not feel true to her.

"Here you go."

Nightmare had to resist the urge to jump as she suddenly heard Chocolate Cherry right beside her. Reaching out, she grabbed the offered towel.

"Thank you."

Nightmare Moon started drying herself, getting the excess remnants of water from her coat. She suddenly paused, her eyes going wide.

Did I just thank her?