"Why are we here?" Nightmare Moon grumbled as they reached Sweet Apple Acres. She let her gaze and mind wander, looking at the place as they continued to walk. The whole place seemed boring. Trees, trees, building that was probably a barn, more trees, cows, a field with...

"Hello," Nightmare purred out.

Standing in the field was a very large red stallion. He looked to be on the tall side, broad chested, and covered in thick, powerful muscles. A large yoke was around his neck, attached to some sort of tool that was supposed to be pulled behind him. It seemed that he was able to pull it without any trouble. Still, Nightmare could see the flexing of his flanks as he walked, muscles twitching with each step. There was also a faint sheen to his coat, and his orange mane seemed to stick to his forehead and thick, powerful neck.

"...mare? Nightmare? Are you listening to me?"

Nightmare Moon blinked and turned to look at Twilight Sparkle.

"Were you speaking?"

"Did you hear anything I said since we got here?" Twilight asked.

"No," Nightmare replied, getting a huff of annoyance. Turning back to the field, she pointed a hoof at the stallion. "Who is that?"

Twilight turned to look in the direction that Nightmare pointed.

"That's Big Macintosh, Applejack's older brother."

"Big Macintosh, huh?" Nightmare asked, still watching. "So he is real. Interesting. I would like to take a bite out of him." She licked at her lips, her wings and tail giving a small flick of excitement. She continued to watch the large, muscular, farm stallion work.

"First, you don't mean that literally, do you?" Twilight asked. "Because, you have those really sharp teeth. It makes it look like you are quite capable of being omnivorous."

That was right, she did have fangs. It had been a part of her appearance when she had first manifested with Luna, primarily to increase her intimidation. They had not existed when she had possessed Rarity, so it was not an inherit trait of her manifestation at all times. Was it an indication of her being omnivorous? It could simply be attributed to her manifesting being somewhat influenced by her prior forms. If so, then the fangs would still only be intended for intimidation. If not, it might be interesting to try eating meat. It would be something worth trying, and certainly a new experience.

"Don't worry yourself, Sparkle," Nightmare said. "I have no intention to bite him." She paused, thinking a moment before grinning.

"That is, unless he is into that type of thing."

Twilight let out a sigh and gave a shake of her head, rolling her eyes.

"Putting that aside," she said. "Second, weren't you just with somepony last night?"

"What does that have to do with anything?" Nightmare asked, looking toward Twilight from the corner of her eye.

Twilight Sparkle looked at her, then looked away. She shifted her body, shuffling her hooves on the ground as her wings gave a small flutter. Her gaze drifted, moving down to the ground.

"I... I don't know," Twilight admitted. "It's just... you were with Chocolate Cherry last night, and you two seemed to have hit it off when I showed up. It seemed like it was... the start of something I guess."

"Chocolate Cherry and I had a wonderfully fun time," Nightmare stated. "Aside from the hangover that is. With her I learned that I do at least enjoy sex with other mares. However, I am still curious about what it would be like with a stallion. I may do more with Cherry, and we may even get a stallion to join us." She grinned and turned back toward the field. "Perhaps it is even possible that I will convince 'Big' Macintosh to do that."

"Do you really think they would go for that?"

The question got Nightmare Moon's attention. She turned to look at Twilight fully, trying to look as disapproving as possible. Eyes narrowed and lips slightly pursed, she stared at Twilight until the mare started fidgeting.

"You are asking me," Nightmare said slowly, "if a mare I just met and a stallion I have never talked to would go for having a threesome with me."

"Right," Twilight conceded. "You probably wouldn't know then."

Nightmare Moon gave a small nod and turned back to the field. It seemed she had timed it just right to watch Big Macintosh turn around, letting her get a good look of his toned backside.

"What did you mean 'so he is real?'" Twilight asked.

"During our time together, Rarity had several explicit dreams about him," Nightmare replied. "I had thought he was merely a fantasy she had made up." She grinned and let out a chuckle. "The things she imagined him doing to her..."

"I don't want to know!" Twilight snapped, looking away.

"Oh come now," Nightmare said, poking at Twilight with her wing. "I doubt that Rarity was the only pony to have sexual fantasies about him. I'm sure that all of your friends have since meeting him. " Her eyes narrowed as she tilted to look at Twilight, a thought crossing her mind. "Why, I bet that even you have thought about it a time or two."

Twilight let out a gasp as she turned to face Nightmare Moon. Her eyes went wide as her face turned pink and ears pulled back. There was an audible snap as Twilight's wings flared out to their full size.

"Wha-what?" Twilight cried out, shifting her hooves -- and noticeably not making eye contact. "No. No. That... that... that's just-just silly. Why would I ever think of... of doing... that... with the older brother of a friend?" As she talked, her face grew brighter and brighter. It was funny and kind of cute to see her so like that.

"Twilight Sparkle, you are a terrible liar. More so when you are flustered." Reaching out a wing, Nightmare Moon wrapped it around Twilight and turned back toward Macintosh. She motioned toward him with a hoof.

"Take a look at him," Nightmare stated. "Tall."

"Yeah," Twilight agreed.

"Broad chested."

"Yeah."

"Thick, powerful fore-legs."

"Yeah."

"Strong, sturdy."

"He is," Twilight conceded, her eyes glassy as she looked at the stallion working.

"Why, I bet that he could just--"

"Wrap those forelegs around you," Twilight said, "making you feel so safe and secure while you nuzzle into that soft chest fur, inhaling the scent of male musk and fresh apples."

Nightmare had been planning to say "go for hours," since he was used to long hard work, but found Twilight's reaction interesting. It was doubtful that even Twilight Sparkle would come up with a response like that off the top of her head. Possible, but doubtful. Especially since it seemed she had considered what Big Macintosh would smell like if she were to press her nose into his coat. Perhaps if Nightmare gave an opening, Twilight would reveal a little more. Now, Nightmare just needed to figure out the right thing to ask.

That was when she noticed the stalk of grass hanging from Big Macintosh's mouth. As she watched, Macintosh shifted it from one side to the other.

Perhaps that would be a point.

"And look at those lips," Nightmare whispered. "So flexible and adept. Very well could be as strong as the rest of him. Imagine what he could do with them. Such as..." she let it trail off, waiting to see what would happen.

"Teasing nips at your ears," Twilight sighed, "or gentle, playful kisses along your neck."

"A-ha!" Nightmare cried out. "So you have thought about it!"

The shout caused Twilight to jump slightly, wings flaring in surprise. A grimace spread across her face as her gaze flicked between Nightmare Moon and Big Macintosh. A sigh escaped her as she dropped her head, her ears, tail and wings drooping.

"Alright," Twilight said. "You got me. Yes, I've thought about what it would be like." Raising her head back up, she turned to look toward Big Macintosh again.

The confession brought a grin to Nightmare Moon's face. This was quite entertaining. It also gave her quite a bit to tease Twilight Sparkle with. Although it was doubtful there would be a way to use it to gain an actual advantage over Twilight Sparkle should Nightmare Moon find a way to regain or replace her powers and try to take over Equestria. That is unless she wanted to try and use Big Macintosh as some sort of hostage. If she were to resort to such a thing -- and it was doubtful considering how poorly it worked out for Tirek -- there were ponies that would be more suitable than a potential love interest. Although she was not quite certain who since she had caught glimpses of a nightmare or two with Twilight's friends involved as the source of fear.

There was also something that Nightmare was curious about.

"So why do you not try to court him?" she asked.

"What?" Twilight yelped out. "Me? Date Big Macintosh? I... I can't do that. Look at him." She motioned toward him with a hoof. "Like you said, practically every mare in Ponyville has probably fantasized about him. Who knows how many of them have actually tried to date him. Why would he be interested in me more than them? Some of them have to have way more in common with him that I do. He'll probably just say no."

Nightmare could not help that Twilight's eyes were wide and strand of her mane were starting to stick out.

"Even if he does say yes," Twilight continued, "it will probably just be out of politeness. And if he does, what are we going to do? I don't know anything about farming. Things could go horribly and awkward. Then things would be awkward between us, which means that things would also be awkward with Applejack."

Twilight stopped talking as she started to breathe heavily. Her entire body seemed to rise and fall with each gasp.

"How were you able to defeat me twice and stop several other attacks on Equestria?" Nightmare asked, raising an eyebrow and shaking her head. It was a bit embarrassing and hard to believe now. The supposed princess of friendship and so-called hero of Equestria who had defeated her twice -- once without even using The Elements of Harmony -- was having some sort of... panic attack seemed like an accurate description. A panic attack over the idea of going on a date with a colt.

"Well that stuff is kind of easier," Twilight managed to replied. "I don't exactly have time to think too much. Besides, I already know what the worst case scenario would be if I fail."

That was an interesting way of looking at it. Also made sense.

"You should still ask," Nightmare said. "At the very least there will no longer be any wonder about whether or not he would turn you down."

Looking at Macintosh, Twilight chewed on her lip.

"Maybe..." she said softly.

"I will give you two weeks," Nightmare Moon stated. "If you don't ask him out by then, I will make my move instead."

Twilight suddenly turned and looked at Nightmare Moon. Her brow furrowed and her eyes narrowed.

"Why are you doing this?" she asked. "I mean, I'm sure you can understand if I'm skeptical that you are simply encouraging me out of the goodness of your heart."

It was a fair statement, and accurate. Nightmare Moon was not entirely certain why she cared, but it was not simply to be nice. Even if it was, she was not willing to admit to such a thing.

"Good," replied Nightmare. "You are supposed to be above average intellect after all." She smirked and turned back toward the field. "Perhaps it is because I think you need to experience sex. After all, you are so uptight about the situation, you get flustered and frustrated just at the mention of it... like you are now."

She did not look at Twilight during the last remark, but she caught the sound of nervous shifting.

"Perhaps," Nightmare continued, "it is because if you are busy dating, you will have less time to watch me, granting me more freedom during my enslavement and confinement here in Ponyville.

"Or perhaps it is because I don't believe you will go through with it. That in the allotted two weeks you will fail to attempt to ask him out, or express interest in him asking you instead. As such when I do so and you get jealous, you will not be able to say anything because I will be able to point out that you had your chance."

She paused, letting the statement and its possibilities linger so that Twilight could consider the possibility. Probably even imagining what it would be like to see Nightmare Moon romantically involved with Big Macintosh but not able to say anything because Twilight never bothered to express interest in the stallion, and now it was too late.

Nightmare started counting, planning on giving Twilight a full minute to consider the possibility.

"There you are," a voice suddenly called out around the seventeen mark. Nightmare and Twilight both turned to look toward the source.

"Was just coming back from the west field," Applejack said as she walked up to the pair. "Just about to head in and grab a quick snack when I saw y'all over here."

Twilight smiled and walked toward Applejack.

"If you want, you can go ahead and take a break while I take Nightmare Moon over there."

"Nah," Applejack said with a wave of her hoof. "I can take you over there." She shifted. "But uh... are you sure you want to let her try bucking a tree? I mean, she's tall and all, but she's not exactly strong looking and never bucked a tree before."

"Pah," Nightmare Moon cried out. "I am more than capable of kicking a tree well enough to knock some apples loose."

"I ain't trying to make you mad here," Applejack replied as she turned to Nightmare. "It's just that -- like I said -- you've never done this before. If a pony does it wrong, they can hurt themselves."

"I will be fine," Nightmare declared. "In fact, why wait for the west field? I will demonstrate here." She started walking toward one of the apple trees.

"Nightmare," Twilight called out. "Didn't you learn anything from you experience with Rainbow Dash yesterday?"

"This is an entirely different matter. Now, pick a tree and I shall buck it to put this to an end."

"This is serious. If you do this wrong, worst case scenario is that you break your leg."

"That will not happen."

"Nightmare I-"

"Enough!" Nightmare snapped. "I am aware of your opinion, but it is unnecessary and pointless. If you will not pick one, I shall do so myself."

With that, she walked up to one of the trees and turned around. Lifting one of her hind legs, she pulled it in as close to her body as she could before kicking out behind her. There was a loud thud as her hoof struck the tree. At the same time there was a burning hot flash of pain through Nightmare's leg, flaring all the way up to her knee.

Clenching her jaw, Nightmare bit back the surprised cry that formed in her chest. Slowly, she pulled her leg away from the tree. As soon as her hoof touched the ground, her ankle throbbed, causing her to lift it back up slightly.

"See?" she said between her clenched teeth. "I am just fine."

"Except you didn't knock any apples off the tree," Applejack observed.

"Why are you holding your foot off the ground?" Twilight asked, studying Nightmare Moon.

Nightmare had to think quick. She did not want to admit that she had hurt herself. It was annoying enough on its own, but she did not want to prove Twilight was correct in her warning.

"I am holding it up in case I need to do so again."

"That won't be necessary," Twilight said, still watching Nightmare's leg. "I think that was enough of a demonstration for now. If Applejack wants to go in and have a snack, we can join her. There is something that I want to discuss anyways. Come on. The farmhouse is right over there." She pointed toward it with a wing.

It was easy for Nightmare Moon to guess what Twilight Sparkle was up to. With how intensely Twilight was watching, she would almost instantly notice that Nightmare could not put weight on her hind leg. It did not seem like it would be allowed to happen without at least some sort of comment. At worst she would have to go back to the hospital, an idea which she hated.

Unless...

"Very well," Nightmare said. With a flap of her wings, she took off. It was a short flight from the tree to the porch.

Unfortunately, all four hooves hit the ground at the same time when Nightmare landed. She was unable to stop herself from letting out a hiss of pain as she pulled her injured leg off the ground again.

She was caught.

"Fine," she huffed. "So I was not as capable at bucking as I thought."

"I'll get the first aid kit," Applejack declared as she made her way toward the door. "C'mon in and take a seat."