"Nightmare?" Twilight called out. "Nightmare are you here?"

Nightmare Moon let out a groaning growl of frustration, closing her eyes tighter and resting her head against the table.

"We're in the kitchen!" Chocolate Cherry called back, getting a glare in response. "Sorry, but this way she won't be shouting all through the castle looking for you."

Nightmare rolled her eye before closing it and letting out a huff. It was true. Although if she had been up in her room, she would not have had to hear Twilight Sparkle calling out for a while longer. Cherry probably could have come up with a quieter way of getting Twilight's attention, but it would probably have required Cherry to leave Nightmare alone, which she was refusing to do at the moment for some reason. Nightmare found it cute, but also kind of annoying.

"Is everything okay?" Twilight asked as she made her way into the kitchen. "You didn't finish the race and I heard... What happened to you?"

Nightmare Moon pulled the ice pack away from her face and looked at Twilight Sparkle. She tried to give a full glare, but found it difficult with half her face swollen. The ice was supposedly helping to keep the swelling down, but it still felt puffy, painful, and horribly out of shape. Hopefully it was true and the worst of the swelling would subside by tomorrow. That plus the dark coloring and thickness of her fur would hide the bruising, so there would be no signs of her facial injuries while she recovered.

"Ursa Minor," Nightmare said. "A large one. It came out of the forest and attacked me. I was forced to fend it off with my bare hooves. Fortunately it was quite slow, so my speed and agility were more than enough. However, it did manage to land one lucky blow against me." She then turned away from Twilight and stuck the ice pack back onto her face.

"While that very well could be possible," Twilight replied, "I doubt that is what actually happened. Pretty sure that if there was another Ursa Minor in Ponyville, a lot of ponies would have come and told me." She moved closer to the table. "Come on. What really happened?"

Nightmare studied the kitchen, looking at the walls, the cabinets, even the stove. Her attention went toward the refrigerator, considering what was inside. Perhaps she should grab a snack. Something loud that she could chew on a lot.

"Cherry?" Twilight asked.

Curious, Nightmare turned to look at Chocolate Cherry out of her good eye, raising an eyebrow. She wondered how the mare would respond to the question. As she watched, Cherry's gaze alternated between Nightmare and Twilight. For a second, Nightmare thought she caught a glance of a mischievous grin before Cherry suddenly sagged and let out a sigh.

"Okay," Cherry said. "It was my fault."

That got Nightmare's attention more. What was she up to?

"We were running along, and I kind of got to watching Nightmare. The flexing of her toned muscles, the beads of sweat, the way the fall sun shined against her dark coat, it was all so wonderful."

Where was she going with this? It almost sounded like...

"I couldn't take it anymore," Cherry proclaimed. "I just had to have her. So I tackled her off the path and into the forest, where we ravaged each other."

Nightmare bit her lip to keep from grinning as she turned to get a look at Twilight from her good eye. Twilight was not looking at either of the other mares, her face taking on a pink tinge.

"Is any of that true?" Twilight asked.

"She was pretty sexy running out there," Cherry replied, grinning at Nightmare. "The rest I had considered..."

"Alright, alright," Twilight said, holding up a hoof. "I get it. Neither of you want to talk about it. Consider the matter dropped. It seems you're not too badly hurt. There was something else I wanted to talk to you about anyways. How familiar are you with Nightmare Night?"

"Ah yes," Nightmare sighed out, rolling her eye as she looked up at the ceiling decor. "A night supposedly dedicated to me, where ponies dress up, play games, collect candy, and scare each other. Then at the end of it, some foals drop off a pile of their goods at my statue as some sort of tribute so that I don't eat them."

"Well in case you're not aware, this year's Nightmare Night is coming soon," Twilight explained. "Last year, Princess Luna actually showed up. Admittedly it was awkward at first because she wanted to get along and ponies kept running away, but at the end of the night things were pretty good. The favorite part for a lot of the kids was when Nightmare Moon showed up for the candy.

"So some of us were thinking that since you are Nightmare Moon and you're here, that you would be willing to dress up and scare some of the colts and fillies."

Nightmare Moon took the ice pack from her eye and turned to look fully at Twilight Sparkle again.

"Seriously? You want me to spend a night going around and scaring foals?"

"I know it sounds strange," Twilight admitted, "but they would love it. We can even use some magic and enchantments to make you look like you used to. You would get the chance to be frightening, and ponies would actually like you for it."

Nightmare shifted and considered it. A part of her was tempted, simply because of the fact that she would get to spend a night scaring ponies. At the same time, she was unsure what she really got out of it. How much would they actually appreciate her scaring them? What about the foals? If she were to do this, would it allow her to have influence over them? Maybe enough that she could use them to her advantage later on?

Perhaps this could work to her advantage. Still, it would be better not to seem to eager or willing. She turned to Cherry.

"Do you have any plans for that night?"

"I was planning on having a bad movie night," Cherry answered. "Get some friends together, watch some really bad horror movies, and make fun of them. That is if I don't have to work that night. I don't know what the club has planned for it yet."

Nightmare nodded and turned back to Twilight.

"Will I get to keep the candy tribute?"

"I guess?" Twilight answered, looking at Nightmare in confusion.

"Very well," Nightmare said. "I accept your request and shall spend Nightmare Night frightening ponies for their amusement."

"Good," Twilight said. "Good. I'm glad." She stood there, smiling. Her wings and hooves shifted as she moved in her spot. Her eyes glanced back an forth between the other two mares.

"Was there something else?" Nightmare asked.

"Well... yeah..." Twilight answered. "It's... It's just that... It's kind of a... personal matter."

"A personal matter?" Nightmare repeated. "And you want to discuss it with me?"

"Actually, I wanted to discuss it with her." She pointed a hoof at Chocolate Cherry.

"What?" Cherry and Nightmare both said, Cherry sounding far more shocked out of the pair.

"Me?" Cherry continued, eyes wide. "Why me? I don't really know anything that could be helpful. I mean I moved here earlier this year and work in a club."

Nightmare narrowed her eyes -- the swollen one closing in the process -- as she studied the two mares in front of her. Her mind whirled and clicked, considering the possibilities quickly. Music and cooking were out, as they were not subjects that would make Twilight Sparkle nervous. No, it would have to be something personal. Something intimate. Something like...

"The stallion," Nightmare stated. "This is about the big Apple stallion, isn't it?" She grinned as she watched Twilight squirm, shifting in her spot more.

"So, you want relationship advice?" Cherry asked. "From me?"

"None of my friends have been in romantic relationships," Twilight stated. "And even if they were, it would be kind of awkward asking them about... about... uhm.."

"Sex," Nightmare said. "Sex, Twilight Sparkle. It's not a bad word."

"I know," Twilight replied with a sigh. "I know. It's just not something I'm used to talking about." Her wings flicked out as she rubbed at her forehead. After taking a deep breath and continued.

"Anyway, Big Macintosh and I have been dating and it feels to me like it might be time to consider.." she shuffled her hooves, "...'sleeping together."

Nightmare bit her lip to keep from commenting, but could not help roll her eyes. She wanted to shout the word "sex" at Twilight repeatedly until the mare was willing to use the word, but it would probably cause Twilight to shut down. Aside from the issue of saying one word, Nightmare wanted to hear this. It was clearly an awkward topic for Twilight, so naturally it was entertaining for Nightmare.

"I know the technical aspects of it," Twilight stated. "The basics of male and female arousal, what parts go where, all that kind of stuff. Unfortunately, when it comes to the more romantic aspects, I'm lacking. I don't know of any books I could use to study it except maybe romance novels. Except last time somepony" -- she glanced toward Nightmare Moon -- "suggested that, it was rather awkward and embarrassing."

Nightmare Moon turned away from the pair, biting back a snicker. Oh how she wished she could have seen it.

"So, what is it you want to know exactly?" Cherry asked.

"I don't know," Twilight answered. "Pointers? Tips? Anything that will help me bring it up with him and help figure out what he likes."

The sound of Cherry bursting into laughter was something neither Twilight nor Nightmare expected.

"Is that all?" Chocolate Cherry asked, still chuckling. "I can give you a single piece of advice that will take care of the whole issue. Ready?"

Twilight Sparkle leaned forward. Her ears were perked forward and eyes wide. Every bit of her attention was on Chocolate Cherry. Even Nightmare Moon found herself leaning forward, curious about it.

"Talk to him."

"What?" Twilight cried out, ears flopping. "That's it? That's your advice?"

"Yes," Cherry said calmly. "Because that is basically what it comes down to: communication. I could tell you a couple things he might like, but I've never had sex with Big Macintosh so I don't actually know what he likes. I also know some books you could read on the matter, but the first thing they're going to tell you is what I am. Talk to him about it. Tell him if there is something you like or don't like. Have him do the same for you."

"Is that what you two do?" Twilight asked.

"For the most part yes," Cherry answered. "Keep in mind that I'm a little more experienced, so I can kind of pick up on what Night --" she suddenly coughed "sorry. What Nightmare likes."

Nightmare tried to keep calm but could not help but glare at Chocolate Cherry a little. It would have been quite annoying if Cherry had let it slip -- to Twilight Sparkle of all ponies no less -- that Nightmare Moon was letting somepony call her something other than her proper name, even if only her first.

"Twilight!" Spike called out, his voice echoing down the hall. "Twilight!"

"In the kitchen!" Twilight called back, turning toward the door.

Chocolate Cherry mouthed a quick "sorry" to Nightmare Moon. Nightmare gave a quick nod of acknowledgement, then reached out with a wing to run the tip of a feather against Cherry's flank.

It was still strange to her that she actually wanted to let Cherry know when she was not upset, even if irritated. The fact that she cared what another pony thought was odd to her. More so, she seemed to be developing romantic feelings for the mare.

"Is everything okay?" Twilight asked, turning toward a giggling Cherry. Nightmare quickly pulled the wing away, acting innocent.

"Fine," Cherry said with a grin. "Just remembering something funny that happened at work the other day. It's one of those 'you had to be there' things."

Twilight narrowed her eyes and looked at Cherry a moment.

"Twilight," Spike called out as he came into the kitchen. "You got a message from Princess Celestia!"

"Really?" Twilight asked as she turned around. "She hasn't written me a message in months. What's it say?"

Spike cleared his throat and unfurled the scroll.

"'Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle,'" he read aloud.

"Wait," Twilight cut in. "She actually wrote that?" Twilight shifted, her wings twitching at her side. "She's never written 'Princess Twilight Sparkle' before. Why is she being so formal?"

"I could tell you if you let me read it," Spike replied, narrowing his eyes as he looked at Twilight.

"Right. Right. Sorry. Go ahead."

"'Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle,'" Spike read, this time without interruption. "'I am writing to inform you that there has recently been a break-in at The Royal Canterlot Archives. We are still checking to see what has been stolen, so we cannot be certain entirely yet. However, it does seem that the copy of the summoning ritual you gave us was one of them.'"

"What?" Twilight cried out, grabbing the scroll from Spike. "Somepony stole the summoning ritual? Why would they do that?" She held the scroll close to her face, scanning through the rest of it. "It's not like they could use it or anything."

"Are you certain?" Nightmare asked.

"Of course I am," Twilight replied. "I designed it to use alicorn and chaos magic in the ritual, as well as something connected to the entity being summoned. In your case, blood of the previous hosts. That alone would make it nearly impossible. Other than you, the closest thing to a spirit manifesting in our world was King Sombra's return. Really, if someone wanted to try summon something, they would be better off trying to come up with their own ritual."

"Twilight," Spike said, "that's what you did, remember?"

"Yes, Spike. I did. What's your point?"

"Really?" Spike asked as he stared at Twilight a moment. With a sigh, he rubbed his head. "Okay. Twilight, when you wanted to create the whole ritual, what was the first thing you did?"

"You know that Spike," Twilight responded. "I searched out and researched previous spells and rituals that were supposed to do the same thing."

"And you took notes, right?"

"Of course I did. I always do. I even basically copied the unfinished rituals. What are you getting at?"

"Okay," Spike said slowly. "Twilight, what did you do with all the notes?"

"You don't need to be condescending," Twilight snapped. "And you know perfectly well what I did with my notes. I... oh..." She slapped herself in the face, letting out a sigh. "I included them in the book along with my own ritual. So if somepony wanted to try and reproduce what I did, they could simply steal that one book, giving them the information on the one successful ritual as well as notes on all previous attempts. Thus making it the perfect starting point since it has all the relevant information in one place."

"Right," Spike agreed.

He then turned to Nightmare Moon.

"So how's your face doing? You hit that tree pretty hard."

Nightmare Moon and Chocolate Cherry both tensed, eyes going wide as they stared at Spike.

"Tree?" Twilight asked.

"Yeah," Spike said, ignoring Nightmare's glare and Cherry's hoof waving. "During the race, Nightmare reached one of the corners and tripped. She ended up falling off the path and rolling into a tree."

"You better sleep with one eye open tonight, dragon," Nightmare Moon growled out.

"There's no need to be threatening," Twilight told Nightmare. "It was an accident and could have happened to anypony."

Nightmare let out a snort.

"Although it was possible that you could have a concussion or some other head injury. Maybe you should go to the hosp-"

A gust of wind blew past Twilight and Spike, causing the mane of the first to go flying into a mess and the second to spin around before falling over. Twilight turned toward the table where Nightmare Moon and Chocolate Cherry had been, watching the ice pack fall onto the table. There were no other signs that the two mares in question had even been there.