The next morning came far too early. Princess Luna had kept her promise and made sure all the ponies’ dreams were pleasant. This time they ate a somber breakfast and even rainbow Dash was quiet.

“I’m sorry we have to do this.” Princess Luna said after politely dabbing her napkin to her face to make sure it was clean. “But it’s important you understand my side… or rather, Nightmare moon’s side.”

Nightmare Moon walked through the dreams of few ponies during the day while she was asleep herself. Sure, the night time was easier when she was awake but she knew some ponies also slept during the day and were awake during her beautiful night so it made for a nice change. It’s really not fair. I give them a beautiful night and most of them sleep right through it. She was surprised by a surge of anger coming from a pegasus’ dreams, so she walked into that one’s dream to see the mare replaying the events of last night.

When they reached the scene at the Training Guild, Nightmare Moon used her powers to pause the dream. “Why are thou upset like so?” She asked, pretending to be Princess Luna.

Feral Lupus blinked and found she was the only one capable of moving. Hearing a voice, she turned around to see another mare in her dream. “Princess Luna, it’s an honor.” She said with a small bow. “It’s really nothing, a friend made a comment that I didn’t like and I was taking my anger out on him.”

“Do thou wish to be stronger?”

“Yes, it’s the whole reason I go the Training Guild whenever I can.”

“Why doth thou wish to be stronger?”

“So I can prove to everypony that I have what it takes to be the best.”

“Thy may be able to help, if thou want it.”

“I would be honored to train with you.”

“When will thou next be asleep?”

“I got a whole month before I wake up.”

Nightmare Moon nodded. “Expect thy in a day or two, thy need to prepare properly.”

“Anything I can do in the meantime?”

“Think of a place where thou is comfortable.” With that, she faded from Feral Lupus’ dream.

True to her word, Nightmare Moon did appear in Feral Lupus’ dream on the second day. “Show thy what thou ist capable of.” She said and created a dream, black pony with red eyes and matching mane and tail. “Do not be afraid, thou control thy dream here.” She told her and Feral Lupus hastened to obey. She watched as the young pegasus and the shadow danced a duel which ended in victory for Feral Lupus.
“I feel so light, like I could take on an entire army.”

“Because thy ist thou’s dream.” Nightmare Moon sat down and patted the ground next to her. “Thou could train here for centuries but gain nothing in thy real world.” Feral Lupus sat down besides Nightmare Moon. “Thy notice another presence in thou’s mind thy other day.”
“Yeah, that’s Kitsune.” Feral Lupus growled. “She’s my “lighter half” you could say.”

“Tell thy about thou’s predicament.”

“I rather not.”

“Then thy can’t help thou.”

Feral Lupus grumbled for a moment. “Our mom was raped by a Timberwolf one day while she was living in the Everfree Forest and soon she foaled. Everypony was amazed that she conceived a pony, even if it did look a bit wolf-ish. But what most town ponies didn’t know, was that I emerged on the night of the full moon. Our mother didn’t treat me like a daughter so she kicked us out, then we made our way to here.” She slammed her hoof onto the ground. “It’s not fair though. I only get to appear once every thirty days and she gets to be in control for the rest of the time. Why can’t we switch places for once? Is it selfish of me to want more free time?”

“Not at all. How dost thou think thy feel when everypony sleeps during my beautiful night?” Nightmare Moon asked.
“Like you got the short end of the stick?”

“Exactly. Thy would love to see more ponies enjoying thy night.” She paused for a moment. “I’ll make a deal with you. Become my student and I will do everything I can to search for a way to separate you from her.” She offered, dropping the Canterlot ways.

“Deal.” Feral Lupus grinned as the thought of becoming her own pegasus.

“I was hoping you’d say that. As a gift, let me make it a little easier. Bow your head.” Nightmare Moon waited until Feral Lupus did, then touched her horn to the base of Feral Lupus’ mane and casted a small spell. When she pulled back, there was a small stripe of navy set into her mane. “This spell will connect you to the moon. You don’t have to wait a month to take over anymore.”

“What else does it do?”

“I will reveal that in due time.” Nightmare Moon began to fade. “Time marches on in your world, we’ll meet again.” She said before vanishing completely.

“You’re improving well.” Nightmare Moon said to Feral Lupus as she added a bit more navy to the stripe, it now being just under a quarter of her mane length.

“It’s all thanks to you my mistress.” Feral Lupus bowed her head for a moment before raising it. “Not that I’m complaining, but if I’m improving so well, why do I still just receive a little bit each time?” She had learned that she could feel a cool liquid passing through her mane that allowed her to gauged how much further she gotten since the last time.

“To show you how much I think you’re improving.” Nightmare Moon replied. “The spell also will allow you to use the moon to fight with. That high level of magic must be accepted gradually or it could end up destroying your mind.” She looked at student “I’m sure you’ve realized by now, the brighter and fuller the moon is, the stronger you are correct?”

Feral Lupus nodded. “Yes. The full moon makes it easy to fight. Is there any way around the new moon though?”

Nightmare Moon shook her head. “No, that is why you constantly train to be stronger. It should be about your strength with the moon helping, not the moon’s strength and you helping it.” Since she had first walked into Feral Lupus’ dream, she had begun to teach her how the moon affected tides and the various power boosts depending on the phase. Most of their nights together was split between studying of the moon and sparring until Feral Lupus passed out. But no matter what is what, she was glad to see her student going after her dream with everything she had.

By this point it was clear that Feral Lupus knew she was talking to Nightmare Moon as opposed to Princess Luna, but each night she learned something, she found herself thinking of how eternal night would be much better, then she would control the times Kitsune could appear.

Each night the two met, they would recap the events between their meetings. “Yes, I was right to train you after all.” Nightmare Moon replied as Feral Lupus told her how she beat the members of the fourth tier. “Now, I have another lesson for you my student. I notice you use your anger to help fight, I want to make sure you can use that effectively.” She summoned multiple shadow ponies and had them attack Feral Lupus while she watched. “Anger can make you powerful, but it’s as sharp as a double-edge sword, it can also make you sloppy if you let it control you too much.”

Feral Lupus growled as she fought the shadow ponies using some of the dirtier tricks she learned while she listened to the lesson. She didn’t make too many mistakes, and was quick to correct them when she did.

“Another thing to be wary of, there are some ponies that will be quick to surrender, only to attack you when your back is turned.” Nightmare Moon stated and to help illustrate her point, she had a shadow pony attack Feral Lupus when her back was turn, one that had already been brought down. “To help prevent that, deliver swift blows or disable them until you’re sure they will no longer pose a threat.”
Feral Lupus snarled as she whipped around and punched the shadow pony in the face hard enough that it fell back down and faded almost instantly.

The training session that started the night after Feral Lupus defeated Blue Moon and his stallion friends went into hour two with Nightmare Moon testing her in everything she spent the couple months teaching her student. Nightmare Moon was pleased with her and called a stop to her training session. “It won’t be long now my student.” She said as she added the last bit of the navy stripe so it went from her body to the end of her mane.

“Thank you mistress.” Feral Lupus smirked as she looked at the stripe now being able to see it.

“There will be a full moon very soon. This will be your ultimate test, if your training pays off, then it is very possible we’ll meet face-to-face. Remember everything I have taught you and I doubt you’ll disappoint me.

“I promise to fulfill and exceed your expectations.” Feral Lupus replied as she smirk only grew while Nightmare Moon faded from her dreams.

“You’ve done well my student.” Nightmare Moon said as she and Swift Wind landed behind Feral Lupus, who turned and bowed.
“Thank you mistress.” Feral Lupus stood straight. “You were right, it’s much more fun fighting like my name.

Swift Wind had been confident that Feral Lupus was going to be taken down, which was why she stood off to the side of Princess Luna and since she had been the lead, she was in front as well, but hearing the two talk she began to back away. She yelped when she felt a hoof on her back and looked up after stopping in place. “Why are you talking like that Princess Luna? Shouldn’t we bring her to justice?” Her voice was small and fearful.

“Princess Luna isn’t here right now. You may call me Nightmare Moon.” She gave the small pegasus and evil smile. “Good bye, my little pony.” She snapped Swift Wind’s neck and let her body fall. “Now Feral Lupus, what to do about them?” She asked, pointing in the direction of the five.

“I’ve proven I’m better than them, that’s all I care about.” Feral Lupus began walking towards them and paused by Swift Wind’s body, feeling a bit disturbed that her life was ended that quickly but didn’t show it. “What are your orders mistress?”

“Seek out the other, get to know your wingmates and wait for me to visit in your dreams.” She said and watched as Feral Lupus nodded before flying away. Making sure she was gone, Nightmare Moon looked back at the Grand Masters. “Say goodnight, forever.” She reached Spark Chill first and saw his horn was broken and Onyx Luck was the same way. Using her magic, she ended their life quickly. Walking over to Jade Dancer, she took a few minutes to look at her. “I have no need for an earth mare. Especially one broken as you.” With a flash, Jade Dancer’s life left her before she walked over to Pinebolt. “You could have saved one of your students you know?”

“I thought you were our Princess.”

“I still am, just the darker half of her.” She smirked and looked over Pinebolt’s mint green body for a couple minutes. “If I heal your wings, will you swear me your allegiance?”

“Go to hell. I’ll never work with a murderer like you.” Pinebolt growled and was rewarded with a hoof pressing on her throat.
“I gave you a choice.” Nightmare Moon said as she pressed down more and didn’t take her hoof away until she was sure Pinebolt was dead. Walking over to Thunder Swirl, she was amused to see him glaring up at her.

“Go ahead, kill me like you did with the others. I do not fear death.” He told her.

Nightmare Moon shook her head. “Oh, but I have something more in mind for you.” She used her magic to bind him. “The world will know how one Grand Master got jealous and attempted to take control for himself and sent this particular place into a civil war.”
“You wouldn’t dare. I’ll tell every pony what really happened here.”

“Who do you think they’ll believe, you, or a princess?” She smirked at him as he fell silent.

Everypony was silent as Luna finished her story. “That’s bucked up.” Rainbow Dash muttered a few seconds later.

“Rainbow!” Twilight Sparkle hissed at her friend’s use of language in the presence of the other princesses.

“I’ll be the first to admit, it was not one of my finest moments.” Luna said as she looked at the floor. “Rainbow Dash’s words sum that up quite nicely, even if it was a crude way of putting it.” She ignored Rainbow Dash sticking her tongue out at Twilight Sparkle. “Even now, my past continues to haunt me and hurt others.” She felt Celestia wrap a wing around her.

“We will get through this like how we gotten through everything… together.” Celestia said and received a small smile from her sister. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I wish to see how Tony and Gai are coming along.” She stood up and left with Twilight Sparkle following.

“It’s nice to know a bit more about the back story behind Feral Lupus, but how does that help us exactly?” Rainbow Dash asked. “There’s nothing in either story about rescuing my friend from that experience.”

“No, there isn’t.” Luna replied as she looked at them in turn. “Each of you are a barer for the Element of Harmony. They may be able to help her in time.”

“How? By blasting Feral Lupus until she’s driven away or redeemed?” Spike asked and Luna shook her head while everypony gave him and odd look. “What?” We tend to do that more often than not.” He reasoned as he held his claws out with his palms up in front of him.

“Spike does have a point.” Applejack agreed.

Luna smiled. “What I meant that your powers manifesting in a natural way –you being yourselves- will help all three of them in the end.” The six nodded in understanding. “If you’ll excuse me, there are somethings I wish to discuss with Fainthoof.” Everypony and dragon said their good byes before Luna and Fainthoof left.

“Your sister is a real sunbutt sometimes.” Fainthoof quickly said once the library doors closed behind them and Luna’s jaw dropped.

“You seriously didn’t call my sister that?” She looked at him with a shocked expression as he grinned. “I can’t believe you said that.”
“Believe it.” Fainthoof laughed. “I’ll say it again. She can be a real sunbutt.” This time, Luna smiled and nodded.

“You’ll never hear me agree to or say that.”

“Challenge accepted.” He muttered quietly and when Luna asked him what he said, he smiled innocently. “What did you want to talk to me about?”

Luna stared at him for a moment longer, then sighed. “I’m grateful for your help, but my sister isn’t too thrilled with how quickly you were defeated.”

“I figured that from her tone. “Fainthoof sighed and the two walked in silence for a couple minutes.

“Well?” Luna asked as she stopped in front of a door.

“I’m still trying to figure out how to explain it.” Fainthoof said as he realized they stood outside Luna’s bedroom and so he politely opened the door for her.

“Thy recommend talking to thy sister.” Luna said as she slipped into her Canterlot style. “Shoot. I slipped again.”

Fainthoof laughed. “It’s okay, I know what you meant.” He bowed to her as she entered her room. “Sleep well.” With that, he left to find Celestia and hoping Twilight Sparkle wasn’t still with her.

Author's Notes:

Disclaimer: I don't own My Little Pony, Hasbro does.
However, I'm pleased to say I do own Blue Jay, Paige, Harmonious Flash, and Kitsune/Feral Lupus.

Fainthoof is used with permission from Damien, a good friend of mine.

As always, constructive criticism is welcome. It'll help me to improve my writing and seeing what people liked.