"..."

Layda only had her horn and glowing draconic eyes that could still be seen in the pile of hay and destroyed wood. The steps were getting closer and louder the longer she waited within the yellow pile. As her heart started to race in excitement, a weak voice was heard:

"What are you doing? Hide!"

"Huh? So now you want to talk. You should've done so before." Layda pouted.

"Not so loud. Don't forget that I died here. If they see me, they will become insane, so just close your eyes and lay back so that my...*sigh*...YOUR horn can't be seen."

"Fine, but you better make it up to me later on."

Doing what she was told, the new Cosmos snuggled bakwards even deeper into this uncomfortable pile, as to only have her eyes free from the mess, and closed her glowing spectacles. Unfortunately, the horn was so long that a small portion of the tip still showed from the heap. Layda kept her eyes closed as she heard little hooves scampering on the ground. They suddenly stopped, stressing the new alicorn.

"Wuts that?" it asked.

It was obviously the sound of a little female. What was the name again? A filly, of course.

"Wow. Whatever that is, it sure done a good hole in the roof. Let's see if ah can grab it."

The little filly was obviously starting to climb the pile of debris, but was having some trouble climbing up. She stepped several times on Layda's forehooves. Only the armor that she wore protected her. Then again, the creature was too small to properly hurt her.

*poke*

"OW!"

Layda threw herself out of the heap while clutching the area of her left eye. The filly was thrown back in surprise and confusion after apparently poking the creature in the eye. She rolled on her flank and rubbed her head.

"Ah'm sorry. I didn't meant to...N-N-N-"
"Hm?"

Layda was quite frustrated and let her two legs stomp on the ground as she stared at the tiny thing before her. Mouth gaping open and eyes shaking. Cosmos' eyes widened as she saw the little thing. It was barely an apple high, and it had a vanilla-colored coat and a fluffy red mane and tail. But the thing that made Layda wince in overload was the giant bow and the those big sad eyes that the filly had.

"Hnnnngh!" Layda thought as she started to bite her hoof-armor and tried to avert eye-contact with the little thing.

"What's wrong with you? It's just a little filly. Get away while you can!"

"I can't...she's too adorable. I cannot resist the power of the adorable...hnnngh!"

"NO! Close your eyes and flee! Do not give...I can't believe I'm saying this. Do not give in to the cute...*facehoof*"

"I can't! Her eyes are starting to get watery! I'm...not...going...to..."

"Oh come one! You must be joking! You cannot be that susceptible?"

"Hnnnngh...I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE!"

Layda lunged at the little filly with a the smile of a little girl and grabbed the little filly in her forelegs and started to rub her against her face and occasionally pull her back out to see the little thing staring at her in fear and confusion.

"Awwww! Lookityou! You're so small and CUTE."

She hugged the filly hard again.

"And that wittle bow in your mane is SOOOOOOOOO adorable!"

"Wha-"

"Hey! Let go of...Apple...bloom?"

"Hm?"

Layda was gleefully smiling as she looked at two other ponies in the entrance.

"Applejack! Big Mac! Make her let go of me. She's actin' wierd." Applebloom said as she tried to push her way out of the grasp of Cosmos.

"Horse apples. I didn't think you were this vulnerable. Hmm. I will have to take this into account in the future."

"Uhh...l-l-listen here. C-can ya let g-go of mah sis? Ya don't need ta hurt her or anythin'."

"Why would I hurt her. Here you go." Layda said as she lowered the little filly to the ground.

Applebloom scurried all the way behind Big Mac, who strongly stood tall and put a hoof to protect her. Applejack, on the other hoof, felt something wierd about this character whom she already knew all too well. She moved slowly forward while eyeing the alicorn top to bottom.

"Luna?"

"Who?"

"Wh...ya can't be Nightmare Moon. That's impossible."

"Whose Nightmare Moon? I'm..."

Layda paused as she wasn't sure what she could say. The real Cosmos began to talk to her again in reassurance:

"Just say Cosmos Lune."

"But they already know you."

The three ponies stared at Mare in the moon who started to talk to herself.

"Just do it!"

"Fine. Geez. My name is Cosmos Lune. It is a pleasure to meet you."

"Cosmos Lune? Did ya bonk yer head on somethin'? Ya ain't that! Yer Nightmare Moon! You really let yerself go in trickery. I'll stop you right here!"

Applejack charged at the dark alicorn who just stared at her in a bored manner, only to yelp in pain and scare the three ponies after a swift buck to the chest.

"OW! Why would you do that? I didn't do anything to you! That hurts. That's some kick you got there. Quite impressive."

"Aw shucks. That's...hey! Don't try 'n go trickin' me with yer fancy hoof shinin'!"

"What? What's wrong with you all? I mean, sure. I smashed up your barn, but it's not like I did it on purpose. I still don't know how to control these beautiful wings."

"She doesn't know how ta control her own wings?" Big Mac said out loud.

"Ah told ya she's been acting wierd. Did ya see how she was huggin' me?" Applebloom yelled angrily from behind the protection of her big brother's legs.

"Why wouldn't I? You're adorable!"

"Hmmm. Ah'll go tell Twilight 'bout this. Lyra and Bon-Bon might have to cancel their appointment. And you...uh...what was yer name again?"

"Cosmos Luna."

"Yeaaaahh." AJ rolled her eyes." That. You stay here. Ah want you ta guard her Big Mac. Don't let her out. Go back ta the house Applebloom."

"Uhhh, Applejack? I have school taday."

"Oh.Heheh. Ah fergot 'bout that. Have a nice day at school then."

As AJ continued to smile nervously, the little filly sterned, then walked back to the house to get her things and to go to her learning center. However, the cowpony gave a serious look at Cosmos, who didn't care much, and soon walked towards Ponyville. A few minutes passed as Big Mac stayed in front of the only exit. His face stern and full of power. Layda rolled her eyes and sighed in annoyance.

"What are you doing? You aren't going to listen to that simpleton are you? Answer me in thought so that the red behemoth over there doesn't hear us."

"That cowpony told me not to move. I don't want to upset them."

"Yeah? Well I haven't told you about the ones who rule this place. They did not take kindly to me when I met them, and they certainly will not take kindly to you now that the backwater mare knows of your existence."

"I'll have you know that her southern accent is quite nice. It actually seems to fit these three quite well. I also thought that you had told me that you had died or something like that."

"Yes...well...don't you want to see something OTHER than a dumbed down castle and a broken barn?"

"YES! I don't want to stay here anymore! I want to see this place without causing any trouble."

A long moment of silence only interrupted by a cough from Big Mac flew through the atmosphere like stale air. Tasteless, but still there for survival.

"Well?"

"I'm...I'm afraid you have to use...seduction!"

"*gasp* You won't like that with your body, will you?"

"No. Make it quick. I'm embarassed enough as is. It's one thing to be elegant and beautiful, it's another to use it like some downtown alley peasant."

"Okey-dokey."

Layda gave Big Mac a very...persuasive look and fluttered her eyes gently as she slowly walked towards him. He stood firm, but his legs started to wobble. She stopped right next to him and turned slowly around, making sure to smack her etheral tail in his face. Big Mac already started to sweat.

"Now, what's a big, strong stallion like yourself doing here? Shouldn't you already have somebody special?"

"N-n-n-nope."

Big Mac started shaking heavily and was biting his lower lip as he stared at Cosmos in a waterfall of sweat. It didn't help as this character closened to his face ever so slowly, still adorning those eyes. She slowly moved forward, forcing the bright-red stallion to push his head back in pure stress.

"What's the matter? Can't stand the prescence of a Mare other than your sisters? Awww. Poor little guy."

*flop*

"Nnah!"

Layda jumped back in terror, shielding her face with her hoof. She saw that the stallion had fallen over, still bright red. She walked curiously towards the body and kicked it lightly.

"What'd you do?"

"I just used my way of getting what I want from my boyfriends. I still have my pride." she said snobbishly with her muzzle in the air." But, man. Even Thomas wasn't this fragile. These stallions aren't as tough as I thought they would be. Pff."

"Only on your boyfriends? Then why did you do it to him?"

"Because you told me it was the only way."

"Well, yeah but...never mind. Let's just continue our way. I don't want to remember this."

"Hahaha!"

"What?"

"He's got a silly smile on his face."

"...I will kill you with my own hooves if you don't get a move on."

"Yeah. I'd like to see you try." Layda said with crossed forelegs.

"Please. Your dream is my nightmare. Please just get going."

"Awww. What's the matter? Thought I was going to abuse of this gift? Like I said before, you have my trust and my body. I won't spoil what has been offered so generously to me."

Layda exited the barn, quickly looking left and right for any signs of anything that might be troublesome. Only the breeze of fresh, apple-pie scented air and the greenest of grass. The apple trees were all shades of orange, red, and brown. Even in the distance, there was nothing but leaves flying and...ponies?

"Pegasi? Cool. I guess that makes sense seeing as I have wings."

"I'm very tired here. So if you could reach someplace where we could sleep."

"But it's day! I really can't sleep during the day!"

"*sigh*. Will you be able to handle while I rest?"

"Hopefully."

"That doesn't reassure me. At. All."

"You worry too much. Besides, now that they know of me...err...you...us? Whatever. Now that they know, word will certainly spread throughout this place that you have returned. They'll certainly be happier than those three."

"Yes...happy. I hope you are right.. I must rest now. Do whatever you want, but make sure it doesn't infuriate me when I awake."

"I'm quivering."

Cosmos didn't answer, so Layda decided that she would go see that "school" that Appleflower, or whatever her name was again, mentioned earlier. But which direction to take? Oh well. A random choice wouldn't hurt her here.