Night had fallen, and the moon and stars were out, lighting the darkness and illuminating Twilight's way to the Town Hall. Spike was riding atop her back, as usual, already pumped up for whatever celebration was about to happen. Twilight, on the other hoof, could not have been more nervous. In the first timeline, I only suspected that Nightmare Moon was going to make an appearance. It's one of the few times in my life when I wished I was wrong about something. But now? Now...I know it's a certainty. She'll be here, and everypony will look at her as a monster, the kidnapper of Princess Celestia. They'll be in a panic, all of them. Looking up, she glanced at the moon itself, now full and brilliantly bright. It's strange, to see Luna's face still on it. I'd gone my whole life seeing that image upon the moon, and everypony thought it was weird when it wasn't there anymore. But for me, seeing it bare like that just meant a good pony was finally free. Now...now I know what it means for it to be up there. She looked beyond the moon, seeing the four stars already approaching it. Don't worry, Luna. You won't be alone for much longer.

Looking ahead, Twilight saw the Hall, and everypony in town gathering to celebrate the raising of the sun. Sighing, she entered the building, and, as she looked around at the fullness of the place, she couldn't help but feel her foreknowledge gnaw at her from within. I know bad things are going to happen, and I know there are some things that can be prevented. But this? This has to happen. I can’t stop Nightmare Moon from returning, but I can make her Luna again. A grimace crossed her face as she considered that. I just hope I won't have to use force this time to do it. Glancing upwards, Twilight watched as she saw several of her friends dotted about the place, with Fluttershy beside her birds, ready to sing, and Rarity up on the balcony, ready to present Celestia herself. As for Pinkie Pie, she had taken position right next to Twilight, looking as excited as ever for what she thought was going to happen, even going off and taking about how excited she was.

The Mayor had already taken up position at the head of the group, with a collection of stallions from the royal guard already beside her. As Ponyville's leader began speaking, Twilight was barely listening to her, as her mind was awash with everything that was about to go wrong here. Turning her head, she looked upon the stars that surrounded the moon, watching as they grew closer and closer. With baited breath, Twilight bit her lip as she finally saw them reach the moon itself. A bright and distant light occurred, after which the moon became what Twilight now knew it destined to be, bare, and without the image of a mare on it's surface. She's free, Twilight thought. What was to happen, at the end of this night, was the first great battle Twilight had ever known. One she came out of victorious, alongside her friends. Guilt clawed at her as she considered that. Luna...I did what I had to. I'm sorry I had to use such power against you. But this time...I promise I'll find a way to help you.

Looking around, Twilight looked on as the Mayor continued speaking to the crowd, all while keeping her eyes on the balcony above. Here it comes. And finally, the Mayor reached the end of her speech.

"...the good, the wise, the bringer of harmony to all of Equestria...Princess Celestia!"

With those words, the curtains were drawn back, and light shone upon the spot where their beloved monarch was supposed to be. Instead, as Twilight knew, there was nopony at all, and everypony there began chatting in a nervous and fearful manner. Twilight looked at them all, seeing the worry on their faces. Look at them. They've spent their whole lives being told that Celestia would be there for them. And now...she will be absent on a day when they needed her guidance more than ever. The young unicorn narrowed her eyes, watching as the Mayor fumbled in her current position.

"Remain calm, everypony! There must be a reasonable explanation!"

There is, Twilight thought. But you're not going to like it. Before she could say anything, she turned as Pinkie started speaking up.

"Ooh! Ooh! I love guessing games! Is she hiding?"

Twilight shook her head in a grim manner.

"If only..."

Moments after she uttered those words, Twilight looked on to see Rarity, who had earlier gone behind the curtains to see what was going on, finally return, looking more than a little hesitant to speak.

"She's...she's gone!"

While everypony else gasped with shock at that statement, Pinkie, by contrast, remained pretty calm about the whole thing.

"Oh, she's good!"

Knowing that everything was going to be alright at the end, Twilight felt incredibly tempted at this point to roll her eyes at her friend's words. However, she knew she couldn't allow herself to appear as though she was anything other than concerned, and so kept that exact look on her face as she continued watching the balcony, ready for what she knew was going to happen next. With Twilight not acknowledging her point, Pinkie instead looked where she was looking, and soon let out a gasp of her own as something began to happen. Twilight's body tensed as she saw the familiar blue and ethereal force that grew there, recognising the magic of the night all-too well now. I...I can't do it! I can't bear to see Luna like this! A force of destruction, of fear and terror! That isn't her! But...nopony else knows that except for me and Celestia! I know I can help her. I just...I just wish this hadn't happened. But happen it did, as the blue magic finally took shape, parting to reveal the dark alicorn mare within, clad in armour and looking upon all of the ponies there with both amusement and contempt. Many of them had begun to back away fearfully, but Twilight stood her ground, her eyes never straying from the mare once known as Luna. In time, the dark mare finally spoke.

"Oh, my beloved subjects! It's been so long since I've seen your precious, sun-loving faces!"

Almost everypony gathered here was starting to cower in fear over that declaration, and for a moment, Twilight caught sight of three fillies in particular, currently taking shelter beneath a table. Poor fillies. They won't even remember this as their first meeting. It was only after thinking that when Twilight finally looked back to Nightmare Moon. The bitterness and anger in her voice was apparent, and it broke Twilight's heart to hear it. Just a little bit longer, Luna, and you'll be free of that darkness. Other ponies, however, were not so considerate, as Rainbow Dash leapt up to speak out against the intruder.

"What did you do with our Princess?!"

As befitting of Rainbow, she immediately launched herself forward, no doubt ready to outright attack Nightmare Moon, regardless of how dangerous she thought it would be. However, ever the most level-headed of them, Applejack soon bit down onto the brash pegasi's tail, dragging her down while speaking in a somewhat muffled voice.

"Whoa there, Nelly!"

Rainbow looked down at her friend, showing clear annoyance at her being restrained like this. Nightmare Moon, by contrast, simply chuckled at this display, especially with regards to Rainbow's words against her

"Why? Am I not royal enough for you?"

The dark mare's eyes then narrowed at all who were gathered below.

"Do you not know who I am?"

Her words were bellowed out like the roar of an enraged animal, prompting even further fear amongst the assembled ponies. All, that is, except Pinkie, who looked at Nightmare Moon with her usual smile. Twilight, knowing how these events played out, understood that Pinkie was going to make light of the situation, as usual, even making a guessing game out of discovering the mare's name. Before she even had the chance to get out a single word, Twilight muffled her with a hoof to her mouth, lest she accidentally anger Nightmare Moon further. Without further interruptions, the imposing alicorn looked around, catching sight of Fluttershy. The shy pegasus withdrew into a near-foetal position as Nightmare approached her, looking down at her with aggression in her voice.

"Does my crown no longer count now that I have been imprisoned for a thousand years?"

Fluttershy merely let out a terrified whimper at those words, avoiding eye contact with her aggressor at all costs. Chuckling at the clearly-fearful mare, Nightmare Moon instead turned her attention to Rarity, speaking to her in a more mocking voice than she had done with Fluttershy.

"Did you not recall the legend? Did you not see the signs?"

This is it, Twilight thought. Stepping forward, Twilight stood firm and spoke out, loud enough for all, including Nightmare Moon, to hear her.

"I did! And I know who you are! You're the mare in the moon...Nightmare Moon!"

This revelation sent the expected wave of shock and awe all around the Hall, causing more than a few gasps from other ponies. I shouldn't be surprised at this reaction, Twilight thought. After all, this mare has become the darkest of our legends. The monster that parents tell young foals about to get them to behave. If I didn't know what I know, I'd be quaking just as much as the rest of them right now. As for Nightmare Moon, she had finally noticed the young unicorn, and had begun regarding her carefully, like an insect caught under a magnifying glass. Twilight felt as if her very being was being weighed and assessed by the alicorn, sending a shiver right through her. But, even in spite of that, she stood her ground, never giving way or showing even an ounce of fear. Nightmare Moon raised an eyebrow at this, as if this was the first time in history that somepony had not shown fear before her. Then again...that's probably the case. Regardless, Nightmare Moon let out a chuckle at Twilight before finally addressing her.

"Well, well, well. Somepony who remembers me."

The dark mare stood as tall as she could, looking down at Twilight with perhaps even greater contempt than she had anypony else tonight.

"Then you also know why I'm here?"

Twilight gave a single grim nod.

"I do."

The certainty with which Twilight had spoken that seemed to catch Nightmare Moon off-guard, but only a little, for moments later, she had regained her previous smirk, chuckling somewhat.

"Then remember this day, little ponies, for it was your last! From this moment forth, the night...will last...FOREVER!!!"

Nightmare Moon let out a howl of laughter, sending her ethereal mane in a magical spiral above her, causing gusts of wind and bolts of lightning streaming in every direction. It was, needless to say, an intimidating sight, one that caused nearly everypony there to scream and shudder with fear. But, through it all, Twilight stayed still, keeping her defiant glare on the dark alicorn above.

Forever...may not be as long as you think, Luna.