Artemis fiddled with her outfit. 'damn wings.' She thought irritably.

After about a few dozen attempts she finally got them in a manageable position. "Finally" she said with a sigh of relief as she looked at her Nightmare Moon outfit in the mirror.

Artemis, a eighteen year old teenage girl, was a pegasister, and heard about a costume convention coming up soon. She was going as Nightmare Moon and decided to put her own spin on it so it was a more Spartan anthro version. A quick check at her phone and she saw she was going to be late if she didn't hurry up.

At the convention she saw all kinda of people dressed up. One was Ultron, another went as Deathwing, she also saw one guy with an incredibly detailed Lex Luthor costume. Of course, she saw another brony who was going as Discord himself.

As she walked farther into the convention she came across a booth. She saw the guy dressed as Discord get the elements of disharmony. As she glanced over, a certain night-themed, plumbed helm caught her slitted contact eyes.

"How much?" She asked the person at the booth, who was wearing a thick cloak and was reading a book. "The Greek helmet? Eh, forty-five bucks." he stated nonchalantly. Artemis winced a little at the price as she looked the helmet over again. 'Welp, you only live once' she thought grimly as she got the money and gave it to him.

Helm in hand she finally had her Nightmare Moon outfit complete.

Suddenly,bright flashes of light blinded her like someone had threw down some flashbangs.

"What's going on!?" Artemis shouted (or at least tried to shout), then darkness enveloped her.

<First Person POV>

I felt different somehow.

Oh yeah, I feel like shit. I groaned as I tried to get my bearings, when my eyes could finally focus I saw a clear starry sky above me. This scared the living shit out of me, because of course, I had no idea where I was. Dozens of thoughts ran though my head as I looked down at myself, and noticed my cosplay had melded to my body.

I had an actual black fur coat, with a shimmering ethereal mane hanging over my shoulder. Raising my hands I noticed I had heavy steel bracers protecting my forearms as well as having my nails sharpened as to give a very intimating illusion of claws.

'All right, mental note: be careful in scratching with these things' I jokingly added as I tried to ignore the sinking feeling in my gut. I then looked down to find two large breasts protected with steel boob armor which covered my abdomen with some iron abs. Of course, the signature crescent moon emblem was on my chest, 'At least I look pretty ripped' I shrugged and poked at my metal six-pack.

Anyway, my lower body was protected with a actual leather studded skirt with crescent moons embroidered at the tips as well as steel shin gaurds and bladed horseshoes. Noticing my helmet was on the ground, I cautiously lifted my clawed hands to feel my ears, and... yep they were ponified as well.

Okay pros, I'm arguably pretty sexy and freaking ripped. Cons, I'm in a frickin pony body.

I thought about it for a minute, "Ok, Artemis you can either freak out about this or handle this calmly" I stated to myself and looked around at the barren, white desert surrounded me. As I looked up, I saw something that blew my thought process to smithereens.

Dangling in the night sky was a green and blue planet, and I slowly began to connect the pieces and everything was starting to make sense. Being on the moon, hooves, a black coat and weird flowing hair, and that merchant. I smacked my forehead, there was practically a website full of stories of people vanishing in cons by buying mysterious artifacts, but noooo I thought those were just works of fiction. If anything a farce, but here I am. On the moon, as Nightmare Moon... alone.

"Oh. My. God." I said, as my thought process got back online. After about a few minutes of mental panic, and a hour of denying this was real I came to the conclusion that this was actually real. I was Nightmare Moon and was imprisoned on the moon.

'Well, it can't be all that bad, I mean, she does get out of it. Who knows, I may be freed in a few minutes, an hour tops. It can't be that long until I'm free.'

(One Thousand years later)

"I hate this place. I hate this place. I hate this place. I hate this place-"

If you told me, I would be trapped on the moon for, I dunno, a thousand years, I would have told you that you were insane. If you told me that I would be stuck on the moon, as Nightmare Moon, I'd of probably laughed in your face. If you told me I would-... well you get the point. I'm trapped on the moon, over a world I didn't even think existed. Days on end on a floating rock orbiting a planet that seemed to be occupied, but I didn't know. I had nothing up here. There were no stores, no supermarkets, and no damn bathrooms.
Still, it was pretty cool to be the queen of the night, with all my amazing powers and all. I only regret that I HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH THEM! I've been here for what seemed like an eternity, twiddling my fingers as I wait for the prophecy every brony on earth has memorized by this point.

Waiting for those damn stars to get me out of here. I know how this will play out and I awaited eagerly to be free once more.

Still, I had to be grateful for something. Being stuck in a vast wasteland with nothing but years to myself did have one advantage. It let me get to know my body better, and no not in that kind of way. My magic was strong, I could feel it course through my veins as I would light up my horn to levitate stones like some sort of jedi, or in my case a sith, Yet that was just a fraction of my power.

After waiting practically forever, I taught myself magic spells, fire, ice, weapon summoning, shockwave, and of course my favorite: shapeshifting. No, I couldn't do it perfectly like a changeling but I could at least get a gold star for being able to transform into a shadowbolt, my max now is two but I believe I could make it three with some more practice.

As well, during these last couple centuries I felt something bothering me, something that dwelled deep within me, something with an immense strength that wished to released but I didn't know how to.

I noticed a faint flicker above me. Four stars were starting to close in on the moon and I, I couldn't help but smile a toothy grin as I watched them come ever so closer to me. Equestria was about to witness a return of a villain that has stained its history for years as the very image of their fears would soon return and they don't even know it. Well, say for one particular unicorn.

I knew what was coming and I was ready for it. The stars vanished into my prison as I could sense something holding me to the massive rock suddenly vanish. "Heh... hehe... Hehehahahaha... HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAA!!!" I couldn't help it, who hasn't wanted to do an evil laugh and actually mean it in their time. Without warning, my thick black wings sprout forward from my back and rocket me through the void of space to my new home. I was coming for Equestria, and I could hardly wait.
~~~~~
I arrived in the dead of night in the little town of Ponyville. I couldn't believe it, the place looked just like the town. Though... there was one... big difference. The small, colorful ponies weren't so small, let alone completely pony. The ponies looked to be anthrofied, much like myself. They wore simple clothes, like back on earth mixed in with some of their own designs. Of course this revelation didn't mean much as I was fond of Anthro ponies. As I stealthily snuck into the townhall I overheard one of the murmuring ponies "Where is princess Celestia?!" they asked to one of their neighbors.

That caught my attention 'Well, I haven't seen her. Am I supposed to hunt her down or something?' I wondered, I didn't want to be doing my "I've returned" speach if she was late and just walked up behind me.

Leaving me to my silent musings, another pony asked, "Hey, where is Princess Luna!" That right there made me blink. Luna wasn't banished in the moon? The revelation caused me to do a double take. If Luna didn't get sent to the moon, who exactly am I? After a moment, I noticed the ponies were getting angsty and I shook my head. 'Bitch! Who am I? I am Nightmare Moon! Now, go out there and show them why I was Moon bound!' I mentally pumped myself and begin my dramatic entrance.

Black smoke swirled about the stage where Celestia would have stood. A crack of lightning came forth as it startled the ponies down below. For affect, I let tongues of blue fire ingulf the stage as I took upon my physical form with a moon-themed battle axe in one hand.

I could see the fear in their eyes as they looked up at me, all wondering who I was and where I came from. Their reactions the ranged from terrified to curious as they looked up at me.

I could hear them talking among themselves, wondering who I was. "Greetings, ponies of Equestria." I announced while fighting an excited grin. My voice sounded absolutely terrifying. Something like the charm and terrifying nature of Tim Curry and a bit of the authoritative presence of Peter Cullen. "I have returned once again after a thousand years of banishment. I am Nightmare Moon." I gave an evil chuckle, which was actually part of the effort I was using to keep myself from breaking into a giddy giggle. I've always wanted to play Nightmare Moon, this was the absolute role of a lifetime.

"Nightmare Moon real?" Some ponies would say.
"She's going to enslave us!"
"Eternal Night! Eternal Night!"
"Hide your foals! She's going to devour us!"
"She's a lot more beautiful than I remember."

The last comment made me feel a little uncomfortable. 'Pervert.' I thought irritably, but it was kind of true. The biggest change I received when becoming nightmare moon was my figure, and a few other things. Eh, I guess being half goddess-horse as its perks.

"Not if I can help it!" I froze in place, I could recognize that voice anywhere. Stepping forward and out of the crowd was a familiar purple unicorn. She stood five feet tall with a furrowed brow as she looked to me with determination. I had to admit, Twilight was a pretty scary unicorn when she wanted to be. At least from my end. "So, you have finally returned Nightmare Moon." I gave her my best devilish smile. I knew this was going to be fun.

"That I have, Twilight Sparkle." I could see her take a step back, shocked that I knew who she was. "Oh, what's the matter? Are you curious about how I know who you are, student of her highness Princess Celestia?" I could see her starting to fear me like the rest. "Well, it is obvious. My power is far greater than your precious princess."

"Maybe, but I'd like to see if that statement holds water." Turning around, I was sent flying through the walls and into the town. I felt like I got hit by a truck carrying lead that was also carried bay an even bigger truck. Though, standing in the hole was an Alicorn. I gasp as I see the princess of the night herself with her horn glowing a deep blue aura for her magic.

"Princess Luna." Twilight calls out as she comes out the door.

"Easy Twilight, this monster shall not do us any harm." The night princess stated as held her battle stance.

'Shit.' I silently cursed, and despite the headache, I managed to get back up to my hooves. My battleaxe dissipated when I took my unscheduled flight, and apparently Luna can kick some serious ass. So, like all good villains, I need to enact my number one failsafe plan; running away.

I dissipate into the fog and head towards the old castle. I really hope it was still there, otherwise I was heading into the Everfree Forest for no good reason.

Author's Notes:

There we go with a rewrite.

You like?

Leave feedback down below.