1055 AD, November 10th

“Empress.”

“Empress.”

The guards standing on either side of the thick, metal door dipped their heads respectfully as Nightmare Moon approached.

“I wish to enter – unlock the door.” She ordered and stopped in place to wait.

As protocol demanded, the two unicorns – with some trepidation – took their turn to cast Dispel on her. Their magic washed over her and drew a slight grimace, but confirmed that she was the real deal. Satisfied, the guard on the right levitated a key dangling from his side and fitted it into the lock of the door.

Once unlocked, the guard pushed it open and stepped back, allowing her entry.

The sudden exposure to light stirred the figure behind steel bars.

“Close it.”

The room was plunged into darkness as the guards obeyed. A second passed as Nightmare Moon called magic into her horn and let it sit there, illuminating the length of bone in blue light.

“… You’ve done that three times now; I thought you could see in the dark?”

“I can,” Nightmare Moon smirked cruelly as she crossed over to the thick metal bars that ran the length of the stone floor to the ceiling and sectioned off a little less than half of the room. “But in this level of darkness, it’s more like general shapes, and I wanted to see your face when I told you the good news.”

Chains rattled as the figure rose and stumbled over to the bars. “Your definition of ‘good news’ may differ from mine.”

Celestia’s face entered the light and the expression she wore would have reduced a lesser pony to a shivering wreck, never mind the fact that her once-pristine coat was grimy and unkempt while her mane hung limply across her body, devoid of its ethereal properties. Her face had a gaunt look and her eyes were ringed with dark circles.

Yet as haggard as she looked, the fire in her eyes burned intensely.

Nightmare Moon laughed mockingly. “Oh, but I guarantee you that the news I have can be considered ‘good’ no matter the alliance.”

Celestia’s scowl deepened and suspicion brimmed in her eyes. “And what would that be?”

“The Entropic Fracture that appeared above Canterlot…” Nightmare Moon paused, long enough to watch Celestia’s jaw tighten with anticipation. “It’s been dealt with.”

“…”

“The Orxoni that you hid away…” Nightmare Moon turned and started pacing back and forth, her armored hooves clapping noisily against the floor. “It turned out to be the tool we needed to close the anomaly. Your student… well, your former student… assisted me in re-engineering the artefact. We call it the Resonator.”

Her only reply was silence.

Nightmare Moon stopped pacing and glanced over curiously, wondering if Celestia was keeping quiet out of spite and defiance, or if she was simply concentrating on drawing as much strength as she could from the light of Nightmare Moon’s horn.

She was making a show of glaring down at the floor like a petulant foal, but that could have easily been a façade to cover her energy-gathering.

After taking a few steps back, Nightmare Moon continued pacing and talking. “Honestly, without her, I don’t think I would have gotten the Resonator done as quickly as it did,” She gave another jeer of laughter. “You should be proud of her.”

“What did you do to her?” Celestia suddenly growled lowly, still refusing to look up. “Twilight would never agree to work with you.”

“Oh?” Nightmare Moon halted again and lifted one eyebrow questioningly. “Are you so sure about that?” When Celestia refused to answer, she simply shrugged. “Besides, who said I was talking about Twilight?”

“… But… the only other student I have is…”

The look of realization, shock, and despair that crossed her face was a visual delight to Nightmare Moon.

‘There we go…’

“Sunset Shimmer?” Celestia queried hesitantly and in a small voice. Her eyes glimmered as she stared through the Empress, half speaking to herself. “I… I thought… She’s back?”

“Five days ago, I believe. She was planning to steal Twilight’s Element and use it conquer the world she arrived in; populated by ‘humans’, she called them. Not the same world that we’ve been dealing with… or so I’m told. Between you and me, I think she’s hiding something…”

“I can’t believe she’s back…” Celestia shook her head, still in shock, and then finally looked up at her captor. “I… Why are you telling me all of this?”

‘And the question I’ve been waiting for…’

“So you can squirm knowing all this and being unable to do anything with it.”

Nightmare Moon’s toothy grin was nothing short of sadistically joyful; her cheeks split apart and a drop of crimson splattered against the floor, such was her mirth. Celestia, her composure already shaken, could not hide a grimace of horror and revulsion as Nightmare Moon pressed her face closer to the bars.

“So that you know that I have protected Equestria from a threat you would have never been able to overcome. How is that ‘friendship’ you preach on and on about working for you now? Because it certainly wouldn’t have worked on these Fractures. And what if my Eclipse guard weren’t around? Sunset would have snuck past your weak Royal Guard and made off with Twilight’s Element, into the Orxoni. Would you have even considered using the Orxoni in my place, or would you be too fearful of it to even think of the possibility? Afraid that it would take away another one of your students?”

Celestia didn’t answer, but the furrow of her brow and the sharpness of her gaze told Nightmare Moon with utmost clarity that the words had struck hard, and that the former princess was thinking some very un-princess things, most of them involving a vicious beat-down.

“… Truthfully speaking…” Nightmare Moon began in a somewhat calmer voice and with a less macabre smile. She didn’t expect to get so excited, but it was a slip that drew an interesting reaction, so it worked out pretty well. “I didn’t always hold such animosity towards you.”

Celestia’s gaze travelled upwards, to her horn and the sickly bulge in the middle. “You could have fooled me…”

“No, really. When we first fought all those years ago, you were… more of an obstacle than an enemy. It was only when you banished Luna and me to the moon that I started developing these feelings.”

Her lips curled into a frown as bitter anger filled her heart.

“I had exhausted every physical activity there was to do on the moon within the first five months, so all there was left to do was sit and watch Equestria, reliving my defeat over and over again, counting the years until I could return.”

She directed a chilling glare towards Celestia.

“I’ve been meaning to ask: how did the years go by for you?”

“… Every year that passed was just another where regret tore at me. I should have kept a closer eye on my sister. Maybe then she wouldn’t have been forced into playing host to a creature like you!”

CLANG

Nightmare Moon didn’t even flinch as Celestia struck the bars separating them with her bare hooves and the noise reverberated in the enclosed space.

“I swear to Mother Faust…” Celestia hissed through bared and gritted teeth; the tiniest ribbons of steam puffed out from her flared nostrils. “I will show you no mercy when I get out of here.”

“Oh, no mercy from the paper tiger; woe is me…” Nightmare Moon said with a faux whimper and an exaggerated show of flinching backwards. It didn’t last long. “You’re kidding, right? I hold all the cards now. The only two things that could even have a chance at defeating me have been dealt with and if the Element bearers even think of trying my hoof, I just have to threaten their loved ones.”

“Monster…”

“Maybe, but at the end of the day, I’m out here…” Nightmare Moon smiled and tapped one of the bars. “And you’re in there,” Turning away, she walked back towards the door. “Well, this has been a pleasant chat, but I have a kingdom to run. I’m sure you can relate… well, not anymore, of course.”

Celestia cried out in frustration and anger, and she punched the bars again. Her strength was severely diminished however, so all that she achieved was a disorienting metal clang that Nightmare Moon pointedly ignored as the room’s door opened.

The brief moment of natural light teased Celestia with its revitalizing allure, but then she was plunged back into darkness; alone to stew in misery and helplessness.

“I think you all deserve a little downtime.”

Nightmare Moon wasn’t even settled in her throne when she said that; instead, she had uttered it ever so casually as she passed her Praetorian Guard while on her way to sit.

“Downtime? What, like… going out?” Fade questioned, looking to the others for clarification. “Into the city?”

“Yes,” Nightmare Moon turned and rested her rump on the throne. She reclined into it in a very lazy manner and guessed that many nobles would have been shocked if they saw Celestia or Luna commit such a crime against proper decorum. “You’ve all been working hard, so I believe a little relaxation is in order. With the closing of the Fracture, it seems to be the perfect opportunity.”

She had already made plans to give them a break two days earlier; it was just very fortunate that the Resonator had been completed in that span of time. Now, she didn’t have to fret if some Wisp Knight or animalistic abomination would drop from the sky and end their lives.

“But we still have duties…” Haze said with a look of uncertainty. “I would hate to relinquish everything onto your shoulders.”

“It’s nothing I cannot handle,” Nightmare Moon waved off his concern. “This reprieve isn’t long; just enough for you to celebrate our achievement and perhaps wrap up any other business you may have neglected to do before our coup.”

Her Praetorian Guard seemed, for the most part, excited by this news – Fade was flexing his wings with a cheesy grin – but Ebony and Haze still had their worries.

Her captain took a step forwards and asked, “Empress, I’m… grateful you’re giving us a break, but I think I’d prefer to stay here if that’s alright.”

Haze nodded. “As would I.”

Nightmare Moon shrugged. “This time is to be spent however you see fit, but I still expect some level of relaxation from the two of you; keep any work to a minimum.”

“Well, I don’t know about you guys, but I’m gonna see the latest Scythe Crucify movie!” Fade nudged his sister in the side. “You coming with, yeah? You love that franchise.”

Miasma nodded once. “Sure.”

“How about you, Veil? Room for one more!”

“Fine, but only after I finish moving the rest of Tiger’s stuff into the castle.” Veil agreed.

“Is Tiger that Faust-damn cat that keeps trying to claw my eyes out?”

“Yup,” Veil smirked proudly. “Taught him that myself.”

“Yeah, real charmer; no need for anger management classes, nope.”

“You have two days to relax,” Nightmare Moon said. “Also – though I doubt I need to actually say this – there is to be no engaging in activities of a nature where you would need to arrest yourselves.”

“Ah, come on, boss,” Fade chuckled. “You act like we’re gonna get into a bar brawl the instant we go out there.”

Nightmare Moon grinned as a certain memory came to mind. “Believe me – it’s incredibly easy to get involved in one without trying.”

“What if it’s self-defense?”

“In that scenario, don’t beat the offending party too hard; just enough to really drill the lesson in.”

“Got it.” Fade snapped off a salute with one wing.

Nightmare Moon watched as her most loyal followers departed to do their own thing. Veil, Fade, and Miasma were talking about the movie they were going to see – it actually sounded interesting, perhaps she’d rent it out at a later date when it came onto video – while Miasma and Haze were speaking about their duties.

She didn’t get a ‘workaholic’ vibe from them when she shuffled through their minds, so she assumed their reluctance to stray far from her side was because they revered her more strongly than the other free.

‘Haze still maintains his composure around me despite actually seeing me as a god, but Ebony still fumbles and stutters. When she’s not working, she follows me around…’

She was… like a lost puppy, really; a puppy that had received abuse all its life and now strived to keep in its new owner’s good graces, constantly searching for that approval.

Pathetic, yes, but Nightmare Moon wasn’t going to let that overshadow the fact that Ebony was a good leader and an excellent Right Hoof.

Still…

Perhaps it was a good idea to try and help Ebony through her inner demons? After all, she was the one who rooted through the mare’s mind and had the deepest understanding of her past…

‘No, I’m her Empress, not her friend; I’ll just make her feel inadequate. It’s best to leave her to sort out her demons either by herself or with the help of her friends. I’m certainly not as familiar with her as I am with Vinyl.’

With her mind made up, Nightmare Moon watched her Praetorian Guard until they disappeared behind the throne room’s doors, and then called over one of the nearby scribes holding paperwork that needed her attention.

‘Now, seeing as Marquess Aldo is otherwise occupied, that gives me time to attend to the Royal Court member’s issues.’

Idly, she pondered on what could have come up with the griffon delegate.

“Your daughter’s perfectly fine,” Dr. Patchjob announced and magically adjusted the small glasses on his nose. “It was a minor migraine and a bout of dizziness, most likely brought on by the Resonator activating.”

Her father stopped his pacing and turned to the doctor, tail swishing back and forth erratically. “But why? My guards and I weren’t affected.”

“Your daughter’s simply sensitive towards magic; it’s uncommon – even amongst ponies – but there have been no casualties caused by it. In fact, I know of several colleagues who dream of having such sensitivity; makes figuring out if an ailment is magical in nature easier.”

“And you’re sure that’s all it is?”

“Dad, I’m fine,” Gilda insisted. “Just a little pain; dunno why you gotta make a huge deal over it.”

“Seeing someone react like that can be alarming for anyone,” The doctor said with an understanding smile directed at her father. “There really is nothing to worry about, Marquess; your daughter is a very healthy chick. Your First Blood Hunt went successful, I hope?”

“Uh, yeah…” Surprised, Gilda nodded. “You know about our customs?”

“Of course – your species are fascinating; very interesting beliefs and culture.”

“Heh, you’re not half-bad, doc.”

“Thank you,” Nodding respectfully, he turned back to her father. “If there’s anything else…?”

“No, if she’s alright, then that’ll be all. Thank you, doctor,” Her father bowed his head in farewell and made for the door. “Come along, Gilda.”

She waved the doctor goodbye – pretty cool for a pony; she didn’t expect that – and followed her father out into the hospital’s corridors, where the guards fell into formation around them.

Hospitals freaked her out, so she was glad to be leaving.

“Pretty weird, eh?” She laughed after a bit of silent walking. “They got a griffon doctor who’s an expert on ponies and a pony doctor who’s an expert on griffons.”

“Gilda…”

“I don’t even think that dude’s gone on his First Blood Hunt.”

“Gilda, is this the first time you’ve experienced this?”

“What’s that?”

“The migraines.”

“Oh? Um…” She scratched her head with one hand, thinking hard. “Not really. I mean, I’ve sort of felt magic, but it’s always just been, like… tingles and stuff. Like that feeling you get when you sit on your ass for too long.”

Her father frowned at the crass word, but let it slide, and instead said, “Does it bother you?”

“Nah,” She shook her head… and then paused, beak scrunching into a frown. “Well… there was this one time when we first arrived. I went into the bathroom, remember? Yeah, so, right there I got the tingles… but it was really strong. Different, too.”

“How so?”

“Like… I dunno. It felt like someone… passed through me?” She shrugged, not giving it much thought. “Might have just been the ‘Empress’; she creeps the hell outta me.”

“Be that as it may, she made good on her word by closing the Violazione,” Exiting the hospital and arriving out on Canterlot’s streets, her father craned his neck to look up at the now-clear skies. “Hopefully, she’ll be willing to share the secrets of how she achieved it.”

“What if she doesn’t?”

“… Let’s hope she does,” He sighed and turned towards her. “Are you sure you’re alright? We can always go back to rest at the hotel.”

“Dad, I’m fine,” She retorted with some bite; there was always a point where his concern became annoying and just flat-out made her feel like glass. “Seriously.”

And of course, he wasn’t convinced, but at least he dropped the issue and they continued on their way.

‘Jeez, dad – I’m not going anywhere anytime soon…’

“Why don’t you want to come with us?”

“Huh?”

Ebony looked up from Studies of Flesh and saw Veil standing in her office doorway. She was out of her armor and had the most unusual expression on her face; like Ebony was some fascinating and undiscovered flora.

Rarely did Veil’s expression drift from ‘indifference’, so Ebony asked, “Sorry – what did you say?”

“You don’t want to come with us on our break,” Veil repeated, never straying from her placid tone, though there was a bit more inflection on the end. “Why not?”

“I want to study…” Ebony gestured to the book on her table. “I’m really getting into this and I want to be around in case the Empress needs me.”

“So what? Do you think we should stay, too?”

“…” Ebony flushed at her incriminating silence and looked away. “Well…”

“I can understand Haze not wanting to go with us,” Veil said with a slight curl of her lip. “He’s pretty uppity and prefers doing all that ‘high-society’ tea parties and crap, but you’ve always gone out with us when you had the time.”

“Haze isn’t bad…” Ebony defended. “He’s just… from a different upbringing.”

“You always make that excuse.”

“You’re the only one that has a problem with him.”

“You…” She faltered and pressed her lips together into a scowl. “Yeah, fair enough,” There was a brief paused before she continued. “Well, Nightmare Moon did say she could handle it, and in all honesty, I think we all deserve this break. I’ve literally stayed up for about three days now and you’re no better, so why don’t you just… chill for a bit?”

“…”

Ebony wanted to; she really did.

Hanging out with her friends – not just when they had their meetings – made her feel good, like her life was complete and there was no empty space where something should be filling it. She enjoyed all of their company, even when they got to be annoying sometimes, and the notion of hanging out once again after a solid week of work was very appealing.

But she was the Empress’ Right Hoof now – there were responsibilities on her shoulders that required her attention.

Veil, Miasma, and Fade also had their duties, but… it was different. As bad as it sounded, their duties weren’t so important that they couldn’t afford to slack off. There were other ponies that could deliver messages, other ponies that could train the Eclipse, and other ponies that could interview potential recruits.

But there were only two ponies whom Nightmare Moon trusted enough to be her Right and Left Hooves. Haze was the only one who could understand and share Ebony’s viewpoint.

“I’m sorry, Veil – I wish I could, but I just can’t. Maybe some other time.”

Veil visibly sagged in disappointment at the answer, but she gave a sombre nod. “Alright, fine. Drown in paperwork if you want while I go drown in Fade’s ego.”

She turned to leave and Ebony felt a sting at the curt dismissal.

“…” Veil stopped and turned around. “Uh… just… try and relax at least a little bit, okay? I don’t want you get… Yeah…”

Touched and amused by the uncharacteristic stuttering and awkwardness, Ebony laughed and replied, “I will. You guys have fun out there and try to keep Fade out of trouble.”

“Pfft – why don’t you ask me to bench-press a dragon while you’re at it?” Veil rolled her eyes with a playful smirk before waving and continuing out of the office. “See ya in two days!”

“Bye.”

Once Veil was gone, Ebony released a breath – and some tension in her shoulders – and settled down to read the large book in front of her, a small smile on her face.

When Veil turned the corner and approached them without Ebony in tow, Fade’s anticipatory expression fell. “No luck, yeah?”

Miasma said nothing and stared levelly at the other mare.

“I don’t know why you sent me,” Veil said with a shake of her head and stopped before the siblings. “I’m not good with… talking, even if they are my friends.”

“I just sorta figured it would mean more coming from one of you guys,” Fade shrugged. “Me and ‘serious’ don’t really go well together, yeah?”

“I’m not good at talking either.” Miasma said.

“Well, it didn’t work, but she seems okay. She said to have fun and she smiled, so I don’t think there’s anything to worry over.”

“I guess…” With one final look down the hallway Veil came down, Fade shrugged again and turned in place to thrust one foreleg out, a brilliant smile on his face. “Well then – onwards, sister and scary, anti-social mare! Onwards to beer, mares, and whatever you guys are into!”

“I’m asocial, not anti-social.”

“Well, seeing as you beat the shit outta waaaay more stallions than me, I think anti-social’s more accurate, yeah?”

“Looking to add one more to my list?”

Author's Notes:

Note 1: Canterlot - the foundation of Equestria's capitol city is built straight into the mountain and is anchored into the rock through a blend of ingenious engineering and powerful magic.

Though it is only known to a select few, Canterlot first started as a miner's settlement for when ponies mined the mountain for the rare and beautiful crystals and gems that grew within its caves. First called 'Drowning Depths', the mining trade only lasted a few scant months - much to the relief of the miners - before the caves were sealed off, and the settlement became a haven for scholars, thaumaturgists, and assorted nobility looking for solitude.

Eventually, the increase in visitors and the wealth they brought allowed the settlement to grow beyond what the humble miners expected. The exact date when Princess Celestia decided to rule Equestria from Canterlot is unknown, but it is thought to be somewhere around 500 AD.

Note 2: Griffons see magic as a 'benevolent corruption'.

Evolved to be hunters, griffons place great pride in their physical traits, and since magic is not inherently 'predatory', they believe that it could only come from some divine interference.

Surely, the nameless entity must be benevolent to bestow such a strange yet powerful force upon a fledgling?