1055 AD, November 12th

“… Were you still controlling the sun the entire time you were in there?”

Celestia looked to the side. Rainbow Dash was hovering beside her at a pace that would be equivalent to a steady trot. She was looking up at the sun as it crossed its zenith.

“Yes, I was. Why do you ask?”

“…” Rainbow Dash shrugged. “I just figured that if anything happened to you – to Luna – then the sun and moon would just… I dunno… stop in place or something.”

Celestia honestly didn’t know much about Rainbow Dash, about most of the Element bearers, to her shame. Twilight spoke of them frequently in her letters; she knew of their likes, their dislikes, their virtues and vices, and their professions, but it still felt like she only knew them on a shallow level.

She didn’t know why Rainbow Dash was talking to her about this subject, but Celestia wasn’t about to shut her out, especially when it looked like she really needed to talk.

“So long as my sister and I are alive, they will continue on their path, barring some sort of interference from another party.”

“So, like… when you guys were born… did you just take control over it from the unicorn dudes who did it before?”

“They handed us control and it was a defining moment in our lives…” Celestia sighed wistfully. “The start of things both great and… and tragic.”

A twig snapped off to her right.

Idly, Celestia turned to face the source of the noise and was met with a downcast Fluttershy staring at her hooves as they alternated between taking steps. The road they took was wrought with small twigs and browning leaves. She stepped on another one, but didn’t rouse from her thoughts.

‘Winter seems to be coming late around here…’

Many settlements changed the weather at different times: Ponyville was usually good for doing it early because of their traditions, but it seemed they were quite late this time.

‘Maybe it’s because Twilight isn’t there to organize everything…’

Turning her gaze from the meek pegasus, Celestia then cast it over the rest of the group that trotted along the dirt road. They had discarded their armor long ago to make travelling easier.

Applejack and Rarity were having a hushed conversation at the back, their expressions switching often. Sometimes one would raise their tone, but it was quickly subdued.

Pinkie Pie was walking alongside Fluttershy, uncharacteristically quiet and with a forlorn look. It wounded Celestia to see such a bright and happy soul so dark with misery.

Luna was behind Celestia but in front of Applejack and Rarity. Her sister was jumpy and kept glancing over her shoulder at the distant city of Canterlot, the home that they fled, and without everypony, regrettably.

And Sunset Shimmer…

She was behind Applejack and Rarity, and she was glaring daggers at the ground, her body strung like a violin string, pointedly telling everypony that she didn’t want to be bothered.

So Celestia didn’t bother her, as much as she wanted to.

…

She and Luna had flown the others as far as they could before Celestia’s horn became too much of a hindrance to ignore and they had to land. Strenuous activity made it bleed magic again; she needed actual sleep for it to heal, which was more than a little annoying.

“I… I still can’t believe we just left her…”

Celestia started slightly and turned back in time to catch Rainbow Dash wipe at her eyes. She attempted to disguise it – poorly – by scratching at her cheek.

“Was…” She exhaled shakily and looked over at her, lost. “Was what we did the right thing? Should we have tried to save her?”

Celestia inhaled deeply and choked back her own misery at their decision. “There was nothing we could have done. We didn’t have the tools necessary to contain Nightmare Moon – if she can be contained – and I sincerely doubt she was lying when she said she’d possess Twilight if we killed her… or… or destroyed the body she was inhabiting. Yet neither could we surrender, or we’d just be back at square one. And I could not stomach the idea of all of you suffering.”

“But it’s okay for Twilight to suffer?”

“…”

“Ah, shit! No, I...!” Rainbow Dash swore and bopped herself on the head, hard. “I didn’t mean to-”

“It’s fine…” The words had wounded her deeply, but it wasn’t as if she hadn’t suffered such injuries before. At least with Rainbow Dash, she didn’t mean to hurt on purpose. “And no, Rainbow Dash… it’s not okay for Twilight to suffer.”

“I still can’t get over it… Those crystals in her body…”

Celestia clenched her eyes shut.

“And she was so angry when we found her… angry at Nightmare Moon. It was freaky to see her like that.”

She took a breath through her nostrils.

“What do you think Nightmare Moon was trying to do?”

Celestia released the breath and prayed Applejack couldn’t see through her as she replied, “I have no idea.”

“… I guess it doesn’t matter what she was trying to do, huh? She hurt Twilight and that’s enough for me.”

“Indeed,” Celestia nodded. “I promise you that we will find a way to defeat Nightmare Moon and save Twilight.”

“Yeah, definitely,” Rainbow Dash gave a firm nod of agreement and flashed a determined grin. “I mean, you guys are alicorn princesses; if anypony can do it, then you can.”

“I appreciate your support, Rainbow Dash.”

“Eh, we gotta stick together, right? ‘Divided we fall, united we kick ass’!”

Celestia chuckled amusedly. “I don’t think you were completely accurate in that phrase, but it certainly captures its intent.”

“Heh heh…” Rainbow Dash rubbed the back of her neck sheepishly and looked straight ahead. “Yeah, history was never my strong suite, ya know? Got in super-big trouble during those classes and it wasn’t for my awesome flying skills and those scholarships, then…”

She suddenly trailed off and squinted.

“Hey, look! It’s Ponyville! We’re here, guys!”

True enough, when everypony was alerted by Rainbow Dash’s ecstatic cries and looked forwards, they could see Ponyville. It helped that they were coming over a large hill and had a good view of the entire settlement. The barricade was still up and holding strong, fortunately.
The Element bearers and Sunset excitedly – at least, in the former’s case – picked up the pace. Luna hung back until they were all in front before tapping her sister on the shoulder.

“Sister…” She paused to make sure they were far enough behind, out of earshot. “I am uncertain this is a wise move. Ponyville isn’t that far from Canterlot; Nightmare Moon and her forces would easily be able to come here once she recovers.”

“I know, Luna…” Celestia sighed. She had been anticipating this discussion. “But their family and friends are here: Nightmare Moon could just threaten their lives as she did with those fillies. If we’re here, we can protect them, protect Ponyville. We’ve already proven that we can best her if we work together, so she’d be hesitant to attack so soon.”

Her sister made a face like she had ingested something foul and looked off to the side, her frame heaving with a sigh.

“It just feels as if we are placing this town in the crossfire…”

“That would be the case no matter where we went and we’d also have the risk of the creatures spilling from the Fractures attacking us.”

“Yes…” Luna grimaced as she recalled memories of the Wisp Knight that landed in Canterlot, retrieved from other ponies’ dreams and nightmares. “You make a valid point.”

Celestia was also uncomfortable about coming here. Her brain told her that this was the right move to make, but her heart kept thudding painfully as she imagined the innocents that would be put in harm’s way if Nightmare Moon did come.

But she couldn’t think of any other options.

“We should go, Luna,” She said with a jerk of her head towards the Element bearers, chatting in excitement as they continued on ahead. “We can plan what we’re going to do once we’re inside.”

“Very well,” Luna gave a weak but genuine smile. “At the very least, I can meet the residents once more; I hope they are not too upset about my untimely departure last Nightmare Night.”

“I’m sure they’ll understand.” Celestia chuckled.

“Well…” Luna started forwards. “Only one way to find out, hm?”

Celestia smiled and gave a single nod. As Luna moved past her, the smile fell and she stared blankly at the ground for a moment before following, deep in thought.

‘Mother Faust, we could use some guidance…’

Their arrival was met with much fanfare and delight.

The gate installed into the barricade was pulled opened almost immediately after Rainbow Dash called out, ‘guess who’s back?’ and the residents of Ponyville gathered to greet them with smiles and cheers as well as more than a few dozen questions.

Celestia and Luna arrived a few seconds later and quickly dismissed any of the ponies’ attempts to bow.

“I am happy to see you all as well,” Celestia laughed, her mood greatly increased by friendly faces. Some had looks of shock and deep concern. “Oh, my horn? It’s nothing, my little ponies; just a… a minor injury. I’ll be alright.”

“Applejack! Applejack!”

Ears pricking up in joy at the familiar cry, Applejack gasped and gently ushered away a fast-talking Lyra. “Apple Bloom!”

Apple Bloom, Scootaloo, and Sweetie Belle weaved and ducked between the crowd’s legs until they were at the centre. With teary eyes, they embraced their sisters – whether through blood or relationship – tightly, as if to never let go. Their sisters were only too happy to reciprocate, beaming so hard their faces hurt.

“Ah knew ya’ll would come back!” Apple Bloom sniffed with wet cheeks.

“Course we would,” Rainbow Dash snickered and ruffled Scootaloo’s mane as the filly clung to her foreleg, wings buzzing in excitement. “What, you think some grouchy old fairy tale could keep us locked up for long?”

“Rarity, I looked after the Boutique as best as I could!” Sweetie Belle giggled as her older sister peppered her face with light kisses. “U-um, your Inspiration Room might be a little… erm, less inspirational.”

“Oh, I’m just happy to see you again, silly filly!” Rarity hugged her tightly, drawing a few ‘aww’s from the crowd.

The crowd politely parted once more to allow the bulky form of Big Mac passage. He smiled in equal parts relief and joy as he quietly hugged Applejack with one large foreleg.

“Heh – missed ya too, big bro’.”

Pinkie had just been reunited with the Cakes and was sitting on her rump while tossing Pumpkin up in the air, making the filly squeal with delight. Pound Cake gave his own adorable giggles as he clung to Pinkie’s back. Mr and Mrs. Cake were watching fondly, glad to see her safe and sound once more.

Fluttershy didn’t really have anyone to greet her immediately, but that was fine; the townsfolk were more than enough with their kind words and support, though the attention made her blush and instinctively hide her face behind her mane.

Sunset Shimmer was more or less overlooked by everypony and that suited her fine; she stood off on the sidelines and idly scuffed the dirt beneath her.

“Hey, could you…? Yeah, sorry! Make way, number one assistant coming through! Hey, I know you – don’t think I won’t bite your leg ‘cause I will!”

Caramel and Derpy stepped to the side to allow a small purple dragon through. His eyes were bright and his smile wide as he looked from one familiar face to the next.

“He-hey, we got the gang back together!” He zipped forwards and hugged the closest of the Element bearers – Rarity.

Technically, Pinkie was closest, but… meh…

“Yes, it’s…” Rarity’s smile waned as she returned the hug. She was genuinely glad to see him again, but she dreaded his reaction when he realized… “It’s lovely to be back, Spikey-Wikey.”

“Yeah it is!” Spike released his iron grip – Sweetie Belle inhaled deeply and gratefully – and did a complete turn, one scaly eyebrow arching. “So, uh… heh… where’s Twilight?”

“…”

As if just now noticing, the crowd started to murmur uneasily, looking to the Element bearers and the princesses for answers. Some had already gained an idea of what happened upon seeing their downcast expressions.

Spike frowned as Rarity bit her lip and looked away. “What’s up? Twilight’s…” His brow furrowed and he looked from side to side before walking over to Celestia. “Where’s Twilight? She’s here, isn’t she? You… you wouldn’t…”

“Twilight is…” Celestia tripped over her words and inhaled shakily. She cleared her throat. “Twilight… is still in…”

‘Damn it…’

“Twilight is still in captivity,” Luna came to her sister’s aid. She was upset, too, but she held it together much more successfully. “There were developments… we weren’t able to save her as well. I am sorry.”

For a moment, Spike just looked utterly confused, like he couldn’t understand her words. “But… You guys are alicorns…” He shook his head, sniffing. “How could you not…? Wh…”

“… I am sorry.”

“O-oh… okay…” Spike swallowed hard, looked down at his feet, and then raised his head with a fake grin and tears in his eyes. “Ah, y-you guys will save her later; I know you will,” He swallowed again and rubbed at one eye. “I can wait… I-I can wait a little bit… more.”

Celestia smiled sadly and extended one wing in a comforting gesture.

“No, I’m…!” He took a step back and drew in a deep breath. “Seriously, I’m cool,” Somehow, he managed to appear even smaller as he felt everypony’s sympathetic gaze on him. He didn’t like how it made him tremble inside. “S-so, hey! The library has room for you two i-if you want to catch some z’s. Probably have to move some stuff around, but no biggie.”

It was obvious that Spike had no desire to break down in front of everypony and that he was going to fail if they kept looking at him like that, so Celestia drew the attention away from him by stepping forwards and clearing her throat.

“It is wonderful to receive such a warm welcome after our imprisonment, but I am afraid I must be the bearer of bad news…” She paused to make sure everypony was listening, gauging their reactions. “Nightmare Moon is still alive and in control, and she still has Princess Twilight and the Elements of Harmony in captivity. We may have escaped, but I highly doubt she will remain idle in response to our escape; she will attempt something in the future, I am sure of that.

“We do not wish to place any of you in harm’s way, but even if we leave, Nightmare Moon will still come here and threaten your lives to make us surrender. Therefore… we think it would be safer, for everypony, if we remained here to protect you. I… I hate to put this burden on your shoulders, but…”

She trailed off, searching for the right words – unusual, seeing as she was a fluent speaker the majority of the time.

But before she could say anything else…

“Hey, we deal with weird stuff all the time!” Lyra said with a laugh. A few ponies near her nodded and murmured in agreement. “So some creepy alicorn might come knocking on our door: at least we know what to expect and it’s not like that time when those squirrels declared war on us. That was weird!”

“This town has been through a lot of ordeals…” Mayor Mare announced with a minute adjustment of her eyewear. “What’s one more? We’ll just need a longer list.”

“Personally, I feel safer with the princesses here, Elements or no,” Filthy Rich said with a confident smirk. “Really, Your Majesties, you’re more than welcome in our little town.”

“Yeah, definitely!”

“You guys rule!”

“You can totally kick the ‘Empress’ flank!”

“Eeyup.”

Celestia closed her eyes and gave a small but genuine smile at the crowd’s cheers, shaking her head fondly. It warmed her heart to be given such enthusiastic support and made her worries and fears less intense, at least for the moment.

“Thank you, my little ponies,” She spoke again and the crowd went quiet. “It is rare to see such levels of bravery and camaraderie; I swear to you all that Nightmare Moon’s reign will not be forever, and we will return Equestria back to how it was before and rescue Princess Twilight!”

Ponyville’s citizens cheered and stomped their hooves on the ground. Pinkie bounced about with the twin foals on her back, letting loose confetti and party streamers from nowhere in particular, all too happy to be in a familiar environment. The Element bearers joined in as well – Fluttershy’s ‘yay’ was actually audible to those standing closest to her – and Spike, though still morose about his missing surrogate sister, couldn’t help but join in with a fist pump.

On the sidelines, Sunset pressed her ears flat against the noise and glowered darkly, lip curling at the corner.

“Sister…”

Celestia turned away from the cheering, still smiling, and cocked an eyebrow at Luna’s concerned face. “Yes?”

“I am deeply touched by their support and their determination is admirable… but even so…” She leaned in and lowered her voice, gaze briefly flicking over to a group of foals. “I fear that they do not understand exactly what they will be facing. Nightmare Moon is… pure evil. You felt her, did you not? When she revealed herself? That…” She made a face. “That foul taste in the air…”

“Yes, I felt it...” Celestia replied with a nod. “But we need to keep their spirits up. What good would it do to reiterate what these ponies already know? They know Nightmare Moon is evil.”

“True, but I think it would be best to inform them of everything that we know about her. ‘Know thy enemy’, no?”

“…” Celestia looked back at the crowd, the smiling faces. “You are right, but…” She turned back. “We are all tired and their moods are high; let’s discuss that later.”

“Tell me when you are ready,” Luna replied. She would have preferred doing it now, but her sister was right in that they were tired and some rest would do wonders, mentally and physically. “And please do not put it off for too long.”

“Don’t worry – I won’t.” She smiled reassuringly and turned bac-

“And I would appreciate it if you told me why you lied to Rainbow Dash on the way here.”

“… I will.”

Luna examined her elder sibling’s face for a moment before her brow creased, hurt. “We… we shouldn’t keep secrets from each other. I think… I think we both need to tell each other some things.”

“Luna?”

Celestia watched her sister trot off to converse with some of the foals. One colt – rather small and lanky – was practically vibrating with excitement and joy, his lips moving rapidly as he showered Luna with question after question.

“I think we both need to tell each other some things…”

“Little friends?! I’m home!” Fluttershy pushed her cottage door open with gusto, voice cracking from emotion at being able to see…

To see…

“…”

“There isn’t any other way this can end…” A stallion she had never seen before – pale orange coat and a grey mane with two swords crossing for a cutie mark – squared off against Angel in the middle of the living room. “Only one of us walks away.”

Angel sniffed and swiped a paw beneath his nose, face set grimly in stone.

“You got that, right,” The stallion ran his tongue over his teeth and flexed his wings. “On the count of three then. One… two… th-”

“U-um… h-hello?”

The stallion and Angel started in surprise and glanced over, eyes going round. Angel recovered quickly; his face lit up like a Hearth’s Warming Eve tree and his pressed one paw into his mouth to let out a piercing whistle.

A chorus of animal noises greeted her as her critter friends revealed themselves from their hiding spots. Birds flew out from the drain, rats climbed out of the bird houses, and Harry the Bear popped out from beneath her couch.

Fluttershy didn’t even have time to gasp and greet them happily before they swarmed her in a wave of fur, scales, and feathers.

“Oh, I missed you all, too!” Fluttershy cried with tears streaming down her cheeks. She giggled as Angel – macho-ness be damned – clung to her mane and hugged as tightly as he could. “I’m so proud that you didn’t try to cook anypony again.”

“Well, they tried at one point…” The stallion rubbed the back of his neck as he thought back to the experience. “Bloody almost turned me into soup, but then they actually tried tasting me and… well, guess all those bottles of wine back in Trottingham came in handy, eh?”

“Oh, I’m sorry…” Fluttershy moved to sit up and her animal friends moved back to allow, though they still remained close. “I-I don’t know your name…”

“Cotton Puff of the Royal Guard,” He announced with a swell of his chest and a proud smile. “I’m in charge of taking care of these…” Cotton Puff trailed off as he peered closer at her, as if just now realizing… “Hey, hang on… Cripes! You’re Fluttershy! Th-the bloody Element of Kindness!”

“J-just ‘Element of Kindness’, but, um… yes, that’s me.”

“But if you’re back, then does that mean…” He gasped and his wings puffed out. “The princesses?!”

“Y-yes, they’re here, in town…” She gestured towards her open door. “B-but we haven’t defeat-”

Fwoosh

Fluttershy’s mane swept out behind her and several small birds chirped in annoyance as they struggled to remain stable in the sudden gust of wind.

“Oh dear…” She turned to look out her door while adjusting her mane with a hoof. Cotton Puff was visible as a blur for a brief second before he disappeared over her bridge and between some trees. “I hope he doesn’t crash into anything.”

“Granny Smith!”

“Ap- oof!”

Applejack had the sense of mind to hold back some strength on the hug, but her enthusiasm was still enough to knock the wind from Granny Smith’s lungs and leave her momentarily dazed. When the old mare recovered however, she smiled in relief and returned the hug just as fiercely.

“Heh – and here ah was thinkin’ you were too old to hug your granny.”

“Never,” Applejack laughed as she fought back tears. “It’s so good ta be back, Granny.”

“It’s good to have you back, child.”

The two sat there in the living room, resting on the couch and finding comfort in their reunion and the assurance of one another’s safety. Granny Smith was all too happy to stroke her granddaughter’s mane and Applejack felt her muscles relax at the maternal action.

She may have been a bit old, but she reckoned a bit of comfort couldn’t hurt.

“You hurt? Hungry? Ya’ll must be hungry.”

“Nah, ah’m fine, Granny; we all are… ‘cept…” She paused.

“‘Cept what?”

Applejack frowned and the comforting strokes suddenly didn’t feel as good. “We couldn’t save Twi’…”

Granny Smith’s hoof stopped abruptly. “Oh no… is she…?”

“She’s… she’s still alive, but…” Applejack shivered as she thought back, eyes squeezing shut. “Nightmare Moon did something ta her… ah don’t know what she was tryin’ to do, but… Twilight’s in a real bad place now, an’ ah… ah couldn’t do anythin’ ta save her…”

“AJ…”

“She trusted me ta… ta lead th’ girls in case anythin’ happened ta her, but… ah shouldn’t be doin’ this so soon. Heck, she’s a few years younger than me, still got her whole life ahead of her.”

“You and the girls’ll get her back.”

Applejack looked up tiredly. “How do ya know tha’?”

“Because you’re an Apple…” Granny Smith chuckled and bopped her on the nose, making her granddaughter’s face reflexively scrunch up. “An’ Apples can do anything they set their minds to.”

“Ah guess…” Applejack scratched at her nose with a small grin. It waned slightly as she asked, “Ah’m jes’… worried. Ah don’t know what th’ princesses are gonna be plannin’, but… ah know Nightmare Moon isn’t gonna jes’ give up; she’s gonna fight,” She looked away, now frowning. “Ah can’t imagine losin’ anypony; was difficult enough ta leave Twilight behind…”

“An’ ah’m here to tell you that them worries is completely unfounded. Ya’ll are strong fillies an’ can do anything you set your minds to,” The ageing mare chuckled. “Really, ah’m th’ one that should be worryin’; you were always runnin’ around scraping your knees as a foal and now you’re going up against things with way more power than they ought to have.”

“Ya’ll are stressin’?”

“A little… but more than stressin’, ah’m just beamin’ with pride. Your parents would be feelin’ th’ same way, no doubt about that.”

Applejack smiled hugely and laid her head down on Granny Smith’s lap. “Ah’ll do mah best.”

“Ah know you will…”

“Your Highness, it is wonderful to see-”

Clonk

“-you… again?”

Luna hid an amused smile behind her hoof as Celestia rubbed at her muzzle with a pout. Stooping, she trotted into the library, and gave Virtue a warm smile.

“Hello – it has been some time since we last saw each other. I believe the last time was… during that incident with the Royal Guards’ armor and a pail of pink paint?”

Virtue flushed deeply and replied, “Yeah, that, uh… that was a good one, Your Highness.”

“Why, thank you. How have you and the other guards been?”

“Good… good. Well… to be honest… we’ve been really worried about Your Highnesses and the Element bearers. It’s a relief to see you all in pony…” He frowned and cleared his throat awkwardly. “It’s… I’m sorry about Princess Twilight.”

Spike was, fortunately, moving some things around upstairs; he was doing an admirable job of holding it together, but Celestia feared for him. Obviously, it was unhealthy to keep one’s emotions bottled up, but she couldn’t force him to open up.

Lowering her voice, Celestia replied, “It was a difficult choice, but it had to be made. We can take solace in the fact that Twilight isn’t dead and that she’ll be kept alive; Nightmare Moon won’t risk losing the Elements, not when it powers her machine.”

“I’ve heard about that…” Virtue’s face scrunched up as he thought. “The… Resonator, right?”

“A marvel of magic and science; it is a shame that our enemy played a part in its origin.” Luna spoke with some acid.

“To finally meet Equestria’s princesses…”

Hooves clopping against the stairs, Zecora made her way down with Spike in tow. The princesses turned to offer smiles of greeting as Zecora hopped off the last step and bowed respectfully.

“It is an honour to make your acquaintances.”

“Ah, Miss Zecora – I have read about you in Twilight’s letters,” Celestia said. “I understand your initial reception to Ponyville was less than accommodating?”

“Some shrieked, some hid, others stared…” Zecora rose from her bow with an amused and nostalgic grin. “Though thanks to Princess Twilight and her friends, Ponyville is no longer scared,” Her mirth faded a little as she took in a distinct lack of purple. “Hm… so it as I heard; Twi-”

Celestia grimaced and jerked her head to the side. Zecora followed her gaze, realized Spike was moving one of her tribal masks to a safer spot, and held her tongue, blushing in embarrassment.

“Er, of course…” Catching herself, Zecora instead gestured towards the kitchen and asked, “Might I interest you in some herbal tea? It contains dew from a glacier leaf and honey made from the parasol bees.”

“A shaman, I see,” Celestia noted with intrigue. “Well, then I’d be honoured to enjoy some of your brew.”

Zecora nodded and mentally tallied the number of cups to bring out. “It shall be ready within…” She blinked and leaned to the side, looking past Virtue’s form. “Hello? Do you wish to enter?”

Sunset stood in the library’s open doorway, awkwardly shifting her weight from hoof to hoof. Her eyes sparkled as she took in the many shelves of books – a particularly thick tome resting on the check-out counter made her lick her lips – but she was put off at the prospect of sharing the same space with everypony else.

“Wha…?” Caught off-guard by Zecora’s question, she stared blankly for a second before suddenly scowling and replying, “No, I’m fine. I’ll just… I’ll just find an inn or something…”

“Sunset…” Celestia said gently. “You have no bits.”

“…” Sunset glared at the door. “I’ll think of something.”

“Oh come on, you’re being ridiculous,” Spike scoffed as he passed by her with a large pile of books in his arms. “This place is bigger than it looks; there’re some beds upstairs and enough blankets and pillows. Zecora makes a mean cup, too.”

Sunset glowered at everypony and everything.

The turning point was somepony behind her walking by the library and stopping to cheerfully wave and say, ‘hi’.

She bared her teeth over her shoulder and barked something unpleasant before stepping inside and slamming the door shut with magic.

“Hm…” Zecora watched the grouchy mare stomp over to the farthest corner and take out a book to read before shaking her head. “I shall retrieve the cups of tea, so do make yourselves as comfortable as can be.”

Virtue nervously accompanied Celestia and Luna as they seated themselves at the main room’s round table. He had never been assigned to guard the princesses – damn Clockwork and his annoyingly good fortune – so he was at a loss as to how to act.

He knew they were laid-back and weren’t too hung up on royal decorum and how one should act, but… well, of course nopony actually remembered that when they actually got to meet their idols.

“S-so…” He began with a light tapping of one hoof against the table. Both princesses were looking at him expectantly. “That…”

‘Oh Faust, what do I say?’

“Those new socks they came up with really cling to your legs, huh?”

‘Amazing…’

“Oh yes!” Luna nodded knowingly. “If I was one to be bothered by the cold, I would certainly wear them more often.”

‘… Don’t think of her in socks, don’t think of her in socks, don’t think of her in- damn it…’

Fortunately, Zecora arrived in time to place a tray of six steaming, clay cups down on the table. An unusual smell like something crossed between rust and chocolate filled the air as everypony took a cup. Spike came over and reached for one, but it was quickly surrounded with magic and whisked off into the corner. Glaring daggers, he picked up the remaining one.

“Ooh, this is familiar…” Celestia sighed with a dreamy expression as she took a long sip. “Zecora, this is sublime.”

“It brings back old memories.” Luna agreed.

Sunset murmured something that might have been positive.

“It is an old blend that was passed down in my family,” Zecora said with pride. “It was originally a genital-affliction remedy.”

“Ack! Pfft! Hrk!”

Virtue and Spike had already been informed of that bit of information some time ago while Celestia and Luna also knew of the tea’s origins, so they were rather unperturbed, and left Sunset to cough in her corner and bury her flushing face in the pages of her book.

WHAM

“Ungh…”

“Oh hey, I think Cotton Puff’s here,” Virtue carefully placed his cup down and rose from the table. “I was wondering when he was going to show up.” He said with a chuckle and went to open the door.

Spike set his cup down as well and licked his lips before turning his attention to Celestia. “So… what exactly happened back in Canterlot? Like… how did you escape?”

“I…” Celestia frowned in indecision. “I don’t think it is appropriate to tell-”

“I’m not a baby,” Spike furrowed his brow in slight irritation. Two seconds later, he rubbed at the ridges lining his head awkwardly. “Well… I mean, I am, but I think I deserve to know the details. If I don’t know what’s going on, then I’d just feel useless…”

He had become more mature since she last saw him.

It filled Celestia with pride, but even so, she had to exchange a quick look and a non-verbal conversation with Luna before she felt comfortable enough to start talking.

“If you insist…” She acquiesced with a single nod and set down her cup. “Really, it was all because of Luna that we even had a chance to get out of there. She may have been captured and had most of her power nullified, but Nightmare Moon failed to take into account that she would still have her Dreamwalk ability.”

“When she and I were connected, I did not elaborate on the specifics of how it works, mainly because back then I was still experimenting with it,” Luna interjected. “It seems she assumed that an obsidian chunk in my horn was enough to nullify it.”

Zecora and Spike winced upon hearing that. Celestia continued. “Luna was only able to contact Rarity at first, but with her help, they were able to enter the others’ dreams, too. By the time Luna was able to contact me, they had formulated half of the escape plan.”

“Your Highnesses!”

“Cotton Puff…” Celestia swivelled her upper body to greet the pegasus as he bowed low and scooted to the side. “Please, come have a seat; it is lovely to see you again.”

“Really?” Cotton Puff straightened in surprise, incidentally revealing a small bruise atop the ridge of his right eyebrow. “Um… alright then.”

Cotton Puff took the offered spot – seemingly in disbelief that he was actually sitting next to Princess Celestia – while Virtue trotted back to his. Zecora excused herself and trotted back to the kitchen to fetch another cup.

“We’re just talking about how the princesses and everypony else escaped.” Spike informed him.

“That’s a story I’d like to hear.” Cotton Puff grinned.

“We needed a light touch for the first part of the plan…” Luna levitated her cup and took another small sip. “Rarity played her role well and seduced one of the guards to gain his key.”

Spike’s eyes widened considerably and he choked on air. “Wh-what?!”

“Do not fret, young dragon; she struck him into a delirious state before copulation could occur.”

Spike blushed fiercely.

“After- ouch! ‘Tia!”

Lowering her hoof, Celestia picked up for her, culling any protests with a firm glare. “After freeing her friends, they… ‘acquired’ armor from patrolling guards and made their way to my cell. The plan was to continue sneaking through the castle to free my sister, but somepony must have discovered their absence and raised the alarm. We had to make a run for it. We managed to find Luna’s cell, but it was at that point Nightmare Moon had arrived and pushed me outside into the gardens.”

“They were able to free me as well,” Luna said, still rubbing her head and pouting. “If we had still been undiscovered, we would have all ventured in search of Twilight and the Elements of Harmony, but I had to help my sister, so they went alone.”

There was a brief pause where Luna sighed sadly and shook her head. She had another sip.

“Twilight was supposed to be in Canterlot Castle’s laboratory, but for whatever reason… Nightmare Moon had moved her… down into the lower levels. The Element bearers say that she was… unresponsive and that she pleaded with them to leave her.”

Spike inhaled softly and swallowed. His claws tightened around his cup. “What… did Nightmare Moon do to her?”

“… I do not know what she was attempting to achieve, but it involved implanting crystals within her.” Out of the corner of her eye, Celestia saw Luna frown but say nothing.

“In…? Oh geez…” Spike went pale beneath his scales and he looked a little sick. Virtue rubbed a hoof up and down his back supportively; it seemed to help slightly. “Wh… what happened next?”

“She…” Celestia took a moment to sort her line of thought that had been momentarily derailed when she remembered seeing Twilight in such a state. “When Luna and I were fighting Nightmare Moon, she had her Praetorian Guard – those are her most loyal followers – with her as well. They had been… ‘influenced’ by her somehow and were unnaturally strong. One of them attacked Luna… stabbed her with a sword, and then I just… I just lost it. I called on the power of the sun and engulfed Nightmare Moon in a beam of sunlight.”

“Huh…” Virtue grunted in wonder. “I thought everything outside looked bright earlier today. At least for a moment…”

“A faceful of sunlight and the old hag lives?” Cotton Puff shook his head in slight awe. “Hate to give out a compliment… so I’m not going to. Oh, thanks, love…”

Zecora gave him his tea and a confused look before trotting back to her spot.

“It was incredible she lived at all,” Luna curled her lip in distaste as she recalled the fight. “If any of you have ever cooked eggs, then you would have a very good idea about how she looked after Celestia’s attack.”

“Well, that’s a pleasant image, isn’t it?”

“However, the accursed demon chose to reveal her true form. Not even in a foal’s most imaginative nightmare have I seen such a thing: a miasmic, black fog that swallows up light and houses innumerable eyes and teeth, crawling out from her physical shell’s form.”

Zecora’s cup froze inches away from her lips.

“I would have moved to destroy such an abomination were it not for Twilight arriving. Whatever Nightmare Moon was trying to achieve, she failed, and had to implant a crystal touched by her magic so Twilight did not… expire.”

Spike gave a slight shudder, but kept himself in check.

“It was because of this crystal that she was pulled to the battlefield by Nightmare Moon’s will until she was near enough that the demon was speaking through her.”

Celestia nodded miserably. “She warned us that if we destroyed her body – the form that I had struck with sunlight – then she would possess Twilight; it would destroy her and corrupt the Elements of Harmony. We couldn’t… Zecora? Are you well?”

Those at the table turned in alarm and concern as Zecora went wan and shakily placed her cup down. Her eyes were wide and she looked as if she had seen a ghost, trembling ever so slightly.

“This… fog…” She said in a low voice, looking pointedly at the princesses. “That you were so unlucky to meet; it was devoid of anything but eyes and teeth?”

“Yes…” Celestia frowned, worried about the zebra’s sudden demeanour.

“And that this fog… was Nightmare Moon? Not the form you had struck and not the voice speaking through Twilight… but the fog with eyes and teeth? That was the one you must defeat?”

“… You know of it…” Luna realized with wide eyes. “You’ve seen such a thing, haven’t you?”

The table went silent as all eyes trained on Zecora, anticipating her reply. Even Sunset had placed down her book to give her full attention, though she made no move to approach the group.

Zecora inhaled deeply and closed her eyes. She murmured several words under her breath – they were in a language nobody knew, but it almost sounded like a prayer – before brushing her hooves down her chest and flicking them free of invisible dirt.

“I have not seen it…” Zecora whispered as she opened her eyes, wide and frightened. “But heard of it in legends and tales – a formless beast with many eyes and teeth and a horrific wail.”

“Wait a minute…” Virtue narrowed his eyes. “So… you mean legends and tales from your home?”

“The one you call Nightmare Moon…” Zecora began with another deep breath. “Is a qandisa – an evil spirit.”

Author's Notes:

Note 1:

"Of Fear and Wrath
Of Hate and Sorrow;
The spirits that haunt us and want us
Shall be scorned and never followed.

The Dark of Our souls
Can always be purified;
Beware of the Qandisa
Which preys on the Light of Our souls and hides among lies."

-Translated text found on an ancient East Zebrican idol.