1055 AD, November 12th

“Back in my home, there are evil spirits that prey on those alone…”

Zecora laid an intimidatingly large tome down on the table. The cover depicted a symbol that Celestia and Luna vaguely recalled as Zebrican, but were unsure what dialect it was from; it had been many years since either had visited the country.

“There are many variants and each have their own way of luring unsuspecting fools…” Zecora sat back down and flipped over the cover. “Our vices and sins – these are their tools.”

There were illustrations on the pages; they were beautiful with the amount of detail the artist had put into them, but that was lost on the majority of those at the table, who were rather put off by how… disturbing and alien the spirits’ appearances were.

“Whoa, that one looks like the Mane-iac,” Spike pointed to one page before it was covered by another. “‘Cept she doesn’t have eyes on her mane tendrils… and I’m pretty sure she’s not so bad that she’d eat a baby.”

“They desire to live within us and if they succeed, they will erase who we once were and commit horrible deeds. They will kill, eat the dead, and smother foals in their cradles…” Zecora inhaled deeply as she turned another page and stopped. “But we took solace in the fact that one of the most dangerous spirits was something we fought to be a mere fable.”

On that page was a large blot of ink with several twisted shapes branching out from it. Numerous, tiny blank spaces made for what appeared to be a grossly large number of eyes and exposed teeth.

An equine figure had been drawn beneath it and seemed to be frozen in a position of abject agony, courtesy of a single gnarled limb sprouting from beneath the blot and digging deep into their head.

“These spirits may be vicious, but they are almost without reason and thought…” Zecora took in a deep breath as she stared down at the tome intensely, as if her gaze could set the picture alight. “The qandisa is not. Other spirits will go berserk once they gain a body and are not intelligent enough to hide; the qandisa is frighteningly cunning, and its time it will bide.”

“Bide its time?” Virtue echoed with a frown. “For what? And… whoa, okay… wait a minute… Nightm-”

“Nightmare Moon’s a bloody thousand-year old ghost from Zebrica?!”

“Tactful as always, Cotton…”

“Wait a second…” Confused, Spike turned to Luna, frowning. “I thought Nightmare Moon was you, but all… you know, hyped up?”

Luna closed her eyes and sighed. “I am ashamed to say that I have neglected to correct the assumptions made about me. Sister… you thought that I became Nightmare Moon because of my envy and bitterness towards you.”

“You didn’t?” Celestia questioned in surprise. “But when we fought, you kept saying…”

“Yes, I…” Luna awkwardly cleared her throat, clearly uncomfortable talking about the subject. “My feelings most definitely played a part, but they were not the source that physically transformed me into Nightmare Moon. Nightmare Moon… or whatever she called herself before our meeting… she was the one that did it. She was never a part of my personality gone rogue, but a complete entity on her own.”

“I thought… Why didn’t you tell me this, Luna?”

“I was ashamed…” Luna repeated with a strain in her voice and a miserable wince. She hung her head as she continued, unable to meet her sister’s gaze. “It seemed… to me at least… everypony believing that I turned on you of my own volition was better than everypony knowing I turned on you at the behest of some demon.”

“… I don’t get it…” Spike shook his head. “How is that better?”

Celestia nodded. “Yes, I agree,” Smiling reassuringly, she moved to place a forehoof on her sister’s shoulder, seeking to comfort. “That means it wasn’t your fault that-”

“No, please don’t…”

Luna shied away from the gesture and looked up sharply. Her expression was pained as if she had been wounded. There were the beginnings of tears in her eyes and Virtue and Cotton Puff looked away, unsure if it was disrespectful to see your ruler in such a state.

Neither princess seemed to care.

“Please don’t say it wasn’t my fault…” Luna inhaled deeply. “Because what actually happened is so much worse. I should have never even listened to that demon’s words; I should have come to you the instant I was aware of it, not hide it away and nurture it by giving it my attention. I… I should have known better…”

The princess of the night groaned and rubbed at her face.

“What a fool I am! Do you all see now? Everything that has happened with her could have been prevented and it’s because of me that it hadn’t!”

“Luna…”

“‘Tia, please… I…” She sighed and dropped her forelegs at her sides, staring blankly at the distorted reflection in her tea cup. “I have to take responsibility for my mistakes, so don’t try to exempt me from blame. Yes, you could argue that Nightmare Moon started all of this, but she would never have gotten this far if I had just done the right thing and told you about her… from the very beginning…”

Celestia opened her mouth and closed it abruptly. She didn’t know what to say: it hurt seeing Luna tear herself up from guilt, and she so desperately wanted to tell her that it wasn’t her fault and that everything would be alright.

“… I swear by Mother Faust that it is the truth when I say that I do not know exactly how she came to me, especially in the new light of what Zecora has informed us about her nature…”

Luna inhaled deeply – a breath to compose herself.

“But I remember how readily she manipulated me. It was years after we defeated Discord and began the establishment of our diarchy, sister… already I was beginning to feel the sting of how the ponies favoured your day over my night, and then that’s when she spoke to me…”

“Hello, Luna.”

“Ah! Yes, good evening!”

Luna jolted and rose off her flank, mentally cursing her own inattention. It wasn’t befitting of a princess, but it always seemed to happen whenever she came out into the gardens. It had taken a while to gather the plants and flowers that flourished in just that right way no matter the time of day and…

‘Pay attention, Luna; somepony is greeting thee.’

“Forgive Our lapse in concentration…” She turned with a smile. “How may We… assist…?”

Luna’s shadow stretched far on the moonlit grass.

“… H-hello?”

“It is nice to finally meet you, princess.”

Frowning, Luna turned her head from right to left. The stone archway and wall leading into the garden was a few yards from where she stood and beyond that, the castle.

Yet there was no sign of her visitor.

They seemed nice, though.

“We wouldst say the same thing, but alas, We are unable to find thee…” Luna thought for a moment and did a full turn so she was facing the small pond again. Several fish lazily swam in circles and nibbled on algae. “We implore thee to reveal thyself.”

“I am sorry to say that I must decline; I do not have a form to reveal to you.”

The visitor… lacked a body?

Luna immediately became wary. “What manner of creature might thou be to speak without lips?”

“… I am not entirely sure.”

As the creature spoke – somehow sounding both near and far away – Luna did another full turn and silently channelled magic into her horn. The night was chilly and the moon was high in the sky; she felt strong and ready to face whatever it was that addressed her.

“Speak sense…” Luna carefully scanned the gardens with narrowed eyes. “Is thou friend or foe?”

“I have no intention of harming you…”

It sounded sincere.

Luna hummed in suspicion and replied, “Where is thou? A body thou may not have, but surely thou must exist in some way?”

There was a brief pause where Luna swore she could feel the visitor struggle to find the right words.

“… I believe I’m… you.”

“What?”

“Or… I exist in tandem with you. In the recesses of your mind.”

“Thou speak lies – We would have sensed another presence on such an intrusion.”

“… Your name is Luna and you are one of the princesses of Equestria.”

Luna huffed. “Tis not knowledge of much secrecy.”

“Your parents were common farmers in a village from far away. They were killed by a plague that swept through.”

“…”

“You and your sister were the only survivors because of your alicorn physiology rendering you immune to sickness.”

“… How?”

Though she knew she wouldn’t feel anything, Luna reflexively touched her right temple. Fear swelled beneath her breast, but she was quick to squash it.

She had faced a greater and more intimidating foe that also had a penchant for getting in her head.

“Explain thyself.”

“I know little, I’m afraid,” The voice sounded regretful. “My memory is fleeting and I can only recall vague shapes and smells. I think… I think I was always without a body, but I can’t be sure. The clearest memory I had is when I… I guess it was when I ‘awoke’ and peered out at the world through your eyes.”

“Our eyes?”

“Literally, not philosophically. Although, your thoughts have given me much insight.”

Luna balked in indignation. “Thou darest violate Our inner thoughts as if they were books on display?!”

“It wasn’t my intention…” Again, there was a note of sincerity in the voice’s tone. “Whatever you think, it’s as if you’re shouting it.”

Luna frowned in doubt and started thinking of the colour Celestia had been turned to during their first confrontation with Discord.

“Gr… You have a word for that shade of green, don’t you?”

Luna thought about ‘pistachio’.

“Is it pistachio?”

“Hmph… now We believe thee. Even so, whether thou intended to eavesdrop on Our thoughts or no, tis a violation of Our privacy.”

The voice didn’t have a reply, so Luna continued speaking as she trotted towards the stone archway.

“We must inform Our sister of thy presence.”

“Why?”

“Tis common sense: a being that speaks and claims to exist in one’s mind cannot go ignored,” Luna passed beneath the stone archway and made for the castle. She was thankful nopony was out at night… perhaps for the first time in a while. “Our sister must be made aware of-”

“It’s a shame nopony appreciates your night.”

Luna paused mid-pace and took a moment to remember that Voice could hear her thoughts. She shook her head at her own forgetfulness and resumed walking.

“I see how you put a lot of effort and artistic touch into the night; more ponies should really see it.”

“We… Thou hast Our gratitude, but flattery will not stay Our hoof into inaction.”

“Oh no, you can tell Celestia about me. I understand completely. To be honest, it’s for the best; I bet she can help me figure out what I am and how I came to be. She is very smart, isn’t she?”

“… Yes, of course she is.”

“I had some time to go over your memories: she practically runs Equestria by herself, hm? You do your-”

“How long hast thou been in Our mind?” Luna questioned as she climbed up several stone steps and went through a large door. The castle hallways were bright with lit wall scones and hanging chandeliers. “As much as thou can recall?”

Voice made an unsure noise before replying, “Maybe… two weeks? I would have said something earlier, but I wasn’t sure how you’d react. I wanted to find a time when you were relaxed, but… you’ve seemed uneasy these past days.”

“…”

“Yes, you’re upset that ponies don’t give the same due to your night as they do to Celestia’s day, aren’t you? And that she gets more duties because ponies come to her when the sun is up?”

“…”

“Don’t be upset,” Voice hummed with sympathy. “You’re just as qualified to run Equestria as she is, I can tell by your thoughts. It’s just…”

“Ponies need their sleep, We… We know that,” Luna turned a corner and the lonely corridor stretched on. “We should remember that without night, the ponies of Equestria would tire and be unable to work and farm.”

“See? Your night is important. Although… I will agree that maybe they could host a festival for what you do like they already do with Celestia.”

Luna felt a spark of guilt and reflexively muttered, “I don’t… We don’t want to seem selfish for wishing for-”

“It’s not; don’t fret about that.”

“… Dost thou truly care for Our night?”

“I do. I like the daytime as well, but something about the night just… appeals to me more. The way the moon shines, the way the stars twinkle… it’s all so serene. I really enjoy it when you go out into the garden like you did earlier.”

To hear somepony… someone say that about her night… it really made her heart soar in joy. Luna knew it was selfish, but she really liked hearing those compliments.

“Don’t feel that way. You deserve it.”

Luna spotted the door to her sister’s room at the end of the hallway. She was sleeping.

Of course she was – it was night.

“I wonder what will happen to me? I wonder what she’ll say? What she’ll do?”

Luna had a very good suspicion that Celestia would attempt to take Voice away.

“That makes sense. She wants what’s best for her little sister.”

But Luna was a grown mare; she had faced off against Discord as well and she was one of Equestria’s rulers.

She had just as much say in what should happen to Voice.

“Of course you do. You should tell her that.”

But Celestia wouldn’t… she wouldn’t listen.

“Why not?”

Because she never listened to Luna anymore!

“… I’m sure that’s not true.”

It was always the same thing: she’d get up and try to help Celestia with whatever duties she had – nopony visited Luna at night court – but Celestia would just smile condescendingly and tell her to go back to bed and get some rest.

“Luna, perhaps you’re not thinking clearly…”

“I know what I can and can’t do!”

Luna shut her mouth tight and looked around in case somepony heard. There wasn’t a soul in sight, so she relaxed and made a note to lower her voice.

“If she would just give me a chance… if she would just hear me out…”

“… Very well…” Voice sighed. “I’ll leave this to you… but I really think you should tell her…”

“…”

“Maybe this is something you can’t handle on your own.”

“…”

Luna glared at her sister’s door… and turned away.

“She played the part of a considerate friend frighteningly well…” Luna grumbled and took an aggressive sip of her tea, a bark of self-depreciating laughter escaping her lips. “And I fell for the entire act.”

“Luna…”

“Pride was my vice and she knew it. I… I am sorry I caused all of this.”

The table was silent and nopony knew what to say. Celestia was utterly heartbroken by the confession and her sister stewing in self-disgust.

Swallowing hard, she quietly asked, “Did you think I’d be angry at you if you told me that?”

Luna met her gaze evenly. “I was afraid you wouldn’t. You are my sister and I know you love me… but that doesn’t mean you can’t get angry with me when I deserve it.”

“I… I’m sorry, Luna, but…” Celestia shook her head helplessly. “I’m not angry, just… sad.”

Luna’s throat bobbed as she swallowed and visibly shivered at the words. She broke eye contact and looked over at the others; her expression was neutral as she took in their mixed emotions.

“Before this, only Marquess Aldo of the Griffon Kingdom knew the truth: he is a wise griffon and I… felt at ease telling him what happened. He said that I couldn’t hide it forever… and he was right. Now… well, now you know the story.”

“… Bloody hell.”

“Took the words right outta my mouth, Cotton… um…” Virtue reached up to pull his mane back – a nervous tic. He blew a long sigh and muttered, “I… I don’t really know what to say, Your Highness…”

“Say whatever is in your heart,” Luna replied. “That goes for everypony and dragon here.”

“Alright… so…” Spike awkwardly twiddled his thumbs, glanced at Zecora, picked up his cup, put it back down, and said, “I guess… that was dumb to do?”

“That is…” Luna frowned in uncertainty. “It is not inaccurate, that much is for certain.”

“Thing is, Your Highness…” Cotton Puff began with a shrug. “We’re not angry or anything like that,” He turned to scan the faces around the table. “We all feel like that, right? Yeah? All of us? Cool beans,” He turned back with a nod. “We’re not angry at you.”

Luna’s lips pursed and she glowered down at the table in frustration. “How can none of you…?”

“Being angry at each other accomplishes nothing,” Zecora said and pressed a hoof against the open book on the table for emphasis. “We shall not pitch hurtful words to and fro when all of our ire should be directed at our foe.”

Spike nodded in agreement. “Totally. It’s cool you told us the truth and everything, but I’d really rather be angry at Nightmare Moon than you,” He laughed in an attempt to relieve some of the tension. “I mean… what? You want us to ground you or something? No way! We need you here helping… right?”

Luna sighed and looked around the table guiltily. She still strongly felt that she was getting off too easily… but they were right in that there were more important things to do.

Her need for punishment could wait.

“I am lucky to have such good friends…”

As Cotton blushed deeply and took a quick drink, Luna felt a hoof cover her own. She turned to smile apologetically up at her sister. Celestia returned the smile, but there was still a trace of sadness in it and her eyes.

“I am afraid, Your Highness, that you are mistaken about your pride…”

At everyone’s confused look, Zecora referred to the large tome once more. She turned another page and trailed her hoof down a long column of Zebrican words.

“In Zebrica, we believe there are two parts to one’s soul…” Zecora touched an illustration – an oval-like shape with one half black and the other white. “That which is bright and warm, the other dark and cold.”

“Is that good and evil?” Spike questioned. “Sounds like it.”

“Were it so simple. Our thoughts about others, our feelings towards friends and family; it resides within the Light of our soul, and it is what enables sympathy and empathy. The Dark of our soul is its opposite twin; it holds the love of oneself and their vices and sins.”

Zecora pressed her hoof against the Dark half of the illustration.

“Do not be fooled. It is by no means evil or impure; without it, we cannot love ourselves and so self-preservation is not assured. This selfishness and want is what attracts the spirits… all except the qandisa.”

Zecora slid her hoof so it rested on the Light half of the illustration.

“… You’re saying that Nightmare Moon preys on… what’s good in us?” Virtue said with a frown. “How’s that work?”

“Any aspect that is good can be turned to poison with enough manipulation, whether it be charity, humility, determination… or ambition,” Zecora said darkly. “Worse than other spirits, the qandisa feeds and preys on the host’s greatest quality; they pull and press and prod and make the host believe what they are doing is right, even when it’s not… then when it is too late… they are consumed and taken from sight.”

“…” Luna nodded solemnly. “She speaks truly. Back then, she always supported me to get the things I wanted. They were innocuous things at first… harmless… but as time went on, they got bigger and bigger, and I… I never saw anything wrong because… well, what was so wrong about achieving your hopes and dreams? I didn’t even realize I was hurting anypony until that day I refused to lower the moon.”

She shook her head.

“But by the time I did… she was in too deep and took over. That who I used to think of as my closest friend had betrayed me and I could do nothing but watch as she attacked my sister.”

“There are methods to remove these spirits without harming the victim too much… but for the qandisa…”

Zecora picked up her cup and swept her left forehoof over the rim, drawing three circles. There was an almost imperceptible thrum of magic in the air – different to what unicorns emitted but still similar in that way all magic was – and when Zecora completed another circle, the liquid in her cup had taken a darker tint.

“We require a finer touch.”

Celestia’s eyes widened. “Are you saying you can remove Nightmare Moon from Twilight?”

“If I can create the right mixture, it might even be able to destroy her.”

“That’s wonderful news!” Celestia beamed brightly. “How long will it take?”

Zecora frowned as she examined the book. “A bundle of ingredients is what I require; most of them difficult to acquire. I will not start until we have them all as the mixture is wont to expire.”

“We may have a plan here…” Celestia said quietly before, much more loudly, continuing with, “Tell us what you need, Zecora.”

“Most of these ingredients we can secure tonight…” Zecora glanced around her for a sheet of paper. Spike was at her side in an instant, holding an ink-dipped quill and a sheet of paper. “However, the mixing must be done when it is bright. Young Spike – we need pollen from a golden trite, hair from a baby lion…”

“Oy! Fluttershy’s got one of those at her cottage!” Cotton Puff jumped up and headed for the door excitedly. “Almost bit my johnnie off, so there’s some payback I’ll enjoy.”

Virtue rolled his eyes and stood, too. “There’s some golden trites by Sweet Apple Acres; I’m sure I can rope Clockwork into helping. How much do we…?”

He suddenly paused and started slightly when his gaze just so happened to flick over to the corner. He took a second to exhale and shake his head before lowering his voice.

“Faust, I sort of forgot she was there…”

“I heard that.”

“Excellent – we need all the assistance we can gather,” Luna said in her ‘heed my orders or prepare for a headache’ tone. “Come and see what ingredient you must find.”

Sunset growled in her throat and looked over sharply, the book she was reading hitting the floor with a thump. “You can’t just order me around like I’m some-”

She cut herself short when both alicorns gave her an intense glare that was only marginally less scary than the ones Nightmare Moon would send her way. Even Celestia’s serene features became astoundingly menacing when she furrowed her brow and curled her lips in that way.

Sunset prided herself on being intelligent… so she knew that disobeying was probably not the best move to make.

Heaving a great and annoyed sigh, Sunset picked herself up and stomped on over, refusing to make eye contact and muttering scathing remarks under her breath.

“Had enough orders back at the frickin’ castle… should be back in the human world… junk food and watching my shows…”

Author's Notes:

Note 1: Supposedly, only one qandisa can exist at any given time.

According to Zebrican lore, while most evil spirits are born from acts of evil and can occur almost anywhere, a qandisa is born from acts of good and only occur in densely populated areas.

The qandisa is born not from the evil in a place, but from the potential for evil in a place.