Ponyville Schoolhouse 8:30 Am

    Ahh Ponyville schoolhouse, such a sweet little place, I was currently siting behind the assistant desk in the cornor waiting for class to begin, "Cheerilee what's on today schedule?" I asked staring into my pocket watch mirror, lets see: off-black coat check, hidden wings check,  hidden fangs, pointed horn check, well all here, "We are doing some art, history and tests today J.J.,"

     "I see good just checking, I feel like today is going to be very interesting," Cheerilee walks to the door and looks out "Well everyone should be arriving soon still better check those test scores again." I really hated paper work.

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         Ponyville

        Nyx walked to school that day with nervous step, she was pondering Nightmare Moon's sudden appearance and couldn't make it heads or tails of it. Soon her friends met up with her as per usual "Hey Nyx you ok?" The CMC, consisting of 1 Applebloom, Applejacks younger sister, 2 Sweetie Belle, Rarity's younger sister and 3 Scootaloo, Rainbow's adopted sister. They were Nyx's oldest friends fell in step with her. She nodded but kept silent "So Sweetie bell, got anything good for the school paper?" Appleboom asked, "No not much, just some of Rarities lasts fashions, and you?"

        "The orchard is the save as ever, not even a flux in market prices. Anything on your end Scoots?"

        "Rainbow dash got into the wonderbolt reserves, that is so sick!" Nyx remembered that day, Pinkie stayed glued to her mailbox for at least 3 days straight. Then there was the Tornado, Rainbow handing in her resignation out of protest, good times those where.

       At this point Moon made her presence know "You can talk to me like this you know, so these are your friends?" Nyx flinched a little but kept going "Yes, some of them." as they drew closer to the school Twist joined them "Hi girls, candy cane?"

      "Do you always carry candy canes around with you?" Sweetie asked taking the offered treat, "Everyone likes candy canes, right?" Nyx turned and levitated the mint, red and white striped crook in her magic, "You so sweet Twist, just like your candy." the candy mare blushed at the comment. Suddenly a green flash happened to there right, "Hmm, delicious." said a blue haired, green eyed, dark green pony said "Flitter, is that you?" another green flash, revealed a young Changeling nymph "Boo!" The fillies stick out there toughs, blowing raspberries "Hehe, sorry couldn't resist."

       "Flitter your as scary as Fluttershy, still good effort" Nyx said, Flitter and her parents where the only "known" changeling family in Ponyville, at least officially, there where others but they where only known to the mayor as well as the Princesses. She had helped save Nyx's life the on her first Nightmare Night. Ever since she had been friends with the girls and the former Princess, for whatever reason she was currently feeding of the girls secretly, Nyx was the only one who ever seemed to notice the effect "Flitter, I can what your doing." she said side staring at her, "What I missed breakfast. Besides your friendship always taste so good." and there she went going into a emotional bliss again, Nyx bopped her to snap her out of it "You who, Equestria to Flitter."

      "Aww and it was just getting good that time." she frowned, "I thought you weren't supposed to do that?" the Nymph shrugged "It's not as bad as it was before, its just a little buzz." Moon was looking over the little ling form horn to hoof "This one is quite the little mischief-maker now isn't she?" Nyx giggled "yep, we have her change into all sorts of people and get a good laugh out of it. we even did Silver Spoon once and OH I wish you could have seen Diamond Tiara's face!" Speaking of the little she-devil "Hello Blank flanks, mark less as ever I see." Moon turned "Nice to meet you too you little bitch," Nyx giggled "What's so funny Nighty? Did your mommy finally take your nightlight away?" Moon made a random cloud drop a lighting bolt on her "OW!, who did that!" everyone shrugged "I'm telling daddy!" she ran off the could still on her heels. Silver Spoon, who had watched the whole affair said "Ok seriously, who did that?" everyone whistled innocently "We did nothing, nature just hates her."

      "At least its not raining.", Moon bowed mockingly "your wish is my command"

       "AAAAH MY DRESS IS RUINED!" Nyx and her friends burst into laughter "Oh man, Nyx please tell us that was your fault! HAHAHA" Nyx shook her head "Nope, Karma, its a cruel mistress." Silver wisely equipped herself with umbrella that attached to her saddle bag, "Well I better go rescue the deva in distress, see you in school blank flanks." She said that so nicely that the girls paused, "Did she just... complement us?"

      "I would hardly call that a compliment, but she is clearly a good pony. You have stayed my wrath Miss spoon." Moon said sensing Diamonds friend was far nicer then she was, the girls picked themselves off the ground and continued to school Nyx kindly chastising Moon for ruining Diamonds day, she ignored the filly from laughing too much.

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      30 minutes later

     Nyx took her seat and greeted her every faithful former guard captain, her personal guard no less, Mare walked over to him and said "Hay captain nice to see you again, huh? Yah she knows, no Twilight did not take it very well and possibly might be drowning her stress in cider. yah, yah I know but it wasn't intentional, alright I'll keep an eye on her too ok," she walks back over to Nyx, "So what's his story not that don't already know it, I was 'watching' after all hehe".

     "Hay, he may love me but he knows I'm just a kid, besides it's more a father thing then a lover", soon Cheerilee silenced the class and began speaking, "Good morning class, today we are going to take a look at some history and art that depicts it", most of the class grown much to my own amusement.

"Hay, just be glad we not looking up are own family history's, oh ho ho the things I could tell," I say getting the class to laugh a little,

"Like what?" Applebloom asks.

     "Well lets see, hum oh, your family happens to have some iou's it still needs to pay!" Bloom stairs wide eyed "HAHAHA got ya, seriously though you all might actually like this, lets see what do we got in here," I reach into the top left draw of my desk, the same draw I kept my 45 dual action revolver just in case, "Ah here we are History, subjects: Ponyville, Equestira, and subject of choice by students, well that should be interesting." Cheerilee soon started talking about various artists over the years, some less known then others, even Nyx started to doze off a little, noticing this she brought out the projector and started putting painting slides up on the board. the first picture was a sky scape on a moonlit night, the second a portrait of Celestia and Luna when they where younger, "Where you get that one Mrs. Cheerliee?" Nyx asks, "The Princesses gave it to me for the class, I was just as surprised as all of you," Cheerilee replies.

    "AWWWW Luna is so Cute", Flitter, the classes resident changeling says, everypony present busts a gut at that. The next picture much to everyone's surprise was Luna with a small changeling, "Is that a nymph with princess Luna?" Flitter asks puzzled,

"I... I know her" Nyx says stumbling on her words. Suddenly Nyx's eye go white and she falls into a flash back.

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     "You think you found an ally in darkness? Do you know the power you were granted? The same I was born into, where do you think the shadows go to hide from the light? Just who do you think stands against them every night." Nightmare rants to King Sombra before pining him to the wall with his own scythe.

"What are you?!!" Sombra asks,

"I...am a Nightmare" Sombra's head is removed from his shoulders, blood staining the floor as his body falls and his former head rolls to the floor.

    "You again?" Nightmare turns around to face a full grown Changeling Queen, "Oh it's you again well maybe this time..."

    "STOP TALKING!" The queen shouts cutting her off suddenly the castle starts to shake, "shit, (she grabs Celestia) we need to go NOW!" the trio make there way out of the castle just as the whole place disappears before there eyes. They land on a nearby hill and Nightmare starts to fade, "Next time we meet you won't be so lucky" she says.

"Nither will you demon of dreams," the Queen flys off just as Celestia wakes up.

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     Nyx returns to reality to find herself on the floor surrounded by everyone, "You ok Nyx? You faded out there for a moment," her Human in pony form friend asked looking her over, after making sure she was in good health everyone goes back to there seats. Flitter looks at Nyx and says "You know the Queen of queens?", Nyx dazed asks "What Queen and Who is she?",

    "You where muttering in your... whatever that was, she is the Queen of Queens as in the VERY FIRST changeling to exist,"

    I butt in "Actually Flitter that's not entirely true, ya see she is the first of modern changelings the changelings of old where a lot different, and no affiance uglier/scarier"

"None taken,"

      "To be fair Chrysalis and the other queens can trace themselves to her, but there were other changlings before then, they however were different, they were the result of discord or if Chrysalis's story has any merit they crawled out of some magic pool as the result of a carnivorous plant eating a fly or something like that," on that note we get back to the lesson with Nyx taking a step outside for some air.

     After 5 minutes I join Nyx on the school steps, "Hay, you ok kiddo?" giving her a caring smile, "Ya I guess so, just a little freaked out," she replies slightly depressed, I put a hoof on her shoulder "Ya I saw that too, I think your latest acquaintance has something to do with that, I should know, she's been with me since Embalm about a year or so ago,"

"You never did tell me that story, care to share it?"

"Nyx trust me, you don't want to hear it, long story short I feel like Alan sent me there to provide a little background help, and well if you read the book she gave you, you'll know the rest"

"Did she really kill my mother?", I nod and mention every bone in her was broken, "Mind if I just go home Captain?"

"Sure, go ahead Cheerilee will send your work over later ok", she slowly walks saddened, so I escort her home then get back to my job.

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Meanwhile

     Twilight headed to Sugercube Corner in hopes of finding something to down her thoughts with, preferable Pinkie Pie but, she supposed ice cream would do or cider. Stepping inside I came as no surprise that the Cakes and Pinkie where nowhere to be seen, a few ponies where seated at various tables, Twilight chose the one in the far corner, sitting down she waited a few mins while pondering her thoughts,

"Ok Twilight lets think about this Nightmare Moon is apparently possessing MY daughter and she has blessed me, ok any side effects so far, no. any hatred for Celestia, no. well so far so good". At this point Pinkie rocketed out of the kitchen like the place was on fire, "Hay Twlight (! she stands straight) what are you doing sitting in the corner?"

   Twilight looks up and groans slightly "Ugh, you don't want to know, you still got any cider left, the good stuff," Pinkie looks at he friend concerned "That bad huh, well I'm sure I got a bottle or two around here somewhere, apple or grain?"

"AJ always had the good stuff all be it nothing strong, I'v no intention of getting drunk today", Pinkie zooms in and out of the back room and pours Twilight a glass, "So whats got you so glum? Nyx do something bad again?"

"No but your close," Twilight replies

"Ho ho, does it have something to do with a ghost?",  "Yes"

     "Does it have something to do with Nightie? Oh Twilight you got nothing to worry about she's as harmless as Celestia in the morning", Twilight raises an eyebrow "Has she ever seen Celestia in the morning?" "Nightie? you mean you knew about her and never thought to tell me?!" borderline rage shifting, prompting Pinkie to grab the fire extinguisher from her mane, "I thought J.J told you? She's been there since well what happened in Emblem, remember that emerald we all got?"

"Ya, turned out it was in pieces and...", a light bulb pops above Twilight's head as she says "It was a soul crystal?!!! How did I not notice, how did the princesses not notice?!!!"

     "Probably because she was with him the whole time, something about keeping a balance, she turned herself into a crystal attached her soul to one bit and various bits of her life to the others"

     "I guess that makes sense, no soul no magic to notice, I wonder if she...wait Pinkie didn't Nightmare Moon 'die' back there except her, her...oh. my. CELESTIA!" Twilight downs the glass then falls to the floor, shivering "Oh this isn't happening, this is not happening," Pinkie quickly hugs Twilight for all she was worth, "Don't worry Twilight, oh keep the bottle, on the house, given its been what a year or so since then if she wanted to kill us she would have, and hey she was on Nyx's side though the whole 'I will make the night eternal' thing last summer," Twilgiht gets up "Thank you Pinkie I better go see how Nyx is doing", as she starts to walk out the door Pinkie tosses her a spyglass "Take that you'll need it," 'wink' and then both go about there business.

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20 minutes later

     Nyx is walking slowly down one of the roads of Ponyville after I left her, thinking about the flashback "Why did that happen and more importantly does it mean anything."

"Perhaps I did not think this though very well," Moon says frowning at Nyx, Nyx looks up at her "Oh I forgot you were there, how so?"

"If it wasn't obvious you and I 'should' share the same memories, however because Luna took yours, more accurately locked them away in your mind and through away the key I suspect my presence may be bringing them back to you, therefor I suggest you meditate a bit or sleep and we can go dig them up if you wish,"

"But Luna said she took my memories because they were not mine?"

"Nyx, sorry to say this but you ARE Nightmare Moon, well in appearance at least, all I can say is that you and I have a lot in common, that said Luna only wiped your memory and copied it to herself, not that I blame her she did have a big hole to fill there,"

"So I still have them but I don't remember them?"

"Exactly and I appear along with certain things like the photo will trigger them, if we go dream hunting for them we can uncover them quickly with no risk of you losing it, that said it will most likely be very unpleasant what yo- I did back then,"

"Maybe let me sleep on it," Moon nods then points out Twilight running up the road.

     Twilight was trotting up the road to Ponyville's school house when she spotted Nyx Oh dear I hope she's ok she runs up to her kicking up some dust in the process and says "Nyx what are you doing here shouldn't you be in school? You ok honey?" Nyx didn't respond and just stares into the dirt.

"Its me Twilight, Cheerilee was showing slides in class and Nyx had a flashback to... well King Sombra's death, and its not the worst thing in her repressed memory but its still not pleasant to say the least," Nightmare speaks as Twilight cuddles Nyx to cheer her up. "Nyx are you gonna be ok?" Twilight asks concerned after drying Nyx's tears, "Ya I'll be ok, just need to think," Nyx replies as they walk,

"Hey um, how about we stop by the castle for a bit there still some books in the library I still need to gather," for some reason Nyx didn't reject the idea and smiles, "Sure may as well clear the place out since no one goes there, well except J.J and his cavalrymen," Nightmare raises and eyebrow "He still has his cavalry? I thought the humans had some quote 'modern' military power?"

"They do, its just he thinks it's more appropriate around us Equestrians, and yes, he sees the irony in it, quote 'slave' horses around free horses", bursting into laughter Nightmare says "Ha, well the shadow cavalry certainly had a reputation from what I'v seen of him, still what would he want with your castle?"

"Oh that, he said he wanted to keep the place in shape, he's the caretaker of the castle, even got it from the mayor though a loophole."

"That being?"

"Apparently he put a ring on Nyx's horn and got her to name him king, hehe not that he was serious about it." Twilight explains,

"It was a power play as he put it, plus he could keep a closer eye on me without any suspicion on his part." Nyx says,

"Cleaver boy that one, no wonder I picked him to have the part of the emerald with my soul."

"Speaking of which are you still attached to that thing?" Twilight asks thinking back to what Pinkie Pie said.

"No just your daughter apparently, witch reminds me since we're going to Nightstone how about I teach Nyx a few tricks, her magic may be a bit weak but I can fix that," Twilight and Nyx share a look, but agree and head off to the castle.

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Nightstone castle 9:45 Am

     After a short walk out to the outskirts of Ponyville's quarry Nyx and Twilight stair upon the latest addition to Ponyville, Nightstone Castle. Nyx normally avoided the place like the plague, given all the sad or painful memories the castle held for her. Twilight took one look at the gatehouse and gulped, recalling how she was to be hanged for stabbing her daughter, as they approached closer, they where surprised to there surprise not completely abandoned.

     "Hold it!", shouts a guard in black armor, holding a sword with the same color blade, "Who are you guys?" Twilight asks nervously.

      "You take your job too seriously Hawkeye," said one of the soldiers at the gate,

      "Can't be too carful in are line of work Snow Bell," he turns to Nyx and Twilight. "Who are you?" Twilight looks like Celestia just gave her an F on her report card, "And who may I ask are you sir?"

    Nyx joins in "Don't I know you guys from somewhere....! Hey, aren't you, some of those people J.J recruited? You always were the odd balls," Snow Bell spoke up "Hahaha, well that's are former queen alright, you must be Twilight, err sorry if any of us treated you too badly, appearances ya know,"

      "None taken and.....," Twilight just now noticed that the ponies aren't wearing any armor, "Your... your all..," Snow Bell puts a hoof to Twilights mouth, "Go on say it, you'll feel better,"

Twilight borderline yells "CHANGLINGS?!!!"

     "Yes, how perceptive of you Miss Sparkle, we belong to 'The Night Queen', as she is called by other changeling queens, Nyx she would be our second Queen, don't worry she's a friend to all of Equestira". At this point Hawkeye asks a mental question "Have either of you seen anyone in black coats lately?" Nyx and Twilight are taken back by hearing that unvoiced question, "Oh For the love of Luna am I forgot to mention the mental network didn't I? Nightmare sounds off in frustration,

"Ok, before anything else happens what else have you failed to mention?",

"Ok first: yes, you now have telepathy similar to a changeling hivemind but because are minds don't work that way its more like a radio implanted in your head, second and lastly while everyone who's blessed is interconnected, the structure is like a military a officer commands those under them in a sub net of this hivemind"

"Ok recap, 1 night vision, 2 a magic boot based on ones ability to use it, 3, a mental companion for protection from outside influences, 4 telepathy on a Changeling hive scale, yes?" Nightmare nods then goes quiet.

     After a quick explanation and some experimentation witch determined that there were 10 changelings in the castle, 2 at the gate, and the rest where scattered through out the castle, Twilight and Nyx started to talk about their time at the castle and the a memory or two popped up, namely the Changelings bringing Twilight a slice of cake or 2 and J.J comforting Nyx and her both. After making there way to the library they started looking though some of the history books to see if Nyx had any more flashbacks, "So Nyx, Nightmare anything that might help with what happened earlier?"

"Twilight there's nothing you can do about what happened, but maybe we can bring back more of Nyx's memory, say oh I don't know Nightmare and the Moon?" Twilight quickly do to the lack of books find a copy of it and hands it to Nyx, she starts to read it when, "Oh my head, Twigh...," she passes out into another flashback.

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     "And that princess will be ME!" the Sun is Eclipsed and Luna slowly levitates into the air, "What? This is... oh no, not this anything but this," Nyx thinks, unable to do anything but watch. Luna is engulfed in shadow and turns into Nightmare Moon, "Sister it is your duty to lower the moon!" Celestia pleads, "No my only Duty is to Destroy you!" Nightmare proclaims before launching herself at her sister. The two exchange spells and fly round and round the castle, Celestia is eventually struck, sent crashing though a stone roof and into the hall that holds the Elements of Harmony. At that moment a streak of green flies at the fallen goddess "MOTHER!!!" It shrieks sending Nightmare tumbling to the ground landing on balcony, the streak landing nearby.

    "I warned you Nightmare, Now you will PAY!" A changeling stands before Nightmare Moon who laughs at the threat, "HAHAHA you fool! Are you really so cold as to kill your own mother!? I think not, I have no quarrel with ye, leave and you will be spared my wrath,"

"Four words, OVER. MY. DEAD. BODY!" the two clash with blades, Nightmare's sword a long black one edged blade with a aura around it, against a shorter but still long black dual edged sword with a cross guard, Clang, Clang, sparks fly as the blades clash.

    After ten minutes Nightmare lands a few hits to the Changelings abdomen, a scare on her face and cuts one of her hoofs off at the lower leg, "Give in you can't win!", the changeling stairs with cold dead eyes at the Nightmare, "Our Queen!" suddenly six other changelings appear and surround the queen, "I told you to stay back,"

"We aren't leaving you to die are Queen," she smiles at that "Loyal as ever" she whispers then glares at Nightmare Moon again "Fine you win this time but next time we meet I will not show you any kindness or mercy," the seven insectoids disappear in emerald flames, Nightmare sighs then almost keels over for a moment "DAME, she is powerful, I guess I underestimated love yet again, no matter," she flies up to confront Celestia who had since risen back to the skies. All there power is poured into there latest clash but Nightmare is overwhelmed by the Elements of Harmony and banished "AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Nightmare screamsas the world fades.

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Nightstone castle 10:00 am

     Nyx wakes in one of the castle bed rooms screaming "AAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH," Twilight bolts to her fast enough to give rainbow a run for her money, "Nyx, Nyx calm down your ok, your ok," she says as she cuddles her daughter closely.

"Mama, I'm scared." she weeps into Twilights coat.

"I am SO Sorry Nyx that was...painful watch," tears fall from Nightmare Moons eyes as she recalls those moments, she fades away to her little cornor of her present host "To think she is still alive after all these years, Luna will be thrilled," "Still poor Nyx I really need to help her on this one, but what can I do? Maybe teach her how to dreamwalk?" such questions go though her own mind and she leaves Twilight and Nyx to comfort one another. Next Chapter: Magic Training Estimated time remaining: 3 Hours, 49 Minutes