The Mare of the Moon. The Dark Alicorn. The Lunar Princess. All these names and more had been used to describe the figure who now stood before Twilight and her companions. Everypony in Equestria, young and old, had heard of her, had told stories of her, and had feared her. Now, here she was, staring at the young unicorn, while her friends trembled behind her. As for the alicorn herself, she remained silent, almost amused by the fear on display before her, before, at last, speaking up yet again.

"Well...I was expecting our guests to have something to say. Perhaps I was mistaken."

At that, Twilight shook herself out of her state, looking to her and taking a deep breath before moving a single step forward.

"Your Grace...I, Twilight Sparkle, have come here from the land of Equestria to...to...to seek your aid."

The older mare atop the throne raised an eyebrow.

"Truly?"

Twilight nodded.

"Princess Celestia has been brought low. Afflicted by a being known as..."

"The Tantabus."

The interruption was unexpected, and Twilight looked to the other mare with surprise, prompting the latter to continue.

"Do you think me blind, child? I am well aware of my sister's condition, just as I am aware of what now roams free in Equestria."

Her eyes narrowed.

"If it will alleviate your concerns, know that I already have plans to deal with this abomination of a creature."

Naturally, that caught Twilight and her friends off-guard, and in the silence that followed, they looked to one another. When they looked back to the dark monarch, it was Pinkie who spoke, her face bearing a somewhat nervous smile as she did so.

"That...that's great news!"

The alicorn gave a single nod.

"Indeed. I felt that beast the moment it first became active. As for my sister's fall...that I unquestionably felt."

Slowly, she started to move off to one side, staring at a window on the nearby wall. Nopony said anything as she did this, and it was not long before she spoke once more.

"Celestia always believed it would remain where it was. The Tantabus will never threaten Equestria again, she said."

The mare gave a grim chuckle.

"But, of course...she was wrong."

She frowned slightly.

"One of many mistakes she made."

Hearing that, Applejack frowned right back, taking a step forward, only to be barred by a hoof from Twilight. The farmer looked to her, only to see her unicorn friend shaking her head, prompting a grunt of annoyance. This motion had not gone unnoticed by their host, however.

"It appears your friend wishes to say something."

Her voice bore no malice or aggression, but even so, a chill went down the mares' spines at hearing it. Applejack, while at first hesitant, took another step forward, speaking in a tone far less confident than usual.

"Beggin yer pardon, Ma'am...but y'all don't seem that concerned that yer sisters is...well..."

She didn't finish, as the alicorn had finally turned to look at her, her eyes as piercing as ever.

"My relationship with my sister should be well known by now. After all...did our split not become legend amongst your people?"

That silenced the orange earth pony, who now looked to the ground once more, almost afraid of looking at her again. Pinkie, who was likewise worried, leaned closer to Applejack and started to whisper.

"Probably not a good idea to be insulting Nightmare Moon, AJ."

Unfortunately, her remark had been heard, and immediately, she was set upon by Aurora Dash, who glared at her aggressively before pointing a hoof straight into Pinkie's chest.

"You will address her as Queen Moon, outsider!"

For a brief moment, it looked as if things were about to get ugly, as several other guards began to approach and surround the mares. However, one raised hoof from "Queen" Moon, and the guards halted their advance, returning to heir previous posts.

"If I feel slighted, Captain Dash, I will let you know."

To that, the pegasus gave a low bow to her monarch.

"Sorry, your Majesty."

She backed away slowly, leaving Twilight to look to the dark alicorn yet again.

"If you already plan on dealing with the Tantabus...then you have my thanks. Equestria will be in your debt for this."

The Queen regarded her, giving a slight nod.

"Oh, I am sure it will. My army is ready, and they await my word to begin."

Hearing that, Twilight froze, hesitating in her next words.

"I'm...I'm sorry?"

Facing her fully, Queen Moon began to explain.

"With my great power, finding the Tantabus will be no difficult task, nor will combating it. However, there is still the matter of my sister."

She looked away before continuing.

"There is no guarantee that Celestia will rise again after this, and without her, Equestria will be left leaderless and unprotected. Divisions will emerge, panic will spread, and before long...your lands will plunge into chaos."

Looking back to Twilight, The Queen's expression was a serious one.

"I may not have been present in your part of the world for the last millennium, but that does not mean for one moment that your people have not been on my mind."

She began to take steps down from her throne.

"It has always been the duty of alicorns to defend and safeguard the other ponies of the world. And if Celestia falls from this...then the responsibility of looking out for the wellbeing of your people...will cede to ME."

Having reached Twilight, the Queen looked down to her.

"Eliminating the Tantabus will be but one part of fulfilling that responsibility. The rest? My armies will take their place in the lands of Equestria, to guarantee stability in the region. And the ponies there will know that they are protected, by me, if not by my...beloved sister. They will not be abandoned."

As one would expect, this prospect did not sit well with Twilight or her companions, who glanced nervously at one another before, in the end, Twilight looked to their host yet again.

"You...you can't!"

Like before, many of the nearby guards started to move upon hearing those words, but again, the Queen halted them, looking to Twilight with interest.

"Oh? Was it not my aid that you sought when you came to my domain, Twilight Sparkle?"

Briefly, Twilight looked down at the ground, then back up to her.

"If you do what you're planning...they won't see it as salvation. You'll have helped with the Tantabus, yes, but...to send an army? They'll just...just..."

Like she did previously, the Queen finished her words for her.

"They will see it as a foreign invasion, and me as the conquering evil Queen from their darkest legends."

Twilight stared at her, never saying anything as the older mare kept on speaking.

"I am well aware of how it will be perceived, Twilight Sparkle. But their love or hate for me matters not. Being a figure of fear is a small price for their safety, and one that I am more than willing to pay."

Here, Twilight seemed more concerned than ever, shaking her head.

"I...I...I can't let you do that!"

Silence fell, and all of the Queen's staff and guards looked to Twilight as thought she were some sort of blasphemer. As for the Queen, she simply stared at her, never uttering a single word. The way Twilight looked to her, the way she stood, the way she'd spoken, all of these things made it clear that she was adamant in what she'd said. As such, and after looking rather thoughtful on the matter, Queen Moon turned her attention to the rest of those in the throne room.

"...Leave us."

There was not a single moment of hesitancy, as Aurora, Rarity and all of the other guards and servants began to do as instructed, giving their respective bows to their monarch as they began to depart. The guards closest to Twilight were quick to ensure that Applejack and Pinkie also began to leave the room, though they were more than a little resistant. However, Twilight gave them a reassuring look, which calmed them down considerably. So, Twilight watched as her friends were escorted out of the chamber, and saw the old doors slowly creak shut. Now, it was just her and the Queen, and the latter began to walk over to the nearby window, staring out of it before finally speaking to the young unicorn again.

"Come."

Twilight did as asked, slowly walking beside the older mare, wherein she saw her point with one hoof to the window.

"Look...and tell me what you see."

The unicorn looked, and saw, out of the window, many ponies in the lands surrounding the castle. There were earth ponies, pegasi and unicorns, all attending to their various tasks. But, Twilight didn't really know what, exactly, she was being asked to describe, so she just gave an honest answer.

"I see...stonemasons, working on the castle. I see soldiers being drilled. I see farmers bringing in supplies."

But the Queen shook her head.

"No...you see ponies who are safe. Every single mare and stallion in my kingdom can live their lives without the fear that now grips your own nation. And do you know why that is?"

Twilight sighed, for she knew the answer.

"...Because they know you can face whatever comes...like the Tantabus."

The Queen nodded.

"Yes. No doubt you figured that out when you saw the timberwolf. A savage beast from an accursed forest...yet it turned tail and ran when it approached my realm."

Twilight considered that.

"...You must be very...vigilant."

A brief look of pride crossed the alicorn's face.

"I have spent the last thousand years making sure of it. It is good to see my sister's student is perceptive at least."

To that, Twilight looked to her with curiosity.

"How...how did you know my name, before? How did you know I was Celestia's student? How did you know I was coming or...or about any of it?"

A smirk crossed the older mare's face.

"As I said...I am not blind."

She faced Twilight completely.

"Magic, when one is attuned to it long enough, can be like an orchestra. And if one concentrates...they can know when the notes change."

Slowly, she leaned forward, looking Twilight right in the eye.

"You were young when it happened, yes? A mere filly, perhaps trying some new spell...when all of a sudden, you felt magic coursing through you like nopony else could possibly know."

Immediately, Twilight backed away.

"H...how...?"

The Queen stood tall again, looking almost triumphant as she replied.

"Even from this far away...I could sense you. And ever since...I have been sure to keep a close eye on you, Twilight Sparkle. Through the realm of dreams and nightmares...I have seen you."

Twilight frowned.

"So...it is true. You bring nightmares to my people."

Hearing that, the Queen chuckled.

"Oh, is that what the legends say about me?"

She did not explain herself further, merely walking back to her throne, with Twilight following close behind.

"If nothing else, I am impressed by your initiative. To come past the forbidden lands, to seek out a being of legend and myth, all because your people needed help."

Looking over her shoulder, the mare smiled.

"I am satisfied to see my sister's charges are not as foolish as she is."

Twilight frowned further to that remark, though the Queen did not seem bothered by it, instead focusing on her throne as she approached it further.

"You came here to gain my aid in the fight against the Tantabus, and so you shall have it. However..."

Having reached the throne, she sat upon it, focusing her attention upon the young unicorn entirely.

"...if my further plans for Equestria concern you so much, then I am willing to compromise."

Twilight's ears perked up, and she listened further.

"I will give you twenty-four hours to seek out the Tantabus yourself, and deal with the threat it poses. But...if you are unable to do so..."

She narrowed her eyes.

"...then my plan will continue."

In spite of the nervousness she felt about her, Twilight found herself asking something. Something that had been on her mind for some time now.

"What about your sister?"

The Queen raised an eyebrow to that, prompting Twilight to elaborate.

"What if she can't fight back against what the Tantabus has done to her? What if...if she...?"

To that unfinished question, the dark alicorn looked away, out of the window once more. For just a second, Twilight could see a flicker in her eyes. The only sign of hesitancy she had shown in this entire encounter. But when she spoke, she did so with an additional edge to her voice.

"My si...Celestia's fate is now in her hooves. We have not spoken in centuries. Whatever I may have once felt for her...those feelings no longer concern me."

Twilight frowned.

"I don't believe you."

The Queen turned to her, looking to her with slight surprise, as if this was the first time anypony had ever spoken to her like this. Regardless, her surprise was short-lived, as she narrowed her eyes once more.

"It matters little to me what you believe, Twilight Sparkle. Because if memory serves, you have other matters to deal with."

With that stark reminder of her task, the young unicorn seemed fearful the prospect that now stood at the forefront of her mind, but watched silently as the Queen pointed ahead, to the door at the other end of the hall.

"Now...I suggest you get to work. Time stands still for nopony..."

Her expression became serious once more.

"...and you have an ill task to attend to."

Twilight waited, expecting something else to be said, but in the end, that was all. This was her task, and these were the terms given to her. Twenty-four hours. The words repeated themselves over and over in her mind, and as she slowly backed away, the dark alicorn sat in her throne, regarding her carefully. Eventually, Twilight spun around, heading straight for the door at the end of the throne room. When she reached it, she found herself surprised when it again opened up by magic. Now on the other side, she panted heavily, just as her friends approached her at long last. Seeing the concerned look she bore, they asked the obvious question.

"Twilight? What's wrong?" Applejack asked.

The unicorn opened her mouth to speak, only to stop and glance over her shoulder. Even from here, she could see the Queen staring at her intently. In the end, she looked back to her friend, giving as honest an answer as she could.

"...I think...we haven't got much time."