Nightmare Year

by Little_Draco

First published 6th of July, 2012

The year where lives are changed, friendships are tested, love is lost, and when the darkness rises

Luna comes to Twilight for help in learning about friendship. However, this leades to her falling in love with her sister's student. However, deep within her mind, Nightmare Moon is starting to crawl out again and with an approaching Solar Eclipse to aid in her growth of power, will Twilight be able to conquer Moon through her love or will the Nightmare be free and the night last forever?

Lives will be changed, Friendships will be tested, loves will be lost and when Nightmare rises, Equestria will never ever be the same.

This is my first story I am going to post on here. I have posted others stories before including My Little Pony. This one will be teen' related but a seperate series is to follow this one but with a seperate link and somewhat alternate chapters as well/

Chapter 1 Luna's Befriended (Revised)

Twilight Sparkle sat outside of her tree home on the upper deck. Her telescope was out, the stars were shinning and she had her book on “The Stars and Beyond”, wide open. The air was fresh, not to cold but just enough to stay out for a bit longer. The moon was high and casting an ever-gentle glow over Ponyville.

The lavender unicorn smiled as she looked up at the different constellations. Ranging from The Mighty Hercoltes to Draco the Serpent. It was truly magnificent to see them out. Many ponies would be asleep or getting ready to sleep but Twilight loved staying up and taking advantage of the quiet peace. Spike went to sleep around seven and most of her friends returned home. It was not as enjoyable doing this by herself but then again, her friends didn’t share her interest. It didn’t bother her much but maybe just a little.

She currently had her eyes inside the telescope, looking around the stars. She had not notice the flying shadow over the tree. Nor did she hear the landing on the deck. Twilight was too concentrated on the stars not seeing the shadow looming right over her.

“Hmm,” she said to herself, thinking she was by herself. “The Ursa Minor Constellation seems to contain 14 stars but… I am seeing only 13, unless I am mistaken.”

“You are not mistaken, Twilight Sparkle.” Said a loud yet delicate voice. It took all of Twilight’s will not to shriek. She did jump out of concentration, knocked over her telescope and sharply turning to the voice behind her. Her heart was pounding and she was scared witless.

None other than the Princess of the Night, Princess Luna, stood right behind her. The princess stood calmly there, her mane and tail slowly moving back and forth with the invisible wind. Her dark blue fur shined brightly along with her mane with the moon shinning upon her. Her crown stood proudly in front of her long horn.

Twilight managed to regain her breath and steady her breath, trying not to shout at the princess.

“Princess Luna! You frightened me!”

The princess somewhat took a step back from the sudden voice.

“I am sorry, Twilight Sparkle.” Her voice soft. “I did not mean to startle thou in anyway.”

Twilight sighed and gave a small smile.

“It is fine Princess, just please warn me next time.” She paused and looked over the princess. “Not to seem rude Princess Luna but why are you here?”

Luna did not speak right away but rather moved close by Twilight and looked down at the book. With her horn, she slowly levitated the book to her view. She saw that Twilight had been looking at the constellations.

“Do you enjoy the night sky, Twilight Sparkle?”

Twilight didn’t expect a question in return but she answered.

“Yes, I do, Princess Luna. I enjoy coming outside every night that I can and looking up at the stars.”

Luna lowered the book and looked at Twilight. Unease came over Twilight as Luna looked at her. Luna then looked back at the stars and sighed. She closed her eyes and her mane waved silently and twinkled. Twilight looked her confusingly. Luna then sighed and looked up at the stars. The last of the Ursa Minor star came to view. Twilight turned her head and saw it, almost immediately l lit up.

“Oh, it is there! Where was it?”

Luna opened her eyes and saw Twilight happily looking up at the night star. A smile appeared over Luna. She was happy, knowing that there was a pony here the truly appreciated the nights and took their time to enjoy it. If it was anything more, Twilight Sparkle was the only one Luna knew that would fully take her time to stay up for her beauty.

Twilight quickly forgot all about the stars and turned back to Luna, who was just standing there looking at her. It somewhat made her feel nervous; she had no idea what to do. It’s not so much that she feared Luna, but she had no idea what she would do next. It’s been awhile since she seen her, last at Nightmare Night. And the beginning of the new year was only months away.

“Luna,” Twilight asked. “You never answered my question.”

Luna sighed. “I am sorry, Twilight Sparkle. I haven’t been focusing.”

“About what?”

Luna shook her head.

“Just thoughts I can’t rid of. As for why I am here, I just wanted to see you.”

A small blush formed around Luna’s cheeks.

“Oh,” she replied softly. Twilight to felt a blush form on her as well. They stood in awkward silence, almost avoiding the others eyes. Twilight was the first to speak, but in a bit of a stutter.

“W-Why?” she managed to ask.

Luna, with all her powers, managed to hesitate long enough for Twilight to ask another question.

“Do you… need help or something?”

Luna shook her head and somewhat gathered her courage to speak. With all the lessons that she had been taught by her sister, Celestia and a few others to help with her speech, it was still hard to gather words.

“Twilight, I need… know… how to have friends and have more… fun. Can you teach me?” She closed her eyes, expecting some odd remark or laughter, like her sister had done but with good joy.

Twilight looked a bit stunned but no remark came from her. In fact, a smile approached Twilight.

“It is fine, Princess Luna. You do not need to be afraid or shy. And of course I can teach you.”

Luna slowly opened her eyes. A surprised look came over her.

“You will?”

Twilight nodded.

“Of course. Everypony needs friends and with friends you get fun. Trust me, I learned that a long time ago.” She recalled her memories at her first arrival at Ponyville. Luna gave a smile of gratitude.

“Thank you, Twilight Sparkle. I appreciate your help. My sister wasn’t so… how you would say… ‘As serious as she should be".

Twilight smiled.

“Of course, now I know you want to do this now,” she paused, yawning softly. “But it is getting late. Though from what Celestia has told me in her reports, you only arrive at nights.”

“Correct,” said Luna.

Twilight nodded.

“Though I do enjoy the nights, I have a hard time staying up.” She yawned once more.

Luna gave a small sad smile.

“I am aware of your… need of sleep Twilight and I am also aware that you need it to function for the mornings arrival. I will try then… to change my schedule and….”

“Nonono…” Twilight quickly spoke with a chuckle, getting an odd look from Luna. “I didn’t mean anything like that and I don’t want you to leave your duties for me. I just have make some coffee to keep me up longer for you.”

Stay up longer for her. She would actually stay up for her… just to teach her how to be fun and how to gain friends. A feeling of joy filled Luna as she looked at Twilight.

“Why not create a spell that will let you stay up longer or energy enhancer for your body?”

“Oh I have but when you use it, the next day when the spell wears off, the weariness that you get from not sleeping hits you like a ton of bricks. When that happened, I sort of... passed out in front of the girls. They thought I had died or something.” She said with an ominous blush.

“Oh… Twilight Sparkle, you are as amusing as my sister makes you out to be. We shall have much fun.”

Twilight smiled.

“We will but um… most of the shops and places are closed during the night. I don’t know where we could go to have fun except…” she stopped.

“Yes?” asked the Princess.

Twilight looked nervous.

“Well um… you see… Rainbow Dash… Never mind, it wouldn’t be fun.”

“Please, Twilight Sparkle. I wish to learn more about this era and how my fellow ponies live and have fun and love…” she paused. She began blushing at the last word. Twilight didn’t seem to hear it, only see Luna blush thinking that she really was pleading for her help. She sighed and smiled.

“Well, alright Princess Luna, will give a try.”

Luna beamed and grabbed Twilight in a fierce hug.

“Thank you Twilight Sparkle!” Almost yelling in the Traditional Canterlot voice. Twilight was trying to get air in her lungs, now knowing how Fluttershy felt when Luna did this to her.

“Princess… air!” she managed to wheeze.

Luna quickly let her go and blushed brightly.

“Forgive me Twilight Sparkle, thou, I mean… I forget my own strength.”

Twilight smiled, as best as she could, slowly take in air.

“Alright well Rainbow Dash sometimes goes to these gigs and…”

“A… gig?” questioned Luna.

“A place with music.”

“Ah, like the music at the Gala or musicals.”

“Well,” Twilight scratched the back of her head. “Not so much. These ‘gigs’… are played with rather… loud music in a small room and last in till the wee bits of the morning. Oh… and it is nothing like these musicals at the Castle. It's much, much louder. To you it may seem not like... music at all.”

“I see.” Luna said. “So why is it considered music?”

“Well... I tried to figure that out myself but with generations of youth rebelling against their parents or elders, they want to let out steam and some of that steam turns into inspirational or destructive things. One of those these turned out to be this music called 'Dubtrot'.”

“Well,” began Luna. “Let us go try out this ‘gig’ of thou speaks of.”

Twilight’s eyes went a bit wide and her mouth slightly opened.

“Princess Luna, are you sure?” she asked, not knowing whether she heard her right. “This is way different from anything you have ever been to. I mean, the next gig isn’t in till Thursday night.”

“Hmm,” said Luna. “If it is in till then, what shall we do now?”

Twilight thought about it. She often wanted Princess Celestia to walk with her at nights but that only happened a few times when she was living in Canterlot. Then it was easier but because of duties during the night and day, she only had an hour or two. After that, time was a rare delicacy and when she moved to Ponyville, she lost that time. Now that she had moved to Ponyville, she lost all of that. However, with Princess Luna here, she can gain that and reestablish her relationship with Luna after Nightmare Night.

Now that she was here, what can Twilight and Luna do together? What can the princess of the night and her sister’s student can do? Watch the stars? Talk about the constellations? Talk about… her?

Her thoughts were cut off when Princess Luna cleared her throat.

“Is there something wrong, Twilight Sparkle?”

Twilight shook her head and gave a smile.

“Uh nothing Princess Luna. Just trying to wonder what should we do at the moment.”

Luna walked past her and headed to the edge of the deck towards the railing. With her range from the deck, she had the view of almost every home, building and store, were closed. Of course they were closed; it was night time and everypony seemed asleep. However few ponies here and there were walking around. Some enjoyed it while others started to head for home. Those that stayed outside where moving around as if they moved in the day. With street lamps posted around town, they had somewhere to see.

Her sister told her that ponies truly appreciated her nights. On days, the ponies worked hard and enjoyed life. At nights, they could rest and spend nights together with family. They appreciated the nights for bringing relaxation, comfort and peace.

Or so she says….

Shut up! Luna yelled in her mind.

“Princess?” asked Twilight worriedly. Did she say that out loud or did she noticed her?

“Yes… Twilight Sparkle?”

Twilight walked up to her. She looked up at the moon princess.

“Is there something wrong?”

Luna gave Twilight a assuring smile.

“Nothing is wrong, Twilight Sparkle.” She lied. “I am just… a little tired from adding the star. I am sorry for staying here and not speaking to you much.” She looked as though she was about to leave but Twilight stopped her.

“Princess Luna!” Luna stopped and turned to her. “Why… I mean, why don’t you stay a little longer? Do you have some royal duties to attend to?”

Luna thought about it. She had no real duties to attend to. Her sister took all of the courts, meeting, and almost anything else from morning till late evening. Then from there, anything that she couldn’t finish, Luna did for her. But Celestia tends to finish everything before she sleeps. Luna only deals with finishing the days meetings or gatherings then the ponies go to sleep.

From there, she then raises the moon, darkens the skies and brings out the stars. Anypony really would be asleep, except the night guards. Otherwise, Luna was completely alone.

So to answer Twilight’s question, “No Twilight Sparkle. I don’t have anything to attend to.” She gave a smile to Twilight and received one back. “So, what do you wish to do then?”

For the next hour and a half, Luna and Twilight talked about their last encounters since Cadance's and Shinning Armor's wedding. From there, Luna explained how she had missed the wedding because of sleep schedule. Though it also didn't help that her room had sound proof walls so she couldn't hear the commotion going on. The sound proof walls were for her since the workers did their works during the day.

After that, Luna had continued her lessons to modern days. From the history of the last thousand years, to the magic that has changed, to the laws and rules that followed. She learned that there have been so many good and bad times. From when the Gryphons attacked 900 years prior to their peaceful trades of 500 years prior.

The dragon king still was a friend though they were on better terms with Equestria now than a thousand years ago.

One thing that had really surprised Luna, though she didn't tell Twilight was the fact that morals were somewhat altered as well. Mares could be with other mares, though marriages legal, very few happened; same with stallions. Herds were now considered legal and could be more than five, though they must all approave.

Along with that was that mare on mare relationships that wanted foals, there was magic that could alter them so that one may be the giver and the other the reciver. The thought caused Luna to plush, but Twilight was engrossed in telling her, her part of the story.

“Well, I am glad that you are back to our environment,” said Twilight. “I am sure that it feels good to be acquainted with modern society.”

“As am I Twilight Sparkle.” She replied. “However, since my sister said if I am to acquaint myself back to society, she asked me to make friends. Starting with the Bearers of Harmony.”

Twilight smiled.

“Well, I guess you remember seeing all of us at one point.” Luna nodded. “Well first is Fluttershy, the one who is…. Well shy.” She giggled. “Next is Applejack, who is the most hard working and most honest pony around. Then it’s Rainbow Dash, who maybe a bit arrogant sometimes but she is loyal and she will never let us down. After her, it’s Rarity, who is the kindest and generous pony around with good fashion tastes. Last is Pinkie Pie. She is… well… she is just Pinkie Pie. I can’t explain any more than that.”

Luna smiled and giggled.

“Yes I am aware of the Pink mare. My sister told me she is quite… unpredictable and somewhat unstable.”

Twilight laughed.

“Yeah it’s true but she does throw some hay of parties!”

And soon, Twilight spoke more of her friends and their adventures. Luna stopped listening after the Nightmare Night time, when she met Twilight for the first time..... properly. Her mind focused solely on Twilight. There was something about her, something wonderful about the mare before Luna. She didn’t know what it was. Whenever any other pony spoke to Luna, it was either out of fear or royal obligations. Once in a while some pony would talk normally but it was either her servants or her own personal night guards.

No, Twilight Sparkle spoke to her as a genuine, normal pony; she saw Luna as her equal. Her sister had been right about Twilight Sparkle. She was an amazing pony. Her voice was soft and majestic, full of knowledge and wisdom, yet had the innocence it needed to be that of a young adult.

Her features were astounding, almost breath taking beautiful. A blush had formed around her face. She was commenting the beauty of a mare, nonetheless, her sister’s protégé. But she couldn’t help it, Twilight was some pony else.

If it hadn’t been for her, she would still be Nightmare Moon and might have plunged the world into forever night.

You make is sound as if it were a bad thing.
Luna stood motionless for a bit.

It’s not so bad Luna, after all, I am still here!
“Princess Luna?”

Luna blinked and shook her head.

“I am sorry Twilight Sparkle. I… uh … lost my focus.”

Twilight somewhat looked at her quizzically.

“Are you okay, Princess? You have been staring off at me for a bit.”

Luna gave a small smile.

“I was just… imagining all of your adventures.” She paused. “Makes me wish I can have my own adventures.” It was a sad look that passed over Luna but it was not because of that.

Nightmare Moon was talking to her, even when she wanted to speak with Twilight in privacy.

Twilight seemed only to acknowledge Luna’s face.

“Why can’t you?” asked Twilight.

Luna looked at her.

“I am a princess, I cannot leave my duties to go have fun filled adventures!”

Twilight smiled.

“Just because you are a princess, doesn’t mean you have to leave your duties. You could still do fun adventures, like visit other parts of Equestria or explore the area around it.” Twilight thought more and continued. “You can meet new ponies or join a group of some sort.”

Luna shook her head and Twilight sighed with disappointment. They both knew that Luna was bound by her duties, one way or another. Even if she wanted to go on her adventures, Twilight knew that without Luna, Celestia would be back to being stuck all day and night with ponies and paperwork. And that wasn't fair after a thousand years.

The two spoke less as the night was at its fullest and when Luna had to return to the castle. In the end, it was Luna who had to say goodnight.

“I am sorry Twilight Sparkle, but I must return to the castle. Although duties are less at night, many ponies still need me.”

Twilight half nodded sleepily. Her eyes were heavy and her stance was swaying. Luna somewhat giggled at her sleeping form.

“It’s okay Princess Lun~” she yawned. ‘una. You have important things to take care of. I still have plenty of energy to keep me awake.” Unfortunatly, her body disagreed and she soon collapsed. She had forgotten to use the spell that Luna asked her. Luna smiled though, watching the sleeping form of Twilight rise and fall. Her snoring was none existence and her breathing was ever so silent.

Luna didn’t want to leave her there, nor would she. With her magic, a bluish aurora with sparkling white sparks formed over the gently sleeping form of Twilight. Twilight gently rose into the air and slowly started to hover over to her windows. Luna opened the windows and walked into the dark library.

Another sleeping form was there and that was of the baby dragon, Spike. His snoring was loader than any baby Luna had heard before. Luna stifled a giggle and carried Twilight over to her bed. She slowly lowered her down in till the cushions supported her weight. Luna released her magic on Twilight then used her magic to gently roll up and cover Twilight with the blankets.

With that, Luna stepped out onto the balcony and closed the windows. From here, she could see nearly all of Ponyville. All were asleep and in their homes. Only one or two are out, which are the nightly patrol ponies but otherwise, the rest were asleep. Along time ago, this had upset her and drove her to hatred. Now, she is happy to see that ponies can appreciate the night for what is truly was meant to be. A place of rest and comfort.

Luna turned her head towards the windows to watch Twilight. With a smile, she whispered, “Good Night, Twilight.”

She then spread her wings and flew back towards Canterlot. Her night was just reaching towards its darkest, with the moon high in the sky and the stars twinkling brightly.

She flew over Ponyville in the gentle cool wind of the night. All around, did ponies sleep. Sleep, a concept in which she did not at night but during the day. When her sister ruled and the ponies flourished.

‘Just like they always have.’
Luna paused in mid-flight, almost losing a second of flapping.

‘They will always flourish under her light and never in yours. Why should that be?’
Luna blinked and shook her head.

"No... I will not listen. You are just in my head. Your are not real, just a bad figment of my thoughts."

‘Am I? or do you just wish to think that and I am really in you?. Remember dear Luna, just because my form is gone, does not mean I am gone. I will forever be in your mind, my dear little moon.’

Never, ever forget that! Nightmares are eternal and so will be the nights!

Author's Notes:

Revised, less mistakes but some still remain and can't help if I missed a few things. Let me know and ill fix them!

Chapter 2: The start of it all

Nightmare Year: The start of it al

Princess Luna yelled to the skies.

“No!!” Her eyes glowed bright white and released her power. Lightning crackled and the skies darkened in a matter of seconds. The anger that she held had shown.
However, Luna quickly realized that she was still residing and hovering over ponyville. She quickly subdued her powers and everything quickly returned to normal. She quickly shook her head and headed back to Canterlot. She needed to clear her head of Nightmare.

Almost a half hour later, she was nearing the Canterlot castles. Two shadows caught her movement from the castle balcony. The two shadows came into view and were none other than Luna’s Night Guards, Skyshadow and Air Screech. Their bat like wings moved silently in the air as the stallions flew over to her. She did not pause but she did acknowledge them.

“Greetings, my loyal guards.”

Her eyes met with theirs and they both closed their eyes and bowed their heads before rising back up and looking back at her.

“Greetings Princess Luna.”

They flew back towards the landing pad towards the castle. Once there, the castle the three ponies landed. The two guards remained outside while Luna entered the doorway. The hallways lead to only her sister’s room and her own. The long silent hallway seemed to stretch on endlessly. At least, before she arrived, now it was just a lengthy hallway. Since she had been gone for a thousand years, Luna saw how drastically the castle had changed. From the minor things like windows, walls and even the tile to the vast statues of her sister and herself.

She passed by paintings of herself and hers sister. Other’s included paintings of famous ponies like Starswirl the Bearded, who was once a tutor and friend of Luna. There was also a few that Luna didn’t recognized because they were there when she was… absent.

She finished her walk from the hallway she had arrived by her door. There, two female unicorn ponies stood by who were also part of Luna’s Night Guards. They both bowed their heads.

“Princess Luna,” they both spoke in unison. They looked almost exactly alike her other guards but they carried no wings, were feminine, shorter and had longer manes and tails. Instead, their horns were sharp and almost onyx black.
Their bodies carried the same armor as the stallions even covering their cutiemarks, but their tuffs on their manes were not there but their manes are allowed to fall to their sides of their heads or their backs. They also carried Luna’s symbol on their chest.

Luna smiled.

“Hello Nightshade, Blackout. How fair you both?”

Nightshade was navy blue with a black mane that fell to her back and ended on top of her shoulder. Her eyes were white but held cat like slits and their bodies have atoned like those of a have strong athlete. The one across from her, Blackout, was almost identical but her made was a deep purple and was somewhat cut short so that it was at the bottom of her neck.

Around her, her guards dropped their stern acts and acted like normal… night ponies. They were a different breed of pony.

The two ponies smiled.

“Excellent Princess.” Spoke Night Shade.

“Yes, the night is a quiet one,” spoke Blackout.

“I am glad. Tell me, do you to enjoy your duties as being the only female guards here in all of the castle?”

The two mares giggled and nodded.

“Of course your majesty,” spoke Night Shade. “I never thought I would be the first female ever to be in the guard. Especially under your guidance.”

“Yeah,” agreed Blackout with a grin. “My brother always wanted to be a royal guard but never qualified. Though when I told him I had joined the night guards, he was so pissed!”

They both giggled loudly and Luna couldn’t help but giggle with them. She was aware of Blackout’s brother hoping to join the ranks of the night guards. However, Luna found out on her own that Blackout had more use in magic than her brother did. She choose her because of her amazing ability to handle magic and now dark magic.

Ever since she had taken them in as her own guards a month after the last Nightmare Night, she had been more comfortable around the castle. The two female guards were trained in the same dark magic that Luna wielded. They were just regular unicorns but Luna had changed them so they were adjusted to the nights.

However, they only remained by her doorstep and worked in the nights alongside the stallion pegasi guards and Luna. They had actually preferred to work with only few stallions. Something that Luna was all too familiar with but there was something more with those two. She never asked because it was their privacy and like all females, they deserve their privacy.

Celestia never approved of female guards because she believed that females should not do any guarding and that they distracted the males at work.

Luna never agreed with that, even before her exile. Before, she wanted to have female guards because to many of the male guards often made her nervous, not to mention some tended to look up at her flank when she passed by. Not that she minded males staring at her but nearly hundreds, almost a thousand males in a castle! She often suspected that her sister kept males in the castle because she wanted them staring up her flank.

Luna, again had no trouble with males. A male would be an excellent mate but… did she like to look at males back? Her question was never answered, not even by her own self. During her exile, Nightmare Moon, was the only other soul that kept her occupied and in more than a few ways.

She grew angry but a blush formed as well. Nightmare kept her sane with voice, her mind though manipulated, she at least talked to Luna and… she kept her body well… taken care of. Luna shuddered as she remembered the way Nightmare use to hold her when they were on separate planes of existence.

With another smile and a bow back, to show her own care for her subjects, she walked past them where the doors opened and once inside, she closed them. Once she walked inside, she viewed at her ever-large room. The room itself could house almost fifteen ponies and any pegasi inside could honestly fly in there with its expansive ceiling. She remembered when she had first entered her room after a thousand years; her room had changed. A thousand years ago, it was just a big room with excess room for millions of things, yet Luna had not required that much since they had moved from the Everfree to here in Canterlot.

Now, it was filled with a big three times her size, a wardrobe with almost every type of clothing ever, a bathing place that not only had a shower head, but a large bathtub to hold four ponies with two sinks, large mirrors and a flushing toilet! A flushing toilet! Back then… Somepony had to either clean it out or send it to another part of Equestria.

A balcony lead to the outside, so she could raise and lower the moon from her room. She also had a sky window and the celling was also decorated with the stars of her night. Everything in her room, including her room was also a dark blue, much like her mane and no electrical lights of any kind were in her room. Only the sun, moon and candle light was the only light she allowed in her room.

Yet on another part of the room was a separate bed. A bed that belonged to one pony in particular and that pony is Dusty, a personal maid of Luna. Dusty was one of Luna’s first friends when she had returned. In fact, Dusty was almost caring when Luna arrived.

Turns out, Dusty was a descendant of her ancestor who also served under Luna a thousand years ago. Luna remembered her, Sweepy, who was Luna’s great servant but also her friend. Sweepy was a kind and gentle mare who did nothing better than to be around Luna and take care of her. Though Luna was like her sister; a stuck up royal monarch, she did however treat Sweepy a lot better than Celestia did with her other servants.

Even when she became Nightmare Moon, Sweepy made a vow to serve the Princess of the Night, whatever her wish was, and they would do that until their lives had past. Sweepy was there when she turned into Nightmare, even served her for a little bit. She was there when she fought her sister. She was there when her sister sent her to the moon. Even as Nightmare Moon, she saw the devastated look of Sweepy as she was swept by the Elements of Harmony and exiled to the moon.

Celestia told her that even after she was gone, she continued to clean the room and keep it clean. She kept it clean for fifty years before she passed. However, she had children and her children had children; they all kept Luna’s room clean for the next thousand years. All the way up to Dusty. Now she was to serve her for the rest of her life.

Her guards also did the same but they would protect and serve her in all ways possible.
She began serving Luna a year before her return. Her mother, Dust Bunny, worked for almost thirty years cleaning all of Luna’s possessions and dusting them off. Sweepy took after her mother when her mother had become ill. Dusty, barely leaving her foalhood, decided to work for her mother.

Almost a year later and the foal was still working the castles but staying in Luna’s quarters.
Upon Luna’s return, she almost immediately moved out but Luna decided against it. A foal to sleep with other ponies like the guards and others was unacceptable. Instead, she allowed the foal to sleep into her chambers, just so she could tell Luna about everything that has changed in the castle.

It was not only Dusty’s joy but Luna was happy when the foal hugged her for letting her stay. That was the first friendly hug she had received from anypony and that was not afraid.
She approached the bed to see that the little mint green mare was asleep. Her blond mane was covering her closed eyes. With a smile of a mother, Luna used her magic to gently pull the covers more over her.

With her content, she then walked to the outside of her balcony. Outside, was where she could gaze all of Equestria. She eyed the wonderful landscape and smiled.

It will be all ours soon...

She sighed angrily, losing her smile and closed her eyes.

Luna walked in the dense fog that was her mind, surrounded by nothing but blackness. Yet through it all, she saw deep blue eyes that belonged to that of a dragon yet were fiercer than that. She carried wings that were darker, sharper than her own, almost making her look like a weakling. Her body atoned for almost that of Celestia if not fiercer. And the dark, smile that bared on her lips.

“I was wondering when you were going to speak to me again, Luna.”

“What do you want?” she half yelled. “I thought I rid of you when the Elements of Harmony changed me back.”
Nightmare’s smile somewhat faltered but she kept a grin. “Yes well… a minor setback that my form and mind was returned to you. Yet… you think it’s bad that I am here…”

“No! It’s worse than that! You are in my mind and I want you OUT!!”

Nightmare smiled and slowly took a step forward causing Luna to step back. Nightmare’s grin grew and before Luna knew it, Nightmare appeared mere inches away from her face. It took all her courage not to turn around and run. She had to face this demon, her own… personal demon.

“Really?” her voice was like venom and leaked worse than acid. “From the way it has been, you want me here.”

Luna was about to speak again but Nightmare beat her by quickly raising her hoof and laying it on her lips to silence her.

Luna was stunned. She tried to move back or push it away but she was unable to move, her body was frozen in place. This Nightmare knew and she lowered her hoof again. Slowly she began walking around Luna.

“Tell me Luna, do you remember how you and I became… one? When I took over and you let me? Do you remember?

Luna just remained quiet and somewhat shuddered as Nightmare laughed. She walked past her, brushing her bodies with Luna’s.

“Allow me to refresh your memory.” Slowly from the fog, emerged a moving picture of Luna and Celestia. They had just defeated Discord and Equestria was saved from him.

“Here,” spoke Nightmare is where it all began. “Here is where it all began.” Luna could not help but look. It was right after Discord’s defeat that she felt a change over her. Both her and her sister in fact. Though much of Equestria history was lost over the last thousands of years, only few would ever truly remember what really happened with Discord, the princesses, and a few others species.

She was angry and jealous that everypony slept under her nights and none ever commented on how beautiful she made. She would go every night trying to make the stars shine brightly and her moon would glow that would warm any heart.
But they choose to ignore it.

“And what did you do when you ignored it?” asked Nightmare.
One night she let the moon stay in its place when the sun was supposed to be rising.

“Sister, why had thou not lowered the moon?”

All Luna did was smile. Ponies would wake up to fine that the sun was not out but the moon was still out and that her night was going to finally be appreciated. Everypony would finally look upon her night and love her for what she did.

But Celestia would have none of it.

“Sister! I order you to lower the moon so that I may raise the sun!”

Luna grew angry, thinking that her sister didn’t want anypony to let her enjoy her night.

“No!” she yelled at her. Celestia had been stunned by her sister’s outbreak but kept herself firm.

“Luna, what had gotten to you?”

All Luna did was growl.

“All the ponies never worship our nights! They never appreciate what effort we put into it and never are we thanked for it! They never even care for us! They only use my nights to sleep and think that the night is full of monsters like me. But they never fear you, instead they All they care for is you!!

It was at this point that Celestia tried to reason with her sister but Luna didn’t let her.

“We want them all to wake up and see the night skies! We want them to know that the nights can be as beautiful as the days! So, we will let them enjoy just a single day of my night. Then when they finally appreciate our nights will they see why they should frolic in our nights!

Celestia was shocked at her sister’s statement. Was she really doing all this just for some love? Celestia knew that little ponies stayed at night but didn’t she know that they needed her night to rest? It was important. Not to mention just messing with the cycles of the sun and moon could spell disastrous effects to the world.
However, Celestia had to act.

“I am sorry sister, I really am but we must keep the cycle going. The ponies need the nights to rest and the days to rise. We also need to keep the sun and moon cycles balanced or else we risk throwing Equestria and the world into chaos. I am sorry but if I have to, I will lower the moon and raise the sun myself!”

Luna was beyond angry now. Her eyes were wide with anger as she could feel the moon slowly begin descending. With a roar, she used her magic to keep the moon up.

Celestia was surprised, even utterly shocked that her sister would go against her power. However she put more force into it. She had years of power ahead of Luna.

This only fueled Luna’s rage. It got to the point where Luna did the only thing that would stop her sister.

She let go of the moon and aimed her horn at her sister. Celestia was surprised if not, shocked that her sister’s horn was lighting up with magic and fired at her. The blast knocked Celestia hard enough to not only release her hold on the moon but send her flying and crashing through the walls of the castle.

Luna, who was beyond rage, let her demon out. He was growling and burning with rage as her magic was over flowing and with it, she raised the moon back into the sky. She then went to go find her sister. If she had to, she would put her sister out just so that her ponies could enjoy a single day of her night. All she wanted was a single night, and yet,she could not get that! No matter, once Celestia was out of the way, she will bring eternal night forever!

Luna tried to tear her eyes away from the memories but Nightmare kept her facing them and used magic to keep her eyes open.

“Don’t turn away yet!” laughed Nightmare as she held Luna’s head with her magical mist. Luna tried to break away but the mist proved strong and it kept her looking. “This is where I come in and take over for you!”

Luna watched herself as she approached where she threw Celestia. She walked through the damaged wall to the other side. There she found Celestia, slowly and painfully getting up.

Celestia turned to her sister but then it was not her sister anymore. Celestia watched in horror, sadness and agony as her sister was consumed by a monster.

Her fur turned black, almost like midnight. Her body grew and turned as Luna became a monster of a different form. Her legs grew and strengthened with muscles. Her mane turned to mist and her armor, her war armor appeared over her body. Her eyes became like that of dragons, fangs grew over her mouth and her smile… her smile became that of true Nightmares.

“L-Luna?” she tried to speak.

Nightmare hissed and launched another bolt at her. This time Celestia rolled out of the way in time. She then faced the demon

“I am no longer your sister, Celestia!” yelled Nightmare. “My name is Nightmare Moon!!” She rose to the air with her magic, letting lightning flash outside of the castles and creating vast storms. Her eyes glowed bright white and the wind around them grew fierce. She then looked down at the fearful Celestia. "And the night... shall last FOREVER!!"
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I barely had time to edit it but I thank once again, Jungle Pony for letting me use her art and proof checking my stories. At this point, I would apperciate any extra help from others as well.
Though one question remains and yes, there will be a clopfic edition. Only few chapters will be taken from this series and made into a seperate series for your pleasure.

Comments always apperciated!

Chapter 3: The Ever closing Darkness

Nightmare Year: The ever closing darkness

Luna watched the scene play over and over in her head a thousand times. She could not deny that she had let her anger consume her, nor could she deny that she attacked her sister. Nightmare only watched, unaffected by Luna’s emotional outburst. Her eyes were red, her cheeks streamed with tears and her heart was ready to collapse.

Nightmare however did something un-expecting. She brought her hoof under Luna’s chin and looked into her eyes.

No anger, nor evil grin was on her face. No emotion what-so-ever was seen on her. Yet Luna didn’t know why yet she just leaned in and began crying on Nightmare’s shoulder.

“Why?!” she half yelled out to her. She looked up at Nightmare Moon. “Why?!”

Nightmare Moon said nothing. Luna just closed her eyes and continued to cry on her chest. Nightmare looked down at her then back at the memories.

Celestia was in fear and shock that the creature before her was her sister.

Nightmare looked down at Celestia.

“For too long we have gone unloved, Celestia!” Her voice as loud as lightning yet filled with lethal venom. “Our subjects only choose to live in thou daylight and rejoice in your arms. But no more, for it is the time of nigh for now! We will show thee all why the night is to be embraced forever!”

More lightning stormed outside. Celestia could do nothing but watch the creature that was once her sister laugh at the horror’s she was creating.

“Lu.. Luna?” asked a terrified Celestia.

Nightmare growled.

“We no longer go by that name, foal! We are Nightmare Moon! And you will soon learn to fear us.”

A bolt of lightning shot from Nightmare’s horn and fired at Celestia. Celestia quickly created a shield, blocking the lightning. She then slowly stood up. She stared at the monster before her.

Celestia knew that this… Nightmare Moon, was not her sister. Merely a demon from Tartarus and had consumed her sister. But she knew that Luna was in there, somewhere.

With knew found confidence in hoping to get her sister back, she rose up to Nightmare.

“Nightmare Moon, I do not know what thou has done with our sister but we demand that thou release her, at once!”

Nightmare Moon only chuckled and landed on the floor.

“Fool! I am Luna! I am the little sister you once knew and loved.”

Celestia shook her head.

“No… you are not. My sister is kind, caring, loving and she would not try to harm me or her subjects. NOT A DEMON!!”

Nightmare lowered her eyes and continued to approach her sister.

“Like it or not Celestia, We are Luna and Luna is Nightmare Moon! And after tonight, the world will rejoice in my night. Though may not care for us as thee did with our subjects but we will show them that we could be equally loved.” She paused. “Not that thou had cared.”

With that, she vanished into mist and the dream ended.

Luna stared, eyes filled with tears and heart filled with sadness. Nightmare Moon sighed and looked down at her.

“You see now… why I showed you all this? You see why I want you to remember all this? You need to remember what we wanted to achieve… to accomplish. To show all of Equestria that we deserve to rule… as much as Celestia and beyond.”

Luna shook her head.

“We should be ruling together, in unisons, rather as a sole ruler.”

“And what did Celestia do while we endured cold, lowliness for a thousand years?!” Nightmare yelled, shoving Luna away from her. “What did she do while we sat there for a millennium? She ruled, she controlled, and she erased us from existence. We were mere… foal stories, nothing mentioning that we were related!”

Nightmare’s anger slowly diminished but remained at bay. With a sigh, a misty image appeared before them. The sun was seen with the moon slowly passing in front of it, causing a Eclipse.

“In a months time,” Nightmare Moon, began. “The moon will pass in front of the sun, causing an eclipse. From here, I will assume control, unless, you take control yourself and remove Celestia from her throne.”

Luna gasped. With fearful and angry tears she stood before Nightmare Moon.

“You can’t mean that! I won’t kill Celestia!”

“I never said anything about killing her.” Stated Nightmare. She continued to keep her eyes on the misty image of the eclipse. “I said to remove her. I don’t wish to fulfill those fearful stories and what not about us being a blood-lust goddess.” She paused. In a blink of an eye, sadness past over her face before returning back to being emotionless.

“When the eclipse happens, we will take matters into our hooves. We remove Celestia from rule and then we take her place. We will cast eternal night, so all can rejoice in it. Whether they want to or not, they will learn to worship us as they did with Celestia. Then… if they worship us like they do with her, then… when will return the day.”

“And… what of my sister?” Luna dared to ask.

Nightmare’s eyes narrowed and a grin grew.

“If Celestia doesn’t try to stop us or intervene with our plans, she will remain… imprisoned. For a thousand years… just like we did.”

Luna cried out and stood towards Nightmare.

“NO! I won’t do it! Celestia didn’t do nothing to cause us our fate. We did it to ourselves. We both deserved to have been imprisoned.”

The room got incredibly cold, colder than she thought was possible, especially if this was a dream.

Nightmare created several tendrils with her mist and they shot after Luna, grabbing her and holding her a few feet in the air.

Nightmare radiated with anger and coldness as she approached Luna.

“You fool! It matters not if you decide to remove her or not. It would have been easier if you’ve done it yourself but… it seems you cannot be trusted. Come the approaching Eclipse, I will arise from you and take control of Equestria. The Elements of Harmony may have gotten rid of my physical form but I still have yours.”

“I won’t let you!” cried Luna, as she struggled against her bonds. “I’ll warn Celestia to stop us! And make sure that we can’t her or anypony else!”

A last of mist struck Luna across the cheek. She gasped then whimpered from the pain of the lash. Nightmare growled and forcibly moved Luna’s face to look at her.

“If you do that, then when I come out, Twilight Sparkle will suffer the consequences!”

This caused Luna to quiet and stared at Nightmare with fear. This caused Nightmare to smirk.

“Ah yes… little Twilight Sparkle. The little mare and her friends who used the Elements of Harmony against us. The mare who so happens to catch your heart and soul. A mare you wish to love and keep close. Yes that Twilight Sparkle.” She dropped her grin and leaned in closer. “If you don’t wish for her to suffer, or to know of what is to come, you will keep your mouth shut.”

Luna remained quiet, defeated and Nightmare slowly released her grips on her. With a more, calmer voice, she continued.

“Luna… I know how much your heart wishes to be with her. I know that your heart aches to be loved… just like I wished for it as well.” An image of a young filly was conjured, showing her to be all black and all alone. This caught Luna's attention. The black little filly was crying, no pony to hear her please. All but one.

“But we cannot accomplish that unless we take what we lost.” As the image quickly dispersed. “A thousand years is much to ask for but we both know that because of your sister, we will never gain those lifetimes of meeting ponies. We will never regain the times we spent with friends, our favorite places, our treasures… our loved ones… that we lost. All of this… because of her.” The last word dripped with venom and hate.

Luna was so quiet, her breathing was almost non-existent.

Nightmare spoke her next words carefully.

“Whether you will accept the role of removing your sister or not, I will take control on the Eclipse. So, unless you wish for your little love mare to disown or to never speak to you again, I suggest you keep your mouth shut.” Her voice then turned to a more calmer tone but remained firm. “Go… spend time with her, enjoy the time you have with your friends and make sure that nopony knows nothing.

“We both want for everypony to know that we deserve to rule as much as Celestia and to be just as praised as her. Don’t you wish… to be worshiped like goddesses like we used to be? Don’t you want for us to be loved?”

The words spoke truth to Luna’s heart but that didn’t make them anymore hurtful than before. She always wished to be loved, to be praised and to feel the love of her subjects.

Celestia was older and much the wiser than Luna. Even when they were young, Mother would praise Celestia more than Luna. It hurt knowing that her oldest sister was considered the wisest and graceful one. The only praise Mother Faust had given her was her beauty matched her own night skies and that she would prosper in her own way.

And yet, Celestia was considered the smart one. The all wise, powerful, graceful and merciful alicorn of all in Equestria. Beauty wise, her own niece, Cadance, was the Alicorn of Love. Yet, not even her first century and she was already a prodigy. She has her own Empire, a loving Husband, a magic of her own and now within a year or so, a foal.

The first Alicorn to have a natural birth for over 5000 years. She was praised, she was loved and… she was youngest of the three. And with what they had planned with Twilight in the future?

How unfair was that?

With that Nightmare Moon ended the vision, whispering the last words, “A month's time, little moon.”

Luna blinked. Her vision returned back to normal and her surroundings became clear once more. She found herself back in her bedroom and standing in the same place.

She looked up at her skies, thinking time has flown by, but reality was… it was only a few minutes rather than hours in the dream. Turning her head back inside, she saw that her servant was slowly rousing from her sleep; and in the perfect moment to see that Luna had slowly risen the moon to its glorious heights.

“Good Evening, Princess Luna.” Yawned Dusty as she removed her covers and rouse from her bed.

With a smile, Princess Luna approached her maid.

“Good Evening, Dusty. I trust you slept well?”

Dusty nodded with a smile.

“Yes Princess.” She stretched her limps and cracked a few bones before turning to the window. “Oh my, did I oversleep?”

Princess Luna shook her head.

“Not at all. You woke just in time, Dusty. Now that your awake, I believe we can begin our duties now.”

With a pleasant nod, the maid put on her, well maid outfit, and began folding her sheets.

A few minutes later, Luna and Dusty had arrived at the meeting room. Though she knew from personal, experiences that she would be attending a quick and short meeting, mostly with the few nobles that had developed a 'Night Owl' persona. However, when she opened the door, she was greeted not by a few nobles, but rather a few of The Night Children, and her two Threshals Guards.

With a surprised look, she approached the table, and caught the gaze of everypony... everybody there.

“Good Evening Princess Luna.” Spoke one of the Night Children.

The Night Children or Many of have come to call them, 'The Nightmare Children', where a colony of ponies who opted to taking the night as there time to work, play, or spend time on, all at night. This is when Luna had became Nightmare Moon a thousand years ago. They were amongst the first to truly accept that Princess Luna was the rightful ruler of Equestria, though few they were. They even became her soldiers, creating the Night-Guards, for her. They took on her appearances, first magically with slit eyes to see in the dark. Changed their bodies to work at nights and sleep in days better, learned Lunar magic. (Back then it being called Dark Magic).

When Luna was consumed, Nightmare Moon took control and had her followers lead the attack against Celestia. In reality, Nightmare Moon would have won, despite small amount of followers, some which included a lot of civilians, had joined her cause to fight.

But... Celestia managed to get a hold of the Elements and banished her without more bloodshed. As a final act of her rule, Celestia exiled the Nightmare Children from Equestria. The ponies left Equestria and scattered throughout the world.

Since Luna's return, the Nightmare Children have resurfaced. In a large continent on the south end of the world, the Nightmare children were growing since their exile a thousand years ago. Luna gained her night-guards back, but with them, was the location of the Night Children nation. Not even Celestia knew of them....

Or maybe she did but didn't do anything about them.

And yet here was four of the Night Children, and even a few of her Threshal Guards. They all were bowing before her... even the nobles. With that she approached the table.

“Greetings, my fellow ponies.” She paused, waiting for them to raise their heads. They didn't. “Rise?” she asked.

They did and was greeted by smiles. One of the stallions, who was dark blue, had navy mane, blue slit eyes and a blue star over a white shield, cutie-mark.

“It is an honor to meet your once again, Princess Luna. We have traveled long and far to get in touch with you.”

Luna blinked. “....I thank you... for coming....”

The stallion bowed again.

“Sorry, my name is Star Shield.” He rose back up and looked back to his fellow followers and pointed at them. “This is my wife, Aurora Green Winds. The others are our two of our ten councilors from Nightlands. Our Senior Councilor is Grey Star and his wife, who is vice Councilor, Ivory Scrolls.”

The first was a earth pony mare, who much like him had a dark blue fur but had a sky blue mane, black slit eyes and a curvy figure that might match the modeling mare, Fleur-de-Lis.

The second was a unicorn stallion. Unlike the others, he was black, almost all around. The few light colors he has was at the tips of his tail which was a bluish tip, grey at the end of his hooves, and his yellowish eyes. His horn was even black, but it reflected a little bit of light. His Cutie-mark was a grey star with odd marking at the edge.

Last was another unicorn, except female. She was different from the rest. She was almost snow white. From the tip of her horn to the end of her tail, she was completely white, which was unusual for a Night Child. Her cutie-mark was a scroll with illegible writings. Other than her white eyes, which Luna assumed was blind, she looked like she was a complete opposite of the Night Children.

They each bowed their heads when called and raised back up. With the intros out of the way, Luna now focused back to Star Shield.

“Thank you... for coming.” She finally spoke. Though uncertain as to how they are all here, she continued to talk with much curiosity in her voice. “Though may I ask why you are here?”

“We have all come here for you, Princess Luna.” stated Star Shield "We wish for you to come and live with us in our home, your Majesty. We wish for you, to come rule us in Nightlands.”

Author's Notes:

I never realized I had finished this, I thought I had done chapter 3 but I guess not and it was just sitting there. I was already preparing to do chapter 4 when I saw that this wasn't don yet, so here it is after a year or so...
I know I suck but inspiration is hard to come by, And I may or may not change the tags or the rating yet because this was to be a clopfic but it changed from its original point so, like let me know if this is good as it is or maybe change it.

Chapter 4: A history of Light in the Dark

“The Nightlands?” asked Luna. She stood bewildered if not surprised at what Star Shield had said or… in this case… asked.

“Yes my Princess. The Nightlands, the home of the entire Night Children race, ask that you come to rule us once again.”

Luna was surprised, not just by what he had asked but by why they are asking. A thousand years ago, the Night Children had scattered to the winds when she became Nightmare Moon. Celestia had banished them from Equestria after siding with Nightmare Moon. With Nightmare Moon imprisoned in the moon, the 'Children' forced out of Equestria, moved throughout the world.

She knew of that... but... did they want her back or Nightmare Moon?

“I... am sorry to seem so startled... but I just don't know what to say.” She paused before going on. “Shouldn't the Night Children hate me for getting them banished from Equestria?”

Ivory Scrolls, the blind white mare, arose from her seat, walked towards her mate and sat by him. Her eyes, as white as snow, somehow remained on Luna.

“Princess,” she spoke ever so softly, like a mother's lullaby to her foal. “Despite what has happened to us over a thousand years ago, it was the Night Children s' choice for joining you. Despite them being out-numbered and out-classed, they stood by their choices to side with you.

“Our ancestors joined you because they wanted to.” spoke her husband, Grey Star. He remained where he was at the desk. He brought up a saddlebag from under the table. From the bag, he pulled out a book.

“The Night Children had been exiled from Equestria but that didn't mean we of today or before have hated you, Princess Luna. Even now, with your return two years ago, we have hoped that you would come to rule the Night Children.”

Luna stared at them, not really sure what to do with this information.

Star Shield saw her inner turmoil and spoke again, this time he wanted her to have something to think on.

“When our ancestors finally found a place outside of Equestrian jurisdictions, which you know of lies west of Zebrica, they decided to help spread their beliefs on you and though many opposed, we had many that supported you. Earth ponies as well as pegasi and unicorn alike joined us, even some neighboring Zebras and other species.

Around 200 years prior to our arrival to the new lands, the Night Children had grown steadily, both population and influences. A lot zebra tribes came to the Night Children s' homelands and joined our culture. Gryphons also joined or at least helped us throughout the years.

“Along with that,” continued Ivory Scrolls. “Our technology and magic has advanced faster than Equestrians. We developed night lights, night vision lenses, and even a few electronic devices. With magic, we were able to make everypony or anybody who joined, able to see at nighttime, have wings better suited for night flights and shadow casting as well. ”

“And what of this technology,” finally spoke Luna. “Have you given or shared with Equestria?”

An uncomfortable silence fell upon them. Luna looked at them confusedly as to it. It was Aurora Green who spoke out.

“Um... sorry to seem rude, Princess Luna, but we Night Children haven't given or shared our technology with Equestria. The few technologies that are here is because of us. During the years, we did share our technologies with the Zebras, Gryphons, and so on but we never marketed to Equestria.”

“Uh... yes, that is quite correct, Princess.” Spoke Star Shield, who was rubbing his neck. “We had a few however stolen within the last century. Many included the Electric Light Bulbs, Electronic Music players, and concepts on how to turn Lunar light to energy. Though from what we have gathered, the stolen plans were altered and are now used as Solar Power.”

Luna was a bit angry that Equestrians had stolen from her kin.

“I am... sorry to hear that, however, it does bring out question on why you needed light if you can see in the day or night.” She added. “Though I can see that with what we have here in Equestria are to power machines, and so on.”

“The lights weren't for us, Princess.” Grey Star spoke. With the book he brought out, he began flipping pages, looking for something. “Some of the ponies joined still preferred to work in the day times. About 85% of the Night Children are nocturnal, so we do our work during the day. However the few that stay with the day, either work in dark areas like caves or come home late at night so they need to see.

Since we have a lot of our work or technology in the dark, the majority of the workforce is handled already. The day jobs require a little bit less work, however, it doesn’t mean they don't have plenty to do.”

“A lot of technology had grown, thanks to strong support from the Gryphon Empire.” Added Star Shield.

“I thought that the Gryphons didn't trust or even cared for the Children back then.” Commented Luna. “When I was around, they hated Equestrian's and didn't want to be evolved with us. Same with the Zebricans. Tell me, what changed that?”

“We had a rough start,” Continued Star Shield, “with Jurisdictions not reaching that far in the world, the Gryphons had begun capturing Zebricans and selling them as slaves.”

Luna winced and lowered her head, shaking it slightly.

“Yes... I err... we were aware of it at the time. Yet we couldn't stop the gryphons since it was outside of our rule.”

Star Shield nodded.

“Despite that, we saw that many of them were either taken by force or killed off. Since the gryphons captured so many, they moved them around by ship or by carts. Since the Zebras were our neighbors as well as helping us a few times with medicines and remedies, we began freeing many of the slaves. We aided the escapes of many slaves under the night. Though the gryphons eyes adjusted well enough into the dark, we still managed to free many zebras. We couldn’t stop the entire slave market, we did the best we could.”
He paused before rubbing his chin. “Though we never kept tabs on Equestria, we were aware that many were sold here as well.”

Luna gave a small nod. Oh yes... slavery was here in Equestria. Though few were in public, most of it remained under the table, so to speak. In the books Luna has read, one being Equestria history, she had learned that even though slavery was illegal, many ponies bought and sold slaves.

Celestia tried to intervene with them, making it slavery was illegal in here. However, for most ponies, Celestia’s law meant little to them and they kept their slaves hidden from the law.

It wasn't till prior two hundred years since Luna's return, that Celestia gave freedom to Zebras all over, including rights. Though this nearly caused Equestria to go into frenzy with half supporting and the other half opposing, Celestia made a law those any and all slave owners or those who harm Zebras, are to be treated as criminals and sentenced to jail.

It took a few decades but slowly Zebras became part of the public once more. With the zebras free, many returned home while a few stayed in Equestria and became citizens.

When the Gryphons heard news of slavery banned, the King also renounced the use of slaves, despite their potential use. Despite that, few gryphons actually wanted to make up for their sins and began working with the Night Children to help the, patch up things with the Zebras. Mostly because the zebras and their shamans had many remedies and potions that were crucial for gryphons.

“After a century,” Star Shield. “the alliance between us, the gryphons and zebras were maintained. Their technology grew with our alliance and with that, we discovered electricity that could be harassed, alloys that are stronger than steel as well as food that can make a pony or zebra or gryphon, stronger and healthier.”

Hearing this made Luna think about how Equestria has evolved on its on. Steam engines could take ponies from one side of Equestria to another. Magic allowed ponies ill or injured to be healed in a matter of hours, not weeks or more. Ponies have also become more accepting of other races... zebras, gryphons, mules and even dragons! Dragons like the one Twilight Sparkle cares for.

“We are aware of Electricity here in Equestria.” She paused. “Do you help produce it with Equestria companies?

Star Shield seemed hesitant to answer.

“We... have few things here in Equestria that we share. Prior to your release a few years ago, Celestia had made a bargain with the Night Children in helping with the advancements in technology. We were... a bit reluctant to share, despite the near millennium of isolation from them; she wanted us to forget the past and try to work for the future.”

Interesting, she heard Nightmare Moon, returning after some time. 'She bargained with Night Children before our release. It seems a bit of a coincidence that she would want to gain allies before our release but not after our imprisonment.'

Luna would have told her to shut up but she did have a point. Why would Celestia try to make years after almost a thousand years later, not before. And just as curious, that they only call her Celestia rather than Princess.

“And what did she offer in return?” she asked. Some thing, she didn't have time to read while in her return. A few of those might have been negotiations with the Night Children.

“She offered us a place here among Equestrians and well as trade overseas and air. Some new magic spells, access to archives in the library and marketed goods.”

Luna nodded. “Did you make note of the stolen plans or ideas from you?”

“We did, but the nobles made a case saying that we had no proof that is was stolen or that we even invented them ourselves. Celestia sided with them.” His last words were with disdain and the others nodded to his claim.

'Of course she would side with her own nobles. Celestia is blinded by them, allowing them to gain power and influence over her.'

Luna mentally growled. 'I am pretty sure that Tia will compensate for it.'

'Good Luck with that, little moon.'

“Don't worry, Star Shield. I am pretty sure that either Celestia or I will help make up for your loses. Maybe give you more magic spells or even more goods.'

Star Shield smiled. “Your grace is ever thankful Princess Luna.” He bowed. “When we return home, we will let them know that you truly are the best of us all.”

Luna couldn't help but blush at his statement and swelled a bit in pride.

'That is how it should be,' spoke Nightmare Moon. 'Letting them know that you care for them and they are to be rewarded for their loyalty.'
Despite that, Luna remained happy.

Over the next hour, Luna and her 'children', had spent talking with one another over the last thousand years, mostly about their changes. A lot of it had been for the best, seeing as how they remained closed off from Equestria. With the population of a mere hundreds the time of her exile, to having a whole continent, half the size of Equestria, filled with ponies, gryphons and zebras of the night.

The population count was at a close 10 million. It didn't seem like much but that was with all the deserts, mountains and so on, uninhabited. Same with Equestria.

Equestria, counting only ponies, had a population of 48.2 million. With added races such as gryphons, mules, cows and other sentient creatures, it barely made the 53 million. Much of the land was still untamed territory or inhabited because of places like the Everfree, Ghastly Gourge or other reasons.

From population to advancements in magic, Luna had noted that despite several set backs, the Night Children managed to change ponies into night time dwellers. In her past, Luna had her own personal guards she helped create. Since she was the one who always lead the fights rather than her sister, Luna choose the Pegasi as her first choice as her own guards.
The pegasi have often been the warriors of the ponies since ancient times, so it only made sense that she altered them first to be the Night guards. When they conflicted against one another, Luna had roughly more pegasi Night guards than anything else; though she did have a hoof full of unicorns and earth ponies.

With the pegasi, came the famous bat wings and fangs, though they came from the ‘Fruit Bats’. Everypony though they were the ‘hominus nocturna’ or ‘Vamponies’. Truth was, they were sort of the vamponies but different than what many expected them to be. They saw in the night, flew almost silently and had their eyes did carry that eerie yellow glow that gave many, chills down their spines.

The unicorns were more or less the same. Some, as she had been told, where either fully changed or not. The full changes were darkened horn colors, change in magic colors, night vision and dark magic.
Luna had casted her spell to her first two pegasi night guards, then later on, unicorns. Since Luna used a form of dark magic, (later on called ‘Lunar Magic’), it heavily weighed on a standard unicorn to cast it upon to others. However, unlike her original spell, the unicorns improvised it so it was less of her original spell and something less taxing.
The spell over the years, changed and became uttered so it was easier to cast and taught through schools. It also was a benefit from the spell, that if two parents were casted with the spell, than their children would inherit the spell, thereby becoming night ponies.
In extremely rare cases it wouldn’t work. Ivory Scrolls is one of them. In fact, from what she has told Luna, her magic is completely opposite of any Lunar magic. Her magic is white but some properties of Lunar magic remained. For one thing, she may not be able to see during the day but during the night time, her eyes worked.
She couldn’t see anything right now because of the lit room but once in darkness, she could see clearly. Though it helped that her magic let her use a type of echo to look around in a lit environment.
Yet that wasn’t the most intriguing thing about her. The others may have gotten used to her but Luna’s eyes tended to wonder to her and back. Either way, she couldn’t tell if they were looking directly at her or just staring blankly at space.

“… and we had actually placed a number of our own here in Equestria to keep tabs.” Finished Star Shield.
Luna blinked and looked at him.
“Agents? Here in Equestria?” The statement had surprised her a bit.
He nodded.
“We did so to keep tabs on Celestia or others parts to see if they planned anything for us. Mostly, we just had them there to warn us of any wars, invasions and so on.”
Luna thought about it. Celestia hasn’t really gone to war in the last four centuries and even then they were mild compared to when she and her sister fought almost 1200 year prior. Back then, it was between the gryphons, dragons, elk or even against Discord and the Lord of Tartarus himself. Never in which they had invaded.

Then again… Celestia had changed over the thousand years. She is no longer the mare who would stay up at night, expecting an enemy to attack or try to kill one of her ponies. In fact, she seemed more at peace, knowing that her ponies can either take care of themselves or that the Elements of Harmony could be used again.

“Hmm.” She rubbed her hoof over her head. “How many agents… currently reside here in Equestria?”

“Well, we only had them here within that last 20 to 30 years. Some have already started families here to blend in. I am informed that there are at least six agents here in Canterlot and more than 200 across Equestria and further.”
Luna blinked and focused on him.
“Here? So close?”
He gave a small nod.
“I know that it is troubling to hear, princess but we had to have them close to Celestia but as I said before, we want to be prepared incase of anything.
Her eyes narrowed a bit; not out of anger but out of trying to read him. Star Shield seemed to have more information.
“How close?” she dared ask.

He didn’t speak but turned his head to Grey Star, who had already pulled out some more files. Laying them out on the table, several files were shown of ponies out in the open. Luna approached the table and looked at the files.
“Some of our agents just blended in like any other normal agent.” Grey Star explained. He showed to pictures of a male and female unicorn. Both seem familiar to Luna. The male was a light blue with a dark navy blue mane and tail. His cutie mark was of a small crescent moon. The female was a light grey with purple and white mane and three stars Cutie mark.
“Twilight Velvet and Night Light are current residences in Canterlot.” Luna knew that those names from somewhere. She was biting her tongue just trying to remember who exactly they were. Twilight Velvet could be the mother of Twilight Sparkle but she was sure that there were a lot of Twilights in Equestria. Still... it couldn't hurt to know if they had any relations.
“Ms. Velvet is an author and works at the Canterlot library while her husband Nightlight works as a Night guard to the library.” Grey Star chuckled. “Never to far from each other, they are. After they settled in the first 5 years, they sent word that they got a position here and managed to have a little family of their own.”
Star Shield “They may have settled down but their work is unparalleled to other agents. They helped saved us not only for surprise invasions or plans from Equestria but also from other nations.”

Luna gave a small smile.

“Well… at least they did what they thought was best. Though I wonder if the children are aware of their parents activities.”
Grey Star shook his head.
“In any case that they were caught or found out, they removed themselves from their children and their missions.”
“Clever though sad.”
“Indeed.” He then moved the photos away. Somehow… Luna knew that they would pop back eventually. Her mind then focused on the other two agents and they were a bit shocking to see.
“Next we have…”
“Fleur De Lee? Mr. Fancy Pants?”
Grey Star nodded with a smile.

“Oh yes, the most perfect disguise is to be right in front of the views of many. The one of the most popular and stunning models in Equestria with one of the most richest stallions around.” He gave his own smirk. “Never saw that one coming, did you Princess?”
Her mouth was still open, or more like shocked open. Ivory came to her husband.
“Don’t tease the Princess, love.” She said in her oh so elegant voice, though she couldn’t hold back a smile herself.
Luna finally blinked and shocked her head.
“Well… I can most certainly say that I am surprised that they are… Night Children.”

Ivory gave a small giggle that sounded so childlike and yet so sweet and kind. “It’s fine princess. Believe it or not, they were the first to volunteer. Fancy Pants wanted to come because he felt like he had no real business in the Night Lands. So he came over here and tried to make something of himself here. And well you know the rest. As for Fleur De Lee, she honestly just wanted to be an agent. But after a year when we sent her, she became a model and well, with Fancy being so rich and Fleur modeling, it was bound to happen that they would cross each other.”
Luna smiled and looked at another photo, this time of the two at their wedding.
“So I am guessing that they are part of the agents that respond to you by… invasion of models or nobles?”
Grey Star gave a small nod.
“They respond to us if the nobles planned to do anything behind the back of Celestia, deal with illegal ties with other nations or parties or whether plotting against Celestia or us.”
This caused Luna to frown a bit.
“Her? Why against her? They should not have any grudge against Celestia?” She then paused. They all looked at her with uneasy eyes. “Do they?”

Star Shield spoke up, clearing his throat.
“I am sorry Princess but we figured that despite what Celestia had done to us, we would keep an eye out for her as well. What is to say that when you returned, they would assume you tried to take over her role, or get rid of Celestia by blaming you and the nobles would gain power?”

Luna now was truly worried. There were some ponies that really wanted to get rid of Celestia? For power?
“Worry not Princess!” Quickly added Star Shield. “None of the nobles, at least the high ups, want to or even plan to remove Celestia yet. Other than that awful unicorn Blueblood, who thinks he owns everything, we have no plans against the crown. ” Her frown had gone and she relaxed a bit, for only a little. “We just wanted to be safe.”
“Well… Star Shield, I can’t say that I am horrified to know that Blueblood or there are those out there who want to harm my sister or remove her but… I am glad to know that you are looking out for her.”
Star Shield nodded.
“Of course Princess. Now… we have two more agents, though they have gone their own ways. One of which… has difficulty dealing with her own limited abilities and ego. And the other one came because… well she knew that they stole her technology.”
“Hmm… Ego and limited abilities?” spoke Luna. “Sounds like one of my sister’s student’s friendship report.” She paused. “Who is she?”
“Beatrix Phantasm Lulamoon… or the way she says it to everypony else, The great and powerful Trixie.” Grey Star did a dramatic readout for the name.
Luna couldn’t help but giggle.
“Aww yes. I am aware of Ms. Trixie and her ego. I am also aware that her ‘ego’ lead to some trouble in Ponyville.”

Grey Star gave a disappointed look and the other gave either a small mischievous smile or frown.
"Yes, well dispute her 'incident,' she remained as an agent and continues to provide Intel on us. The last thing she reported was a powerful Unicorn in Ponyville. Supposedly, she managed to lift a Ursa Minor back to its cave."
Luna was about to comment, but she didn't want to get Twilight noticed anymore than she already is.

Continuing on, he then gave a final photo of a white unicorn mare with blue ecstatic hair.
“And lastly we have Vinyl Scratch also known as…” He paused looking up her file. “Uh… DJ Pony? Or is it DJ Pon 3?” The others gave confused looks. He shrugged. “Anyways, she is upset that Equestrians managed to get hold of some of her technology and decided to become an agent to get her stuff back. However, she was also in charge of letting us know if any new technology was created by Equestrians or stolen for them. After she found it, she stayed here in Equestria and pursued a career in music.”

He looked up and down the files once before looking at her.
“Other than the technology we have already told that has been stolen, there have been no other reports. And that my princesses are the agents here in Canterlot.”

Luna gave a small nod.
“Well I am glad you have informed me of your agents, but I hope that with me back in power, that they no longer need to gather information from us. Anything that happens in Canterlot, I will be eyes and ears for the Night Children.”
Star Shield was the one to speak out this time, in a bit of a rush.
“We are aware that you are back in control, Princess Luna, but… as we have told you, that there could be potential acts towards you or your sister. Shouldn’t we keep the agents going?”
Luna looked at them. Each of them had their own worries and even Ivory, despite her colorless eyes, could still show such emotion.
Luna sighed.
“Would you all feel safer knowing that they were around?”
“Very much so, Princess.” Answered Star Shield. The others nodded in agreement.
“Very well, the agents can stay but I at least expect that if anything, I mean anything does come up, I am to be notified immediately.”
“Of course Princess.”
Luna nodded and looked out to the window. Dawn was approaching and Luna began lowering the moon.
“It seems we have discussed all that we have for tonight. Tomorrow though, we will continue, but for now, we shall all retire. I will have my guards show you to the guest rooms.”
“Thank you princess.” Star Shield bowed. The other did as well. Her guards than came and took her guest to their rooms. Before they left, Ivory Scrolls turned to her.
“Pleasant dreams, Princess.”
Luna gave a smile, not sure if she could see it.
“And to you, Ivory Scroll.”
Ivory gave another bow and left. Luna was then left alone.

‘So little moon,' spoke Nightmare Moon. ‘What do you think of your… NightChildren after a thousand years? Hmm?”
Luna sighed and closed her eyes.
The darkness brought in a misty version of Nightmare Moon.
“What of them?” Her voice low. “They have done without me for a thousand years. They have… survived, expanded and even got back into Equestria without me.” Dropping her head, she didn’t look back at Nightmare.
Nightmare however, thought otherwise. 'Yes, Little Moon, they have gone by without us for a millennium but it still doesn’t mean that they no longer need us.'

Luna looked up at her.
“Us?”
Nightmare, still a bit misty, managed to give a smirk.
'Oh, Little Moon, let us not forget. The eclipse is still coming. Your powers will increase twice fold. You could use that to help your NightChildren even more.'
Luna blinked and a small frown came across her.
“I won’t use its power if it means many other will suffer for it.”

'Like we suffered?' It wasn’t a snarl like before. Instead it was more of a statement.
‘Little Moon, you must realize that even if you don’t use the Eclipses’ power, I will come out and use it myself. I care little for those who don’t benefit from it, just those who embrace.
We suffered a thousand years of silence, isolation and misery on our moon. We wouldn’t wish of that to any of our enemies, even Discord.' She paused. 'Well, maybe him, but that is not the point. We want retribution for our elongated imprisonment. Nothing more.'

Luna remained silent.
Nightmare stared back before continuing.
‘Celestia has had her rule for a millennium. I believe that it is our time to rule for a millennium.'
“If we rule,” retorted Luna loudly, “Millions would still suffer. Ponies, gryphons, dragons… many others will die without the sun. The chaos would re-release Discord and EQUESTRIA WILL FALL!”

Now it was Nightmare’s turn to remain silent. So Luna continued.

'I don’t care if I have to make Celestia use the Elements on us to send us back to the Moon! I won’t allow you to harm others!'

Nightmare remained stoic and calm; her pose no longer intimidating. With a small snort and a grin, she spoke. 'Fine… Little moon, have it your way. But understand this, the more you keep fighting me, the stronger I will get. Your hatred, anger, fear make me stronger. Not even Celestia nor your little love, Twilight, will stop me.' Her form began disappearing. 'You have a until the week’s end to change your mind before I decide to make personal visits to Twilight in her sleep.'
“No!”
Nightmare’s mist blew at her and Luna’s world was blasted with light.
She then found herself back in the meeting room. The moon was still lowered. Already she can feel her sister’s magic on the sun to rise. Quickly using her magic, she called her moon down and the night to disappear.
The sun rose and Luna felt the weariness of the night come to her. With an ever saddened expression, she turned in for the day to try and sleep.

Author's Notes:

Thanks to CyberSamurai for all the help in editing. Have quiet a long ways to go so it is still coming!

Oh and also, its the end of Season 4. What a great episode! Great way to end it and hope that we continue to watch this wonderful show over and over again.