Twilight fell through a black abyss, screaming in terror as she plunged into a seemingly endless pit. Her mind raced to find a way out, but she couldn't concentrate on any thought. Every time she attempted to delve into her mind, images of her friends tearing the flesh off her body in a fit of rage forced her to halt and choke back tears. She did not have any choice, but to relinquish herself to her fate and plummet to her death. She stopped screaming, resigned to her demise and looked below her, a feat made more difficult as she was tumbling about due to unknown sources. What she saw brought relief to her eyes. A patch of solid ground was looming ever closer. The end was drawing nearer. Just a few more moments and I'll never have to worry about anything ever again.... She closed her eyes just moments before the anticipated impact.

But nothing happened.

Slowly, cautiously, she opened her eyes once more and found herself standing in the throne room of Canterlot Castle. Night had fallen and she could see death all around her. Her stomach churned, but she was able to keep herself composed. After having spent several months around Nightmare Moon and the carnage and death she had wrought, she had become somewhat desensitized to it. Until her single greatest fear caught her notice. On the ground, only meters away, was Nightmare Moon, bleeding out on the cold floor of the Sun Castle throne room.

"NO!" She dashed over to Nightmare Moon's and dropped to her knees beside her, wrapping her hooves around the dying alicorn's neck. She sobbed heavily into her mane and tried to spark her horn to life, but the ring about its base thwarted every attempt. "Please! Please don't die! I don't want to be left alone! You're all I have left! Please!"

Nightmare Moon coughed, blood splattering onto the floor, and looked at Twilight, her eyes clouded with concern. "You... foal.... Do not... think... that I'd... leave you alone.... You still... have Moon Beam...." Her voice was ragged and hoarse, the toll of the obvious battle she had participated in left her throat dry from exertion.

Twilight shook her head and buried her face deeper into the Moon Queen's neck. "It's.... It's not the same! You can't leave me! You promised!" The sound of hooves clopping on tile behind her forced Twilight's attention away from her Queen. She stared in shock at the being before her.

"Twilight Sparkle, My Faithful Student.... Come to me.... Everything will be all right."

"Prin-Princess...!" She shot up onto her hooves and moved to rush to her mentor's side, but she stopped. She turned back to Nightmare Moon, whose face was masked over with her typical stoic facade. A sign that the mare was hiding her current emotions. Emotions that Twilight could easily name. She looked back to Celestia, tears in her eyes. "Princess...! Please. Can you heal her? I.... I don't want her to die!"

Celestia frowned, her soft features hardening slightly with stern resolve. "I cannot. She has done too much wrong for me to offer her any mercy. Now, come here Twilight. Rejoin me."

Twilight shook her head and moved back to Nightmare Moon. "Why not!? Why can't you heal her!? I'm not moving! I can't let her die!"

"I could ask you the same thing, Twilight. Why do you not simply leave her? Has she not caused you much grief and pain since she returned? Have you not suffered under her rule? Why do you not come back with me, where you are safe?"

"I...." She looked up at Celestia, then back to Nightmare Moon and raised a leg to move, but hesitated. "I can't.... I promised I'd stay with her...."

"That cannot be the true reason. Have I not treated you as my surrogate daughter? Have I not practically raised you since I took you under my wing? Do you not love me?" She questioned, her voice calm and motherly, an inviting tone to Twilight after such a long time in misery.

"I do! I love you like a second mother!"

"Then why do you choose her over me? Why choose a promise over your mother? This is your final chance, Twilight Sparkle. Why do you still serve Nightmare Moon?" Celestia's tone grew firm and forceful causing Twilight to cower slightly, but the lavender unicorn regained her composure.

She looked to Nightmare Moon, whose almost impenetrable facade was broken only by her betraying eyes. She could see the fear of rejection in them, an emotion that Twilight would never have expected to see in the alicorn. She sighed and, after shaking off any doubt in her mind, came to the answer she had been seeking herself. She had felt this emotion before. "Because I love her...." She smiled slightly, and raised her head to face the snow white alicorn, determination in her eyes. "She may have killed ponies, and hurt me, and held me against my will, but she's never once abandoned me.... She saved me from being killed.... She has compassion in her heart too! I've seen it when she's around Moon Beam.... She doesn't show it, but I bet, given time, she can change. It may take years, but I'll stay by her side. She may never return my feelings, but I'll never let that deter me.... I love Nightmare Moon and I may be misguided in my feelings, but nopony will change my mind!"

Confidence welled in Twilight's heart as she stood up to her mentor, and was rewarded with a warm smile. "Now, if only you could accept that outside of your dreams...."

Twilight awoke, a warm feeling flushing her body. She looked about and was greeted only by two sleeping forms. What was that dream about? I... can't remember any details.... I know I saw Nightmare Moon... and my friends killing me... and... She gasped, but quickly clasped her hooves over her mouth, stifling any noise that tried to escape. Celestia.... I can't believe I forgot about her.... She's the entire reason I even went to Ponyville and to find the Elements.... She felts tears beginning to form in the corners of her eyes. I'm... a horrible pony... and student.... Another thought popped in her head and she nearly punched herself as it came. I haven't talked to my parents in so long.... I wonder how they're doing.... I bet they're worried sick about me.... Maybe I could ask Nightmare Moon to let me write them? I'm sure she wouldn't mind.

She took a deep breath and tried to calm herself, but thoughts of the dream she couldn't recall kept niggling at the back of her mind. She couldn't shake off the thought that something important had happened in her mind, something she needed to know, but no matter how hard she tried she just couldn't dig up any memories of her slumber. She looked over to Nightmare Moon and smiled. She's been so much more kind to me recently.... It's almost kind of unsettling, but I don't mind.... I'll do anything just to be able to stay with her.... She scooted closer to the alicorn and curled up around Moon Beam, drawing the filly closer to her body, an act that elicited a content sigh as the new warmth brought comfort to her sleep.

She closed her eyes, preparing herself for another round of torment before she was due to rise, but couldn't even get close to sleep before loud thuds could be heard from the door. Nightmare Moon's head shot up, disturbed from her slumber by the heavy knocking, her eyes focused on the door in anger. With the black aura of her magic, she flung the doors open to find Cloudy Horizons standing just outside, her hoof raised for another series of knocks. "Why do you disturb me at this hour, Captain Horizons?" Her anger had faded to mild annoyance at the sight of the one-winged pegasus, but still lingered in the back of her mind.

"Your Majesty, I have important news regarding our borders." She said, bowing deeply before entering the room. By now, Moon Beam had awoken as well, a feat quite spectacular due to her ability to sleep through almost anything, and was beginning to stir as she recovered from dream land.

"Go ahead. It must be quite important seeing as you interrupted my slumber for it."

"Yes, Your Highness!" She pulled a sheet of parchment from her saddlebags and passed it on to the alicorn who promptly unrolled it and began to read as Cloudy dictated. "There has been news of the Griffons from the northern lands beginning to amass a front along the borders to Equestria. The border cities of Manehattan and Wintertrot have sent reports to Chancellor Fancy Pants about Griffon activity across the country lines. The reports state that several Griffons have been spotted flying across the city in large flocks toward our current position. These sightings have been confirmed by our neighboring city of Fillydelphia and have even gone on to say that the Griffons have been setting up camp just inside the forest of our castles borders." Nightmare Moon absorbed the current information and, when after she had given Cloudy the go ahead, the pegasus continued. "Due to our previously strained relationship with the Griffons, it is not likely that these forces have come in peace. They likely sense weakness within our monarchy and there is a high probability that they will strike soon in an attempt to gain control of our lands. They know of the sudden change in rule and expect to strike while the iron is hot. What do you wish me to do?"

Nightmare Moon sighed, but Twilight stood up quickly. "That can't be right! Celestia has had peaceful negotiations with the Griffons for years! They wouldn't just break the truce like that!"

The orange pegasus glared at Twilight and shook her head. "Have you forgotten what I told you about my past? The Griffons have always been on the verge of war with us. They want our resources and have only kept the truce with Celestia because she appeased them with offerings. Now that Celestia is gone, they are no longer receiving the food and gems that she had been regularly giving them as a token of peace. The everlasting night is a sure sign of the ex-princess' disappearance and they will not pass up a chance to take what they want." She turned back to Nightmare Moon after berating the lavender unicorn into silence. "Apparently, they have been massing for quite a while now and have been scoping us out for weeks. They know our forces are depleted and they know that you are still recovering from the battle. I estimate that we have only a few days before they send in some sort of strike team to try and kill you quickly. Should that not work, I have little doubt that they'll march their entire force upon us."

"It would seem that these whelps must be taught a lesson. Captain Horizons, I want you to continue recruiting immediately. Do whatever it takes to gather whatever forces you can. You have permission to use my personal sky chariot to go from city to city and draft any able-bodied pony into service. Should they refuse, take their name and residence, and report them to me. We will compile a list of refusals and deal with them when the time comes. It will be difficult and taxing, but we shall not be caught off-guard when the Griffons come."

Twilight blanched at Nightmare Moon's words. Was she.... Was she going to kill anypony that didn't join her army? Twilight could feel the sadness welling in her body, but stuffed it down into a bottle, deep in her mind. "My Mistress...." The black alicorn turned to her, a questioning look on her face. "What about the ponies that have foals? Fillies? You can't take their parents away from them! I know that we need to be able to fight back, but will it be worth it if all we have left are children without parents?" She looked at Moon Beam who simply smiled up at her. "What would Moon Beam do if both of us died? How would she feel?"

Nightmare frowned deeply. She did not want to admit that Twilight was right, but when she thought of Moon Beam, a chord was struck in her heart. "You.... You are right, however that still does not mean that we aren't at a time of desperation. I will allow those with children the choice to refuse, but remind them that their foal's life is in the hooves of ponies they do not know. All others that refuse shall be disposed of as I previously stated."

Twilight smiled warmly at the alicorn, but turned her head so she wouldn't be seen. Maybe.... Maybe I can get her to change.... Her smile faded as thoughts of the upcoming war invaded her reverie. It's only been a week and we're already going to be killing again.... It hurts to see how poorly things are turning out.... Everyone is going to such great lengths to mete out their own wants.... I wish everything could be normal once again....

"Auntie Twilight!" Moon Beam pounced on her and nuzzled her neck. "You really, really do love me don't you? I know I'd be very sad if you were to die.... I wouldn't ever want you to leave." Moon Beam buried her face in Twilight's neck and sighed happily.

Twilight hugged the filly and pet the top of her head. "I don't know what I'd do if I ever lost you or Queen Moon. You two are everything to me...." She fought back tears as her night terrors returned to her and managed to keep them at bay. She looked up to see that Nightmare Moon had left with Cloudy to prepare for recruitment. She shuddered at the thought of being attacked by griffons. I've never seen a griffon in real life, but from the way Cloudy talks about them.... I never thought they would be so violent. It's so different from all the books I've read about them.... She remember her previous thoughts and pet the filly's head. "Hey, Moonie. Do you want to help me write a letter to my parents? I'm sure they'd love to hear all about you."

Moon Beam's eyes opened wide in glee. "Oh, really!? I can!? I want to meet your mommy and daddy too! Can we meet them some time!?"

Twilight laughed and stood up, making her way over to the writing desk off to the side of the room with a prancing unicorn behind her. She levitated out a quill and inkwell while rummaging for some parchment in the drawers. "I'm sure they'd love to meet you Moon Beam. Maybe one day we can go see them after all this mess is over. Aha!" She procured a blank piece of paper from the bottom drawer of the desk and set it flat then dipped her quill in the ink. "How about you start it off for me?"

Moon Beam nodded her head furiously and scrunched her face up, quite comically, in thought. "Oh oh! Dear Mommy and Daddy...."

Nightmare Moon walked briskly alongside Fancy Pants as they walked through the castle corridors, avoiding anypony that crossed their path so as not to impede their progress. "Chancellor Fancy Pants, I have need of your services. We are soon going to war with Griffonia and we will need supplies for our troops. I do not doubt the vast wealth of the royal coffers, but I know that we cannot simply draw off of that forever. We will need to resume construction on the city surrounding my castle soon and much of the royal pool will be poured into that. What do you think would be the best course of action in order to support my stores?"

The blue unicorn paused mid step for a moment, but quickly resumed their previous pace. "While I would not typically agree with this solution, it seems that we are in desperate times. We could start allowing businesses to buy plots of land for new shops around the castle in order to increase the royal revenue, but that would put a lot of the control of the city in the hooves of the wealthy. Most poorer ponies would not be able to afford such things. Another solution along those lines would be to take deposits. It would provide less income, but still leave you in control of the city in its entirety. This would also allow more middle class families to make a claim on property to be built." He nodded up to her, his voice calm. "I never thought I would see war in my lifetime. Are you sure there isn't any other way?"

"The Griffons are set on taking over Equestria and I will not have them taking my country. That foal Celestia simply went with appeasement to try and prevent any issues, but, even if I hadn't returned, that would only have lasted so long. They would eventually decide that what they were getting wasn't enough and demand more. It would continue until Celestia could no longer meet their demand and, with us weakened, they would have simply taken over." Her words were cold and calculating, a sign that she had put great thought into the issue beforehand.

"I still think that it would be wise to..." He was stopped dead in his tracks by a cold, menacing glare from Nightmare Moon.

"I do not tolerate insolence from anypony, even you, Chancellor. Do not think that I will let you by with any transgression you commit just because you are useful. Twilight has made that mistake many times and has paid for it. I will not hesitate to do the same to you or anypony else." Fancy Pants kept his calm demeanor, but Nightmare could still sense the fear in the air. It would serve him well to know his place.

"Yes, Your Highness. Now about the prisoner in the dungeons.... What would you have done with him?"

Nightmare Moon scowled at the thought of the self-centered foal she had imprisoned the night before. "Leave him there, but keep him fed. He will serve a use soon enough. He shall learn humility even if I have to beat it into him myself. Now, I must be returning to my chambers. I have much to do in preparation for the attacks and I do not need any distractions." Fancy Pants bowed and moved off to continue his duties. Nightmare Moon closed her eyes and swiftly enveloped herself in her mane, becoming a wisp of the night sky, and took off through the halls. She arrived at the door and returned to her corporeal state before entering to find the room empty.

They must have gone out to the courtyard to- Something out of the ordinary caught her eye. She looked at the writing desk in the room, an object she hadn't used, and noticed a rolled up scroll sealed with a small red ribbon. She moved beside the desk and levitated the parchment, untying the ribbon and unrolling the paper to find a letter written in gentle letters. Twilight must have written this....

Dear Mommy and Daddy,

Hi. I'm sorry that I haven't written in so long, but everything has been quite hectic lately. I think my last letter was eight months ago just after I had discovered my ability to teleport. I remember how proud of me you were when I told you... That letter meant so much to me. I thought I'd write to tell you how I've been and to inquire about how you've been doing. I think the most important thing that's happened to me since the time between letters was my new job. I got a position as Nightmare Moon's personal staff. It's really not as bad as you would think. Sure, she is quite strict and has yelled at me for my mistakes many times, but I know that she has kindness in her. It's most apparent because of the filly she takes care of. Her name is Moon Beam and she is so adorable. She kind of adopted me into the family as her Auntie and, I must say, I am quite fond of her myself.

I know you're probably worried about me after the disappearance of Princess Celestia and all the attacks on the castle since Nightmare Moon's claim of the throne, but don't worry, I'm perfectly fine. I actually like it here. I also found a marefr**nd, but th***s didn't w**k out. I miss y** so much. Pl***e write b**k as so** as you *an

Your L***ing Da**hter,

Twilght Sp***le

The last part of the letter was stained with tears, but the Moon Queen didn't have any problems reading the slightly smeared text.

Nightmare Moon stared at the letter in disbelief. Does Twilight truly think of me like that? I thought she clung to me out of fear.... Maybe it was something else...? Perhaps there is more to this mare than I previously thought. I may have to reevaluate my thoughts on her.... I will go and inquire about this myself. Nightmare Moon walked out onto the balcony and spread her wings, relishing the cool air from the enchanted moon. After a few moments of relaxing, she beat her powerful wings and pushed herself into the air with great gusts of wind blowing about her. She flew above the castle and looked down in search of the two unicorns and, just as she had thought, they were running around in the courtyard, playing merrily in the magically enhanced grass.

She alighted not far from where they frolicked and merely watched as Moon Beam continued to chase Twilight around, leaping at her tail. Nightmare Moon's mouth tilted as a slight smile tugged on her lips, but kept her typical facade to mask her thoughts. After several minutes of standing still, the two finally noticed her and, with a squeal of joy, Moon Beam sprinted over towards the tall black alicorn. Twilight moved at a slower rate, tired from all the physical and emotional exercise she had gone through in the past hour. As she drew nearer, however, something caught her attention. A glint of light flashing across the ground in sporadic movements. She followed the light's trajectory and stared in shock.

Above her, high in the sky, was a mass of feathers and fur, hurtling towards the area that Nightmare Moon stood, a long gleaming blade reflecting the light of the moon. The griffons had already sent an assassin to deal with the Moon Queen. Twilight took off at a gallop towards Nightmare Moon, hoping to reach the alicorn before the griffon, but the griffon was moving too quickly. She wouldn't make it in time, nor would any warning could give her Queen enough time to save herself....

Author's Notes: Inb4 BUT PEPPY Y U SO CLIFFHANGER YOU PROMISED. I said I'd try but it seems I couldn't help it. It's just such a perfect spot to leave it off that I couldn't pass it up! Well, the dream sequence was quite different this time around, wouldn't you say? Hint at things to come? Who knows? (Peppy Does) Well, anyhooves, I'm off to bed (after about an hour so I can read and comment on anything you leave me by then) and will reply to whatever I don't immediately when I awaken. Peppy out!

Editor's Notes: Y U SO Cliffhanger? Gaah... Anyway, nice chapter, regardless.