A knock on the door woke the baby dragon from his slumber. He stretched and yawned, his purple and green scales shimmering slightly in the moonlight. "I wasn't expecting any visitors at this hour. Well, I can never really tell what time it is anymore.... Ever since Twilight disappeared, I rarely do anything other than sleep or eat.... Without Twilight..."

Another set of knocks sounded on the door followed by a voice. "Spike, darling. Please let us in. We have much to talk about." Rarity's voice sang like a sweet bell in his darkness.

"I-I'm coming!" Spike quickened his pace, hurried to the door, and unlocked it. "I'm sorry. I guess I lost track of time...." Spike yawned again and rubbed the sleep from his eyes.

"Oh, it's not a problem at all dear. We understand how you must be feeling. Twilight was practically your moth-" Rarity caught herself before going any further. "I'm sorry, Spike."

"Oh, it's okay. Well come on in everypony." he said as he stepped out of the doorway.

From the darkness, following Rarity, came four other ponies. Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Fluttershy all made their ways into the lobby of Spike's library tree house and situated themselves in a circle around the table set in the center of the room. They all seemed tired and worn, as if sleep had been a stranger to them. Applejack was the first to speak up. "Now ah know y'all are tired of these meetings. We never seem ta git anything done, but tonight's different. Rainbow Dash and ah have been talkin'. It's been about a month since Nightmare Moon has appeared and we haven't heard a word from Twilight. Ah reckon she ain't doin' to good if'n she's even doin' at all... We don't know what that mare did to 'er."

Rainbow Dash stood up. "C'mon, AJ! You're dragging this on! Just get to the plan!"

"Hold yer apples Rainbow. Ah'm gettin' there. Now, as ah was sayin'. We don't rightly know how ta defeat Nightmare Moon since tha Elements o' Harmony didn't work, but I'm sure Twilight would know how ta beat her by now if she's still there. Before I continue, Rarity, has your friend learned anythin'? Does she know anythin' about Twilight?"

Rarity looked down. "I'm sorry, Applejack. I haven't heard from her in weeks. I have no idea if she's even okay." A tear welled up in her eye. "I shouldn't have even asked her to spy for us."

Fluttershy took this moment to speak up, albeit quietly. "Umm..., if I could say something...?" They all looked her way. "Eep...! Umm..., we could try and... sneak in there ourselves... I know it's dangerous, but... I'm sure Twilight would do the same for us..., even if we only knew her from that one night...." As she spoke, Fluttershy continued to shrink under the table away from the eyes of the other four.

"Now that's what I'm talking about! Way to go Fluttershy!" The rainbow pegasus had flown into the air and cheered Fluttershy.

"I'll help any way I can! I can't send letters or anything since Celestia was the only one that I knew how to send them to, but I'm small! I could sneak better than any of you!" Spike was leaning on the table, excited. "I really just want to know if Twilight's okay! If we can get her back then we can find out a way to stop Nightmare Moon!"

"Ah reckon that may work. We just hafta figure out the layout of that there new castle. Anypony have an idea? How 'bout you Pinkie Pie? You've been awfully quiet this whole time."

All eyes fell upon the pink pony. Her previously outrageous, cotton candy pink mane hung limply across her face. Her whole expression was downcast. "I'll help Spike. I can get us around the castle without anypony suspecting a thing." Her eye twitched. "I haven't thrown a party in weeks.... f we can find Twilight...." Her voice was rising in tone from the gloomy one she had been using, "We'll have something to celebrate!" Her eyes were lighting up, but didn't return to their full shine. Instead, they just dropped to the floor again. "If we can find her...."

"Now Y'all cheer up there, Sugarcube. Ah'm sure we'll find Twilight safe and sound and have her back here in a jiffy. Before we go off and start this, we're going to need a plan and some time to get ready. Ah say we wait another month," Spike stood up to interrupt but Applejack shushed him with a hoof. "Ah know y'all wanna see her back here now but listen. If we rush in there unprepared, Twilight ain't gonna be the only thing we're losin'. You've heard the stories about what happened the first night at Canterlot. Nightmare Moon won't hesitate to kill us like she did them guard ponies." The whole group shuddered at the thought.

"I'll see if I can get some information from my friend. She's quite skilled at her job so I doubt she's in any sort of trouble." Rarity flipped her mane out of her face. "As soon as we have word from her we should begin preparations. I believe we'll leave the plan up to you, Applejack dear." Everyone nodded.

"Right! Ah'll begin thinking of how we can get inside in the mean time. Everypony, and dragon, try and keep your hopes up. We'll save Twilight for sure! Now ya'll go home and get some sleep. Y'all look like ya need it." The group nodded and all went their separate ways, Rarity to her boutique, Pinkie to her home in Sugarcube Corner, Applejack to her farm, and Rainbow Dash to her home in the clouds. Fluttershy remained behind and watched Spike.

"Umm.... Are you going to be okay Spike? I know how hard this has been on you...." She flew over to him and placed a hoof on his head, comforting him.

"Yeah, I'll be fine. Fluttershy.... Thank you."

"Oh, it's no problem at all. I'd hate to lose somepony as important to me as Twilight is to you. If you need anything don't be afraid to ask us.... We're all willing to help." Fluttershy's voice was calm and soothing, like a mother to her child.

Spike couldn't help but to cry. "I... I just miss her so much...." He grabbed Fluttershy's leg in a tight embrace causing the yellow pegasus to smile down at him.

"Shhh.... Shhh.... It's going to be okay...."

The carriage carrying Nightmare Moon, Twilight and Silent Brook landed on a specially made strip just outside the front doors to the castle. The pegasus ponies pulling the carriage unhitched themselves and moved to the door leading to the cabin, opening it for the passengers. The black alicorn ducked her head and stepped out into the cool night air, basking in the moon's glory. She turned her gaze to the structure before her and beamed. "Ahhh, it's magnificent!" Her voice danced in the air, slightly dulled by the sound of construction.

The palace was huge, even though it was only partially finished. The entire structure was made of obsidian, mined from a series of volcanoes set in the Swayback Mountains. It gleamed in the moonlight, the moon's rays dancing across it and casting silvery light on its sleek features. There were multiple towers erected throughout the building, towering above the rest of the castle, all centered around a giant obelisk standing tall in the epicenter of the castle. Shining blue runes glowed in the darkness, casting eerie light on the structures around it. She turned her head to the left and frowned slightly. The left wing of the castle still wasn't completed. Scaffolding still stood around the unfinished walls with construction ponies tiring away under the scrutiny of their overseers to build the rest of the structure. Even if it was only half complete, the castle was simply amazing.

Twilight Sparkle and Silent Brook stepped out of the carriage, following Nightmare Moon, and gaped in awe. They hadn't expected the castle to be constructed so quickly and its beauty was intimidating. "It's... simply astounding!" Twilight could barely contain her excitement at being able to live in such a wonderful monument to pony engineering. She was practically shaking in anticipation.

Silent Brook, however, was all but excited. "I.... I don't like obsidian...." Her voice was barely a whisper, unheard by anything. She shook away her fears and stepped up beside Twilight, closer than she had planned, and brushed her flank. She jumped in surprise. "I'm sorry! I didn't mean to do that!"

Twilight looked at her in concern. "Are you all right?" She noticed the green mare's slight trembles. "My Queen, I think Silent...." Nightmare Moon was already walking ahead of them, making her way to the giant golden doors barring entrance to the castle. "Ah! Come on Brook! We're going to be left behind!" Twilight trotted quickly in order to catch up with the Moon Queen.

Silent Brook nodded weakly and caught up to the other two, once again sticking close by Twilight's side. Nightmare Moon reached the doors and pushed them open with her magic then stepped into the lobby of the castle. It was sparsely decorated due to the recent completion of this section, but still had tapestries depicting Nightmare Moon in her blue armor or her cutie mark hanging around the windows. Torches burning with magical fire lit the room from their sconces on the walls, illuminating the blackness around them. This square room branched off in three directions, one to the north, south and west. The western wall had another grand door painted red that Nightmare Moon made her way over to. She called upon her magic and pulled open the doors. Outside was the octagonal courtyard housing the obelisk, its glow lighting up the area. The area was empty save for the patches of flowers in each of the eight corners. The flowers themselves glowed with the same light of the runes, enchanted to mimic the light around them. A sweet smell wafted in from a breeze, making the trio's mouths water.

Turning on their heels, the group returned to the entrance and took the northern path, heading to the eastern wing. Just inside the door, a young colt was bowed, prostrate before the black alicorn. "My Queen, I am to be your guide for this evening and shall help you get acquainted with your new castle. I also humbly beg your forgiveness for the incomplete southern wing. We have had some... delays trying to finish it in time for your arrival that have simply prevented us from finishing."

"Delays? What has happened?" Nightmare Moon's voice showed a hint of anger.

"Well, Your Majesty, some of the workers are tired and are refusing to work. They believe that you are working them too hard and not letting them rest long enough. I, for one, think you are doing an excell-"

"Silence, foal! I do not care for your opinion! I only wish that my castle be finished. I shall go... bless the commoners with my presence tomorrow." She glared at him, causing him to shrink back under her stern eye. "Now, lead us to the dining room. I desire food for myself and my pet. Head maid!"

Silent Brook stepped in front of her and bowed. "Yes, My Queen?"

"Get yourself acquainted with the layout of the palace for I shall need you to keep my staff in check. You should also go and motivate the workers before I bring my wrath down upon them. Should they refuse, you will return to me at once and inform me. After your duties are complete, you may find yourself something to sate your hunger."

She bowed once more, "Yes, My Queen." Silent Brook returned the way they had come from and quickly made her way out of view.

"Now, servant. Take us to the dining hall." Nightmare Moon motioned Twilight with her head to follow closely before making her way behind the servant colt.

"Y-yes, Your Majesty. P-please, this way." He stood up quickly and almost dashed off down the hall before regaining his composure and assuming a brisk walk. They passed door after door and he labeled each one accordingly. "This door leads to the infirmary. It was one of the first rooms built due to the high probability of construction injuries. Down this hall to the left are the living quarters for the palace staff." They made a right turn at the fork, opposite the direction he had indicated. "Down this hall we have the kitchen and staff lavatory facilities along with the public restrooms. Public only to guests, of course. If you were to take this to the end and go out th-"

"I care not of the trivialities that compose your station. I only wish to know where I shall request services, eat and rest. I would also like to visit my throne room before I retire." Her gaze made the colt flinch back again.

Twilight gave him a look expressing her apologies. "Ahem! Uh, yes. This way, Your Majesty." He motioned down the hall opposite where he had told them the staff area was then started on his way. He stopped before a grand set of double red painted doors similar to the ones leading to the courtyard. "This is the dining hall. It is large enough to serve two-hundred. There is a smaller room to the rear in case you ever wish to dine in peace and through the metal doors is the kitchen. The head chef will be ready to take any order you wish. Would you like to dine now, or shall I show you your quarters and throne room?"

Nightmare Moon thought for a moment but was interrupted by a low gurgle from the mare beside her. "We shall dine now. Have the chef prepare a rose salad topped with ripe tomatoes for myself and a daisy sandwich for my pet here."

The servant colt bowed and made his way into the dining hall to carry out his orders. Twilight looked up at Nightmare Moon and smiled. "Thank you, Queen Moon."

Nightmare Moon scowled and stepped back away from the beaming unicorn. "Wipe that look off your face before I change my mind and have you starved." Twilight's face dropped in fear eliciting a cackle from the alicorn. "Ohoho, that's much better. Now follow me, I have something I must show you. I will soon be introducing you to my most faithful minion. She will be keeping watch over you when I cannot." Twilight tilted her head in confusion, but decided not to question her and simply followed behind her. "Now that it has come to my mind, we are going to have to dress you for your position now that my claim on Equestria has been solidified. Tomorrow I shall call for a dressmaker to fashion you a suitable outfit."

Nightmare Moon walked down the hallways, keeping her eye on the obelisk outside through the windows that ran along the walls before stopping at another red door, this one exactly like the one in the main lobby. She opened it with her magic and stepped forth into the cool air once more. With long strides that Twilight was having trouble matching, she came to the bottom of the obelisk. The base was large, roughly the width of two sky carriages and one and a half in length. The structure towered hundreds of feet into the sky, dwarfing the structures that made up the watch towers of the castle in comparison. She touched her horn to the glowing runes on the side and the entire thing shimmered, like a drop of water had fallen on the surface of a lake, sending ripples up its form. Nightmare Moon motioned Twilight inside then followed after the unicorn had disappeared from view, her tail the last thing to pass.

Inside, the place was even larger. Twilight stared at the marvel before her in awe. "There.... There's a garden in here!!" She ran around the place, marveling at how this could even be possible then noticed the most important detail. "What happened to the obelisk's walls!?"

"The obelisk is merely a facade meant to hide the true nature of what's inside. The exterior will seem solid to any that try to enter it without my permission, but it is not real. You could call this a compressed space. This is a place I created at the start of the construction to house the tomb of my faithful one. That building over there is where she currently rests." She motioned towards a small gray structure in the middle of the field of flowers. "In only a few more nights I will have the strength to once again return her to my side. That will truly be a most wondrous night."

Twilight stared at the gray tomb, transfixed. She could hear something coming from it, as if something inside were calling to her. "There's something immensely magical in there. I can feel it calling to me...."

"Yes, Moon Beam is quite the powerful being. Second only to myself." Nightmare Moon seemed proud of Moon Beam. "We shall return here soon. In the mean time, let us go to the dining hall. The food should be ready by now."

Twilight nodded and trotted alongside her mistress. She sounded so proud of whoever is inside that tomb. I wonder why she placed her there in the first place? She couldn't have known that Princess Celestia would defeat her, could she? No, that's not likely. She had said that the Princess had surprised her with the Elements. She smiled once again. I never thought I'd be so curious about Nightmare Moon's past.

The two had returned to where the servant colt had left them to place the food order and found him waiting on them. He bowed before opening the doors for them. "Your Majesty. My Lady. Your dinner is served."

They strode down the dining hall, in between two long tables, and observed the decorum around them. Long white banners hung from the walls with black crescent moons adorning the center of each. Around each moon was a group of six stars forming a perfect hexagon. They symbolized Nightmare Moon's release from her moon prison, a personal demand of the Moon Queen herself. The tables were made of mahogany with many groups of candles down the center of each. Chairs were lined up along both sides of the tables, fifty upon each side. Another table was situated at the rear of the room with a large throne-like seat behind it and two smaller seats on each side. The candle stands set atop this table were gold whereas the ones along the other two had been silver. Two trays of food were placed before the throne-chair and the seat to its left.

The ponies made their way to their respective seats, Nightmare Moon sitting first followed by Twilight. The black alicorn raised a fork from beside the tray with her magic and began to daintily eat the rose petals. Twilight was always astounded at how she ate. Her eating habits were the only thing that she had carried over from her previous life as a princess as far as she could tell. It seemed almost, feminine. Twilight was snapped out of her thoughts by her stomach, gurgling noisily at her. Giggling slightly, she bit off a piece of the sandwich from her tray and chewed. After not having magic to use to eat for a month, the purple unicorn had gotten quite used to not using utensils. She swallowed the bite of sandwich she had in her mouth and went in for another bite, savoring each morsel as if it were to be her last meal for a while.

Their meals finished, the two mares stood up and began the walk to the hallway, the servant colt soon joining them. He opened the doors once more for the alicorn and unicorn to pass through then motioned them further along their original path. "The throne room is situated on the far west side of the castle. If you would follow me, I shall lead you there then escort you to your rooms." After having been scolded before, the servant colt ignored the passing doors and hallways and simply led them to their destination.

Before the trio stood two massive doors of solid silver trimmed along the edges with gold. Giant crystal moons were embedded in the face of each, casting multicolored light across the hall from the glass dome that allowed the moon to shine upon them. The display dazzled Twilight and amused the Moon Queen. "Ahh, yes. This is quite wonderful. Now let us head inside and see what my throne is like." She threw open the doors with her magic and stepped through the threshold. The room before her was simply amazing. The walls held grand stained glass windows depicting her raising the moon and banishing the sun. One window, situated behind her throne, showed a scene of the Elements of Harmony's paragons laying in defeat in the ruins of the Royal Pony Sisters Castle. The six ponies were inaccurate but it hardly mattered to the black alicorn. She stepped across the soft maroon carpeting that softened the floor beneath her and moved to the object of her desire. The throne was enormous, easily large enough to seat something twice her size, and made of solid crystal. The seat was cushioned with a plush red pillow embedded into the bottom of the seat. The two leg rests were similarly cushioned along with the back of the throne. Ebony runes were etched around the lining of the back cushions and along the leg rests, enchanting it with a temperature spell to adjust the chairs coolness or warmth at the need of the user.

"Your Queen is pleased. Quite pleased. In fact, I shall allow the workers to return to their families for the remainder of this week for the service they have done me. I will have you inform them after you direct us to our chambers." Her face radiated the joy she was feeling from the wondrous room. "Let us be off now. I would like to retire for now and I have duties for my pet to perform." Twilight blushed, knowing exactly what Nightmare Moon was referring to, and hoped the serving colt wouldn't notice.

He didn't. "Yes, Your Majesty. Follow me and I will lead you to your room." He turned to leave and led them back the way they had come, then led them down a hall that they had previously ignored. The hall came to a spiral staircase that led to the upper levels of the castle, which, he explained, was where all the guest rooms were built. They continued up to the third level and exited at the top of the stairs into a hallway. Following the hall to a set of doors where, in the floors below, it had opened up into another hallway. These doors were made of the same obsidian as the rest of the castle, but had faint etchings marked into them. Gold handles were grabbed by Nightmare Moon and pulled open, revealing a bedroom the same size as the throne room below it. It could have easily fit a hundred ponies of Nightmare Moon's stature.

There were not any decorations adorning the walls, but the room was furnished well. Taking up nearly the entire left wall was a grand bookshelf lined with thousands of books from the Royal Library. On the opposite wall there was a dresser, large and stocked with various outfits for any occasion. Atop the dresser sat a vanity mirror, framed in gold, which reflected the room in its entirety. Beside the dresser was a desk topped with writing utensils and a bell used to magically call for whomever the ringer chose. The back of the room had a pair of glass doors that opened out to a balcony overlooking the land surrounding the castle which, in time, will become a city larger than even Canterlot. A rug lined with runes, enchanting it to mirror the phases of the moon so that at times it would appear completely black, at others white and most of the time, some form of crescent moon, had been positioned in the center of the room, upon which sat a grand canopy bed. It was crafted with the finest mahogany dyed ivory and had intricate carvings woven about the base and corner posts. The canopy was draped with a fine white silk that shimmered in the moonlight and upon the mattress sat a multitude of plush pillows and a thick, soft comforter. The bed itself was easily large enough to accommodate five Nightmare Moons comfortably.

The black alicorn was delighted. "You may leave now servant." She levitated him with her magic and practically threw him out the door and into the hallway, slamming the doors shut behind him. "Now, my pet. It is time to please your Queen." She lifted Twilight with her astral tail and crawled up onto the bed, displacing any pillows that got in her way. Gently setting the unicorn down beside her, Nightmare Moon kissed Twilight forcibly, deeply. She may not have any feelings for the unicorn, but a kiss was easily as pleasing as many other acts. She pulled away, Twilight's lips remaining parted as she breathed deeply. Nightmare Moon turned around in the bed, placing herself before Twilight, and then enchanted the doors to block all sounds. The lavender unicorn blushed, and performed her duties.

Author's Notes: Ahaha! Chapter five time! This one took longer than I had hoped it would. Work being a pain in the flank and all that. Well here you guys go! Now I know what y'all are thinking! "Peppy! I see you finally brought the elements into play! It's about time!" and "Oh that last scene was kinda spicy!" Yes and yes. In the future I may elaborate on what Nightmare Moon and Twilight do in one or a few of their.... pleasure sessions. There will be, for sure, more hints at such things. It IS a romance fic ain't it? What's a good romance without the stuff that comes afterwards (or in this case before)? Hmmm Maybe I should just make a secondary fic and have that be a racy cloppy filled fun time. What do you guys think? Also, you guys should know whats gonna happen next chapter! If you don't then I may have to doubt you. Just sayin. Anyways, have fun reading! Peppy out!

Editor's Notes: Dr.Jekyll here and I have to say, Nightmare Moon's fun times are made of win. Anywho, small adjustments here and there, the largest being changing the line, "A rug fashioned to mimic the full moon..." too, "A rug lined with runes, enchanting it to mirror the phases of the moon so that at times it would appear completely black, at others white and most of the time, some form of crescent moon...". Small (maybe not so small) things like that, I guess. Fun, fun chapter. Enjoy.