The creature before Twilight didn't seem to have any solid state. It twisted and pulsated as it floated in the air, but never took on anything resembling any creature she had seen before. It condensed into a tiny navy ball that twitched in the air, resonating to an inaudible tune. It bounced once as if being dribbled and piercing red eyes shot open, their sharp shape making the lavender unicorn recoil, her fear returning. The globular orb was no wider than Twilight's waist, but the hate that poured off of it could have easily frozen a lesser pony's heart in terror. No matter how hard she tried, the unicorn couldn't pull her eyes out of that stare, the creature's eyes piercing her soul.

The eyes narrowed to slits, their draconic pupils dilated, as it began to ooze through the darkness, growing ever closer to Twilight. The orb began to contract and expand, as if it was breathing, and, as soon as the creature was before Twilight's face, hot air burned her eyes with every contraction. The thing spoke, its voice deep and guttural, shaking the space around it, "Who are you that stands before My Queen instead of prostrating yourself in her presence?"

Twilight couldn't take any more. She dropped to the ground and covered her head with her hooves, very much expecting to be hurt, possibly even killed. Soft sobs escaped her body. Nightmare Moon stepped forth and laid a hoof upon the mass, smiling at it warmly. "That is enough, Moon Beam. I wish to see you as you truly are... It has been a thousand years since I've last laid eyes on you."

The creature turned to the alicorn and, immediately, the harsh eyes softened and closed. The orb sank to the stone floor and pooled into a blue shadow. It slowly began to take shape. First came the legs, short and close together, a quarter of Twilight's length. Next, the body was formed, tiny and smooth, the flank bare of any markings. The shadow continued to creep through the air, creating the pony's neck then shaped the head, a small horn protruding from its forehead. Time seemed to stand still as the pony's form wavered until its eyes shot open, large glowing red orbs staring up at Nightmare Moon. It blinked and shadowy smoke began to collect behind her and from her head, forming her mane and tail. It was just a foal.

The filly smiled and tackled Nightmare Moon's leg, hugging it close. "Ohh, Mommy! I missed you soooooo much!" The filly's voice rang like a chorus of bells through the air, a sharp contrast to the unholy sounds from before. "You have to promise me that you won't put me to sleep anymore, okay? It's dark and lonely in my dreams...." Moon Beam pushed her bottom lip out and made a pouting face. The black alicorn merely nodded and nuzzled the foal.

Twilight stood from where she had previously been and approached the two, her mouth hanging open as she tried to find words. Eventually, they came. "Your.... Your most loyal minion... is just a filly? How can she be nearly as powerful as you?!" Her mind was boggled. She couldn't grasp the logic of the situation.

As if on cue, the unicorn spun around to face Twilight, her wispy mane leaving trails of smoke in the air. Her face contorted in rage, those cute unassuming eyes morphing into the sharp trapezoids they were before. Her voice once more grew deep and raspy. "You doubt my abilities?!" The foals body twisted and began to grow, changing as she began to fill up the space of the room. Long leathery wings sprouted from her tiny back, both as long as Nightmare Moon was from nose to tail, and her body stretched, her fur changing to shining navy scales. Her smoky tail solidified into a long pointed reptile's, spines growing out of the ridge of her back. Her hooves changed into long sharp talons and, finally, her face twisted into a dragon's head complete with horns and razor sharp teeth. Fear once more gripped Twilight as the pony-now-dragon picked her up in its massive claws. Purple flames licked out from between Moon Beam's lips, evaporating in the air. "Do you doubt my power now, pitiful worm?!"

This creature before her was a stark contrast to the little filly that had smiled so innocently up at her mistress. Nightmare Moon simply sat and watched, smiling as Twilight nodded, too stricken with terror to form any kind of coherent speech. In an instant the dragon had reverted its shape, once again taking on her original filly form. She smiled sweetly at the lavender unicorn as Nightmare Moon stepped up beside them, levitating Twilight off of the floor. "Welcome back, little one. I hope this time we will be able to live together in peace, without fear of assailants in the night." Twilight was stunned to see Nightmare Moon showing so much... affection towards the foal.

Twilight's thoughts were disturbed as she felt something brush against her leg. Her attention was drawn away from the alicorn to the filly that was now clutching about her knee. "Are you going to be my new aunt?" The innocent question had caught Twilight off guard. She looked up to Nightmare Moon for answers only to find that the mare's usual stoic expression had returned, offering no way out. With no other choice, as she didn't wish to upset the filly once again, Twilight nodded. The pony's unearthly grip tightened about the older mare's leg. "Yay! Now I have more family!" The foal seemed to have completely forgotten what had happened only moments ago.

Silent Brook awoke with a start, sweating, her blue mane plastered to her face. The blankets she had been provided clung to her body as she sighed in relief, moving off of the bed. "It was just a dream...." She shuddered, more from lingering fear than the cool air touching her sweat soaked body. "It was so real though.... I just hope it doesn't have and kind of meaning for times to come...." She tossed the blankets in a dirty linen basket by the door to her room and made her way out into the halls. It had been a little over a week since she had come to the castle and it had taken nearly all of that time to memorize the entire layout of the place. She had gotten lost several times during the first few nights, but it had only served to better her knowledge of the halls.

She trotted casually down the worker's hallway towards the center path, nodding at all of the ponies she passed. She hadn't learned any of their names, but they knew her by the proximity she held with the Queen. She was at the Queen's side quite often, helping her with the daily tasks such as bringing her food, fetching her for her meals and giving her reports on the progress of the construction. The palace was nearing completion, the workers more willing to work now that Nightmare Moon herself was present to keep tabs on their construction. In only a few more days, Silent Brook will have to learn all about the new south wing and inform the Moon Queen of its details.

Maybe I'll go see if Twilight is alone.... A smile came to her face as she trotted through the hallways, passing by the many doors and branches until she came to the stairs. She ascended quickly until a sound caught her ear. It was high pitched and seemed to be.... Laughter? Not just laughter. A filly's laugh. As she came to the first landing she caught sight of Nightmare Moon traversing the halls, her face stoic save for a slight smile barely visible from this distance. Around her hooves danced a young unicorn filly, the tiny form bouncing and weaving between her legs, laughing in pure bliss. Neither of them noticed Brook or her dumbfounded expression as they passed, oblivious to the world around them. She shook off her surprise and continued up the stairs. Who was that filly? Well, at least Twilight will be alone since I didn't see her with them. I could ask her.

She continued her ascent, her pace slightly faster than before, and arrived at the door to Nightmare Moon's chambers. She raised a hoof and knocked three times, paused, then a fourth to signal it was her and not some other housekeeper or servant. Twilight's voice sounded from within, "Come on in, Brook."

The lime earth pony opened the door and stepped through, closing it behind her. "Heya, Twilight. Have you thought about, y'know, us?" She smiled weakly, then held up her hoof as Twilight was about to speak. "Wait, never mind. It's too soon. I do have another question though. Who is that filly with Queen Moon? I haven't seen her before until now."

Twilight tilted her head up in thought, trying to figure out how best to inform her. "Well..., I'm not entirely sure myself. I just met her last night, but I do know that she was Nightmare Moon's most loyal subject. Her name is Moon Beam and she's very powerful.... Frighteningly so." The unicorn shuddered as scenes from the previous night played through her mind.

Silent Brook noticed and walked closer to Twilight placing a hoof on her back, giving her a worried smile. "Did something happen? What's wrong?" Something caught her eye and she noticed a faint glow beneath the blankets Twilight had wrapped around her. "Is she still shackling you? I wish I could help you out of those...."

Twilight merely smiled and laid upon her side. "Thank you. For worrying about me." She looked down, a slight blush on her face. "I... wouldn't mind giving you a chance. You seem to really care about me and, I would enjoy having somepony I could talk to...."

Silent Brook stared at her, the surprise in her features quickly changing to a beaming grin. She jumped on top of the unicorn and locked lips with her, embracing her in a deep kiss. Twilight relaxed underneath the earth pony's weight. This kiss was entirely different from the lust filled one Nightmare Moon had forced upon her, meant only for pleasure. This kiss had something else to it. The lust was still there, of course, she could feel it, but that wasn't it entirely. Silent Brook pulled back, breaking the kiss and Twilight saw it in her eyes. Affection. Brook looked down, smiling then back up at the unicorn. "I should probably leave before they come back." Twilight nodded her approval.

"Umm, before you go, I want to warn you. I, uhhh.... I've never been in any kind of relationship before so, uhh...." Brook merely kissed her again, silencing her.

"It's all right," she said, sighing as she pulled back. "You'll learn from experience. It will be slightly different than most relationships go, however. Since we won't be able to meet under the watch of Queen Moon." She climbed off the bed and started making her way back towards the door. "I'll come see you again as soon as I can."

Twilight smiled as the lime earth pony left the room, the first moment of true happiness since her enslavement to Nightmare Moon filling her heart.

Rarity stood in the lobby of her boutique, her five friends gathered around her waiting to figure out why they had been called to meet here. Rainbow Dash thumped her hooves impatiently before speaking up. "C'mon, Rarity, what the hay did you call us here for? It's late and I want to sleep!"

The white unicorn sighed and smiled. "Well, I have some good news. Twilight is alive and well." There were gasps of surprise and relief at the news.

Spike was the first to respond. "But, how do you know?"

Rarity turned to him and smiled. "Why, I made a dress for her, Spike. Nightmare Moon summoned me to her castle, and my what an intimidating structure that is, to make an outfit for Twilight. I'll, uhh..., not go into too many details about the dress, but the most important thing is that she's perfectly fine. Well, for now at least. I also have a pretty good idea of where she sleeps and some of the layout of the hallways."

"Hoo boy, Rarity. Y'all are quite the amazin' pony. Ah' wouldn't a' thought that ya could keep yerself calm in that kinda situation." Applejack beamed. "Well, ah' reckon we should get to workin' on a plan. We know where she is and now all we hafta do is figure out how to get in there and get her out."

Spike started crying, relief allowing his emotions to flow freely. Pinkie Pie smiled in her typical manner, pulling the dragon into an embrace that soon all the others joined in on. "Don't you worry Spikey-Wikey. We'll get her back in no time!"

Author's Notes: Woo another chapter! Figured I'd put this one out as quickly as I could to help relieve you all of the cliffhanger cuz I'm a nice pony and all that jazz. *cough* I'mlyingthroughmyteeth *cough* I totally didn't enjoy leaving you guys like that at all *applelie shifty eyes* Well I hope you enjoy it and in the mean time I'm going to go back and fix the errors that somepony kindly pointed out to me in the last chapter. Peppy out!

Editor's Notes: Not much to say. Good chapter. I don't like Brook (but who does, am I right) I also noticed an increase in the number of errors in this chapter compared to previous chapters. Fixed 'em, thou.