June 30th, 1000 DS

Doug looks over from his book, the sleeping forms of five fillies strewn out on the floor. His middle three had roundly insisted that yes, this year would be the one, that this time it was different, that they would at least make it to moonrise on this, the longest day of the year. He smiles to himself, the wry kind when you start forcing yourself to do something and then decide that you like doing it as he carefully picks each filly up, two nestled in his arm and one of the youngest in his hand. Two trips later and they are cuddling together, a small heap of browns, and tans, and yellows, their manes a similar mix with the apple red and green thrown in.

He'll probably get them up early in order to watch Celestia raise the sun; it is an extraordinary sight, after all. Doug has only watched it from the farmhouse when Celestia is in Canterlot, barely able to make out the shining glow around the castle. Maybe next year he'll use the telescope that Rarity got for the fillies. This year he won't need it, after all. Next year, however, is when the big celebration will be in Canterlot. It would certainly be a nice vacation for the herd, but prices would be exorbitant. The herd was already getting offers to rent their rooms out to ponies who wouldn't mind the few hours walk to Canterlot and had the foresight to plan ahead, or queries from the Oranges from Manehatten about staying with family.

But, that is a decision that can wait for tomorrow, or the day after. Doug smiles to himself, looking over the fillies, all tucked away in their room. He yawns, feeling only slightly tired, and heads to the kitchen. It has been years since he has needed to pull an actual all-nighter, not since college so far away and long ago. Not just staying up late, making sure he will meet the deadline for emergency corrections to a weather schedule after a missed rainfall. Or for some massive storm that got out of hoof, throwing everything nearby out of order. Or watching some spectacular that Celestia put on at midnight, the warm bodies of his herd cuddling around him. Like many, if not all, of the ponies Doug prefers to do little during the night, unless there is a specific event going on. Even if there is, a lot of them only watch for Celestia's sake, the alicorn trying to keep the memory of her sister a pleasant one. Or at least remind ponies that there are pleasant memories of Princess Luna, and not just her murderous descent into Nightmare Moon.

Doug looks outside, half expecting to see Applejack making the trip back to the farmhouse with a cart of sleeping fillies behind her, but the road is deserted. He smiles to himself; maybe the trio will make it through the night after all. He glances back towards the foals room; it is tempting to head back to the party Pinkie Pie is throwing, but unless he wants to cart the fillies back and forth himself again he'll have to contend with the contents of the kitchen. Not worth the potential mishaps they love to get into if they wake and find there is no adult supervision. And it is quite unfortunate; Pinkie's parties tend to the amazing side. This one, despite it being such a huge event to everypony else, is just another party for Pinkie Pie, just the color of decorations a little different: the mare always goes all out. Especially as the parties get later and all the fillies go to bed; the mare has developed a much better flair for those kinds of parties ever since she joined the herd. Not that she ever let on when young foals could be watching.

The kitchen is a bit of a mess, the remainder of Lemon's attempt to gather food for each of her siblings. Doug cleans up the spilled oats and hay before grabbing some cheese, eggs, and bread. He deliberates; something salty would be good, but Applejack doesn't like it when he brings any of the meat in the farmhouse, complaining that the pungent odor lingers no matter how quickly he eats it. She doesn't even like making out after he's had a meal of it. Well, no sense in giving them something to complain about, not on such an important night. He hovers over the stove, looking between the eggs and frying pan before shrugging. He picks up a glass, breaking the eggs into the glass, and throwing the shells in the trash. He grabs a carton of apple juice and makes his way to his office, getting a head start on the August weather schedule.

Hours later a heavy knock at the front door reverberates through the house. Doug wearily glances up, checking the time; it is almost four in the morning, so most likely an irate Applejack with a sleepy filly or three. He sighs, grabbing the empty plate, glass, and carton. More food will help him stay up the next hour before he needs to wake the fillies, minus whichever pony or ponies fell asleep, and make it to and back from Ponyville. Why she didn't open the door herself, though, he grumbles to himself as he makes his way to the front door.

He opens the wooden door, looking down at a pair of golden horseshoes attached to long white legs. His gaze raises as his sleepy mind processes that, yes, it is in fact Princess Celestia standing in the doorway, her wavy mane a rainbow of color behind her. He stands there for several seconds before slightly bowing his head, "Celestia! I was not expecting you. Would you like to come in?" He glances at the trash in his hand and the board games still open behind him, "Please, pardon the mess."

Celestia nods, a pleasant smile conveying the familiarity she yearns for, "I would like that very much, my little pony. You know, I think you are the only one I don't need to remind to not use my title. How has the night been treating you?"

Doug shrugs, moving towards the kitchen, "Oh, it's been going very well. I'm looking forward to you raising the sun tomo-" He cuts himself off, a brief grin at the correction, "I guess, later today." He glances back, peeking at the alicorn from the doorway, "Would you like anything to eat? I'm sure there is a cake or four back here."

Celestia nods, her smile creeping larger, "Yes, but then what will you have?" They chuckle as he heads into the kitchen; Doug finds a cake in the pantry and some crackers for himself. He grabs a unicorn fork and butter knife, bringing everything out into the dining room. He places the cake - a small, short cylinder decorated with orange and white icing, two vanilla layers sandwiching a sugary mess of confetti - and silverware in front of Celestia, taking his seat next to her. Doug eats a cracker before getting back up and returning to the kitchen, grabbing a carton of milk and pouring himself a glass. He returns the milk to the fridge before grabbing a new carton of apple juice and a glass. He briefly considers before grabbing more cheese and returns to the dining room. He pours Celestia a glass of apple juice, leaving the carton in easy reach, and takes his seat again.

Celestia says in between bites, "This cake must be a Pinkie Pie creation, it is very good. Would you like a piece?"

Doug takes a small nibble of a cracker with cheese; he slowly chews and swallows before saying, "Only if you are offering."

Celestia grabs her glass of apple juice; what starts as a polite sip while she thinks turns into chugging the entire glass. She puts a hoof up to her mouth, pantomiming considering her options. Finally making her decision, she slides her plate closer to her barrel, guarding it with her other hoof. "You make a wise choice, human," she threatens, taking a bite of the cake and hunching over it, furtive glances to each side.

Doug stares at her before a smile breaks out, laughing at the ruler's antics. Celestia grins as well, though when Doug glances down at the cake a fearful look comes over her mouth. She stammers, "Now, you... you wouldn't steal the cake from a Princess, would you?"

Doug opens his mouth before gasping, covering his ears as a deafening voice shouts, "NO, BUT WE WILL!!"

Celestia shifts, her mouth turning to a frown. She says in a normal voice, "Oh, I must have missed it. It is that time, I suppose."

From the front door strides a dark blue alicorn, teal and navy war armor protecting her head, chest, and hooves. Her large horn glows a deep blue, reminiscent of an aurora, and levels at Celestia. Her mane billows out, a dark blue fading to purple on the edges. Her pink outlined eyes briefly glance at Doug, a pause as her eyes consider the lack of threats in front of her. She turns back to Celestia, thundering, "What? Thou Dost Not Even Plan On Fighting Us? Not Even A Shield?"

Celestia solemnly shakes her head from one side to the other. Her eyes close before she lowers her muzzle to the table, a soft surrender, "Do what you must, sister."

Blue tendrils slowly grow out of the dark blue horn, the mass of magic creeping towards Celestia. A nefarious smile breaks out over the dark blue alicorn, her horn raising higher into the air, the ceiling turning the same dark blue as the night sky. Her mane flares around her, the dark alicorn cackling maniacally as the tendrils reach Celestia. Her expression snaps back to one of regal splendor, looking over to Doug and practically spitting, disgust oozing from her voice, "And what of thou? Are you her consort? Her concubine? Her filly's crush?" She sneers as the tendrils make their around Celestia's horn, slowly tightening, a gasp from the white alicorn as some of the color fades from her mane.

Doug shakes his head, trying to keep the terror out of his voice, "Uh, I don't know for sure, um, Princess? Maybe? I am helping her with a related matter." He coughs as a single tendril makes its way towards him, pleading, "Would you, uh, like me to get you anything?" He reflexively slams his eyes shut as the tendril caresses his hand, shuddering as it intertwines with his fingers.

The armored alicorn's sinister laugh returns, her voice echoing around the house, "Well, a creature that knows its place." Her voice gets louder as she continues, "And what did thou think to offer us, Nightmare Moon, the rightful ruler of Equestria? Some Of Your Paltry Food And Drink?" She lunges forward, smashing Princess Celestia's plate off the table, her heavy strike scouring a dark groove in the apple wood. The few remaining bites of cake scatter as the plate shatters against the wall, the house silent but for the pieces clattering to the floor.

Doug winces but remains in his seat, opening his eyes and watching the dark alicorn's sneer grow larger. The tendrils on Celestia slowly spread from her horn down her chest, splitting to wrap around her front legs, a solitary tear slowly rolling down the white alicorn's face as her mane stops waving in the unfelt wind. Nightmare Moon slowly walks behind him, the pieces of the broken plate crunching under her hooves as she bellows, "You Remain Silent? ANSWER ME!"

Doug hesitantly replies, his voice wavering, "That is my answer, that I have nothing I can offer you."

The sound of fillies crying comes from the foals room, a low wailing that slowly grows louder when nopony comes to comfort them. Doug gives a nervous glance towards the sound but remains seated, his pleading gaze turning to Nightmare Moon as the tendril creeps its way around his arm, slowly twisting as they spread around his hand. A second branch splits off from the first, connecting to his other arm and wrapping around his hand. She creeps behind him, silent as she stalks around his chair. She whispers in his ear, "Dost thou wish to play a game, creature?" His eyes go wide: he's heard that line before, but only in his nightmares long ago.

The alicorn sneers, backing up and looking towards the sound of the crying. A dagger appears from nothing, the obsidian edge brightly polished and held in a dark blue aura, the blade slowly twisting in the air. Nightmare Moon smiles seductively at the dagger, as if the two were long lost lovers, finally reuniting. Her gaze wanders about the room before it settles, a purposeful glance to the foals room, her voice luscious, "By your gaze we can tell thou art worried, creature."

She turns, the dagger dancing behind her as she steps around Doug, her voice a steady crescendo, "Are those your foals, whimpering in the Night? This Night, THAT SHALL LAST FOREVER?" The ceiling shakes, Nightmare Moon raising her head to the ceiling as Celestia and Doug flinch backwards. She swiftly turns to look at Doug again; he grimly nods as the tendrils split, tightly clasping each of his hands, binding him to his chair.

"Creature, thou amuse us. Thou know'st better than to resist our might, thou thinkest one's self so clever to try to placate us with trinkets or goodwill. So, ask one boon, creature. Make your choice. Dost thou wish to be free?"

Doug deliberates for a few seconds; Nightmare Moon walks to the open window, looking at the night sky outside, a smile at the pure white moon. Doug says, in as eloquent a tone as his whimpering chest can manage, "Your Majesty, I would have asked for you to keep my family safe, but your mercy has shown that request is unnecessary. Instead, I plead that you keep Princess Celestia under house arrest, in this house." The tendrils spread to his legs as he looks over at Celestia who barely manages a nod, the tendrils around her horn completely covering it and spreading across her mane and face. Her head bows to the table, resting just above the wood as he continues, his voice slightly steadier, "She will not attempt to stand in your way, she will use no magic, and nopony will leave this house, until your reign is finally complete."

Nightmare Moon turns, staring into Doug's eyes, a hard look that seems to peer into his very soul. He sees, inside her eyes, the image of a television set turning on, a hideous visage laughing at him. A look of terror spreads over his face as he cannot help but continue staring into the teal abyss. A smile creeps over her face, "Oh, thou hast a silver tongue, creature." She turns, her gaze wandering to the empty moon outside, pondering his words for a few seconds before her head whips back, her mane billowing away from her.

"No." The single word echoes through the farmhouse as she cackles madly. Her horn lights up as she sneers at Doug, the dagger leaving an afterimage of blue as it teleports away with a soft crack. The tendrils wrapping themselves around Doug's arm sprout barbs, digging into his flesh, only growing more painful as he twitches back and forth. He gasps, blood seeping from the punctures as plaintive cries come from the fillies, growing louder and louder as Nightmare Moon begins moving.

Nightmare Moon slowly takes a step towards him, the weighty step of an executioner, punctuated by a flick of her head as the sound of a crying colt abruptly disappears. The other cries grow urgent, their desperate fear plain as the night around them as their screaming intensifies. Doug grimaces, tears forming in his eyes, struggling vainly against his bonds as the tendrils tighten, his arms and legs immobilized.

Nightmare Moon takes another step forward, laughing as he struggles. Her mouth twists up, her smile mocking him as her head turns slightly to the side, another of the screams going out as the chair rocks back and forth.

Another high pitched voice disappears as Nightmare Moon closes the distance with one final step, the last two screams turning to frantic pleas for their life and cries for their Daddy. They grow quiet only as the fillies run out of breath, three pathetic whimpers the only sounds breaking the silence. Nightmare Moon smirks, nuzzling Doug's head with her own, a quiet, "Shhh," as she slowly glances towards the foals room. A brief nod of her head, then a swipe to the side, and the last two crying fillies go silent, Doug's choked sobs now the only noise punctuating the otherwise silent farmhouse.

A bloody dagger levitates from the foals room, encased in a dark blue aura, a few bits of brown, and tan, and yellow hair clinging to the blade. It meanders through the air, a leisurely waltz before embedding into the table.

Nightmare Moon whispers in Doug's ear as he stares blankly at the dagger, "This is what happens to those that think themselves clever, creature." Nightmare Moon smiles at the bound Celestia, "And we do this for thou, dear sister, so thee can know the pain of something you love wrenched away, powerless to stop it." Celestia flinches, a quiet sob from the alicorn as Nightmare stands, "It appears somepony is calling for thou, sister. We Shall See Thee Again Soon!" Nightmare Moon disappears with a loud crack as Doug closes his eyes, his body trembling as blood drips from his arms and onto the chair, pooling at his bound feet.

Author's Notes:

Spoiler because it is.
Grandfather: The fillies don't get killed by Nightmare Moon at this time.
Grandson: What?
Grandfather: Nightmare Moon doesn't get them. Now, I'm explaining to you because you look nervous.
Grandson: I wasn't nervous. Well, maybe I was a little bit concerned, but that's not the same thing.
Credit to The Princess Bride