The sun moved across the sky as the evening drew near; the shadows lengthened, ponies finished their work for the day and went back to their families to spend the last few precious hours in relaxation. Unbeknownst to the sunlight dwellers, the night gained power and gathered in the ancient ruins of the Summer Palace, spelling a change in the entire world soon to come. The accursed forest surrounding it was certain to change – be changed – as well, for order cannot stand uncertainty and inconsistency that chaos is. An iron grip was thought to be required, and it would soon clasp around the Everfree and squeeze tightly.

Far from the forest, oblivious to what was happening inside it, Celestia dined alone in the Canterlot Castle. She chewed slowly, looking at the entrance doors from time to time in wait. Subconsciously, she shifted her weight from leg to leg as time passed, sometimes lightly tapping the front hooves against her seat. Luna was rarely late, and it seemed like forever since the dinner began. Was she busy again or trouble got to her?

Celestia let out a soft sigh – she must not overthink. However, she couldn't help it; her sister had enemies, and although raids were successful in capturing more sunlight fanatics, one could never be too certain. The daylight alicorn could not not worry – the return of her sister was chaotic, and she feared it could not last. However, despite her attempts, the sisters remained distant – perhaps not in hostility, but... in a lack of trust. Celestia never imagined reconciling with her sister would be so difficult.

The guards stationed in the dining hall were still as ever, paying attention to the surroundings and not bothering to think about what went through the head of their princess. Their duty was to stand guard and protect the princess - princesses - with their lives. Some of them might dream of things becoming more personal, but every single guard knew it was impossible. Celestia went for centuries without looking for a suitor, why would she start it now?

The maids who served the food might have their own thoughts about the princesses, but they would not voice it outside of private conversations. Generations of maids served in the castle, and their job remained ever monotonous, but the Crown paid well. There was no need to worry about anything for either the maids or the guards.

Until Princess Luna returned to the surprise of many, and Andromalius appeared out of nowhere, the status quo remained unbroken for many decades. Legends about the sister-princess were somewhat well-known, but no one expected a demon to appear inside the walls of Canterlot Castle alongside her. Uncertainty rose and rumors spread – to some, Andromalius was a mysterious figure, and many legends, both known and obscure, resurfaced as the populace tried to figure out who he was and what he came to Equestria for. To others, he was a suspicious being whose place would be in Tartarus or, at least, away from Equestria. And to a select few, he was an unknown variable appearing in a long-standing plan of dominance and control.

Things promised to become interesting after the hell stallion saved a guard from death by rushing him to the hospital. Was Andromalius a noble and kind being contrary to how demons were often portrayed in stories and legends? When he appeared out in the open again, fewer treated him with suspicion, yet doubt remained. After all, looks did matter after all...

Some heard he began working somewhere, to the surprise of many. Was he just like a regular person? However, these thoughts were quickly overshadowed by his sudden escape. Many would talk about it afterwards,describing him as a fireball of speed flying through the city, avoiding the guards in his pursuit effortlessly. After stealing a train right as the guards were about to reach him, he departed to parts unknown. And yet, this was where his story seemed to end – the train was blown up, and he was presumed dead.

Some, however, believed otherwise. Such an interesting being couldn't simply appear and die so quickly... could he? The official position on the matter was clear – he was dead, killed while attempting an escape and resisting arrest. What was his crime? That was not known. However, this did not stop rumors from spreading. Some said he survived, albeit was now without a body; others believed he managed to escape still; few believed him to be captured and held in prison secretly.

The guards' job was to keep any possibility in mind as long as it concerned the safety of the princesses. If Andromalius were to return, they would have to capture him and bring him before Celestia and Luna. Not all guards agreed on it, however, and one guard in particular could find no reason to believe the official position despite his loyalty to the Crown.

This very guard was now on duty, faceless to the eyes of the princesses. After his injury, he declined early retirement and returned to his work shortly after Andromalius escaped. He walked now through the halls of the castle, in his grasp – a sealed letter. The wax seal was a crescent moon, addressee – Celestia herself. The scar on his side itched – a sign of nervousness. Should he... or shouldn't he?

With a sigh, he put the letter back into his side pouch and continued his way through the castle to the dining hall. Whatever this letter contained was none of his business despite how he might have felt. Even if this letter could be a clue to the whereabouts of the one who saved him... if he was still indeed alive.

The temptation was high. Just a paper tear away... and then he could run. Maybe he could lie if asked instead, conjure up a reason. He needed to know. Such things could not be forgotten, for he owed his survival to the mysterious demon, and learning what he could about him was paramount.

No, it wouldn't be right. His duty was to serve the princesses, not look into what didn't concern him. He swore an oath to them, and he must uphold it until his very death, for it was an honorable thing. Not just anyone could join the Royal Guard, and he intended to serve his role dutifully and diligently.

But how could he forget about the one who saved him from certain death, the one who rushed without restraint, practically flying through the streets? Andromalius didn't need to care, yet he did. He was a demon, a suspicious being, but what the guard saw that night was undeniable – the hell stallion was not, he could not be evil. No matter if he looked straight out of Tartarus, no matter how he sounded, he was first and foremost... his savior.

He would search for him, he would find the hell stallion. Honorbound, the guard could not simply forget this life debt. But for now, he must deliver the letter. Being rash wouldn't be good for him, his training reminded.

"Letter for the princess," he spoke automatically as he neared the dining hall door. One of the guards by the door nodded and opened it, allowing him to enter.

There Celestia sat, absentmindedly making the food float just slightly above the plate. Her eyes, for a moment, lit up as she saw the guard come in, but the glow quickly diminished when she saw who it was. Nevertheless, she made a polite smile appear on her face despite her eyes not quite reflecting it.

"Good evening, protector Shield Bearer," she greeted him semi-casually – her usual way of addressing the guards during relaxed hours, "How is your side if I may ask?"

"It doesn't bother me," he replied, not surprised the princess recognized him. Despite the identical armor and enchanted looks, it was not an obstacle for the alicorn of the day, "I have a letter for you, my princess. From your sister, Princess Luna."

"Oh? Very well, let me take a look," Celestia said with interest, and the letter was open in but a moment. Judging by how quickly her eyes shifted from the parchment back to the guard, the letter was short; a hint of a frown appeared on the face of the princess, "Tell me... by any chance, have you seen my sister?"

"I believe the last time I saw her was in the morning," Shield Bearer replied after a moment of thinking, "Is there something wrong, my princess?"

"...No, I don't think so," Celestia said, although a hint of worry betrayed her otherwise calm voice. Then she put the letter back into the the envelope, "Can you please deliver the letter to my chambers? I might have need of it after I'm finished here."

There it was, the opportunity. The seal was broken, the letter was now free to be accessed by anyone. There was his chance, all without the slightest risk.

"Of course, my princess," Shield Bearer said in a neutral tone, the usual tone of the guards, "I will do it right away."

Hiding his excitement, he took back the letter and exited the dining hall. As he disappeared from view of the nearby guards, he stopped and pulled out the letter to read it.

Dear sister,

I need to inform thee I may have a clue for the whereabouts of the possible traitors. I shall be tracking them personally, and I cannot allow others to know when I departed and where I headed. This letter could fall under the wrong eyes, for I have reasons to believe the guards are compromised.

Compromised? She likely didn't mean him, but then whom did she think of? Were there guards... plotting against the princesses? Eager to learn more, he continued to read:

Despite the supposed death of Andromalius,-

Supposed death. It was not certain, Shield Bearer noted.

-the possible conspirators did not lay low. I have all the reasons to believe they still operate in Canterlot and perhaps in certain other places. I shall return when my investigation is concluded, but until then I shall send no letter and send no messengers. Until all things are done, I cannot return, for my deeds must remain secret for now.

Luna

This didn't give him much information, unfortunately. He quickly put the letter back in the envelope and headed to Celestia's personal chambers. What he did now know was the departure of Princess Luna to search for the so-called traitors, and the official position on Andromalius was unconfirmed. What was brewing inside the Canterlot Castle?

A frown crept onto his face. If he was thinking correctly, this letter bluntly said someone was conspiring against the benevolent princesses, but the lack of information left too much to the imagination. However... could Andromalius have fallen into a trap, could it be a step in the hidden plan?

Shield Bearer must be vigilant now and be careful with whom he could share this information... if he could do it at all without putting himself and the princesses at risk.

Perhaps Andromalius would know more, for he was rumored to having spent most of his time with Princess Luna. Last the stallion heard of him, he was presumed dead at the edge of the Everfree Forest. However, there was a possibility, however small, that he managed to survive and heal. Quite a few guards were ordered to patrol the edge of the forest, leaving barely a possibility for escape. If Andromalius could teleport and used it, it would've been detected. If he tried to cross the edge on hoof, he would be spotted. He had no wings, so hiding among the ever-moving clouds above the forest and escaping that way was not an option unless, by some strange demonic miracle, he managed to grew wings after his escape.

If he indeed managed to survive even in this accursed forest, he would remain in hiding until things calmed down, it was the logical thing to do. Shield Bearer needed to find out the truth, and so he must venture into the forest. However, the guards were explicitly forbidden from entering it, for the dark trees hid many dangers from sight. Timberwolves, manticores, hydras, and worse creatures inhabited the Everfree Forest, their presence serving as a warning to all who may dare enter.

However, there was a legend, a myth – someone lived inside the forest and had no fear of the lurking dangers. A pony, a griffin, maybe a zebra, this was unknown. However, if one were to find them, they would no longer have to fear the forest as long as the guide is by their side.

A plan began forming in his head, but he needed some time to think before he acted, for his decision could prove to be irreversible.

The skies darkened in the final hours of twilight, and the sun was at its last rays. The shadows were long and soft, covering the land in a deep evening shade. The moon slowly rose, bright and clear in its pale majesty, its pleasant light slowly creeping over Equestria. One by one, the stars appeared, seemingly blinking into existence as the blank blue canvas turned to deep black.

Nightmare Moon returned to the long-abandoned personal chambers of Luna to rest and get ready for the nights to come. Her grand plan, her design begged to be fulfilled, yet her new body was a limit she couldn't easily bypass. As her eyelids grew heavier by the moment, she collapsed on the old bed, welcoming its dusty but unusually comfortable sheets. Finally, she could feel it, she could experience the world yet again.

Throughout her time on the moon, there was only rock and dust. No life, no change in the environment except craters filled with the same rock and dust. For a thousand years, she somehow survived on the barren satellite of her world, watching over it without being able to do anything.

When her return filled her with a sense of freedom, it was quickly taken away as the Elements tore off her very soul and then cut it in two, leaving her both without a body and without a feeling of being whole. Each day passed agonizingly slow as she was forced to watch through Luna's eyes all that was happening, unable to do a thing about it. If she was there when the cultists attacked, nothing but ash would be left of them. She would root them out, overturn the entire city if she had to, but she would do it quickly, and she would punish them harshly.

Yet, she could only dream of it until Luna willingly came at the nexus of her powers, the very birthplace where she was made through dark magic and Luna's will. It felt good to be... home.

"Was it thy plan all along?" the voice of Luna appeared as the Queen of the Night dreamed, "To lure me in and take over?"

"Plan?" Nightmare Moon replied, her spirit strong in the dream realm, uninhibited by the limitations of the physical world, "No plan surviveth the meeting with reality. I merely pick opportunities to act. Thy methodical approach doth not work as well as thou thinkst it should, dear Luna."

Irritated by the inefficiency of her maker, annoyed and angered by the state of the world, Nightmare Moon could not skip a chance to make her discontent known, for it was her time now. The time of darkness, the time of night was now, and she needed to make it known as well.

"Thou'rt going to ruin everything I'm working on," Luna continued, ignoring her reply, "Thy way will not work, I realized it."

"Under thy leadership, it could not," the Queen retorted, feeling her anger rise. How could her maker say such things? "Thou wast always too soft, too uncertain in thine actions... But I am not. Remember, thou madest me to make thee stronger."

"And I realized my mistake," the alicorn of the night countered, "Thou didst not make me stronger, only more ruthless, less caring. This is what caused our banishment!"

"I have the strength to do what is right!"

"And how much doth the world need to suffer because of it?!" Luna yelled, "Dost not thou understand? Changing the day and night cycle would break many things! It would cause wars! How canst thou be so dismissive about it?"

Suddenly, Luna found it impossible to talk. The possession spread, the will of Nightmare Moon overpowering her own. In some way, the Queen of the Night felt satisfaction over being stronger than her maker. This freedom, this independency was almost intoxicating as she felt the power coursing through her spirit, stronger than ever before. She would certainly need a new body to reflect it, for the mortal form of Luna couldn't possibly accommodate her. Perhaps she would start the process... tomorrow.

"The world must change," the dark alicorn spoke to Luna, "Thou knowest it as well as I do. The world must be reshaped, remade. I can't allow thee to stop me, not when I have the chance to do what is right. Or dost thou give up? Dost thou surrender despite what thou hast seen?"

A silent pause lasted for a few seconds – Luna had nothing to say.

"Thou'rt not ready to do what it takes to destroy suffering, once and for all. It will require sacrifice, it will need the full strength of will. But 'tis what must be done. The suffering might be great as the world changes, but dost thou think continuing the existing suffering is a better option? I can lead the change, for I was created for it," Nightmare Moon continued, her voice becoming calmer, "I... I am grateful for this life, dear Luna. Despite our history, despite the missteps... I am truly thankful for the chance to be alive and make this world a better, more beautiful place. For this is my purpose, this is how thou madest me. Perhaps thou hast lost the vision, perhaps thou'rt fooled like thy sister is... But all things shall be revealed in time, and thou shalt see the truth. Now, sleep, for thou needst rest, and so do I."

Before Luna was even able to think of any objections, the void of dreamless slumber took both their souls.

Andromalius had no sleep in his eyes as he walked around the Summer Palace. His steps echoed as his hooves clicked against the exposed stone, the soft carpet having rotten away a long time ago. He wandered aimlessly, his mind anxious with the thoughts of the future. Unwillingly, he was playing a role much bigger than he was ready for, and yet it was unavoidable. Every choice he made, every choice Luna made, led to this moment, and going back was not an option he could choose.

The hell stallion had no firm opinion about the concept of free will or determinism, but he found it hard to see how things could've turned out differently. Other options, options he didn't pick when the decisions were made, only became apparent when he gained the kind of knowledge he couldn't get without experiencing the decisions in questions - the knowledge of hindsight. The benefit of it could only appear after the outcome became apparent and not a second, not a moment earlier.

Was there such a thing as fate, then? Were his actions predetermined without his knowledge? Could anyone possess such knowledge in the first place? And if no one could... Was the direction of fate aimless, was destiny blind?

These were the questions he never thought about. Of course, questions about his own existence came up from time to time, but he never seriously considered them. After all, his path was clear to him then – finish school, finish college, and get a stable job. A standard fate for many people, perhaps, yet t was the clearest. Now, however, his future was clouded and uncertain... unless the prophecy was right. The prophecy he didn't want to think about.

While wandering, he came into a big hall with tapestries still hanging from the ceiling. There seemed to be more rubble than in the rest of the castle, even a collapsed column lay on its side, overgrown with moss and flowers. A certain kind of atmosphere was in this hall - the one of despair and anger, as well as sorrow and guilt. The ancient emotions continued to linger even after a thousand years, a reminder to the events that took place.

At the far end of the hall, two thrones stood atop the stairs: one painted the colors of the sun and day, and the other of moon and night. Cracked, overgrown, they were but remnants of ancient majesty, now nothing but a sorry sight.

Andromalius walked up to the thrones, looking at them with a distant gaze. Could he imagine himself on a throne, crown atop his head? He made his way to the left throne, the nightly one - the stone was surprisingly comfortable to sit on despite centuries of slow degradation.

He imagined sitting atop his own throne. Would it be inside a giant palace with wonderfully painted walls and amazing gothic architecture? Or would it be a simple castle, purely practical? Would the throne itself be elaborate, decorated with beautiful carvings, maybe even painted with real gold? Or would it be simple like the person he thought he was?

Perhaps as a child, he would want a grand castle with many intricacies. But then, he didn't remember much from his childhood, maybe he didn't actually want what he thought he wanted as a child. Maybe he used to have simple dreams back then as well?

He now found he had no preference when it came to castles and thrones. In truth, he would rather like to see things be practical than grandiose. Would this make him a better ruler than those who lusted for wealth and power? He would like to think so, but doubts remained inside his head.

He imagined all the people gathering in the hall, coming forth to him with their pleas for help, offers, maybe even demands. How would he answer them? How could he know what was the right thing to do? There he was, a visitor offering an alliance to Andromalius' kingdom; a treaty that would make both kingdoms prosper... or it would coerce the hell stallion to declare war on the enemies of the allied kingdom. And then there she was, a beautiful ambassador from distant lands – did she come in peace or would she use her charm to try to control and manipulate him? What about a rich noble pushing his demands that would only further his agenda and hurt many in the process; but if Andromalius refused, precious technology would be destroyed and the entire country would fall, and the rich would escape with their wealth to other countries.

Decisions, one more difficult than the other, awaited him if he took the throne. What obstacles would be in his way before he could even see the said throne was unknown. One thing, for now, was certain – Nightmare Moon, a powerful being with a grand plan for the entire world was on her quest to take over Equestria and bring forth her design. What it truly entailed was uncertain, hidden inside her mind, but he could sense it – things would not remain the same. As with any choice, the consequences would remain hidden until it is made, and Andromalius felt he needed to do something to make sure the said consequences would not lead to ruin and destruction, a possibility that always loomed during the great world-changing events.

He stood up from the throne – his time wasn't there yet. However, what he could do, what he needed to do was to contact Luna... somehow. She would know more both about ruling and Nightmare Moon in particular. If anyone could help him figure out this mess, it was the Princess of the Night, the only person in this whole world whom he could even start to call a friend.

The fate of the entire world might be resting on his very actions... or inaction.

Author's Notes:

I hope I didn't butcher anything because I felt quite sleepy by the end of the chapter. But I hope things are becoming more interesting! It's definitely a lot different compared to what I've written in the original. Now the world is less centered around Andromalius, it is now Andromalius inside the world. Things continue to happen when he's not around, and the web of events is weaved.

However, Andromalius leaves an impact on the world, so it is quite fair for it to... return the favor back to him, so to speak.