I looked at myself in the mirror. The perfect costume. Other ponies might be a pirate, but I had an actual pegleg! I hobbled around my room getting used to the feel of the wood piece. This was going to be a great Nightmare Night.

I walked along towards Shy's cottage. Wait until she saw my costume! Before I went another step I lost my balance and fell over. My head ached. I tried to stand, but couldn't pull myself up. I felt a shiver run down the back of my neck. What was wrong with me? As quick as my headache had come, it was gone. I shook my head and stood up. What had happened? I looked around, my eyes stopping to stare at the lights in town. Everything was all decorated and lit up for the holiday. I found myself smiling. This was going to be a good night.

I knocked on the cottage door. "Please go away! Nopony's here!" What? "Shy?" There was silence for a moment before I heard a soft whisper. "Speedy?" The door opened slowly. She looked around outside and then dragged me inside. What the hay was up with her? "What's wrong?" She didn't answer immediately. She ran around the cottage making sure that the windows were covered and the door was locked. Fed up with the manic behavior, I grabbed her. "Shy! What's the matter?" She stared at me. "I...I...I don't want anypony to know I'm here." What was this all about?

We moved over to the couch and sat down. I put my hoof on hers and gave her a comforting smile. "Why don't you tell me about it?" She looked nervous. No...she seemed....scared? She took a deep breath. "Nightmare Night is my least favorite night of the year. All of the decorations and the costumes and everything that focuses on....Nightmare Moon. It scares me." I pulled her into a hug. "There's nothing to be afraid of. Nightmare Moon doesn't exist anymore and Nightmare Night is a night for fun. Not for fear. Do I look scary?" For the first time she noticed my costume. Her eyes widened for a moment before they closed. She had begun to laugh.

I was deeply confused. "Shy?" She lowered the laugh to a giggle. "I'm sorry. It's just....you look funny." I looked down at my costume. Vest, sword, pegleg, and a bandana on my head. What was so funny? Fluttershy's giggle returned to a laugh and I playfully pushed her. "Go ahead. Wait until I get you a costume for tonight." The laughter stopped instantly. "Me? No. I can't. I..." I gave her another hug. "I'll be with you all night. And so will our friends. It'll be fun. Now let's find you a costume."

It took me a good part of the hour, but I finally finished with her. I stepped back to look at my handywork. Not bad. Fluttershy stood there wearing an almost identical costume to mine, minus the pegleg and adding an eyepatch. And then I had gone the extra mile and given her a brief makeover. She now had a scar that went on either side of the patch, a little dirt to look piratey, and I had deliberately messed up her beautiful mane a bit. I saluted her. "Welcome aboard Captain Fluttershy." She slowly turned towards her mirror and flinched. "Is...is that me?" I put a hoof on her shoulder. "It is. You are now a pirate captain. And I'm your first mate. Are you ready to pillage the town and take on Nightmare Night?" She looked at me in horror. I laughed. "Sorry. Pirate talk. We're going to have fun. Let's set sail for Ponyville!"

We arrived in town to find Nightmare Night in full swing. Everypony in town was in costume and walking around enjoying the festivities. I nudged Fluttershy. "See? It's going to be fun."

"CITIZENS OF PONYVILLE!!!"

A bolt of lightning struck the ground, shaking the whole square. When the lightning disappeared, Princess Luna was standing on the street. She smiled. "You started the party without me?" Twilight ran up to her. "Luna! Welcome back!" The rest of the town started to walk forward, welcoming our princess. I began to move forward when I realized that Shy was crouching behind me. She was shivering slightly. I pulled her up. "It's okay. It's only Luna. She was just having a little fun. She's not going to hurt us."

Fluttershy slowly stood and followed me over to Luna. Luna's eye's fell on us and she smiled. "Fluttershy. Speedy. How are you faring?" I bowed my head. "Well enough." Fluttershy smiled a little. "H-hi Luna." Luna stepped forward and hugged Fluttershy. "It is good to see you again my friend." Shy visibly relaxed. "It's good to see you too." As they pulled apart the rest of town was gathering in for their 'Hello's. Luna greeted each pony in turn as we backed away to the edge of the crowd. The rest of our friends joined us. Applejack tipped her hat back. "Sure is nice that everypony's comfortable around her this year." I looked at her. "What do you mean?" Twilight sighed. "Last year was Luna's first Nightmare Night since she had been freed. It was...a difficult transition for her. But now she's not seen as Nightmare Moon anymore. Everpony likes her." I nodded in understanding.

We waited for the crowd to thin. I watched Luna, noticing she was beginning to look a bit uncomfortable. I voiced my opinion to the others. Rainbow rolled her eyes. "That's because she came for a party, not to shake a bunch of hooves." We all laughed, but I still watched the princess.  She seemed more than uncomfortable. At one point I thought I saw her wince slightly. And then a memory flashed through my mind. "It must be the holiday. It can't be easy when there's a whole night centered around your previously-evil self." The mares looked at me in shock. Rarity gasped. "Speedy! What an awful thing to say about the princess." I shook my head. "Don't you think she might be a little put off since we focus on Nightmare Moon instead of Princess Luna?" That got them thinking. Twilight was the first to speak. "I guess that makes sense, but how can you be sure that's what's bothering her?" I shuffled my hooves for a moment.

I guess I should tell them. It's not as if it was some terrible act. I cleared my throat and looked around at my friends. "Luna and I have been writing each other." The amount of open mouths I could see was unbelievable. The only unsurprised face was Pinkie. "Cool! You write letters to a princess too? That's what we do! Except we write to Princess Celestia and not Luna. I bet she writes cool letters. Not to say the princess doesn't write cool letter, but-" She was cut off as a hoof was put over her mouth. Twilight's shock turned to confusion. "Why do you write to Luna?" I felt a hoof fall on my shoulder before I could answer.

I turned around to find the hoof's owner was Luna. "We've been writing because I've been helping Speedy with the...challenges that he faces. We both have dark pasts that are best left untouched." This seemed to satisfy the group. I smiled up at Luna. "Exactly. Discord has messed with my head too often. Luna is the only one that understands having a dark force like that running through your head." The others nodded as they began to understand. Rainbow jumped into the air. "Enough of this serious stuff! Let's have some fun!" We all shouted our agreement and began Nightmare Night.

Pumpkin tosses, bobbing for apples, tasty treats, laughing, running, screaming. It was great. Even Fluttershy got into the spirit of things. She was laughing right along. Luna would scare some ponies every once in a while, sending them laughing and screaming. Every time though, she seemed to flinch in pain afterwards. After this happened for a fourth time, I let Shy go off with Twilight and Rarity while I walked up to Luna. "Some night huh?" She looked at me and smiled. "Yes. It's fun. I am enjoying myself greatly." I motioned over to the side of the square and she nodded. We walked over and sat down in a shadowed spot where none would see us easily and interrupt.

I took a closer look at Luna and could see the worry in her face. "What's wrong?" She shook her head. "It's nothing. Nothing you need worry yourself about." I'm sure she could see I didn't believe her. She sighed, lowering her gaze. "This night is too much of a reminder to me of...." She couldn't bring herself to say it. I nodded. "I know. You told me that much in your last letter. Is that why you look like you're in pain." She rubbed her head. "It's just a headache. Nothing more. I'll be fine." I still didn't fully believe her, but I guess it was the best answer I was going to get tonight. My body shivered and my muscles tensed. I closed my eyes and tried to calm down. Luna looked at me. "Speedy?" I opened my eyes and looked up.

Luna's eyes were filled with worry. I winced as another shudder ran through me. "Does Nightmare Night have anything to do with Discord?" She looked surprised. "I...I don't believe so, but this is a night centered on an evil spirit. Perhaps that means other spirits can cause trouble as well. Discord hasn't done anything to you, has he?" I shook my head. The pain stopped and I relaxed. Luna put a hoof on my shoulder. "Do not fear it. Discord can do you no harm. It is merely the night that's stirring you, like me." I nodded. "Evil attracts evil. It makes sense." We sat in the shadows silently for a moment, watching ponies go between the different activities.

I heard a sigh from Luna and looked at her. "Something wrong?" She continued watching the square. "This is one of the few times I get to enjoy myself. I'm always so busy with the night or preparing for the night." I nodded. "And yet you do amazingly well for only having been gone for a thousand years." I saw the faintest hint of a smile. "One never entirely loses a skill once it's been learned. Even though I'm in Equestria again, I still spend most of my time alone. I only see Celestia for a few minutes some days." I put my hoof on hers. "Sounds lonely. No offense, but I could never handle being royalty." She laughed. "I'm sure you couldn't. And you're right. It is a lonely existence." I nudged her. "You have your sister." Her head lowered. "Family is not the same as...." She trailed off. What was she getting at?

She kissed me.

Shocked silence was followed by a flurry of hooves and feathers as Luna flew off into the night. Everypony in the square looked up, seeing their princess disappearing into the sky. They were obviously confused why Luna was leaving. I hadn't moved an inch. What the hay had just happened? Had she just... Did we actually.... But.... WHAT THE HAY HAD JUST HAPPENED?!

I walked out into the square as ponies continued to question where Luna had gone. To my misfortune Twilight, Fluttershy and Rarity appeared at that moment. They looked around at the confused ponies. Twilight spotted me. "Speedy! What's going on?" I walked up to the trio. "Luna left." They joined the already large collection of confused faces and looked up at the sky. Rarity sat down. "Why would she do that? It's very unlike a princess to leave without bidding farewell." I shrugged.

I turned to Shy. "I was thinking of heading home. You want me to walk you to your place?" She looked concerned. "Are you feeling okay?" I forced a smile. "Yeah. Just tired. If you want to stay that's fine with me." She stared at me for a second. "You're sure?" I nodded. She gave me a small smile and kissed me on the cheek. "Go get some rest." I rubbed my cheek to hers. "Thanks." I turned and left the square without another word.

I closed my door behind me and then fell against it. What was going on? Luna and I are talking and out of nowhere she kisses me? Why? Was I wearing a sign that said 'Free Kisses'? I began to pace through my house. What did I do now? What should I do? Should I tell anypony? Celestia? Fluttershy? I stopped pacing instantly. No. I...I couldn't tell anypony. Not yet at least.

You could tell me. Even though I already know about it.

I froze. A familiar chill ran down my spine. I looked around. I was in my bedroom. There was a mirror standing in the corner. It began to glow faintly. The light grew brighter and then moved to the center of the glass, forming the too familiar shape of Discord. His image formed fully and he smiled.

Hello Speedy.

"You...you can't be here."

I'm not. I just have a little extra energy tonight so I could actually appear to you.

"What do you want?"

I'm here to listen. Now talk.

Listen? Talk? Why was Discord so interested in hearing what I had to say?

TALK!

"She kissed me alright! And I don't know why!"

Discord chuckled. He snapped his fingers and a glass of chocolate milk appeared in his hand. He took a sip and then looked at me.

Isn't it obvious? She likes you.

"Why would she like me?"

Discord flashed a sinister smile and his head disappeared. In its place, Luna's head flashed into existence. She opened her mouth. "Speedy! You're the only one that understands me!" Her head flashed out and Discord's head returned. He was still smiling. I narrowed my eyes. "Stop." He didn't respond for a moment, taking another sip of his milk. He finished the glass and threw it behind him.

You've both been hosts for evil spirits. But there are still traces left. Like you said earlier this evening; 'Evil attracts evil'.

I sat down. Could he be right? Had we some how connected through our dark pasts? I shook my head. We couldn't have. I didn't have feelings for Luna....Did I? I looked up at Discord.

"You're not in control of me. And Nightmare Moon is nothing but a memory."

True. But Luna still feels her darker nature in her mind. She never lets it out of course. And you took on a bit of my personality, so you have a sliver of evil in you even if you rarely use it.

"This insane. I...I can't. I already love Fluttershy!"

I know. But I also know that the minute Luna kissed you, you began to have feelings for her beyond friendship.

"You're lying."

Don't believe me? Why don't you go and see her again? See if you can tell her directly that you don't care.

"I don't love her!"

Now who's lying?"

I screamed and kicked my back legs against the mirror. It shattered and fell out of its frame. A thousand pieces of glass lay scattered across the floor. I sat down as tears came to my eyes.

Tonight is the one night where I have enough energy that could teleport you to the castle.

"Why would I want to go there?"

To talk to her. You obviously don't want to talk to me.

I wiped away the tears and my gaze hardened. I looked down at the shards to see the broken face of Discord still staring at me. He held up his fingers, ready to snap.

Well?

I continued to stare at him. And then I gave him a curt nod. He snapped his fingers.

I materialized in an elegant room. The first thing I noticed was the huge bed with midnight blue sheets. As I gazed around, my eyes looked up. The entire ceiling pictured the night sky and all of its constellations. I was in Luna's room. It was at that moment of realization that the balcony doors opened and Luna landed. As her wings folded, she noticed me and froze. "How did you-?" She couldn't finish her own sentence. I stepped forward. "Why?" Her eyes widened. "Speedy-" I stomped my hoof, electricity sparking where I hit the floor. "WHY?" The doors opened behind me and two guards ran in. "Who are you? What are you doing in here?" I turned to the guards and smiled, feeling the power growing within me. "No trouble here boys. I'm a friend of the princess. She wants me here. You can go back to your duties." Their eyes glazed over and they nodded, backing out of the room and closing the doors.

Luna's eyes were still wide. I stepped closer to her. "Why did you kiss me?" She began to walk around me. "Discord did something, didn't he?" I shrugged. "He only got me to Canterlot. After that, I guess I still have some of my own power left. Now answer me!" Her eyes grew sad and she sat down. "I'm sorry. I...You...From the moment we first talked those short months ago, I began to have feelings for you. We Have so much in common and you're the only pony who truly understands the struggles I go through with my past. I...I love you." My anger faded and was replace by confusion and grief. I felt a single tear roll down my cheek. "Luna....I don't know what to say." The tears were welling up in her eyes. "Tell me the truth."

I walked right up to her and stared into her eyes. "I...did feel something. I'm not sure what it was, but think about it. Why me? I already have a marefriend..." She nodded. "I know. I can't help having these feelings though. This is the first time I've really felt....love. I've never been in love before you." My jaw dropped slightly. "You...you've never been in love?" She half laughed-half cried. "It's not easy for my kind to have such feelings. We rarely have mates. And we never have these feelings unless they're true. So when I say I love you....I love you." I couldn't speak. What would I have said anyways?

Luna leaned closer. "Speedy. What did you feel when we kissed?" I blinked a few times, trying to understand what I had just heard. When it registered I thought about it. "I...I felt....I don't know." Without a response, she leaned in and kissed me again for the second time that night. I felt something stir in the back of my head. Without thinking, I returned the kiss.

The doors flew open to reveal Celestia. I jumped back from Luna and fell over as something snapped in my fake leg. Celestia looked between the two of us. I tried to read her expression, but it was impossible. I felt her magic surround me and levitate me to a standing position. "Can you walk?" I nodded, never meeting her gaze. "Than follow me." Luna stepped forward, but froze. My guess was that Celestia had stared her into being silent. She began to leave the room and I hobbled after her. I looked back as the doors closed to Luna's room. Luna was crying. Next Chapter: The Letters Estimated time remaining: 28 Minutes