A soft exhale flew from Nightmare Moon Nocturnis’s nose like smoke from a train engine as she trudged through her castle’s dark halls. Her slitted turquoise eyes were half-closed as her mind wandered off to the events of her past. The events that all lead up tonight, where she was now, and what she was currently planning. While it was masked well under her wandering expression, it was clear as day that Nightmare Moon was clearly troubled some reason. A reason that was only known to her and to the ones that were lucky or unlucky enough to either hear it from her see it with their own eyes. If they did, it’d be understood why Nightmare Moon felt like she wanted to unleash her magic on her rugs or kick massive holes through the walls around her. For it was because of a specific event that burned into her memory like the acid within her stomach. An event that she spent the last millennium fighting, and failing, to forget. Or at least not let bother her so much.

Nightmare Moon was somepony who liked to think she had a very excellent memory. A type of power that make even the most well-remembering ponies seem like they forget on a regular basis. Even before she became the new replacement for Queen Luna Nightwalker, she was able to recall everything from the slightest detail while in Equestria. Or rather, during her time in the Castle of the Two Sisters while instigating her plan that involved getting Luna to let control her very being. Ever since she had become the Lunar Queen’s new “companion”, Nightmare Moon found herself being graced with the interior of the two sister’s castle. From the gardens, to the kitchens, the sleeping chambers, all the way down to the very room where the sister’s held meetings, court, and trials.

They all genuinely impressed the demonic being in their own right. Sometimes, she found herself unable to resist looking around at what she knew was soon to be her new home. Whenever she didn’t feel like giving Luna honied words and sweet promises, she would give herself a little tour of the castle. Thanks to the fact that only Luna could see her, Nightmare Moon didn’t need to worry about being seen. She made sure to take in every single detail of the Celestia and Luna’s home, from the tallest tower, all the way down to the deepest chamber. It wasn’t just for fun that she did it. At least not entirely. No, she did it because she was preparing for the day. That one fateful day where she’d finally be let in by the broken Lunar Queen, and use her to from the kingdom that she always wanted.

A preparation that was unfortunately stopped by the very pony she sought to destroy.

Despite not choosing her to be her host, Nightmare Moon knew that Celestia was powerful in her own right. While she may not have had the same incredible powers as Luna did, she was more than worthy of her title as the Goddess of the Sun. Even with that knowledge, Celestia didn’t really suit Nightmare Moon’s tastes. She was too soft, to merciful, too lenient and too… bright looking in her opinion. Not quite somepony you’d really want to have as a host when you’re a creature that represents all forms of darkness. Still, Nightmare Moon not to underestimate a future enemy. Especially if they were one of the children of the Pony Goddess herself.

This reason was why Nightmare Moon did not hold back a single iota when she went against Celestia for the first time. She threw everything she had at her disposal while hosting as Luna’s replacement, showing her just how much stronger she had become. Unfortunately, Nightmare Moon ended up getting too caught up in the heat of the fight and got careless. She had eventually gone from trying to swiftly eliminate the threat, to taking joy in causing her as much pain as possible. The Dark Queen didn’t know whether she had let herself get too much of a thrill from tormenting Celestia, or if it was Luna wanting to take a bit of control back. Whatever the case, she let the fight drag out longer than she intended it to be.

Nightmare Moon supposed that it really was Luna emerging from within. Wanting to finally take her revenge on her sister for all the decades of cruelty once and for all. It would make sense as to why she had suddenly decided not to finish Celestia off quickly. Yet it was that very same reason that ended up with Nightmare Moon being overwhelmed by the Celestia and losing in their fight. This led to her being forced to retreat with the followers she managed to gain and work together to think of a plan to thwart Celestia for good. It took months of planning, operating and campaigning, but they were months that Nightmare Moon used efficiently. Her loss against Celestia was the result of this, and she made sure each of her troops were ready for anything Celestia may have thrown at her. But even that could not have prepared the Goddess of the Blood Moon for what Celestia was going to do next.

It was unlike anything Nightmare Moon had seen before from Celestia. Let alone her and the sister she corrupted. The Solar Queen had whipped out a new power at her foe. One the likes of which the Dark Queen had never seen from the one she called her enemy. Because of her lack of knowledge on the items, Nightmare Moon was unable to properly defend herself against the onslaught of godly magic. In that instant, she felt herself soaring across the sky, into space and plummeting on the very moon she claimed as her own. The one she laid barren and confined on, in chains, for the next one thousand years.

A shudder went down Nightmare Moon’s spine as the memories of that of the famous Blood Moon War stomped away in her mind. The night where she not only lost against Celestia, twice, but felt the magic of the weapons she used on her for the first time. Even at that very moment, she could still feel the overwhelming agony flowing through her body as the divine magic worked itself on her. Nightmare Moon knew the items Celestia had were powerful, but not even she could have anticipated the level of power they would wield. It was the most otherworldly power she had ever felt in her entire existence. One that Nightmare Moon would make absolutely sure that she didn’t feel again.

And she would certainly make sure that none of the little ponies Celestia sent to retrieve them would be able to wield them either. Not if she and her Nightmare and Folkloric Armies had anything to say about it.

‘As if any of those little ponies could so a single thing to a being as powerful as me.’ Nightmare Moon though snidely, teeth clenched slightly as if she was ready to grind them. ‘They’re powerful yes, but they have nowhere near the experience needed to even attempt to stand to me. They will soon learn how much of a mistake it was to try to come and stop me. Even if they have every reason to. Soon they will learn how unwise it is to cross the Queen of the Night.’ She looked up at the massive crystalline doors. The draconic blue-eyed face stared back at her, as if welcoming her to the new room. ‘And I know just the ponies to can teach them that lesson to the fullest extent.’

With her horn glowing, Nightmare Moon slowly opened the doors, the sight of her Nightmare Army being the first thing to greet her reptilian eyes. Her ears were next, picking up the sounds of training and dueling in every corner of the room. Flashes of magic and sparks of battle equipment blinked in and out of existence as swords, knives and blades of all kind clashed and collided with one another’s steel.

Each Nightmare Pony tore through the ground, blasted out their magic, and flew through the air as they hurled themselves at one another. The roars, screeches and yowls they gave would’ve made anypony’s ears bleed from exhaustion. For Nightmare Moon, it was nothing but sweet music to her ears. Music that was loud and powerful enough to make a grin come across the alicorn’s face and whisk away her discomfort.

“Father Nocturnia above, my dear children look like they’re having quite a blast.” Nightmare Moon said to herself as she walked along the interior of her training room. “Perhaps they’re more excited about the incoming war than I anticipated them to be. I may have to rearrange this little training room. Or else they may take it down out of the sheer excitement alone.”

“With how long they’ve been asleep, can you really blame them for feeling more than a little pent up?” A deep and smooth voice quipped, like somepony speaking into another’s ear. “And besides, it’s like you have any room to talk, your Majesty.”

Ears perking, Nightmare Moon looked ahead of her to see a stallion that may as well have passed off as a vampire king or emperor. His coat was whiter than a winter snowfall, making him seem like a pony of the snow, while a mane the color of the earth cascaded down his neck. It framed his fanged handsome face, somewhat obscuring one of his eyes, both of which looked like gleaming orbs of garnet orange. He was dressed in an armor that consisted of a beautiful mixture of purple and black, with the black head of a slitted eyed unicorn glowing within the center of his chest plate. At first, Nightmare Moon didn’t recognize the stallion immediately, but upon seeing the symbol on his chest plate, she realized that it was the leader of her army.

“Oh! Hello my little Alessandro~! So good to see you down here in the Nocturnis Training Chamber~.” Nightmare Moon crooned, her muzzle stretching into a smile. Her bluish white armor shined as bright as the fangs in her mouth as she hugged the stallion. “I must say, I wasn’t completely expecting you to be here in all honesty.”

“Now why would you think that my Queen?” Alessandro asked somewhat playfully, tilting his head to the point where his mane covered one of his eyes. “Have you forgotten what my name means already? It means I am the defender of our kind. And that means that I’m going to be wherever there are others working to defend themselves and those they care about. It shouldn’t really that much of a surprise to find me of all ponies in a place like this.”

Nightmare Moon nodded solemnly. “Yes, it shouldn’t. You are the type of pony one would expect to be the first to try to defend the army behind you. More so if it meant the rest of your brothers and sisters would survive whatever onslaught falls upon you.” Her eyes flickered over to the army in front of them as they continued to train. “I just hope that my dear army will be able to survive the incoming onslaught from Celestia’s own forces.”

“I doubt that anything that your sister can send at us will be of any effect our magnificent army.” Alessandro murmured, snorting a bit as flexed his draconic wings. “The only reason she and her own troops got the drop on us in our last fight is because we underestimated her. And we were not prepared for the backup plan she had. The one that ended up with you being taken from this planet for a whole thousand years.” He clenched his teeth as he squinted his eyes shut. “I can still remember when I could no longer feel your magic anywhere around us in our army. After that, I felt my soul being pulled from by body, along with Baldassare and Nerio, and everypony else. That was the worst pain that I’ve probably ever felt in my life.”

It really was. Now that he thought about it, Alessandro believed that the word pain wasn’t a strong enough word to use for what he felt. The agony that ripped into his very being when he felt his essence being distorted form his body after not being able to sense his beloved Blood Moon Goddess. It was as if the Goddess of Death Selena herself had dropped down from the sky and ripped his and all the Nightmare Army’s souls out simultaneously. All while adding an extra bit of pain to the mix, like somepony’s skin and flesh being ripped off their very bones. It was a pain that was forever engraved into the Nightmare Army Commander’s memory. One that did not go away even in his thousand-year slumber.

“I am sorry for that Alessandro. I can only imagine the suffering you and the whole Nightmare Army were put through. Something that I came to regret each and every day that I spend on my glorious moon.” Nightmare Moon nodded as she stood next to Alessandro, her head bowed in reminiscence. “I just wish that I could have done something more to prevent what happened to all of us. Maybe then I would have been able to keep you all from suffering the fates you did under my sister’s hooves.”

“None of us could have known what Celestia was planning to do to you when you had your rematch.” Alessandro said softly, laying a comforting hoof on Nightmare Moon’s armored shoulder. Or at least, where he thought where her shoulder was. “It was something none of us could have foreseen no matter how deeply we see with our own eyes. But rest assured, we will be prepared for when she tries that trick again. Celestia managed to do it once, but she will not do it again! We don’t fall for the same trick twice.”

“Indeed, whatever methods and tactics Celestia used on us in our last fight will not succeed a second time. Something that we will both make sure comes to fruition.” Nightmare Moon started firmly. “However, I’m afraid that may be a bit harder when it comes to the Elements of Harmony.”

Alessandro gave his Queen a perplexed look. “What do you mean, your Majesty?”

“Before I came into this forest, I happened to take a little tour around the town my sister planned to have her celebration in.” Nightmare Moon explained. “At the end of it, I happened to come across a little library that had a few of my sister’s sun worshiping followers inside of it.” She paused as if she was silently preparing for what she was going to say next. “Including a young dragon cub.”

“A…a dragon cub?” Alessandro asked softly, looking like his Queen had said something truly shocking. “You saw an actual dragon cub in the presence of ponies?!”

“I most certainly did my dear Alessandro. It was an actual living breathing dragon that I saw in the last place I’d ever expect to see one in. Let alone a young cub.” Nightmare Moon replied, looking like she couldn’t believe it herself. She decided to leave out the part where she met Spike in the Town Square, not wanting to get too off topic. “He looked to be quite the formidable one too, despite looking so young. A few scars here and there, but really much else. I believe his name was Spike. He certainly wasn’t a helpless little hatchling, that much I can undoubtedly say. I could tell he was experienced just by looking at him. Very experienced.”

“Blood Moon above…” Alessandro breathed, his tone and face full of awe. “Who would’ve have thought that Celestia managed to get a dragon as one of her followers. It seems like she has gotten more successful in gaining other followers of the sun since you were away.”

“If she’s raised that dragon to be anything like her, then she certainly has. I could tell by the way he was acting around those ponies. Treating them as if they were his friends instead of his food. Much has changed indeed.” Nightmare Moon sighed, giving her tail a flick. “But I am getting off topic. The reason why I bring those ponies up is not because they have a dragon as a pet. It is because they are the ones that Celestia plans to use to overthrow me once more.”

“They are?” Alessandro asked, not getting the picture. “No offense your Majesty, but I fail to see how these ponies are going to overthrow you. It’s not like they are alicorns themselves, are they?”

“Thankfully no. That would make things for worse for me and everypony here.” Nightmare Moon replied, giving an inward shudder at the thought. “But the weapons that she has sent them to get might as well make them all alicorns. The weapons that lay in the confinements of this very castle right now.”

This time, Alessandro was quick to catch on, and he could not refrain a gasp. “Wait…you don’t mean-?”

“Yes, I do. The very weapons that had me imprisoned in the moon I raised.” Nightmare Moon spat out her reply, as if somepony had made her taste something bad. “And now, my sister is sending seven young mares, along with a single guard, to fetch them, awake their power once again, and use them on my for a second time.”

“Really? She sent only seven mares to retrieve the weapons that sent you to the moon? with only one guard to protect them while she and her own army are still preparing themselves?” Alessandro blinked at his Queen, taking a moment to take in his words, even as she confirmed it. Instead of the shock or disbelief Nightmare Moon was expecting, he just let out a humorous chuckle. “My dear sweet Blood Moon. She really has gotten full of herself since she banished you. If Celestia truly thinks that only seven mares will be enough to wield the most powerful weapons in existence, then she is even more insane than we gave her credit for.”

“I would not be too sure about that, my dear Alessandro.” Nightmare Moon said curtly, making the stallion pause. “I do not think that my sister chose those ponies randomly or just by chance. There is something about those mares that I sensed when I faced them. Something so deep and powerful that could only come from beings like the thestrals. I could feel the magic coursing through each of them, and it was anything but mediocre.” Her eyes narrowed as her pupils became thinner, making them look more like a snake’s than a dragon’s. The image of Fluttershy and Goku flickered into her mind like the light from a candle, and the alicorn’s ears pinned back. “I have a feeling that when they get here, they’re going to give us much more than what we’ll be expecting them.”

Alessandro stared at his Queen with the slightest bit of concern. “You do? You really believe they’ll be that much trouble for us your Majesty? Just seven mares and a single guard?”

“I’m not entirely sure really.” The sin black alicorn grumbled, snorting flames of blue from her flared nostrils.“All I do know is that the incoming battle will be one that will decide whether we rise or fall, and those mares will be the ones to decide it.” For the first time since meeting up with the Nightmare Army leader, she locked her slitted eyes with his own. “Which is why I’m going to be giving them a few playmates that will ensure they won’t succeed in this pitiful mission Celestia sent them on.”

“…Playmates?”Alessandro repeated, his worried tone turning to one of curiosity.

Nightmare Moon giggled softly, patting the horned bat ponies head affectionately. “Yes, my lovely. Celestia’s little band of heroes will be giving a few playmates to keep them occupied while we deal with her and the rest of her excuse of an army.” A sadistic grin extended across either side of her mouth as her eyes gleamed. “And those playmates will be…the Savage Seven.”

Had it not been for Nightmare Moon’s exceptionally sensitive ears, she would not have been able to hear Alessandro’s shocked gasp. The rest of the Nightmare Army would have as well if they had heard what their Dark Queen had said. The Savage Seven were ponies that all of them, Alessandro included, knew personally, for they were part of the army that was said to have been defeated countless centuries ago. Each of them consisted of a pony that was from one of Equestrian Secret Clans, all of them powerful in their own right. They were the most powerful members of the Nightmare Army, aside from Alessandro and his second and third in command, all ruthless in their own right. Even though they were all mares, they very well may have been stallions for all the power and wit they held. And crossing any of them was nothing short of a bad idea. Not unless those that did had one tartarus of a death wish.

“Y-you’re really planning on unleashing the most savage group of ponies ever to exist within the Nightmare Army on just seven measly mares?!" Alessandro asked once finally manage to get over shock. “W-with all due respect your Majesty, is that really such a wise idea? I believe you when you say these mares are strong, but are you really sure they’re that strong?”

“I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t see those mares for myself. And the strength that they have coiling within them.” Nightmare Moon stated knowingly, her brows furrowed. “If those mares are as strong as I believe them to be, I cannot take any chances with them. Nor can I go any easy on them with the power they possess.” She ruffled her four wings as she muttered under her breath. “Especially if they have a mare who has powers that make it seem like she’s one of Faust’s angels.”

“What was that your Highness?”

“Nothing, don’t worry about it Alessandro.” Nightmare Moon replied, smiling at the smaller bat winged stallion. “Anyway, are any of the girls here in the training room today?”

“Er, y-yes, they are." Alessandro replied with a stutter. “They’re actually training with Garnet Baldassare and Nerio with the Shadowbolts. Saying something about wanting to go up against somepony who matches them in strength, wit and brains”

Nightmare Moon gave a little eyeroll, but she looked anything but annoyed. “Of course they are. Only the strongest members of this arm would want to test themselves against those who are just as strong.” With a bat of her eyelashes, she reached and brought one of the claws of her four wings under Alessandro’s chin. “Be a dear and fetch them for me, would you my little ‘Sandro? I know they’re going to be so excited for the little playdate I’ll be setting up for them. Along with Baldassare, Nerio and the Shadowbolts themselves.”

“Y-yes my Queen.” Came the reply of a blushing Alessandro as he fought to keep his blush from blossoming on his pale cheeks. “I’ll be right back.”

With a bit of a haste in his step, Alessandro flew into the group of training ponies, ignoring the amused chuckle that came from Nightmare Moon. As soon as he was gone, the sin black alicorn suddenly felt something swell inside of her. She paused for just the shortest of moments, before her eyes lit up, the brightness behind them matching the wideness of her smile. For the sake of looking regal in front of her subjects, she resisted the urge to squeal and trot in place, and instead relented to rubbing her stomach.

“Oh dear me…I knew there was something missing. There’s one more guest that I forgot to bring into this little fray.” She said to herself, as she looked down at her barrel. Her armored hoof rubbed along it as if there was a foal currently inside of it. “Well, I think it’s time I let my little shield out now. She’s been cooped up for long enough, and now it’s time for her to stretch her legs a little.”

An aura of black magic appeared around her horn as she touched the smooth blue ground with a bow of her head. A single pit of pure blackness appeared, and a figure slowly rose from it, having the shape and form of a pony. They were covered in aura so dark that it was nearly impossible to identify them, but as they faded, it the appearances soon became crystal clear. A moment later, Nightmare Moon deactivated her magic and lifted her head to face the pony in front of her, looking pleased at what she saw.

Lying on the ground, looking like she was taking a deep sleep, was mare that may as well have been the heiress of the Dark Queen. She had the same sin black fur as Nightmare Moon’s, her ears and mouth having the tufts and teeth like that of a vampire fruit bat. One significant thing that set her apart from the larger mare, was that her mane and tail skirt were a flowing indigo color, and her four wings were adorned with feathers. Her chest and hooves were covered in dark silvery grey regalia, and a crescent moon dotted shield adorned both her flanks.

“Look at her. She looks so peaceful sleeping like that. I almost feel guilty for waking her up and preparing her for tonight.” Nightmare Moon cooed, feeling her heart began to clench as she watched the mare continue to snooze away. With a sigh, she leaned down and gently nudged the mare on her cheek. “Nyx? Wake up dear. Sleep time is over. It’s time to get up.”

Slowly, almost reluctantly, the smaller alicorn mare opened her eyes revealing two orbs of slitted blue that almost perfectly matched Nightmare Moon’s own. As she looked around her, a gleam of emerald blue could be seen flashing through her eyes while being rubbed by their owner’s hooves. Finally, her gaze settled onto the hulking mare before her and a smile came the reflected the one of Nightmare Moon’s own.

“Hello, my dear Nyx. It is so wonderful to see you again.” Nightmare Moon said softly, looking down at the other mare fondly. “I can’t tell you how much I missed seeing your precious little moon loving face~.”

Nyx smiled up at Nightmare Moon, her own vampiric fangs shining as if they were pearls found in the depths of the water. In a soft voice sweeter than silk, holding a bit of timidity, she replied back, “It’s good to see you again too Mother. How long was I out this time?”

“Longer than I would’ve liked my dear.” Nightmare Moon replied, frowning a bit. “A poor mistake on my part, given just how much time I had that I could’ve used to let you out. It seems that I had gotten a little rusty during my last thousand years on the moon.”

“I have to admit, you weren’t exaggerating when you said that it was going to be a wild ride back down to Equis.” Nyx muttered, rubbing at her head like she had taken a particularly hard hit to it. “It felt like I was riding on a giant comet form out of space. But that’s okay, because you were the comet that were all riding on.”

“Indeed, it was. I apologize if I made you feel nauseous my dear.” Nightmare Moon said, running a black hoof across Nyx’s cheek. “My eagerness had clouded my judgement I finally sensed that I was going to be free from my Moon. I was in such a rush that I did not think about how that rise would be for you and the others. I’m sorry if I made you feel nauseous.”

“That’s okay Mother. I know that you didn’t mean it.” Nyx said comfortingly, nuzzling her ‘mother’ under her chin. “You were just so happy to finally be able to leave the Moon, that’s all. Nopony’s going to get on your case from being free from a prison that kept you from Equis for so many centuries.”

“You and me both.” Nightmare Moon stated dryly. “Anywho, now that you’re all here, there is something that I wish to discuss with you. It concerns whether or not I’ll be able to win against Celestia and get rid of her retched day once and for all.”

“What’s that mother?” Nyx asked, tilting her head to the side. Just before Nightmare Moon could reply, the pale violet mare added, “This wouldn’t have to do with those mares that you saw in that library while I was resting inside of you, would it?”

“Hm…still as sharp as you have always Nyx.” Nightmare Moon praised, making the smaller mare blush and look away. “Well, since you’ve guessed it, it’s only fair that I confirm it. Yes, it has to do with the seven little mares that we all saw earlier. Apparently, they’re planning to make a trek into this very forest to try and take me out by themselves instead of my sister.”

“They’re…doing what?” Nyx asked, blinking in surprise. “That’s what they were planning when we saw them in the library? Trying to come up with a way to stop you instead of Celestia and her own army?”

“I would appear so my dear little Nyxie. While she’s planning to come here herself, my dear sister is sending somepony else to do her dirty work. As per usual. she really hasn’t changed over these last thousand years.” Nightmare Moon replied, spitting the last words out as if they were poison in her mouth. “However, this is not what concerns me as if yet. It’s rather what these ponies are going to use to try and stop me.”

Nyx blinked curiously. “What’s that Queen Moonie? What could those ponies use that’ll stand any chance of even sending you to the ground?”

“Do you all recall how Celestia had defeated me with what I said was, the Elements of Harmony, correct?” Nightmare Moon asked before Nyx nodded. “Well, those seven ponies you saw are coming to this forest to use these weapons to defeat me. Just like how they were used by Celestia do defeat me long ago.”

“Really? hose ponies are gonna use those weapons to beat you for a second time?” Nyx asked, frowning as she recalled the tales her ‘mother’ told her. Of how both Nightmare Moon and Celestia participated in the most brutal war in. Equestrian history with the latter using ‘cheap tactics to come out on top. “No offense Mother, but I didn’t really see anything special about them when I first saw them from within your magical essence. They just looked like ordinary orbs to me.”

“Don’t be so easily fooled by appearances Nyx. Your eyes can deceive you sometimes, so it’s best if you don’t always trust them.” Nightmare Moon advised, thinking back to the tour she took around her castle. She also recalled the shock, anger and indescribably fury she felt when she found the divine weapons that caused her downfall countless years prior. It was not a feeling that Nightmare Moon was eager to remember. Most of all when they were the cause of her suffering, and the unforgettable pain she endured on the moon. “It may not seem like it, but those stones have incredible amounts of magical power within them. I can feel it just by looking at them when I found them. Which is why I’m doing all I can to make sure they aren’t brought back into their original forms again.”

“Hm. When you put it like that, they really do sound pretty dangerous if they’re made to destroy ponies like you mother.” Nyx muttered, thinking over Nightmare Moon’s words. “If you don’t mind me asking though, I would like to know something. Just how powerful are those ponies for you to want to have my best friends be the ones to stop them from being obtained?”

“Enough to where they could unlock the Elements of Harmony, even though none of them are alicorns.” Nightmare Moon replied as her eyes closed, preventing her from seeing the look on Nyx's face. “Then again, they don’t need to be alicorns to be able to wield the most powerful weapons in existence. If they have the right personalities, as I saw from them, that will be all they will need to awaken the Elements and hinder my plans once more or bringing Eternal Night.

“They’re really that strong?” Nyx asked, looking to be in even more disbelief than before. “Gosh…They must really be experts in combat and battle if they’re that much trouble for your Mother.”

“While I highly doubt that they’re that experienced, they are definitely not rookies in training either. That’s why I’m having the members of your little group stop those meddlesome mares in their tracks.” Nightmare Moon concluded, giving a stomp of her hoof as she held her head high. Her eyes then looked ahead of Nyx, and she smiled again. “And it looks like they’re more than ready to make that plan come to fruition.”

Jumping in surprise, Nyx turned around and saw a group of mares that made her mood go as bright as the blood moon shining outside. It was only thanks to Nightmare Moon putting a firm hoof on her shoulder that she was kept from going crazy, and interrupting the Nightmare Army in their training. In front of the group, Alessandro stood tall, looking a little frazzled, but otherwise unharmed from his trek inside of the army. On either side of him were the ponies that Nightmare Moon requested, each of them covered in auras matching the darkness of her black coat.

The first mare in the circle was a unicorn, with a coat that was far darker color than Twilight’s to the point where it was almost indigo. She had a curly two-tone mane and tail skirt in the same style as Sweetie Belle’s, a mixture of dark purple and bright pink, her eyes being the same violet color as Twilight’s own. Her eyes were shadowed an inky black, and her cutie mark was a sword piercing right through a crescent moon. The second mare was an earth pony with a dark ocean blue coat, slightly darker than Crescent Shield’s own, with a long scarlet red mane and tail, her head having a purple bandana around it. Her eyes were the same emerald green color as Applejack’s and her cutie mark was of a trio of oranges. The third mare was a pegasus grayish with a coat the color of gray and blue, and a mane and tail mixed between that of bright purple and aquamarine, and magenta pink eyes, her wings being a combination of all four colors. Her hooves were covered in regalia that had rose colored gemstones on them, and her cutie mark was of a grey cloud with lightning bolts shooting out of them.

The fourth mare in the group was an attractive unicorn mare with a coat as black as coal, and a mane and tail the color of rich lemonade. Her eyes were a deep swirling vortex of midnight blue, with the cutie mark of three shining black gemstones, looking only slightly lighter than her fur. The fourth mare looked like a straight maned version of Pinkie Pie herself, her paler pink coat and her blood red flat mane and tail being the only difference. Her eyes were a shade of blue so pale that they were almost white, and her cutie mark was of a muffin that had red sprinkles on it, along with pony skull. The sixth and final mare was a hybrid between a pegasus and a thestral, her fur being a deep ruby red, with ebony black leather sticking out of her wings. Her similarly colored mane and tail skirt had pure white streaks in them, and her eyes were a menacing dark blue, with her cutie mark being a ball of fire with a bat wing spread out.

“Your Majesty, I have the members of the Savage Seven with me now.” Alessandro stated, standing tall as he saluted his Queen. “Starlight Shadow Majikku, Grayscale, Arashiikimono, Curaçao Sweet Orange Tyrant, Insipid Kesshoryu, Red Velvet Konton, and Havocwing Datenshi, all awaiting further orders.”

“Thank you very much my dear Alessandro. You are dismissed for now.” Nightmare Moon praised sweetly. “You just focus on making sure the Nightmare Army keeps themselves in ship-shape. I’ll take care of this little group from here.”

“As you wish your Majesty.” Alessandro nodded, bowing one final time before he trotted off to continue his surveillance of the Nightmare Army.

“Good evening my dear savage ones.” Nightmare Moon crooned as the six mares bowed to her. “How are you six doing this fine night?”

“We are doing just amazing your Majesty.” The indigo unicorn, Starlight Shadow replied intelligently, smiling up at the alicorn. Her violet eyes locked onto Nyx’s and her cheeks gained a pink tint. “And it looks like you have our sweet little Nyx with you too~!”

“Hi Starlight! It’s so wonderful to see you and the other girls again!” Nyx cooed, reaching over and hugging the smaller mare around her neck. “I knew you were all going to be here! I don’t think I could find you anywhere else than in my Mother’s own army!”

“Yer darn tootin’ you wouldn’t sugar. Otherwise you wouldn’t know where to find us at all.” The blue earth pony mare, Curaçao, said with a chuckle as she stretched at the red bandana around her head. “Ah definitely know that Ah wouldn’t be able to find you if Ah didn’t know where you went. We already have a hard-enough time figurin’ that out with Red Velvet over here. She can vanish faster than a squirrel scurryin’ up an orange tree…”

The aforementioned mare nodded energetically, a grin not too far from that of Pinkie’s own coming to her muzzle. “Yep! I sure am ‘Cao! I can be gone one moment and somewhere else the next and you won’t even know that I’m there! I did it back on the moon and I can definitely do it now!”

“Oh dear me.” The coal black unicorn, Insipid, said blandly, dragging a hoof down her face. “And just when I thought Red Velvet had outgrown that habit while on the moon. I guess we won’t be escaping it after all.”

The grayish blue pegasus mare, Grayscale Force, sighed, crossing her hooves. “Tell me about it. I can already hear Red’s constant jibber-jabber in my ears already. I guess it’s back to have less than peaceful sleeps and being woken up at five o’ clock with stupid questions.”

“I can see the two of you are as disinterested and laid-back as ever!” The final mare, Havocwing, giggled mirthfully. “You guys are the same as you’ve always been! Even after our fight with the worshippers of the sun!”

“Yes, none of you have changed a single bit.” Nightmare Moon replied, walking over and wrapping all seven mares in the embrace of her four wings. “It certainly brings me the old times that I spent with you after fleeing from my sister. And before our unfortunate downfall against her and her wretched army. It makes me so happy to see that you are still yourselves. Even if we haven’t seen each other for a millennium.”

“Oh Mother! As if whole thousand years of separation could never break six of my best friends in the whole wide world!” Nyx snorted back a burst of laughter. “They’re too strong for that, and you spend too much time making them strong enough to handle that!”

“Your correct on that account Nyxie! And if we’re strong enough to get through that trial, then we can go up against anything else!” Starlight cooed, smiling at the larger mare before she turned to her Queen. “By the way you Highness, do you have anything you want us to do for you? Maybe finding new spells or conducting new experiments that you want me to test like you had me do while creating the Folkloric Army?”

Nightmare Moon laughed softly, feeling her heart flutter at the sparkly eyed look Starlight was giving her. “Unfortunately, no my dear Starlight. I don’t have any spells or experiments that I want you to help me with.” She watched as the unicorn frowned a bit, before holding up a hoof to keep her from interrupting. “I do, however, have a task that I think you will be more than up for. Something that I’m positive all of you will enjoy to the greatest extent.”

“Oh really? And what would that be?” Insipid asked, quirking an eyebrow. “Is it a hunt for some of the rarest gems in the world?”

“Is it a secret underground party chamber?!” Red Velvet guessed excitedly. “Oh, please let it be that! I feel like throwing a real big party right now!”

“Screw parties, is it a sparring match?” Grayscale asked, a bit of a grin coming to her face. “I’m really itching to belt someponies face in, and if I don’t find somepony to throw down with, I’m gonna lose my shit.”

“I’ll fight with you if you want Grayscale~. I love it when I get to blow off steam with you of all ponies! Especially since you’re one of the few ponies that can really get by blood pumping!” Havocwing said sweetly, shooting a toothy smile at the other pegasus. She turned to Nightmare Moon and added, “By the way, are there any ponies here that can give me a good round? I wanna let my inner lioness out so badly!”

Curaçao shuddered. “Oh boy, now that’s somethin’ Ah’m really scared of seein’.” She turned to Nightmare Moon with a desperate look in her eyes. “Please tell me you have somethin’ for me to get started on your Majesty. Ah really don’t like jus’ standin’ around for long periods of time; especially when there’s work to be done.”

Nyx giggled as she watched her friends banter. ‘Yep, they haven’t changed a single bit.’

“Trust my little savage fillies, I believe I have something that will fit all of your needs. Maybe not in the way that you’re all expecting, but still helpful nonetheless.” Nightmare Moon replied, her motherly, yet commanding voice silencing all six mares immediately. She smiled at them all, displaying her fangs once more as they glinted in each of the mare’s eager eyes. “And by the time it arrives, your thirsts will be very eloquently quenched~.”

Wow...I can't even begin to describe how hard this was for me to write since starting it this afternoon, especially with the trips that I made earlier today. And I really don't feel like gettin into too much of that, other than I finally managed to accomplish the completion of it. While it may not be as well done as the last few, I hope it'll be enough for you guys to enjoy and get something out of. Now, the part with the Savage Seven and Nyx was a part that I got form my last version in the chapter that had both them and the Main Seven meeting, and I felt it would fit better here. I felt that I didn't have enough scenes of them from the last version of this story, so I'm gonna try to redeem myself by doing that before we get to the actual showdown between the two groups and the Royal and Dark Armies. Also, for those of you who are wondering why I added Nyx into this, again, is mainly because of an idea that I am still planning out that will happen much later on in the series that should tie into one of my seasons. While I won't be pointing out the biggest reason why I have Nyx in here, I will say that it is going to be a real shocker. That, and it'll make you feel so sorry for both Nightmare Moon and Luna.

Anyway, that's all for now! Tune in next time for when we see the Main Seven recover from the fight with the Timberwolves, get an explanation from Pinkie about her powers, and meet a soldier of the Everfree!!!