“Sister,” Luna spoke flatly. “I have something to discuss with you.” Celestia looked up from her desk as her sister spoke. Luna had walked into Celestia’s study, just under her room. It was warm and inviting. Twilight sat across from Celestia at her desk, a small stack of papers between them.

“What is it Luna?” She smiled warmly, glad to see her sister.

“Please sister, this requires that we be alone.”

Celestia looked to Twilight, who gave a small shrug. “Well, certainly.” Celestia’s voice wavered with slight confusion. “Twilight, stay down here. Luna and I will head upstairs.”

“Alright Princess.” Twilight nodded, returning to her books after watching her mentor leave up the stairs.

The sisters arrived in Celestia’s chambers. While Luna’s chambers were dark and cool, Celestia’s were warm and bright. Her great windows looked out over most of Equestria. The evening sunlight flooded into the room, casting long shadows. The Princess of the Sun sat on her bed, the Princess of the Moon standing across from her.

“So, what is it Luna? You seem very worried over something.”

Luna paced for a moment, her jaw working slowly as she tried to find the words. Sighing as she discovered she couldn’t find the words, she lowered her head. Her horn glowed in its pale blue glow, growing in intensity. A buzz filled the room as Luna’s spell grew, encompassing the entire room. As the glow faded, Luna looked up with a sad smile. “Sister, I know you have noticed something wrong with me these last few weeks. I would like to explain.” Luna’s tone was sorrowful, her words quiet. “It requires a bit of history first.”

“Luna, why did you feel the need to seal the room? Neither of us can get out until you remove it.” Celestia stared at her sister confused, wondering what was going on.

“Because of what this is about. It is not something for anypony else to hear.” Luna let her eyes fall, unable to look at her sister. “This is about Nightmare Moon, and where she came from, and where she is now.”

Celestia’s body tensed at the sound of her old foe. “Luna, what do you mean, ‘where she is now’?”

“She has always been a part of me Tia. You can no more destroy her then you can destroy me. Please, relax.”

“I will relax when I feel it appropriate sister. Now, explain.”

Luna sat down, a sad smile on her face. “I’m sure you remember what happened years ago, when we discovered our talents. You changed from your old, smaller self into what you are now. When I discovered my talent much the same happened with me.” Luna squirmed slightly at the memory. “And I am sure you remember what I looked like.”

Celestia looked down, ashamed of the memory. “Yes, I do. You terrified me. Nightmare Moon was the spitting image of your other form.”

“No sister. Nightmare Moon was my other form.” Celestia’s eyes widened. “But she was not always Nightmare Moon. She originally called herself ‘Mare in the Moon’. And she is still with me.”

Celestia slowly stood, tensing her muscles into a battle stance. “Sister, if Nightmare is still around I have to help.”

“No Tia. Mare is not evil. She has always been my closest friend. Please let me explain.”

Celestia stayed in her battle stance, though relaxed. “Alright Luna. But I want you to explain everything. This is important to me.”

Luna nodded, sitting down. With a deep breath, she began her tale. “After the first time I raised the moon, as you remember I discovered my other form. I knew that we both would have our mortal and goddess forms, but never thought it would be that.” Luna hung her head. “So after that day, I hid my other form. I didn’t want to scare the other ponies. And for a while everything was fine. We ruled together, the ponies loved us both, and life was fun.”

“But I slowly began to notice how the ponies loved your day more than my night. And it hurt, knowing that the ponies loved you more than me. But I also knew I couldn’t allow that to affect me. So I buried my pain and hate and jealousy. I never allowed those emotions to get to me. I buried them in the same place I buried my goddess form.”

Luna paused, not sure what to say next. “Luna? What happened after that? There must have been something between then and our, well our war.”

“There was.” Luna continued. “Slowly, Mare came to exist. She was just a part of me. The negative, hateful, vengeful side. I don’t know if she was always that way, or if she slowly became that. I don’t think I ever will. But she tried to help me. At least, I think she was trying to help.” Luna let her eyes drop, unable to face her sister.

“Luna, please, continue. I know this must be painful for you, but I need to know.” Celestia relaxed further, sitting across from her sister. “Please.”

“She tried to help me deal with the ponies not loving me. But nothing worked. She tried so many things, for so long. Eventually though, I gave up. In what I thought was a last ditch effort, though now I’m not sure, she offered a very long night. Force the ponies to enjoy my night, and to see how wonderful it was. I couldn’t agree. I thought it would just make the ponies hate me more. So she offered to do it.”

“What do you mean Luna? Just how separate are the two of you?”

“Very Tia. We’re two minds, two sets of memories, trapped in the same body. We can each have control over the physical form, but only if the other willingly gives it up. I figured her plan could work, so I gave her control. We had both agreed it couldn’t be eternal night, that would kill every living thing other than us. We wanted the ponies love, and we need them alive for that.”

“But I wouldn’t allow you to keep it night.” Celestia remarked. “I thought you were trying to make it eternal night. I was scared of you.”

“We did advertise it like that. Figured we could get more ponies on our side by saying eternal, rather than really long. We never intended to keep it night, not for more than a few days. So when you forced your sun into the sky, we fought back. And well, I think you know what happened during our war.”

Celestia nodded, thinking to herself. “But what happened at the end? You gave yourself up so easily.”

“I knew it was a lost cause. I knew we couldn’t keep up the war. Mare and I were tired of fighting. After agreeing to give up, we let the celestial cycle return to normal, and then, gave ourselves up to you. Her anger and hate regrew while on the moon though. You didn’t seal us in the moon, Tia. You sealed us on the moon. We wandered the surface, lost and bored and scared. I can’t describe how horrible it was.”

“Alright. I will admit, that explains a lot of what happened a thousand years ago. But what does that have to do with now? And why did you say that she is still here?”

Luna stood up, facing her sister. “Mare is still within me Tia. I feel that she has proven herself reformed. When the elements hit her, they cleansed her of her hate and pain. But they also split the two of us further. I got the business, royal side. All I can bring myself to care about is my duties. The things I have to do. Mare got the emotions. She cares about things and ponies. She wants to have fun, while I just want to work. We both know this won’t work for much longer, we need to, whatever it’s called. Become one pony I guess.”

Celestia sat, staring at her sister. Her jaw worked slowly as she tried to find the words she needed. “Luna, I… I don’t know what to say. I can understand how this would have been bothering you, but something confuses me. Why did you come to me? You’ve seemed to be getting better.”

“And I think I am Tia. But I made her a promise. I told her that if she proved herself, and only in front of you, I would allow her a chance to exist, to stretch her legs.”

Celestia immediately sprang back up, landing back in her fighting stance. “Luna, you can’t be saying-”

“I am Tia. I made a promise, and she has kept her end of it. It is time I kept my side of the bargain.” Luna closed her eyes, retreating deep into her mind. Alright Mare. We are with Tia. Go ahead and meet her.

“Thank you Luna.” Luna took her seat in the back of their shared subconscious, watching as Mare walked forward, ready to take control.

Mare slowly opened her eyes, looking around. She blinked a few times before turning her head to look at herself. Her coat was a light blue, while her mane and tail were a slightly darker shade. “This isn’t me,” she said to herself. With a shudder, she changed. She grew in height, her coat slowly darkening to black. Her mane and tail changed from a dark blue to vapor, drifting about her, twinkling like the stars. “That’s better” she added, her voice now much colder, almost icy.

Looking up, she saw Celestia standing across from her, her mouth agape. She stared for a moment, not sure of how to react. Then Celestia let out a scream of terror and rage. “Tia, please calm down!” she shouted over her sister’s scream. Turning to face the door, she checked on Luna’s spell to make sure it would contain the sound. Spinning back to Celestia, she found herself face to face with a bolt of magic. It knocked her back, sending her flying into the wall.

“Give me back my sister you monster!” Celestia bellowed, levitating Mare into the air. The black alicorn quickly built a bubble around herself, cutting off Celestia’s magic. “Monster! What have you done with my sister!”

“Luna is fine! Please listen to me Tia! I just want to explain!” Another blast of magic assaulted Mare, and though it didn’t penetrate her bubble, it did send it flying against the wall once again. “Please Tia, let me explain!”

“Give me back my sister, you, you thing!” Celestia roared, sending another bolt at Mare, sending her flying into yet another wall. Blinking her eyes, Mare found herself staring at the stairs leading down. Standing atop them, outside Luna’s bubble, was Twilight. Her eyes were wide with terror, her mouth open in an unheard scream.

“You can’t let her get away Mare! She will grab the other elements and send us back to the moon!” Luna bellowed from the back of Mare’s mind.

Alright Luna, hold on. Mare thought back, closing her eyes. With a slight shake of fear, she dropped the bubble protecting herself from Celestia, building another outside Luna’s to trap Twilight. “Celestia, wait! Look around you. You know I can’t make two of those.” Mare teleported a few feet from where she was, avoiding yet another bolt of magic. “Luna’s barrier traps both of us. I can’t pull it down.” Celestia stopped her attack, staring angrily. “Mine is trapping Twilight. I don’t want to go back to the moon.”

Mare’s words were enough to give Celestia pause, her sides still heaving with anger. “Alright, thats true. And the magic of those barriers are different, leaving you just as trapped as me.” She admitted hesitantly, not dropping her guard. Glaring at Mare she added, “That doesn’t mean I trust you.”

“I knew you wouldn’t Tia.” Mare responded. “I’ll switch back to Luna, and she can let Twilight in. You can have her set up another barrier to trap us all if you want. But I need to talk with you. Please Celestia, give me a chance to explain myself.”

“Fine, just give me back my sister you monster.” Mare shuddered at Celestia’s words.

Closing her eyes, Mare returned back into her mind, sitting with Luna. “Will you do it Luna? Please.”

“Of course I will Mare.” Luna promised.

“Why not just let Twilight go? She doesn’t need to be in on this.” Mare responded, raising an eyebrow.

“I know, but she’s seen you. Either she freaks out and runs to her friends, or she has everything explained to her.” Luna sighed, knowing the gravity of the situation.

“She is still a very beautiful mare, even when she’s trying to kill us.”

“Oh shut it Mare. Perhaps one day I will pursue a relationship, but not today.” Luna rose from next to Mare, walking to the front of their mind.

“Alright, monster, I said I want Luna back. You have till five to return her.”

“Tia wait!” Mare’s cold voice called out. Slowly she changed back, her coat lightening, her mane and tail returning to their less ethereal form. “Please Tia, calm down. It’s me.”

“Prove it.” Celestia’s voice was cold and angry. It made Luna shudder.

With a solemn face, Luna lowered her head, her horn aglow. Slowly, the barrier keeping Twilight out fell, allowing her to rush into the room. As soon as it was down Luna raised another, this one just outside Mare’s barrier.

Twilight stood by her mentor, unsure of what to do. “Princess, what’s going on? Why couldn’t I teleport a moment ago? And why was Nightmare Moon back? I thought my friends and I had defeated her a year ago.”

“As did I Twilight. Hopefully, we will be getting some answers soon. And it was a very powerful barrier that kept you in. Only the one who created it can remove it. Otherwise, everypony is trapped on the side they started out on.” Celestia turned to face Luna as she finished talking to her student. “And Luna, why did you allow her out? You know the trouble she has caused.”

“That was Nightmare Moon, Tia, who caused all the problems. The pony she became after being corrupted by my hatred and jealousy.”

“Wait, I thought you had become Nightmare Moon, Princess Luna.” Twilight spoke up, her eyes full of confusion, but eager to learn.

“In a way, yes Twilight. Perhaps another time I can tell you the whole tale. But not today, for today Mare needs her chance to speak.” Luna turned from Twilight to her sister. “Please, give her a chance. You know she can’t escape, just as much as the two of you can’t.”

“Fine, bring her back. I guess she should face justice for her crimes.” Celestia retorted, her voice acidic.

Cringing, Luna once again swapped with Mare, their shared body slowly transforming to Mare’s preferred form. “Hello Celestia, hello Twilight. Please don’t kill me.”

Twilight shrank back, still in slight terror of the black alicorn before her. “And why shouldn’t we? It may not be what we wanted to do a year ago, but if it keeps you from coming back and taking over Princess Luna again, why not?” Twilight’s voice shook with rage and fear, her body trembling.

“Because killing me would kill Luna at the same time. We are interconnected. You can no more kill me than her.” Mare hung her head, tired. “Please, allow me to explain.” Grumbling, both Twilight and Celestia agreed, sitting down across from Mare. “Thank you, thank you both.”

Mare launched into her tale. From her creation, slowly forming in the back of Luna’s mind from her suppressed feelings and emotions, to her slow corruption from the hate and jealousy Luna was suppressing. Her story matched with Luna’s, just from the other side of the divide. She stopped when she reached the war, not wanting to relive it.

“Alright Mare, suppose we believe you. Why are you still here?” Twilight spoke up, voicing her and Celestia’s feelings. “Why can’t Luna just let you fade into the past? If she’s not suppressing her emotions, there’s nothing to keep you alive, or in existence, or, whatever it is.”

“Because Luna has no emotions. She is incapable of feeling anything. Beyond a mild curiosity, I don’t think she can feel any emotion. I, on the other hand, feel those emotions. I see what she sees, and put in my own two bits, telling her my emotional reaction.”

“I know she’s felt emotion Mare. She was terrified of Celestia a few weeks ago when she came to my home.” Twilight retorted, trying to pick apart Mare’s story.

“I noticed. And her reaction did surprise me. But there was so much less emotion in that response than should have been. Her reason for freaking out was that if she’s back on the moon, she can’t serve her subjects as their princess. It had nothing to do with personal freedom, or genuine terror to returning to the moon. It was all about her duty and her role.”

“So what is it you want Mare?” Celestia asked, focusing their attention. “What plan do you have?”

“I want Luna to heal.” Mare stated, matter-of-factly. “For some reason, likely because I was created from her pain, the thing I want most is for her to be happy, and whole. She isn’t right now. Somehow, Luna and I need to reform, become one pony again. I have no idea what will happen when we do, or if Luna as you know her will remain. I do know though that it will likely kill me. Or destroy me; I’m not sure of the right words here.”

Celestia and Twilight looked at each other. “If what she’s saying is true, Then she’s going to need a lot of help Twilight.”

“True. But what if she’s lying? How can we trust her? How do we know she doesn’t have Luna under her control?”

“I don’t know Twilight.” Celestia sighed. “But I don’t think she is. I fought Nightmare for a long time. While this is a plan worthy of her craftiness, she would never stoop to this level. She would be much more brash and forward.” Looking to her student, Celestia smiled. “I have to conclude that this is no longer the mare I fought a thousand years ago. Mare! I will believe you, so long as you do nothing to make me think otherwise.”

“Thank you Celestia. Is there anything you want from me?” Mare smiled, happy that she was being accepted.

“Yes, I want you to talk with one of the psychologists. Perhaps they can help you deal with this, perhaps even accomplish your plan.”

“But Princess, who would be willing to do that?” Twilight commented, thinking fast. “I don’t think there’s a single pony who is comfortable enough to psychoanalyze a princess.”

“She does have a point Celestia. I don’t think anypony would ever be willing to do that for any of us. And most of them would be terrified of me.”

Celestia sat, thinking for a while. Slowly, a grin spread across her face, an idea occurring to her. “You both have good points. So, Twilight,” Celestia turned to her student, giving her a slightly evil smile. “Would you be willing to do this?”

Twilight stared at her teacher. “Me? But I’m hardly qualified-”

“I know Twilight, but I can’t trust anypony else with this.” Twilight sighed, knowing her mentor was right. Slowly she nodded her head, accepting her newest job. “Thank you Twilight. I hope you get started very soon.”

“I’ll go get a book.” Next Chapter: A Session with Twilight Estimated time remaining: 1 Hour, 3 Minutes