“That pancake surely is delicious. Sweet Ace is good at pleasing his princess.” Luna just finishes raising the moon and having a honey topping pancake. While she was doing her paperwork, she had another idea tonight. “Nightmare Moon, want to arrange the stars?”
No.
“Why not?” After she makes sure nopony is around she prepares for a teleportation spell. With a flash of light, she appears in her chamber.
Come on, you know why.
“Because it’s boring? It’s fun! I promise.” Luna walks to a table to place her glasses on it. She then walks to the balcony.
It’s not that. I just do not exactly have an artistic sense.
Luna takes her time to exaggeratedly roll her eyes. “You are going to be fine. Come on and try it.”
... Fine! Might as well do it and make a point! Luna gives her body for Nightmare to be in charge of it. The exchange happens so naturally between them. “So what should I do then?”
Imagine something you like and put a star that interprets it as it is. For example, you like a box and then you put eight stars on each of its points.
“Okay, sounds easy enough”
So what is it that you have in mind?
“It wouldn’t be fun if I tell you, isn’t it?”
Fair. Luna said while shrugs
“Before I start, I want you to promise one thing for me.”
I know, I promise I will not laugh
Happy with the promise, Nightmare moon starts placing a star in the night sky. She first put three stars forming a vertical line. The process is relatively slow, moving a star for one centimeter relative from here will take approximately one minute. Though Nightmare Moon enjoys the process because she knows the star has traveled hundreds of light-year distances in a mere second. The bottom star is closer to the middle one, while the top is farther. She then put two stars diagonally from the bottom star, lower-left, and lower-right. The lower left one is closer than the lower-right one. “Done! so what do you think!”
Looking good Nightmare Moon. See, it’s not so bad, isn’t it? So what is it?
“It’s a cat!”
...
“...”
It’s what?
“It’s a cat.”
It’s not a crab? I’m pretty sure that looks like a crab, Nightmare Moon.
“no, no, no, how many times you look at it, it looks like a cat. How could you not see it?”
Seeing how serious Nightmare Moon sounds, Luna could only give up and just let her be. I guess I couldn’t see what you see. Getting herself her own body back, she prepares to arrange the stars. “It’s my turn now.”
She first put four stars in a somewhat crooked square. From the top left, she connects another four stars diagonally to the upper left. At the end of it, she connects another star diagonally to the lower left of it. back to the main square, at the lower left, she connects two branches of the star each with two stars. One branch is diagonal to the lower left, the other diagonally to the upper left. The later branch connected another two stars diagonally to the lower left. “Done, so what do you think?”
That looks gorgeous, Luna. So what is it?
“Guess it.”
I don’t know
“...”
...
“Just tell me whatever first comes to your mind when you see that.”
I don’t know. It looks like a box with three attached limbs on it.
“...”
...
“Ugh, fine, point taken, you don’t have an artistic sense.”
Haha, told you so... so what is it?
“It’s a pegasus...” Nightmare Moon surprised with the answer. Shown by her mouth forming an o-shape.
“I want to go out for a while.” Luna reflexes her wing, getting ready to fly. Pegasi or alicorn does not need to build up speed when they want to fly. They just flap their wings and magic do the rest of the work.
Where are you going?
“Wherever the wind takes me.”
How about the paperwork?
“It can wait. And also it is not like you worrying about paperwork.” Luna looks around and notices that ponies are sleeping. Houses have their lamp turn off.
Hey! ...I’m not that bad. Am I?
“You are the kind of pony who living on the present, and sometimes I envy that”
What can I say, regretting mistakes and worrying about the result is ridiculous.
“reminiscing and making a plan is important, Nightmare Moon.”
Luna, believe me when I say this. I’m totally reminiscing and making a plan.
“Oh, you totally do.”
You don’t believe me at all, do you? Please tell me how to make you believe me? A silent fall upon them. They just enjoy the wind blowing at them, pulling them up, sometimes gliding down. Despite not being in charge of the body. Nightmare Moon could still feel it. How about our glasses? We totally forgot our glasses.
“Totally. Nightmare Moon, could you be a dear and help me when I am distracted? You could totally grab our glasses yourself.”
Oh! Don’t blame me. I’m totally innocent here. Besides you are the one who is totally paranoid.
“Really? Dragon-like pupils. And teal-colored sclera? It's totally going to distract ponies!”
Just tell them it is cosmetic. Tell them you like slit pupils. And also we should stop using the word ‘totally’. It is getting old real fast.
“Alright, we will try that.” Luna just across the border of Everfree kingdom.
Luna, what’s wrong? Are you okay?
“...”
You could tell me whatever it is, I’m all ears.
The worried Nightmare moon is betrayed by Luna’s laughter. “The image of you having more than one ear is horrifying.”
...
“Nightmare Moon, have you noticed something when we are flying?”
Nothing out of usual. What is it?
“Nopony awake for the sake of enjoying the star! Enjoying the night! Ponies awake because of work! I want ponies to enjoy my star! I want ponies to enjoy my night! This is not fair! Ponies played and had fun when my sister brought the sun! But slept through my beautiful night! Why! Nightmare Moon, why!”
I understand your sadness but remember that you are a princess, strong and intelligent. And I promise, if that is not enough, I will move sky and Equus till I find a solution.
Luna laughs as loud as she can. Tears could be seen in her eyes. Both from her sadness and laughter. “What the hell is that. Nightmare Moon, that is the cringiest thing you ever said.”
Can you at least appreciate that you are no longer sad!
“Alright. Alright.”
What I want to say is, even when the world turns against you, I will be on your side.
“Thanks, Nightmare moon, I will do the same too.”
I love you, Luna.
“...”
Oh, come on! I always said that to you, but you never answer it! Luna turns back to the castle to finish her paperwork. Nightmare Noon never receives an answer that night, but she still smiles anyway.
==========================================================================================
Are you sure this is a good idea? They are just done with raising the moon. Nightmare Moon standing in front of a mirror. Inspecting how she looks.
“I don’t know about good, but it's a fun idea!”
Luna could only roll her eyes at that. Fun is not a good way to appraise some action!
“Why not?”
There are facts and there are opinions when it comes to appraising an idea, to know whether or not it’s a good one. There is a fact on which idea will bring us more trouble. But there is an opinion on which idea will bring us fun!
“Relax Luna, you are way too stoic for your good.”
This stoic of me safe us from trouble is a lot more than you ever think of!
“My quick-thinking saved us from trouble a lot more than you ever think of!”
Their bickering ended just like that, leaving only giggling from both of them. Now that I think about it, we are having each other back. Ugh, fine, we will go your way then.
“That’s the spirit!” Nightmare Moon looks closer into the mirror. Inspecting her teal-colored eyes, with lighter teal scleras. Sometimes she dilates and contracts her slit pupils. “Boy am I hot or what!”
...
“Hey. What with the silent?”
Even if I genuinely compliment your eye, you will take it as sarcasm. So why bother?
“Fair. But I still want to hear it, I promise I will not take it as sarcasm.”
It looks pretty, surely anypony who looks at it will think so.
Nightmare Moon takes her time to nod sagely. “As expected everypony will look upon the great me. The great and powerful Nightmare Moon!”
I think I prefer it if you take it as sarcasm. Are you not ashamed of saying cringe things like that?
“I’m not that shameful Luna, I'm just doing this in front of you. Now let the great and powerful Nightmare Moon teleport us to the dining room!”
Please stop. Luna said while Nightmare Moon uses a scrying spell in front of the dining room to make sure nopony around before preparing her teleportation spell.
With a flash of light, Nightmare moon appears in front of the dining room. Not bother knocking, she pushes the door slowly, albeit she exaggerated the act. “Good evening, sister!”
“Good evening Luna, you seem rather skittish tonight.”
“Of course! You will see why when you look at us.” While eying waffles from the nearby dining trolley, Nightmare Moon takes a seat. Still waiting for her sister to notice her. Celestia could be a little too focused when it comes to cake.
Done with savoring the taste of her cake, Celestia finally looks at Nightmare Moon. “Luna, what happens with your eyes!”
Nightmare Moon is happy with her sister's reaction. Shown by a smile forming on her muzzle. “what do you think, sister! The grea—!”
Nightmare Moon!
“Sorry.” Nightmare Moon does a little cough. “We mean, we like how dragon pupils look. So we use some illusion spells for cosmetics. So, what do you think?”
Celestia takes her time to compose herself before finally saying “You look nice, Luna.”
Nightmare moon takes her waffles to the table. “you should do it yourself, sister. Yellow-colored eye with slit pupils. Oh! And also a dark orange sclera will look good on you!”
“Maybe later, Luna. No offense, but I have much more important things to do.”
“None taken, sister. We still think you should relax more.”
“I’m alright, Luna. Never mind about me, where are your glasses?”
“We have it right here.” Nightmare Moon opens her wing and produces a pair of glasses. “just to be safe for whenever we need it.”
“Are you okay? How much can you see without glasses?”
“We could recognize you, this waffle, and cabinet over there.” Nightmare Moon pointing toward a cabinet in the dining room. “But, reading text is impossible for us.”
While we could see a text without glasses, I still thought it looked good on me.
“Then we waste my beautiful eye.” Luna rolled her eyes at that. Huffing included.
“I see, you better keep wearing one, for safety. Another point would be you look better with glasses.”
See! Even our sister said it!
“We will see about that, Luna.” A corner of Nightmare Moon lips curling up. “Sister, between this cosmetic and my natural eye with glasses, which one is better?”
“Both have their perk. Your cosmetics make you look vicious, while your glasses make you look younger. It makes you look more beautiful. I think both are good.”
“You are not fun, sister. Choose one, be decisive.”
“Well, you sound like you like those eyes. I don't have the heart to choose.”
“Wait, do you mean?... oh...”
Hah! Told you so!
“I’m sorry, Luna. I don’t mean to upset you. like I said, I don’t like it because it doesn’t match you. I like the eye itself. I will consider taking my time to learn the spell, I promise.”
Hey, Nightmare Moon? Are you okay? Sorry, I just feel a little jealous of your eyes, it looks so pretty.
“I’m okay, Luna. It is the first time we show my eye to others and I panic a little. I thought it was going to be fun.”
Hey, remember that I’m here with you. I have your back, now go and have fun.
“Yes! Thanks, Luna.”
“Luna? Wake up, Luna!”
“Sister, what happens?”
“You spaced out, that’s what happens.”
“Was it that long?”
“It’s not that long, but still worrying.”
“We see, we are not upset, sister. Well, we mean that we are upset but not because we are angry at you or disappointed because you think our eyes don’t match us. We are upset about something else.”
“I see you better rest early. You don’t look so well.”
“Thank you sister, but we are quite alright. We think we are going to do our paperwork and then rest early.” Nightmare Moon finishes her waffles and then stands to form her cushions. “Goodnight sister.”
“Goodnight Luna”
Nightmare Moon walking through the door from the dining room. Nightmare Moon? Where are you going?
“I want to meet with Sweet Ace.”
I see, so it comes to that again.
“Yea, hope it will make me feel better as usual.”
Nightmare Moon arrives in front of the kitchen. She takes out her glasses and puts them on her muzzle. She then pushes the door open, not bothering with knocking. Inside she could only see one pony. “Sweet Ace, how are you doing tonight?”
“Princess! Tonight was busier than usual, one more batch of recruits in training tonight. We did cook more than usual, but it appears to be unnecessary. The usual portion is already enough to feed them all.”
“We see, good work as usual Sweet Ace. We come here for the usual.”
“Thank you for your kind word, Princess. It’s this way.”
Nightmare Moon follows Sweet Ace through the kitchen. There she could see a load of leftovers from tonight. “Great!”
“I will pack it right away, Princess.” He put all of the leftovers into a big steel pot. “Princess, if this is not crossing boundaries as a cook, can I ask you a question?”
“What is it?”
“Why are you doing this?”
“Judging how one doing their job is considered rude, you know.”
“I know Princess. But I know too that you have a kind heart so I will bravely cross my boundaries.”
“Very well. But first, pray tell, did you tell our sister about this.”
“I’m doing my best, Princess. But if my team catches me doing this, my only hope is my team doesn’t gossip about this.”
“Alright, we will tell you about our motive. It is only for the sake of recreation.”
“Recreation, Princess?”
“That is right. As much as we want so that ponies can live a prosperous life, we still could only do much. Many ponies still live in poverty.”
“I see, Princess. That is understandable.”
“What happens with the leftover when we don’t pick it up?”
“I bring it home and give it to the slum.”
“Why?”
“For one thing I just feel that is the right thing to do. The other would be so I have alibi so princess Celestia wouldn’t hear about this.”
“Oh my. Not only that you are a kind pony, but you are also a hardworking pony.”
“Thank you for your kind word, Princess Luna. Here is your order.”
“Thank you, we will take our leave. You better go home and meet your loved one.”
“Will do, princess. But I don’t have anyone at home.” The last part he could only say barely above a whisper, so his princess did not hear it. “Should I add that I also have so much free time?... Nah...”
Nightmare Moon flies to the Everfree kingdom. The slum is her destination. There she would meet with her favorite filly, Water Lilly. She embeds a marking on her so Nightmare Moon would always know where she is.
“Hello dear, how are you doing?”
“Luna! I’m doing good, but it’s been lonely because I can’t meet you often.” Nightmare Moon disguises herself as a unicorn. She also makes Water Lilly call her without her title as a princess. Nightmare Moon does this so nopony would bully Water Lilly because of her closeness to the princess.
“I’m here, dear. Tell you what, you eat until you are full and then tell me whatever you want to tell me.” Nightmare Moon produces a steel pot full of leftovers and a bowl.
“food! What is it? whatever it is, the food you bring is always good.”
“isn’t she just pure gold, Luna? Whenever I meet her, I always bring food. But as much as she is hungry, the first thing she thinks of plays with me.”
I could see that, Nightmare Moon.
“I want to have my colony, Luna! Where ponies can live without suffering! Children of the night we will call them! Our children of the night! It always hurt me seeing ponies hungry like this! I don't want that anymore! I hate this! ”
“Luna, why are crying.”
“I’m okay, dear.”
“Adults always say that, when it’s not okay. Tell me, Luna, Why are you crying?”
“It hurt me seeing you hungry and unhappy.”
“I’m not hungry and I’m not unhappy. And after Luna comes I’m not lonely too! So don’t cry.”
Nightmare Moon rushes to hug the little filly. Luna quickly overrules Nightmare Moon's charge over the body, but only for the horn, and transfers her magic into the real world to catch the thrown bowl. Hey, remember you are not alone. If you want to make chaos and flip the world around so ponies could live strong and happy, I’m with you.
“It’s okay Luna, just cry and let it all out.” The word Luna and Water Lilly said was supposed to calm Nightmare Moon. But it only makes the rain even increasingly heavy. But still, Luna and Water Lilly patiently be with Nightmare Moon.