Chapter 1
Nightmare Moon cried out in agony as the power of the Elements of Harmony washed over her. The sensation was similar to being doused in gasoline and set on fire, but far worse. Her coat prickled like needles were being stabbed all over her, and she felt an uncomfortable jerking sensation- which got worse, until some part of her seemed to be torn off in one agonizing pull. Nightmare heard a thump beside herself as she fell, and the Rainbow light that had seemed to last for hours, was over in seconds. She struggled to try and stand, her wings drooping uselessly against the stone floor. The thing beside her did the same- the missing princess, Luna.
There was a bright flash through the windows as the sun ascended, and Celestia appeared before the gathering of ponies. Luna bowed her head, while the six mares carefully bowed fully to her majesty.
Celestia turned her gaze towards the two, Luna and Nightmare.
“Luna,” She began firstly, directing her attention to her younger Sister.
The dull blue alicorn cowered as Celestia approached, and Nightmare had no choice but to do the same- Hiding behind her wings. She was barely a filly now; she had no chance against the ruler of Equestria in a fight.
Celestia began speaking to her younger sibling, while Nightmare tried to consider her options, perhaps devise a quick action plan. So far, her list was ‘Jump through the window and glide’ and ‘Scream loudly, running past the six ponies while trying to escape’ both of which probably wouldn’t work.
Peaking over her rightmost wing, Nightmare spotted Celestia and Luna nuzzle each other gratefully. It was then, that Celestia’s gaze turned to ice, looking towards Nightmare Moon. She decided ‘Hide behind your wing’ was currently the best plan.
“Nightmare Moon.” She said sternly. It was different than when Celestia said Luna’s name.
Nightmare tried to scramble backwards when Celestia gently peaked over her wing.
Celestia wrapped her own large wing around Nightmare, pulling her closer.
“For a thousand years, you have tormented my sister… Caused her pain and suffering beyond belief.”
The princess looked over to her younger sibling, who smiled gently.
Celestia sighed. “But… despite all of this, she forgives you. Nightmare Moon… you are given another chance.”
A rainbow-Maned mare cried out in shock and disagreement, but Nightmare was too much in shock to listen to what she said.
“Will you accept her offer?” Asked Celestia, her voice was kind as her gaze softened.
Nightmare Moon felt panicked, as if this was a lie and when she accepted or rejected- she’d be banished or destroyed. She was too young, too weak, to retaliate. She was doomed.
With a fearful whine and a sniffle, Nightmare Moon began wailing. She couldn’t care about her image, if she were going to die. Besides, she was just a filly.
Celestia backed away as one of the six mares approached, gently wrapping Nightmare Moon in her wings and stroking her mane.
“Oh, poor thing… Shoosh, Shh… It’s okay, we’re not going to hurt you…” She cooed, letting Nightmare cry into her shoulder.
“What? Really? After all she’s done we’re just gonna—“ The rainbow mare’s complaint was muffled by somepony else before she could continue.
Nightmare Moon felt another pair of wings on her back, Luna’s wings. The young princess was hugging her as well. Nightmare wailed harder, blubbering as she tried to ask what Luna was doing.
“We wish to give thee a chance.” She said softly. “Though cruel and harsh oftentimes, we see thou as another sister.”
Nightmare struggled out of the butterscotch Pegasus’ hooves, turning to look at Luna and wipe away the snot dripping down her own face, sniffling grossly.
“Wh-wherefore?” Warbled Nightmare miserably.
Luna smiled gently. “Mine own self once was so childish and impulsive. Thou caused no real harm to anypony that could not be fixed, acted as if she were in a fable told by the fire, and only wished for attention.” Luna shook her head, giggling. “Thou art a filly, Nightmare. In heart, mind, and soul.”
“Lies! We struck the guards with lightning! We injured the Manticore, and we mangled a Serpent!” Cried Nightmare. “We acted as a master of darkness, a bringer of destruction! Bridges and cliffs collapsed! The elements, destroyed! Ponies, terrorized!” Nightmare looked around, tears in her eyes. “W-we… we imprisoned Celestia and nearly brought forth eternal night!”
“Thou dazed the guards to flee, put a thorn upon manticore’s paw, and stole a serpent’s hair.” Laughed Luna kindly. “Let thy opponents safely escape the cliff, and merely untied the bridge.” The young princess nuzzled Nightmare. “Much care was put into thine speech, and glamour to thy actions. Attention is what thou seeked, sister. We sought the regard of the populace, as somepony important.”
Nightmare Moon stare at Luna in disbelief, realizing how little of a threat she really was. With several quick gasps, Nightmare began to wail again. Luna hugged Nightmare Moon, nuzzling her comfortingly.
“Princess, what’s going to happen now?” Asked a familiar voice.
Nightmare looked over and spotted the purple unicorn who’d defeated her, approaching the large white alicorn. Celestia bowed her head briefly, eyes closed, for a few moments. Nightmare held her breath, tears still streaking down her face. Celestia slowly raised her head, looking up at the purple unicorn and giving her a small smile.
“It seems that we’ll be returning to Canterlot, all four of us. Hopefully, Nightmare Moon can be shown kindness and forgiveness… Though, I know the path she will take is long and hard.” Celestia paused for a moment, and then continued. “But surely, if my sister has confidence that we can give Nightmare Moon another chance, then perhaps everypony may be willing to give her a chance, as well.”
Nightmare laid her head against Luna’s shoulders, aware of the six mares staring at her. The purple unicorn continued, but Nightmare quickly lost interest in her talk with the solar princess. Something about staying with her new friends.
Nightmare gave a quick glance towards Luna, sniffling. Luna seemed to be void of blame or hatred, as Nightmare Moon would typically expect from somepony who had been used as a puppet for a thousand year plot, which mostly involved the both of them mentally arguing while stuck on the surface of the moon. In fact, she was surprised that her former Vessel was still sane and forgiving at this point.
“Worry not, dear sister. We will be beside thee in this strange new land.” Promised Luna, smiling.
Nightmare sniffled. “Doth thou jest? Wherefore assist us?” She asked warily.
Luna sighed, nodding in understanding. “A thousand years, only with a mind’s voice to argue with, gets tiresome and lonely. We wish to make amends, if thou agree whole-heartedly to join us. We will stand with thee, sister, if thou merely accepted.”
“Amends?” Wondered Nightmare. “With… With thou and Celestia?”
“With thine sisters…” Said Luna slowly, “And descendants of the ponies thou struck terror into.”
Nightmare Moon considered her options, figuring that a sister that stood by her side was surely a good thing to have. Especially if she were to face new ponies in a new world that had likely thought she was just a fable. Luna had some convincing points at the moment, such as the part about wanting attention. That’s why she vowed eternal night in the first place, so ponies would notice her beautiful night. So ponies would begin to notice her.
“… We accept. We will try to amend the past. But… only if thou promises to stay by our side.” Mumbled Nightmare.
Luna nodded, helping Nightmare to her hooves. The six mares had left, leaving only Celestia.
“We… we are sorry… Sister.” Said Nightmare softly, letting her mane cover her face somewhat.
Celestia nodded. “I’m certain that you are. You are not the only one who is guilty, Nightmare. I had been neglectful of my sister… It is my fault, as well. You acted out of desperation, both of you…” Celestia sighed. “I should have known, that my dearest sister just wished to be loved, the same as me.”
There was a pause. “But now, it seems that I have two sisters, and I promise I won’t make the same mistake twice. You will both be welcomed with open hooves this day, because it’s not every day you get to witness the return of two siblings like this.”
Nightmare tensed as Celestia knelt down and hugged the both of them, but quickly relaxed. She’d never been treated like this before—but then again, she had spent a majority of her existence wallowing in negative emotions while banished to the surface of the moon. It was almost strange to think she’d been Luna once, and Luna had been her, but now they were separate entities, and they were sisters. They’d only been apart for maybe a quarter hour, and Nightmare was already defended for her actions and accepted by the one she’d originally vowed to destroy. She’d come up with so many good insults, too.
‘By Nightmare, I’ll kick your moon!’ Had been one of the better ones she and Luna had agreed on.
“We’d best get going, or else we might miss your party.” Said Celestia, releasing Luna and Nightmare and standing.
Nightmare Moon looked over at Luna, who shrugged, smiling a bit nervously.
Nightmare draped a wing over her new sister’s back, nodding shortly.
“Yes, we should.” Said Luna.
With a flash, the trio arrived in ponyville, the town Luna and Nightmare had first arrived. Somehow, there was already a banner hung and ready, and decorations seemed to have materialized from thin air. The speed needed to set up the whole thing in such a short time was immense.
“A PARTY!” Cried a bright pink mare, leaping up in front of them and tossing confetti everywhere. Nightmare and Luna both took a surprised step back. Celestia seemed to take it in stride, trotting past the pink pony.
“Welcome home, my sisters.” She said casually, looking over her shoulder.
Nightmare and Luna were almost overwhelmed by the amount of ponies arriving, but not one of them had a frown, or anything near it.
For the first time in her life, Nightmare Moon honestly smiled. This was better than her plan of eternal night, because everypony was glad to see her and Luna, and the sun was still shining in the sky.