> Has Anyone Ever Loved Me?
>  by DerpyMuffins15
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> An Old Friend Returns
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	Just a few minutes before moonrise. Luna was steadily walking to her room, having just finished her daily duties as a Princess. ‘The court system have been over complicated.’ thought Luna. She had just adjourned a judging of two ponies that were 'suing' each other for the stupidest of things. One of the pony's home’s was casting a shadow over the pool of the other pony. They had wasted her time for a whole two hours, not even letting the night princess say a single word. The judging had ended when Luna called them both stupid and had stormed out.

She had now reached her room, having entered the Lunar wing of the castle. Unlocking the door with her magic, Luna entered her room. She levitated the diadem that was on her head and her chest piece onto the nearby night stand. She was ready to retire after a day of dull work with her sister, but Luna still had one last duty to perform. Raising her moon and bringing out the stars that came with it. She opened the doors to her balcony, and quietly stepped out. Her sister's sunset was just ending, casting long shadows around Luna. The alicorn princess could feel her moon trying to push itself into the horizon, but still couldn't get the extra push that Luna always provided.

She lit her horn in a midnight blue aura, now guiding her moon and giving it the necessary push it needed. Her moon started to show itself just beyond the horizon, the sun now gone from the skyline and her moon once again  free to grace the sky, with its ghostly visage. The Alicorn used her wings to lift herself a few feet above her balcony, and whisked all the small stars that were in her flowing mane into her night sky, like an artist filling a vast celestial canvas. Luna descended gracefully from the sky, gently landing on her balcony with practised precision.

Turning her head to face the moon, she noticed something was off. Her usual chalky white moon was blue tonight. Luna didn't know why, but her moon always turned a different color depending on what emotion she was feeling. Red for anger, orange when Luna felt mellow, golden yellow when shy, and blue whenever she felt unsure about something.

Luna walked back into her room and took off her silver shoes. She walked to her mirror to get a look at herself. She saw her own reflection staring back. Her mane still flowed in the nonexistent wind, her eyes a midnight blue, and her coat a dark-navy blue. But for a moment, just a moment, her eyes flashed a different color. The Alicorn blinked quickly, staring in confusion, leaning closer and concentrating on her eyes. It happened again, for just a fraction of a second, Luna thought she saw a different set of eyes. They were not her own eyes. They eyes were a light turquoise, with slitted pupils instead of her own light blue pupils. They were eyes she remembered too well. They were the eyes of her old self, the dark side she had regretted, letting out.

She shook her head, trying to ignore the disturbing thoughts. Her darker half was gone now, thanks to the Elements of Harmony. But Luna was still plagued with doubt, doubt that maybe her old self was still there. The Alicorn trotted to her bed and took a book from her bookshelves. Luna didn't really pick the book out, she didn’t need to. The book was a gift, given to her by a special pony. It was from the first friend Luna had made since her downfall and banishment.

Luna was now on her bed and opened to the first page of the familiar book. The book was very old, it's pages were musty with the scent of age and flowers. ‘The flowers must be from Twilight's shampoo.’ thought Luna. The musk of the shampoo combined with the thought of the lavender mare made reading the book impossible for Luna, the image of Twilight made Luna smile with just a hint of sadness.

‘Why does thinking about Twilight leave me feeling so...vulnerable? Why can’t I think about anything besides that adorable, lavender mare?’ Luna mused to herself, avoiding the more important question, tugging at the back of her mind. Why did Luna have the feeling of loneliness every time she was away from Twilight? She tried to push Twilight out of her head, but trying only made it more difficult to concentrate on anything else. 

There was also a dark feeling that came with thinking about Twilight.

The more Luna thought about Twilight, the more dread and despair she felt, the feeling of loneliness soon followed these emotions. Luna tried to remember the good times and new friends she had made on Nightmare Night with the lavender mare, but the more she tried to avoid thinking about Twilight, the stronger the darker emotions felt. Luna couldn't bear it anymore. The feeling was too much. The Alicorn closed her book and looked into the mirror across her room. Twice her eyes had flashed, and once again the doubt came.

"What is happening to me..." Luna asked herself, her small voice barely louder than a whisper, making her sound almost like Twilight’s shy friend, Fluttershy. A strong burst of wind, flung open the doors to her balcony. Luna's sharp instincts automatically put her in an attacking position. Ready to strike down anything that crossed her path, but was met only by a gentle gust of wind. This wind made Luna uneasy, it wasn't a warm and welcoming summer breeze. No, this wind felt cold almost calculating. As Luna approached her balcony, she heard a silent laugh ring through the night. This laugh wasn't the happy laugh of a foal or a pony, this laugh sent chills down Luna’s spine. The villainous laughter died out as quickly as it had come, Luna checked her balcony quickly for signs of trouble. Nothing was there, except for her.

‘Maybe I am just imagining things.’ Luna mused to herself, deciding perhaps her dinner had been undercooked, causing her see and hear things. Luna looked wearily back into her room, focusing on her bed. Luna couldn’t suppress a yawn as she realised just how exhausted she felt. She weakly stepped towards her bed, levitating the covers off and closing the drapes around her bed. Luna hid her head under the star covered pillows and now the midnight blue covers blanketed her body. She felt very comfortable under the covers, and in the darkness. That's where she felt most safe: in the darkness. It was where she was always accepted, a place she can always call home. An existence that has never felt the warmth of the sun. "Darkness..." thought Luna. It was the last thought she had before drifting into restless dreams.

Luna's dreams have changed ever since she was freed from the Nightmare. The alicorn was standing in Ponyville, next to all of her friends. That was all she ever wanted, to be loved, not hated and feared as she once was. But something caught her eye. It was Twilight, her first friend and savior.

As Luna tried to approach the lavender mare, the dark feelings returned. All her happiness was replaced with dread the closer she got to Twilight. Each step straining her physically and emotionally, as if she was trying to walk through the heavy snow that blanketed the north of Equestria. Luna was a mere step away from her best friend, but it was never meant to be.

Darkness enveloped everything, The joyful sky, the bright and colorful buildings and worst of all, the smiling faces of her friends, all gone. There was nothing left except Twilight and Luna, but then she too vanished, Luna crying out in vain as she vanished. Luna now stood alone, nothing but darkness around her. No friends, no happiness and no Twilight.

Laughter. Thats all Luna could hear. A mocking laughter, cold and spiteful. This laughter was all too familiar to her, It was her own laughter, the same laughter she had used when the Nightmare took her. It was the laughter she used whenever she killed a pony. This was the laughter of the Nightmare.

Luna felt nothing but dread and hopelessness. The darkness around her was punctuated by cold laughter, that continued for what seemed like an eternity to Luna. Cold and alone, Luna shivered screaming for someone to come. Soon enough, there in front of Luna was her former self, a pitch black Alicorn, that had once shared her name and body.

"Nightmare?" asked Luna trembling in fear. Luna felt what could only be described as absolute dismay and horror. The Nightmare dwarfed Luna, towering above Luna and her tiny, shaking, little body.

The alicorn's coat was the same as it had been for over a thousand years, a pitch black coat, accompanied by her ethereal, star covered mane. The enchanted armor she wore, shone a deep ultramarine hue. The helmet curved naturally with her head and neck, her chest piece showing their emblem, a crescent moon, while her eyes were still the same. A deep turquoise with slits like that of a basilisk and with similar effects.

"What’s the matter Luna? Aren't you happy to see your best and only friend return?" echoed the Nightmare. Her lips didn't move, but Luna could hear every word loud and clear. Each word ringing with absolute certainty.

"Best and only friend?" repeated Luna, still terrified.

"Of course Luna. I'm your best and only friend. Who would love a monster like us?" Asked the Nightmare.

"T-Tia would... she always loved me..." Stuttered Luna, trying to look away and hide the doubt she felt in her own words.

"You don't mean our dear sister do you?" Asked the Nightmare. Luna can barely give a nod. Her body was shaking badly and she could barely control herself. The Nightmare's presence alone had left Luna in a cowering position. Fear took over whatever instinct she ever had to fight back.

"If Tia ever loved you, then why did she banished us to the moon?" Asked the Nightmare.

The question hit home. Luna couldn't find an answer to it. All she could do was cower even more before her past self.

"Come now Luna, stop your worries. I am not here to harm you." Said the Nightmare.

Luna could barely hear what the Nightmare said. The fear overtaking her, all Luna could do was tremble as she curled up, waiting for the inevitable. ‘This is it.’ thought Luna. The Nightmare had returned, and now was here to finish her job. To take back her body, Luna’s body.

The pitch-black Alicorn took a step towards Luna, who immediately flinched, shutting her eyes and waiting for it all to be over. The Nightmare to overwhelm her again and take the body that they had once shared. The sense of being overwhelmed never came, it was subtle but Luna could feel there was something different about the Alicorn as she approached Luna. No longer did she radiate coldness and despair like the darkness that surrounded both of them. For once, Luna felt a warmth in the endless darkness. This warmth was close to her, like it was right beside her.

Luna opened her eyes and was no longer was facing the Nightmare. No, Luna found herself shocked beyond belief staring at the mare beside her. The Alicorn did not hurt Luna, she was just sitting next to her right now, nuzzling her, showing compassion and care. Before she knew it, the Nightmare had outstretched her wing and covered Luna from head to hoof in her own darkness.

Luna no longer felt the loneliness, despair, and coldness. She felt warmth, care, and love that radiated from the alicorn beside her. These were feelings Luna never expected from the evil Nightmare, these were feelings that she had only ever received from Tia and Twilight. For once in the darkness, Luna felt protected, she felt that for once, someone cared for her.

Luna stuck her head out from the cover of the Alicorn's wing and looked straight in her eyes. These were not the same eyes that Luna knew and feared. Nightmare's eyes did not show the coldness and hatred she had always known the mare to have. These were the eyes of a loving mother trying to protect her defenseless foal, a feeling that has always been foreign to Luna. These were the same eyes that only her sister had ever given her, it was such a foreign, alien concept to even think of Nightmare showing such care.

Luna had found her voice finally, but only managed a squeak."... Ni-Nightmare? Is that really you?"

"Yes, it is truly me Luna," answered the Nightmare.

"You are... different Nightmare, you feel different. You are not filled with.... coldness." Luna, regretted saying the words immediately. Nightmare's eyes changed instantly. They were now back to cold and calculating, but deep down, Luna could still the the care and compassion.

"It is good to see you again Luna. I have missed you." said the Nightmare, changing the subject.

"How are you here Nightmare? I thought you were destroyed." Asked Luna.

"I ‘would’ have been destroyed yes, but I was saved. Saved by you, Luna," Answered Nightmare.

"I sa-saved you? How could I save you? I wanted to be free," Luna asked, confusion written on her face.

"Indeed, you did want to be free. But you didn't want to destroy me Luna. You wanted me to stay, you protected me from the Elements. I was ready to die the moment the Elements overpowered us, but you...you shielded me. You hid me in the darkness, where I was born. You care for me as much as I care for you." Nightmare explained.

Luna thought about the explanation that the Nightmare gave her. Did she really mean it? Or was she just lying to Luna again. But there was one thing that the evil Alicorn could never fake, it was the care and compassion Luna saw in her eyes. The Nightmare was telling the truth, and it was unexpected.

"You are wondering why I am here, do you not?" Asked Nightmare. Luna nodded, her own eyes still locked with Nightmare's.

"You have called me here, Luna. I felt your distress and uneasiness. You have been focused on a certain pony for a while now Luna." Nightmare explained.

"You mean Twilight?" Asked Luna, fearing the name might bring back foul memories for the black alicorn.

"Yes indeed I do. She has caught your attention, and in a bad way." Said Nightmare.

"What do you mean?" Luna asked, biting her lip nervously.

"You have fallen in love Luna. I fear that you need to discard these feelings before it’s too late," said Nightmare.

"I-I'm in love?" Asked a confused Luna. She had never been loved before, and now the Nightmare was telling her that she was in love.

"Yes, you indeed are. You need to forget these feelings Luna. They are not worth the pains you will face." Warned Nightmare.

"I don't understand." Luna answered.

"If you pursue this matter, I fear that you'll only hurt yourself in the end. You will get your hopes up for nothing, Luna. I just don't want to see you hurt again." Nightmare admitted. The Alicorn's eyes flashed again. This time Luna could see concern and worry in the Nightmare's eyes. She was speaking the truth once again. Luna didn't know what to make of it.

"Please Nightmare, I want to know what it means to be loved back." Pleaded Luna.

"I love you Luna... Isn't that enough?" Asked Nightmare, her voice almost pleading as she gazed at the smaller alicorn. Nightmare’s eyes betrayed her inner thoughts, caring emotions that Luna never thought the evil Alicorn would ever show.

"I'm sorry Nightmare......It just isn't enough. I want more, to know what it feels like to be loved back. Not by somepony like you or Tia. Somepony who is willing to spend the rest of their life with me." Luna answered, an almost melancholy tone in her voice, looking down sadly.

"Heed my warnings Luna. This will only end with a heart break for you. I cannot bear to see you hurt,"said Nightmare gently.

This new side of Nightmare confused and surprised Luna, destroying her previous opinions on the dark mare. She cared about Luna, just as much as Tia did. ‘What happened to you Nightmare? Where is the wicked mare I once knew?’ Luna pondered, before finally voicing her worries.

"Why are you protecting me Nightmare? Why do you care for me so suddenly? What has made you change in such a way?" Luna asked, barely taking a pause between words, blurting out her questions as quickly as she could.

Nightmare’s head dropped, avoiding Luna’s gaze. The black alicorn closed her eyes, taking a deep breath before finally speaking.

"You saved me Luna. Even with all the horrible things I got us into, you still saved me. I can never repay this debt I owe to you. The best I can do is try to protect you in any way I can." Said Nightmare softly, her face scrunched up as she revealed the truth. It had clearly taken some of the bravado and ego that Nightmare enjoyed parading to say those words.

"Then you can repay this debt by helping me find love. Please Nightmare. I no longer want to live in the darkness. I no longer want to constantly rely on it anymore. I want to live with a special pony and feel loved for once. Please Nightmare, help me." Luna pleaded, her tone clearly desperate.

"Luna...." whispered Nightmare. She propped her head back up and met Luna's eyes. They were pleading, filled with hope of a better future. "I just don't want to see you hurt. If it means this much to you.....I shall help you."

"Thank you, Nightmare." Said Luna as she nuzzled the new friend she had just made. Nightmare's dark coat felt warm and comforting.

"Just remember this Luna. Whatever happens, you shall always have a home here. In the darkness, with me." Whispered Nightmare.

"I know. Thank you for caring about me Nightmare. Thank you..." Luna said, leaning against nightmare.

Her surroundings began to change. The Alicorn that was next to her was now gone. The darkness was still there. But Luna was no longer in dreamland. She was awake in her room, hidden under her covers once more. Luna’s head poked out of her pile of pillows and covers, glancing around, before looking at the clock next to her nightstand. It read six in the morning. ‘Morning’ Luna’s brain reminded her.

Her balcony doors were opened again, letting the first light of dawn creep inside. The familiar breeze from last night blew across her face. The breeze though familiar, was different, this breeze felt warm and welcoming. Luna reluctantly got out of her warm bed and walked to her balcony. As she approached the marble railing, Luna observed her moon's descent into the horizon. It was once again her duty to set her beautiful moon and hide the accompanying stars.

Performing the familiar ceremony from last night, Luna lifted herself off the ground with her wings and lit her horn in a midnight blue aura.  Gripping her moon and gently guiding the celestial orb, below the skyline. Her stars disappeared from the night sky, retreating one by one, back into her mane. As the last light of her moon died off, Luna felt the warmth of her sister's sun hit her back. Luna twisted her head back and stared into the star. She felt happiness to see her sister's sun again. But a part of Luna loathed the sun. It was the part of Luna that was born in the darkness.

As she walked back into her room, Luna flashed a quick look of herself in the mirror. She was still the same. A dark navy-blue coated Alicorn with a flowing mane. This time her eyes did not flash a different color. This time it was much worst. In the reflection of the mirror, there stood Nightmare Moon, right next to Luna. Luna quickly turned her head to the left to meet her, but was met with an unexpected surprise. No one was there, just Luna looking straight into her bookshelves.

She once again turned her head towards the mirror, this time Nightmare's reflection was gone. In the mirror was just Luna standing by herself again. ‘It must just have been a dream.’ Thought Luna remembering her encounter with the Nightmare. "We must be imagining things again."

She caught what she just said immediately. Luna no longer used the 'I' that she got accustomed to. Luna had returned to the Royal We. Luna shrugged the thought off again. ‘It’s just a mistake, yes that’s it a mistake. I’m always messing up my speech from time to time that's all it is.’

Calming herself, Luna turned around, only to Find Nightmare Moon. Luna jumped back and stumbled backwards hitting her nightstand and knocking over the mirror, her chest piece and diadem falling off in her panic. She got a quick look at the alicorn before fear consumed her again.

The image of the Alicorn was strange and different. Her coat was still a pitch black, but it was chalky, while shifting between transparent and translucent, like you could see through her. Luna finally found her voice again, "Nightmare? How did you get your own body?"

"I don't Luna. This is my astral plane form. Only you shall be able to see, hear, and touch me. To other ponies, I will just pass right through them." Answered Nightmare.

"How are you able to gather enough magic to create this form?" asked Luna as she got back on her hooves.

"You remember the star that recently went supernova in the Ursa minor quadrant? I harness the star’s energy to create this form. I barely had enough to create this form, maintaining it is another story," Said Nightmare.

"How are you maintaining this form then Nightmare?" Luna asked as she put on her diadem and chest piece. She then walked over to her bed to put on her lunar silver shoes.

"I'm not, you are Luna. I need something physical to anchor me to this world. Do not worry. It does not require much magic. But for beings who’ve lost their bodies, like me, it is like trying to fly to the sun. Very difficult, but still doable." Nightmare explained.

"Alright, I can live with a little bit of magic being used by you. Now if you'll excuse me, I have court duty." Luna said, making her way toward the door before Nightmare stopped her.

"Stop kidding yourself Luna. No one has showed up for Lunar court ever since your return. The ones you do get are just a waste of your time." Said Nightmare bitterly.

Once again, Luna knew the black coated alicorn was right. Luna turned to face Nightmare, her eyes boring into Nightmare's eyes slitted pupils. ‘Still filled with love and compassion.’ Thought Luna, a small smile on her lips.

"What shall we do then Nightmare? It's not like there is anything else to do." Said Luna.

"Come and sit with me Luna. We need to talk." Said Nightmare as she walked towards Luna's bed. Nightmare sat down and left enough room for Luna to sit with her. Luna trotted toward her bed and sat with Nightmare. Once again, Luna felt warmth radiate from the Alicorn that sat next to her, just like her dream. Nightmare outstretched her left wing and covered Luna again. The darkness that covered her made Luna feel safe again.

"What do you want to talk about?" Asked Luna as she got comfortable.

"Tell me about Twilight, Luna." Said Nightmare.

"Shouldn't you already know who she is? We share the same memories do we not?" asked Luna.

"We do, but your memories do not tell me how you feel about Twilight. Tell me Luna, what does Twilight mean to you? Why have you fallen in love with a mare so much like yourself?" Asked Nightmare.

"I guess I'll start right after I was free-, I mean, when we were separated." Said Luna. She then recalled all the events lead up to the current day. From what happened at the Gala to the Changeling attack on Canterlot. Luna finished with the friendship between Twilight Sparkle and herself, that had developed over the past year.

"It seems you had some good times with Twilight." Nightmare said.

"Yes, I guess we did." Said Luna, truly smiling for the first time in weeks.

"It's good to see you smiling again Luna. You always look more beautiful when you smile." Complemented Nightmare.

"Thanks Nightmare." said Luna. She leaned her head towards Nightmare's neck and relaxed. Luna's eyelids started to drop again with the restless night she just had.

"Thanks for taking care of me." Luna mumbled.

"Sleep Luna. You shall need it. Do not worry about our morning duties, I shall take care of them. Think about my questions Luna. Why do you love Twilight? Thats what you need to know if you want this to work." Nightmare explained.

Luna could barely hear Nightmare's words, she was too tired. All she wanted was to be with the lavender mare again. To be in the darkness with Twilight. To be loved by her first friend and savior.

"I love you Twilight......." mumbled Luna. She once again drifted to dreamland.

"Have the sweetest of dreams Luna. Just remember that I am always here for you if you ever need me,"said Nightmare. She continued to sit by Luna, to comfort and warm her.

Author’s Note: Wow, never thought I’d write about Nightmare in this kind of way. Never really thought this fanfiction would turn from a romance to a bit of slice of life. Or whatever you like to call this kind of fic. So far, I didn’t think I would get this far. I’m rooting for Twiluna right now, but don’t expect it to turn out to be one. I really haven’t decided on that yet. Which might break a few hearts, maybe from Twilestia fans or Twiluna fans. I won’t tell til the end. 
	
> In The Darkness
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Once again, Luna was in dreamland, Nightmare deciding not to interrupt it. Luna was in Ponyville again, strolling down a street that lead to the local library. Luna didn't know why, she just wanted to get to the library as fast as she could. As she got closer to the Twilight's house, something shone briefly in Luna's eyes. She twisted her head back to see what it was, only to be blinded by it. The sun in all it’s fiery glory, was staring Luna right in the face. It's blinding light intensified when Luna tried to ignore it. "This is just a dream." complained Luna. "Why would our sister's sun be blinding us in my dream?"

Once again Luna caught what she said, the 'our' instead of mine, she was referring to herself as if she were more than one pony. Luna shrugged off the uncomfortable thought, it just wasn't important right now. Right now, Luna had to get to the library and get to Twilight.

Each step Luna took, the sun's heat and blinding light intensified, the air itself becoming hot around Luna, steam rising from the ground, quickly evaporating any moisture in the ground. The sun’s heat had become atrocious now as the local plantlife burst into flames, whole bushes erupting into great clouds of flame, whilst the grass beneath her very hooves became blackened ash, crunching softly as she walked. As Luna turned her head back to see the ash, she saw her own hoof steps burned into the gravel. Where Luna had stepped, where now scorched imprints. "Just a few more steps." said Luna. She was a mere ten feet away from the lavender mare's house.

Luna finally reached her destination, the welcoming shade of Twilight Sparkle’s tree home. Remembering her manners, Luna knocked first, even though the sun was now burning marks into her coat, the leaves of the tree home raining down softly like soft snow. The door slowly opened to reveal an empty house. Well at least an empty living room. Luna slowly stepped inside, as she did not want to look like an intruder.

As the Alicorn stepped inside, she noticed something wrong. Everything in Twilight's house was wrong. Everything was still there, Luna just felt that something was off about the house. It radiated hate, where protection should have been. Despair, when compassion was missing. And finally loneliness. Just loneliness.

Luna wanted to get out of the terrible house as fast as her long legs could carry her. But she had made her way here in the blinding glare of her sister's sun for a reason. She had to see her savior, even if it was just a dream, Luna still had to see Twilight.

"He-hello?" squeaked Luna. She could barely make a sound. Fear was now gripping her heart once again. "Are you here Twilight? And where is your dragon, Spike?" Questioned Luna. No one answered, it was just Luna and the dark feelings. Even with the blinding light outside, Luna now noticed that the house itself, was in complete darkness. No candles to the stairway. No lanterns or light source to indicate something was there. Even the fireplace was dead.

That was the right word, dead. Everything in Twilight's house was dead. Everything. Nothing carried the same emotions Luna felt the last time she was here. But Luna had to make sure Twilight wasn’t here. What if someone had held Twilight upstairs and she was gagged? What if she had slipped and fallen? What if Twilight was injured? These questions now raced in Luna's mind. She was worried that Twilight was hurt and couldn't call for help.

Luna took another step inside Twilight's house and almost fell to the ground. Luna was assailed by the dark feelings, all of them dragging Luna down. Literally. Luna could barely stand, and each step she took only made it worse. Each time Luna took a step, terrible memories would flash through her mind. Each step, popped a memory where Luna was hated. One where her own people refuse to even look at her without disgust on their faces.

Another when she was shunned by ponies who hated her night. Each time she brought out her moon and night, ponies just upright ignored it and waited for her sister to bring the sun and morning they cherished. Each time getting worse and worse as Luna sank lower towards her spiraling downfall into the darkness.

And finally a memory when Luna was Nightmare. It was a bad memory that Luna didn't want to relive. A memory Luna never wanted to remember again, sadly her mind had other ideas.

Her mind started to play tricks with Luna as her memories flashed before her. Her eye’s were on the verge of tears as she dreaded the last memory the darkness would make Luna relive. As she tried in vain to block out the overflowing memories, it turned into a futile attempt as the darkness overpowered and diminished what fighting chance Luna had left. The surroundings of the treehouse started to shift and change as Luna found herself to be in her room again. Next to her was Celestia with a worried look on her face. Luna could feel everything around her, but didn’t seem to be able to move any part of her body. Her mind quickly race to remember what memory the darkness decided to taunt Luna with.

Twas on the eve of the night Luna turned into Nightmare. Celestia was next to Luna sitting in her room. Her sister tried to comfort Luna, but it never worked. 

"Luna, please, give no weight to the words of our people. Your nights are just as important as my days." said the Solar Goddess.

"Why are they important?" asked Luna. Her head was down. She couldn't look in Celestia eyes. The comforting eyes. The despair she felt wouldn't allow her.

"Your nights are important because......" Celestia trailed off. She couldn't even find a single reason to give her depressed sister.

"That's what we thought sister. Not even you can find a use for our night. We are just an inconvenience to thee and our subjects." Said Luna, her hate and anger for her sister was now building up inside. She couldn't stand her sister anymore, Celestia always got everything Luna wished she could have. The ponies of Equestria loved Celestia and were willing to do anything for the pony that brought the sun that warmed their homes. Others blamed Luna for everything bad that happened during the night. Everything bad that has ever happened in Equestria has always been Luna's fault.

No one would question that their Solar Princess wasn't perfect. That's what everypony thought of her sister ‘perfect’. Everything Celestia does is always perfect. Even when the fault belonged to Celestia, ponies just outright blamed Luna for it.

"Lulu, please don't feed these dark feelings you feel. I know what they are and you shouldn't be feeling them." Retorted Celestia changing the subject.

"How do know these feelings if you never felt them? How do you know the hate I feel everyday from the ponies I try to rule? When was the last time a pony looked at you and didn't want to do nothing more than hang you at the stake? When has anyone ever hated you?" Returned Luna with a bitter attitude.

"Yes, I have never felt these emotions, but-" started Celestia.

"But nothing sister. You have always been in the light whilst we’re always in your shadow. You say that everything will get better, but they never do. Things never get better for us. They only get better for you. Nopony appreciates US!" Snarled Luna, unable to hide her anger and hate for her sister inside anymore. Luna wanted to snap at her sister.

"Us? Why do you keep speaking like that?" Celestia asked, suspicion written on her face.

"If you ever cared about me, you would have known by now. Just get out sister. Get out. I don't want to see you right now." Said Luna. She used her magic and levitated her sister off the bed and towards the door.

"Lulu, wait!" said Celestia. Before she could react, the door slammed shut and locked.

Tears trickled down Luna’s dry and burnt, ash covered coat, the memory pained Luna more than anything. It was when Celestia tried to offer Luna help and comfort, but all Luna could do was turn the help away and slam the door in the face of the only pony who cared about her. Luna shuddered at the horrible memory, unable to stand any longer, her knees gave way and she fell to the cold hardwood floor. 

Then out of the shadows stepped a familiar face. Twilight was on the top flight of stairs, looking down on Luna. "Twilight, you are safe! We are glad you are not hurt." said Luna weakly. Once again she used the Royal We. But, Luna didn’t notice, sensing that something was off about the lavender mare. She tried weakly to stand, but was pushed down immediately by the daunting feelings the darkness sent her way again. As much as the feelings hurt, Luna had to get to Twilight and to double check that the unicorn was alright. The Alicorn could barely manage to stay on her hooves, walking being impossible for her right now. She did not need to as Twilight approached her.

Twilight stepped closer to Luna, the warmth and love that usually radiated off the lavender mare, came now as hate and disgust. The look on Twilight's face showed that Luna was an unwelcome guest.

"Twilight, did We do something wrong?" Asked Luna fearfully. ‘What could I have done to make her treat me with such resentment?’

"Why are you here?" sneered Twilight, her voice laced with venom.

"We don't understand." said Luna weakly as she tried to get back up.

"Ponies like you don't belong here." Said Twilight her voice growing angry.

"Ponies like me?" Asked Luna.

There out of the shadows stepped in her sister Celestia. The look on her face showed nothing but utter hate and contempt as she stood besides her student.

"Tia? What are you doing here?" Asked Luna, looking fearfully at her older sister. The look in Celestia's eyes was not of care and compassion, she had been receiving since her return. Celestia’s eyes showed nothing but an unbridled hatred, as if Luna herself was a monstrous evil that needed to be extinguished.

"I'm here to protect my student from creatures like you!" snapped Celestia. She spread her wing and covered Twilight behind a protective barrier.

"Creatures like me?" squeaked Luna. ‘What have I done wrong?’

"Monsters. That's what you are and always will be. You don't deserve to live, let alone feel the love of my student. Stay away from her. Monsters like you need to stay in the darkness where you belong." Shouted Celestia down at the helpless Alicorn.

"Mo-monsters like me?" Luna slowly repeated. She couldn't process what her sister just said. Celestia, her own loving and caring sister, had just called Luna a monster.

"I would rather have Nightmare Moon as a sister. Better yet, I wish I was an only child. Then I wouldn't be related to you." Celestia retorted.

Now it was Twilight's turn to bombard Luna with the hatred. She stuck her head out from Celestia's wing and looked Luna right in the eyes. "I wish I had never saved you. It was a mistake. How could I ever have been friends with a monster like you." Spat Twilight, with such hate and revulsion, it made Luna cringe to look at her.

Luna just stood there, taking each and every, blunt accusation. When finally she could take no more, Her knees buckled and she fell with both the weight of their words and dark feelings they were radiating.

Then it all stopped. Everything vanished and was replaced with the darkness again. Luna remembered some of the words the only ponies that cared for her said. "Monster," repeated Luna. "Is that all they see me as? A being that is worst than nothing? Am I just nothing? Do I even deserve Twilight's love?" Asked Luna silently.

Fresh tears now started pouring down Luna's cheeks. She didn’t know why crying felt right. It just did, like it could temporarily take away the dark feelings. All she wanted to do was cry out her sadness and depression. So thats what she did, how long, Luna could remember. She just sat down and wept quietly. Her sorrow filled tears slowly dripped their way down her cheeks before vanishing completely into nothingness.

The darkness, her best friend at the worst of times and worst enemy at the best. Whenever Luna had managed to pull herself out of it, the darkness always found a way to reel Luna back in. Luna's love for Twilight had pulled her out from the clutches of the darkness. It was good while it lasted, before Luna had this dream. Now, once again, the darkness was her home. As much as Luna wanted to get away, it was inevitable. The darkness was her prison as much as it was her home.

There was one hope in the darkness that Luna never expected. It was the hope that Nightmare will save her. A false hope that maybe Nightmare can make it all better, like she did before. Maybe she could do what she did before and take all of this away. To just take away everything, her sorrows, fears and tears.

The hope rang true, after a few more moments, Nightmare now stood next to her. Luna opened her tear stained eyes to  look at the blurry Alicorn. Nightmare stared down at Luna, not with hate or anger like the other two ponies, but with sadness and worry. The look in her eyes was an ocean of pure concern for Luna. It was a first for both Alicorns.

"You don't have to say anything Luna. I saw it all. I am sorry," Said Nightmare as she sat down next to Luna.

Luna felt warmth again as her alter ego comforted her. It was just like the first time she had gone down this path. Someone tried to comfort her, and Luna just simply turn the help away. This time it would be different. This time, someone understood the pains Luna was in.

"You came Nightmare?" Asked Luna shaking, her body started to tremble again.

"Of course I did Luna." Said Nightmare sympathetically. "I am truly sorry. Now I know why you want Twilight to love you. You want to get away from this. You want to get away from the darkness."

Luna just gave a nod as Nightmare's wing once again covered her. Nightmare's darkness felt different than the surrounding darkness. It felt safe, while the other one just wanted to hurt Luna. She just wanted to sit there, with the Nightmare, and let her comfort Luna.

"Stop the tears Luna, they are not you. I know what the darkness is trying to do to you, and I am truly sorry, but you must try to ignore it. I shall deal with it as much as I can. You need not worry Luna, I will hold the darkness at bay as long as I can for you," Said Nightmare protectively.

"Thank you, Nightmare, you're the only one I can trust." whispered Luna.

"You know that is not true. You have our sister, Celestia to talk to." Said Nightmare, the mention of the Solar Goddess left a bitter aftertaste for her. But this was something Luna needed. She needed someone to talk to, to confine herself in. As much as Nightmare loathed Celestia, she needed to put aside her personal feelings for Luna's well-being.

Luna finally finding her voice, barely managed a whisper."She can't help me like you can Nightmare. She doesn't understand the pain I am going through, but you do. You have gone through the pain with me, always being there when I need you. Tia can't help me if she doesn't know what's wrong with me."

Nightmare was the one surprised for once. Luna was opening up quickly to Nightmare. Like she just said, Nightmare understood what Luna was going through. But why did Luna trust Nightmare more than their own sister now?

"Why are you trusting me so easily Luna? You have known me to be a heartless wretch, who cares only for herself. Why do trust me with so much, in so little time?" Questioned Nightmare.

Luna just answered Nightmare like she knew the right thing to say before she said it. She just felt like the answers have always been there, just unasked.

"It is because you care for me Nightmare. You have gone through the same ordeal that I have. Tia can't say the same. She has never been in the darkness like you or me. She can't understand me like you. You love and care for me Nightmare. That is something that has always been foreign to me. Now here I am, sitting next to a pony that has done nothing but care for me. Thats why I  trust you, because you have always cared about me. You never look down at me, or show me the dark emotions like the darkness has."

This was becoming too much of a déjà vu. Only last night had Luna gone through with questioning Nightmare about her change. Now it was Nightmare's turn. Now she knew something is off.

"Do you really mean it Luna? Do you really see me in that way?" Asked Nightmare. She didn't know what was happening to her. She was a killing tyrant that blackened the sky with darkness and filled the land with monsters of the night. Now it seemed that Nightmare is someone who cared for Luna and tried everything in her power to protect the young Alicorn.

"I do." said Luna without hesitation. She was sure of everything she just said. Even the parts she didn't even know she knew about.

Nightmare was silent, mentally going over every aspect of herself. ‘How much have I changed? Why have I changed in such a way? And why have I changed for the better?’ These were questions that Nightmare would have to investigate later. Right now, she had to deal with Luna's problems.

The background started to fizzle out, the darkness that surrounded both alicorns blurred and became a mix of colors as they returned to the waking world. They were sitting on the bed again, back in Luna's room. But something caught Luna's eye as they phased back into reality. There on the other side of Nightmare was a pile of paper and parchment, littered with ink and quills.

"Why is there parchment on my bed?" asked Luna.

"Its the backed up paperwork which I have been trying to sorting through." Answered Nightmare.

"You can use magic? I thought you couldn't with your body gone." Returned Luna worried that Nightmare might try something dastardly.

"Very basic magic, yes. The most complex magic I can use is levitation without losing control of this form. Anything else, and I phase out of reality and back into the darkness." Nightmare explained.

"What is on the parchments Nightmare?" asked Luna as she levitated the single sheet to her face. It was the tax reduction law that had been sent to Luna and had been awaiting her approval seal for the past month. She thought she had lost the document during her late nights trying to catch up on paperwork.

"I'm doing paperwork, believe it or not. You really shouldn't procrastinate Luna." Nightmare admonished her, noting her bad habits.

"It is not my fault equestrian law has changed over the last millennium We have been gone." Whined Luna. It was like she was a little filly again and was being blamed for a stupid mistake.

"Excuses, Luna. You cannot always hid behind them. But I will admit, this paperwork does require a great deal of time. If anything, I think that's our one and true weakness. Paperwork. We can live for the rest of time, and there will always be a mountain of paperwork to be done." Joked Nightmare.

The poor joke brought a smile to Luna's face again. This time, Nightmare felt something inside her swell. She felt...happy to see Luna smile. Like it brought her joy to know that Luna was happy. What was happening to the wicked mare?

Nightmare's train of thought was interrupted by a sound of rumbling. It was coming from Luna. Her stomach rumbled for she had skipped breakfast sleeping in.

"Guess I shouldn't have skipped breakfast." Said Luna meekly, now realising how famished she was.

"No you should not. You're still a growing alicorn Luna. You need to eat, worry not about this petty work." Said Nightmare as she levitated another scroll from the nightstand to the bed.

"Go down to the dining halls Luna. Get something to eat, while I finish this tax return. There isn't much left, I shall join you shortly." Said Nightmare.

"Are you sure you don't need any help?" Asked Luna. But once again her stomach rumbled and it answered her question for her.

"Yes, I am sure. Go and find something to eat Luna, I shall be fine." Said Nightmare.

"Alright." said Luna as he walked out her door. She quietly closed it behind her, while her hoof steps echo with each step she took.

Now that Luna was gone, Nightmare returned to her earlier thoughts. The happiness she felt when she saw Luna smile. The joy to know that Luna wasn't in anguish. Nightmare didn't know what to make of it. What had happened to her?  


Author's Note: Hey guys, here is the new and improved chapter 2. Yea, it takes that long just to revise a chapter. Aside from my own usual deterring on my terrible skills as a writer, I feel bad for you guys. I left you guys hang for such a long time.  The next chapter won't be up for a while. How much longer, I don't know. Maybe not that much. Btw, Happy Birthday to my editor. Go enjoy yourself Tonto, you earned it. As for me, I'll give you guys some foreshadowing. This story is turning into a drama with maybe a weak romance story. So? What a better way to add drama than to add a dramatic pony to the mix. No the pony will not be Rarity (no matter how dramatic she is). Still with me? If you are, chapter 3 will include a certain Draconequus we all love.

> Discorded Affairs
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nightmare was in the last place she ever thought she would ever be. She was outside, in the sunny rays and joy filled garden of Canterlot. Every fiber of her body despised the star that shined brightly behind her. "This trip better be worth it," mumbled Nightmare. She had left Luna's room after deciding to find the answers she needed, from a person she thought she would never seek answers from.

The Alicorn slowly trotted in the Canterlot Gardens, looking aimlessly for her answers, but they were no longer in this old place. Nightmare stared at the place where the statue of the Draconequus used to stand. "Where are you Discord?! I will not have walked in this blasted sun for nothing! Answer me!" growled Nightmare in frustration. This was a vain attempt by the mare to find the answers she desperately needed. All she could do was scowl at the fact that the statue was moved or missing from its original place.

"This was a waste of my time! Why did I even come to look for that pathetic excuse for rebel?! Not to mention he has lowered me to walking in this accursed sun!" screamed Nightmare. Answers were within her grasp, but only to be denied by the missing Draconequus. She didn't know why she searched for the ex-king in the first place, but it seemed like a logical reason at the time. "Logical reason my moon. That trash is anything but logical," scowled Nightmare as she continue to blame the Draconequus. 'I have wasted enough time here. These answers will have to be sought later. I cannot tarry any longer,' thought Nightmare as she left the spot where the statue used to stand. She was stopped in her tracks as a maniacal and sinister laughter entered the air. The voice sounded evil down its very core. For once in her life, Nightmare felt fear, a feeling that she only bestowed, never felt. These new feelings being foreign to her made Nightmare cringe in her stance.

She took a look back to see where the voice came from, only to find what she was looking for, staring down at her. The missing place of the Draconequus was now replaced with an astral form of Discord, almost transparent and blanch, like her. Nightmare meet the ex-king's glare and only felt worse for it. All the feelings that Luna felt, the same feelings the darkness gave her when it invaded her dreams was now coursing through Nightmare as the look from the beast continued. No matter how hard she tried, Nightmare couldn't pull her eyes away from the deathlike glare.

Nightmare had always experienced the dark feelings second-hoof from Luna's memories, but the encounter with the monster changed all that. Now Nightmare knew what it was like to be filled with nothing but fear. However, before the Draconequus could sense her distress, Nightmare composed herself and put on the mask she always wore. Her features returned to normal with a stern and agitated look on her face but, deep down, Nightmare still felt the fear. ‘Is this what Luna has always felt?’ thought Nightmare to herself. ‘Has it always been this way?’ Question after question filled her mind as Luna's well-being was the only thing Nightmare could concentrate on at that moment. Her thoughts were interrupted by the demonic voice that belonged to the beast in front of her.

"No need to shout Moony. I heard you the first time. So what brings a mare like yourself to a monster like me?" asked Discord as his form came into focus.

"My name is Queen Moon to you insect! You will refer to me as such and you will show me the respect that comes with that title!" retorted Nightmare. Despite her efforts, the Draconequus' features remained the same.

"Queen you say Moony? Well if you're a queen, then care to explain the still sunny day we are blessed with?" asked Discord with much sarcasm.

"My plans are none of your concern! Equestria shall experience eternal night and it will be soon. Now silence thy silver tongue Draconequus before I silence it for you. I have questions to ask and have no time for your foalish games," shouted  Nightmare regaining her confidence.

"Well then, ask away Moony. I find it interesting to have you grovel at my feet for these answers," laughed Discord.

"I AM NOT GROVELING NOR WILL I EVER TO THE LIKES OF YOU, INSECT!" shouted Nightmare, with anger rising every second.

The look on Discord's face remained the same. His face still consisted of arrogance and superiority. Even with her mask on, Nightmare still showed fear at how calm the Draconequus was. His calmness only angered the Lunar Goddess even more and agitated her frustration.

"What are your questions, Moony? I'm waiting," said Discord seeing the falter in the masquerade she always wore.

"I seek answers from you Draconequus. I seek answers as to why I am feeling this way towards somepony I thought my slave. Why do I have new feelings for this pony? Why am I filled with joy at the sight of her smile? Why do I find happiness in seeing this mare's own happiness. Why am I trying to protect her from the darkness where I was born?" asked Nightmare. The look on the Draconequus face never faltered. He continued to stare down at her with interest and joy. He reveled in her confusion and frustration and her own inner turmoil.

"You are not asking the right questions Nightmare. I will only answer you when you ask the right questions," answered Discord. The new look on the Alicorn's face only brought pride to him as he could see her anger and frustration increase even more.

"Answer my questions vermin! I don't have time for your foalish games and am not in the mood for them! ANSWER ME!" she boomed in her Royal Canterlot voice. The roar shook the nearby windows and sent tremors in the mountain-side of the castle.

"Shouting will get us nowhere Moony. You need to ask the right questions if you want any answers," said Discord with his same calmness.

"Then enlighten me Draconequus. What are the right questions?!" retorted Nightmare.

"Look inside yourself Moony. Look inside the part of you that you always thought weak. Look inside your heart. There you shall find your questions," answered Discord. He took a step back and snapped his talons. A beach chair and umbrella appeared before them as Discord took a seat. Another snap of his talons and shades appear before his eyes.

"While you think about that Moony, I’m going to get a tan. Don't you just love the nice weather we’re having?" mocked Discord.

‘What the buck is this twit talking about?’ thought Nightmare. ‘How can my heart know what I'm looking for? This has all  just been a waste of time!’

Nightmare grunted in her frustration which only added more joy to the Draconequus. "What's the matter Moony? Don't know what you want? First you ask for answers, now you ask for questions? I must say, this is quite an interesting turn of events, isn't it?" asked Discord with a smile.

Nightmare only growled at the Draconequus. Frustration at it’s highest peak in her body, Nightmare snapped. She galloped towards the Draconequus to take all her frustration out on his little neck. The sudden movement surprised the ex-king as he was tackled to the ground with her horn in his face. The horn started to glow a pitch black as she readied it for battle.

"Nah, ah, ah. You know what happens if you use too much magic. Its the same thing that happens to me, we are both without a body after all. Well mine is stoned right now, but you get the point. Go ahead, give me your best shot. Use all that magic you have gathered on me. Hit me. Hit me! HIT ME!" laughed Discord wildly. He enjoyed Nightmare's misgivings as much as his own.

"You are insane, Draconequus. Now tell me what I need to know!" shouted Nightmare.

"What was the first clue? My evil laugh or devilishly good looks?" said Discord.

"Self-flattery? Quite pathetic. Oh how the mighty has fallen," said Nightmare as she got off the ex-king.

"I could say the same thing about you. Now have you found the questions you would like to ask?" quipped Discord.

"Just tell me the bucking question. I don't have time for this," sneered Nightmare.

"I can wait. Thats what you do during imprisonment, you wait. I got the rest of time to hear your question. So if you want your answers I suggest you look into your heart, or whatever you use to pump blood in your body. Knowing you, you probably never had a heart to begin with, but I can see that changing even now as we speak," said Discord.

"I...don't have a heart. Never have, never will," mumbled Nightmare.

"Why do you continue to lie to yourself? You have already seen the changes in your behavior and feelings. Now look into your heart. Look past the darkness that you claim to be the master of," said Discord.

Nightmare gave a sigh before giving into the Draconequus demands. She closed her eyes and listen to whatever she was looking for. Her search was ended abruptly when she found what she was looking for. The question filled her head immediately after searching in her 'heart'. She didn't know why, but the question just made sense. But it was a question she was going to have to swallow her pride to ask. A question that will only make her look weak in front of the Draconequus. "This is for Luna," thought Nightmare. "If I am going to help her, I cannot let my ego stand in the way of it."

"D-do I....do I love Luna?" whispered Nightmare. The question was almost silent, ghostlike, as if it was never meant to be asked.

"Now that, Nightmare, is the right question," said Discord as he got off of his beach chair. 

"I am very proud of you Moony. Swallowing your pride and for whom? A pony you have never even thought of as more than just leverage over Celestia. You must really care for Luna if you are willing to let your ego fall," said Discord.

Nightmare just stood there in her spot silently. She waited for the insults to come. The insults about her weakness, about her emotions, and about her attachment to Luna. The insults never came as she looked back into the Draconequus eyes. The fear Nightmare was expecting never reached her as she felt the Draconequus radiate logic and reason. A first to Nightmare.

"Well? What are you waiting for? Aren't you going to insult me for my weakness?" screamed Nightmare.

The ex-king's features remained the same. Calmness with a bit of cockiness. "Telling your love for someone else is not a sign of weakness Nightmare. It is only a weakness if you think it is," answered Discord.

Nightmare just looked down to the ground and pondered what the Draconequus said. She looked back to the ex-king as he still hasn't answered her. "You haven't answered my question," said Nightmare.

"This is a question you already know the answer to Nightmare. You didn't need to ask me what your heart already knows," answered Discord.

"Why have I wasted my time with you?! You tell me that I'm not asking the right question and then you tell me I already know the answer?! Why did I even come here?!" shouted Nightmare.

"You are here to seek professional help from the monstrosity who knows what you are going through the best. You are here because you are in inner turmoil. You are torn between the mare you love, Luna, and the place you always called home, the darkness. This is inner chaos and who knows chaos better than me?" questioned Discord.

"What are you rambling on about now Draconequus?" asked Nightmare.

"You have to choose between Luna and the darkness, Moony. You have found Luna at her weakest and have put a protective wing around her. Metaphorically and literally. Torn between the two, you are now fighting with your old self. You are no longer the mare you were a thousand years ago Moony. That's why you have come to me. To seek answers which you have already known, but I did enjoy your visit. Seeing you all frustrated was very much worth it," chuckled Discord at the Alicorn's discomfort.

"This was nothing more than a waste of my time. To think I could find a reasonable answer with the King of Chaos," mumbled Nightmare. She turned and left the Draconequus. The whole time Discord was just playing jokes on her and she fell for it. ‘Love for Luna,’ thought Nightmare. ‘How could I ever have thought that?’ There was a lingering doubt that filled her mind at those thoughts. Nightmare knew those words were true, but a part of her kept telling her it wasn't, that she really did love Luna. That she cared for her other half almost as much as she loathed the sun. Discord's next question stopped her in her tracks as she turn to face the Draconequus.

"Don't you want to know how to save Luna?" asked Discord with a huge smirk on his face.

"What are you talking about now Draconequus?" asked Nightmare, interest showing in her eyes.

"That’s partly why you came to me is it not? To find out how to save your precious other self?" returned Discord.

"...Yes...," admitted Nightmare after fighting her ego off.

"I am surprised you agreed so easily Moony. You must really have it bad for Luna," said Discord.

"I do not love her in that way Draconequus. I just simply want to save her from the nightmare she thinks of our home," argued Nightmare.

"I'm teasing Moony. Lighten up. Your just as uptight as you high and mighty sister," chuckled Discord. He soon learned to regret saying the words to the Lunar Alicorn.

Nightmare's anger flared to the surface as her eyes started to glow pitch black like her coat and a magical grip start to form around the Draconequus' neck, choking him. His arms flailed up to to his neck as he tried to pry the invisible force away. His body twitching with the lack of air. Even in his astral form, Discord still felt pain. It was one of the drawbacks of having this form. He was allowed to walk amongst the world of the living, but must meet the requirements that all beings need. At that moment, it was air.

"Never, and I mean NEVER, compare me to that wretched mare! She is a pathetic excuse of a being and her sun is no less. I am nothing like her. If you know what's good for you Draconequus, you will never speak of her in my presence ever again! Do I make myself clear?" boomed Nightmare to the choking Draconequus. She loosened the grip on his neck to allow enough air for an answer, but not enough to sustain him.

"Y-yes..." choked Discord.

"Yes, what insect?!" shouted Nightmare. She released her grip ever so slightly so that the Draconequus could answer her properly.

"Y-yes Qu-Queen Moon," gaged Discord. Nightmare's magical grip around his neck loosened and he started panting for the much need air. As he composed himself, he looked into the eyes of the mare in front of him to find it filled with rage and hatred for the Princess he had mention.

"Sibling rivalry much Moony? I thought you were past this," said Discord as he regained his calmness.

"Do not speak of that bitch in my presence. It is only out of sheer respect I have for you that I allow you to live. But to make sure you remember, the next time you do, your lungs will not be burning from the lack of oxygen. They really will be burning, along with the rest of your body," threatened Nightmare.

Discord took the threat to heart, but didn't let it falter his calmness. "Alright, I get it. Don't mention the other sister. Now lets get back to business. You wanted to know how to save Luna?" asked Discord as he regained the middle ground.

"Tell me quickly Draconequus. You have wasted my time enough as it is," complained Nightmare.

"Alright, but the answers shall have to be in my terms. If you want them, they will have to be in the form of a riddle," said Discord.

"I don't have time for another one of your foalish games Draconequus. Just tell me what I have to do to save her and we can both get back to our lives," said Nightmare.

"Well if you want to save Luna, you shall have to play my little game and I also want something in return," demanded Discord.

"I shall listen to your riddle and I might think about giving you what you what," sneered Nightmare.

"Oh, you will enjoy what I want Nightmare. Yes, I think you will enjoy it rather much," said Discord seductively.

A blush came onto Nightmare's cheeks as a dirty image flashed into her mind. "Wh-what do you want Discord?" stuttered Nightmare.

"Oh Moony, by the look of that blush on your face, you must be filled with naughty thoughts right now," laughed Discord at Nightmare's discomfort.

"Just tell me your demands Draconequus!" shouted Nightmare as she tried to regain herself.

"Very well. I want you to say 'Hi' to your sister, Celestia, for me. Do make sure she knows it is from me," said Discord.

A smile appeared on Nightmare's face that soon turned into a smirk that could rival the creepiness of Discord's own. "I shall agree to your demands. In fact, I think I will enjoy it very much," replied Nightmare. "Now tell me Draconequus, how do I save Luna?"

Discord cleared his throat before starting his riddle:
'To save the one you love, you must spend time with the mare,'
'For her salvation, you must challenge your home, but only if you dare,'
'Should you fail and lose control of the place where you were spawn,'
'The heart of the one you love, shall forever be gone.'

After the last word of the riddle, the image of the Draconequus slowly started to phase out of reality. His astral form started to slowly fade back into the statue of his imprisonment before Nightmare could finish her question.

"What is that supposed to mean?! Answer me Draconequus!" shouted Nightmare.

She was too late in her actions though as the Draconequus returned to his prison. Nightmare now had a riddle to decipher as well as her new emotions she had to deal with. "Curse you Discord! Curse you to Tartarus!" shouted Nightmare in her frustration.

Her image began to fizzle like the Draconequus as she phased out of reality and returned to the castle with a wisp of smoke and a small flash. As the place where the Lunar Alicorn was became empty, Discord came back into view. He stared blankly at the castle and thought after thought murmured through his mind.

"Good luck Nightmare, you shall need it. These are the worst kind of demons you shall ever face. Even worse than me. Inner demons can hurt you in more ways than I ever can. I hope, for your own sake, as well as Luna's, that you can face them," whispered Discord. He gave a little chuckle at his own words before returning to his prison.

Author’s note: Alright everyone, I need to make an announcement about the story’s timeline. I need to turn back the clock about a few episodes. So think of it as a few weeks after Nightmare Night. I’m changing this because well, Twilight is Luna’s niece in law after the wedding. That can get kinda awkward from time to time. So I’m simply changing the time. That’s all for now. Also, a few words from my second editor.

Editors Note: Hello everypony, TwiLunaLover here saying its great to be the editor of this lovely fic. I don’t really have much to say other than we will be updating more often now and you can all get your Luna/Nightmare/Twilight fix quicker. Thats all for now.
> Unknown Trust
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Luna steadily trotted down the Stygian obsidian walls of the Lunar wing as she headed towards the private dining hall that both ethereal sisters shared. Even with her hunger clouding her thoughts, Luna's mind couldn't stop wandering back to the pitch-black Alicorn.  Now that Nightmare had returned Luna didn't know what to make of all this. 'Is it a good thing she returned?' Luna mused. 'Or is this just another complex plan of hers to lull me back into her clutches?'

She shook the thought off and found a bitter taste in her mouth just for thinking about it. After the night and morning they had been through, Nightmare couldn't be trying to trick Luna. No matter how much of a monster she had been, Nightmare would never stoop so low as to do something like that to her. 'Nightmare has changed.' Luna thought to herself. No matter how great a liar she was or how Nightmare was able to wear the same mask of confidence as her sister, there was one thing the once evil Alicorn could never fake.

That, was the care and love Nightmare showed last night and again this morning, both times the wicked mare could have easily twisted Luna again and turned her into a personal slave, but it never happened. Both times, Luna had been at her lowest, an emotional train wreck, but instead of using them to gain control over her Nightmare did everything she could to try and make it better.

'She even offered to fight the darkness long enough for me to get Twilight to love me.' Luna remembered. That was the final nail in the coffin, she no longer doubted it. Nightmare was a changed mare, no matter how bad their past was. Even if she was considered a monster among everypony in Equestria, Nightmare was something much more to Luna now. 'She is my friend now, maybe even a little more.' Thought Luna. Then she started to compare the night Alicorn to their very own sister. Even though they were very different at the surface, they both had something in common. They would both give their lives to protect Luna.

'Well, maybe not Nightmare.' Mused Luna as she reached the dining halls. 'At least not yet.' She slowly lit her horn with magic again and unlocked the seals holding the doors shut. The twin heavy, oak doors slowly swung open to reveal a small room, barely able to fit fifty ponies inside, with a long table in the center. The ceiling of the room, compared to the other parts of the castle, was quite pathetic since the mess hall was able to reach heights in the hundreds, while the small room could barely manage to fit a single chandelier in. The walls used to be a midnight blue, now just plain old white. While she was banished Celestia had decided to take over the private dining hall and decorate it to her liking.

Luna let out a silent sigh as she approached the dining table and took a seat at the rear end of it. Celestia had taken a lot of things from Luna during her imprisonment and now even her own private dining hall was added to the long and ever increasing list. No matter where she went, Luna always found alterations to her own stuff by Celestia. Everywhere she went, Luna had to be constantly reminded that everything belonged to her sister. Everything, even the mare she loved belonged to Celestia, in a way.

"Not for long, sister. Twilight's heart will be mine, even if she is your student." said Luna to herself. The statement was really just for her. To reassure her that if she played her cards right, the love of her savior would be returned. A loud rumble emanating from her stomach interrupted her daydream about the lavender mare, as Luna was reminded as to why she came to the dining hall in the first place.

"Steward, come and take your Princess' orders and bring her the food she wants." shouted Luna coldly. She didn't know why, but Luna really sound like she would punish the steward if he didn't come to her right away.

As her echoing voice boomed through the small dining halls, a scrawny, dark cyan earth pony walked through a set of double doors. They lead into the Royal Kitchens and storage rooms that all the cooking staff worked in during their daily duties. The earth pony was wore a black suit that covered most of his body down to his waist and a bow tie around his neck. His walking pace was slow and uneven as Luna watched him, he was nervous and scared at the sound of the daunting voice. 'But that doesn't excuse him for not rushing to me and obeying my every command.' thought Luna.

"We suggest you hurry steward, before your Princess decides to measure you of your worth to the kitchen staff." sneered Luna towards the sweating earth pony.

"S-sorry, Princess." squeaked the little earth pony as he quickened his pace towards the Lunar Alicorn. Her eyes bore into his soul like she could read his every thought and emotion. Before he knew it, he almost ran into the table and dropped his writing pad.

"Wh-what would you like today Pr-Princess?" asked the earth pony nervously.

"You have been serving us for the past year, steward. We expect you to serve us without nervousness or hesitation. If you should fail to keep your nerves in check, the consequences would be severe and discordant. Do we make ourselves clear?" sneered Luna towards the helpless earth pony below. For some strange reason, she liked to see him like this. She enjoyed to see him cower in fear and in a wreck of nerves. It gave her chills as she realized what she was doing to the defenseless pony that was cowering before her. His fear had given her joy and pleasure for some eerie reason.

Luna was once again interrupted at the sound of her rumbling stomach begging her to feed it. "What art thou waiting for? Take thy Princess' whim and carry it out." shouted Luna, not realizing her voice rising.

The earth pony was in a puddle of sweat as he tried to compose himself in front of the angry Alicorn. "W-what would you l-like today Princess?" asked the earth pony weakly. He fumbled with the note pad and quill he had brought with him. His distress making the situation worse every second.

As hungry as Luna was, she still had to remain a constant slim figure of herself. It was expected of all Princess’ to eat the littlest amounts of food, while at the same time having the figure of super models. Another rumble from her stomach told her to screw what the people thought of her and pig out. But after centuries of discipline and self control practice, Luna could rethink her stomach's choice to just go all out.

"We want an avocado lime salad with a cream mushroom and spinach soup. We also suggest you tell the cook to hurry, for your sake." said Luna coldly. She didn't know what had gotten into her. She was now acting as heartless as her counterpart. 'What's gotten into me?' thought Luna. She was acting like Nightmare used to. Evil, down to her very core, with little to no remorse towards anypony who failed her.

"Ri-right away Princess. It should only be a moment before your meal arrives." said the pony as he hurried through the double doors.

Luna's mind played back the scene that had escalated from a simple brunch to Luna threatening the life of a pony if he’d fail her. The way she acted toward him scared Luna. Her mind flashed back to when she saw the pony cower below her in fear. Then she remembered her enjoyment in seeing him in complete and utter terror.

The sounds of doors creaking screeched in her highly-sensitive ears as Luna turned her head to see where it had originated from. Her eyes were glued to the entrance as it slowly revealed a tall Alicorn slowly stepping in. Her hoof-steps echoed with a clink of metal as her Imperial aurum and jewel-clad shoes made contact with the hard obsidian floor below her as her ethereal mane flowed in the nonexistent wind, just like Luna's. The only exception was while hers was a fluid flowing mane of cosmic proportions that somewhat reflects her love and passion of the night, the other Alicorn's mane had four streaks of colors running through them to reflect the colors of the light spectrum her sun created: the first streak was light cerulean, followed by an even lighter turquoise and cobalt blue, ending with a pale heliotrope hue. Her coat was a pale, bleached white with a pink tinge. Finally, her eyes, which Luna has come to learn to love and cherish every time she looked at them, were a light magenta. 'She is different from Nightmare in so many ways, yet similar in so many others.' thought Luna as she laid her eyes upon her 'perfect' sister.

Celestia took several steps into the room before the steward returned with Luna's orders in hoof. His first steps out of the double doors were fumbles. His eyes wandered to the new object in the room. Before he knew it, all his nervousness was gone as his pace stabilized and evened out as the Solar Princes gave him the same gentle smile she swore everywhere she went. Just as Celestia had taken her seat across from Luna, the steward delivered the Lunar Alicorn's food and was at her side, eager to comply to her every whim, no matter how ridiculous or unreasonable.

"What would you like today Princess?" asked the earth pony once again. He no longer stumbled with his words like earlier. All his fears and nerves have calmed down just by the sight of the smile given by the Solar Goddess.

"Nothing special today, Coffee Cream. I would like a salad, if you wouldn’t mind." said Celestia gently.

"Of course, Princess. Right away, Princess." said the steward, surprised that the Princess remembered his name. He then rushed back through the double doors to get the Solar Goddess' order.

"How did you do that sister?" asked Luna. No matter what she did, ponies always feared Luna and just froze at the sight of her. Whenever she would spoke the ponies would cringe in fear.

"How did I do what?" asked Celestia back to her sister. The Solar Alicorn's features remained the same, even though Luna knew she was  still wearing the mask she always wore.

"You know what We meant, sister." said Luna with a hint of jealousy.

"Sometimes a gentle smile is all that is needed to ask for one's help, Luna." answered Celestia. She noted the Lunar Alicorn's switch back into the Royal We, but shook the thought off. 'The Nightmare is gone, hopefully for good this time.' thought Celestia.

She slowly looked upon her younger sister. 'You have changed so much since your return, Luna.' thought Celestia. When the younger Alicorn had first returned, she looked entirely different than the way she looked now. Celestia remembered the look of her sister when they were finally reunited with each other. Her sister's coat was originally a slight phthalo blue, but it was now a dark sapphire blue. Her mane had changed as well. While at first it hung naturally downward around Luna's head, it was now an ever flowing one like hers. It had turned from a light azure to a now deep cobalt blue. The only things that remained the same upon the Lunar Alicorn seemed to have been her eyes, a tranquil cyan. The same eyes that Celestia watched be filled with misery, resentment, malevolence, and jealousy.

Luna's face contorted into a frown as her sister's wisdom tried to make it's way into her mind. She wished her sister wouldn't always speak in metaphors. It would always annoy Luna to no end when she would ask for something simple and get a complex riddle in return. Her jealousy was replaced with frustration as she tried to decipher the complex meaning. "We don't understand sister. What do you mean?" asked Luna, admitting defeat towards the unsolvable enigma.

Her mind broke out of her happy trance of memories as Celestia let out a light giggle at her younger sister's frustration before explaining further. "Kindness is often more successful than assertion." answered Celestia with another metaphor.

"We are getting tired of your cryptic wordplay sister. We don't want to sound rude, but please just answer us without the need to turn it into a philosophical quote." said Luna agitated.

"I'm sorry Luna, but it’s always fun to play these mind games with you." said Celestia gently towards her frustrated sister.

"We...do not like mind games." said Luna with some sadness in her voice.

Celestia had stepped over the line when she mentioned the mind games with Luna. She had forgotten that Nightmare had likely played nothing but mind games with Luna during their banishment together on the moon. The façade Celestia always wore melted away as she realized the distress and terrible memories that she had just brought up. Looking more closely towards her younger sister, Celestia saw that the Alicorn's eyes were red and puffy, like she had been crying for a while now.

"Are you alright sister?" asked Celestia. She could see the sadness in Luna's eyes as she tried to conceal her emotions. They were interrupted as the steward made his way back into the room with the Solar Goddess's orders, and much more. Where she had just ordered a simple salad, the steward brought to her a salad with all kinds of veggies most likely shipped from all the corners of Equestria. He also brought her a black forest gâteau cake. It was like the universe was trying to spit in her face. She knew that it was Luna's favorite kind of dessert, now here she sat, being served it right in front of Luna. She silently cursed the her luck and stared back towards the Alicorn across from her.

Luna's façade was now up, and conceal all the hatred she had for her sister at the moment. 'Great, now she has even stolen my favorite dessert!' shouted Luna within her own mind. Even though she hadn't even touched her food, Luna suddenly lost the appetite to eat. All she could taste in her mouth was bitterness. Anger swelled inside Luna as the steward set the cake on her sister's side of the table and began cutting it. He cut up a small portion of the cake and offered it to Celestia, who took it not wanting to be rude. What angered Luna even more was the fact that the pony ignored to ask if she had wanted some as well.

"I did not order a cake Coffee." said Celestia politely.

"Compliments of the chef." answered Coffee.

"Thank you Coffee, that will be all." returned Celestia. At her thanks, the steward took his leave and returned behind the double doors.

"Would you like some cake Luna?" offered Celestia to her sister.

"No, sister. Our appetite has been satisfied well enough. We shall see you later at dinner." said Luna bitterly. She abruptly got up and left her sister behind in the dining hall.

Before Celestia could protest, Luna had already lit her horn with magic and opened the double oak doors. The doors quickly shut themselves as the Lunar Alicorn stormed out of the room angrily. She wanted to snap at her sister so badly, and it took all of her restraint not to. Anger and hatred flowed through Luna as she felt a tremor below her. To normal ponies, they would have felt nothing, but to Luna's highly trained sense, it felt like a small tremor had hit the mountain side which the city of Canterlot sat upon. A distant yet familiar voice rang in Luna's ears as she heard the magically enchanted shout vibrate through the Stygian floors below her. The voice also carried something along with it. It turned Luna's anger into worry as she felt the anger laced within the voice. The concern skyrocketed into worry for the poor soul who had unleash the wrath of her terrible other self.

Luna took a few steps forward before a form started to generate itself in front of her. Particles of magic and dust swirled in circles around the spot in front of Luna. Each particle started to stack themselves on top of each other as hooves and legs started to form. The particles turned to flesh, blood, and bones, as liquid argentum wrapped around the hooves to form protective shoes, as her Lunar Aegis fixed itself to her torso. The particles turned from a ghostly white, to a glossy black-cerulean as the rest of her body fully formed. Soon the object in front of her fully gathered itself to reveal her other half. "Nightmare?" asked Luna, surprised that the Alicorn could do such amazing feats.

Before Luna knew it, the ethereal Alicorn before her collapsed into her from fatigue. Luna barely had enough time to catch the Alicorn in her magic before Nightmare hit the floor. Worry filled every corner of her mind to see Nightmare in such a weakened state. "Nightmare, are you alright? What happened?" asked Luna franticly. If someone could do something like this to Nightmare to make her this weak, Luna had reason to fear. The fear quickly turned into anger at whoever did this to her guardian. "Who did this to you?" asked Luna as anger slowly grew within her.

"Do not threat, Luna. I shall be fine. I’m exhausted, but fine. I came as soon as I could when I felt your anger." answered Nightmare as she got back on her hooves. She looked into Luna's anger filled eyes, which soften into minor annoyance.

"Really?" asked Luna surprised. She knew they were linked in some way, but she didn't know how strong that connection was until now.

"Yes. But I also came here to pay back a favor I owe." said Nightmare as she approached the double oak doors behind Luna. "Our sister is behind these doors, is she not?"

"Yes, she is. Why?" asked Luna suspicious of the actions of the mare in front of her.
Nightmare, barely able to stand, engrossed her horn in a black aura and closed her eyes, deep in concentration. The simple spell she was casting was foalplay for any kind of unicorn, but in her condition, she just meagerly had enough magic for it. Inside the room, Celestia had just finished her simple salad and pushed the dish away. Her magical aura wrapped itself upon the slice of cake in front of her as she got ready to take a bite.

The cake itself was smothered in whipped cream covering layer after layer of rich dark chocolate, with light shavings of even more chocolate above. Between each layer was pancaked over two dozen cherries, while the top was decorated in a circular design of  maraschino cherries that were themselves covered with even more whipped cream. Celestia's mouth watered just at the sight of the scrumptious cake. Her magic still wrapped the slice as it inched it's way closer to the Solar Goddess's eagerly waiting taste buds.

The cake never made it journey to her mouth as Celestia heard the sound of metals clicking above her. She looked up to see the chandelier swaying back and forth. The linked chains holding the glass and metal decoration to the ceiling had snapped at the weakest link. The only thing holding the chandelier in place was a black aura that seemed strangely familiar to Celestia. Before she could react, the black grip golding the chandelier up vanished. Gravity took full effect on the metal contraption as the chains snapped with the sudden weight laid upon it's already weakened structure.

At the sound of the weak link finally snapping, the chandelier fell full speed down towards the Alicorn sitting below it. Celestia barely managed to cast a protection spell before the full weight of the chandelier hit it's target. It landed with a crash and a boom as it fell upon the wooden table in front of Celestia. Shards of glass flew every which way as the metal bent in an awkward shape. Her magic shield held it in place as the glass shards that flew her way burst into flames and melted, falling to the ground. It had barely missed her by a few inches. A few inches closer than Celestia's liking, but she didn't complain. She looked upon the mess in front of her before realization struck her hard.

"My cake...." whimpered Celestia as she looked down at the flattened cake under the heavy chandelier.

Back outside, Luna heard the bang and crash of glass and metal inside the room she was just in. Confusion took her first before Luna remembered who was in there. Her sister was in the room, and from the sounds of it, the chandelier that loosely hung inside had landed on something.

"NIGHTMARE!" screamed Luna. She rushed past the cerulean Alicorn and dashed for the double doors. Luna was stopped by Nightmare as she fully collapsed on the cold obsidian floor. Luna was torn between who to help first. Her sister or her alter ego who put her sister in danger in the first place. She rushed back towards the fatigued Alicorn to check if she was alright before rushing to help her sister.

"Nightmare, what did you do?!" shouted Luna. Anger was rising inside her again. This time not for the black Alicorn, but was directed at the her.

"I was just paying off a debt I owe to someone." answered Nightmare weakly. She tried to stand, but the effort was wasted when she discovered her limbs numb.

"By dropping a chandelier on our sister?!" countered Luna to the struggling Alicorn.

"Not on her." corrected Nightmare. "Near her."

"What?" questioned Luna confused as to Nightmare's actions. She slowly stepped towards the black Alicorn as she struggled to stand upright.

"The chandelier landed near Celestia, not on her." said Nightmare as she stabilized herself with the younger Alicorn beside her.

"Are you sure?" asked Luna. She could have found out herself if she abandoned Nightmare and rushed through the door. But for some reason, she trusted Nightmare on her words alone.

"Yes, I am quite sure. As much as I loath our sister and the celestial body she waves around like a toy, she is still your sister, Luna. If my actions contradicts your wishes, I shall not pursue them." Nightmare was now stable on her hooves, but still struggled to stand without the help of the Alicorn next to her.

A part of Luna didn't want to just take Nightmare’s word for it. She wanted to bust through the doors and make sure her sister was okay. Another part of her told her otherwise, this part told her that Celestia had it coming for what she did to Luna. 'Tia has already taken so much of our stuff and made it her own. If anything, she deserved what happened to her.' thought Luna.

The thought caused chills down Luna as she realized what she was thinking. She wanted to see her sister hurt. Luna felt no remorse in her words as she thought about what had happened in the room behind her. Luna snapped out of her deep thoughts as she was reminded of the weak Alicorn struggling beside her.

"Let's get you some rest, Nightmare. All that magic use can't be good for you." said Luna. She slowly wrapped both herself and her alter ego in her star covered ethereal mane and disappeared in the dark cloud. The passive cloud started to move towards her room again before phasing through the locked doors and gently stopped before the massive bed. The cloud shrunk back into a flowing mane as it unwrapped two Alicorns. The glossy-cerulean Alicorn stumbled on the comforting bed ahead of her after losing her footing. As Luna watched Nightmare rest herself on her bed, questions filled her mind at what happened before Nightmare appeared before Luna.

"What happened Nightmare?" asked Luna finally. She watched the fatigued Alicorn beside her lifted her head to meet Luna's eyes. Luna needed answered as to Nightmare's whereabouts and who the shout was directed to. "Who were you talking to Nightmare?" 

Author’s note: Alright everypony, I’ll keep this note short and to the point. Luna has been on the moon for a thousand years so her speech patterns will not be the same. She will use out of date terms from time to time so I’ll just explain what the terms are in this note. Aurum is gold, argentum is silver, Stygian is a term associated with the underworld. And Celestia’s mane color, heliotrope is a pale purple. That’s all for now.

Editor’s note: Hello everypony, me again. I hope you all liked it because we worked really hard to get this to you all quickly, and if you don’t I know where you live *Evil smile*. Well thats all for now. TwiLunaLover out.
> Personal Day
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nightmare would never stray away from a challenge. It was what made her life exciting. This however, was not one of those times. The look she got from the sapphire blue Alicorn staring down at her didn't help the situation. For once, Nightmare felt nervous and unsure of her actions. She could have just told Luna the truth then and there and got it over with. 'But what will she think of me?' thought Nightmare. The visit with the Draconequus left Nightmare a little shaken up. He showed her what true fear was like. It had taken everything she had to conceal the terror she felt. Her fears turned to sadness for the Lunar Alicorn beside her. The two terrible feelings fought each other for control over the glossy, dark cerulean Alicorn as Nightmare's soul was bored through by Luna's pleading eyes. Eyes that wanted nothing more than the truth. Nightmare didn't know what hurt more: the pleading look she got from the Lunar Alicorn or the fear she felt during her visit with the Draconequus. She knew one thing was clear. She would rather be facing Discord without her magic, wings or immortality right now rather than face the disappointed look upon Luna's grievous face. Nightmare's gaze dropped from the Alicorn above her as she gathered her thoughts.

'How will she trust me if I can't tell her something as simple as this?' wondered Nightmare. It was nothing major, just a visit to an old rival. 'But Luna is burdened with the darkness already,' realized Nightmare. 'I need to be strong for her if she can't be strong for herself. I don't think she can handle any more stress in her life right now.' The dark cerulean Alicorn let out a sigh and returned to her staring contest with Luna. The sapphire blue Alicorn's glare never faltered as her eyes bored even further Nightmare's soul before she had to give in. There was no escaping the truth. Nightmare could hide it now, but it would only hurt their trust in the end.

"I was just talking to...an old friend." answered Nightmare finally. 'Luna wanted the truth. She didn't say she had to get the whole truth.' mused Nightmare.

"An old...friend?" asked Luna confused and surprised. She barely had any friends. 'How can Nightmare have any friends with the way she treats everypony?' wondered Luna.

'More like an annoyance.' thought Nightmare. "He is just an acquaintance." 

"He?" asked Luna catching Nightmare's slip. Her searches narrowed down to a small list of possible males. That list shortened even further when Luna realized it was Nightmare she was thinking about.

"Ummm." mumbled Nightmare noting her slip of the tongue. Nervousness overwhelmed  her, increasing the fear and sadness inside her. A bead of sweat slowly lurked its way down the cerulean Alicorn's head for the first time in centuries. Nightmare wanted nothing more than to just fade away and leave the questions unanswered.

"Well Night-" started Luna. A subtle knock on her door tore Luna away from her death stare with Nightmare.

~Knock,Knock,Knock~

'Thank Faust.' praised Nightmare. She wouldn't have to deal with Luna at the moment and that would give her enough time to get her stories straight.

"Sister, it is me. May I come in?" asked Celestia gently.

Before Luna could stop her, Nightmare's form phased back into the darkness within Luna. 'This isn't over Nightmare. I still want answers.' remarked Luna.

"Come in sister." invited Luna. She stepped onto her bed and forced a small smile for her approaching sister. Luna could feel the locks and seals on her door be touched by Solar magic as Celestia slowly stepped into her room. Luna's forced smile turned into a real smile as it was confirmed that her sister was unharmed.

"Are you alright Tia? We heard a crash in our dining hall shortly after we left." asked Luna. She knew her sister was fine, but she still wanted to hear it for herself. Worry enveloped as the gentle smile on Luna's face disappeared.

"I am fine Lulu, it was nothing. The halls are being cleaned and inspected for anymore loose chandeliers, as we speak." joked Celestia as she stepped closer to Luna. "Let's talk about you for a moment. You may be able to wear the same mask as I do, but I am still your sister Luna. You don't have to hide things from me."

Luna stared back at her sister bewildered. She never knew that the Solar Alicorn could see through her façade. Celestia sat beside her now and bore into Luna with the same eyes as she did for Nightmare. This time instead of anger laced within the look, it had compassion all over it. Luna felt she could tell her sister everything and still won't be judge by it. 'But what about Nightmare? Tia will not be kind-hearted to the pony who used me.' mused Luna. She found a bitter taste in her mouth with the words she chose to describe the cerulean Alicorn.

"I'm just worried about...." Luna trailed off. She couldn't tell her sister about the other Alicorn. Not after what they did together to Celestia and her ponies. The death and despair they spread all across Equestria with their eternal night. "We just...I just... don't want you to think of me as a monster again, sister." said Luna. The words were harder than anything to spit out. Most were stuck in her throat, lodged in place with doubt and fear.

"Why would you say such a thing?" asked Celestia appalled.

"I just have doubts sister, that We may not have been fully purified by the Elements." explained Luna further.

"What has made you think that sister?" questioned Celestia. The Solar Goddess's eyes never left the younger Alicorn beside her as it bore into Luna with care and comfort.

"It is just...what if Nightmare returned sister?" asked Luna. "What will you think of us then? Will you still think of us as your loving sister? Or just another threat to be dealt with accordingly?" There was no bitterness, hatred, or anger in her words. Luna just spoke with concern of what her sister will think of her. If Celestia would still give the warm and comforting eyes she did now.

"Luna, no matter who you are, what you are, or who you once were, I will still love you no matter what. Even when that eidolon, Nightmare, took you from me, I wanted nothing more than to get my little sister back. If that meant waiting a thousand years, then so be it." answered Celestia heartedly.

"But-" interrupted Luna. She had no doubt that what her sister had said was true, but she had to make sure her sister accepted her no matter what.

"No buts, Lulu. I will do everything I can to save you, if the need arise. I shall always be here if you need me. If you have the need to talk to someone, I'll always be here." reassured Celestia. The Solar Goddess outstretched her blanched wing and pulled Luna into a tight embrace. Again, Luna felt like she was sitting next to Nightmare, comforted and calmed, troubles soothed away with nothing more than words and loving eyes. Her entire body was covered, since the Solar Alicorn was still bigger than Luna was. She was blanketed in a darkness again, this time, it felt safe and welcoming, and was nothing like darkness at all. Even under the cover of her sister's wing, light and warmth radiated through.

'I think Tia is rubbing off on you Nightmare.' mused Luna. She had no doubt if the cerulean Alicorn heard what she said about her, Nightmare would have likely gone on a strangling rampage throughout the castle. Even if she was still in a weaker state, anger and hatred would fuel her in the massacre that would ensue. 'Maybe I can change her. Nightmare has shown kindness to me. Why not the rest of Equestria?' thought Luna. Then she remembered who she was talking about. The cerulean Alicorn would not like the idea very much, let alone agree to it. 'Foal steps. Perhaps Ponyville is a good place to start. Nightmare can learn what true friendship means and I can claim the heart of Twilight.' dreamed Luna. It was a win-win either way. There was only one thing standing between Luna and her lover. It was both her gift and her curse. Luna was still a Princess.
"Tia," asked Luna poking her head from under her sister's covering. "How many personal days do We get each year?"

The question hung in the air for several seconds. Then minutes, until the confusion on Celestia's face turned into a wide smirk. Before Luna knew it, her sister burst into laughter with tears threatening to pour down her cheeks. Very rarely did Luna ever see her sister laugh. Even rarer to hear her sister laugh genuinely and openly like this. It almost scared Luna how much joy and happiness she brought upon her sister as Celestia now started wheezing, gasping for air. Confusion now took Luna as Celestia calmed herself down from the unexpected question.

"Sahhray Woona." stuttered Celestia. Tears had already fallen from the bloodshot eyes of her sister. With a swift motion, Celestia wiped them away and looked back down at her sister. "That just really cracked me up, Lulu. I haven't had a good laugh in centuries. Thank you for that." said Celestia.

"We don't understand sister. We get personal days, do we not?" asked Luna once again.

More laughter once again followed the question, this time a lot shorter in duration. Calming herself again, Celestia tried to put on the straightest face she could and stare blankly at her confused sister. "You were being serious?" asked Celestia.

Luna just gave a confused nod at her sister.

"I guess....one?" said Celestia. It was more of a question to herself than an answer for Luna.

"You sound unsure, sister." noticed Luna.

"It just, I have never had the chance to think about a personal day, let alone take one Luna." answered Celestia sadden with the realization.

"So what is stopping you then?" asked Luna.

"I guess, me." sighed Celestia. "We are Goddesses among our little ponies, Luna. We control celestial bodies that they rely on each day and night. Not to mention the Royal aspects as well. Being Royalty doesn't allow much free time for ourselves, let alone a 'personal day'." The usual bright smile the white Alicorn had was now gone, buried by sadness. "But I guess that's why we are immortal. Perhaps one day, our little ponies won't have the need for us anymore." said Celestia.

The statement confused Luna even more now. First saddened by the fact that her sister didn't have any time for herself, now agitated that she was not needed anymore. "What do you mean 'not needed anymore'?" asked Luna.

"Maybe one of these days, our ponies will have learned to rise the moon and sun for themselves. Maybe we can retire to a private island and relax for the rest of time." dreamed Celestia. It was not that Celestia didn't want to rise and set the sun everyday. She always felt a special feeling in her while connected with the celestial body. But sometimes it got a little tiring to do the same thing day in and day out.

"Retirement sister? We are a few hundred millennium too young for retirement." said Luna.

Celestia gave a light chuckle at her sister's innocence. "I guess you're right Lulu. And last I checked, you still had your purity." said Celestia.

A blush now burned on Luna face. That was one of the few problems with having a set of sisters. They both knew all embarrassing secrets about each other. "TIA!" screamed Luna. Her blush burned even more as Celestia gave a another chuckle at her sister's discomfort. Before long, the Lunar Alicorn tackled her sister playfully, knocking the air out of Celestia.

"Not so rough Lulu. I'm not as young as I used to be." heaved Celestia. Both sisters messed up the neatly folded bed covers and before long, started magically wielding pillows.

"You're only half a millennium older than me!" retorted Luna. "If anything you're still in your youth!"

"I guess you're right, but stress can age you faster than you think." said Celestia. Before Luna saw it coming, her sister smacked the Lunar Alicorn with her own pillow.

"Opff." gasped Luna. No one has ever manage to catch the Lunar Alicorn off guard this easily. It was quite embarrassing for her, but she knew the perfect revenge plan. Picking up the pillow, Luna returned the favor. With a quick swift of her magic, Luna smacked Celestia right in the chest knocking the air right out.

Before long, the most thrilling and epic battle Luna has ever been in ensued. Both sisters shot pillow after pillow at one another, missing at times, right in the face most of the other. Celestia was pelted with waves of fluffy comfort since she was the bigger target. But she had one advantage, and it was an emotional grip on her sister.

"Lulu, stop please!" pleaded Celestia. Her stern features turned into a teary filly begging for something she wanted. "I yield to you, sister. Stop before your adorableness gives me a heart attack!"

Again a blush burned on Luna's face. The complement, unexpected as ever, made the Lunar Alicorn falter in her barrage. Celestia seeing the hesitation, decided to take action. One last shot with an almost mangled pillow. It was likely that the feathery missile would explode on impact, so she had to make this count. With one last effort, Celestia aimed for the one spot Luna left unprotected. Her right side where her sensitive wings rested, folded neatly protecting her sides. One swift flick of her magic and the pillow flew across the side of the bed hitting it's mark.The impact was somewhat successful as the wind was knocked out of Luna before she could see what her sister was doing. The Solar Alicorn tackled her little sister and pinned her down on the soft mattress under them.

"Hey! No fair Tia! You said you would yield!" cried Luna. No matter how much she struggled the Alicorn above her still had her pinned down. Luna was the light-weight between the two sisters, and now it was being used against her. "Let me go!"

"You remember the tickle monster don't you Lulu?" reminded Celestia. A smirk that would challenge even Nightmare's loomed on Celestia's face.

Horror filled Luna's mind as she was reminded of the terrible beast her sister mentioned. Every encounter with the tickle monster always left Luna in the losing corner. It had been forever since she last faced the beast. Now the imminent attack from the monstrosity would ensue whether Luna protested or not.

"Please Tia! Not the tickle monster!" pleaded Luna. Her pleas were in vain as Celestia used her large wings to pin down Luna's front hooves, freeing herself of two limbs. Her aurum shoes were quickly tossed aside as the Solar Goddess moved her hooves down towards Luna's exposed underside. Her soft hooves gently moved along the sensitive exposure.  As her gentle hooves finally fully lay on the Lunar Alicorn's belly, it felt warm to the touch. The contact made Luna reel up in surprise and let out a small giggle. This was going to be the longest few minutes of her life. But it was well worth it to be spending time with her sister again.  

"Please be gentle with me! I don't want to be sore for a week again!" begged Luna one last time. She even gave Celestia the biggest set of pleading eyes she could muster to beg the Solar Alicorn on top of her to go easy. The last time the two sister were at it, Luna was sore for weeks, and could bare move her underbelly as it ached every time she moved. Now the soft hooves moved towards her wings and gently massaged them away to exposed another part of her body. More giggles escaped Luna as the hooves gingerly made small, precise circles around Luna's sensitive areas. Soon her sister's movements increased in paced and before long attacked all the exposed areas that Luna was most sensitive in. Luna's laughter filled the entire room and  zoned out everything else. More laughing and giggles  followed as Luna started finding it hard to breath. Soon her lungs burn for oxygen that were being consumed the more she laughed. "St-stop please... Tia! I don't... know how much more... I can take." pleaded Luna. It took all the air she had for the weak request for her sister. Soon Luna would start wheezing and coughing if the torture continued. Celestia now worked away from Luna's sensitive sides to her underbelly. The exposed fur covered skin raised and fell with Luna's labored breathing. The Solar Goddess doubled her efforts and tickled the anxious and warm tummy until her sister couldn't handle it anymore. Every movement from her sister's soft hooves made Luna ache even further. Her back arched up and down as Celestia continued to barrage Luna with waves after wave of belly rubs and tickles. Luna's back hooves bucked back and forth, but could get any farther than that with  Celestia on top of her. Now her sister even started using her wings to not only pin Luna's front hooves, but trickle back and forth in a swaying motion to trigger the sensitive areas on her legs. Luna couldn't stand it anymore. If she allowed her sister to continue, Luna would be sore for weeks, if not months afterwards. Heck, she wouldn't even be able to move or feel her underbelly with the soreness that usually followed these long joyful sections with her sister. Luna had to try one last time if she wanted feeling in her abdomen ever again. "Please... Tia! I'll do... anything!" pleaded Luna.

"Sorry Luna. I'm no longer your sister. I'm the tickle monster!" said Celestia. "I'll only stop if you do one thing for me."

"Anything...just please stop. I don't... know how much more... I can take... Tia! It's starting... to hurt!" said Luna. Her laughter was already starting to sound labored like she didn't get enough air to fuel it each time Celestia rubbed her sensitive sides and underbelly. Tears flowed freely down her cheeks as the barrage of sensitive touch continued.

With a quick flash of yellow, a metal dish hung overhead held by Celestia's magic. Luna barely recognized the shape with her tear stained eyes. "I'll stop if you help me eat this cake." answered Celestia finally. The lid of the dish  was pulled away to reveal a black forest gâteau cake untouched and uncut.

"Alright, I... concede. I'll eat... some cake with you sister." said Luna.

The words pleased the Solar Alicorn as she stopped her motions just slightly and got off the Lunar Alicorn below her. Luna's body still spasm from the touch of her sister. Luna finally controlled herself enough to wipe away the tears and sit up straight next to her sister. A second look at the dish, revealed that it was Luna's favorite dessert, uneaten. Joy spread through Luna to see that her sister didn't even take a single bite out of the cake and waited this long just to share it with her.

"I thought you had already eaten the cake Tia." said Luna.

"An entire cake Lulu? Are you calling me fat?" asked Celestia, her smile dropped to a slight frown.

Luna knew her sister was very sensitive when it came to her weight. Almost as much as the whole banished to the moon thing for Luna. "No sister, it just when I stormed out of the dining halls, I thought you had already started eating the cake. You do seem to have a weakness for chocolate." reassured Luna. "If anything, I think you lost some weight."

Celestia normal cheery mood and smile returned with Luna's comforting words. "Thanks Lulu. You always know what to say to make me feel better. Now, let's have some cake before the chef knows it's missing." thanked Celestia.

"Thanks for spending time with me, Tia." said Luna. With a flash of her horn,  two slices were cut from the chocolate cake. Each one levitated to an Alicorn. A single bite from the cake left her taste buds in eternal bliss as the flavor of rich dark chocolate with sweet cherries danced around her mouth.

"We're sisters, Lulu. I'll always have time for you, no matter what." returned Celestia. She gave her sister a cuddling nuzzle before taking a bite of the scrumptious cake herself. "I love you Luna."

"Love you too, Tia." said Luna returning the loving nuzzle. With her sister by her side, Luna felt  her troubles wash away."Do you really mean it? You will still love me no matter what?" Luna's eye lids started to drop with exhaustion after the tiring playtime with the Solar Goddess. An entire days worth of royal duties ignored, but it was worth it to be spending precious time with her sister. Sleep was taking Luna again, but she didn't care. She had Celestia to warm and comfort her if Luna fell asleep.

"I'll always love you Luna. No matter what. I will love you till the end of time and beyond." comforted Celestia. A quick flash of magic and gravity once again affected her ethereal mane. It fell upon the Lunar Alicorn beside Celestia acting like a blanket. Her mane as well as her wing cover Luna, protecting her from bad dreams and her worst fears. "Don't you ever forget that."

Author’s note: Now I really wish I had a sister. It gets lonely sometimes you know? With this chapter, the story is officially a fully blown slice of life, with maybe a weak romance interest. If you are wondering where Twilight is, she will be appearing in about....Well, I don’t know how long. Just expect to see her soon. That’s all for now, I guess.

Editor’s note: THAT WAS SOOOO CUTE. I hope you all love reading this as much as I loved editing it, and anyone who didn’t just die of the sheer cuteness of it have got to be morticians. Well, anyway, hope you liked it. TwiLunaLover out.
> Two of a Kind
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Have sweet dreams, Luna." nuzzled Celestia to her sleep deprived sister. "I'll be here if you need me or if you just want to talk about something." Her pale horn started to ignite with a light gold aura enveloping the messy midnight-blue blankets beneath them. A slight tug around her neck stopped Celestia in her tracks.

"... pl-please... stay with me?" asked Luna weakly. Her eyes were already closed with weariness clamping them shut. It was quite selfish of her to ask Celestia to stay with her, but Luna didn't want to be alone. That's what the Lunar Alicorn feared more than anything in the world. More than being banished to the moon, more than being hated by everyone around her. Being alone would hurt Luna more than anything.

"Alright, Lulu. I hope you don't mind if get comfortable?" asked Celestia gently. She didn't want to disrupt her sister, seeing how tired Luna was.

"...of course..." yawned Luna. She lessen the grip around the alabaster Alicorn and immediately went limb. Her forelegs gave out and numbness was all around her. Luna could barely feel her body now. All she was aware of was the movement of her sister. The gentle placement of Celestia’s giant-outstretched wing snugly wrapped around Luna, along with the multi-colored ethereal mane blanketing her in it's warmth. All Luna could feel was the pure love her sister irradiated for her.

"Are you comfortable, Lulu?" questioned Celestia. She lowered her head down to Luna's and planted small kisses on her forehead right above the horn. Celestia arched her back into a circular form, now wrapping herself around the small and warm Alicorn, and encased Luna with her larger body.

"...th-thanks for staying....Tia. I know how busy you can be sometimes...." yawned Luna again.

"I'll always have time for my little sister, Luna. I waited a thousand years for you, didn't I?" joked Celestia.

Luna couldn't help but smile at her sister's playful nature. What Celestia lacked, she made up for in wisdom and experience. Something Luna has found to be very valuables over the years. "Tia? Can I... ask you a question?" whispered Luna quietly.

"Anything, Lulu." answered Celestia.

"Wh-what was your first love like?" asked Luna. If she had been able to look her sisters in the eyes, Luna would have seen nothing but sadness and regret. Even the warmth that was close to Luna dwindle a little bit with the mention of her sister's love life. After years of wearing the mask she always does, Celestia couldn't help but feel it crumble with the memories of her past love.

"I...don't really know how to explain it Lulu. I would always feel something warm inside me whenever I was with him. No matter how much trouble he got into or how busy I was, he always found a way to bring a smile to me." answered Celestia with some hint of hesitation.

"He, sister? What was he like?" yawned Luna again. Only the soothing sound of Celestia’s voice was keeping Luna from drifting off into pleasant dreams.

Celestia gave a labored giggle before the floods of memories returned to her once more. "He was a troublemaker to say the least, actions first, responsibility and consequence later. Wherever he was, pranks or silly incidents would be the least of your problems. But it was his kind nature that made everyone forgive him from time to time. He always brought laughter and humor when everypony needed it the most. When I needed it the most." reminisced Celestia. "The people even named a holiday after him. It was the first of a spring month if I recall."

Luna didn't know why, but the pony her sister described seem all too familiar. 'Light hearted nature?' mused Luna. She never really paid attention to her sister's love life until now. Luna would have loved to meet the pony that could bring so much joy and happiness to her sister. "...do I know him?" asked Luna.

"I believe you have met him once before. Sadly.... he isn't with us anymore." sighed Celestia. In a single question, Luna has brought Celestia from her bright cheery mood to a depressed heap of memories.

"...I'm sorry I mentioned it...." apologized Luna. Guilt was swelling in her now. It slowly crept it's way into Luna cheery mood and soon dampened it as well.

"It's alright Lulu. Truthfully, I don't think it would have worked out. We were polar opposites, just like you and me." said Celestia gently. Her mood seemed to lighten to know that her sister supported her. "Besides, I had you to keep me company."

Luna curiosity burst through the roof as a single question loomed in her fatigue mind. "...what did you do when... when I was gone?" asked Luna sensitively.

Before long, Luna felt moisture gather at the base of her mane. Tears had flown freely from the gentle eyes of her sister, and soon intensified to a small sob. Luna felt a small tremble emit from the Alicorn blanketing her, along with shallow breaths now coming from her sister.

"...Tia?" squeaked Luna.

The small sobs worsened to whimpers as more tears flowed from the now bloodshot eyes. Celestia's mouth was now dry like the Saddle Arabian deserts. The pale Alicorn’s words were lodged in her throat with distress and made the Solar Goddess mumble her saddened words. "I...I...I..." stuttered Celestia. Her guilt and sadness wouldn't allow the Alicorn to get her words out, no matter how hard she tried.

"...you do-don't have to tell me sister..." mumbled Luna.

"I... I didn't know what to feel about you Luna.... The first hundred years, I... hated you Luna. I just hated you for no other reason than the monster that you had become. The monster that you wore as an outer-skin to protect yourself from the hatred and resentment everyone around you emitted. Everything you did, for nothing more than your own vanity, killing and spreading the hatred you were so wrongly forced upon. After allowing myself to rethink a few things, that hatred softened. For the second hundred years of your banishment, I was angry at you. I didn't know why, I just was. It wasn't until the third anniversary that I realized, I was angry at myself. I was angry because I couldn't protect my little sister. That I wasn't there when she needed me most. I was angry because I put my citizens before my own flesh and blood. The third hundreds years, I missed you. I would miss you to no end. The sleepless nights I stayed up to watch your beautiful moon. No matter how hard I tried, I could never mimic what you crafted with your beautiful stars. I hoped that maybe, you would descend from the moon like an angel and bless me with your presence once again. I would have given anything to get you back. I would have given a quid pro quo to the universe, exchange me for my sister. The fourth hundred years, I mourned you Lulu. Everyday and night I was saddened that you could no longer be by my side. I cried when I could, just because the tears were the only things that kept me sane. You were the only one I could open to Lulu. When I needed a shoulder to cry on, you were there. When I needed someone to talk to, you were the only one who would listen to me, and give an honest answer. For the next five hundred years, I did something I regretted ever doing. I tried... I..." mumbled Celestia. It caused her pure emotion and physical pain to get the words out. She had to, closure was what she needed now. The only way to get that is to open old wounds and let the infection die out. "I tried to... I tr-tried to... forget about you. For the last five hundred years and beyond, I tried everyday to forget about you. I tried to forget the pain and grief I, alone, caused my own kin. I am a terrible pony and sister to try to forget about my only other family, that I caused to be griefed and banished in the first place. I am the true monster in our tale of light and darkness. I tried to forget about my little sister."

Luna couldn't comprehend the emotions her sister emitted at the moment. Right now, the Solar Goddess seemed to have been torn between grief and guilt. Something inside Luna wouldn't let her sister bear it alone. Not matter how harsh the conditions were on the moon, Celestia seemed to have gotten the worse end between the two Alicorns. "Sister, Tia? Please, stop crying. I don't like to see you in such a state." reassured Luna. New energy surged through the Lunar Alicorn as she willed her fatigued head up and tiresome eyes open. Luna stared directly at her sister's tear jerked eyes with reassurance and care. "Please stop crying? For me?" asked Luna gently. She was going to take her sister's advice whether it worked or not, Luna had to try.

The gentle words calmed Celestia from her broken down state. Her sobs soften to light whimpers to know her sister was there for her if the need arise. Her small trembles came to an almost instant stop. It was words alone that calmed Celestia. Words begging her to stop her distress for her sister's sake. It was a strange and new sensation to the Solar Alicorn. It was always Celestia that calmed down her sister. Now it seems that the tables had been turned. Pride overwhelmed her sadness as she saw her little sister grow up little by little everyday. 'Wisdom comes and goes in strange ways' mused Celestia.

"Thank you, Lulu." smiled Celestia. Her genuine smile brought warmth and happiness to Luna once again to fully know that her sister was in a better state.

"What are sisters for? You would do the same thing for me, Tia." returned Luna, only to add to the pride swelling inside her sister.

"I know, and I should have never tried to forget about you. It was wrong of me to try to forget my mistakes that were responsible for your banishment in the first place." said Celestia.

"Forgive, but never forget, right?" quoted Luna. It was one of the few quotes she remembered from her sister's constant lectures about life lessons.

"I see you have been listening to my 'philosophical quotes' after all." teased Celestia.

"Yes, I guess I have. But that doesn't mean I understand most of them." retorted Luna. She cocked an eyebrow to emphasize her misunderstandings. "Maybe you shouldn't always try to speak in riddles."

Celestia couldn't help but let out a small giggle at her own bad habits. "I guess it's just something I picked up from my first love."

"Let's not forget that you are also a chocoholic, sister." teased Luna even further.

"At least I don't procrastinate, Lulu." returned Celestia.

"Tia!" whined Luna. It was bad enough when her other self was noting her bad habits. Now even her sister was involved. "You have at least three personal assistants to help you with your paperwork. I don't even have one."

"Perhaps you are right. I am being a little too hard on you. Maybe it's time we get you your own personal hand maiden." agree Celestia.

"I can get my own maid?" asked Luna excited. "Anyone I want?"

"Of course, as long as he or she is within reason." answered Celestia. "Do you have someone in mind, Lulu?"

"I don't know yet, but I will soon. When can we go?" questioned Luna.

"Now if you would like sister." answered Celestia.

~Bang~

"Huzz-" started Luna. Her praise was interrupted by the bang of the Lunar door, supposedly locked with Solar magic. The door smacked against the walls scratching the midnight blue paint.

What entered the room killed the mood immediately. There stood their nephew in his light grey coat, with his light amber mane stupidly hanging from his head and neck, and his compass rose sparkled like he had applied special moisturizers to get his flank to glisten. The sight of the unwelcome family member annoyed Luna more than anything. What came out of his mouth was his usual hijinks, mixed with nonsense.

"AUNTIE!" whined Blueblood. His voice alone screeched in Luna's sensitive ears, which were threatening to bleed from the sheer high pitch squeal of her nephew. Both Princesses stared daggers at the young prince while he continued his way towards them, unaware that he was interrupting their sisterly bonding time.

"What do you inquire about, nephew?" questioned Luna bluntly. It was restraint and fatigue that held back the Lunar Alicorn's rage and anger boiling inside her.

"I want the complete and utter destruction of that filthy lower class town, Ponyville." answered Blueblood. Celestia usually had a high tolerance for her nephew, unluckily for him, today was not one of those days. She glared molten hot, daggers at her nephew, while her sister did likewise with ice cold precision. Unfortunately for Blueblood, his stupidity blocked the deadly glares shoot his way.

"And why should we comply to your request nephew? Ponyville has done nothing wrong." questioned Celestia.

"It's because THEY live there. The ponies who ruined the Gala and destroyed the ball room. Not to mention, one of them lowered me to having to do things for myself." whined Blueblood.

Anger and hatred boiled to the surface for Luna. She was angry at her nephew for interrupting her personal time with Celestia, and just outright hated him for trying to destroy the place where all her friends lived. The anger came in the form of a Royal Canterlot shout, loud enough to be heard from Las Pegasus.

"NO!" boomed Luna towards the wimpy and unprepared unicorn. The shout knocked him back towards the wall and he crashed into her nightstand. It wasn't until that moment that Luna notice something out of place next to the mirror. Blueblood's crash knocked something wooden and small on to the floor. The clang was hollow, like the wood was older than the room itself. The rectangular object had a oakwood frame. The the beads, usually small wood spheres, were small marble smooth stone laced with Lunar magic, which allowed it glisten and shine, with not even a scratch on it. However, what Blueblood did next made Luna's heart stop in it's track. Blueblood stepped on her abacus. He heard a crunch of wood cracking and creasing and looked down at where his polished hooves lay.

"Absurd! What is this old thing?" question Blueblood. He picked up the old abacus with his magic before tossing it aside. It was a death sentence for anyone who dare anger Luna. This was a lot worse. The old calculator smacked against her mirror and cracks spread through the glass while tears appeared on Luna grieved face. No matter how hard she tried to hold back the sobs and tears, she couldn’t. 

The abacus was the dearest thing in the world to Luna, second only to her moon. The old abacus would be useless to other ponies, but to Luna, it was priceless. It had sentimental value that no pony can ever put a price on. The abacus was one of the first ever to be made, given to her for her birthday, when the Alicorn sisters still celebrated them. The first moment she laid eyes on the abacus, Luna was the happiest mare in the world. The fact that her sister inscribed it, made it all the more valuable. It was one of the few things that balanced both Solar and Lunar magic, without deteriorating upon itself. Solar magic to inscribe in it, and Lunar to preserve it. 

‘For my little sister, Luna: To count all of the stars in her beautiful night sky.’ 

Now the inscription was scratched away by the fracture of glass that punctured it’s smooth corners. What’s worst is that Blueblood had the stupidity to ask why his aunt kept such an uncivilized object.

“You shouldn’t keep worthless trash hanging around like that Auntie. That thing could have smudge my perfect coat!” said Blueblood.

Tears were replaced with pure hatred and anger once more. Luna’s horn glowed a pitch-black instead of her usual chalky white or tranquil cobalt blue. The magical force almost made it’s way to Blueblood’s thin neck, to choke, snap, and need be, sever, to abate her anger. The only thing stopping Luna was her sister. As much as Celetia wanted to ring her nephew’s neck as well, his stupidity couldn’t be helped. With a quick reaction, Celestia flashed her own light gold aura, before her sister’s wrath made it’s way towards their nephew’s neck. The only ones able to see the exchange were the two Alicorns involved in the fray.

Celestia could feel the pure hatred that radiated from her sister’s black magical aura. It only had one intention in mind as the dark aura fought against her’s for control. No matter what, she couldn’t let her sister kill their nephew, no matter how much he had wronged Luna. All her concentration was focused on her winning sister, whose anger alone had surpassed and overwhelmed Celestia’s futile efforts. Her sister was in control now, best crippling the idiot unicorn, and worst, mortifyingly butchering him limb by limb, slowly and agonizingly.  Now was the time to prove if she really did have an emotional grip over her sister.

“Lulu, please don’t.” begged Celestia. She had to plead for mercy, grovel if need be, to get her sister to calm down. “He isn’t worth it.” whispered Celestia gently into her sister’s ear. The words didn’t even seem to phase Luna, nor did it seem to soften her anger and hatred in anyway. “Please Lulu. Don’t do it.” tried Celestia one last time. Any longer and Celestia won’t be able to hold back the dark grip aimed for Blueblood. Diverging her magic flow, Celestia altered her protection spell into a teleportation spell. In an instant Blueblood was wrapped in a light gold aura changing his physical form into magic particles. 

“What th-” started Blueblood with a scared expression on his face. Before long, he was gone in a bright yellow flash.

“WHERE HATH THOU FLED TO?!” questioned Luna in her Royal Canterlot voice. She raised her body searching for the unicorn that offended her. Her eyes were a pitch-black, covering her once tranquil cyans. Her anger alone fueled away her fatigue and tiredness. Luna almost got to full height before she was pulled back down by her sister’s massive wing. Before Luna could react, Celestia pulled her into tight embrace, deathlike even, not even letting her sister pull away. 

“LOOSEN THY GRIP UPON US SISTER, WE SEEK REVENGE AND RETRIBUTION FROM THAT IDIOT KNAVE!” boomed Luna, muffled by her sister’s fur tightly pressed against her face. No matter how hard the Lunar Alicorn struggled, she could get out of her sister’s tightening embrace. One of Celestia’s hooves slowly ran through Luna’s mane, as the Solar Goddess started cooing her upset sister. Fresh tears flowed through the Lunar Alicorn’s eyes once again, dampening her sister’s coat. 

“It’s alright Lulu. Cry it out, don’t let the anger swallow you again. Just cry it out. I’ll be here with you, don’t worry. Shhhh.....” cooed Celestia softly into her sister’s ear. “The mirror can be fixed, Lulu. It’s alright.” 

“....it...is...not...the...mirror...” cried Luna into her sister’s coat. Her struggles finally stopped as she accepted her sister’s embrace and trembled slowly.

“Then what is it?” asked Celestia. She motioned her body downward and pushed the Lunar Alicorn down on the messy mattress under them. Luna now laid on her side, still securely wrapped by her wing and hooves.

A quick flash of a deep sapphire blue aura teleported the fallen abacus to the two Alicorns. A closer glance at the counting device allowed a realization for Celestia. It was Luna’s first ever abacus. Given to Luna from Celestia as a birthday gift. It was only a few weeks after Luna had gotten her cutie mark as well, doubling the sentimental value the abacus held over her.

“You kept that after all these years?” asked Celestia. Her only answer was a slight nod and more trembles from the Alicorn tightly wrapped in her embrace. “I’m sorry I didn’t realize earlier. I never knew it meant that much to you Lulu.”

Luna remained silent as her sister continued to calm her. Her crying was almost to a stand still, but she still trembled in her sister’s embrace. Celestia nuzzled her sister softly to secure her sister’s peace. Only after what seemed like an eternity did Luna’s trembling come to a stop completely, with the only evidence of her episode was Celestia’s tear soaked mane. “...thank...you for st-stoping me...” mumbled Luna. “If it weren’t for you... I would have.... have.... killed him.” said Luna, choking out the words.

“I’ll always be here to protect you Luna. That includes protecting you yourself. I won’t let you face this alone, not again.” comforted Celestia.

“Yo-you don’t hate me?” stuttered Luna.

“Why would I hate you? We may be gods in the eyes of our ponies, but that doesn’t mean we have to suppress our emotions all the time Lulu. Even I will show anger from time to time.” said Celestia.

“... I almost became a... monster... again.” mumbled Luna. No matter how much Celestia can deny it, Luna was right. She almost resorted to killing her own family member just because her anger got out of hoof. “I was ready to kill Blueblood, sister. I was going to choke him to death, maybe even worst.”

“No, you weren’t Luna. I’m your big sis’ for a reason, to protect and care for you. I failed you the first time you needed me most. I will not allow that to happen again. We are family, Lulu, and family looks out for one another.” reassured Celestia. “Please Luna, enough of this petty matter, you must be tired.”

“...so, does that mean you forgive me?” asked Luna quietly.

“There is nothing to be forgiven Lulu. In my eyes, you can never do wrong. Just mistakes when you lose your way.” said Celestia.

“...does that mean I can still get an assistant?” asked Luna.

“Of course. We shall pick one out for you tomorrow Lulu. Right now, you need sleep.” answered Celestia.

Luna didn’t need to be told twice. Her eruption drained her of all reserves she had left inside. No matter how hard she tried, Luna couldn’t help but feel her vision blur even more as her eyelid closed shut. “St-stay with me?” asked Luna one last time before sleep would take over. 

“Alright Lulu. I’ll stay with you.” answered Celestia as her restless sister returned to dreamland again. The alabaster Alicorn wrapped herself around the Lunar Alicorn once more and levitated the midnight-blue covers to blanket herself and Luna. “I could use some sleep as well.” said Celestia as a yawn soon followed. The magical fray with her sister left the Solar Goddess more drained than she thought. Once her peaceful magenta eyes closed, her mind started drifting to the dream plane where her sister resided. ‘I hope Luna doesn’t mind if I join her.’ thought Celestia as she, too, fell into deep slumber.

Author’s note: Alright everypony, I’ll keep this short. Family bonding time with Celestia. We all know  or atleast theorize what Luna did/felt while on the moon, but what about Celestia? Just my theory on what happened. Just hope I stayed within her character well enough and still show emotions that make her a better 3-D character instead of a hollow 2-D one. Enjoy, and forget about what I said about turning back the clock. Just think of this as still after the Royal Wedding, it goes better with the plot I got in mind. Also, happy Nightmare Night.

Editor’s note: Well, there you have it, chapter 6. Lots of emotion and my utter disappointment at the fact that Blueblood didn’t get his head popped like a zit... oh well, maybe next time. TwiLunaLover out.

> Show Stoper
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

For the first time since the Lunar Alicorn’s return, her dreams were restful and undisturbed. The last thing Luna remembered before drifting into deep slumber was the comforting words and reassurance of her loving sister. Now, Luna couldn't tell where she was. She just sat calmly on her belly with darkness in every direction. The only difference, for once, was that the sapphire Alicorn couldn't feel anything around her. Instead of darkness completely surrounding her, small stars sparkled distantly in the celestial and ethereal black sky above her. They didn't shine bright enough to be recognized, but were good enough to be used as constellation. Luna was one of five living ponies in existence with perfect spherical astronomical sense. She could just look anywhere in the sky and instantly recognize what constellation it was, as well as it's celestial position and coordinates. If Luna guessed correctly with the right time of night it was, one of her first constellation would be showing itself to it's creator. In fact, the constellation was accompanied by it's three other companions.

"The same stars that aided me in my escape...." mused Luna as she looked upon her hypnotic creations. First was Draco with its stunning power, followed closely by Ursa Major with all its ferocity, with second to last Scorpius, and finally the graceful Columba. Four of her most powerful constellations and it took an entire millennium to gather enough cosmic energy to escape her prison. Wielding the stars was the second thing Luna learned to do with her night, after getting her cutie mark. Not only did it take the steady mind and willpower to move such powerful celestial bodies, but also an artists craft and style. Throughout the many centuries, Luna has seen many canvases that tried to depict her nights beauty and glory, but none have seem to please the Lunar Goddess. What happened next startled and amazed Luna at the same time. Streaks of light ran through the sky, beautiful and translucent, complementing her stars and making them shine brighter than ever. The wavy streaks graced the sky with colors of light turquoise and cerulean. Her gaze upon the wonderful and once in a lifetime sight was interrupted by an all too familiar voice.

"Sorry for intruding upon a special moment like this Luna. Do you mind if I join you?" asked the alabaster Alicorn. Celestia slowly trotted to her younger sister, whose gaze never left the sky above them.

"'Tis alright sister. Something this beautiful shouldn't be kept a secret. How are you here?" asked Luna. The dreamplane was the Lunar Alicorn's domain, but seeing her sister here startled Luna a little bit. It was a secret place that the sapphire Alicorn controlled without the need to consent with her sister.

"I discovered this ethereal plane a little while after your banishment. I'm surprised you were able to keep something like this hidden away from my eyes for so long." answered Celestia.
"Sorry if I didn't tell you, sister. 'Tis just that....." trailed Luna. She averted her gaze from the stars and looked directly at her sister. The look she got wasn't what the Lunar Alicorn had expected. She expected her sister to be angry at her for not telling about something like this.

"I understand why you didn't tell me, Lulu. This is a place where your desires and wishes come true. If something like this was widely known, everyone would exploit it. This is a special place where you can get away from time to time. I can understand if you want some personal time alone.” answered the Celestia.

Her sister was right on the dot. Whenever Luna seeked solace, her dreams were often what the Lunar Alicorn found peace in. Now, it has been violated by a foreign presence unknown to it until now. “How did you find this place?” asked Luna. She wasn’t angry at Celestia, just surprised that someone else besides her has found and can freely walk upon it. ‘Not even Nightmare knows about this place.’ mused Luna. The two Lunar Alicorns shared many things, control of the dreamplane wasn’t one of them. The dreamplane was where Luna resided while entrapped by Nightmare. It was the last defense should Luna fall into darkness again.

“Funny you should ask that Lulu. To be truthful, it was a complete accident that I found it. Like you, I seeked solace from the constant pressure of ruling our Kingdom. After your imprisonment, my mind was clouded with anger and hatred. The fact that everypony celebrated your banishment only added to the guilt that was gathering inside me. Depression hit me the hardest with every restless night spent awake thinking about you. It had been several months of insomnia before it started affecting how I was able to perform as the Sun Princess.” told Celestia. The alabaster Alicorn continued her way towards her waiting sister, before sitting next to Luna. Celestia’s gaze was glued to the sky where her sister was previously staring at. The beautiful eos in the sky matched exactly with her divine and caelum mane. If she allowed it, Celestia’s mane would have outstretched into the black sky, substituting for the astronomic lights. It was Celestia, herself, who created the first aurores, now they were rare spectacles with how busy the Solar Alicorn has gotten.

Luna’s stared blankly at her sister once again. Her banishment affected the health and behavior of both celestial sisters more than she had thought. While Luna was stranded on a barren wasteland with nothing to keep herself nourished, her sister was affected just as badly, only emotionally. Her glare was finally returned as Celestia turned to face her distressed sister before explaining further. 

“At the first signs of my falter, doctors recommended taking morphine in large dosage. Please keep in mind that medicine was still very young at the time of your banishment Lulu. The results were more than impactful. Unfortunately, I took an overdose on my first night trying to get back into peaceful slumber.” reminisce Celestia.

Concern overwhelmed Luna as thoughts of terrible outcomes wandered into her mind. A regular dose of pain reliever was enough to knock a full grown stallion out cold. An overdose on an all powerful Alicorn that wielded both the sun and moon? Only one possibility came into Luna’s mind, her sister was most likely hospitalized because of Luna’s vanity and selfishness. “What happen sister?” asked Luna eagerly. 

A sadden giggle escaped the Solar Goddess as she continued. “I fell into a coma, Lulu. For forty days and nights I slept without raising and setting the sun and moon. The weather got out of hoof very quickly. Without the moon in it’s correct alignment, tides rose and fell in random intervals, the weather fell into everlasting chaos. Without me to bring the sun the next day, the night lasted in my absence. The look on Nightmares face if she knew I was responsible for an everlasting night.” joked Celestia to brighten the sully mood.

Luna couldn’t help but let out a giggle of her own at her sister’s joke. ‘If only you knew sister.’ mused Luna. “Then what happened sister?” asked Luna.

“During my absence, my mind wandered. My astral form traveled between the world of the living and my restful dreams. I saw it all, our ponies tried everything to wake me. They used everything from ancient magic to just tickling a feather on my nose. Futile and funny as their efforts were, my astral form was beginning to lose it’s anchor to the physical world. My mind was weak from the constant months of restless nights, not to mention the side-effects the drug had on me. My mind couldn’t maintain the constant stream of magic I needed to keep my form intact. I often phased out of reality into a lonely darkness and waited hours before my form could return.” mumbled Celestia as her voice got smaller and smaller. As Luna’s eyes met her sister’s, all she could see was sadness.

“What is wrong sister? Did something happen?” questioned Luna tentatively. Only one word echoed and loomed in her mind as worry started to overcome her other emotions: darkness.

“When my mind couldn’t support the magic I needed to sustain myself, my form fell into constant darkness. All around me, everywhere I looked all I saw was the constant darkness looming over me and grasping my heart harder and harder. No matter how much I struggled, the darkness wouldn’t let me escape. Only once did I escaped it’s clutches, but it only allowed me to do so just to break my spirits again. I got as far as to see the living world again, but only to be consumed by hatred and misery. All I ever felt during my imprisonment was constant pain and anguish. It showed me images and futures, it made me relive my most terrifying memories. I watched helplessly as I saw you be consumed by it, consumed by Nightmare, and it made me watch as I banished my own sister to her prison for the next thousand years. It made me relive that moment for an eternity and beyond, with each time getting worse and worse. My spirits were broken and so was I by the time the constant nightmares subsided. My sanity was tested and neared the brink of oblivion while my tears were all but dried up. I relived the sadness of being parted with you everyday when I was in that coma. All I could remember was your screams and tears as we were ripped apart from each other.” cried Celestia as a single warm tear laced with grief trail down her pale face. The single drop landed right between Luna’s eyes as she could literally feel all the sadness that was carried by her sister. Luna was about to speak her concern before Celestia raised a hoof and silenced her sister’s worries. “It was near the end of my torment that I finally discovered what would have saved the last of my sanity. If I could phase even more, lose control of my anchor in the darkness, there was another dimension where I could reside in. I let my mind drift like I did when I still had control of my body. My astral form became a fluid stream of magic while I shifted into this peaceful citadel. The first thing I saw was your night and stars. It reminded me that no matter how distant we may become, all I need is to look upon the sky and I will always have a piece of you with me.” finished Celestia. Her voice was a monotone, but her eyes were laced with warmth and joy, and a genuine smile to complete the set. Celestia looked upon her sister to only find Luna’s expression surprised and desolate. “Is there something wrong Lulu? Would you like me to leave?” asked Celestia as she realized she was intruding upon her sister’s sacred and pious sanctum.

What happened next startled the alabaster Alicorn as Luna delicately pulled her sister into a loving snuggle and embrace. Luna’s words were heavy and stoic, labored with guilt and onus that this was somehow her fault. “...I’m sorry sister, very and truly, deeply sorry.” murmured Luna.

The sudden and unforeseen apologie startled Celestia even more. “I don’t understand Luna. You have done nothing wrong. Why are you sorry?” She looked down on her sister with caring eyes to find a startled and troubled sister. A single look into Luna’s eyes and Celestia saw guilt building inside the Lunar Alicorn.

“...Tia, I am sorry that you had to suffered fr-from...that thing....” sighed Luna. “You of all ponies don’t deserve to know what the darkness is capable of. I’m sorry you had to know what it is like to be hated... I’m sorry you had to find out what misery and despair are, this way...” mumbled Luna under her breath. It was bad enough the darkness consumed one of the Princesses, but now it seem that both have been tangled in the messy web of shadows.
Sadness came as realization dawned upon the Solar Goddess. Her sister would only know what Celestia was retelling about if and only if Luna, herself, had gone through the same torture the Sun Alicorn had endured. “Luna, have not the need to plead your sorrows to me, they are not necessary. Believe it or not, what the darkness did to me was a blessing in disguise.” calmed Celestia towards her distressed sister.

“How could you say such a thing, Tia? What the darkness did you, us, was horrible. To live in constant fear and loneliness, despair and hatred filling our hearts, and to relive our worst memory every time. How can one say it be a blessing?” asked Luna bluntly.

“It is a blessing Luna, as now I know how to help you. Before, I tried to save you from something I knew nothing about. It was foalish of me to try to protect you from hatred I never faced. I can’t protect you if I don’t know what’s wrong with you Lulu.” answered Celestia.

Luna was stunned at her sister’s words. The Lunar Alicorn had said the same thing to her counterpart only just the night before. As Celestia’s gaze bore into the Moon Goddess not with compassion, but with understanding and acceptance, Luna felt more connected with her sister than ever. “So... you know?” asked Luna quietly.

“Indeed, I do, Lulu. It is I, who should be apologizing to you. All those years, me trying to help you, when I, myself, didn’t even know what was wrong with you in the first place. I am sorry Luna, I was ignorant. I let my bravado get in the way of protecting my younger sister. All it took was for the both of us to fall from grace, for me to finally realize what was wrong with you. For that I am truly sorry.” said Celestia. Even in defeat, the Solar Goddess accepted it with an open mind and welcoming thoughts to know that it could help her sister in any way.

“‘Tis a pity that we both have fallen into such a dark place, sister. I did not wish for you to suffer such horrid things as I have. I had hoped that at least one of us would stay pure till the end. I guess that was a forlorn hope from the very beginning.” said Luna sadly. She had hoped that at least her sister would have been free from the darkness and it’s wrath, but even the brightest of light dims when darkness engulfs it. No matter how much terrible acrimony it brought, now Luna wasn’t alone anymore. She had her sister to help Luna deal with the abhorrent feelings the darkness pervaded.

“You won’t have to deal with hatred and fear alone anymore Lulu, I swear it on my life, and my sun. If you want to talk about something, all you need is ask and I shall be there.” swore Celestia. Their gaze was first broken by Luna as she returned her eyes upon the stars that lit the sky. Her old constellations were gone, now replaced with new ones as time passed on. Luna’s two most frightening and raw powered stars were fighting to the death, forever interlocked in eternal conflict. Her majestic Leo was face to face with it’s slimy and despotic  foe, the ever obdurate Hydra. Whenever she saw those two fight Luna knew exactly what it meant. Her time in the dreamplane was nearly up, and so was her sister’s.

“We don’t have much time left, Tia. I suggest we leave before the darkness consumes this peaceful plane.” warned Luna. She had tarried in the dreamplane too long once and it ended very badly. Should anyone stay in the restful sanctum for too long, they would be lost to the darkness, mind and soul.

“Alright, Lulu. I shall see you on the other side. It is nearly time for us to raise and set our celestial bodies.” agreed Celestia. At her agreement, the alabaster Alicorns silky form shifted into a transparent image before finally slipping away altogether. Her absence now left the Lunar Alicorn by herself for whatever time remained.

Luna looked at the spot where her sister used to be. She then stole one last glance upon the sky to see the magical eos fading away like her sister. Her stars, one by one receded from the sky, blacking it as each constellation fell apart. Soon Luna’s form too, phased like her sister. The surrounding darkness gripped the dreamplane even tighter as it drew closer to it’s target. One more moment and it would have swept Luna into its clutches, but met failure as the Lunar Alicorn phased into reality.

The blackness that Luna saw was replaced by a pale white. Luna slowly opened her eyes to meet her sister’s. The Lunar Alicorn was still snugly wrapped around Celestia’s embrace after her episode with Blueblood. The sunlight that lit Luna’s room was fading fast as the aubade continued its descent into the skyline. The Solar Goddess released her deathly embrace on Luna as she made her way towards the marmoreal balcony. Luna reluctantly too, got out of the comforting confines of her soft mattress and joined her waiting sister on the terrace. Both sisters lit their horns in a magical aura, Celestia a light gold, Luna a cool cobalt-blue. Celestia gently lowered her sun into the waiting horizon as Luna lifted herself into the open air. As the Lunar Alicorn ascend higher and higher, so did her pale moon. The small stars laced in Luna’s mane were once again whisked away into the sky and formed the constellations the Lunar Goddess always drew. Luna’s descent from the sky was met with her waiting sister. Luna had a night’s worth of  paperwork to catch up on, and only a single thing can help her finish and get any rest.

“Sister would you mind taking over midnight court for me tonight? I have yet to find an assistant to help me.” asked Luna.

“Of course, Lulu. When you have decided who shall be your maiden, I will wait for you in the dining halls. Do not take too long choosing, you must be hungry.” agreed Celestia. “Do you know who you would like Luna? I’m sure someone in the courts would gladly take the job.”

“Do not be angry at me, Tia, but no one in the courts is worthy of my presence.” returned Luna. Everypony in the courts would have backstabbed each other to gain favor with any Princess. Work would be the last thing on their mind if Luna chose one of them.

“Alright, I can understand your view upon the ponies in court. Where shall you find your maiden then?” asked Celestia. She too knew that most nobility were snobby and stuck up. Hard and honest work was rare among the rich and powerful within the Kingdom.

“I will seek my maiden in the lower parts of Canterlot. There, I shall find ponies who know what hard work means. A mare desperate enough to take the job is a hard working one.” answered Luna.

“I shall see you at dinner then. Farewell for now, sister.” said Celestia. She slowly trotted from the balcony towards the oakwood door. Using Solar magic, she opened the door and headed towards her sister’s night courts to begin the annoying trials.

“and I, you, sister.” answered Luna as Celestia closed the door behind her. Only when the Lunar Alicorn was sure that her sister was out of hearing range, she looked around her room for shadows. Luna’s eyes search meticulously for something out of place until she found it.

“You can come out now Nightmare, I know you have been watching.” called Luna towards the lurking shadows around her room.

Only after a solid minute past by did she get an answer in return. The glossy-cerulean Alicorn mare stepped forth, her head appeared first then her torso whisked itself out of the shadow in the darkest corner of Luna’s room. She could hear the clank of metal on solid obsidian as Nightmare approached her with an annoyed face and green fire burning endlessly in her basilisk like eyes. Even with a few hours to gather magic and strength, the cerulean Alicorn still walked slowly and sluggishly. Her movement and breathing was labored. Nightmare showed signs of deep travail as she finally reached the other Lunar Alicorn. “Enjoying bonding time with Celestia, I see.” mumbled Nightmare under her breath.

Luna just rolled her eyes as she detected sarcasm in between the heavy breaths. “I don’t see why you hate our sister so much. If you just give Tia a chance, I’m sure it would be better for both you and me.” returned Luna.

Nightmare took a long and deep breath to regain herself before answering her annoyed other self. “I hate our sister for the same reason I was born in the first place. She has stolen everything that rightfully belongs to us. Even you see it yourself, our private dining halls is just one on the ever increasing list of things she has stolen.” retorted Nightmare.

“This isn’t time of old, Nightmare. I no longer hold to trivial objects such as belongings to please my eye. Books are enough to entertain my mind should I get bored, I need not anything else.” returned Luna.

“Tell me then, Luna, why is it that in every historical book out there, We have always been portrayed as the monster? If our sister is so great, then explain to me why she has allowed the public to run our image through the mud like that. If Celestia was half the sister you claim her to be, ponies would have welcomed our return with open arms and feast all around the country. Tell me, what did our beloved sister do? Did she defend our honor while we were away? No, she let common folk talk about us like trash and spread rumors of our horrors. Tell me if this is still the same sister we are talking about, Luna.” answered Nightmare.

Luna couldn’t come up with an argument, no matter how hard she tried to think, the Lunar Alicorn couldn’t come up with a single reason. Every word Nightmare said was once again truthful to it’s very core. Luna opened her mouth to argue that their sister was still a good pony, but only mumbles came out.

“That’s what I thought, Luna. Not a single reason to the contrary. Our sister is not as great as you think she is.” continued Nightmare. Only after finally catching her breath could she meet Luna’s eyes. A quick glance told the cerulean mare that the conversation had taken a sour turn into awkwardness. Changing the subject, Nightmare turned towards a brighter issues, “What is this about you getting a hand maiden?”

“I was about to leave to find one in the lower streets of Canterlot.” answered Luna as her mind was interrupted. The thought of finally get a professional companion was appealing to the sapphire Alicorn enough to take away her terrible thoughts.

“Hmmm, the lower levels of Canterlot. Poverty and disguise everywhere, are you sure you want someone of such low standards? Perhaps someone within the court systems already will suffice.” returned Nightmare.

“I need someone who is willing to do hard and honest work Nightmare. Nobility and riches has made ponies forget what that means these days. They would all give their first foal to gain favor with us.” retorted Luna.

“I suppose, but is keeping such filthy company wise? We don’t know if they shall take the job because they are desperate or just need a way to get privileges of a royal nature, as a result.” argued Nightmare.

“Do not threat, Nightmare. I know what I seek in a personal maiden. We shouldn’t dally here any long. Paperwork doesn’t fill themselves out, the sooner I get an assistant, the better.” answered Luna. She returned to her balcony and lifted herself into the sky once more. Each flap of her trained and majestic wings caused whirlwinds below, blowing away the curtains hanging beside her doors. Luna took to the sky, high and mighty, gliding along the wind streams that helped her make the journey to the lower streets. Canterlot was designed like a stronghold, but lacked inner boundaries. The center was where all the wealthy and nobility lived, and the further away from the center you headed,  the worse and filthier the streets became. Poverty was the highest here in the capital and barely anyone noticed. Ponies would often starve to death before the winter claimed them. Under her, Luna saw nothing but sick ponies begging and praying for their next meal. She lowered her descent from the sky into the nearest dark alley she found. Luna’s wings beat quietly with each descending feet as she got closer and closer to the blackened road. Only just after she landed did Nightmare accompany her from the shadows.

“I suggest you caution yourself, Luna. A disguise would likely save you some trouble, should a thief decide to try his luck.” warned Nightmare.

Luna knew she could take anyone should she be attacked, but walking in broad moonlight as the Princess of the Night might provoke a few desperate ponies. With just a thought, the Lunar Alicorn bent her ethereal mane around herself, encasing her as the misty mane turned from a cool cobalt-blue to a glossy black. The once beautiful and divine home of the stars was now a spider-silk cloak covering the Lunar Alicorn’s entire body as well as her tail. Only the whites of Luna’s eyes can be seen through the shroud should anyone dare steal a glance at her. The ghastly and lifeless veil radiated a semblance of execrable and vile, this way, only the most worthy and desperate may approach the Moon Goddess. The shroud fully dawned and covering, Luna set on her long journey to find the mare that would stand by her side. A quick look around the streets she trotted down gave her heart a sigh. All around Luna, she saw malady and famine grip her citizen closely. The further she wandered into the lower depths, the more discordant things became. While at first she saw a few ponies lined in the streets, masses upon masses of her citizens starved themselves as they wait for the local church and shelter to open and give them the nutritions they crave. More than once Luna saw mania constrain the minds of the weaker ponies as they slowly screamed their lungs out. Luna has seen this all too often, nearing the end of the street the Night Goddess was met with a starving mare. The mare was laying down on the cold dirt coated floor, as the shredded cape  used to blanket the mare was nearly ripped in half. Beside the mare’s head was a mud covered hat that once seem to have been covered with stars and colored with a light lavender. Now, Luna looked upon the sleeping mare, she saw how the mare’s breathing was heavy and irregular, labored with hunger and exposure to the harsh and cold night. The mare’s legs were nothing more than skin and bones, barely larger than a foal’s own legs. A closer inspection showed the mare to be a unicorn, but a frown spread across Luna’s face as she saw there were cracks on the tip of the horn. As a whole, the mare before her was bruised, beaten, famished, and near the brink of death. Luna’s approach was enough to startle the sleeping mare as she weakly got up to face the Lunar Goddess. The mare’s eyes were bloodshot and while one of them seem to have been recovering from a recent fight. If proper rest and care was added to the list of things the mare needed, her eyes would have shined a stormy grayish violet. Her voice was weak and arid, but she was able to fight for herself.

“...wh-wh-what do y-you wa-want?” stuttered the unknown mare. She weakly tried to stand up, but fell short of just stumbling forward. Despite the mare’s futile efforts, the Lunar Alicorn couldn’t help but feel a bit of herself in the mare in front of Luna. With everything the world had to throw at the starving mare, she still wouldn’t give up without a proper fight.

“...we-well? If you c-came to rob me th-then go ahead!” stuttered the unknown mare once more. Only after several attempts did she finally manage to stand upright and face the Lunar Alicorn before her.

“Calm your qualms, mare. We have not come to harm thee, but to trade with you a quid pro quo.” answered Luna.

“...wh-why sh-should T-” coughed the mare. It seemed she could only form short words to talk. Her throat was threatening to bled upon itself just so she could quench her thirst. She spoke softly and quietly, barely audible, just to abide the grow pain in her sore throat. “...why sho-should I trust you?” asked the unknown mare reluctantly. The unicorn has lost many things living on the streets for the past month now, but her pride wouldn’t be one of them. If she just let anyone push her around, she would have long been dead.

“Your choices are limited mare. Starve or freeze to death then, we do not care either way. It would be better if you just accept our offer.” answered Luna coldly.

“...al-alright...” said the unicorn as she continued shivered in the cold. Now that she fully stood upright, her cape blew off the tormented mare’s back allowing more exposed skin to be chilled. Her teeth chattered as she spoke her labored speech. “...what do you want?”

“Quite simple. We only seek your unquestionable dedication and loyalty, in return, you shall be provided with all your needs and wants.” answered Luna.

“...me-meals and bed included?” asked the unknown mare. The thought of being sheltered and fed was almost too much of a dream for her. Shortly after coming to Canterlot, she learned that everything isn't always sunshine and rainbows. She was met with harsh conditions and punishment as she tried to work for her every meal, sometimes even having to resort to thievery to sustain her till the next day. “..wa-wait, are you lying?”

“If thou do not believe us, then perhaps we shall seek assistance elsewhere.” returned Luna coldly as she turned away from the desperate mare.

“...wa-wait, do-don’t go. Do y-you really mean it?” asked the unknown mare weakly. She had to trust the words of the unknown stranger whether she wanted to or not. The prospect of getting out of the cold was welcoming to the filthy mare.

“We do not lie. You shall be clothed, fed, and sheltered as the requirement for the position of my personal handmaiden.” answered Luna.

“...al-alright. I agree to the terms.” answered the starving mare. “...wh-when do I start?”

“Right now.” answered Luna. Her cloaked unwrapped itself to reveal the Lunar Alicorn as she wrapped both herself and the mare in Lunar magic. For a fraction of a second, the mare screamed, but was met with silence as both mares disappeared from the lonesome streets and back into the castle. The teleportation spell surprised the unknown unicorn as she stumbled and fell on her belly upon the Stygian-obsidian floor. The cloak full gone and transformed back into an ethereal mane, the weak mare finally got a good look at her employer. There, stood in the blissful moonlight was Princess Luna, Mistress of the Night, Goddess of Dreams and Stars, Alicorn of the Moon and cosmos. The exhausted mare stumbled backwards to try to get away from the stunning and terrifying Goddess, but soon stopped in her tracks as pride and bravado surged through her. No one was allowed to just push her around, not after months of surviving on the streets. She didn’t care if her new boss was an all powerful Alicorn, no one was allowed to just teleport the mare without asking first. 

“Who do you think you are just teleporting ponies like that?” screamed the mare maniacally.

“You dare raise thy voice against your Princess?!” asked Luna loudly. She didn’t want to frighten the mare, but Luna needed to show who the authoritative one was. “Would thou prefer for us to repent our generous offer towards thee?!”

“...no...sorry, Princess.” answered the mare weakly as she realized the thin line between the streets and a warm home.

“We are sorry for shouting at thou, but you must remember that we are thy superior. Now, let us take you to the medical ward. Thine wounds do not seem to be fatal, but they must be checked and cleaned.” said Luna. Now in a brighter light the Lunar Alicorn saw that the mare’s coat was once a lustrous azure, but with the constant weeks of not bathing, the coat dulled into a filthy near black-brown. The mare’s mane was a bundle of messy webs and split ends, having once been two different sets of colors, with one streak of faint cornflower blue, and an even paler color on each of  the alternating streaks. 

“...may we stop at the kitchen first?” asked the mare. Even if her wounds were not fatal, food was the only thing on the mare’s mind at the moment. The pain from hunger hurt the mare more than the gashes she got everyday.

“Alright, if thou thinks the wounds can wait, we shall head for the Royal Kitchens first. What is thy name, mare?” asked Luna.

“...Tri-Trixie Lulamoon.” answered the showmare weakly.

Author’s note: My longest chapter yet, I hope you guys enjoy. By the way, I said Nightmare was gonna learn respect and humility, didn’t I? Who knows humility better than Trixie? It only gets better from here on out. Alright, I’m out.

Editor’s note: Hello everypony! We had a lot of fun editing this chapter and as promised these chapters are getting out quicker. In response to those of you who wanted Blueblood to be the assistant, I have this to say:
……(\_/)
……( ‘_’)
…./”"”"”"”"”"”"\======░
/”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”"”\
\_@_@_@_@_@_/

ANGEL THE BUNNY WILL GET HIM !!!
(the previous statement was in no way referring to a future plot development) 
OK, TwiLunaLover out!
> Silent Night
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Luna stared horrified at how fast the ex-showmare in front of her gorged. Trixie ate frantically as she tried to stuff as much food in her stomach as she could. Months of meager meals allowed the azure mare to eat what would have been a feast for ten Alicorns combined. It wasn't as much as chewing the food and tasting it, but just stuffing it in her mouth and swallowing. Already the table at which the Alicorn and showmare sat at was littered with stacks of dirty and finished dishes. Luna could barely make out the shape of the mare beside her as the dishes grew into a small mountain. If she didn't stop Trixie from eating right now, they would have to restock pretty soon. Luna was about to tell the showmare to at least slow down, but a hoof covered in gravy was stuffed into her mouth before she could.

"Don't you dare tell Trixie to stop eating. Trixie hasn't had a proper meal in months. Trixie doesn't care what you say, just keep bringing the food. Also, where is Trixies drink?" asked Trixie as she removed the hoof.

Luna turned to face the jaw-dropped kitchen staff and gave them a slight nod. Her personal maiden should be treated with hospitality and anything she desired, but Luna now had second thoughts about if the mare would even be able to move after the meal. The staff stood still, ignoring the Princess's command to bring more food as Trixie drank a bowl of gravy and mashed potatoes. The azure mare shamelessly wiped the brown stains away with a hoof and started on the next course. Trixie chugged an entire barrel of cider and wine while tossing a bundle of alfalfa into her mouth. 

"Where is Trixies drink? Trixie ordered a drink ten minutes ago! Get Trixie her drink!" shouted the showmare towards the sacred staff. Her eating was interrupted as Luna remembered why she hired Trixie in the first place.

"Miss Lulamoon, We hath not hired thee so that thou can stuff thineself. Our intentions for thee art to help us during midnight court and paperwork. So far, thy has only showed that thou can eat a meal for kings. Might We ask when thou decide to work?" asked Luna.

"Apologizes your highness." answered Trixie as she rolled her eyes. "But Trixie cannot work on an empty stomach now can she? If you want the best performance from the Great and Powerful Trixie,  she needs to be at full strength."

"We do not need thy at full strength but within working conditions. We believe thou had enough to eat for tonight. Paperwork cannot be done if thou continueth to indulged." retorted Luna.

The showmare stopped in mid bite to face her employer just to find an annoyed face. Trixie knew better than to anger her boss again. She could just finish eating later, right now a bath was in order. "Trixie believes her hunger has been subdued for now, but Trixie cannot work without a proper bathing first." answered Trixie as she put down her food.

It wasn't what the Lunar Alicorn wanted to hear, but it was a start. Luna couldn't help but feel sorry for the mare, near the brink of death when she found Trixie and now boastful as ever. 'Wait till Nightmare meets you.' mused Luna. "If thou seekest to bath, thou may use our private quarts within our chambers. Once thou art done, come to our courts. We have a busy night ahead of us." said Luna.

"Private bathing room? Trixie can get used to this." purred the showmare. Her horn lit a grayish magenta before it was extinguished and migraines bounced around in her head. The cracked horn wouldn't let the showmare do anything involving magic without a pounding in her head. If not for self control alone, Trixie would have screamed at the top of her lungs with how much her head ached right now. The showmare felt as if someone took an iron prod, heated it to white hot, and drove it into her head. She fell over in her seat and writhed in pain on the floor below. Hooves flew to her head to abide the soaring pain, but to no avail. Luna could only stand and watch as her new assistant screamed in agony on the floor.

"We knew we should have checked thou into the hospital ward first." mumbled Luna as she lit her own horn. In a blue flash, both mares disappeared from the kitchens and into the clinic. While the Lunar Alicorn landed on her hooves quietly, her assistant still writhed in pain. "Doctors, my maiden requires your services." called Luna towards the surprised healers. It took only a few seconds for the doctors to rush to the showmares side. It was a nurse with a red cross on her flank that carried the showmare to the nearby resting table.

The doctors closely examined Trixie to find her in a worse condition than Luna had thought. "I count three ribs cracked and a fourth dislodged..." murmured the head doctor. She had spectroscopes on as she looked for further damage on the showmare. Several more nurses arrived to a now crowded room. "The bones in her left-hind phalanges are completely shattered. Let's see, misaligned mandible, fractured skull, and a torn artery. Princess, where did you find this mare? She looks like she was in the fight of her life." asked the doctor.

"We found her living, or more correctly, fending for herself in the lower parts of the city. It seems her wounds are a lot worse then we have suspected. What can you do for her?" asked the worried Alicorn.

"Sorry for asking this, but can you leave for a moment? We need a room to operate if this mare is to be saved." answered the doctor. She gestured the nurses to clear the room of a worried princess before she could protest.

The only thing Luna could hear was the constant screams from Trixie as the nurses shoved her out the clinic and into the waiting area. 'How could I not see she needed medical attention?' mused Luna as she now paced back and forth in the small waiting area. Minutes felt like hours as the screaming continued on during the night. Fatigue would have consumed  the Lunar Alicorn had worry not already done it. Luna's pacing was interrupted as something lurked out of the shadows.

"If you continue to pace like that, I'm sure you will find yourself in a trench in no time, Luna." said Nightmare as she took a seat next to the entrance.

"Do you not see my worry, Nightmare? What if my new maiden is mortally wounded?" asked Luna angrily. Her pacing only stopped as she faced the cerulean Alicorn.

"Should this one perish, then get a new one. It's as simple as that. A maiden is a bit a dozen." answered Nightmare coldly. The cerulean Alicorn didn't really care if Trixie lived or died, just that there was another to replace her should she die.

"Don't you care for anyone besides yourself? For once can you let go of that ego of yours?!" asked Luna loudly. Anger boiled inside her at her counterpart's carelessness for a life.

"Why should I care if she lives or dies? We barely know her Luna. She is a street rat with no home or identity, who will miss her if she died? Her family? If she had one she wouldn't be living on the streets. Ponies like her do not matter in this world. Why do you think there is only three living Alicorns out there? We are far more important than some lonesome street rat that happened to be picked as your maiden." answered Nightmare casually.

Anger, just pure anger, swelled inside Luna as Nightmare spoke her mind. No matter what Luna said, Nightmare wasn't going to let her ego or pride go anywhere. "Fine, Nightmare. If that is the way you see it, then you will learn the hard way. You WILL learn respect and humility, and Trixie will be your teacher." answered Luna as she bustled through and into the operating room. The sudden sound tore the doctors away from the still screaming Trixie as Luna slowly approached the suffering mare.

"Princess please, wait outside! We need room to operate and save her!" protested nurse Tendercare. The flimsy earthpony tried to reason and push the Lunar Alicorn away, but only had minor success. The only thing that continued was the constant screeching of Trixie's voice as Luna made her way towards her.

"Thou taketh too long wicken, We shall heal our maiden ourself." answered Luna as she pushed the desperate nurse and doctors away. The Moon Goddess's horn lit up with a black aura instead of her natural cobalt blue, her eyes glowed a blinding white as well. 

Healing was a special ability that Luna had learned during the Draconequus era. Dark times and terrible injuries inspired her to learn any and all kind of healing magic that she could, just so she could help ponies in need, but with a millennium of being out of practice in any form of healing spell, Luna was rusty. Her magic did indeed do its intended purpose as wounds healed themselves all over her mud covered body. The sound of bones cracking and realigning themselves shocked most of the nurses in the room. At first Trixie's hind legs bent an awkward thirty degrees to the right and then another ninety backwards, excreting a deathly screech from Trixie. It seemed that Luna was more out of practice than she had thought, as tears now jerked down Trixie's face. Luna had only made the situation worse for the showmare as her bones continued to crack, mend, and crack again, just in another awkward angle. More screams and tears escaped as Luna tried to repent the mistake she made.

"Princess! Please stop! You're only making this worse for her!" shouted one of the doctors as she tried to shove her way through.

"We can and will finish healing our maiden, wicken. Do not interrupt us again." mumbled Luna as she shoved the earthpony away. The continued use of magic drained Luna drastically and if she couldn't save Trixie soon, the showmare's death would be indubitable. The lights dimmed themselves as a cold wind blew through the room. Out of the shadows stepped Nightmare, who didn't look happy at all. Her presence added to the nervousness that was growing inside Luna.

"You really want to save this mare, don't you?" asked Nightmare. The glossy-cerulean Alicorn stepped from her dark corner to meet the screaming mare. "So this shall be my teacher in humility?"

"I don't have time for you Nightmare. Saving a life is more important than your ego at the moment." mumbled Luna quietly. Her talk with the other Alicorn tore her attention away, long enough for the healing spell to take another turn for the worse. Every single bone in Trixie's hind legs tore itself apart, cartilage against cartilage, bone on bone, scraped against each other with the gruesome sound of bones being grind together. One nurse fainted as another barfed her lunch into the nearby trash can at the sight of Trixie's crippling bones.

"Calm down Luna. Concentrate, you know where each bone goes and its correct placement. This is a trivial task for someone such as you. You healed worse wounds than these before, now concentrate." said Nightmare.

Luna only heard several of the words spoken to her, but enough to make out the meaning intended. Beads of sweat dripped down her face as more Lunar magic was poured into the healing spell. For once, the spell obeyed Luna's will. The bones in Trixie's hind legs finally stopped misshaping and bending as it realigned itself. More screams came as more bones pulled themselves into position and mended. The fracture on the showmare's skull was now gone as well as the gashes and bruises on her back. The bloodshot eyes returned to a clear resolution as more cuts were sealed. The only thing remaining was the creak on the mare's horn as Trixie's screams died down. Her tears were finally gone as Luna lowered her horn to Trixie's. A closer inspection showed the the screams were caused by magic fluctuation within the horn. A unicorn's horn was connected to their nervous system as well as their brain. Any magical use during the time a horn was fractured would result in intolerable pain throughout the body and mind. With being connected to the nervous systems if anything happened the pain would be spread and distributed through the body to lessen the pain. Normally Luna would have just let the horn heal naturally, but Trixie's words rung in her ears.

"...pl-please make it stop..." begged the showmare. She would never beg for anything in her life, but pain has pushed her beyond the limits of her ego. "...ma-make it go away..."

Luna could only comply to her maiden's request. There was only one way to heal a horn before its natural date. Luna would have to share Lunar magic with her assistant, something no one has ever seen within a millennium. Luna's horn made its way towards Trixie as it glowed her original aura. Nightmare was not happy with Luna's chose in healing, not happy at all.

"What do you think you are doing Luna?! Alicorn magic cannot be shared with a street rat!" screamed Nightmare. "I command you to stop at once! NOW!"

"Can't you see she is in pain? If anything, my personal maiden should be able to wield Lunar magic. I don't want to hear another word from you Nightmare." answered Luna as she poured more Lunar magic into the spell. She was running on reserve energy as the stars lighting the skies dimmed. For a fraction of a second, the night was without stars. The results of magic spent was a tired Luna and an angry Nightmare.

"All that Lunar magic, wasted! And for whom?! A lonesome street rat?!" mumbled Nightmare. Anger more than anything boiled inside her. Alicorn magic was a sacred thing unknown and unstudied since the beginning of magic itself. No one besides Alicorns themselves were allowed to use it, but now a common pony had it surging through their body. "I hope you're happy Luna. You just wasted precious magic when getting a new assistant would have saved you more trouble."

"If a life can be saved, it should be saved Nightmare. Now, begone. I tire of our petty squabbles." mumbled Luna as she panted for breath. Her legs were now jelly as fatigue took over and the Lunar Alicorn fell, slipping into unconsciousness. The impacted would have landed had a magenta aura not caught her. Trixie was back on her hooves again, eyes stormy and fierce with Lunar magic, as she looked at the doctors around the room with blue flames burning in her eyes. The showmare was pumped with Lunar magic, and it didn't look like she was gonna lose it anytime soon.

"If you all don't mind, Trixie thinks her mistress deserves some rest." said the showmare confidently. She felt like she could take on the world and win without a challenge. Alicorn magic, it seemed, was more potent than that of a regular unicorns. Trixie once again lit her horn for a teleportation spell. Both mares vanished in a bright flash leaving the doctors to contemplate what happened.

~~~

Luna was laid upon her bed and covers blanketed her, as Trixie's spell worked without any complication. "Trixie can definitely get used to this." said Trixie to herself. Shortly after putting her mistress to bed, the showmare found the private bathing quarters within Luna's chambers. Everything that belonged to the Lunar Alicorn seem to be made out of obsidian noticed Trixie, as she began to scrub herself clean. The bathtub the azure mare bathed in was like blissful heaven. It had enough room to fit ten regular unicorns inside, as well as over a dozen different kinds of shampoos and conditioners, each a different smell, texture and origin. At first Trixie's muscles ached with soreness, but after soaking in the hot mineral water, she felt weightless. All the showmare could think about was how warm it was compared to the streets below. Luna wasn't kidding when she told Trixie that all her wishes would come true. ‘So this is what Trixies tax money pays for.’ mused the mare as she continued to scrub herself clean. Her magic consumed a nearby brush which was now running through her messy name. The brush worked delicately as Trixie continued to wonder what her new limits were.

Nearing an hour since the Lunar Princess fainted, Trixie dried herself with the potent magic that surged through her body. Normally draining the mare a bit every time she used a spell, the showmare didn't feel any falter in her powers as she examined herself in the large silver mirror. Her normal azure coat dimmed a few shades while her mane glittered with star dust. What interested the showmare the most was the magical aura she now radiated. Her eyesight heightened to beyond normal, she could see not only clearer and with more detail, but Trixie can now see through all the spectrum that existed. Currently her eyes were locked in magic vision as she looked upon the aura that surrounded her. Her personal atmosphere was cocooned in a deep sapphire blue, which she thought would have been Lunar magic. "So this is what it feels like to be a goddess." muttered Trixie to herself. Not only did she literally glow with power, but she radiated confidence and virtue. Thought after thought of what to do with her new powers were interrupted as she heard a moan coming from the other room. Trixie instantly flashed herself to see where the noise came from just to see it was her mistress.

"...ma-maiden, where art thou?" moaned Luna under her covers. The Lunar Alicorn could barely speak, but she was strong enough to feel another's presence in the room with her.

"Trixie is here, mistress. What do you need?" asked Trixie as she approached her boss. She could make out the shape of the slim Alicorn and soon looked through the blankets covering the mare. Not only could the showmare see magic, but she could now also see through solid objects as well! 

"Thou can stop staring servant, We know thy senses have been heightened. Now help us out of bed." ordered Luna grumpily  towards the unsuspected mare.

"H-how do you know?" asked Trixie. "Trixie means, she doesn't know what you are talking about."

"Do not give us lies, servant, it will cost you dearly if you do. We art the one that heightened your senses in the first place. Alicorn magic now surges within your body. Tread with care, not many know about this event and We would like to keep it that way. Now help us get out of bed and into the midnight court, our sister is waiting for us." answered Luna back.

Trixie just complied now that her ruse was blown into the open. The showmare trotted to her mistress’ side and levitated the covers off to reveal a pale looking Alicorn. Her normal looking coat, a cool sapphire blue was back to its original phthalo blue. The Alicorn also shrank as well, not barely taller than Trixie, with her ethereal mane hanging down naturally around her head. The once powerful Lunar Goddess was back to her old self and looked rather tired than godly. "You... look different mistress." muttered Trixie as she just stared blankly at her master.

Luna noticed the stunned stare she got and stole a glance at her mirror. The only thing she could see where cracks and a large hole where her abacus had crash into it. Anger once again boiled inside her as she was reminded of her abacus, but right now she had royal duties to attend to. "Never mind what I look like servant, just help me to my courts." grumbled Luna.

Trixie took a long time to tear away from her stare. As she approached the Lunar Goddess minor even more, she noticed that her personal effects no longer fit. The black diadem and aegis fell apart as Trixie helped the tired Alicorn out of bed and into an unsteady stance. Luna's legs wobbled under her, threatening to topple her over any second. Only with the help of her maiden could she even stand correctly.

"Walk us to the courts, maiden. We fear we are too weak for any magic use as of now." murmured Luna under her breath. She stabilized herself with the showmare beside her and took small and steady steps towards the oak door locking the room.  A few stumbles along the way, the two made their way through the eerie corridors of the Lunar wing. It was at night that Luna's personal staff come out. Each pony both mares saw on the way all had something night related to them. Several times more Luna stumbled, but only to be caught in time by her maiden. It was going to be a while before Luna could gather enough strength to do any kind of magic again, but right now walking seemed to be the challenge. Once they reached the the courtrooms Trixie opened the double doors and walked in with her fatigued employer. Every single pair of eyes was glued to both mares as they entered the courtroom. One set of eyes was more intense than the rest, it was the eyes of the Solar Goddess as she eyed her stumbling sister limping into the room.

No matter how hard she tried to keep her face stoic, Celestia couldn't help but feel a frown draw across her face. She moved aside from the cushion she sat upon as Luna made weak attempts to climb the steps to the podium. Worry and suspicion was draped over the Solar Alicorn. She felt uncontrolled Lunar magic blasting through the room, not from her sister, but from the new personal maiden Luna had chosen. "Greetings sister. I see you have decided to try an old look." said Celestia as she gave a slight nod.

"Thank you for keeping my court busy. You should retire for the night sister, it is well past your due time." answered Luna. With the helping hoof of her maiden did Luna finally reach her podium. With a wave of her hoof, all attention in the court was restored. Celestia couldn’t help but steal glances back at her sister as she made her leave. Only when the Solar Goddess fully disappeared behind the doors did the court return to its regular course. The two ponies that were arguing continued as they debated who was right. Luna only heard half of the conversation before deciding to break their argument.

"Enough, both of you. We have heard sufficient evidence from both sides. I declare Mrs. Fleur de Lis not guilty of charges accused against her. Mr. Fancypants, you may take your wife home. This court is now adjourned." announced Luna. For once, Luna didn't want anything more than to just sleep, even if it was during her night. "That will be the last case We deal with this night. We fear our health is not at its fullest tonight. Any and all cased scheduled for now will be held tomorrow."

A murmur of whispers escaped the courts as the Lunar Alicorn got up from her cushion. She stumbled miserably before Trixie came to her aid. After much effort the two left and headed back towards Luna's private chambers.

They walked in complete silence before the azure mare broke it. "About these new powers Trixie has..." said the showmare as they slowly trotted in the dark corridors. The Lunar Alicorn was leaning heavily against her but to the new Trixie, Luna felt light as a feather.

"We trust thou wilt not abuse them, my maiden, with great power comes great responsibility. You are now one with my moon, do not bring shame to me or what I represent. The Lunar magic that runs through your veins, however permanent or temporary, will increase your normal abilities tenfold. Should you keep these powers, We shall need to teach you to wield them properly." answered Luna.

"Teach Trixie what exactly?" asked the showmare excited.

"First, We shall need to teach thou control over Lunar magic, then everything that is affected by it. Please keep in mind that Chaos and Lunar magic are very similar. Afterwards, We shall teach thou alchemy and necromancy, in other words, the Dark Arts. Should you show enough potential, elemental magic will come easy. " answered Luna quietly.

Trixie couldn't help but smirk about the prospect of learning forbidden magic, and from the Alicorn that created them in the first place. "Trixie can't wait till our lessons begin then." said Trixie. ‘Revenge is a dish best served cold after all.’

Author’s note: Op Trixie is op. All I got to say on the subject. About that necromancy, no there will NOT be any dead ponies walking around. Do I make myself clear? The limits on Trixie’s new power level? No over 9000 jokes, seriously, that is getting tiring. Let’s just say Trixie’s new powers reaches the stars, no pun intended. Alright, I’m out. Now over to my editor.

Editor’s note: Hmm... Well, I on the other hand I might want to see Trixie go mad with power, but that’s up to DerpyMuffins, not me. I would like to hear what you all think, though. In the comments section below tell us what you would like to see Trixie do, go completely buck wild or be a nice little student like Twilight. Tell us what you think. OK, TwiLunaLover out.
> 12 Labors
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ruling the stars and cosmos was the only thing on Trixie's mind when her mistress said control over Lunar magic. She could finally command the night and everything associated with it. Trixie could raise and lower the tides, invade and bestow pleasant dreams and nightmares, and bend the cosmos and universe to her liking. What she was doing instead was reading from half a dozen scrolls about star formations, fertility, and the lunar calendar. She read ancient scrolls upon ancient scrolls on the different days the new year arrived in the Lunar calendar, about how on a full moon, a mare would be blessed if she had been fertilized. Trixie was bored beyond what her enchanted mind could bear, and the lectures her mistress spoke didn’t help to keep the mare awake either. It wasn’t that she didn’t understand anything, it was that she understood and remembered everything. Every single useless fact recited by the Lunar Alicorn was crammed inside Trixie’s mind and they didn’t seem to be leaving anytime soon. Not only did she comprehend the ancient text on the scrolls, but Trixie could also read and recite it without fault. Her magic, as well as mind and body was heightened to beyond that of normal. Equations that Trixie thought she would never be able to solve were trivial thoughts in her mind now. Her IQ centupled overnight as well as her perspicacity. Trixie, in both body and mind, were in total sync with each other, each one adapting should the other fail in a certain area.

“When will Trixie be able to conjure lighting?” asked the showmare mildly. She tossed the scroll she had just finished onto the growing pile inside Luna’s room.

After a quick nap, Luna attempted to do her nightly duties, but the lowering of the moon took more effort than the Lunar Alicorn had thought needed, and now she sat on her bed working through scroll after scroll of paperwork. Her attention was torn away at her new student’s request. “We have already told thee student, elemental magic will come naturally, if thou show enough potential. So far, thy has only shown that the seeking of knowledge is not thy top priority. Read and recite each scroll from the top.” commanded Luna. 

“UGGH.” moaned Trixie as she facedesked. “Trixie has already recited each scroll over a dozen times. How will Trixie learn about Lunar magic if she can’t even use it?” questioned the azure mare.

“Knowledge is half the battle, my impatient student. First, you must learn restraint, then  you must learn control. After you have mastered the two we shall move on to wielding things associated with my night.” explained the Lunar Alicorn. She had expected the showmare to complain about not being able to use her magic. Only time will tell if the azure mare is worthy of wielding Lunar magic. One last signature signed and the Lunar Alicorn finally finished her documents. It had taken all night, but Luna had finally caught up. The Lunar Alicorn minor stacked the official scrolls into a neat pile before turning to her annoyed student.

“Trixie isn’t a foal that needs to be trained in basic magic. The Great and Powerful Trixie has defeated an Ursa Major and won victories, saving a town. Trixie doesn’t need to know these things.” boast the showmare.

“Thou has defeated an Ursa Major?” asked Luna suspicious. It was rare to encounter an Ursa, but to defeat one in battle, the Lunar Alicorn couldn’t believe the words of her student. So she decide to call Trixie on her bluff. “Well then, if what thou say is true, we shall move on to a harder challenge.”

“Finally.” exclaimed the showmare. Not only would she not have to read another scroll, but she could test out her new limits.

“If thou is up to the challenge, thou must perform the Twelve Labors.” explained Luna. She weakly magiced another scroll out of thin air with a list of things for the showmare to do.

“Twelve Labors? Trixie will have all of them done in a single afternoon.” boasted the azure mare.

“We suggest thy look closely at each labor. Start with the first, and when thou decides to quit, thou may return to thy studies.” scowled Luna as she levitated the scroll to her eager student.

“Let’s see, the first labor. Trixie must capture the soul of a...” said Trixie as she trailed off. Her expression would have faltered into fear had she not hidden it from the Lunar Alicorn. “Trixie has to capture the soul of a LEO?!”

“Thou can always return to thy studies if thou chooses to not accept the challenges.” returned Luna. No matter how hard she tried, Luna couldn’t help but feel a smirk on her face at her student’s distress. ‘Maybe now you will learn to not boast as much, my student.’ mused the Lunar Alicorn. 

“Trixie... accepts mistress’ challenge.” muttered the showmare as she looked over the remaining labors. Each task laid before her got worse and worse the further down the list she went, until Trixie came across the worst one yet, the last one on the list of task to do included Cerberus. Trixie never really liked dogs, now she wasn’t going to like them even more.

“Wh-what?” stuttered Luna at her student’s answer. She had just created the list as a joke, to tease her into learning not to boast as much, but now it seemed to have backfired on the Lunar Alicorn. Not only is Trixie willing to do the labors, but also collect each soul one by one. “The labors are not for mortal beings. We jest with thee, student, thou do not have to do the labors.”

“Trixie is a new mare, and with new powers. Trixie wants to gauge her new limits, is all. These trivial labors are nothing for someone as great and powerful as Trixie.” answered the showmare as she headed towards the door. It seemed that Luna’s new student was really gonna do the labors set for her. Not only was each task impossible, but each time the showmare could get herself killed.

“Student, We order thee to quit thy notions of completing these labors. They are a joke and should be treated as such. These tasks are impossible for anyone who dares try them. Even with the Lunar magic embedded within your body, your lack of control and  knowledge on the subject means one wrong move and thou can seriously hurt thyself. Do not attempt these labors, my student. Get back to thine studies.” protested the Lunar Alicorn.

“Consider this a field test of Trixie’s powers. Trixie will return with a report and twelve labors accomplished. First on the list is a Leo, does mistress know where Trixie can find a Leo?” asked the showmare cockily. She still paid heed to her teacher’s warnings, but didn’t let them falter her mood. She was more powerful than she was before, and only the Twelve Labors can prove she is the best unicorn in all of Equestria.

“We shall give thee one last chance, student. These task are nigh impossible. If thou paid any attention in thy studies, thou would know that Leos are found within large mountain peaks. Now get back to thy studies.” argued the Lunar Alicorn as she tried to intercept her student. All efforts were useless as the phthalo mare desperately stumbled on the the obsidian floors. Fatigue still gripped the Alicorn after giving her student most of her powers the night before. Not only was she drained magically, but physically as well. It seemed all strength left the Lunar Alicorn as the healing spell worked into a transference spell. The only things Luna still commanded was her night, moon, and stars, but she still struggled with them nonetheless. “Why art thou doing this?” asked Luna for one last desperate attempt.

“Let’s just say Trixie has a score to settle. Trixie has been humiliated by a certain unicorn, and wishes to get things fixed once and for all. Only these task will prove if Trixie is powerful enough to face the mare again.” grumbled the showmare as she helped her mistress upright. 

“My student, learn to forgive. Revenge will lead you down a dark path which thou may never recover from. Believe us, We know, for we have fallen down the same path. Thou will focus on nothing more than proving thyself better than the other mare, are We correct?” asked Luna. She was steadily courted back into her bed as the showmare beside her contemplated an argument. 

“Trixie needs this mistress. Trixie needs closure. Trixie has been waiting a very long time for a chance to best the mare at her own game, a duel of magic, wit against wit. She has been trained, and trained well. She has defeated an Ursa Minor and has claimed to be better than Trixie in every way possible.” argued the showmare.

“We do not mind if thou seek closure, but closure involving revenge is another thing entirely. Thou may complete the task if thou chooses, but please forget about vengeance, it is not worth it in the long run, nor is it healthy to keep such bitterness welled inside of thyself. Take advice from someone with personal experience in the matter, my student.” answered Luna bitterly.

“Fine, Trixie shall just complete the Twelve Labors then. Now where is the nearest Leo?” asked the showmare as she finished helping her mistress into bed.

Luna couldn’t help but give a sigh at her student’s persistence. “We find thine bravada to be indulgent. Thou really seek to find a Leo?” asked Luna one last time.

“Trixie finds your lack of faith in Trixie to be disturbing, mistress. Of course Trixie can find and defeat a Leo, there will never be any doubt about it. Trixie has defeated an Ursa Major before.” boasted the showmare.

“Very well then, you shall find the nearest Leo to be within the peaks of the Crystal Mountains. Be warned, the Crystal ponies are not kind to outsiders. Should they discover thee, thy would be hung by lynching. They shall charge thou for trespassing or, if they are able to, treason. My sister and I do not exactly have clear tidings with the Crystal ponies, so be on thine guard. No one has seen a Crystal pony in over a thousand years, and their King has manage to keep the Kingdom in solitude. Tread with caution, my student, a Leo is no pushover either. Once thou have traveled deep enough into the mountains, Lunar magic will do the rest.” answered Luna. Sending her student into hospitable territory would be considered a terrible thing to do as a teacher, but it may teach the showmare humility and honesty.

“Crystal Mountains mistress says? Trixie hasn’t been there before, nor seen any Crystal ponies yet. Alright, Trixie will grab a scarf. How does Trixie capture the soul of the Leo?” asked the azure mare.

“The proper spell should be within the scrolls labeled under Necromancy. Look in the archives if thou wishes, our seal is all thou needs to gain access. Tread with care my student, We cannot say it enough times. Necromancy is one of the most dark and forbidden forms of magic. Should anything go wrong during the spell, not only would thy body perish, but thou will be unable to die. Thou shalt be stuck between living and death, forever roaming, haunting until someone puts thee out of thy misery. If thou succeed, We shall reward thee, though.” answered Luna. She rolled up the list of labors from the azure mare before sealing it with her official emblem. The crescent moon glistened along with the three stars that accompanied it, as the scroll was given back to the showmare.

“If these lands are as horrid as mistress says they are, how will Trixie defend herself should she encounter the Crystal ponies?” asked the showmare as she accepted the scroll. In a flash of bright magenta light, the scroll dissolved into a pocket dimension waiting to be used again.

“Thou will not. The Crystal Empire has been as elusive as its ponies. Any information about them is either outdated or faked. Thou shalt just have to rely on thine wits and magic alone. We shall be watching thy from a distance should thou need us.” answered Luna. Her new student was about to embark on a terrible journey to prove her worth. Worry was mixed with pride at how far her pupil was going to go to impress her. Not only would Trixie face certain death, but also testes of of the mind and soul. “May our stars watch over thou on this journey, my apprentice. Thou have my blessing.” spoke Luna one last time as her student disappeared from sight. ‘Maybe I shouldn’t have let her go.’ wondered the Lunar Alicorn as she reviewed the labors her pupil had to accomplish. Her thoughts were interrupted as a glossy-cerulean mare stepped from the shadows. The ghostly Alicorn coolly glided across the room and onto a nearby cushion before addressing the other Lunar Alicorn.

“I see you have sent the mare to her death. To think I was cruel and cold blooded one.” complemented Nightmare. It was the first time Luna did something horrible without the influence of the evil Alicorn.

“The mare asked for a chance to prove herself, I just gave her that chance. If she believes she can complete these task, then I shall believe in her as well. It’s what friends do for each other.” said Luna. Even though she barely knew the showmare, Luna would have gone as far as to call her a friend. 

“You shouldn’t hold faith in such trivial things as friendship, Luna. In the end, it is power alone that will prevail.” argued Nightmare. “I could wield stars while that pathetic friendship will only give you company.” said Nightmare cockily.

No matter what the Lunar Alicorn tried, her alter ego wasn’t likely to lighten up in her boasting anytime soon. Not only was Luna tired of hearing it from one mare in her life, but two was beginning to push her over the edge. “Your overconfidence is your weakness, Nightmare, always has been.”

“Your faith in your friends is yours.” barked back Nightmare harshly. “There is no one you can rely on but yourself. Subordinates will only go so far, in the end, if you want something done right, you have to do it yourself.”

“That is where you are wrong Nightmare. Trixie will prove you wrong. She may not see it now, but she will soon. Bitterness towards another just isn’t worth the trouble it causes. She is on the way to learning humility, as will you.” retorted Luna.

“That mare wouldn’t know humility if it smacked her right in the face. She boasts when unnecessary, has an ego worse than Celestia, and annoys me to no ends.” complained Nightmare.

“Remind you of anyone?” asked Luna sarcastically. Her face formed a smirk as Nightmare’s grew in annoyance. 

“I tire of this petty conversation. Awake me when needed. My strength is not yet at its fullest.” answered Nightmare as she shifted back into the shadows.

Luna sat on her bed, smirking madly at her first victory against the assertive counterpart. ‘One of many victories to come if my new pupil succeeds in her quest.” mused Luna as she continued on with her paperwork. As soon as her thoughts were away from Nightmare, Luna felt a shiver run down her spine. All of a sudden, she felt all the heat within her body leave her, as well as a nagging sense that she was in mortal danger. The Lunar Alicorn continued to shake in her trance as the need to do paperwork grew into undoable. ‘I wonder if Tia will mind if I snuggle with her. I think I may be coming down with a cold.’ sniffled Luna as she weakly headed out of her room. Elsewhere, a frozen mountain range very far, far away, a certain showmare was facing an avalanche as it toppled down a mountainside towards her.

~~~

Shortly after leaving her mistress, Trixie whisked herself into the Royal Archives with the Lunar seal wrapped in her magic. Not only was gaining entrance to the old library difficult, but the musty books constantly reminded Trixie about a certain lavender mare she hated. The showmare trotted in silence as she made her way towards the ‘N’ section of the dark library. The further inwards the azure mare headed, the eerier things got. More often than once, Trixie saw something moving from the shadows, lurking, waiting for the perfect moment to strike. The showmare continued to caution herself as she approached her destination. As she finally reached the correct shelf, her eyes meticulously searched for the scroll needed to perform the ritual. The black scroll was finally found as Trixie levitated it from the dusty shelf. A second smaller note was attached to the black one, as the showmare opened the old document. To her surprised the entire scroll was blank. ‘Or someone was stupid enough to use black ink on a black scroll.’ mused the azure mare, as her attention was now drawn to the scroll beside the larger one.

As she slowly uncurled the smaller one, Trixie thanked that it wasn’t blank like the first. Her eyes scanned it quickly until it came across works that made the mare sickly pale. “...blood of an innocent is required to view the black scroll, preferably from someone pure of heart and virtue...” read the showmare. Trixie made very few friends growing up with a difficult life, not a single one of them fit the description the scroll required. “This will just have to wait for later. Right now, there is a Leo with Trixie’s name on it.” said the showmare to herself. Her horn once again glowed a magenta as she was whisked away to a frozen tundra thousand of miles away. 

The first thing the mare noticed was the bitter cold that entrapped her as she face-planted into the deep snow. The chilly winds bustled harshly on Trixie’s damping coat as she pulled herself from the bitter snow. All the azure mare could see was the blinding wing and hail that continued to push her backwards. It took barely a second for the showmare to cast a warmth spell to surround herself as well as a cloaking spelling. The black veil her mistress wore now blanketed the azure mare. As Trixie raised her head towards the sky to find her celestial position, all she could see was a faint eos glowing as black clouds covered the sky. The protection spell will likely wear off in a few hours if the showmare didn’t find any shelter soon. Her eyes once again scanned the mountainside for any form of cover the mare could use, and soon spotted a little cave beyond the treeline of the mountain. Once again, the mare flashed in a blink and appeared within the cold and dark cave. Any and all light was only apparent because of the faint aura that still surround the showmare.

The shadows grew long and eerie as Trixie continued to make camp. A few bundles of logs were gathered as the showmare whisked them out of thin air. A single spark ignited the fuel and revealed the entire interior of the cave. It appeared that the only entrance and exit from the dark hole was the one Trixie spotted from in first place, as the cave rounded not a few steps in. “It’s not much, but it’s something. Trixie will have to wait for this storm to blow over before she can find a Leo.” said the mare to herself. Soon something caught her eyes. Something lavender followed by six other colors, mushy shapes moved across in the snowstorm as the showmare sat snugly around the warm fire. After the lavender came cyan, orange, hot pink, and light yellow. Another two shapes were hard to make out, but Trixie was certain they were white colored. Trixie paid no attention to them as each one disappeared from sight and the foggy storm thickened. Slowly the mare lowed her head as well as her eyes into a light slumber. Her ears perked high, fell, as the mare finally drifted into deep sleep. Her mind wandered into peaceful dreams as her body remained alert, to warn her if anything was out of place.

Only after a few minutes of silence,the showmare was torn away from slumber as she felt something curl up beside her. Without opening her eyes, the showmare felt every movement with her body. Something large and warm snugly warped the azure mare in a deathly hug. Soon she felt a large weight laid on her back. She was completely covered under white fur. Silently igniting her magic, the showmare extended her view  beyond her body. What Trixie saw startled the mare more than ever. Tightly wrapped around the showmare was a Leo looking for some warmth from the blinding snow, stumbled upon the cave Trixie resided in. The Leo laid happily on top of the showmare completely blanketing her and covering her from view. Not only was capturing the soul of a Leo already difficult without the knowledge of how to use the soul stealing spell, now Trixie had to deal with a hungry beast that could easily rip her piece from piece if it wanted to. 

‘This is going to be a problem...’ mused Trixie. Not only was she being cuddled by the Leo on top of her, but the beast was also using her as a plushie as well. It seemed the showmare had forgotten to disperse the warmth spell used early as the Leo likely stumbled upon the azure mare to find warmth. Trixie quickly reviewed her choices, each one getting her killed, maimed, and eaten. No sooner did her worries enter the showmare’s mind did her teacher’s words as well. ‘Lunar magic will do the rest...’ echoed faintly inside her again and again until Trixie finally understood what it meant. Leos were created from Lunar magic itself, and anyone who wielded Lunar magic had absolute command over the celestial beast. ‘So that’s why it didn’t eat me...’ mused the azure mare as she continued to plan out her escape. ‘If that troublesome Twilight has a pet, so will Trixie. A Leo should be more than fitting to challenge a draken.’ thought Trixie as her smirk grew.

“Leo...” whispered the showmare at first. All she got in return was a snore and a slight growl from the heavy beast on top her. “Leo!” exclaimed Trixie, again muffled by the thick fur on top of her. This time, the Leo return the command with a mild and annoyed roar that shook the mountainside. The celestial beast still slumbered, but was on the verge of wake. “LEO!” ordered the showmare confidently. No sooner had the shout escaped Trixie did the celestial beast roar awake angrily. It’s eyes burned furiously with animosity as it lifted its heavy body to confront the Lunar apprentice. The anger slowly died as the Leo backed away slowly sensing the Lunar magic that surged through the showmare. Not only did the celestial beast fear Trixie, but it bowed in her presence. “Trixie wonders....” murmured the mare as she gave the Leo the sign to raise. She stared directly into the transparent eyes and found them burning furiously. “Trixie has interrupted your sleep hasn’t she?” asked the azure mare as she reignited the dying fire. A quick look outside the cave and she saw that the storm had only gotten worse. The entrance was nearly sealed off with tons of snow piling on top of each other.

“It doesn’t look like we are going anywhere anytime soon.” deduced the showmare. Trixie’s attention was quickly returned to the celestial beast as she heard it purr in the corner it had retreated into. The beast’s fur was transparent, with stars shining dimly within its mane and coat. A single red star glowed brightly in the center of the Leo’s forehead as its whiskers twitched. With a closer inspection, the razor sharp fangs were a ghostly white that could have ripped through anything without much effort, not even a dragon’s backside would have stood up to it. The stormy blue eyes that glowed, stared directly back at the showmare as she saw cosmic and Lunar magic pulse around. Not only was the beast majestic and showed it prowess effortlessly, this one was bigger than a usual Leo, twice as big, and stood nearly hunched over in the small cave. The bulky muscle threatened to rip through the beast’s very celestial skin, while scars and hunting wounds were scattered across the Leo’s back, chest, and face. A deep scar ran through one of the Leo’s eye, paling the blue. Not only was this beast trained, but it was an alpha among alphas. It only showed weakness because the fear of being whisked away, back to the stars, threatened it.

Trixie couldn’t help but feel a liking to the living constellation. “Trixie has always wanted a cat.” mused the mare as she trotted closer to the purring Leo. All thoughts of capturing the beast’s soul drifted away as the showmare discovered that the beast had a soft side to it. She felt it cuddle snugly around her once again to seek warmth from the harsh conditions. The azure mare couldn’t help but smile as the Leo glomped her vigorously. “Convincing mistress to let Trixie keep you is going to be difficult.” said the showmare to her new pet. The celestial beast only stopped its glomping to nudge the azure mare playfully and give a set of puppy dog eyes that made Trixie’s heart ache. “Capturing does have more than one meaning...” pondered the azure. As its licks dried on the mare’s coat, the saliva left over made the fur glisten and shine an even darker shade. She was now more of a lazuli mare more than ever, as she sensed the storm outside lightening. 

“What is next on the list?” asked the showmare to the Leo. “Oh wait, you need a name...” questioned the mare. “Maybe Trixie will think of one later. Right now, we have a Hydra to kill.” said the mare as she examined the list. A soft growl left her pet at the word Hydra alone. It seem not only were those two hated enemies in the stars, but also in the mortal world as well. “Don’t worry, these task won’t take long. The sooner we get them done the better. Trixie’s mistress would be completely lost without Trixie.” said the mare as she wrapped both bodies in a magenta aura. In a flash both disappeared from sight and into the Everfree Forest.

~~~

Some time later...

“Tia, I think I may be coming down with the sniffles.” sneeze the Lunar Alicorn as she tried to drink from her cup of tea. Both Princess were once again within the private dining halls, one of them a paler color than healthy.

“Lulu, I think you are coming down with something. We should check you in with the doctors. You have never gotten sick before, did something happen? You seem to be weaker than usual.” questioned the concern alabaster Alicorn. “Perhaps we should cancel your courts tonight.”

“N-n-n-no need sister.” said Luna. “Ahh-ah-ah-coo...” sneezed the Lunar Alicorn quietly. Even when ill, Luna was still adorable. Her vision clouded as a pounding headache ran through her head. No longer being able to hold her cup with magic, it dropped to the table with a thud and cracked.

“Lulu, I don’t care what you say, I believe a few days of rest is in order for you. Perhaps you should spend a few days in your bed. I will send for a personal nurse for you.” said Celestia as she rushed to her sickly sister’s side.

Raising a hoof to Luna’s forehead, it felt warm to the touch, something very hard to accomplish with the Solar Goddess’ normal body temperature being over a hundred. Not only was Luna getting sick, but was also worsening by the second. In a flash the alabaster Alicorn blinked both of them into the medical ward. Surprising the doctors once again, they continued with their professional routine. They each checked a specific part of the Lunar Alicorn’s body, from taking her temperature to blood pressure. It seemed like overkill to Luna, but it was just another part of being pampered. After half an hour of checks and rechecks, the doctors were clueless.

“What does thou mean thou do not know what is wrong with us?” asked the Lunar Alicorn angrily. Slight coughs were followed as Luna expanded more energy to keep her temper in check. 

“So-sorry Princess, but Alicorn biology is still very much unknown. You could have something as light as a cold, or something as worse as the flu. We simply cannot tell. All we can suggest is bed rest and some medicine. Or it could be a mental illness.” answered the doctor as she read over Luna’s symptoms. 

“Art thou calling us crazy?!” Luna barked back harshly. It was rude to waste her time, but to question her sanity was pushing it. She was already dealing with one over inflated ego, but two was driving her over the edge.

“N-no, Princess, you misunderstood me. What I mean is, stress can be affecting your health. You have been very stressful lately, it could just be that.” answered the frightened doctor.

“We have been under a great deal of stress these last few nights.” said Luna as she reminisced about the sleepless hours she spent awake. Now that she realized it, her eyelids grew droopy and heavy. She didn’t know why, but she felt more fatigued than ever.

“If that is the case, then we suggest you get plenty of bed rest in a stress free environment.” said the doctor as she jotted down a note pad. “I’ll prescribe some vitamins as well to get your immune system back up. Do you know where you will be staying Princess?”

“Sis-sister, would thou do us a favor?” asked Lunar Alicorn as she begun to shiver. Violent coughs were followed as the Solar Goddess rushed to her sister’s side.

“Yes, Lulu?” asked Celestia with a worried expression. She closed snugly around Luna to only find her ice cold. Her sister usually had a cool atmosphere around her, but this was something a lot worse. Luna’s small trembles turned violent as her coughs continued on and on.

“Wou-would you mind wr-writing a le-letter to Tw-Twilight Sparkle for me? I be-believe I sh-shall be staying with her for the time being.” answered the Lunar Alicorn roughly.

“Of course, sister. Do not worry about your duties, I shall take care of them. Right now all I want you to do is get plenty of rest. Have not the need to return until you feel fully recovered sister. I shall call for your chariot and luggage. Just try not to expend much energy for now. Get something to eat, and I shall see you at your departure.” answered the Solar Goddess. In a single flash, she blinked to her sister’s room for a quick letter to her student and started packing Luna’s belongings. Luna didn’t own many clothes, and mostly she just wore her effects like the Solar Goddess did. But Celestia saw that they were laid on the nightstand too big to fit the Lunar Alicorn anymore. “I guess some socks and a sweater will do.” mused Celestia as she stuffed her sister’s suitcase. Blinking again, the Solar Goddess entered the Lunar barracks where a spiked chariot lay. Not too far behind were two Lunar Stallions at their post. Soon both stallions stood ready for their Princess to board and depart. Goodbyes and hugs were exchanged between the sisters as Celestia slowly watch her sister disappear into the skyline.

~~~

Luna lazily sat in her chariot sneezing and coughing every now and then, but enjoyed the scenery as they passed. More and more thoughts of staying with the mare she longed for, consumed her mind until nothing else remained, not even the cold she had could make the Lunar Alicorn falter in her lively mood. ‘Maybe being sick isn’t so bad.’ thought Luna as she drew closer and closer to Twilight Sparkle. Her attention was drawn away as storm clouds thundered. A heavy gale was gathering, quickly too, and anyone caught within its grasped would likely be doomed. A single bolt of lightning shot from the clouds to another vicinity as the typhoon slowly churned in the blackening sky. Not only were ponies told to keep inside, but were warned never to leave their home when a storm of this magnitude hit. The fear of being struck by lightning calmed as Luna realized she will be stuck inside with her love, Twilight for the duration of the storm. Blissful thoughts once again entered her mind as Ponyville entered Luna’s line of sight. The small town which the Lunar Alicorn had made most of her friends in, was only a short distance away. She saw ponies run around frantically to board up any loose windows and to tear down any loose branches. From just the looks of it, everypony was prepared for the storm of a lifetime.

As the Lunar chariot drew closer to the library-treehouse, Luna could see the windows faintly lit with candle light. One of the shapes moved around frantically through each room as Luna approached the front door. Her luggage in one hoof, and with another she gave a subtle knock on the wooden frame. Several seconds passed by before Luna heard movement. Quick hooves moved around the small house, a few stumbles along the way, the door opened quickly to reveal an overworked lavender mare. Twilight’s mane was messy and wild while her eyes twitched from side to side with bags under them.

“He-hello Princess, excuse me for the mess you see I didn’t have enough time to clean up and your sister just sent me a letter about a few hours ago telling me that you are sick and will be staying with me for a while so then I started preparing but everything went wrong when I couldn’t find the correct books on how to take care of a sick Alicorn so then I did everything I would normally do when one of my friends got sick which is lots of soup and books to read so I went to the market to buy some ingredients for a homemade stew, but when I got home I burned the water so now I don’t know if we will be drinking burned water or a plain salad.” explained the lavender mare in a single breath. Not only did stress affect how she acted but her speech patterns as well. “Oh sorry Princess where are my manners please come in you must be tired and cold from your travel, you can wash up in the bathroom and then I can have Spike fix the soup.” continued Twilight as she gave a lopsided smile.

“Uhh, Twi-Twilight, please calm do-down.” coughed Luna as she entered the spotless treehouse. Her voice was barely audible and sounded raspy and arid, like it pained her to get out each and every single word. She groggily stepped inside the cozy house to find it very much still the same. Everything was in its place, and for once she felt welcomed. After a few weak steps, her luggage was quickly taken by a bright raspberry aura and levitated to a nearby counter. “Wh-where is the bathroom Twilight?” asked Luna weakly.

“Upstairs and to the right Princess. Would you like to get some rest first Princess? You don’t look so good.” questioned Twilight as she switched from her hyperactive state to a concerned one. In a better light, Luna’s coat was barely a powder blue, and she grew paler by the second as she slowly trotted to the stairs.

“All I shall need is some bed rest, Twilight. For now, I would like something to eat, my travels have left me weary and I would like to retire early tonight.” squeaked Luna. Her voice could barely be heard anymore, let alone made out. Her several dozen attempts at the stairs were finally met with success when she finally reached the bathroom.

Concern was still written on Twilight’s face as she entered the kitchen where her purple assistant was working overtime to clean the mess she made. Scorch marks were still left on the pan she burned water in, but a new, more savory smell gripped the lavender mare as she approached the young draken. “Spike, this smells delicious! Are you sure you can be done in time?” asked Twilight as she took a sip of the stew. Tangy celery with a hint of sweetness washed on her tastebuds. She felt like she was in heaven as she took another sip of the delectable stew. ‘The Princess will feel better in no time!’ mused the lavender unicorn as she licked her lips.

“Yes, Twi, almost done. Who was at the door?” asked the young draken. He had his heart-apron on and a ladle in one of his hands. The burned soup was easy to fix, as the young draken had gotten used to Twilight burning every single meal she tried to cook.

“It was Princess Luna and I’m afraid she is a lot sicker than the letter I got from Celestia described. We are gonna need something more potent than just soup to get Princess Luna well again.” answered Twilight.

“Come on Twi, my soups are like liquid love. How can she not feel better after getting a taste?” asked the purple draken back, pride hurt.

“Spike, you should know better than to boast like that. Even if you had the best stew in all of Equestria, it just isn’t enough to cure a cold alone. You need rest, which the Princess will get plenty of after dinner. I don’t want any noise, alright Spike? I just hope we have enough supplies to last us the storm. Rainbow Dash said it was gonna last us for a few days, maybe a we-” said the lavender as lightning shook through the sky. All stood still as a loud clatter escaped from the bathroom the Princess was in. Something large had fallen on the wooden floors upstairs, and just from the sounds of it, it was Luna.

Fear and concern once again gripped Twilight as she rushed upstairs, leaving her assistant behind. “Princess?!” questioned the Twilight as she reached to the bathroom. Bustling through the door, she found the Lunar Alicorn paler than ever and unconscious on the floor. It seemed Luna had fainted from pure exhaustion and lack of Lunar magic that used to run through her body. “PRINCESS?!” screamed Twilight even louder as she tried to help the fallen monarch. Luna’s eyes were lazily open, her chest barely raised, while her pale body was shaking violently. No matter how loud the lavender mare shouted, the only response she got in return was a labored moan. Heavy coughs shook the Lunar Alicorn as Twilight tried desperately to rouse her. Once she realized her efforts were fruitless, the lavender mare screamed for her assistant. “SPIKE! Get the medicine out of the cabinet and my book on herbal vaccines! Get that soup ready as well, I want the Princess to eat something before she takes any medicine!” shouted Twilight downstairs.

She only heard footsteps, but Twilight knew her assistant was running the errands commanded. With a gentle light of her horn, the Solar student teleported the passed-out Alicorn to her room. Delicately laying Luna on the cozy bed, Twilight covered her with the blanket, trying to warm the Alicorn in any way she could. Raising a hoof to feel the Lunar Alicorn’s temperature, it felt burning hot, while her small body felt icy cold. Luna was burning up with a fever and they were both stuck until the storm blew over. Examining her again, Twilight notice that Luna’s face contorted in pain. Her breathing nearly stopped for a second as fear of the Alicorn’s death entered Twilight’s mind. ‘This is just a fever Twilight, calm down, don’t jump to conclusions.” as she tried to comfort the Lunar Alicorn in any way she could. 

Running to bathroom again, Twilight wet a towel and returned to Luna’s side. In the short absence, the feverish Alicorn’s temperature rose even higher. The damp cloth sizzled against Luna’s burning forehead, but it helped calm her down, ever so little. “Spike, where is that medicine?!” shouted Twilight as Luna’s condition only worsen. Heavy steps quickly rushed through the door, as a purple dragon ran to the lavender mare’s room with a tray of the things she requested, the only thing missing was the soup. “Spike where is the celery soup?” asked Twilight as she magiced the tray away.

“Sorry Twi, but it’s gonna take me a little while longer to fix burned soup.” apologized the young draken as he rushed back downstairs.

Twilight barely noticed his words as she put the plate on the edge of the bed, and looked quickly through the book, searching for a cure. The only one that fit the description needed to heal the Lunar Alicorn were ingredients Twilight already had, all but one. Even Twilight paled as she read the ingredient out loud. “...a golden apple...” mumbled the lavender mare. “Apples aren’t even made out of gold! Where the buck am I supposed to get a golden apple?!” screamed the mare frantically. No sooner did her fears get the better of her did she start pacing around the sick Alicorn. ‘I gotta tell Princess Celestia...’ mused the lavender mare. A quick glance back at the Lunar Alicorn made Twilight’s heart stop in mid beat. Luna’s coat was now an alice blue, barely noticeable. ‘Now or never...’ thought Twilight as she rushed to her writing desk. It was the only way to save the Lunar Alicorn, even if the Solar student would be seen as a failure in her teacher’s eyes, Twilight didn’t care. There was a life at stake and no amount of reputation could save the Lunar Alicorn. As she sat at her desk to write about the dismay, her thoughts on the letter were interrupted soon after.

Knock,Knock,Knock...

After the first loud bang came from the front door, another wave of knocks came, each time getting louder and louder, it seemed whoever was at the door wasn’t leaving anytime soon, unless answered. “Spike please watch Princess Luna. Call me if her condition worsens. Grab a bucket of ice water as well. Drench the cloth every few minutes and place it back on her forehead. I’ll go see who is at the door, don’t they know better than to go outside during a storm?” said Twilight as she headed for the door and magiced it open. With only just a peak, the lavender mare froze in fear instantly and stared blankly at her new guest.

As the wooden gate parted, a hooded figure was at the doorway, and just to make it creepier, a flash a lightning struck a nearby tree, sending flames scorning its dry bark. Rain started to pour heavily damping the mare’s coat and black shroud.  Behind the unknown figure stood her pet, a growling Leo, with its white coat stained a crimson red, fresh, like it was from a recent kill. Saliva mixed with thick blood drooled from the frightening fangs of the beast, while the sight of it alone nearly made Twilight puke the contents of her stomach, had she not kept it under control. As her vision returned to the figure, the black veil that covered the mare was shredded to bits with marks of teeth, claws, and talons, covering only a portion of her blood-stain coat. After igniting her horn in magic, light shined on the unknown figure. Her coat would have shined a deep lazuli if it wasn’t drenched in a crimson red, while the eyes shone a stormy gray violet, and her cutie mark was a five-point star wand. The mare in front of Twilight’s doorsteps was Trixie Lulamoon, the same mare she had bested not too long ago.

“Trixie?!” exclaimed the frightened mare as she stumble back into her house. The only response she got was a continued growl from the angry Leo beside the showmare. As she made eye contact, Twilight saw nothing but pure hatred for her in Trixie’s enchanted eyes. A spark of electricity surged between the two mares as they continued their deathly staring contest.

“Where is Trixie’s mistress?!”

Author’s note: Let’s be serious guys, no jokes, no foalplay. I’ll be letting you guys have a say in what will happen. I will get a lot of hate, but it is needed. Is Trixie willing to swallow her pride to save Luna? Will you guys let me stay canon and kill off your favorite pony, or would you all want me to twist Trixie into something she’s not? Just a thought. Indeed I shall get lots of hate and dislikes, but this is purely up to you. It will not be my fault if Luna dies, it shall be that Trixie will always be herself, not something she isn’t. This chapter is dedicated to my editor who put the thought in my head in the first place. She asked if Luna was mortal or not, so what if she was? Should Luna live, and I’m not telling you if she does, will Trixie ever be the same? We all love/hate Trixie for who she is. Are you guys gonna hate me for giving you a choice?

Editor’s Note: I swear, I had no idea he was going to do this. If I knew he would take my comment that way I would have never said it. Also, I will take it personally if any of you say “kill Luna”. Also, on a separate note, the Leo needs a name. I voted for Alfonso, because I knew it would get a buck load of lol’s, but thats just me. Help us out with the name too. Again, not my fault he’s doing this. TwiLunaLover out. 
> Fidei Defensor
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twilight just stood in her stance, confused and fearful. The entire room stood still as tension rose with the electricity in the air. All she could understand was the hatred directed at her and the beast waiting to pounce at his owner's command. No matter how many times her brain tried to reboot itself and rethink the situation, it all came out to one conclusion, Trixie was really here, and had just demanded for someone called 'mistress.' 

"Trixie will only ask again once, where is Trixie's mistress?!" shouted the showmare to the frightened Twilight. No matter how much Trixie tried to contain it, her anger couldn't be helped. All she wanted to do was shoot Twilight with a bolt of lightening and be on her way. But that wouldn’t solve her problems of not knowing where Luna is.

"I-I-I..." stammered Twilight desperately as Trixie rushed towards her. What frightened the lavender mare even more was the Leo that followed the lazuli mare. The celestial beast barely fit through the door, but his stare continued to be glued to Twilight. "Tri-Trixie, who are you talking about? Wh-What are you doing here?" asked the lavender mare as she found herself stumbling backwards. Soon, she was back to back against a bookshelf, nowhere to go, nowhere to run.

"Stop being stupid, Twilight. Trixie wants to know where mistress is. Now answer Trixie!" sneered the showmare harshly. With a slight nod, her Leo approached Twilight growling and fangs bared. If Twilight didn't answer the lazuli mare correctly next time, the celestial beast's next meal was obvious.

"Ummmm, Tri-Trixie, honestly, I don't know who you are talking about. Please, stop this..." pleaded the Solar student. It didn't matter if Twilight knew who Trixie was talking about or not, the Leo was going to eat her either way. She hoped desperately that she had something, something to save her, something to distract the Leo and give her enough time to escape. The celestial beast's slow approached came to a standstill as a small voice came from her bedroom.

"Twilight, come quick! I think Luna is getting worse! Twilight, help!" shouted the draken  from upstairs. It was exactly what the lavender mare needed as Trixie gave her Leo the sign to stop his approach. 

"So, you have been torturing Trixie's mistress?!" concluded the showmare as she blinked into the bedroom. She heard a stiff scream from the purple draken but ignored him as she confronted the sickly Alicorn. Trixie's face contorted into horror and then anger. Only a short while later did Twilight blink into the bedroom as well and met the showmare face to face.

"Trixie, I won't let you hurt Luna. Leave now! Luna is sick and I am responsible for her well being. Get out now, I don't want you making this worse than it already is." said Twilight as she regained her confidence. She stood in front of Trixie, face to face, making a last stand for the Lunar Goddess.

"Move aside, Twilight. Trixie's mistress is sick, and Trixie needs to speak with her." said the showmare bitterly. No matter how deadly the stare she gave Twilight, she wasn't budging. "Move aside before Trixie makes you Twilight."

"Trixie, I don't care about whatever lies you are making up. Leave now, Luna is fatally sick and I don't have time to deal with you. GET OUT!" demanded Twilight as she lit her own horn ready for battle. Not too long later, Trixie did the same. It looked like she was going to enjoy battling Twilight, but she also saw something else beside lust in the showmare's eyes. She saw concern, actual concern and worry for Luna's well being.

"Twilight, move aside, now. Mistress needs Trixie's help." said the showmare angrily. She was about to light the lavender mare up with a fire spell, had a stir from the Lunar Alicorn not interrupted the mental battle between the two mares. Quickly pushing Twilight away with her magic, the lazuli mare rushed to her mistress' side. No matter what the lavender mare did to protest, Trixie wasn't going to leave her mistress' side at her darkest hour. A closer inspection confirmed the fears now swelling inside the showmare. Luna really was sick, and getting worse by the second. If it was possible for Luna to get any paler, it did. Instead of the powder blue color she had earlier, the Lunar Alicorn was now an azure mist, ghostly in sight, and it made Trixie's ever more guilty.

"Trixie knew she shouldn't have left you alone. Trixie goes away for a few hours and mistress is near death? Trixie won't allow it." spoke the showmare softly towards the weak Alicorn. She only got a stir in response, but Trixie knew the message got through. But something caught the showmare's attention. Something was lurking in the shadows, moving around the room, undetectable to the naked eye.

"Trixie, get away from Luna right now! Get away or I'll make you!" demanded Twilight. Her horn once again lit in a raspberry aura which quickly turned a pitch black. The Solar student wasn't going back on her threat again, if Trixie moved any closer to the Princess, the showmare was gonna get a mouthful of lightning.

"Shut the buck up, Twilight. Does Trixie look like she’s in the mood to you? No Trixie doesn't, now, why don't you get out? Mistress is Trixie's responsibility, not yours." she said as she continued to search the room for moving shadows. Only after shifting her vision into magic did the showmare finally realized the truth. A black translucent veil covered the Lunar Alicorn minor, putting her into a coma. Worry wrapped Trixie's mind as she saw the veil lined with hatred and jealousy, but once again her thoughts were interrupted by the Solar student.

Regaining some stature, Twilight aimed her horn at the showmare and began her final threat, "Trixie whatever you are doing, stop, and get the buck out now! I won't let you hurt Luna, now get the bu-"

"SHUT YOUR TRAP TWILIGHT. Trixie is tired of hearing you. Can't you see that Tri-" started Trixie before she was tackled to the ground. Twilight on top, had her horn inches away from Trixie's face and it was surged with power, waiting for Twilight's command to let loose.

"Get out Trixie. I won't tell you one more time. Get out bef-" threatened Twilight before everything turned upside down. The showmare had manage to grip her front hooves around the lavender mare's torso and rolled, pinning and putting her on the bottom. Now Trixie's horn lit up, not her usual grayish magenta, but a black cerulean. She was going to give Twilight a face full of dark magic, and she was going to enjoy it too.

"Trixie is tired of you Twilight. Trixie is tired of everything about you. Goodbye." murmured the showmare swiftly as her horn lit ablaze in a black. Twilight's own aura died out as fear gripped the mare. All thoughts of fighting back left her as death drew closer by the second.

"Tri-Trixie, pl-please, stop." mumbled the lavender mare as she struggled underneath the super-charged lazuli mare. Twilight looked frantically around the room for something, anything to stall Trixie so she could turn the tables around and calm the showmare down. The only thing she got was a terrified young draken staring back at her, like he was about to lose his only family.

"...my stu-student..." murmured the sick Alicorn under the sheets. It was enough to drive Trixie away as well as Twilight from their fray. Getting off the frightened Solar student, the lazuli mare rushed to her distressed mistress. Now without interruption, Trixie saw that Luna was feeding off of the black shroud. The dark blanket emitted faint traces of Lunar magic, enough to sustain the Lunar Alicorn, but not enough to keep her awake for long.

"Trixie has completed the first ten labors mistress. Trixie was going to do the eleventh, but Trixie felt something wrong. What happened mistress?" asked Trixie. All traces of anger for Twilight dispersed as Luna tried to form words with the limited energy she had left.

"...Tri-Trixie... d-don't hurt Twi-Twilight... She didn't know..." mumbled Luna as she caught her breath. The short words alone left the Lunar Alicorn drowsy, threatening to make her fall under slumber again. "...pro-promise me you won't hurt Twilight..."

Anger reignited inside the showmare at the mention of the Solar student. Her face contorted in hatred when her mistress spoke of no harm coming to the lavender mare. Trixie wanted nothing more than to choke Twilight slowly and painfully, as she watched the life leave the lavender mare. "But..." argued Trixie.

"...please...my student... for... me...." pleaded Luna. She was ready to accept death, to meet her make, but she had to make one last request, "...promise... me..."

All Trixie felt was absolute guilt. This could be her mistress' last breath, and she was wasting it, trying to tell the lazuli mare to do something she was supposed to do in the first place. No matter how much she hated Twilight, it wasn't worth it to see Luna do this to herself. "...Trixie...promise..." murmured the showmare silently.

"...thank you..." said Luna proudly. It was the last words the Lunar Alicorn spoke. Her breath shortened and her chest lowered. For a while, it was like the Lunar Alicorn had passed away. Trixie was at tears, but controlled them as Luna breathed another breath. She was again in slumber, the black veil once again blanketing her, putting her in a deep coma to slow down the sickness and give time. Time that Trixie had selfishly wasted fighting with Twilight.

"Trixie..." spoke Twilight as she realized the showmare was telling the truth. She didn't exactly know about their relationship with each other, but she was sure it held a tight grip over Trixie. If the showmare was willing to stop her attack and anger towards Twilight, it meant a great deal towards the lazuli mare.

“Go away Twilight... Trixie wants some time with mistress.” answered the showmare as she held the Lunar Alicorn tightly in her arms.

Twilight just obliged. She walked over to her frightened baby dragon and motioned him to the door. “Spike, calm down. It’s alright. Go downstairs for a while, I’m gonna talk with Trixie for a while, alright?” asked the lavender mare. The purple draken still looked frightened, but he still walked silently downstairs. A quick glance back to the showmare showed she was on the verge of tears.

“Trixie are you going to be alright?” asked Twilight. She knew the lazuli mare wanted to be left alone, but Trixie looked like she could use some comfort.

“Please Twilight... just leave... Trixie wants to be alone with mistress...” answered the showmare quietly. She no longer spoke with hatred and anger, just sadness. Even Twilight felt sorry for the showmare.

“Trixie, there is a cure.” reassured Twilight. The words kept ringing in Trixie’s ears as she realized there was a way to save her mistress. She let go the of the limp body while blanketing her again.

“What is the cure?” asked the showmare quickly. She turned to face Twilight, all she met was a concerned face that told her the truth was being spoken.

“I have all the ingredients for it, but I’m missing one.” answered the lavender mare as she picked up the herbal book to show the lazuli mare. “The cure requires a golden apple, I’m afraid. I don’t know where to find one though.”

“A golden apple?” returned Trixie surprised. It was the next labor on her list to be accomplished. Truth be told, she didn’t know where to find one either, and had returned to her mistress to ask for help.

“Yes, a golden apple. I don’t know if the cure is real or fake, but it’s the only one we have so far. I have read in books about the existence of them, but I have never read about where to find them.” answered Twilight as she closed the book and give a sigh.

“Trixie was about to search for one, but... she doesn’t know where to start.” admitted the showmare. Her pride didn’t matter if the life of her mistress wasn’t at stake.

“No one does. There have only been three known to exist. Two have been lost in time. Only one of them remains, but no one knows where it is.” answered Twilight. For once, even with her vast knowledge, she didn’t know something.

Another stir from the sickly Alicorn interrupted the two mares from their conversation. The black veil seeped into Luna’s coat instead of covering her and for once she opened her eyes. The Lunar Alicorn stared directly at her student, not with her tranquil cyan eyes, but they were turquoise and with slits like that of a basilisk. A ghostly black aura surrounded the blue one that used to cover her, but what’s worse was the pure hatred Luna now radiated. The Lunar Alicorn didn’t move her lips, but Trixie heard it loud and clear, a mental message from her teacher, “...the Apple of Discord...” echoed in the showmare’s head over and over. Once the message passed, the new eyes were covered once again as the Lunar Alicorn fell in slumber, while the shroud detached itself from the Lunar Alicorn and became a blanket again. Trixie didn’t know what had happened, but she now knew where to find a golden apple.

“Twilight, did you see that?” asked the showmare to confirm her suspicion. A look back to Twilight’s confused face told her that the lavender mare didn’t.

“What are you talking about, Trixie?” asked the lavender mare, oblivious to the transaction between the student and teacher.

“Nothing, what do you know about the Apple of Discord?” asked Trixie remembering her teacher’s words.

“Apple of Discord? Sorry, but I’ve never heard of it before. Why?” asked Twilight, still with a confused look written on her face.

“That’s what the last golden apple is called. And just from the name, it looks like Discord knows where it is.” answered Trixie.

The mention of the Draconequus brought back sour memories for the Element, enough to send anger through her body, but not enough to make her throw a fit about it. “How do you know this?” asked Twilight still puzzled on the subject.

“Mistress told Trixie.” answered Trixie. It was a confusing and bland answer, but it was the truth.

“Alright, you know what, I’ll ask later. We need to start packing, the sooner we find this apple, the sooner we can help Luna.” said Twilight as she made for the door.

“No, we, won’t. Trixie will go alone.” answered the showmare as she intercepted the Solar student.

“What? Trixie, we need to work together on this.” retorted Twilight as she was stopped at the door. Both mares faced each other, anger boiling between them again.

“Mistress is Trixie’s responsibility, not yours.” barked back the showmare harshly. Her horn lit again in a gray magenta, ready for battle once again, forgetting about the promise she made earlier.
“Trixie, again with your ego?! If you just let me help you, we can find the apple faster!” argued Twilight.

“Trixie has to do this alone Twilight. You have to understa-”

“NO TRIXIE! I don’t understand! You just had a heart to heart moment with Luna and now, I offer the chance to help you find the cure and you reject it because you want to do it alone.” shouted back Twilight angrily.

“Twilight ple-”

“SHUT THE BUCK UP TRIXIE! Shut up and listen to me! Luna is literally on her deathbed. Just let me bucking help you! For once, can’t you shut up that ego of yours?!” continued Twilight.

“Twilight. Trixie doesn’t care what you say, Trixie will still do th-”

“No you won’t Trixie. I’m tired of this ego of yours. For once can you think of anyone beside yourself?!” continued Twilight.

“Trixie is responsible for mistress, not you Twilight. Now, if you will excuse Tri-”

“No, I won’t Trixie. You are the most selfish person I know. You were probably on the streets when Luna found you.” interrupted Twilight again.

“Yes, Trixie was, bu-”

“This just proves you are the most selfish person out there. Luna took you in, clothed you, fed you, gave you shelter when everyone else just pushed you away. You were on the streets, Trixie. Luna gave you everything you ever asked for. She even made you her student! Do you know how hard I worked to be Celestia’s student? I worked and studied to the bone learning everything, while you just got the special treatment. You think this is fair?!” shouted Twilight with all her fury.

“Shut the bu-”

“No I will not you, bitch. Look at where you are! Everything you have belongs to Luna. Everything! You are a terrible student and friend! No, I won’t even give you the honor of calling you Luna’s friend. You don’t deserve it. You don’t deserve any of this! She gave you her trust! HER BUCKING TRUST! Do you even deserve that?! NO! You don’t deserve any of this.” scowled Twilight harshly. Rising a hoof in the air, she smacked Trixie across the face. Right on target as it left a red mark on the lazuli mare’s cheek. The impact emitted a sound that could be heard from all the way downstairs. Twilight didn’t care, but she saw anger burning deeply in the showmare’s eyes. Just pure hatred blackened them as the stare was returned once again to Twilight.

“Trixie made a promise to mistress...” muttered Trixie under her breath. The magical aura in her horn dissipated as the showmare remembered her teacher’s final breaths.

“A promise you are going to break no doubt. Luna wasted her final breath on you. You wouldn’t swallow your pride for anything or anyone. You don’t deserve to be her student let alone be the one she said her final words to!” said Twilight as she continued to rant on the showmare.

“Tri-”

“Don’t even try to justify yourself. Everything I said about you is true. Now will you just let me help you?!” questioned Twilight.

“No. Trixie has to do this alo-”

“Damn it Trixie! After everything I said about you, even after I gave you explicit reasons why, you still won’t let me help you?! WHY?!” shouted Twilight furious. 

“Trixie has her reasons. Trixie must do this alone, you cannot go Twilight.” said the showmare as she tried to contain her anger.

“REASONS?! More like selfishness! All you want is credit for being the one that saves Luna is that it?! FINE! You can have it! If you can’t even let go of your ego for something like saving Luna, you are worse than scum! You are worse than NIGHTMARE! At least with Nightmare we could banish her, but with you, we are stuck with you! Luna tried to make you better and her attempts were in vain it seems. After all you two have been through, you are still your old, egomaniacal and narcissistic self. Luna wasted her time on someone who will never learn the meaning of humility.” continued Twilight.

“Twilight please stop... Trixie doesn’t want to hea-”

“No Trixie. I have the right to! If I don’t say something now, you will never learn. Luna gave you everything she had, her home, her knowledge, even her magic, and did you do anything to help her?! What have you done that hasn’t benefited you in any way and has helped Luna?!” retorted Twilight.

“Twilight... just stop... please...” pleaded the showmare. Guilt was the only thing she felt. Every single thing the lavender mare said about her was true. Everything she said, but what hurt Trixie the most was being called a waste. Wasteful of Luna’s time, hospitality and most of all, her precious magic.

“You want me to stop?! Fine. Name one time, one time, when you did something for Luna without being asked to so and didn’t benefit you?! Just once, and I’ll stop.” promised the lavender mare.

Twilight just continued to stare at Trixie as her head fell and tears swell. All Trixie could do was stay silent, a silence that told Twilight enough about the showmare’s ego. “That’s what I thought. Not even once. You have got to be, no are, the most selfish mare in all of Equestria. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to pack my things.” said Twilight as she magic the door open.

“Y-you.... can’t.” muttered Trixie as she slammed the door shut with her own magic. She looked back at Twilight to see her filled with rage again.

“REALLY TRIXIE?! AFTER EVERYTHING I TOLD YOU?! WHY WON’T YOU LET GO OF YOUR PRIDE FOR ONCE?!” shouted Twilight in her own Canterlot voice. She didn’t know where she got one, but Twilight was glad she was using it on Trixie.

“Trixie... just can’t... I can’t let you go...” muttered the showmare as tears swell on her eyes.

“WHY NOT?” shouted Twilight angrily.

“Because if both of us go, there will be no one to watch mistress.” answered Trixie. All the tears she held back flowed freely down. The very thought of a world without mistress frightened the showmare. To hear that everything Luna did for Trixie was wasted rang true. “Your right. Everything I have done so far has been out has been just for me. Mistress took me in, clothed me, feed me, and put a roof over my head. She gave me everything I ever asked for, even a proper education. Mistress gave me what my family should have. That’s why I can’t let you go. If mistress dies, I will be alone again...” cried Trixie as she spoke her heart. She didn’t care if Twilight believed her or not, to speaking her mind, to tell the truth, it lifted a weight off Trixie’s shoulders.

“Trixie...” said Twilight as she realized she had ranted to the showmare for the wrong reasons. She even notice the lazuli mare no longer talked in the third person. “Trixie, I’m so sorry, I never realized you and Luna were like this. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be, you know nothing about me. I didn’t grow up with a loving family like you. I didn’t have a warm and happy home to live in. Why don’t you look at yourself and compare it with everyone else. You got the royal treatment your entire life! You were Celestia’s own personal student. You lived in the castle with hundreds of ponies waiting on you. You call me selfish? You were pampered, treated like Celestia’s own daughter. Do I need to continue?” questioned the crying mare harshly.

“Trixie, this isn’t about me or you. It’s about Luna. We are wasting time by arguing, time that Luna doesn’t have. We can kill each other later, but right now, Luna needs us. She is on her deathbed for Faust’s sakes. Do you really hate me that much that you are willing to let Luna die so you can finish our crusade? Please, Trixie, after this I promise we will finish things, but now isn’t the time. Luna is dying! Please!” argued Twilight.

“Fine I’ll kill you later, Twilight. Right now, I have a Draconequus to find.” said Trixie as she stormed out angrily, but only to be followed by Twilight right behind her.

“I’m going with you Trixie. Whether you like it or not. You will need my help, no arguments there. And no, there is nothing you can do to stop me.” said Twilight confidently as they both continued downstairs. Their fray had distracted the lavender mare from her young draken, which she told to go downstairs where the bloodstained Leo was. Rushing in front of the showmare, Twilight teleported herself into the kitchen.

Luckily for Spike, his adopted mother had showed up in time. The celestial beast was nearing pouncing position as he approached the draken. His coat was still red, but the dried blood only manage to make the Leo that much more ferocious looking. The thing Twilight did by teleporting was give the beast a bigger meal. It still approached nonetheless. It wasn’t until Trixie showed up that the lavender mare realized she was holding on to Spike for dear life, nearly suffocating him,

“Fidei, stand down. They shall not be made a meal of, yet. I promised my mistress that no harm shall come to you. I intend to keep that promise. Now if you excuse me, I have a golden apple to find.” said the showmare as she left for the front door.

“Trixie, wait. I’m coming with you!” said Twilight as she tried to catch up to the lazuli mare. The sudden movement only solicited a roar from the loyal Leo, frightening Twilight back into her corner with the draken.

“No you shall not. I thought I had made my reasons clear why you can’t.” answered Trixie as she continued on.

“Trixie please, Luna doesn’t have much time left! We have to work together on this one. If there is two of us to search for the apple, there will be a higher chance of finding it. You know I want to help Luna as much as you do!” argued the Solar student. “Spike can take care of Luna. Please, Trixie, let me come with you.”

The showmare couldn’t do anything more than just give a sigh. Not matter the threats she gave to the lavender mare, it didn’t seem to falter her decision in tagging along. “Fine, you may aid me. But mark my words, if you show any signs of slowing down, I will not hesitate to kill you and be on my way. If this labor requires a sacrifice, I will not hesitate to offer you up. Got it?” answered Trixie as she stopped at the door. “Well, are you coming or not?”

“Yes!” answered the lavender mare as she gathered her things. She stuffed her essentials into her saddle bags, books, writing material and elixirs for emergencies. As she quickly rushed to catch up to the showmare, the state of her young draken made its way into her mind. “Wait, what about Spike? The Leo won’t eat Spike, right?” asked Twilight, concerned that she would find her draken in a pile of bones when she returned.

“Fidei, guard my mistress. No one is to enter this house until my return. For now, warm mistress’ bed, she is cold right now.” ordered the showmare. The Leo compiled as he left the scared draken alone and headed upstairs. He barely fit through the small door, but still managed. “I expect you to feed my Fidei while we are gone.” said the showmare to Spike.

Still scared out of his wits, the purple dragon stumbled with his words, “Sure, leave me with a blood thirsty Leo for who knows how long. It’s not like he wants to eat me or anything...” complained Spike.

“Spike, don’t worry, I’ll be back soon. Maybe a few hours, tops. Just hang tight until then, ok? And if Princess Luna wakes up, give her some of that soup of yours, I’m sure she will enjoy it. Don’t forget to replace the rag every few minutes. If things go our way, you won’t even notice I’m gone.” reassured Twilight. “C’ya, Spike.”

“Come back alive, Twilight. I don’t think I can run the library without you.” joked the draken.

“Don’t worry Spike, I will. I just hope we can make it back in time.” returned the Solar student. Both her and the showmare disappeared behind the door and into the wild storm outside, leaving the draken to himself.

“Please come back Twi, if anyone can save Princess Luna, it’s you.”

Author’s note: Well, that was interesting to say the least. You know what? Just to screw with you guys, I’ll add an Alternate Universe and Dark tag. Maybe Luna will die, or she might not. Who knows? Certainly not my editor, that’s who.  Or I could just add a sad tag, as my editor recommended. Everything bad that has happened so far, has been ideas I have gotten from her. So everyone, let’s give TwiLunaLover a round of applause.
P.S: I forgot this last time, but better late than never. I want you guys to rethink Discord’s riddle. Now with a new variable added to the equation, things are sure to turn out differently. 

Editor’s note: He lies, LIES I SAY! This was not my fault, I wash my hands of the blame. Derpy, I hate you (not really(yes really)). Also, He will not Kill Luna. THATS RIGHT! I spilled the beans, he won’t do it I tell you. That be payback for the Authors note. This was the EXACT exchange between us:

DerpyMuffins15:So what do you think I should do with Trixie then?
me: She needs Luna to live. I'm not just saying that because I want it, it would damage HER character quite a bit.
DerpyMuffins15: Yes it would
me: exactly
DerpyMuffins15: If Luna dies, Trixie will think it was all her fault
me: and therefore destroy her emotionally
DerpyMuffins15: Cause and effect, things goes bad
Trixie is already unstable as is
me: that's what I've been saying all along
so does this mean I win twice?
DerpyMuffins15: No, it means you made a point
me: a VALID point

I know its not much... but it’s something that gives hope at least.
> Apple
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Silence, just awkward, stoic, continuous silence. The two soaked mares walked in the blinding rainstorm, with nothing but the fur on their backs, or at least one of them is. Twilight looked at the cozy mare beside her to find that the black veil was back on, it had magically repaired itself, and covered her bloodstained coat. Twilight on the other hoof, wasn’t so lucky, as her coat darkened to the same shade as her eyes, a crystal amethyst. The showmare remained warm and dry under her phantom shroud whilst Twilight wished she packed an umbrella. ‘Mental note, remember to bring an umbrella during a thunderstorm.’

“Trixie, we aren’t gonna walk all the way to Canterlot are we? It’s over several hundred miles away, the train stations are closed and teleporting in this kind of storm is suicidal.” warned the Solar student. 

“Don’t you think I know that? Of course we aren’t going to walk there, I’m just looking for the eye.” answer the showmare as she looked to the skies. All anyone could see was pitch black when the clouds covered the light that would have shined through, but for Trixie, this was an easy task. Where the old Royal Castle used to stand, a lazy beam of moonlight shined on the grim ruins. If traveling to the middle of the Everfree Forest was difficult before, it would now be impossible with the gale force winds that blew.

“Are you kidding me?! Why would you try looking for the eye?!” asked the amethyst mare loudly just so her voice can be heard through the storm. She looked towards the direction the showmare faced and was appalled with fear. “You’re not considering going into the Everfree at night, in a storm, as we are running out of time?!”

“Indeed I do. In the eye, I shall gather enough lightning for a transportation spell.” answered the showmare calmly.

“LIGHTNING?! Are you out of your mind?!” screamed the amethyst mare as they both neared the forbidden forest. If it was possible, the lightning storm manage to make the dark shadows even eerier. The trees swayed back and forth from the blinding winds, threatening to topple over if the storm got any worse.

“It is the fastest way to travel during a thunderstorm. Any magic I use to transporting us through the charged pathways will atomize us. There will be too much interference for a normal teleportation spell, but this is the next best thing.” answered the showmare as she entered the Everfree followed shortly by the Solar student.

“I know we don’t have much time, but to travel by the method of lightning, that’s kind of extreme Trixie. We may lose particles of ourselves by doing that! The theories on lightning travel are still theoretical! Not only could we lose part of bodies, but our brainwaves can be directly affect by the amount of electricity in our bodies. Our nervous systems run on electrical impulses, Trixie, if we get fried with this spell, it won’t just kill.” reputed the amethyst mare.

“Can’t you see that I am a desperate mare?! My mistress doesn’t have long! If I get fried in the process, so be it. As long as there is a slim chance I can make it back to Canterlot, I’ll take that chance.” answered the showmare.

Not just a few seconds later, a branch snapped from a large oak tree. The broken limb was thrown like a ragdoll towards the two blinded mares, Trixie being in front. It wasn’t her magic that saved the showmare, but the magic from amethyst mare beside her.  A bright fuchsia aura formed into a blade and sliced the log, splitting it in two as it tumbled to the ground. Trixie may have been more powerful than Twilight, or at least her equal, but her reaction time wasn’t at par with the amethyst mare, which just added to the anger swelling inside of her.

“Why did you do that? I could have saved myself.” questioned the showmare as she magiced the fallen logs in a different direction and continued on.

“A ‘thank you, Twilight’, would suffice.” retorted the amethyst mare. “You know what, just forget about it, I would expect you to kill me before you thanked me.”

“Finally, something we can agree on.” said the showmare as they neared a stream. It overflowed onto the land, turning the dirt into mud which slowed both mares to a stand still. The lazuli mare stopped dead in her tracks at the sight in front of her. A patch of dirt looked more overflowed than the rest. The amethyst mare didn’t see the sudden stop and bumped head to flank with Trixie.

“Trixie, why are we stopping? You know Luna doesn’t have much time. Come on, we have to keep going.” said the Solar student. Taking the lead, she sidestepped the lazuli mare and walked into the strange mud. Before she knew it, the showmare grew several inches as the lavender mare got shorter and shorter.

“I stopped because there was quicksand in the way.” answered the lazuli mare. She walked around the sandy trap and faced the rushing river.

“Thanks for the warning Trixie, greatly appreciated.” said the amethyst mare as she blinked herself out. Her once clean hooves were covered in mud and sand, slowing her down every step she took. “Well, atleast we are near a river. I can wash my hooves then.” She took a step forward before the showmare’s voice, silent and serious, warned her.

“Twilight, don’t move a muscle. There is something in the water and it’s moving.” said the lazuli mare as she continued to scan the rushing waters for any other signs of danger.

“That’s probably just Steve Magnet. My friends and I found him during our first trip to the old ruins.  He is a nice fellow, couldn’t hurt a fly. Heck, he might break a nail, so I doubt he would even consider swatting a fly.” answered the amethyst mare as she continued to approach the river. She delicately washed her hooves in the cold water, first front, then back, until she did notice something in the water. Something that wasn’t purple, and didn’t have a great head of hair with a mustache.

“Twilight, move back slowly. That isn’t a water serpent, there is a Cetus in the waters. No sudden movements.” warned the showmare silently. Her words were barely audible in the gale force winds, but thankfully had reached the Solar student just in time. Every muscle in the amethyst mares body stiffened as Twilight stood on edge. Moving each of her hooves gently backwards, she retraced her steps towards the cautious showmare. Her stormy grayish violet eyes never left the river, watching delicately for the water serpent in case it made a move.

“Thanks Trixie.” said Twilight as she looked back into the river. “How can you know there is something in there?”

“Lunar magic.” explained the lazuli mare as she lit her horn again. In a flash a bright, cold, arcane beam hit the rushing waters until everything was at a stand still. The entire river froze over, even the mouth of it froze. But just from the looks of it, only the surface was affected by the powerful magic. The lazuli mare stepped forth and set a steady hoof on the thin ice. It creaked and cracked, but it held her weight. “Twilight, how much do you weigh?” said the showmare as she did calculations in her head.

“The ice will hold both our weights. From the looks of it, it’s about three inches thick. When did you learn an ice spell?” asked the Solar student. Not even she had mastered elemental magic yet, and it seemed the showmare learned to do it overnight.

“I didn’t. Now let’s cross. This ice may be safe, but there are still things lurking about.” said the lazuli mare as she scanned the treeline for shadows and wandering eyes.

“I hope you know what you are doing Trixie. If one of us gets hu-”

“If you get hurt, don’t expect me to stay behind and help you. My mistress is more important to me than some pampered Canterlot nymphomaniac.” bashed the showmare harshly. She didn’t look back, but Trixie could feel anguish within the amethyst mare.

“Look Trixie... I’m sorry for shouting at you back there, some of the things I said were pretty harsh. I don’t know what came over me. I just felt that you were to blame for everything. All I could feel was anger towards you for being so selfish. But I guess I shouldn’t be talking. Some of the things I said about you, even if they were kind of true, were really mean. You are who you are because you boast so much, I can’t change that in one argument. I can’t make you change just because I don’t like the way you do things. Yes, we grew up differently, were raised differently, and were taught different things, but that doesn’t mean we can’t get along. Really Trixie, why do you hate me so much?” asked Twilight. In all truth, if she could find out why, maybe this trip wouldn’t be so bad.

“I hate you because you are you.” answered the showmare coldly. She just continued on, leaving the confused Solar student with a sour face.

“You hate me because I’m me?” repeated Twilight just to make sure she heard it right.

“Did I stutter or are you deaf?” retorted the showmare.

Anger boiled again in Twilight’s veins, but it soon softened to a slight annoyance. ‘Trixie is just being Trixie, Twilight. You can’t get mad at her for being herself.’ thought the amethyst mare as she made solid reasons in her head to contradict the lazuli mare. “Trixie, you hate me for just being me? Is it a specific part of me that you hate or do you just hate me as a whole?” question the Solar student as she decided to take the scientific approach.

“I hate you because you are you. I thought I had made this clear.” answered the lazuli mare as she continued onward to the ruins of the castle.

“Would you mind being a little more specific?” asked Twilight as she examined every aspect of herself. Everything from her obsessive-compulsive disorder to everyday life. Everything she was, Trixie wasn’t. Whilst Twilight had a loving family and friends, the showmare had..... Well, Twilight didn’t know. For once, she had lost an argument. She accused the lazuli mare of selfishness when in truth she was, but Twilight didn’t even let Trixie voice her side of story. Now that the Solar student looked back, all she did while inside the same room with the showmare was shout and rant at her with accusations. ‘Great, I committed a fallacy, and one of the worst too, a hasty generalization. Princess Celestia will be so disappointed.’ mused the Solar student as she reanalyze the the hateful exchange.

“How many times must I repeat myself? Do I need to spell it out for you Twilight? I hate you with every fiber of my being and it is a fact that isn’t going to change anytime soon. If I had a choice between living with you and banishment to the moon for the rest of time, I’d choose the moon. At least then I would be thousands of miles away from you.” sneered the showmare darkly. If she actually knew the right spell to banish ponies, she would use it right now.

“Trixie, at this rate, we will never work together long enough to retrieve that golden apple. An apple from Discord, living chaos. Tell me the truth Trixie, why do you really hate me?” asked Twilight once again.

The showmare just gave a sigh and continued on. She made a mental list of things she despised about the Solar student and read it out loud. “1. I hate you because you are the most uptight pony out there.”

“I am not up-”

“2. No one likes a showoff.”

“WH-”

“3. You’re Celestia’s personal student and went to her school with a full scholarship.”

“What does that ha-”

“4. Your rich.”

“Huh?”

“5. You’re Twilight Sparkle.” answered the showmare as she read her top most five important reasons.

“Trixie, that has got to be the worst five reasons to hate me I have ever heard!” retorted the Solar student angrily. “Not only are they ridiculous, but they give no solid evidence as to why you should hate me! If you gave a valid synopsis about my faults and in an orderly manner, I would have agreed with you. But none of your reasonings make sense.”

“They are the only reasons why you are ever hated.” sneered the showmare back harshly. If Twilight didn’t understand that reasoning then this conversation was just going to be a waste of time for the lazuli mare.

“Sorry Trixie, but I lost you. Either we are having two different conversations or you are talking to someone else. Honestly Trixie, there has to be a larger reason why you hate me.” concluded Twilight. Not only were the reasons faulty in logic, but she had no idea how they could lead to the showmare hating her so much.

“When has anyone ever hated the great Twilight Sparkle?” scowled the showmare vulgarly. “Have you ever stopped to think that there are ponies less fortunate than you? No, of course not, you were too busy being pampered in the Royal Castle, smothered and warmly wrapped around that fat harlot like you were her whore, but I guess, like teacher, like student.” 

“Don’t you dare bring Princess Celestia into this! And her name is Princess Celestia, she is your matriarch and she will be addressed with respect.” rebutted Twilight. “Your hate is with me, not her. And what do you mean no one has hated me?”

“Oh stop acting all innocent Twilight, or should I say ignorant. If that fakie of a Princess you call Celestia even bothered to look after her people, then tell me, why is the unemployment rate the highest within the very capital? Has the fake ever lifted a hoof or gotten off her fat ass to help the starving or the homeless? Did you know she passed a bill to cut the medical spending? Yea, the best Princess in the word is so caring that she decided to raise taxes so that the poor get poorer and the fat get fatter.” insulted Trixie.

“Shut up! I won’t let you speak about Princess Celestia like that!” retorted Twilight angrily as she rushed in front of the lazuli mare. All she saw was amusement from the showmare and a wide smirk on her face that made Twilight just lose it. She slapped the lazuli mare once again, just as hard, and wasn’t intending to apologize this time.

Smack

“I should have known you couldn’t keep your emotions in check. Looks like the great and perfect Twilight Sparkle has a fault.” insulted Trixie as she continue to use her mocking tone towards the angry amethyst mare.

“Shut up!” shouted Twilight as she slapped the showmare again. It only brought amusement to the showmare as Twilight continue to use the mare’s face as a place to let her anger out. She kept at it until her hoof was sore, until it started bleeding, showing bare bone against bloody skin and fur. No matter how many times she hit the showmare, it was all in vain. Even if she kept at it, her release of anger wouldn’t do anything but bring the showmare enjoyment to know that she had successfully broken Twilight. The amethyst mare fell forward exhausted by her burst of frustration. “Shut...up” mumbled the broken mare as she fell to her knees. Her injured hoof wouldn’t let her stand, which meant, she was going to be left behind, in the cold and blinding winds.

“I told you, I hate you because you are you. I hate you because you don’t see the bigger picture, you just see the one that Celestia paints for you. You would know this if you grew up like I did. If you grew up on the streets, fighting everyday for your next meal and your life, you would know that everything isn’t always rainbows and sunshine. You had an education, the best, from the very being that raises the sun every morning. Do you know how I learn math? I had to count every single day I went without food in my stomach, the numbers of scars and bruises I had, and how many fights I could go through before I would finally die. Where were you? Oh right, learning from a book, in a warm and safe home. Need I continue?” asked the showmare as she magiced the injured amethyst mare onto her back. Twilight struggled at first, thinking the lazuli mare was going to hurt her, but stop as she was rested safely on Trixie’s back, wrapped around the warm shroud and shielded from the cold storm.

“I thought you said you were going to leave me behind?” asked the Solar student. “Not that I’m ungrateful, but why?”

“I made a promise to mistress.” answered Trixie stoically. Nothing more was said. The showmare really was intending on keeping her promise to Luna. If the Lunar Alicorn’s words alone were enough to make someone like Trixie help her most hated foe, there could be hope yet.

“You promised Luna you wouldn’t hurt me.” corrected the amethyst mare. She didn’t know why, but she wanted to see what the showmare’s reaction would have been.

“Protect, not hurt. Same difference. Mistress has expectations for me and I intend to keep her proud.” answered the showmare as she neared the eye. 

The ruins of the old Royal Castle stood gloomily in the background, shadows all around, none of them showing a welcoming sign. Trixie looked up into the skies, a giant hole was hanging lazily above with electricity all around. Lighting her horn once more, arcane magic surged through it as a bolt of lightning struck the lazuli mare, and returned back to the skies.

All thoughts left Twilight as her body turned into living energy, one with the lightning, meat and flesh gone, replaced when she was atomized. No only did she feel vertigo, but a pounding headache that drummed her indolent mind repeatedly. She tasted sound and smelled chard fur. One moment she was in the ruins of an old castle, the next the Royal Gardens, where the statue of the Draconequus stood. The amethyst mare felt feeling in her body again as Trixie closed the gap between them and the former King.

Even stoned, Twilight couldn’t help but feel a sense of terror wash over her. If the Draconequus had been more serious about taking over Equestria, he would have succeeded. All the Elements were turned, chaos spread, and there was no one left to stand in this way. If things had turned out differently, Twilight wouldn’t be here right now, staring back at his chiseled figure.

“So, this is the famous Discord mistress keeps telling me about. He doesn’t look so tough.” said the showmare as she examine the statue.

“Trixie, don’t underestimate him. He won, even if it was a short lived victory. Chaos is the most dangerous form of magic out there, Princess Luna would have definitely taught you that.” corrected Twilight once again.

“Well then if he is so all powerful and barbaric as everypony says he is, then why doesn't he come out right now and punch me in the face.” said the lazuli mare as she adjusted her eyes. 


Every vision she knew about flashed before her eyes, each time revealing a lonely statue. It wasn’t until her last vision did she notice something out of place. Her eyes lit ablaze with Lunar magic, and she looked at the world for the first time in the astral plane. What stared back at her smugly was the last thing she expected. His voice was stone cold and evil down to it’s very core. The King of Chaos stood cooly against his stoned self, smiling crazily at the showmare.

“About time someone beside Queeny decided to visit me. I was getting bored.” spoke the Draconequus cocily. 

Trixie found out she didn’t like Discord, not one bit. Where she sometimes boasted about herself, the Draconequus just sounded like a jerk that would do cruel things to his friends for a quick laugh. “Why don’t you show yourself to everyone here. I’m sure Twilight will be glad to see you.” answered the showmare as she released the magic.

A scream screeched loudly in Trixie’s highly sensitive ears, as the mare on her back bellowed her lungs out. The only thing that stopped her frights was the black veil that blanketed her.“Twilight, calm yourself. Don’t you know it’s rude to scream at the sight of your guest?” asked the Draconequus softly. He was just as the lavender mare had remembered him, cocky and uncaring to everything around him.

“Discord?! What are you doing here?!” screamed the Solar student. She would have gotten up and ran if Trixie’s shroud not hold onto her with a deathly grip.

“I’m not here, Twilight. I’m over there.” said Discord as he pointed to his statue. “You stoned me remember? So what brings you here?”

“I want your apple.” answered the showmare bluntly. She didn’t know why, but the Draconequus suddenly burst into laughter. Realizing her fault the lazuli mare facehoofed. “Get your mind out of the gutter Discord.” warned the lazuli mare.

“HAHAHA-”

“I don’t get it.” answered Twilight truthfully. She really didn’t get it at all. “All Trixie asked for was your apple.”

“Haha! That’s what I like about you Twilight Sparkle, innocent till the end!” laughed the Draconequus crazily. A single tear dripped from his red beastly eyes, which was wiped away with a talon.

“Twilight, just shut up and let me do the talking. Discord, I want your golden apple.” clarified the showmare.

“Celestia has a golden apple tree, why don’t you just go ask her for one?” asked Discord as he continued to laugh. 

“That tree hasn’t bearded fruit in centuries.” answered Twilight. “And how do you have a body?!” said the lavender mare anxiously. 

“Magic.” answered Discord blankly. His amusement continued to grow as Twilight’s face contorted with frustration.

“Would you mind being a little bit more specific? Chaos magic is meant to destroy and disharmonize, not give you a new body.” returned Twilight. She had read over a dozen books on the Draconequus after their encounter and found very little about him and the kind of magic he commands. This would be an excellent chance to learn if she can keep the ex-king talking.

“Chaos, is constant change, and it is used for more than just destruction and disharmony, for example, the chaos of love. It’s a mushy kind of chaos, but still chaos nonetheless. You saw how the wedding ended didn’t you? Death and destruction all around and just because of a simple love spell.” answered the Draconequus.

Twilight just sat on the showmare’s back, magicked out a notepad and took notes. Joyful learning for the Solar student, annoyance for the lazuli mare. “Alright, what are the other kinds of chaos magic?” question the lavender mare as she finished her first set of notes.

“Believe it or not, chaos and dark magic have nothing in common. I have no idea where the notion of it came from, but dark magic is for that Lunar Alicorn. If you have ever studied the Dark Ages, it was a few decades before Moony’s banishment. Not only did she spread the knowledge of dark magic, but revolutionized it. Every aspect was re-examined and tested for proper use, and then heightened, or should I say, defiled. Moony altered over a hundred spells to fit her darkness and created over a thousand new ones to inspire fear and despair, to remind everyone that she is in control of the night. A shadow just wasn’t a shadow anymore after Nightmare got involved. She created the first methods of shadow traveling to resurrection of the dead. Not fully living, but not dead either, mindless beings to do her bidding. Unfortunately, like all things, the form of magic was lost and died with time.” lectured Discord.

“So, if Lunar magic is the backbone of all forms of dark magic and if chaos magic has nothing in common, then Nightmare Moon was the true founder of the Dark Arts. With Princess Celestia being the bipolar of Nightmare, when those two collided, Lunar and Solar magic bounced off each other. Well, if that is true then based on this theory, Solarmagic should have the exact opposite effects on objects that Lunar magic does, like fire and ice. One of them cannot affect the other directly, but they must require the existence of the other to survive. And to continue on that, chaos magic should be the extremes of both Lunar and Solar.” concluded Twilight. “But in some cases, when these two form of magic meet, there may be negative results or positive depending on the varia-”

“TWILIGHT! Mistress is dying and you are discussing fundamental analogy with a barbaric?!” reminded the showmare.

“Oh, right!” answered Twilight as guilt washed over her again. She just wasted about a good ten minutes just taking notes, minutes that Luna really couldn’t spare. “How could I be so stupid?! You are just stalling us aren’t you?”

“Bravo, Twilight Sparkle, bravo.” answered Discord as she gave her an applause. “Took you long enough to realize it though. You may be a mare beyond your years, but anyone can give a lecture and you won’t even know your own name. Quite a weakness, that can easily be exploited.” answered the Draconequus.

“Hey now, it’s not my fault, really. It’s just that I sometimes I get caught up in my studies with Princess Celestia that it grew into a ha- HEY! You’re doing it again!” whined the Solar student.

“Am I?” asked Discord innocently.

“Yes, you are. Now stop!” answered Twilight angrily. “Where is the golden apple? No tricks Discord, we don’t have time for you to waste.”

“Fine, fine, you want it? Then you shall have to play a game.” answered Discord happily.

“We don’t have time for a game!” retorted the showmare furiously. “Mark my words Discord, if anything happens to my mistress, you are the second one I’m going after.”

“Second? I am quite offended by that. Who’s the first?” asked Discord curiously.

“Me.” answered the lavender mare blandly. “No tricks Discord. If we play this game of yours, you’ll give us the golden apple?” asked Twilight.

“I won’t give you the apple, but I’ll tell you where to find it. It is very close to here so you won’t even have to run.” answered the Draconequus. “I want to play a game Twilight Sparkle, you as well Trixie Lulamoon.”

“It was made quite obvious.” interrupted the showmare. All she got was a hoof in the ribs by the mare on top of her. “Enough with the sarcasm, Trixie, we don’t have time to waste.” reminded Twilight.

“Shall I continue?” asked the Draconequus patiently. Slight nods from both mares gave Discord the sign, “All of your life, Twilight Sparkle, you have lived in the sunshine of your teacher, Celestia. You on the other hand, Trixie Lulamoon, have been through quite the opposite, same as your own mentor, Luna.”

“What does this ha-” another jab from Twilight told the showmare to shut up for once and listen.

“As I was saying, you two are the opposite in everything, all but magic. So you both shall have to go through a trial by magic.” challenged the Draconequus.

“Magic? Pffff, I will have it done easily, Discord. Your games are as stupid as your face.” insulted the showmare. All she got in return was another hoof to the ribs from the lavender mare.

“What kind of trial?” asked Twilight concerned about what sick, twist, trial awaited for both mares. “How do we know you aren’t just lying to us about the apple for a quick laugh?” said the Solar student, realizing a fault in the Draconequus’ reasoning. 

“Do we have much of a choice in this matter Twilight?” reminded the showmare. Truth or not, the mares were going to try the challenge regardless if Discord was telling the truth or not.

“The task is quite simple. All I ask from both of you is easily obtainable and within reason, but you shall need to steal it.” explained the Draconequus. “However, during this trial, you are not allowed to use any magic, whatsoever. If I catch one of you using magic, or attempting to use magic, you will never find the golden apple.” warned Discord.

“You call this the trial of magic and we aren’t even allowed to use magic at all? Not only is that the stupidest name for a challenge but it is also redundant in every which way possible.” complained the showmare. Another hoof came and so did her annoyance. “Will you stop doing that?!”

“We accept your terms Discord. What are we ste- I mean borrowing?” asked Twilight. She wasn’t going to steal anything, the best, borrowing without asking and returning it later.

“You must steal a kiss from Princess Celestia and return it, like your love for her.”

Author’s note: I was totally gonna leave you off right there. But no, the next chapter will be up as well. DerpyMuffins signing off, for now.

Editor’s note: Do you people even read these things? I feel like I could write just about anything here and nobody would notice. Watch: Monkeys like bananas flying purple hippopotamus in a top hat. Abraham Lincoln stormed the beaches of Normandy in a tuxedo. Point and case. Incase you are reading this, that was a sweet cliphanger wasn’t it. Really well done. Can’t wait to see what happens next! TwiLunaLover out!
> Dr. Spike
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twilight never felt more embarrassed in her life. If her blush was anything to go on, the lavender mare had suddenly turn into a crimson rose. It really wasn’t the embarrassment that worried the Solar student, but what her teacher would think of her had the alabaster Alicorn heard Discord’s request. All logical thought left her mind for some strange reason, to only be replaced with emotional ones. The thought of kissing her mentor left the lavender mare with a sudden heat swelling inside her. If just thinking about kissing Princess Celestia was putting Twilight through so much troubles, then the actual kiss would render her senseless. “Wh-wh-what?!” babbled the rosey mare intelligently. All she could do was stutter the same words over and over as the amusement on Discord’s face grew ever greater.

“What’s the matter Twilight Sparkle? Never kiss anyone before? There is also a condition with this trial. You must get the kiss without telling her that I put you up to it.” spoke the Draconequus seductively. “I’m quite sure you and her snuggled with each other on more than just one occasion. You did warm her bed for quite a while when you were younger and still are if I may be so bold.”

“Wh-wh-what?!” repeated Twilight once again. It was like her mind shut down and wouldn’t restart no matter how desperate the mare tried. Trixie however, found no amusement in the Draconequus’ request.

“You want us to steal a kiss from Celestia? That has got to be the stupidest idea I have ever heard! Who would want to kiss someone so fat?!” said the showmare angrily. Another hoof to the ribs told her to shut up the insults about Twilight’s favorite princess.

“Accept the challenge or leave, your choice. Just remember, that cure you are working for, it takes several hours to make. The sooner you complete the task, the sooner I will tell you where to find the golden apple.” retorted Discord stoically. “Also a warning, Celestia doesn’t take rejection well. Take me for example.”

“What are you babbling on about now?!” questioned Trixie angrily. 

“A story for another time. I was just giving some helping advice to Twilight. I know your heart’s desire Miss Sparkle, and I got to say, this will be an interesting turn of events that has yet to come. I wish you good luck with your endeavors, however, Celestia may seem kind on the outside, but inside she is a troubled mare. Should you calm the fire that burns within her, you might have a chance.” answered Discord happily. Before both mares knew what else to say, the ex-king return to his prison, leaving the showmare with unfathomable anger.

“That’s it?! After traveling here all the way from Loserville, I have to kiss a fatty for a golden apple that may or may not exist?!” shouted the showmare angrily. All she got in response was another hoof to her ribs, which had grown into far too much of an annoyance for her to bear. Lighting her horn in arcane magic, the magenta aura healed the crimson rose mare on top of her. Shifting her weight, she tossed the Solar student off her back to the ground.

“Ow- Trixie, that hurts.” said Twilight as she spoke in complete sentences for the first time. Her healed hoof rubbed her injured flank which throbbed from the bruise it had. Even with a distraction on her mind, she couldn’t help but keep the unbearable blush on her face.

“Come on, let’s get this over with. The sooner I get this kiss over, the sooner I can get back to mistress.” retorted the showmare as she raced towards the castle. In a single flash, all she saw was lavender. The Solar student had blinked on top of Trixie to stop her advance on the princess. “What are you doing Twilight?! My mistress doesn’t have time for you to be messing around!”

“You can’t!” answered Twilight as she untangled herself from the lazuli mare. She could still feel heat coursing through her body, but she had at least manage to somewhat contain the blush on her face.

“I can’t what?!” shouted Trixie. She got back on her hooves once again before being dragged down by the lavender mare next to her. “Let me go Twilight!”

“You can’t kiss Celestia!” answered Twilight bluntly. “I mean... it’s just that... you can’t” 
Trixie just stared back at the lavender mare with interest more than anything else. If the showmare knew anything was going on, she didn’t show it. Her expression remained a monotone, while her mind racked up an explanation for the strange behavior. “Tell me why I can’t just bust through the doors to her royal fatty’s room and tell her to pucker up?” asked the showmare with some mild amusement. She kept her stormy violet eyes on the lavender mare, all she saw was lust and love, not for something, but for someone.

“Stop calling Princess Celestia fat! She is a graceful and kind pony that has done nothing but help all of ponykind. She shows humility and pure virtue to everyone around her, even to ponies who don’t even deserve her time of day. Don’t even think about throwing another insult about Princess Celestia, Trixie. If you do, I won’t mind shutting you up myself.” scowled Twilight angrily at the showmare. The Solar student would never lose her temper or threaten anypony before, but something about seeing Princess Celestia being talked about like that just made her blood boil.

“Fine, I’ll stop with the names and insults. That doesn’t solve our problem, however.” reminded the showmare. The quick reminder of the trial made Twilight glow a bright crimson rose again. Not only did it bring humor to the lazuli mare, but something that she could exploit later on, should she want to.

“Just... let me handle things. I’m Princess Celestia’s student. I will be held responsible for anything that happens to her. This may complicate things between us for a while, but she will understand after we get the cure to Princess Luna. I just hope she can forgive me for now.” answered the lavender mare as she lead the other mare to her mentor’s chambers. Even at night, all the art and personal decoration were lit properly so that anyone that passed by may enjoy the Princess’ taste in the olden culture. Both mares walked in silence until the showmare couldn’t help her curiosity anymore.

“What did Discord mean when he knew your heart’s desire?” asked the lazuli mare as they neared the Solar Goddess’ private attires. Anger for the alabaster Alicorn rose inside the showmare as she witnessed the holy grail that was the immaculate, golden, ivory door that lead into the Princess’ sleeping quarters. “You spend tax dollars on a door?” shouted the showmare angrily. All she got in return was another hoof to the ribs and a shush from the Solar student.

“Princess Celestia is probably sleeping Trixie, please keep your voice down. You stay here and wait for me... I’ll talk to Princess Celestia.” said Twilight as she tried to hide her different shades of lavender and crimson. A gentle hoof was raised to the white door before a gentle voice stopped her.

“You’re supposed to be with my sister, Twilight.” answered a voice from inside the room. The Solar Goddess didn’t sound angry, not at all, just worried. At least she did to the lavender mare. 

“Sorry for intruding like this Princess... but I kind of have to get something for Princess Luna. Don’t worry, I have Spike watching her right now.” lied Twilight. ‘It’s not a complete lie, I’m just not telling her the whole truth.’ mused the Solar student as she gather her courage. “May I come in Princess?”

“Of course Twilight, you are always welcome here.” answered the alabaster Alicorn.

Twilight took the invitation and unlocked the sealed doors. They were still locked with the same enchantments that the lavender mare learned to undo during her first night at the castle. It didn’t take much, but the complicated lock would only open easily for anyone who had opened it before. The first sight Twilight got was her mentor sitting comfortably on glistening white sheets that complimented her natural coat. The soft, comforting eyes of the matriarch flew towards the moving mare, distracted from her nighttime read, as she trotted closer to her mentor. It only took a single look, but the Solar Goddess sensed something off with her protégé.

“My most faithful student, what is troubling you?” asked Celestia softly. Another examination of the lavender mare showed that Twilight had been blushing about something embarrassing. 

“Princess, there is something I have to do for Princess Luna... but I’m worried it might affect how you view me.” answered the nervous lavender mare. ‘Well, it’s the truth to an extent at least. I just hope she can forgive me.’ mused Twilight as she contemplated what to do next.

“Did my sister put you up to something Twilight? Whatever it may be, I am certain that it won’t change things between us my most faithful student. Anything that Luna can think up to prank me is harmless in itself.” answered Celestia as she closed her book. She got up from the warm bed and meet her student halfway. She stared directly at Twilight, who had been sweating profusely the moment she entered Celestia’s room. “What exactly did my sister ask you to do Twilight?”

The lavender mare’s heart was beating rapidly, threatening to pop out of her chest any moment. Her breathing lengthened into hyperventilation as her vision dulled into glossy shapes. All Twilight could do to keep conscious was stare directly back at her target. Then she made up her mind. All thought left Twilight’s body as she looked back into Celestia’s eyes, how caring they were and what they meant to the lavender mare emotionally. The tall alabaster Alicorn stood just across from her protégé, face to face, barely inches away from each other. If they were any closer, Twilight could almost hear the calm heartbeat of her mentor. Their faces closed the distance within seconds, barely within whispering distance, but it was enough for the lavender mare to voice her final thoughts.

“Princess, please... forgive me.” murmured the lavender mare gently. Before she would let the Goddess react, their lips met. Twilight’s lips felt comforted on Celestia’s own, being smoothed beyond possible. Her breath was caught inside her when her protégé surprised her, which just added to the confusion. To Twilight, it was the most blissful thing in the world, nothing else mattered as long as she had Celestia’s sweet lips to herself everyday. The gentle nip turned lustful not after just a second, as Twilight moaned softly into the Goddess’ mouth. Never trying before, but that did halt the lavender mare’s efforts as she pushed her tough forth, to taste the wonderful thing that was her mentor. She didn’t gain access, but it didn’t matter. The soft muscle wrestled gently on the alabaster Alicorn’s entrance.

If heaven had a flavor, Twilight knew exactly what it was, it was her mentor. Everything great about life surged through the lavender mare, sunshine flavor, as she continued to lick her teacher’s lips, pressing for access to the holy passage. Without even noticing it, Twilight tackled her mentor, toppling her onto her back as the Goddess’ wings spasmed unexpectedly. Her hooves wrapped around the sacred fur on Celestia’s neck as she pulled the Goddess into an embrace. It wasn’t until Twilight had to practically strangle her, that Celestia finally gave up her resistance and allowed her student access. Twilight’s tongue made its way into Celestia’s warm mouth and moved around restlessly searching for the other mare’s own tongue. If the Goddess’ lips tasted good, her insides were beyond what any words alone can describe. Not only did the kiss take away all the lavender mare’s troubles, but also a weight that had been on her shoulders. All Twilight could do was moan blissfully as the heat inside her body swelled again, igniting a want to be pleasured. They would have been like that forever, or as long as Twilight could continue to be with her mentor, but destiny had other opinions. Fate drew closer as Trixie blasted the ivory door open.

“MY MISTRESS IS DYING AND YOU ARE MAKING OUT?!” shouted the lazuli mare. She had been waiting for nearly an hour. An entire hour that had pass by in seconds for the lavender mare and her teacher. Forcefulling ripping the duo apart with her magic, the showmare ignited her horn for a teleportation spell. If anything happened before Twilight was pulled apart, it was the single tear the dripped down her face. In a bright flash of Lunar magic, both students were gone, leaving behind a startled and confused Princess to reanalyze what had just happened.

“Did Twilight just kiss me?”

~~~

Twilight was in a hissy rage, torn from her lover at the worst of times. The lavender mare had tears in her eyes like she was a filly denied something that she wanted all her life. “What are you doing?!” shouted the lavender mare angrily as she steadied herself from the emotional breakdown.

“I was sent to retrieve a golden apple so I can save my mistress. If you had forgotten, she is dying. I waited for an hour, thinking you were explaining to her the reasons why you needed to do this, but just like I had thought, you were a total harlot and being promiscuous, drooling for Celestia. If I had known better, I would have just left you back at the library, then I could have saved myself some time as well as my mistress.” returned Trixie harshly. The spell worked to it’s intended purpose as both mares now stood back in the royal gardens, one recovering from emotional abuse, whilst the other had an annoyed face. “Get out here Discord! The challenge is complete! Tell us where the golden apple is now!” demanded the showmare as she shot a bolt of lightning at the solid statue. Before long, she got her answer, in the form of an amused Draconequus.

“My, my, Miss Sparkle, are you sure that was your first time? From the looks of it, you really wanted to hit home base with Celestia.” commented Discord. His observation only continued to add to the blush that sparked to life again on the lavender mare’s cheeks. “So tell me, how did she taste?”

“Tell us where the bucking apple is Discord!” interrupted the showmare once again. “We have finished this silly game, now keep your end of the bargain!”

“What’s the point of a test if you didn’t learn anything? Now tell me Twilight Sparkle, do you know why I sent you on this trial?” questioned the Draconequus.

“I-I-I... I don’t know.” answered Twilight hastily. There were somes honesty in her words, as she was still a little shaken up by the intrusion of the showmare.

Understanding bloomed on the Draconequus’ features as he agreed, “I see, then perhaps at a later time then. Miss Sparkle, I see more than just confusion writing on your face. I see lust and love for your Princess. Keep hold to that feeling Twilight, it will help you through one of the darkest hours you will face. For now, I understand if you do not have an answer, but I will get one nonetheless. I expect an answer from you, whether it be for the right choices of your own, or for someone else. Just keep in mind, Celestia will always have a place in her heart for you.” spoke Discord easily. He turned his attention to the annoyed mare beside the lavender. “As for you, the golden apple, I morphed it into Celestia’s diadem long ago to keep prying thieves away from it. You want the apple, you shall have to force it from Celestia. An identification spell should ward off the enchantments I had on the regalia. I bid you both a farewell, and good luck Miss Sparkle.” said Discord as he returned to his prison.

“Are you kidding me Discord?! You have us playing a silly game and then to have us run back and forth?! I don’t have time for this!” screamed the showmare angrily once more. Her pace quickened to a gallop towards the Solar wing again before two sets of royal guards stopped her. The lazuli mare just grunted in frustration as the guards continued to deny her access. The only one that came to her rescue was the mare she left behind not long ago, as Twilight had been slowly following after the showmare patiently.

“Just let me talk to Pr-Princess Celestia. I need to explain a few things before we can leave Trixie.” said Twilight as the guards let the two mares pass. All she got in response was a glare from the lazuli mare telling her they didn’t have time for another make out session. “Please, Trixie. I need to speak with Princess Celestia, I don’t want her to get mixed feelings about what happened. It will only take a minute, then I’ll ask for her diadem, alright? Please?”

“Make it quick, if you take longer than I have patience for, then I shall just blast through the door again and rip that crown off her bloody head.” sneered the showmare coldly. She didn’t want to sound intimidating, but it needed to be done. The lavender mare got the message loud and clear, as well as a mental picture of what will happen should she take too long.

They neared the ivory doors once more, the scorch marks were cleaned and the hinges repaired properly. Twilight undid the same enchantments she did last time, only to find the locks changed. The new combination, magical in nature, had a simple mathematical answer that Twilight quickly worked through in her head. Not a second tarried by before the door was unlocked once more. Raising a hoof again, Twilight knocked at her mentor’s doors. All she got back was silence. Either no one was in there or her teacher didn’t want to see the upset protégé. Another dreadful second pass by before the lavender mare got an answer.

“My most faithful student, if that is you, I shall be having a few words. There is an explanation needed, and it is I that seek it for your previous actions.” answered the alabaster Alicorn once more. If Celestia was angry, she didn’t show it. Her tone still remained stoic as ever, even after the fateful event with her student.

Nervousness was within Twilight again as she quietly made her way towards her mentor. What the lavender mare would have given to be able to read emotions, just for one night, she wished she knew exactly what her mentor thought of her. ‘Relax, Twilight, calm down, take deep breaths. Princess Celestia is understanding, besides, right now Princess Luna needs this apple.’ mused the Solar student profusely as she bumped into her teacher, face first into the warm and naked chest. All Twilight could do was look upwards at her towering mentor and face the consequences of her actions. All nervousness was replaced with dread, dread of failure and expulsion. She racked up whatever thoughts her mind had left to give her and gave the final words she could as Celestia’s most faithful student.

“Princess... I’m... sorry. I am so very sorry to come on to you like that. I shouldn’t have done something like that, with my mind being so clouded at the moment. I just... lost myself. I didn’t exactly know what drove me to do something like that, but I do. I’m sorry Princess, I failed you.” spoke Twilight sincerely. She wouldn’t dare look her mentor in the face, she didn’t want to see the disappointed look. Another silence told the lavender mare to continue, “The truth is... Princess Luna is very ill, much sicker than I thought she would be. The only cure I could find in my books required a golden apple. Unluckily for me, the last golden apple belonged to Discord, so we sought out his presence. I don’t know if it was really him or not, but he would only tell us where the apple was if we completed a challenge for him. The trial didn’t allow us to use any magic during its duration, which I don’t quite understand why. The point is... Discord wanted me to steal something from you.” answered Twilight. She gathered whatever courage she had left and faced her mentor. In a single look, Celestia manage to break down her student’s defenses. While the Goddess’ features remained without emotion, her protégé’s turned into sadness.

Her voice still remained stern, but had traces of kindness in them as the alabaster spoke to her student, “Twilight, did he want you to steal something important, but you simply couldn’t, so you chose the latter?” asked Celestia. She took a step forth and sat next to her student, still locked eyes with her.

She didn’t know why, but Twilight suddenly felt heat swell inside her again. Every time the lavender mare was with her mentor, she would turn a into a crimson rose. Once again, she felt the gentle warmth that radiated from the Solar Goddess next to her, and she wanted nothing more than to be closer to that warmth. Restraint and fear of damaging their relationship even further halted the lust inside Twilight that kept grow, but only just. Her mouth dried as the lavender mare try to form the exact words of the Draconequus, “He wanted me t-t-to... steal a kiss from you...” answered the Solar student silently. “Discord wanted me to return the kiss li-like... I was your... lover.” said Twilight as she choked out the last words. 

She couldn’t do it, she just tore her stare away from her mentor to at least spare herself the disapproving stare she would get now that the truth was out. This was all she could handle, she didn’t know when, but consciousness just left her as swiftly as her thoughts did. Her mind completely shut down, but her body rest easily on the warm Alicorn beside her. Luckily enough, she was caught by the Goddess before completely passing out, the look she got was sincere.

She let her student rest easily on her side as she magiced her diadem from the nearby nightstand. ‘So that is where you hid the apple all these years...’ mused the Solar Goddess. Another soft light of a golden aura transformed the jewel encrusted regalia into a shiny, glistening, golden apple. It shined brightly in the dimly lit room of the alabaster Alicorn as it levitated gently in front of her eyes. “Miss Lulamoon,” called Celestia to the Lunar student waiting outside, “you may come in, I believe you are seeking this apple.” Barely a second after the answer, the lazuli mare flashed herself in, took the golden apple and was gone again in a single blink of an eye.

Her vision once again returned to her student as the Lunar student returned to a treehouse hundred of miles away. The lavender mare’s breathing slowed down to an even pace now that her mind was shielded from further worry. Celestia couldn’t help but feel the heat residing inside her restful protégé as she was wrapped in a golden aura. The Solar student was levitated to the nearby bed and was joined by her mentor. Celestia was a patient mare, she can wait till morning for a better explanation from her student, but right now, her poor protégé had passed out from an emotional breakdown. But even in slumber the lavender mare twisted and turned uneasily in her sleep. All the Goddess need do was wrap a wing and blanket around her student before she would finally calm down from the fretful dreams. 

‘Rest easy tonight my student. I believe a song would do to calm your nerves.’ mused the Solar Goddess as she let the troubled mare snuggly wrap in an embrace. Her voice lost all it’s sternness as emotion once again was laced in her thoughts. It was an old song, but it was one meant to calm anyone, even the most distressed. It was a lullaby for her sister, the nights Luna would grow restless. She spoke softly and with sadness that had been building since long ago. Even in slumber, Twilight knew who the song meant.

“Fate has been cruel and order unkind-
How can I have sent you away? 
The blame was my own; the punishment, yours-
The harmony's silent today...”

~~~

The old library rocked back and forth in the gale force winds as the black storm continued its assault on the little town. Lightning was all around as quiet was the only thing missing. A single candle light shined through a tiny window on the second floor, illuminating light and lengthening shadows. All was silent within the house, as the mourning went on. A restless baby dragon rushed between upstairs and down, trying his best to sedate the sickly Alicorn as best he could. A medical kit lay open along with a book on anesthetics and overdoses. The purple dragon's claws trembled uncontrollably as he reached for a syringe. 

A tiny bottle of antibiotics and ketamine sat next to a pair of needles. Sweat drooled down sparkly scales which dulled into rustic. Across from him, Luna was near death, drained of all things godly, and breathing unevenly. The protective Leo never left the Goddess’ side as the night drew on and so did Spike’s desperation. Another book hung open as he read each word over and over to make sure he understood the risk he was taking to save the Princess’ life.  “...a general dosage of ketamine will immobilize any part of the body and sedate them for preparation. An overdose will put the patient into a deep coma, with short-long term effects depending on the patient’s nervous systems and reaction to the overdose...” read the purple draken as he took prepared a needle for injection. 

This was his first time with anything as scary as needles, and the stop in between breaths from the Lunar Goddess didn’t help to calm his nerves. He was either going to give the Princess more time by putting her into a deeply sedated coma or killing her. ‘What am I even doing?!’ mused the makeshift doctor. His trembling claws let go of the syringe which clunk to the ground, making Spike’s scales stand on edge. ‘I’m trying to buy Twilight some more time.’ thought the young draken as he calmed what remained of his nerves. His trembling didn’t stop, but he carefully picked up the syringe again. The needle slid easily into the bottle of antibiotics and he drew back nine hundred milligrams of amoxicillin. Even if it was an overdose for normal size ponies, the Lunar Princess was in desperate need of it. He slowly approached the sleeping Alicorn, unaware of his treatments. 
If getting shots were a scary thing, then giving shots for the first time almost made the purple draken faint. The trembling turned impossible to manage as he closed the distance between himself and Luna. Only problem was, he needed the fastest artery to carry the amoxicillin into the Lunar Alicorn’s system. The only one he could quickly find was the pulsing vein on her regal neck. The strong muscles on her heaved up and down as Spike wiped the area with rubbing alcohol. If just giving the Princess antibiotics were giving him the jetters, he wouldn’t last the second dosage. “I-I can’t do this!” mumbled the distressed draken as he dropped the sharp instrument. More minutes continued to pass as did Luna’s time that was left. The young dragon couldn’t stop his fearful shivering. Spike didn’t know why, he just felt unbearable fear whenever he was around the Lunar Goddess, now, it seemed that fear might lead to the Princess’ death.

“Get a hold of yourself Spike! Just calm down. Twilight needs more time, and if this is gonna help her in any way, you need to stop shaking. Just a poke, and then inject. Nothing complicated.” said the purple dragon to himself. He needed someone to say something encouraging to him, even if it was from himself. He picked up the fallen syringe delicately, and position himself to inject the antibiotics into her bloodstream. The sharp needle inched closer and closer to the Alicorn’s  bloodvein, until it met her soft fur and skin. What happened next was completely unexpected, no matter how hard the draken tried to push, he couldn’t get any further. 

The needle nearly bent in on itself as he continued to push the sharp tool into the Princess. It didn’t dawn on him till later that Alicorns had skin as tough as obsidian and as durable as diamond. It was a risky move, but he had to try it if he wanted the Lunar Goddess to get the antibiotics her body needed. He brought the needle back to himself and in front of his mouth. He gingerly blew small puffs of eternal emerald flames across the sharp point. It heated to a bright white and smoked against the cold air. He aligned his claws as the syringe drew closer to Luna’s vain. The white hot needle burned the soft gentle fur and scoured her perfect skin. It sizzled for a moment before the needle cooled enough to be injected. He pushed forth until all the amoxicillin within the syringe was within the Lunar Alicorn. He drew back and released the breath he didn’t know he was holding.

He stood back and watched with a heavy heart as the skin slowly healed itself as well as the burn marks on her perfect coat. Spike was through the worst of it, his first injection into someone with a syringe. It nearly scared him to death just thinking about what could've happened if he had slipped. He dragged himself to the medkit again and looked back at the books. It was now time to give the Princess a shot of ketamine, not in a major artery, but in a nerve end between her mid section vertebrae. It was an extreme, though it needed to be done. If he could shut down her nervous system, the rest of her body would fall under a coma and buy Twilight another hour at the most. But he didn’t know if he could do it. It took nearly everything Spie had just to give the Alicorn the antibiotics she needed, but something severe as ketamine was no joke. If he messed anything up, the Princess would no doubt die, and from his clumsy claws. He reached for a new syringe and destroyed the old one in his emerald flames. 

Once again he fumbled uncontrollably with the needle as he drew back another nine hundred milligrams. The solution swirled inside the tiny glass needle as he read the directions from the book again, “...side effects include, but are not limited to, euphoria, vivid dreams, nightmares, illusions, nausea and vomiting, and tachycardia...” read Spike as he continued to read the deadly effects. “ Really hope this works...” said the purple dragon as he heated the needle again. It glistened brightly as Spike stood on the other side of the Alicorn. He counted meticulously, and triple checked he had the right vertebrates before he injected the needle once again. It slipped seamlessly into the her back until he felt bone on the needle. He injected what was left of the ketamine into her nervous system. Then everything stood still.

Luna’s breathing stopped entirely. Her body stopped any motion it had previously planned to do. All thoughts that were in the dragon's head were horrible. He had just killed a pony, and one of the royal sisters too, and with his carelessness and clumsy claws. He couldn’t take it. He just broke down, everything around him blurred as the storm continued to thunder outside. He quickly checked for any signs of life from the Alicorn and found none. One minute past, then another. Time slowed to a standstill as Spike dealt with the guilt of killing a royal sister. It took nearly ten minutes, but he finally got the relief he had been praying for. The Lunar Alicorn took her first breath within fifteen minutes, which meant the drug had finally taken effect. Spike didn’t know when, but he had collapsed next to the royal sister and slept with fretful dreams.

Another stroke of lightning awoke him as he turned to the opened door to Twilight’s room. Trixie stood, anger beyond belief. Her bloodstained coat, washed from the rain that poured relentlessly from the black skies. A single golden apple floated in the air next to the lazuli mare as she made her way towards the frightened draken. All thoughts he had were focused on the mare that was missing from the picture.

“Wh-where’s Twilight?” asked Spike fearfully. He got up from the bed and walked around, to avoid the showmare as she continued her approach.

“Twilight is gone.”

Author’s Note: Well folks, say goodbye to Trixie. This will be the last time you will ever see her. And no, I never meant to kill Luna off in the first place. Also, props if you can guess Discord’s bigger role in this story. Lastly, a request from me. Would everyone who disliked this story just because of Trixie, stop bitching.  DerpyMuffins signing off.

Editor’s note: Hello everypony, I just loved that kiss between Twilight and Celestia. I hope theres more of it (except replace Celestia with Luna) and, as it seems, we are finally living up to that romance tag! And, no, Twi is not dead as Trixie made it seem at the end of this chapter. That’s all I got to say for now, TwiLunaLover out!