//------------------------------// // Chapter 33: Change Of Plan // Story: When Snow Falls // by Prophet Of Doom //------------------------------// Nightmare Moon let out an annoyed grunt as she stood upon the castle battlements. The moon had been pulled suddenly from the by Luna, and the sun had not been raised in its place, leaving the land in cold darkness. She let up her horn and stared up at the mountains that the night princess had escaped into. Nightmare Moon could no longer sense her presence and had to assume that she had given her pegesi the slip. However, these same guards now stood between Luna and Ponyville. A town she needed to move against immediately. Glancing back at the bailey where she had confronted Luna, she could see her brainwashed guards racing about lighting torches. With a flick of her horn, she teleported to its centre, before bellowing out a single command, "Company Commanders!!" From across the castle, armour clad ponies raced to her, standing to attention in a neat line. Nightmare Moon stared at their unmoving forms and their unblinking indigo eyes, and pondered for a short time. She then moved up to the 1st company's leader, "You!! Take your company and go into the city. Bring its citizens here into the castle and do not let them leave." She then turned her gaze to a to another new down the line, "Stern Winds, you take your company to Hoofly and do the same. Both of you are to tell them that this is for their own safety. Therefore, you and your company's eyes are to be hidden. Is this understood?" The two answered with a salute and a single blink that returned their eyes to normal. With a slight head gesture from their queen, the lieutenants went off to gather their companies. Out the corner of her eye, Nightmare Moon saw a pony walk up to her. She turned to see Twinstar approaching her side, before bowing. Whilst Nightmare Moon was inclined to congratulate her on her part in the takeover, she couldn't help but notice Twinstar's appearance. A well-groomed mane and a freshly cleaned lab coat gave her an almost glowing appearance. There was almost a boosted confidence clearly audible in her voice, "My queen." "Twinstar," -She turned to face her fully- "You know what I want, and I expect you to have it by the time I return." "Of course, my queen," She replied, before moving off in the direction of the castle's vaults. Nightmare Moon then turned back to her company commanders, "The rest of your are to follow me. We march on Ponyville today." ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The small brainwashed army of Nightmare Moon surged towards the clearly undefended town. Despite it being little past midday, the land was still in complete darkness. Riding in Luna's chariot, Nightmare Moon watched her forces race to their assigned targets. As for herself, she and a small group of pegesi headed for Twilight's castle. Bursting through the front doors, she strode confidently inside wearing her trademark grin. The guards that were accompanying her, dashed down the various corridors. Searching each and every room. They soon returned to their queen with news she did not wish to hear. The castle was empty. No matter She mused to herself as she turned for the door Twilight is likely to be somewhere in town, dealing with the panicked masses. Walking back through the double doors into the cold dark air, Nightmare Moon found two messengers waiting for her. Their companies had been sent to capture Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash at the homes and reported troubling news. Like with Twilight, these two were not at their homes. And like with Twilight, Nightmare Moon assumed that they were dealing with Ponyville's residents. However, when messengers that had been sent to locations within the town all reported the same confusing news. Ponyville had been abandoned. Nightmare Moon was taken aback by these reports, and her mind began to race. How can it be abandoned? There's no way they could have known about my return or that Was coming, not in such short time. So how can it be abandoned? "My queen, we have detained several ponies trying to leave Ponyville." Nightmare Moon was pulled from her frantic thoughts by the latest messenger to arrive, who was bowing before her, "Where are they?" "Just North of the train station, my queen." "Take me to them," She ordered. The guard bowed once again before leading Nightmare Moon and her entourage away from Twilight's castle. As the guard led them towards the location, Nightmare Moon could see a large contingent of her guards on the outskirts of the town, gathered in a large circle. Tired of walking and wanting answers, she teleported over to the circle's edge. Moving forwards, the guards parted in her path. Coming to the centre, she now could see more clearly the situation. A handful of stallions had made a defensive ring the town's mayor, Ivory Scrolls. They were surrounded on all sides and in the air by spear brandished guards. Also, there was a very familiar face and the answer to why Ponyville was empty. "Steel Wall," She said in a slow, deliberate tone. "What do you think you're doing?" Still in his guards uniform, Steel Wall moved out of the ring and for the first time, he was able to confront her. Face to face, "Nightmare Moon." He didn't bother hiding his contempt her. She intern, grinned at him, "You warned them. After witnessing my glory and eternal wisdom. After all this time, you still fight me." He snorted, his breath frosting from his nostrils, "What you showed me, only convinced me that you need to be stopped at any cost." Nightmare Moon tuted in disappointment, shaking her head, "So you warned them of my arrival." The slightest of grins on Steel Wall's face gave her the answer. "Where are they, Steel Wall? Where are the bearers of the Elements of Harmony?" The lone guard gave her no answer of any kind, "Answer me, Steel Wall!" "I do not answer to you, Nightmare." She sighed at this, before looking past him towards the others, "Is that your position as well?" "Eeee'yup," Came the response from a powerful red stallion. "And you, mayor?" Ivory Scrolls strode out of the ring defending her and past Steel Wall, and faced the self-appointed queen, "It is." "So be it," Nightmare Moon said firmly, walking up to the mayor until she was unnervingly close, "Hold her." A unicorn guard by her side immediately cast a spell on Ivory Scrolls, immobilising her. Steel Wall knowing what was coming, went to free her but tackled to the ground by more guards. Once again Nightmare Moon's eyes pulsated indigo rings, which found their way into the mayor's eyes. Seeing this, the other stallions moved to defend, only to be met by a sea of spear heads. After a few tense seconds, the rings ended and Nightmare Moon took a step back, "Mayor?" Ivory Scrolls opened her eyes with an indigo shine, "Yes, my queen." "Where is Twilight Sparkle?" "Twilight Sparkle was not here, my queen. She and her friends had departed two days ago for the Crystal Empire, for an unofficial visit to the royal couple." The stallions still at spear point, were flabbergasted by this apparent betrayal. Steel Wall simply looked away, defeated. "An unofficial visit," Nightmare Moon uttered through gritted teeth, barely able to contain her anger and frustration. "Of course they have. But where are the town's residents?" "Steel Wall arrived several hours ago and warned us of you return, my queen. At first, we did not believe him but when the sun failed to rise and the moon suddenly disappearing, proved him right. He told us that Ponyville was the next target, so we quickly evacuated the town." "Did he." She spat venomously. The dark mare turned away and wandered around small circles, clearly processing the turn of events. Her plans were coming undone. Two princesses had escaped her clutches, on without even a fight. Now news of here return was being spread faster than she would have liked. She was losing control. Eventually, one of her commanders stepped forward and broke her train of thought, "Your orders, my queen?" She glared death eyes at him, causing him to take a nervous step back. Her attention then focused on Ivory Scrolls and her stallion bodyguards, "Take them back to Canterlot castle and lock them in the dungeon. I shall deal with them later." He nodded and waved a hoof, and guards started moving them with the threat of a spear in their back. Steel Wall, however, had to be manhandled. Only the hypnotised mayor went willingly on the long march to Canterlot. Nightmare Moon then turned her anger fuelled gaze to the empty Ponyville, "The ponies of this town have openly defied me. This cannot be tolerated. A message must be sent." She turned back to the commander and in her coldest tone, gave him her order, "The town. Burn it."