//------------------------------//
// The Nightmare 
// Story: Compilation: The Canceled Stories 
// by 1pony4all 
//------------------------------//

  "Princess..." Twilight hesitated, she knew not to press the issue, but her natural curiosity compelled her to, "...do you... remember the time while you were banished?"

 Luna's eyes widened slightly at the audacity of the young unicorn she was sharing a cup of tea with. She slowly set her cup down and let out a deep sigh.

 Twilight quickly backpedaled on the question, "Oh no, I'm so sorry. It just slipped out..." She hung her head.

 "It's... it's alright Twilight." Luna said, not quite sure if she meant it or not. She uncomfortably adjusted herself on her cushion. The duo were sitting in Luna's private observatory. The princess of the night had invited the young student to witness the birth of a new constellation first hand.  The event had ended almost an hour ago and the two of them decided to share a cup of tea afterwards. "I haven't spoken about it much... not even to Celestia."

 Twilight shrank back, " I'm really sorry, I didn't mean to pry."

 "Sister keeps telling me that talking about it might help. " Luna closed her eyes thoughtfully, "You were there that night, the night the Nightmare ended. You were even there the night I reintroduced myself to the ponies of Ponyville. You've helped me so much, perhaps you should know the truth."

 Luna stood up and trotted towards the massive observatory window, her eyes locked on the moon. "I remember... rage, I remember hatred." She stopped as if the words caught in her throat, "I was not in the best frame of mind." Twilight was fixated on every word, "One thousand years... Honestly it felt as if only moments had passed between my banishment and the moment I was struck by the Elements."

"But how is that possible?" Twilight blurted out without thinking, quickly covering her mouth with a slightly tardy hoof.

 "Because of the Nightmare."