//------------------------------// // Epilogue - The Nightmare Begins // Story: Princess Celestia and Nightmare Moon Team up to Save Everyone // by Codex Ex Equus //------------------------------// One Month Later The shadows lengthened across Equestria, the hills growing dark and the streets growing quiet. The sun touched the horizon, and slowly began to slip beneath it as all the creatures of Equestria prepared for a night of sleep. Deep underground, Nightmare Moon yawned and stretched out on the throne she'd carved from stone. The end of the day marked the beginning of her work, though for the moment she had little to do until more of Equestria passed into sleep. It had been a bit of shock when she'd realized the power over dreams had stayed with her, though Luna had taken back control of the night. At first she'd been bitter and angry over losing out what was rightfully hers, but as she spent more and more time guarding the dreams of her ponies… she'd come, strangely, to enjoy it. She got to bring pleasant dreams to her faithful subjects, and punish the wicked with horrible nightmares. She wasn't bringing the night, as she wished so much to do, but managing dreams was still important work that made Equestria a better place to be. She could live with that. For now, at least. With time to spare, she lounged idly on her makeshift throne for a moment, then grinned, her ears perking up. There was always one fun way to kill time… She waved a hoof, and a cloud of shadows formed in front of her. They shifted and churned, finally parting to reveal Canterlot Palace. "Hmm…" Nightmare Moon muttered to herself as she studied the image. Guards patrolled the halls and lined the battlements, in greater numbers than usual. What's more, they were in teams of no less than five, and all wore armor polished to a shine and weapons honed razor sharp, with a crispness to their movements that spoke of a recent focus on drilling and training exercises. And most ponies wouldn't have seen a thing, but apparently her sisters didn't realize she still had at least some of the powers of darkness that came with being Princess of the Night. So she could see Luna's bat pony guards lurking in the shadows, invisible though they would have been to most pony's eyes. Their leathery wings rustled as they flitted from shadow to shadow, constantly alert. "Decided on some reinforcements to your castle, have you Celestia?" asked Nightmare Moon aloud, and laughed. "I suppose there is some wisdom to the tactic of cutting of the head and ending this immediately… but I have no intention of attacking Equestria's mind." She waved her hoof again, and the view shifted. This time it showed various scenes from around Equestria's major cities. Ponies not wearing armor, but with attitudes that screamed 'guard' if you knew what to look for, questioned ponies and investigated dark places. Cellars, abandoned buildings, unused and distant corners of sewers and subways… there were even a few looking over the one or two rundown temples that those ridiculous cults had built to worship her in. Honestly, when had she ever even implied that she wanted ponies sacrificed in her name? She chuckled as she watched the guard's futile searches. "I'll admit, I considered this tactic for the sheer irony. Raising an army from your ponies to attack you with? Delicious. But I won't be attacking Equestria's body, either." She waved her hoof one more time, and the scene shifted again. Now she sat up, leaning forward to stare with greedy eyes. "Unfortunately for you, Celestia, I am a cunning warrior. And the cunning warrior attacks neither body nor mind." It was dark in the lands around, and dark in the castle itself… save for one small spark of light. A candle was glowing on the edge of a bedside table. In the bed itself lay a pony, a book propped open in front of her as she lay on her side. Her eyes moved back and forth, quickly devouring the words before her. She paused for a moment, a thought seeming to strike her, and raised her head to look at the clock next to the candle. She bit her lip upon seeing the time, looking back and forth between her book and the clock. Finally, with a sigh, she closed the book, placed it on the table, and blew out the candle. Pulling her blanket up over herself, Twilight Sparkle turned over, snuggling down into her bed as she prepared for sleep… and what dreams would come. "Your heart, Celestia!" cackled Nightmare Moon. "First I'll attack your heart!"