//------------------------------//
// Train Bound for Nightmare, Part 2 
// Story: You Think You Know Somepony... 
// by Shrouded Lunes 
//------------------------------//

"I'llneverusemyknowledgeorpowerstohurtanyponyorspoilanything!Crossmyhearandhopetofly,stickacupcakeinmy-OW!!"

The words spilled off my tongue faster than I even thought possible as I frantically made the required hoof-motions... and promptly poked my eye with said hoof. My own breathing was on the verge of hyperventilating when I heard everyone's favorite pink party pony start to giggle, as she pulled her hoof out of her mane... revealing a cupcake.

"I know that, silly!" She offered me the cupcake, which I hesitantly accepted. "Besides, Rainbow already shot down the idea that you were some dimension-hopping time traveler that knows Twilight's whole life story and came back just to mess up the Thousandth Summer Sun Celebration last chapter, so do you really think they'd accept the idea that you're actually some fan of a children's show that was reincarnated into the body of a ponysona you created in the hopes that you could join us on our future adventures, even if it came from me?"

I let out a happy sigh as I chewed on the cupcake. "Red Velvet with buttercream frosting... It's so odd... I know better than to ask how... I mean, I KNOW... How many ponies in all of Equestria can actually say that? But I still want to say it so badly..."

Twilight's left eye twitched. "HOW?!"

"That's for another time, princess." I clear my throat as a shiver runs down my spine, trying to overlook the part of my brain that was saying Pinkie had just whispered 'You're lucky that was a little p' right into my ear, even as she stood across the room. "I believe, before I completely derailed this conversation with matters with Pinkie Pie, you were about to give everyone a lecture about everything you'd learned of the Elements of Harmony?"

"Oh! That's right!"

"I've got my eye on you..."

I just nodded in acceptance of Rainbow's threat as Twilight opened the book and began to speak. "There are six elements of harmony, of which only five are known; Kindess, Laughter, Generosity, Honesty, and Loyalty. The sixth is a complete mystery. It is said that the last known location of the five elements was in the ancient Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters. It is located in what is now the Everfree Forest."

"Oh thank xxxx... Ugh... FINE! You want it to be that way?!" I made it a point to look out the window where the black mist of Nightmare Moon blended in almost perfectly with the dark of the night. "Thank Celestia... There! You happy, you thrice-cursed Tartarus-spawn! Got me 'worshiping' the Solar Princess cause of your insistence I don't use that name."

"Y'all okay there, sugarcube? Y'ar actin' a might strange." 

"That's an understatement..."

"Honestly, Applejack? I was worried the powers-that-be would have made it so that there were two missing elements. That... and we're being watched."

"WHAT?!" Six voices called out in unison.

I pointed towards the window from which Nightmare's mist form was quickly retreating for the Everfree Forest. "Not entirely sure how long she was there, or exactly how much she heard, but I can say Nightmare Moon herself took great interest in your lesson and is probably making for the castle as we speak..."





The six mares progressed through the challenges of the Everfree without much trouble, allowing Twilight to slowly but steadily learn the magic of friendship through their actions and see how each of the girls represented one of the elements. I couldn't help but smile as I was teleported, alongside Twilight and the Elements, to the observation room where Nightmare Moon stood in the glow of her celestial globe.

"We must admit, Thestral, that it surprises Us to see you amongst the pawns of the Solar Tyrant..." I let out a snort of a laugh at that. "Your kind was quite loyal to Us before Our forced exile. Step away from the path you are on, and We shall welcome you as a noble."

"Oh sweet xxxx, you really... you honestly think I would be swayed by being offered a spot in your gentry? Despite my minimal role tonight, the script has been written, Nightmare. This whole ordeal will end with your defeat, you first dungeon mini-boss! Just accept it with grace."

"Our defeat? Dear Thestral, We think you are overestimating their chances. Do you not see the shattered remains of the Elements arrayed at Our feet?! They have no means to stand against us."

"Twi!"
"Twilight!"
"Sugarcube!"
"Twilight!"
"Egghead!"

"You're wrong."

"What?!" I smiled at Nightmare Moon's confusion as Twilight began to speak up.

"The Elements were never just the stones. The spirits of the elements of harmony are right here!" The girls quickly fell in behind Twilight as she continued her speech. "Applejack, who reassured me when I was in doubt, represents the spirit of Honesty. Fluttershy, who tamed the manticore with her compassion, represents the spirit of Kindness. Pinkie Pie, who banished fear by giggling in the face of danger, represents the spirit of Laughter. Rarity, who calmed a sorrowful serpent with a meaningful gift, represents the spirit of Generosity. And Rainbow Dash, who could not abandon her friends for her own heart's desire, represents the spirit of Loyalty. The spirits of these five ponies got us through every challenge you threw at us."

"You still don't have the sixth element!" Nightmare Moon looked around nervously, wondering what she could have been missing.

"The spark revealed itself the very moment I realized how happy I was to hear you, to see you, how much I cared about you... The spark ignited inside of me when I realized that you all are my friends!"

I slowly walked towards Nightmare Moon as a bright flash filled the room and the final element revealed itself.

"You see, Nightmare Moon, when those five elements are ignited by the spark inside us all, they create the sixth element. The element of Magic." The magic started to pool around Twilight and her friends as the elements reformed into the crown and necklaces from the show and bathed them in prismatic light.

"For what it's worth..." I softly whispered as I took a place standing beside the villain. "I'm sorry for what you're about to go through. But, you needn't face it alone."

The rainbow beam shot forth from Twilight's crown and wrapped around both Nightmare Moon and myself. Whereas the Nightmare screamed and resisted, I simply let the warmth embrace me as we were both blown back into the corner.





"You really are nothing like the last boy, Shrouded Lunes."

I rubbed my eyes, forcing them open and finding myself once more on what appeared to be a multi-colored candy train car. "Didn't I make it clear that I wasn't planning to run away, Leliel?"

The being copying my OC nodded. "That you did."

"It truly is a shame that your attempts to understand us must end in your destruction, though."

"Such is the way of things, I'm afraid. I merely wished to take a moment to warn you, before the magic fully purges my connection to this host... I am unsure of how many, if any, of my brothers and sisters came to this plane with me. So please do be on guard for them."

I nodded. "Of course. Though, I really hope none did. No offense, but I doubt these ponies could properly defend against most of your kind."

As before, the being got up and walked out of the railcar. "Take care, Shrouded Lunes. And make sure you treasure this new life you have been given."





"Hello Sunbutt." I couldn't help but chuckle at the sudden gasps coming from the collected Equestrians in the room. Rarity's was the sharpest and, even without looking at her, I was certain that she had fainted in shock.

"Shrouded! How could you be so crass towards your Princess!?!" Twilight practically shrieked in surprise.

I shrugged. "Not my princess?"

Celestia chuckled ever so softly, though her eyes looked positively dead when she looked up me. "It quite already, Twilight. The Thestrals have always chosen to follow a different princess. Isn't that right, Princess Luna?"

The frail form of the younger alicorn cowered in the corner, hiding behind the shattered remnants of Nightmare Moon's armor. Even as she did so, however, I turned away from Celestia and bowed to the Princess of the Night.

"It has been one thousand years since I last saw you like this. Let us put our differences aside and rule together as we were meant to, little sister."

"Sister?!" Twilight asked in confusion.

"You really didn't listen to the lyrics of Shrouded's song, did you, Twilight?" Pinkie giggled, mostly to herself.

"Will you accept my friendship?"

All the ponies leaned forward, anxiously awaiting what Luna would say next.

"I'm so sorry! I've missed you so much, big sister!"

"I've missed you too. But, it appears you have something you must handle..."

Princess Luna looked around for a moment in confusion, finding nothing overly out of the ordinary until she happened upon my bowing form. "Oh... R-RISE, NOBLE STALLION! WE THANK YOU FOR STANDING BY US, AND THE FRIENDSHIP YOU SHOWED THINE ENEMY!

The mane six flinched back at the sound of Luna's Royal Canterlot Voice, though both myself and Princess Celestia barely even flinched our ears. "Your words honor this humble Bat Pony, my Princess. I shall strive to ensure that such words are not wasted on my undeserving self." I stood with a glint in my eye, just in time to hear Pinkie Pie scream out about this calling for a party.





"I understand you are aware of the future, Mr. Lunes."

I looked up from the mug of cider I was sleepily nursing during Pinkie Pie's "Welcome back to Equestria, Princess Luna!" party. Most of the ponies were giving my a wide berth, fearful of the odd creature in a hooded cape. I would love to say I was hurt but... well, I at least had an idea of how the ponies of Ponyville reacted to things they didn't know. A certain zebra would likely be shaking up the quiet and quaint town in a month or two, after all. Plus, when your cutie mark implies you work best behind the scenes, it's hard to get worked up over being ignored. Expecting to see one of the overly curious CMC or some other brave pony, I was rather surprised to see the Solar Diarch herself.

"Princess Celestia, it's quite the honor to be granted a private audience though I suspect..." I looked past her to see the royal guards that had followed her towards my table before spreading out enough to prevent any curious ponies from eavesdropping on our little chat. I had to force down a laugh when I noticed a certain blue-haired yellow pegasus among said guards. "This is not a social call, is it?"

"There hasn't been a pure-blood Thestral upon Equestrian soil since Nightmare Moon's banishment one thousand years ago. I would rather not explain why."

I nodded, somewhat morosely. "War is terrible business, Celestia. Especially for the loser. I suspected the answer back when you saw me in the Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters. However, I must confess... I'm surprised that such turmoil wouldn't cause him to break free." Celestia's primary feathers bristled a bit at the implication, but before she could speak, I continued. "He will, you know. I can't tell you when, because I am honestly not certain. But your sister's return has turned on the burners, as it were. Her trials are coming, Princess. Of course, that's why you accepted her request to remain in Ponyville, under the cover of 'learning about the Magic of Friendship'.

"I already made a Pinkie Promise that I would not use my powers and knowledge to spoil anything. As such, I am unable to tell your student what you're intentions are for her being here to study friendship... of where you hope that particular course will lead her. Even if I wasn't bound by such eldritch vows, I still wouldn't do so. The path before her is too beautiful to mar with advanced knowledge. So, I will tell you what you want to hear..."

"And what do you think that is, Mr. Lunes?"

"I am not a threat to your little ponies, Princess Celestia. I suspect, given your opening comment, that I am the only one of my kind. I would hate to see the Thestral Race return to extinction because I ran afoul of you. So, I will remain as loyal to your Sister as my predecessors were... a statement I believe you will understand properly to mean I will remain loyal to Equestria as well. But, if I am to be skirting around the letter of the rules of my Eldritch Vow..." I scanned the area around me, looking for a certain pink pony, "then I have three wishes. Wishes which should be fairly easy for you make happen."

Her eyes looked ready to burn my very soul, so I dropped my voice to a barely audible whisper. "Easy there, Daybreaker."

Celestia took a small, shocked step back as though she had been stung by a bee. "What are your terms then, Mr. Lunes?"

"There are those I wish to befriend... Those that your average pony might frown upon anyone getting to know. I only ask your assistance in making that happen."

"And they are..."

"Your sister, for now. The other two aren't exactly... available. Although, I'm certain a trip to the royal gardens might find another all ears and else."

"And you expect me to believe you desire friendship when you demand to speak with..." Celestia bristled, unwilling to say his name before settling on copying my own choice of words. "With him?!"

I simply shrugged again. "I'm merely stating my wishes, not placing demands. I will do what I can to support your current student on her adventures. The truer to the course you set in motion we remain, the easier of a time I will have being one trot ahead of what comes. As such it's in my best interests to ensure time follows The Script, wouldn't you agree?"

Celestia seemed to reluctantly nod. "Who is the third?"

"Your student."

That, once again, seemed to catch the Day Princess off guard. "I was under the impression you already had made at least some headway in befriending Twilight Sparkle."

I laughed "I never said the student I was referring to was Twilight, Your Highness..."