Interlude: The two sisters
2 hours after Jolyne's arrival in Equestria
Canterlot castle, Throne Room
The two sisters sat in their respective thrones waiting. Over 2 hours ago a massive magical shockwave had ripped across the entirety of Equestria bringing an entity of incredible power along with it. This entity was at the forefront of the princesses minds.
Right now they were waiting for any type of news from Twilight and they were ready to help if it was needed. Celestia sat still in patience believing that her protege would be able to handle it, but she was still ready to teleport in should the need arise. Luna was shifting around in her throne, she couldn't bear the thought that something dangerous was out there endangering her friends.
Thankfully their patience had won out and a letter appeared before princess Celestia
Wasting no time she tore open the letter and began to read it over.
Dear Princess Celestia
I'm writing to you to report what we found while investigating the magical explosion that happened over your old residence. The investigation started out like any other with our trek through the Everfree forest. But as we began to approach the castle Rarity and I began to feel a strange type of magic resonating from within the Castle. When we entered the Castle we split up to cover more ground and hopefully find the source of this strange magic. As Applejack, Spike and I began our search we had noticed that Spike had gone missing. Just as we were about to start looking for him he returned with a most peculiar friend. When I got a look at her I realized where I had felt this strange magic before. It was the same magic as Nightmare Moon. Noticing this I restrained her with my magic causing her to float up in the air allowing me to get a better look at her appearance. She looks remarkably like Nightmare Moon with several key differences. The first and most obvious difference was her color palette which is the exact opposite of the Mare in the Moon, with white fur and orange hair which behaves like a raging inferno. Her eyes were the same draconic slits which were red in coloration instead of a light blue.
When she was lifted into the air completely her previously unnoticed alabaster wings enveloped her small form hiding herself behind her own wings. I began interrogating her trying to figure out how Nightmare Moon returned but I was blocked by Spike.
Thanks to him I was able to hear the full story as to why this child was here as well as her identity.
Her name is Jolyne and she was brought here against her will. She is just a lost child who doesn't have anyone else to turn too. She trusts Spike and as such, I have told him to look after her for now until we hear back from you. But even then she still holds the same magic as the Nightmare so we have restricted the use of her magic for now until we know for sure whether she really is a lost child or this is all a ruse.
Your former student,
Twilight Sparkle
The sisters read the letter in silence both of them reading over the information multiple times to make sure they were understanding it correctly.
"Another Nightmare..." Said Luna pensively breaking the silence. "She must be dealt with at once!" Declared Luna standing up from her throne horn glowing with energy.
"Luna wait." Responded Celestia calmly. "What if this 'Jolyne' is telling the truth? What if she isn't the Nightmare? Let Twilight handle it for now." Reasoned Celestia. Luna wasn't backing down, however.
"Let us go see this child in a few days once Twilight has had time to see whether she really is a threat or not." Suggested Celestia looking towards her sister.
"No sister! This is another Nightmare! I will not let it bring misery and sorrow to Equestria again! We must banish this entity back to the dreamrealm at once!" Responded Luna with determination looking back at Celestia who's smile began to falter.
Hearing Luna's determination caused Celestia to sigh. " How about this. You will go to Ponyville tomorrow to question 'Jolyne' on whether she is a threat or not." Suggested Celestia. The glow around Luna's horn began to fade.
All was silent for several seconds as Luna thought it over.
"Agreed."
When the next morning came, Luna was ready for her confrontation with the Nightmare Twilight had found.
Clutching the letter in her magic, Luna walked towards the balcony, already mentally narrowing her focus towards Ponyville. The younger of the Diarchs was far more experienced at sensing magical energies than Twilight, and now that she was aware, she could sense a piece of her sister's solar aura in the plains below Canterlot, like a glowing ember but warped as if seen through dark wind-tossed, murky waters.
This warping was something she knew all too well, for as Nightmare Moon her own aura had suffered the same taint. She swore that she would not let another Nightmare harm and despoil fair Equestria as she had in her madness. While Twilight was a puissant spellcaster, she might need help containing this new threat, as the Nightmare could be tricky, worming its way into your soul by offering you your least noble desires.
As she sprung from a balcony, already preparing to teleport, she was already working on a plan of action. She would find this Nightmare, confront it and banish it back to the dreamrealm. Maybe with the help of the Bearers of the Elements, they could free the poor soul that had fallen to its lies. It won't escape judgment like it had once before!
30 minutes after Luna’s attack on Jolyne
"What have you done Luna?"
When a letter arrived in the middle of day court that said Luna went rogue and decided to attack the Nightmare she was there to talk too. She ordered the guards to lead everyone out of the throne room as day court was now canceled due to a new situation that had popped up. The guards did so with haste. She had also ordered that the guards do not reenter the throne room and that when they spotted Luna, she was to be brought to the throne room and that they weren't to be disturbed until further notice.
Now there Luna was standing in front of her sister who had a sad and pained look on her face. They were both currently alone in the throne room with Celestia sitting on her throne looking down at a letter clutched in one hand.
"The letter says that if it were not for the aid of Fluttershy Jolyne would have died on the street. What could have brought you to do this dear sister? Her magic was inhibited she had no way of hurting anyone in her current state." She said looking up from the letter in her hands with a pained expression on her face.
"So why dear sister did you almost kill her?"
Luna stood firm however unfazed by her sister's reaction.
“Sister she is dangerous and I will not allow another nightmare to do the same as I did! She must be banished back to the dreamrealm! And since you would not do it I needed to take action! She was eating out of the cookie jar our mother gave to me and mocking me while doing so!" Responded Luna the fire of determination and anger burning brightly in her eyes.
"And what if you were wrong Luna? What if this is just a child who is here due to unfortunate circumstances? You would have condemned a child to the depths of the dreamrealm for the rest of time!" Retorted Celestia standing up from her throne, the letter still clutched in her hands.
"That does not matter I have felt her magic! She holds your magic sister and its surrounded by the Nightmares corruption! She felt the same as when yo-"
"Enough Luna. That still doesn't justify your actions! If she is like that then it is my decision on what to do with her." Interested Celestia.
Celestia now stood silently looking down at Luna. She still loved Luna with all her heart and every second spent with her since her return has been a blessing. Sure, Luna had done some terrible things in the past Celestia had as well but this…This was crossing the line in Celestia’s book. The fact that Luna almost banished a child into the dreamrealm just for being what she is. Just as Luna was about to retort Celestia sighed sadly.
"Luna...just...get out of my sight...please"
Luna did so in silence teleporting out into her bedroom. She walked over to her balcony overlooking Equestria. Leaning over the railing her gaze focused on the town where the Nightmare was located.
'I will find out what you are planning Nightmare. I will not let you hurt my sister again' Thought Luna, the urge to protect her sister from the Nightmare that had plagued her once before growing by the second.