“This is good enough for now.” Nightmare Moon think to herself. All she needs right now is to inform her ponies about three things. One, the general condition of the kingdom. Two, what happened in the castle with her sister. Three, what will happen in the future.
Nightmare Moon Slowly scanned the immediate vicinity. She sees all the ponies gathering at the kingdom square have various expressions. Most of them have a look of apprehension on their muzzle. It pained her that some of the ponies looked on in fear. But she did not let it ruin her good mood.
After giving the announcement, Nightmare Moon flies back to her castle. She comes back to her throne, she has an expected look on her muzzle. “This is going so great Luna!”
Yes, yes it is.
“Do you think everypony will come?”
Hard to say.
“Luna don’t be such a downer.”
You are so cute when you are excited, Nightmare Moon.
“It can’t be helped right. I no longer need to see ponies dead.”
Or maybe you are just expecting somepony.
“You can tell?
Of course. Water Lilly, right?
“Yes! She will come, right?”
I’m pretty sure she will.
The guards signaled Nightmare Moon. “Oh, looks like it has begun.”
Princess Luna could only giggle. After all, she is not expecting Nightmare Moon to be this pure. She is just so precious. Princess Luna thought to herself.
The guards open the door into the throne room. Ponies start pouring into the throne room. A stallion or a mare, unicorn, pegasi, and earth pony, young and old. All kinds of ponies can be seen inside the throne room.
Nightmare Moon takes her time to scan each ponies that come here. Ponies are showing emotion as they did in the kingdom square. But, a particular pony does not even bother to hide his anger. Interesting, let us hear what you want to say. Nightmare Moon thought.
“My little ponies, thank you for coming into our throne. Now please, form a line so we can proceed with giving the blessing.” Nightmare Moon says.
The gathered ponies obediently form a line. Many of them feel displeasure because they think their position is taken by other ponies. But, they are not brave enough to make a scene in front of, they thought, Princess Luna. Though, there always one or two ponies who are stupid enough to make a scene. In this chase, there are three.
“Move! This is my position!”
“No! You are behind me!”
“Oh please, I came earlier than you two!”
There are a new group of ponies. They do not show any maliciousness toward their Princess. They are just being a foal. Not like the pony that caught Nightmare Moon’s attention earlier.
Nightmare Moon told her guard to be still when ponies are making scenes inside the throne room. This will serve as a message that it is not that Nightmare Moon needs her ponies. She doesn’t want to be a tyrant. She wants her ponies to think that they need their princess as an added incentive. This would make more easy cooperation between Nightmare Moon and her ponies.
After some time, ponies become restless. Nightmare Moon doesn't start giving the blessing. All she does is smile at whoever looks at her. Please do something, Princess Luna. Somepony plea inwardly
More and more ponies finally realize that those three are the cause of it. But even then no pony is brave enough to stop them. Except one pony is not having it.
“Hey, you three. Could you just stop and start acting like civilized ponies?” mature pony says.
“Tell him that. He is the one who started all this.” less matured pony number one says.
“What? You mean him right?” less matured pony number two says
“Hey! I'm going first!” less matured pony number three says
Nightmare Moon doesn’t know the name of each of her ponies. She would leave that job to ponies with much more free time. As of now, she would call them a mature pony, less matured pony number one, two, and three.
“Just form a line at random and tell Princess Luna to give you blessing at once.” mature pony says.
“Are you sure about that?”
“Yea, there is no guarantee that would happen.”
“You two can do whatever you want. The front position is mine.”
“Regardless, Princess Luna is not going to start anytime soon if you continue doing this. Think about other ponies, please.” mature pony says.
“I-I... yes, I guess you are right.”
“I’m very sorry everypony.”
“I guess it's selfish of me keeping my place at the front.”
The tense atmosphere is loosened a little bit. Not much time has passed, but the atmosphere makes it feels like ages have passed. The three have taken their place in the line.
Good, a desired event and outcome. And all that without a paid actor. Nightmare Moon thought to herself.
“We are sorry everypony for sitting on a throne while giving out blessings. It is not because we don’t respect you. Please understand that we have tens of thousands of ponies waiting for our blessing.”
Ponies have a bright expression hearing Nightmare Moon. The foremost ponies hurriedly climb to the throne. After earning her blessing, she descended as fast. She seems afraid of wasting her Princess’s time.
Just like that ponies keep the atmosphere as cooperative as they can be. One by one ponies climbs to the throne to receive the blessing. It is quite fast considering the situation.
Now is the turn of the three who are the cause of earlier. Nightmare Moon has been contemplating what she should do to those three. In the end, she decided to call them.
“You three, come to us. We want to give you blessings at the same time.”
“Yes, Princess.”
“Thank you, Princess.”
“Huh, that pony earlier is true.” One of them remember the advice he heard earlier.
The ponies beside him smack him. “We are currently in front of Princess Luna. Keep it to yourself.”
Nightmare Moon giggles. This act shocked everypony. Princess Luna in the eye of her ponies is a very stoic pony. Princess Luna is indeed very stoic, but currently, they are facing Nightmare Moon. Maybe Princess Luna is a very kind pony. Some of the ponies thought.
“You are dismissed.” Nightmare Moon says.
The atmosphere is back to normal and ponies continue to take turns. But sometimes ponies are just questioning about anything. Nightmare Moon call her, curious pony.
“Princess if I may ask.”
“What is it?”
"I have been watching the procedure. And I cannot see any difference to the ponies receiving the said blessing." Curious pony asks
“This blessing is not doping. Think of it as a healthy food. You cannot expect an immediate change from just one time eating.”
“I’m very sorry Your Highness. I’m not meant to doubt Your Highness.”
“It is fine my little pony. You are standing right here is enough to prove that you are believing our blessing and idea. Anything else?”
“Maybe the right question is, why are there no flashy blessings? All I see is a pony climb throne. Then they get close. When they close enough, Your Highness horn is glowing. After that, they descend from the throne as nothing happened.”
“There is nothing more to it. Blessings are essentially us making a connection with you. We have been contemplating this thing before. But then we decide using Illusion spell to make a flashy blessing is a waste of magic.”
“I understand, thank you, Your Highness.” curious pony climbs down from the throne
Nightmare Moon talks loud enough for everypony to hear. Everypony that is currently waiting in line now understands. They are just glad there is somepony brave enough to question their Princess.
A pony climbs to the throne. he is the pony who has been showing malicious intend. the Nightmare Moon pretending not to notice and give the pony blessing anyway. But the pony doesn’t let Nightmare Moon do it.
“Please stop Princess Luna, I know you already notice me.”
“Interesting. You are not hiding the fact that you are opposing us. Pray tell, what makes you willing to wait in line.”
“Not much, I just want to expose you!”
“Well, go on.”
Yea, we always talk about the truth until now. About the condition of their kingdom, about the blessing, and about Princess Celestia. Princess Luna is as defeated as Nightmare Moon. In the end, Nightmare Moon called the guard. The guard then takes the pony away.
Nightmare Moon then called her secretary to bring her paperwork to the throne room. She decided to not let her ponies go back home so Nightmare Moon could attend to her work.
The secretary came to the throne room with a stack of paper. Nightmare Moon does a quick scan on those papers.
“Approve number twelve, twenty-three, and thirty-one from the top.”
“Eh? Your Highness not going to read it?”
“Yes, we read it thoroughly. With magic, of course, because as you can see we are occupied with giving blessings right now.”
“I understand. Excuse me, your Highness.”
Princess Luna can't give blessing like Nightmare Moon. They switch places every twelve hours. They open court for twelve hours every night.
When it was time for Princess Luna to take charge of the body, she flew away. She wants to know what her ponies are doing. To her delight, more and more ponies go out to just appreciate her star.
From time to time she moves her star to make a new constellation. Ponies seem to be interested in the process as they're mesmerized.
This happens constantly for a week. Nightmare Moon and Princess Luna having the best time in their life, it feels so fast for them.
Water Lily doesn’t come for the first three nights. Nightmare Moon decides to visit her dream. She doesn’t know what happened. All she does is, wonder why the sun is never rising again and when Nightmare Moon will visit her.
“Wow, this is so awesome!” Water Lily shouted.
“Where do you want to visit first?”
“Everywhere!”
“Well, we have so many places with that name.” Nightmare Moon chuckles.
Nightmare Moon makes Water Lilly visit various places around the castle. From the throne room, armory, treasury, archives, and garden. Finally, they arrive at Nightmare Moon’s chamber.
“Your room is so big, Princess Luna!”
“Yea...”
“My room is like only a tenth of this.”
“Is that so?”
“Hmm” Water Lily affirms her. “And this bed. So fluffy.” She jumped around on the bed. Then rolls herself on it. “And it smells like you.”
“D- don’t smell it!”
“Hehe~.” Water Lily doesn’t seem to feel guilty. She continues smelling it. “But it’s comforting.”
Nightmare Moon climbs on top of the bed. “Could you please stop it?”
“Hug me.” Nightmare Moon complies. “This smells
better.” Princess Luna chuckles seeing all this.
Nightmare Moon gives up and lets her do whatever she wants. “There is something we need to say.”
Water Lily sensing the seriousness in Nightmare Moon's tone. She then releases her hug. “What is it?”
“My name is not Luna. My name is Nightmare Moon.” Nightmare Moon climbs down from the bed.
Nightmare Moon cancels her illusion magic. At first, her coat is blue and her mane is light blue. But suddenly her coat turned black. Her mane turned into an ethereal mane. Her eyes too, showing an imposing slit pupil.
“Wha...” Water Lily surprised. But she isn't scared at all. She recognizes those eyes, the eyes that always look at her. Gentle and full of affection.
“And this is Princess Luna.” Princess Luna takes over the body. At that moment, her coat turned blue. Her mane is no longer ethereal mane.
“Hello, little one.” Water Lily climbs down and approaches Princess Luna. She suddenly buried her face on Princess Luna's chest. She is sniffing it.
It is very subtle, but right now Nightmare Moon is jealous. Wha-, what the meaning of this. Nightmare Moon says from the mindspace.
“I don’t know, and I want to know too. For now, control your jealousy first.” Princess Luna talks with Nightmare Moon whilst waiting for Water Lily to finish. After some time, Princess Luna thought it was enough, she pushed Water Lily gently. “As expected, if you hug us this suddenly would make us confused.”
“Hmm? Oh, yea, I’m sorry. It's just that your smell is different from Nightmare Moon.”
"Really?... No one's ever noticed until now. Guess that makes you the first." Luna winked.
“Hehe~”
“Do you think we can make an empty vessel for your soul?” Princess Luna asks Nightmare Moon, but the latter seems not to think about that.
Whatever, let me have the body for a second, I want to play with her. Princess Luna gives Nightmare moon the best wry smile she can give. she is thinking both of them already very comfortable sharing a body.
“Welcome, Nightmare Moon, I don’t make you feel jealous, did I?”
“You! You did that on purpose don’t you?”
“I did, but not the one you are thinking of right now. I promise!”
“Go on.”
“Nightmare Moon, your eyes are so scary. I’m sorry, please forgive me.”
“I said, go on.”
I wish we had some kind of popcorn dispenser in this mind space. Princess Luna muttered whilst watching those two like some theatrical show.
===================================================================================
It has been sometime since the sun stopped rising. Nightmare Moon and Princess Luna have new policies on when and who takes control of the body. Nightmare Moon would take control for half of the night. She gives the blessing at the time. Princess Luna would take control for another half of the night. She arranges the star on her free time. The night feels so fast for both of them. They want moments like this to last forever. Of course, it will never be that easy.
“I hope moments like this will last forever.”
Hmm? Really Nightmare Moon? It’s not like you, want things to be stable.
“Well, it's just that... hmm... I guess until I feel bored.”
When exactly you are going to get bored?
“Well, I guess when I’m not with you?” Princess Luna rolls her eyes hearing this. “Anyway, how is that important?”
I suppose it’s not. I guess the real question is, what would you do when you are bored?
“How about we make a golem?”
Why a golem, exactly?
“I don’t know, Luna. Maybe because it’s interesting for me?”
Really now? I suppose that is as good as the other answer.
“Right? The golem itself doesn’t have any purpose other than killing time.”
Can you be more altruistic?
“What do you want from me exactly? Plan like you geeks and nerds do?” Nightmare Moon says.
You have a point. At the time a knock came from the door.
“Who is it?”
“It’s Sugar Spice, Your Highness.”
“Come in.”
“Please excuse me.” Sugar Spice says while getting inside.
“Is this the report we ask you to make?”
“Yes. Two-third, of the total population, is already receiving your Highness blessing.”
“Good good, any sign the number would increase?”
“My apologies to your Highness, but I’m afraid it would not.”
“No need to be sorry, Sugar Spice. You did nothing wrong, but your thought in this regard is appreciated. You are free to speak.”
“Well, I think ponies are not informed enough about your Highness's blessing.”
“All we did indeed is make one announcement and nothing more. But, surely mouth to mouth information is enough to make every pony in the kingdom hear about my blessing.”
“Yes, but the problem is the mouth to mouth information sharing, Your Highness.”
“Hmm? What problem would it bring?” Princess Luna and Nightmare Moon are smart. They understand what their subordinates try to say. But they are also too smart to not hear what their subordinates try to say. Because they believe they are not perfect. they could overlook one or two things. Something their subordinates catch. Of course, this is only for the ponies who are loyal to Princess Luna.
“One thing is the loss of translation. Ponies would have their interpretation of your Highness's blessing. They would tell their ideas to other ponies. Now, this other friend would have a unique interpretation...”
“...” At first Nightmare Moon was confused by why Sugar Spice is suddenly silent. She then realized that she needed some consent to continue to speak. Nightmare Moon tries to give her a gentle smile and urge her.
“Yes! I’m sorry, Your Highness, as expected talking freely with a princess is nerve-racking.”
“It is also, as expected, asking you to speak freely is our egoistic demand it seems.” Nightmare Moon and Sugar Spice giggle.
“Okay, then let me continue. Because of that, Information giver and receiver would have different ideas. Somepony could have a good impression of their princess. They then told their friend about it. But their friend then has a bad impression because of it.”
“That is a good insight.”
“And also, other than that, ponies are less trusting. I think this is because Your Highness usurped Your Highness’s sister.”
“That is also true. Tell us, after you receive our blessing, what do you feel?”
“Yes, after I receive Your Highness blessing, I’m not eating even once. Part of it because I want to know if it is as good as your Highness said it is.” Sugar Spice peek at Nightmare Moon. She sees that Nightmare Moon giggles, which in turn makes her blush. “The other is because I want to become a proof of your Highness's blessing. And the result is I truly don’t need to eat.”
“Thank you, Sugar Spice.”
“Please think nothing of it, Princess Luna. Instead, on behalf of your ponies, I want to say thank you for trying to do something with our famish problem.”
“You are welcome.”
“There is something I want to ask your Highness.”
“What is it?”
“What would happen on the one-third of the rest? That is to say, ponies that are not accepting, or to get it?”
“We cannot say anything for now. Changing ponies heart wouldn't be simple.”
“How about giving blessings by force?” Sugar Spice suggest.
“No, that would be bad for a message.”
“What message does your Highness speak of?”
“That would make us look like a tyrant.”
“Ah, yes, that is true.”
Now, another knock could be heard. Nightmare Moon doesn’t expect any more guests. “This is Silver Shine, your Highness. May I come in?”
“You may.” Silver Shine quickly gets in. “What is it?”
“It is Straight Arrow, Your Highness. He brought many ponies with him. I believe he wants to protest.”
“Well! Don’t let them in!” Sugar Spice barks. Silver Shine could only give her a wry smile. He doesn’t want to decide for himself. Realizing this, Sugar Spice cower from embarrassment.
“Let them in. We want to hear what they want to say.” As for ponies who want to oppose her, she is still going to hear what they want to say. But most of them not having a constructive conversation with her. Even if they are, all the question she gets is stupid. She does all this, only to make sure she doesn’t come out as a tyrant.
===================================================================================
“Open the door. We are open court now.” Nightmare Moon right now in the courtroom. After hearing her command, the guards open the door.
“Princess Luna.”
“Ah, Straight Arrow, what is it that we have your attention for?”
“You know what it is.”
“We do in fact. But we still need to make it pleasant. How about tea?”
“Do you make light of this?”
“Of course not. But it’s not good when your mind is clouded by anger. There is no need for the hurry, is it?” Nightmare Moon says.
“No! I don’t need no tea.”
“... As you wish.”
“Where is Princess Celestia? Where is our Princess Celestia?”
“’ Our?’ as if she is yours. She is not your plaything, you know.”
“How about you? You throw her to, who knows where. Princess Celestia is your sister, is she not?” Straight Arrow says, with higher tone.
“Oh please, don’t tell us how to treat our sister. She is safe, inside a dungeon.”
“A dungeon! What kind of crime she did to deserve that.”
“A third of ponies are undernourished and my sister does not even do anything about it. Then one day we want to give shelter to all them, but she rejects it.”
“But that doesn’t-“ Straight Arrow says, but cut mid-sentence
“She was blinded by her arrogance. She stood against us and our efforts to better our lives. Fear not, we will be a better ruler!”
“If you want to become a better ruler, then let us grow crops. Rise the sun!”
“What! Are you even listening to us! Didn’t we just say that a-third of our ponies are undernourished? Meaning, for two ponies to eat one time, one ponies have to forget to eat one time? What you are eating is your brother’s life! Do you want to continue living that way?” Nightmare Moon says. Anger slipping through her teeth.
“And do you think your blessing would solve all it?”
“Oh, you were worried it didn’t work? You should’ve said so from the start. You are wasting time. Sugar Spice.”
“Yes, Your Highness.” Sugar spice walks forward a few steps from her place beside Nightmare Moon. “Ever since Princess Luna gave me her blessing, I’m not eating even once. And as you can see, I’m healthy.”
“You don’t expect us to believe it from just one pony, right?” Straight Arrow asks.
“... Sugar Spice, give him all the names of ponies who are undernourished.” Sugar Spice excuses herself to go and get it. After some time, she came back with a stack of paper. She then
placed it in front of Straight Arrow. “You can come and visit every single one of them. There you will see they have a better life now than ever.”
“How about the sun? Can you not do all it with it?”
“We will remind you once again. It will dispel my blessing, we don't need it anymore.”
“But it’s too dark outside.”
Nightmare Moon can only give him a wry smile. She feels like losing brain cells every second talking with this pony. Nonetheless, she takes one of the torches hanging in the courtroom. “This is, my little pony, called an artificial light. This is made of magic. Would be brighter than a real torch made of a real fire.” She then put it back.
“Also, we can’t tell time.”
“You are grownups. You don’t need your mom to tell you when to sleep right?” Nightmare Moon is genuinely confused by this question.
“It’s not that! We can’t tell whether it is morning, day, or afternoon.”
At this rate, I would be dumb enough to back to a foalhood school, Nightmare Moon thought to herself. “This is night. We don’t call night as the morning, day or afternoon.”
“But what we want is to be able to tell time by the hour.”
Forget about improving crops. I want our R&D department to develop medicine to regain brain cells. Nightmare Moon thought to herself. Nonetheless, she produces pocket watches from her wings. “This is, my little ponies, called a clock. Which would tell you what time it is.” She brings her pocket watches in front of Straight Arrow, for him to look closely. She then brings it back.
“Some don’t know how to read them.”
Now Nightmare Moon heavily regrets having the bodies of an alicorn. Because an Alicorn, or a pony for that matter, can’t rotate their elbow. I can’t facepalm. Oh, you know what, let’s ask our R&D department to develop a material strong enough to withstand an alicorn head but. Nightmare Moon thought to herself. Fortunately for Princess Luna, she got popcorn this time. “How about you, Straight Arrow, can you read clocks?”
“Well, I can, of course.”
“Good, now go and teach them how.”
“What about the beauty of the day?” Straight Arrow ask like it’s the most obvious question.
“Is my beautiful night not good enough?”
“What about crime rates? Without the sun, crime rates will go up!”
“We will be opening positions for new guards, this will help the economy as well.” Nightmare Moon says. Her patience is running low.
“The guard hadn't been reliable, or on our neighbors.”
“What are you saying when you’re a guard yourself? And also, they are your neighbors as much as they are your protectors. If you are that worried about it, do something about guards that are slacking! Make Equestria a better place, or die trying!”
“D... Die? But, umm, what about the weather?”
“Do you know what pegasi are, or do you need us to explain?” Nightmare Moon genuinely wonders about this. Straight Arrow has been asking stupid questions.
“I’m a pegasi myself. No need to explain.”
“Good, we will help pegasi figure something out.”
“What about the animals? They are innocent and need the light and crops.” Straight Arrow ask another question.
“They will adapt as they always do, and so will you.”
“How do you feel about the policies Celestia put in place, like mandatory vaccination?”
“We are not changing any policies our sister put in place until we thoroughly review them... but they are unlikely to change, they are there for a reason.”
“What about racial-“
“ENOUGH! Our survival as a species is at stake. We have more important concerns to deal with at the moment. This gathering is about giving our blessing so no more will perish. We are trying to save your lives! We are in this together!” Nightmare Moon think she going nowhere with this discussion.
“So discuss it after?”
“No matter what we do, some of you will walk away unhappy it seems.”
“What keeps you from being a tyrant like your sis-.” Straight Arrow and his group don’t think of Princess Celestia as a tyrant. They are loyal to Princess Celestia. But he knows how some ponies don't like Princess Celestia. And he tries to compare Nightmare Moon with Princess Celestia.
“SILENCE! All you dismissed!” The truth is, nothing does. Nothing keeps Nightmare Moon from being a tyrant except herself and Luna. if they wanted, they could rule the world and almost no one could stop them. Nightmare Moon waits for all the ponies to get out of the courtroom. “Somepony tell the cook to bring waffles to our chamber with tea.” Nightmare Moon says while walking to her chamber.