Moonlight and Sunset were walking toward the Castle of the Two Sisters, Twilight immobilized by magic chains between them. When they finally arrived, two Nightmare Guards charged their horn.
“Wait, asked one of the guards, Is that Twilight Sparkle? The rebel our Queen was looking for?”
“Yes!! Said Moonlight. As you can see, we captured her!!”
“But wait, said the other guard. I’ve never seen you two before. How can i be sure this ain’t an elaborate trap to infiltrate the castle and take down our queen?”
“Why would i want to take her down? Asked Moonlight. I mean, look at me!! I’m basically screaming darkness with my color palette. Plus, my first name is Moonlight, go figure.”
“What my brother mean, said Sunset, is that we are supporter of the Queen of the Night.”
The guards looked at each other and nodded.
“We’ll bring you to the Queen, said the first guard. She’s the one to decide what to do with outsiders.”
The two guards lead the trio to the throne room, where Nightmare Moon was sitting, eating grapes. When she saw Twilight Sparkle chained and defeated, she spit out some. She took a look at Moonlight and Sunset.
“My Queen, said the first guard, Those two came to us with a prisoner, claiming to be supporters of yours.”
“I’ve never seen those 2 before, said Nightmare Moon. But they captured Twilight Sparkle, a thorn in my butt for way to long.”
“This mean nothing, said Rainbow Dash. This could be an elaborate plot to overthrow you...I mean, the stallion is an Alicorn.”
“I understand your doubts, said Moonlight. But to be honest, we are not from this world.”
“Meaning?” asked Nightmare Moon.
“We are from another universe, answered Sunset. Where we came from, you have been defeated and reformed.”
“We tried to bring our Nightmare Moon back, using dark magic, said Moonlight. But we failed, and we were banned from our own world as a result. By chance, we landed in this universe, where you rule over Equestria.”
“We went to Canterlot on a hunch, said Sunset. There, the resistants attacked us, but we neutralized them quickly.”
“In exchange for their lives, said Moonlight. Twilight accepted to let herself be captured.”
“That does seem in character for her, said Rarity. She Celestia’s pupil after all, she does share her empathy for her subjects.”
Nightmare Moon stayed silent a moment.
“So, what do you want to do with her? Asked Moonlight. I know i would definitively send her to the moon.”
“I love the idea, said Nightmare Moon. My stupid sister is going to be so heartbroken when she’ll see that her pupil followed her as well.”
She ordered everyone to get away from Twilight. She pronounced an incantation and casted the banishment spell on Twilight. That gave Moonlight and Sunset the time to memorize it. Once it was done, Nightmare Moon laughed devilishly. Moonlight, then Sunset, also laughed to really sell their fake admiration of Nightmare Moon. This one advanced toward Moonlight and hugged him, putting his head between her two melons. Moonlight tried to get out of this situation, not because he was suffocating, but because he was embarrassed.
“You’re going to be my husband, sweetheart, said Nightmare Moon. As for you, you are officially one of my Nightmare officers”
“This is an honor, said Sunset. I’ll make sure to be worthy of that title”
Moonlight finally extirped himself from the booby trap.
“You, my wife? Asked Moonlight. That’s a dream come true! When will the ceremony take place?”
“By tomorrow, answered Nightmare Moon. You’re going to sleep in my room, Moonlight. As for you...Hum..”
“Nova Dusk, said Sunset. I’m Nova Dusk.”
“Well, Nova Dusk, you’re going to share a room with Rarity” said the busty mare.
Rarity and Sunset locked eyes with each other.
“This is going to be fun” said Rarity, smiling devilishly.
“What do we do?” asked Sunset to Moonlight, by telepathy.
”I’ll need time to learn to cast the spell, answered Moonlight, also by telepathy. Since that psycho want to get married tomorrow, ruining the ceremony by executing our plan seem like a fitting punishment for her.”
”I’m going to be the one fighting her, you know, said Sunset. I’m not sure breaking her heart will help me...It might just make her more powerful.”
”Trust me, Sister, said Moonlight. I’ve got this. My plan is flawless.”
”Very well, she said. I trust you...”
Nightmare Moon dismissed her servants and went back to her room, followed by Moonlight. Rarity showed Sunset her chamber.
“So, tell me how is life since Nightmare Moon took over?” asked Sunset.
“Honestly, it’s horrible, answered Rarity. It’s impossible to tan at night and the food is terrible. I’m not allowed to make dresses!! But none of us can beat Nightmare Moon, she’s just too powerful.”
Sunset felt that Rarity was being sincere and told her about her plan.
“Are you sure you can pull that off? Said Rarity. If you miss your shot, we’re all dead...But i’ll do literally anything to see the sun again!”
“Are any of your friends need to know as well?” asked Sunset
“Rainbow Dash is loyal to Nightmare Moon, answered Rarity. Fluttershy is very close to her, so she’ll probably told her right away. Applejack can’t lie, so i won’t tell her either. Pinkie Pie is the only one beside me that can keep a secret, but i prefer leaving her out of it. Beside, i’m the one Nightmare Moon trust the most”
“Good to know, said Sunset. We’ll start tomorrow”
In Nightmare’s room, Moonlight was strapped to a bed. The Queen of the Night was wearing a black BDSM leather outfit, revealing where it matter.
“Are you into BDSM, Dear Moonlight?” she asked.
“I don’t mind, answered Moonlight. But you see, i’m actually dead inside, literally. I’m sort of a Zombie. So i can’t get an erection, nor feel pain”
“Is that so? Said Nightmare Moon. Well, i love zombies...Now...Sleep!”
Moonlight felt asleep and woke up shortly after, Nightmare Moon was still here too, but something was different.
“We are in your dream, said Nightmare Moon. I modified it so you can feel pain and get an erection...”
“Never thought one day i would be dominated by the Night Empress herself, said Moonlight. A dream come true...”
Nightmare Moon smiled. The next day, Moonlight woke up, sleeping next to Nightmare Moon.
“Is it already morning? Asked Moonlight. With the eternal Night thing going on, it’s hard to guess what time of day we’re at.”
“I can assure the sun would already be up at this hour, answered Nightmare Moon. If Celestia was still there to raise it! Ha ha ha ha ha!!”
Moonlight laughed with her briefly.
“If we’re going to get married, said Moonlight. Can you tell me how this transformation of yours work? Are you just a magical personification of Luna’s darker side? Like in my world?”
“It might be the case in your universe, answered Nightmare Moon. But not in this one. This is actually a transformation unique to me and my sister, if i can still call her that. One that’s unlocked by the darkness in our hearts. Mine is called Nightmare and it feed on my jealousy and resentment. As for Celestia, she can also transform into a similar form, known as Daybreaker. Anger and hatred are what power her transformation. And over the course of a millenia, my resentment for Celestia grew only stronger. I resent her for being the favorite child, the Princess everyone in the kingdom was looking up to, while i was in the shadows. I resent her for banishing me, her own sister, to the moon without remorses for centuries...”
“Enough sorrow, said Moonlight. It’s time to prepare for the wedding ceremony!”
“Yes!! Said Nightmare Moon. I don’t know why i was telling you that stuff.”
“Everypony need somepony they can share their thoughts with, said Moonlight. You’re no exception, Nightmare Moon.”
“Please call me Luna, she said. Nightmare Moon is only a surname i gave to this form of mine.”
Moonlight shared this information with Sunset Shimmer.
“Amazing, said Sunset to herself. So, it’s just a transformation...A power up...A disguise she uses to hide her true feelings. A disguise powered by her resentment and jealousy. But somehow, Moonlight was able to crack her shell in the span of a night. He’s reaching out to her old self, and he could do it!!”
She contacted Moonlight and shared with him her new plan.
”Leave me one week and i’ll make her good ol’ Luna again!!” he answered.
And so, later that day, Moonlight convinced Nightmare Moon to put on delay the wedding for a week. Under the excuse he wanted to see her true self. The following days, Moonlight was able to make Luna open her heart to another person, by showing her love and attention, something she needed. The night before the Wedding, Nightmare Moon was acting her true self with Moonlight.
“You know, said Luna. You’re the first one in a long time that see me for who i really am. In one week, you erased centuries of sorrow, resentment and hatred from my broken heart. I know the truth about you, Moonlight. I can see you are not a bad person. Even if you didn’t meant it, your kindness gave me hope, the strenght to overcome my darkness. And for that, i’m really grateful to you.”
She was crying tears of joy. Moonlight felt his heart melting.
“It might have started as a fake act, said Moonlight. But i stopped faking it the morning you opened up to me. I really love you, Luna.”
“Well, i guess i should give my sister a second chance, said Luna. Do you want me to do unban her and Twilight right away?”
“Meh, They can wait one more night...” said Moonlight with a smug smile.
They laughed wholeheartedly. The next day, Sunset Moonlight and everyone were looking at the moon. Luna sighed and took a deep breath. A smile and a thumb up from Moonlight chased away her fear and she calmed.
“It’s time, she said. Celestia!! Twilight!! I, Luna!! Princess of the Night and Keeper of Dreams!! Hereby free you from the Moon!! Come back to Earth!!”
A beam hit the Moon. Shortly after, Celestia and Twilight came out from a portal. Celestia looked at Luna with tears in her eyes.
“Sister! Said Celestia. I’m sorry!”
“No! I’m sorry!!” said Luna.
They hugged each other.
“I should have be a better sister for you, my dear Luna, said Celestia. I got drunk on the admiration the others had for me, so much that i neglected you. You wanted more recognition, but in my selfishness, i only left you suffering in solitude.”
“I’m also at fault, sister, said Luna. I acted selfishly as well. I resented you for getting all the love from the people of Equestria and i forgot that a true princess serve her people, even if it’s in the shadows. Moonlight’s love and kindness broke the veil of darkness clouding my heart. I’m sorry for banning you to the moon...”
“Meh, somehow, i deserved it, said Celestia. Can you do the honor of raising the Sun with me, sister?”
“I thought you’d never ask...” answered Luna.
Twilight was beating the crap out of Moonlight.
“Please, i’m sorry!! Said Moonlight. It was her idea!!”
“Maybe, but you went along with it, jackass!! Said Sunset. And i also notified Twilight about the change of plan...”
“But thank you, you two, said Twilight. I’m going to live to the legacy of your Twilight...And i have a lot of work in front of me...”
“Just trust your friends, said Sunset. And the rest will come on it’s own...”
“So, are we still getting married?” asked Moonlight.
“Nope, she answered. I have tons of work i need to do. And since i’m sure you can’t stay in this world, it’s for the better. Still, i’ll always remember you, Moonlight.”
A portal opened in front of Sunset and Moonlight.
“Well, it’s time for us to go...said Sunset. We have other universes to save!!”
“Take care of yourself, okay? Said Moonlight to Luna. Oh, do you want to come with us?”
“You...You want me to go with you? Asked Luna. I don’t know...I have my responsability as a princess!! And...And...”
Celestia pushed her gently in the back with a smile.
“It’s okay, said Celestia. Who do you think raised the Sun and the Moon all the time you were away? Follow your heart, Luna...”
She nodded and turned back to Moonlight.
“Wait for me, Moonlight!! She shouted. I’m coming with you!!!”
And thus, our heroes gained a new ally, Princess Luna.