Nightmare Moon watched her soldiers depart for their first mission with a heavy heart. She told them to be as careful as possible, but tonight was the last one in their lives as innocents. After tonight they would have killed in her name. Nightmare Moon turned to look at her namesake, gently rising over the horizon, raised by her sister from far away. By the end of the night, they would have killed for her.
She wished to ask her for advice, but Luna never came, she had to make her move.
“Lady, the teleportation circle is ready… but is this really necessary? Maybe we could try to look for someone to bribe…, or perhaps negotiate with a higher official.” Twilight was very anxious, shuffling her legs and biting her lip. Nightmare Moon wished she could have something soothing to say.
“Twilight, I know that you never wished for this and only ever wanted to see others safe and happy, but we cannot delay anymore. I waited for you to try negotiating with the warden, possibly giving away our element of surprise entirely. From what you reported, you were lucky that he recognized you and proved amicable enough to not arrest you.
“It brings no end of sorrow to me, but we must harm our own kin once again. We cannot allow them to harm Celestia as every second she spends there, she is in danger. I do not ask you to fight, but you must do what is required from you.”
“I-I will! But this feels so rushed and poorly planned, we never learned how many guards there are, or the layout;, not even where the Princess is…”
“Excessive planning is as much detrimental as not enough. No plan can account for every eventuality… and the more complex the plan is, the more rigid it is. Rigid things are prone to shattering.”
“I… I understand. You are right, just like always…” Twilight anxiously murmured to herself. Nightmare Moon sensed that Twilight was on the verge of a breakdown. The thought of this turning into another horrific war, this time her being directly involved. Was this truly necessary? She quickly stopped her train of thought, she could not allow herself to doubt at such a moment.
“Twilight, I swear to you on my mother’s name that your concerns will never become real. We do what we must to restore our homeland; I shall do that much and no more, I will lord no more. I will do my utmost to minimize casualties. Come now, let us see if everyone else is ready.”
Twilight silently dragged on behind her as they went back inside the castle. The camp was, quite literally, buzzing with excitement as changelings were checking their weapons and equipment one more time before going to battle. The sounds of metal rubbing against metal, buzzing wings, and rustling cloth were omnipresent in each corner of the large entry hall.
Nightmare Moon headed directly for the command tent, but in her way came Shadow, she looked visibly distraught over something.
“Mistress, may we speak for a moment? There is something that demands your attention, it concerns your loyal followers.” Shadow rarely displayed her discomfort outwardly. Nightmare Moon never asked why, but she believed that Shadow didn’t want her to worry. This had to be exceptionally important.
“Twilight, find Rarity, please. I will be with you shortly.” After Twilight obediently, and stiffly, walked off in the vague direction of where the seamstress could be found, Nightmare Moon focused on Shadow again. Shadow immediately looked at the ground.
She spent a long moment hesitating before speaking almost inaudibly:
“Mistress, you are making a mistake.”
The simple statement, spoken just above a whisper, but to Nightmare Moon, it held the gravity of the largest star. She knew the Changeling for many years and came to dearly love her devoted retainer as she did her own kin, and never before could she bring herself to say these words. Not once Shadow contradicted her. This was the first and Nightmare Moon did know how to react.
Shadow must have understood the effect her words had as she became even more visibly uncomfortable, her eyes darting across the floor and her whole body quivering.
“M-my Shadow…” Nightmare tried to question, but the rest of her thought never came.
“Mistress, you are making a terrible mistake,” Shadow eventually repeated herself, hoping that Nightmare would understand her without her having to speak any more of the damning words.
“But… there is no other way…”
“Mistress, please, do not commit to your plans,” Shadow quietly begged.
Nightmare’s mind was starting to recover from the utter shock of the situation. Shadow would never say a word against her, under normal circumstances. Could she have learned something previously obscured, something that confirmed the folly of her course?
“My Shadow, please, speak,” Nightmare gently asked. Shadow continued staring at the ground, trying to overcome the intense shame that such a protest brought her.
“Mistress, the changelings are dying,” she finally uttered. “There are so few left. They are loyal only to you, sacrificing them this way will bring you only sorrow.”
Many thoughts resulted from this statement. The first one was dread. Nightmare Moon could only count a few times in her life when she felt fear, and never like this. She understood intuitively, she was afraid not for herself but for Shadow. For Shadow to come out to her like this, she had to be in nothing short of complete panic. There was something that utterly terrified her dear Shadow, and the very thought of something harming her terrified Nightmare as well.
Shadow did not fear for her own life, that was not in her nature. The ancient changeling drone understood her role, and knew that her fate was to die doing what was required of her; whenever that day would come. Nor she feared for other changelings, excluding only her daughters, perhaps. Could it be that Shadow was terrified of losing them? Nightmare Moon could not say what exact form their relationship had, she just couldn’t understand. But she knew that Shadow loved them deeply, even if they were a constant distraction in her line of duty. But no… this couldn’t be the only reason. Her Shadow would never put her petty fears above her Mistress’ goals. Even if those goals would make Shadow absolutely miserable. Which in turn would… Ah… There it was.
At that moment, Nightmare Moon could finally see with clarity the true depth of what she was about to do. It was not merely that her loyal soldiers were going to defeat the enemy in her name, it was that many of them would die to further her goals. And how many of them will be forever crippled? She suddenly remembered one of her Guards, Morning Shine. He stepped on a mine during the one and only field battle her Imperial Guard participated in. There was no glory in that injury, no tale to proudly tell his son. He lived the rest of his life in shame for being the only Guard who could no longer serve her due to his own carelessness. The carelessness was her own doing because she needed to show her strength. He deserved so much better than that and Nightmare Moon could not feel worse because of that.
This was a new outlook for her. Nightmare Moon always believed that war was a solemn, almost sacred, duty for both nobles and commoners alike. The material exemplification of the proper order of things. A noble leads and a commoner toils: acting together for the future. But now it was different. Here she was, alone, commanding a troop of some of the very last changelings to ever live; that followed her not because they believed in her cause, but because they could not imagine living without a queen ordering them to act. She wasn’t even sure if they had a choice in following her or if submission to her was a biological necessity for them. The new realization made the whole endeavor disgust her. She should have never taken the changelings with her. This was not their battle to fight. And Nightmare Moon knew that she would never forgive herself for making them die for her when other ways could still be attempted.
It did not feel like it was very long, but evidently, it was long enough for her to be missed. Nightmare Moon suddenly discovered Rarity’s worried look, as the seamstress approached her until she stood beside Shadow. Rarity gave the Changeling a single sideways glance, her expression turning even more worried.
“Darling, is everything alright? You look as if dear Shadow just shined a light in your eyes.” Nightmare Moon vaguely remembered the pain she felt when bright light hit her sensitive eyes when she still lived. She supposed that she felt similarly now.
“Shadow and I… we were discussing the state of our forces. She provided me with valuable and unexpected insight just now.”
“Oh? Should I tell the company to wait a few more hours if you want to restructure the plan? Surely, it is nothing too severe? After all, we have a friend to free from a cruel, dirty, wet prison,” Rarity cringed.
The remainder returned Nightmare Moon to what she was just about to do. She resented having to send changelings to battle for Celestia’s sake, but what were her options? She could not leave Celestia to rot.
“Rarity…” Nightmare Moon decided to stop lying to her friend. “My dear Shadow just saved me from making one of the worst mistakes in my life and death. I cannot send changelings to die for me. A war is waged not for glory or obligation, but because refusing to often leads to even more misery. I cannot ask the last of the changelings to die because of Celestia’s stubbornness! An action this careless is anathema to all that is noble!” Nightmare Moon emphatically looked at Shadow next. “Words cannot express my gratitude to you, My Shadow. I was so blind to the reality of what I was doing to those I was meant to protect. I am unworthy of you. I am unworthy of any of you.”
Rarity was visibly taken aback,
“Why would you say such a thing? Of course, you are worthy! We stand by you because you are our friend, and you wish to bring good to ponies! It’s what friends do - support each other. We all would be here even if you weren’t so capable.”
Nightmare Moon felt sick. Rarity’s immutable sweetness made her feel worse over what she did to her,
“Thank you… I promise…” Nightmare Moon wanted to tell Rarity she would make it right, but she realized that this would be a lie. “No… Rarity, I cannot do this any longer!” she burst, quickly drawing eyes, although Changelings respected their queen enough to not eavesdrop on her private matters. “Rarity, I used you! I ruined your life! What I did sickens me, I cannot pretend it never happened any longer!”
Rarity stood silently before the edges of her mouth slowly curled up,
“Oh, you remind me of Fluttershy! Darling always overthinks it. Why does it matter what you did so many years ago? Ponies remember it no better than what you did a thousand years ago. Yes, you did some regrettable things, but I never believed for a moment that this was who you are. Wouldn’t you now agree I was right?”
“But… Rarity… so many ponies died because of what I did, how could you support me fully knowing this?”
Rarity’s smile dimed,
“Yes. Would it have stopped you if I wasn’t there with you?”
“No.”
“So I thought as well. We were already in a horrible situation, regardless of what anyone did. Thestrals already came down from their mountains, and there was hardly a way to prevent ponies’ lives from being lost. Even if we used our elements and defeated you, it would have changed little in the lives lost. I could, however, change you. I made it so fewer ponies resisted you so that you needn’t harm them. After all, you only did what you had to do to defeat Princess Celestia. If anything, you moderated your armies that stewed in their hatred for centuries. I do not regret a single moment I spent running your errands or assisting your rule out of the Palace. I always believed you could do much more good here, rather than on the Moon… and look at you now! Risking everything you have to save the same mare that made you spend a thousand years on the Moon!
“Though I cannot say it was easy, or even pleasant at all times, I believe we and Luna did a great job reforming you, if I do say so myself!”
“You… reformed me?!”
“But of course! No creature is evil in its nature. Evil is miserable, and no creature wants to be miserable. Just look at Sombra, he had everything except for one mare he cared for the most… and it made him feel dreadful for every moment of his life and death. It is sad that so little can be done for him, but it wasn’t too late for you. You only needed to see just how much better it was to love and be loved in return than to be feared.”
This was definitely a new perspective. Nightmare Moon always believed that Rarity was firmly under her hoof, and it turned out that it was much more mutual than she thought. Although, the irony that the Princess of Love stood against her gave her no confidence.
“I suppose your reasoning was sound,” Nightmare Moon admitted. “I no longer know what to do. I see now that my course up to this point was wrong, but I see no other way to accomplish our goals. As much as trying to be less aggressive reduces our chances for success. I am questioning if I should rescue Celestia at all. She knew the risks and that her little ponies would sentence her for as much as showing her face to them.”
“Why, darling, everyone doubts themselves at the precipice. Just think about which course of action will do the most good to the grandest number of creatures.”
“I no longer believe my actions can do good to anyone,” Nightmare Moon gloomily responded. “I wish I never returned, I wish I stayed in the afterlife with my other sisters.”
“But that is so untrue! Look around you,” Rarity dramatically waved her hoof. “Every creature is here for you, and because of you, they finally do something that matters again. You give them a new reason to live!”
“They give themselves a reason to live. Changelings are creatures of duty and devotion. They don’t need me to have a purpose, they merely need a leader. It simply so happens that they see me as the most legitimate leader they can have at present. The fact that their queens never gave them a better purpose than war is pitiful. Such good subjects do not deserve to be wasted on the battlefield in a war that is ultimately unnecessary.”
Rarity was visibly perplexed by the answer,
“But Nightmare, you always repeat that war is a solemn duty. Changelings don’t know a higher honor than to fight for their queen.”
“Which only makes this sadder. Rarity, they are naive as foals, only knowing and understanding as required. Ignorant of all good in life. I cannot bring myself to sacrifice them. Not even for Celestia. I will go alone.”
“Mistress, but how do you intend to rescue the Princess? Allow me to come with you!” Shadow eagerly asked.
“No, my Shadow. This is not your battle. None of you should risk for Celestia’s sake. I will go alone. I may not be harmed with physical weapons.”
Nightmare Moon felt too sick to discuss this further. Offering a brief look for goodbye before floating away with no word. Nightmare Moon didn’t want to go. She wanted to be alone right now. But she had a duty to attend to. Her alliance has proved to be a liability, but she was bound by it regardless.
She found Twilight doing last-minute checks on the teleportation circle. Nightmare Moon made Twilight calculate it to deliver her directly into the prison’s courtyard, a perfect place to strike.
“Twilight, cast your spell. I am going alone,” Nightmare Moon ordered mechanically.
Twilight hesitated, looking around at their soldiers, still preparing for battle.
“Lady-”
“Twilight, please. I do not want to talk about it. I will go alone.”
Twilight hesitated for a while longer… but then she quietly obeyed nonetheless. The circle sparkled brightly before opening a rift between the channelling rods. Nightmare Moon floated through. As soon as she was through, the rift closed behind her. Looking around, Nightmare Moon acknowledged the accuracy of Twilight’s calculations. She was inside the courtyard, floating before a grim, concrete building with narrow windows and dim lights emanating from inside. The courtyard was littered with benches, tools, and attributes of prison life, as well as several guards staring down at her from their guard towers, attracted by the bright light of the rift. None of them had moved or raised the alarm just yet, clearly, there were no instructions on a small stormcloud teleporting inside their defences.
Nightmare Moon had no interest in waiting for them to figure it out. She quickly slithered her way towards the building. Sinking under the shut, metal door, she entered a grim, dimly lit hallway. Nightmare noted that security was rather light, she only spotted one guard wearily strolling back and forth in the hallway. She directed herself directly to him.
“Direct me to your warden’s office,” Nightmare Moon asked directly. She did not really have a plan for when she could get there, but she guessed that she would have to negotiate.
The soldier jumped halfway to the ceiling from a cloud of smoke just speaking to him,
“Uhh?!” He squeaked.
“Please, direct me to your warden. You house a prisoner I would like released,” Nightmare Moon calmly repeated.
“W-what? How…”
Nightmare Moon audibly sighed,
“Please, focus on your duty, guardspony. A visitor is asking for your directions. It is not required for you to know everything.”
“But… visitors are not allowed,” the guard managed to answer. Still far too confused over just what was speaking to him.
“Ugh… dismissed,” Nightmare Moon floated past him, deciding to search for the warden on her own.
The lone guard stared at her in confusion for a moment before rushing ahead of her and standing in her way,
“I mean it! Visitors are not allowed, this is a facility with restricted access!”
“Hmph! I’d like to see you stop me,” to punctuate her point, Nightmare Moon floated straight through him.
“But… it’s illegal!”
At that, Nightmare Moon began genuinely laughing; her fit only took a few seconds before she could control herself again,
“Don’t be ridiculous, little pony, your petty laws do not apply to me. You have no right to enforce them on me, nor can you. I have a business with your warden, and I shall leave when it is concluded. …Although, I suppose, I could simply free whoever is required myself. That would be much less intrusive on your warden’s timetable.”
“I… okay. I’ll walk you to the office. Just… don’t do anything, please.”
As promised, the guard brought her to the office spaces, at the top of the building. Nightmare Moon noted that the prison seemed only partially full at most, this must be a dedicated place to hold the most important prisoners. She’d have to comb through here and see who is a real threat here.
“The rumor is the warden is having a meeting today, so you might need to wait a bit.”
“I assure you, he will make time for me.”
“I doubt that;, nopony wants to upset the minister of information. She knows everything about everypony.”
Oh... that was a treat. Apparently, her old servant not only did not fall from fame, but even held sway. Not that she was surprised. Cloudy Dawn was a proper viper, that was why she had chosen her for the office. She also цфі the only ітфлу that proved to be too much even for an accomplished snake handler such as Nightmare Moon, and she never forgot her role in sowing discord in her Empire.
“I believe that madame minister will be positively delighted to meet me just as well.”
Nightmare Moon followed the guard until he pointed her at the office she was looking for. She dryly thanked him and invited herself in.
She expected the office to be buzzing with the chatter of negotiations, but it was eerily silent. Inside, Nightmare discovered a surprisingly homely room one would not expect to see in prison. The walls were covered in calming, deep green wallpaper with tasteful flowers littered closer to the floor. The light was mute and warm. In the middle of the room, stood a tea table with two chairs, one occupied. A familiar porcelain teapot and cups waited on top.
Although Dawn obviously waited for her, it seemed that Nightmare Moon managed to surprise her after all. Dawn was staring at her with a rare case of bewilderment for her.
“I suppose, this is where I should I invite you to have some tea, like you used to invite me… Though, it seems that would be a case of black humor.”
Indeed it was. Nightmare had to suppress a chuckle. She did attempt to “sit,”, however,
“I feel as if I should be surprised at you expecting me.”
“I connected the dots as soon as I heard that Twilight was back,” Cloudy explained. “Being in charge of literally all information streams in Equestria has plenty of perks,” the mare proceeded to pour herself a cup of tea from the teapot and breath the steam in. “You have such an impeccable taste in tea. It’s a shame that growing tea was deemed an unnecessary waste of labor by the agriculture ministry.”
“I came to negotiate the release of Princess Celestia,” Nightmare Moon decided to move to the point. She didn’t want to spend time reminiscing with Dawn, of all ponies. “I believe you can arrange that.”
“Simply enough,” Dawn casually confirmed. “I would have to convince the Central Bureau that the messages of her capture were false positives, but that is hardly impossible. That is, in fact, why I came here.”
“I am glad we understand each other, shall we?”
“In a moment. You see, I also hoped I could talk to you directly instead of having to use a princess as a messenger. I need to know your intentions.”
“My intentions are to rescue my fellow royal from unlawful captivity by her own subjects. I have no intention of exacting revenge.”
“I expected that much, it is not your style. Though, I partially expected having to parley with a strike team instead of you. Your soldiers must have begged you to get an opportunity for some revenge.”
“Less so than you believe.”
“Even though, I don’t think they are happy about our modern arrangement.”
“No, they are not.”
“I see. Are you planning to reign them in and attempt diplomacy like Princess Celestia had?”
“I believe you know my style better than to assume such a thing.”
Cloudy nodded and took a small sip from her cup. A vintage clock loudly counted the seconds of the pause,
“A shame,” Dawn said in the end, continuing their verbal duel. “I was looking forward to calling you my Empress again.”
“Why, are you truly so disillusioned in your ideal of democracy that you wish a tyrant like me to save you?”
“More so that I never believed in it to begin with,” Cloudy answered with a small grin. “Contrary to what you, likely, think; I never wanted you to abdicate. I only wanted you to shift your policies. I believe you know enough about my background to understand my perspective.”
“You had a fondness for writing about foreign leaders, yes. I enjoyed reading several of your reports on griffon dukes.”
“I also wrote on democratic projects too. Saddle Arabia has a centuries-long democratic tradition of electing emirs, though only nobility and rich commoners can vote. Their system is not bad in the sense that their state functions stably, most of the time, but it is so painfully conservative and slow to move that at the time I was writing my field report, they had failed to adopt the steam engine.
“A more republican ideal of minotaurs landed them better results, but in the last several decades, each election has turned into a competition of cutthroats who can convince the public that the other side is even worse than theirs is. Their policies suffered as a result, with record levels of corruption and no political will to reform.”
“And so you believe I did well in comparison to everyone else. Such a backhoof compliment you have. Celestia is eager to take her crown again, perhaps it is her you should speak to.”
“Celestia? Is this why you are going to such lengths to rescue her?”
“I want nothing to do with this place any longer. I am only here because of Luna.”
Dawn looked on in disbelief, before recomposing herself,
“Is she here?” Nightmare Moon realized that she overestimated her opponent and made a mistake.
“I do not know,” Nightmare Moon lied. “I came to search for her together with Celestia. As per conditions of our alliance, I am to assist her in reclaiming her position; if I am able to do so.”
“You do not know?” Dawn incredulously asked. “That is rare. I do not remember you admitting ignorance once before. No, you always know. You always know at least something;, that is why you are so successful.”
Nightmare Moon mentally flogged herself for her mistake. Having to resort to lying made it too easy for Dawn to see through her.
“My knowledge of Luna only extends as far as it did in my life. I last saw her before my death and I haven’t heard any information regarding her since. Searching for her trail here seemed the most logical way to begin.”
Dawn knowingly smiled at her, showing her that the deception was not working,
“A shame. We could have helped each other. I have wanted to meet her ever since these zealots started infiltrating our ranks. There’s no need for this hostility. If you ever find her, please pass my invitation on to her.”
“I will see what I can do. Now, will you do as you promised?”
Dawn frowned, but stood up,
“Do you have to be so hasty? Your throne can wait a little longer, no one else will be claiming it any time soon.”
Nightmare’s first instinct was to tell her again that she had no intention of claiming a throne at all, but had stopped herself just in time. Dawn was trying to provoke her, she wasn’t being genuine…. Neither of them was,
“I will suffer no excuses. A princess must not be held in captivity a second longer if I can help it.”
“I always admired your principles. Let’s go then, she has a special cell at the infirmary.”
“Special cell?”
“Of course. You wouldn’t expect an alicorn to be treated like any other petty criminal.”
Nightmare Moon did not like the sound of that.
The way to the infirmary lay through more lively cell blocks. Nightmare Moon saw dozens of ponies lying in their rough, metal beds, not all sleeping but too afraid to move regardless. This was no place for her or Celestia. Dawn led her past the infirmary into a separate room, the door wasn’t reinforced and only had a simple lock. Two guards stood outside.
“It’s time, boys,” Dawn signalled them with a flourish. “Time to put our friend back out there.”
The guards warily glanced at Nightmare Moon, and she responded with practiced cold glare. The door wasn’t even locked, and the inside looked nothing like a cell but rather a medical ward. Celestia was lying in bed, several needles connecting pipes to her hooves and neck. Her eyes were closed, but the heartbeat meter showed that she was alive.
“You drugged her?!” Nightmare Moon cried out. Causing several ponies around her to step back in fear. “How dare you! How dare you lay your filthy hooves on a royal Princess! You are unworthy to even look at her!” The more Nightmare said, the more enraged she felt. She wanted to break something, preferably Dawn’s spine. “Is this your doing?!” she yelled at the mare directly. “You dare to imprison her, and now you drug her?! I will make you answer for what you did! You, lowborn filth, will suffer as she did!”
Despite how well Dawn knew her and how much experience she had in dealing with nobles of all sorts; Nightmare Moon, for the first time, saw genuine fear in her eyes. A testament to her presence and rumbling voice, she must have looked like a small stormcloud ready to erupt in a lightning storm for the ages.
Dawn quickly recomposed herself after Nightmare’s eruption and attempted to placate her,
“I swear to you, this wasn’t my idea! I only arrived several hours before you did! This is the best way we can deal with magically gifted prisoners! The only other way is to cut…” Dawn realized far too late that her explanation was about to have the opposite result. If Nightmare Moon’s rage wasn’t quite hot enough to melt steel, now it would reliably melt enchanted tungsten in a sub-caliber shell.
“Release her immediately!” Nightmare Moon ordered. Dawn nervously nodded, and the staff frantically started disconnecting needles from the sleeping Princess. It took them some minutes and a few more drugs, but Celestia soon started to steer in her sleep and began groggily opening her eyes, squinting at the light.
“See? No harm done. It was a medical coma,” Dawn clarified, having a moment to calm her nerves.
“Celestia! Can you hear me?” Nightmare Moon called out. Celestia’s eyes were unfocused, but consciousness seemed to have returned.
“Y-yes. Just a tiny bit sleepy. Don’t you worry, everypony, your Princess is not worse for wear.”
“Teleportation spell, do you think you can still cast?”
“Yes… I just need a moment,” Celestia stood up on her wobbly legs and yawned. “Dear, it’s been some time since I had so much sleep. Now, where are we? I do not remember having a cell so lavish.”
“Celestia, this scum has drugged you and kept you sleeping for the entirety of your imprisonment.”
“Is that so?” Celestia curiously looked at the medical machinery around her, paying special attention to the dripper she was recently disconnected from. Having finished her examination, Celestia suddenly showed Nightmare a playful grin, “I am pleased to know that you care so much for my wellbeing.”
Dawn giggled twice, stopping herself under Nightmare Moon’s death glare,
“When I am back here, you’d better not still be on the premises.”
“Now-now, Nightmare Moon. Will you at least tell me who your new friend is before you kill her?” Celestia asked, taking a few steps forward to have a closer look. “Your face is oddly familiar…”
“My name is Cloudy Dawn, Your Highness,” Dawn bowed slightly. “I served as the Imperial Minister of Information after you were banished. Before that, I worked as a journalist for Equestria Daily; I mostly spent time abroad, so you probably wouldn’t remember me...”
“Nonsense! Of course, I remember you! You were widely known as a political writer. Luna enjoyed finishing her night reading your articles,” Celestia glanced at Nightmare Moon at the end.
“Lest we forget your current employ in our enemy’s,” Nightmare Moon pointedly added.
“Must you always paint everyone as friend or foe?”
“As much as I am glad to see that you are in a good mood, I should remind you that we have much to do. Let us leave this place.”
“Can I, at least, offer you a compromise for a peaceful resolution of our conflict?” Dawn asked with little hope.
“From what I understand, you have no authority to offer us satisfactory terms,” Nightmare Moon pointed out. “Unless you are offering to assist us in restoring the lawful order.”
“I have no authority to negotiate alone on behalf of the Central Bureau, but I can convince them to offer you the terms close to what we agree upon. After all, I direct the information flow: and can show them precisely what they need to see.”
“What you are offering is edging on treason. I see your loyalty is as shifty as ever. But very well, I shall hear your offer out.”
“I see no reason why we shouldn’t negotiate either; go on, my little pony. Speak up.”
“Thank you. While I cannot offer you unconditional surrender, I can offer to address the question of your legal status. It must be awfully inconvenient to deal with ponies trying to arrest you every time they see you…”
Nightmare Moon gave a glance to Celestia, who returned it. Nightmare Moon then proceeded to cackle. Dawn visibly shrank. Celestia frowned at Nightmare Moon, but the apparition did not even notice her reaction, consumed by what she found utterly hilarious.
“My little pony, I am sorry. It seems that Nightmare Moon has found your offer wanting. Perhaps it is because she sees your law as beneath us.”
“It is… i-it is not just that! It… it is that she believes that her pathetic lawponies can prove an obstacle. Dawn, sweety, you could not arrest me regardless of how many lackeys you send after me. You have no chains that would hold me, and no amount of sedative will prevent my escape. I will burn your prison to the ground and free everyone you mistreated, and you will be unable to do anything about that. The very idea that you, a peasant, infer that you are capable of denying us is laughable.”
“I am not going to do anything to you! I want to help you, for Celestia’s sake!‘
“Thank you, my little pony.”
“I just… look, it doesn’t have to be like this. We can coexist; I know that neither of you wants to fight, it’s just not in your characters. We can talk about this and come to some sort of compromise without having to harm anypony. I will give you my guarantees that you will not be harmed again.”
“Celestia, this is a waste of our time,” Nightmare Moon dismissively asserted. “She cannot offer us what we want and only wishes to stall. Dawn is not like most honest folk, she is as treacherous and cunning as any one of us.”
“I concur, Nightmare Moon;, it seems that you are correct. Cloudy, is there anything at all you can offer that is other than our own safety and negotiation opportunities with your superiors?”
“I suppose not. At least for the time being. But if you choose conflict, I won’t be able to do anything for you at all!”
Nightmare Moon and Celestia briefly exchanged views,
“I suppose we would have to take what is ours then. Celestia, let us leave. I am tired of this charade.”
Celestia proceeded to ignite her horn, and both were gone in a bright spark, leaving Cloudy alone with confused and borderline terrified medical staff. Cloudy proceeded to close her eyes and sigh deeply. She pulled out a cheap lighter and lit up the end of a common cigarette,
“Sound the evacuation order,” she calmly said. “We are leaving, and anyone who is not out in five minutes will be left to fend for themselves.” Cloudy then marched out of the room without waiting for an answer.