//------------------------------// // Coming and Going // Story: Me, Myself, and I // by DerpyMuffins15 //------------------------------// Nightmare Moon awoke with a jolting start, heavy pants and sweat dripping down her sticky coat. Her slitted eyes ran wild, looking back and forth for something that wasn’t there. In the distance a blazing star began its slow descent into the horizon. The glare of crimson rays assaulted her eyes, causing her to shield herself with a massive wing, while her heart raced a million miles an hour fueled by a dangerous shot of adrenaline. The jet black alicorn looked around, regaining her bearings before sleep took hold. All was as it should be, her younger self was still in bed and she was without a scratch, yet something gnawed at the back of her mind. She found a bitter aftertaste in her mouth, as well as noticing her nervous trembling. Commanding her legs with all the willpower she could muster, she only felt numbness all around. Nightmare grunted with exhaustion as fruitless endeavours continued. Still, the headstrong princess persisted until the cramp in her legs screamed from the burning pain. Then the night goddess remembered, she was attacked by her namesake. She froze where she struggled to stand, remembering with explicit detail the horror she had to relive. The forgotten outcast saw in her mind the daunting sight of a blue planet in the distance, so close that she could almost reach it, but then reality kicked in. Nightmare remembered the bitter cold and frightening silence. In the realm she thought herself mistress of, she had started losing her grip. Nightmare saw herself back on the moon, screaming for something, someone. Only her stars heard the cries for help, comforting her in any way they could while she fought against insanity. Just an old memory to most ponies; Nightmare’s dreams are anything but. Counting this one, it was the third time she had a nightmare. Since the accident, Nightmare began losing control of her magic. Even daily tasks are harder for her to accomplish with each passing night, sometimes she wouldn’t even wake up if the filly she watched didn’t help. The worst was that she feared her children — once her domain, now her prison. Nightmare pushed the haunting memories into the back of her mind and like the moon behind her, she rose with the coming of the night. Her heart slowed to a calming beat and her trembling stopped. Taking long breaths and purging herself of the frightening dreams, she re-entered the bed chambers. To her left, Luna’s still form rested. Nightmare flashed her horn and closed the balcony doors behind, causing the sleeping filly to stir. Luna slowly awoke, yawning now and again as she tried to rub the sleepiness out of her eyes. Her normal cobalt mane was tousled, her front bangs skewed awkwardly. She stretched cramped muscles and expanded her folds. The small wings fluttered quietly as Luna walked to a nearby nightstand and wrapped a hair brush with her telekinesis. Behind her, Nightmare slowly walked up just as groggy and tired. While the unkept filly made herself decent, the sore alicorn behind gently rubbed her neck. With a twist of strong neck muscles Nightmare cracked her neck, startling the high-strung princess into flinging her hair brush across the room. “My apologies,” Nightmare said, as she began preening herself, plucking loose feathers and dispersing them as they fell. Nightmare soon found her chest and head irritated, and began taking off her regalias, going fully naked. The normal spatial mane Nightmare always had now hung limply at her side, yet still retained all of it’s star-crossed beauty. “I accept all my apologies in the form of a donut, thank you very much,” scoffed Luna. She picked up the fallen brush and started on her mane again. Nightmare once again ignored her and approached the immature heiress. They both sat on their haunches, the elder alicorn dwarfing the smaller filly in height and size. “You keep eating all that sugar and we’ll pay a visit to the dentist soon enough,” threatened Nightmare. She was regarded with an angry glare from Luna but dismissed it; flashing her horn, an ink black magic overwhelmed the minor’s and began long strokes on Luna’s mane. “I hate the dentist....” Luna half whined and grumbled. Out of Nightmare’s view, she plainly smiled to check for cavities. “And who’s fault is that?” Nightmare sighed as she pretended to listen. “Yours!” Luna shouted, pointing a hoof behind her shoulder to Nightmare, “You make them sound worse than being on the moon,” she huffed. “Have I?” Nightmare asked back, checking the cleanliness of her hoof. “Yes you did, and it’s all a conspiracy! Everytime you go there, they fix something and put something else in there to make you come back! It’s an evil cycle and I’m on to them!” Luna objected. She opened her maw again, wider than before, inspecting for hidden cavities. “Are you now? Well, in that case I’ll have all the dentist thrown in the dungeon,” Nightmare answered back with faked enthusiasm. “And while you’re at it, get me some frozen yogurt, please.” Luna ordered, poising like a royal. “How about I get you some yogurt and a checkup next week.” Nightmare offered instead. “Do I have much of choice?” Luna scoffed dejectedly. “No, you do not.” “Fine... but I get to choose the dentist. I’m not letting some strange-pony poke around my teeths and drug me senseless,” Luna argued back, “Have you seen how loopy some ponies get after just one visit? It’s like going into a mental asylum!” “I can live with that, as long as you come willingly and quietly. And if you dare bite the poor soul, you can just forget about the yogurt. A lawsuit is exactly what we need right now...” Nightmare grumbled as she shook her head. “Yeada, yeada, yeada,” Luna mouthed, as she waved a dismissive hoof, “Be polite and no throwing them in the dungeon, you don’t need to say it a zillion times.” She said as she rolled both eyes. “Besides, I’m picking the dentist here, so of course I’m gonna be nice to her. Have a little faith in me.” “I cannot be faithful to a hopeless cause,” Nightmare retorted with a small tug on the hair brush. “OW!” Luna screamed as she winced and twisted her head to meet Nightmare. “Hey! I can be just as fancy as you!” “One does not simply be fancy. Your table manners are rude, etiquette crude, and worst of all you’re a foal,” Nightmare recited, noting all the times the youngling had acted foalish in public. “FILLY!” Luna corrected. She stomped her protected hoof into the ground, cracking the marble tile. The tyke surprised Nightmare with her sudden outburst, but undid any credibility soon after. “Ow, ow, ow, ow... Stupid hard floor!” She whined. “As I have said before,” Nightmare sneered, “like a foal.” She finished her final stroke of the brush and levitated it aside. Luna’s mane was back to its original shape, which she politely thanked Nightmare for. “Do as you wish this night, for I have an appointment to keep.” “I won’t wait up, then,” Luna beamed. She hurried out the door before Nightmare could lecture her and was down the corridors, leaving behind her shadow. “That foal is going to get herself killed,” Nightmare mumbled under her breath. Slowly trotting out in the same path, turning in the opposite direction and headed down a better lit hallway. |~|~|~|~|~| “How’s your tea?” Discord asked. Facing him was a black mare, almost growling at her cup. “It’s hot,” Nightmare answered. The tiny china was already cracking under her magic grasp, threatening to spill if she kept it up. “Well, that’s generally how tea is drank. Or did you want some coffee? Maybe some hot chocolate?” Discord offered. He snapped his talons and a silver platter of assorted drinks flashed before them. Nightmare shattered her teacup, catching the liquid and putting the pieces into a nearby trash bin. She then levitated the steaming tea back into the kettle. “You know what I prefer.” “Ah, yes,” With another snap, a silver chalice appeared, filled to the brink with scarlet wine. Soon, a rustic aroma filled the air, which Nightmare took a deep inhale of, “Hundred year old Italian wine with a dose of dragon blood. I wonder how you can possibly keep this stuff down Nightmare. It’s too acidic for my personal taste.” The silver cup glistened as a cosmic blue engulfed it, Nightmare licking her lips as the chalice neared her. “You’re a scotch man, Discord. Something this delicate requires...” She took a tiny sip of the powerful toxin, allowing droplets to form on her fangs. “Someone just as deadly to understand it,” Licking the tiny drops on her fangs, Nightmare smiled like a foal in a candy store. Or just a really strong stomach, Discord thought. “Have you been behaving?” He plainly asked. Nightmare grinned and took another sip of her wine. “Of course, I swear it on my sister’s grave,” she answered, pouting an innocent look. “I find that somewhat hard to believe, Nightmare,” Discord objected. He watched as the mare’s smile turned sour, her slitted eyes gleaming at him. “But I am willing to take your word for it,” he added. “I’m glad with your judgement, Discord,” Nightmare smirked, downing her goblet to half empty. “Although, I would have been happier if you made your decision earlier.” “Sorry if I don’t quite trust the mare that tried to kill me twice,” Discord reminded. Quietly sipping his tea, Nightmare broke into laughter, he joined her with a tiny smirk. “Still won’t let that go will you?” She asked back with an amused smirk. “Considering I still have the scars to prove it,” Discord said, pointing to his back and wings, both of them showing a darker patch of bulging flesh, “I hope you can understand my skepticism here.” “No one has ever died being too careful,” Nightmare nodded. Discord grinned and tipped his cup into the air. “Words to live by. Cheers.” Nightmare clang her chalice against his tiny cup, the hum echoing as both took a sip from their drinks. While she downed the rest of her wine, Discord simply poured more tea into his cup. “Would you mind?” She asked, tipping an empty cup and hiccuping. His reptilian tail snapped itself and the goblet disappeared, causing Nightmare to frown at him. “I hope you don’t mind Nightmare, but that was enough wine to keep you buzzed all night. I’ll have no drunken alicorn walking around ogling the royal guards.” The mirthful alicorn chuckled softly, “Did you not get a good enough laugh the first time?” “I did,” Discord mumbled, “but it wasn’t worth the crap I got from your sister. ‘Discord this, Discord that. Discord don’t ignite that dynamite. Discord, stop turning my guards into forks. Discord, make me a cake.’” He mimicked perfectly in Celestia’s voice. “She blew a fuse when she learned who got you drunk in the first place.” “Oh let her blow her steam, like a foal whining to its mother. What can she possibly do to you?” Nightmare pointed a naked hoof to the all powerful Draconequus, picking up a replacement cup of coffee with her magic. “Paperwork.” He grunted in agitation. “Lots of and lots of paperwork. I curse the pony that invented that stuff,” rolling his beastly eyes, Discord rested his head against his paw, “Would you like some sugar?” With a flash, another china cup appeared with tiny sparkling cubes, Nightmare nodded. “Don’t mind if I do,” lowering her cup, she magicked several of the sugar cubes in and stirred with a spoon. Quietly sipping the delectable drink, she thanked the tea loving draconequus. “Why don’t you do what I do when Tia gives anything involving work: send all of it to her student via dragon mail?” A sparkle of interest twinkled in his eyes, “Really? Does Twilight Sparkle really do all the paperwork you send her?” “Of course. You know how she can get when her mentor needs something done,” Nightmare flashed her horn and her cup was replaced with a glazed mug, the letters #1 Teacher inscribed into the side. Directly below it read, From your most faithful student, Twilight Sparkle. “You took her mug?” Discord asked with a concerned eyebrow raised high. “I use her toothbrush and best student. What’s your point?” Nightmare snapped back. Discord shook his head and made Tsk noises under his breath. “How did you manage to trick Twilight into doing your dirty work?” “Can she not do something nice for her favorite aunt?” Nightmare asked. While she tried to hide her sharp grin behind the mug, Discord shot her another skeptical look. “I didn’t cast any charm or hexes if that’s what you’re thinking. I prefer something more subtle than brainwashing.” “What’s your secret then, pray tell?” Discord asked. “I politely asked her to,” Nightmare answered. No hidden tricks, grins or smirks. She looked him straight in the eye and mildly beamed. As Discord’s jaw clanged against the floor, his tail grabbed his goatee and rolled it back up. “Alright, what’s the con here Nightmare? Forging Celestia’s signature? Impersonating her? Are there changelings involved? Bribery? Reversing time and space so that Twilight is your student?” “Is me asking for a favour simply that impossible for you to believe?” Discord nodded yes as she sighed. “Shouldn’t a psychologist support their patients?” “I’m a psychopath. That PhD hanging on the wall; I got it from a garage sale. I’m not even qualified to prescribe you medicine.” “You do have a bartender license though.” Nightmare reminded. While he shot her an unamused look, she laughed with joy like the burning hearth inside her. “I would if I could, Nightmare. But you remember what happened last time you mixed sleep medicine with tequila.” “Remind me again? It’s quite difficult to remember with a hangover the morrow after.” Discord shook his head in a disappointed manner. “I’ll spare you the details, but Celestia wasn’t a happy camper.” He gave another frown as realization hit him. Why do I have to be the fall guy? “Oh, stop fretting. She’s all talk at this point,” Nightmare sighed. “As am I, I’m afraid.” Delicately rubbing her sore muscles with airy wings, she plucked loose feathers as she worked. “We’re all just walking bags of bones at this point, Discord. Not even a museum would take us.” “Hey, I’m not that old.” Getting up from his recliner, the ancient beast cracked his back upon standing. “Not even a timeless being such as yourself has power over age.” Nightmare added, while Discord tried to realign his back. “I suggest you get a masseuse for that back Discord. Don’t want to strain anything else.” “I’ll be fin-ahhhh!” Jolting back up straight, Discord sprang another muscle. This time he pulled his neck muscles and achilles tendon. “You know what will make you forget all about those back pains? Some morphine and a few shots of cherry margaritas. Knocks you right out.” Nightmare suggested. “Can you not think of anything besides getting drunk right now?” Discord groaned. Snapping his talons once more, his neck stopped bending in an awkward angle and his foot straight again. “Magic won’t always be our friend, Discord.” Nightmare snorted. Sitting back onto his vibrating chair, he stared attentively into Nightmare’s turquoise gems. “You had another one didn’t you? Same dreams as well?” Discord asked. “So much for the Queen of the Night, ha?” Nightmare plainly returned. “My time has long passed, Discord. As well you, soon enough.” She let a sigh escape her and quietly sipped her coffee. “Drinking from coconuts and sun bathing doesn’t seem so bad of an idea right about now.” Never thought I’d say that in a million years, she pondered. “We all deserve a vacation, Nightmare, you most of all I believe,” he slyly grinned. “You mean...?” Nightmare asked, unable to contain her excitement. She soared from the soft divan and surprised Discord with a tender hug. Nightmare wrapped her front hooves around his back and unalienated it as she squeezed the life out of him. Discord choked on his words, unable to breath in or out. As he wiggled in his personal prison, Nightmare squashed his skinny complexion with her wings. “G-e-t-o-f-f,” he managed to wheeze out. “Sorry,” Nightmare sobbed as she shed happy tears from her eyes. She reluctantly released her breath taking vice grip on the poor phony doctor. “Apologize to me when you get to Fiji.” Discord distanced him from the gay equiniti, dusting his fur and flashed a mirror to look at himself. Instead, she thanked him with a kiss on cheek. “I won’t forget to write.” She hugged him one last time, crushing Discord even further with her strong wing muscles. This time he returned the hug, wrapping his disarranged arms around Nightmare. While she softly rested her head against his shoulder, he gently stroked through her non-ethereal mane. Discord let out a sigh and looked to his opaque glass on his door, seeing the silhouette of a pony behind it. The door knob rotated and creaked opened. Discord panicked and immediately looked to his wall clock. The session was well overdue and rolled into his next patient’s time. Oh crap. He heard the clang of metallic hooves on the floors, the familiar decibels that ring in his ears every time a certain princess would barge in without permission. He tried to break the hug with a forceful shove; it didn’t work. Crap, crap, crap. Celestia patiently walked in, and for once she was invited. Discord tried to shout, anything at this point, just to get Nightmare off before Celestia got in, but his silver tongue turned to lead. Fiji doesn’t sound half bad right about now, he thought. Nightmare broke the hug first, ears perked and alert at the sound of crushed glass. Celestia looked down and took her foot off where she stood. She frowned at the shattered china cup and directed it towards her sister. “Nightmare.” She plainly addressed. “Celebrating I see?” “Oh, Tia!” Nightmare leaped from Discord and rejoiced with her sister. Celestia raised a surprised brow as the wicked beast she once thought she knew hugged her with welcomed hooves. A breakthrough? she mouthed to Discord. He shook his head and gave her the short version of it with shadow puppets on the walls. While she admitted he did have adequate skills, Celestia had yet to figure out the meaning. “Are you alright, Nightmare?” “Of course! Why do you ask?” She cried and dampened a patch of Celestia’s coat. “For one, you would never hug me unless it’s to slit my throat or stab me in the back. Since I’m still alive, you’ve either lost it, or run out of clever ways to kill me.” She forcefully shoved Nightmare away, checking her entire body for signs of a wound. Her horn ignited next, checking for hexes and curses that might be lying dormant. “That was rather rude,” Discord said to Celestia. He stared at the broken china cup, which sank into the ground and another reformed on the table. “Oh forget her, Discord. I’m finally free!” Nightmare flared her horn and she was covered in casualing clothing meant for a tourist. Her mane was neatly tucked and rolled as a straw hat popped on her head. The mare’s hooves were now wearing flip flops with her chest in a sleek, airy t-shirt. Next to her a bag was suspended with towels and suntan lotion. “Where are you going?” Celestia hastily asked. “I’ll see you in Fiji, sister, the next time you retire!” Nightmare laughed. She scurried to the door only to have it close before she got to it. Turning around, she saw that it was Discord who closed it. “Hold on a minute, Nightmare. I’d be insane-er to just let you vacation alone,” he turned to Celestia who looked with jealous eyes aimed at her sister. “I’m gonna assign you a babysitter Nightmare, for insurance issues.” “You don’t trust me?” She politely asked back. “Oh I very most certainly do. It’s the locals I don’t trust,” he explained. “So you want me to have a bodyguard?” Nightmare inclined. “I don’t need such a trivial thing. I am able bodied enough to defend myself, Discord.” “Just one guard, as a precaution. There can be trouble in paradise if one is not careful enough.” Discord pleaded. Nightmare reluctantly sighed and caved in. “Fine, as you wish. There shall only be one guard though, and no more. I’ll have not anyone ruining my time relaxing.” Discord nodded his head in agreement and Nightmare walked out the room. “You cleared her for vacation time?” Celestia asked, the candles in the room flaring to a dangerous blaze. “Think of it as house arrest on a really nice island,” Discord corrected. “Besides, she deserves it after being cooped up in this hunk of rock all day and night.” “Well, then I wish her the best of times while she’s there,” Celestia grumbled. Her neck veins were already bulging, pumping abnormally. “Careful, Celestia. Don’t want that blood pressure to skyrocket, now do we?” Discord shot a mocking grin at the aging matriarch. “No, we don’t...” Celestia mumbled, while grinding her pearly whites down to just snubs. Turning to leave, her hooves left scorch marks on the ground. The scent of burnt carpet filled the room, as well the soft crackling of something smoldering. “Oh stop being such a hot head, Celestia. Besides, you’re not even the jealous type,” he cajoled. “No I’m not,” she said, putting on her trademark smile, despite the bulging veins. “That’s the spirit!” Discord cheered, swinging his right paw heartedly. He gently patted the old goat on her back, which she swatted away with a wing. “I’ll be in my room, working,” Celestia said, her left eye nervously twitching. “I still need a guard for Nightmare,” he reminded. “Sorry, Discord,” Celestia growled, “If you want protection, go get it yourself.” “Aren’t we the feisty one tonight? What’s wrong?” Discord asked. Sitting back onto his recliner, his magical china flashed into his claws, as his tail grabbed an old pipe. Softly blowing colourful cubes out of the smoking pipe, Discord stared at Celestia with interest and a smarmy grin. Celestia sighed deeply, before reluctantly returning to the comfy sofa. Over the centuries, she had grown accustomed to the calming effects of tea, but lately she had learned to outright hate the stuff. Nothing but tea whenever she was with the draconequus. Sure it was healthier to drink tea, but once in awhile she just wants in indulge in something sweet. “No you cannot have any cake,” Discord scorned. Celestia looked up in surprise at the mindreader. “What?” she asked. “I can see you drooling on my floors, Celestia.” He pointed to a sliver of liquid dripping from the corners of her moist lips. “Oh...” She wiped away the drool quickly with a hoof and smiled sheepishly. “Pardon me.” “Don’t be, I have that kind of effect on all the ladies,” said the McCoy. Celestia coyly giggled, staring back at the cocky narcissus. “You’re on fire, Discord.” “I’m just hawt like that,” he said in a high pitch voice. “No,” she said, stuffing a hoof in her mouth to suppress oncoming giggles, “you really are on fire.” She said, pointing to his tail. Lifting up his blazing tail, Discord grunted and put out the petty fire. He looked at the singed area and twisted it off with a strong snap from both hands. The limb flapped around in his talon before he tossed it into a trash bin and a new tail end regenerated. “I see someone grew a sense of humour,” he frowned at Celestia. “And please, no fire puns. I’m the funny guy around here, not you.” “Cut the crap, Discord,” she scoffed, rolling her eyes. “As your boss I’m allowed to fire you whenever I desire,” Celestia giggled. “Yes, ‘fire’ me,” he humoured, “Now tell me, why the long face?” Celestia made a sour face and slapped Discord with a wing, leaving a red mark across his left cheek. “That was terrible.” “Why so serious?” He asked back, with clown makeup on. Again he was smacked, knocking the white out of him. “Stop, now,” Celestia sighed, a hoof to her temple and gently rubbing the area. “What’s the matter Celestia? You a little hoarse?” He was smacked again. “Please,” she begged this time. She waved one hoof in Discord’s general direction to ward him off and the other rubbing her baggy eyes. “Steak?” He asked, zapping a steaming t-bone in front of Celestia. The herbivore stuck a hoof in her mouth and looked away. Discord chuckled and spared Celestia the details, gobbling the medium-rare steak in a bite. Licking his lips to clean up the juices, he downed it with a mug of tea. “I really feel bad for you ponies,” he sighed. “All you ever eat is flowers and veggies. At least Nightmare knows my sense of taste.” “You’ll find no envy from me, Discord,” she gulped, taking long breaths. “Now why am I here?” “To amuse me of course. Your misery is quite laughable.” Giving him the I’m not amused face, she freed one of hooves of a golden shoe. Celestia threw the un-aerodynamic missile at Discord’s head. She reloaded and repeated, all four shoes sticking themselves into his fancy recliner as he ducked. On her last piece of ammunition, Celestia readied her pointy crown to be tossed, only for Discord to quack a truce. He transformed from a waterfowl back into a randomly limbed beast, stretching his wings and legs. “Calm down, Celestia.” He said in a commanding voice. “Hear me out before you decide to decapitate me.” She reluctantly put down her regalia but kept an evil eye locked on him. “Thank you.” He daintily slurped on his teacup, Celestia increasing her impatient tapping on the couch. “Well?” She loudly asked. Discord held up a finger to tell Celestia to wait, finishing his tea and setting the cup down, “You’re really stressed, Celestia.” “Nooooooo,” she exaggerated, shaking her head. “Let me finish.” He snapped his talons and a zipper appeared on Celestia’s mouth. It zipped closed, locked at the end and the key disappearing into thin air. Instead of panicking or getting angry with him, Celestia just accepted it and laid down on the couch, wings as pillows. “As you know, I can’t exactly let Nightmare run around a secluded island, unsupervised.” Celestia rolled her eyes, closing them after for a quick nap. “Hey, pay attention,” Discord said, snapping his talons. She acknowledged him with a groggy wave of a hoof, which he accepted as good enough. “Fine,” he sighed. You royals never listen anyways. “Pack your suitcase, Celestia. I’m sending you on a stress free vacation to the tropics and don’t come back until you’re mellow.” Both her eyes and ears perked, her mouth returning magically. Celestia’s magic flared to life, her royal attires replaced with a sun-pattern t-shirt and flower flip flops like her sister. Next to her a bag containing sunscreen and towels floated, a pair of sunglasses stuck onto her eyes. “Wait!” Discord shouted before Celestia could get to the door. It bolted shut as Celestia try to force her way out with magic. “Let me finish and you may go.” She let out a final sigh, turning to face Discord but never moved an inch away from the door. He stood up from his chair, his back cracking twice causing him to hunch and straighten it. “Since there isn’t anyone I could find at this late an hour to accompany Nightmare...” “Oh no...” Celestia mumbled. “And since the only thing powerful enough to stop an alicorn is another alicorn...” “Oh no!” “With Twilight Sparkle being so far away...” “OH NO!” “And Nightmare has been looking forward to this vacation so much...” “OH HELL NO!” “Celestia,” Discord said in his most pleading voice. “Will you do me the honour of...” “NO NO NO NO NO!” “Will you...” Discord then knelt on one knee, a velvet rectangular box in hand. Celestia deadpanned and went slack jawed, her shades falling to the floor. “Will you watch Nightmare during the vacation?” “W-what?” Celestia asked, confused. He opened the box, a set of flight tickets within them. She picked them up with her magic, glancing at them before looking back to Discord. “What?” she asked again. “By your speechless face, I’ll take it as a yes. Good luck and have fun.” He quickly slipped into an overcoat and fedora, tilting the hat to the dumbstruck Princess as he left. “...” Celestia found herself mumbling. Behind her, the door crept open again. Nightmare walked in with a scrunched up face, staring directly at the tickets Celestia was holding. “I’ll see you in first class,” Nightmare hissed, snatching a plane ticket for herself. Celestia snapped out of confusion, and sighed again. She turned and followed her sister out the doorway, head hung low and gloomy. “Nightmare...” she said softly. The black soothsayer ignored Celestia and continued her fast stride to get away. Quickening her pace to match her sister’s, she cut Nightmare off with an outstretched wing. Celestia implored. “Nightmare, please, hear me out. I need you to promise me...” Nightmare snapped at Celestia’s neck, causing the solar mare to step back and flare her wings. “Don’t ever get in my way again,” she threatened with fangs bared. Even with the tourist getup Nightmare wore, Celestia knew her sister was no stranger to the dark arts. She amplified her flow of magic to all her mana shields, approaching Nightmare again but with proper cautions set up. “Please,” she said once more. Nightmare groaned, letting Celestia walk towards her. Nightmare snarled. “I have yet to finish packing, and I cannot dilly-dally with your foalish nonsense.” She tried to walk around, only for Celestia to block her path again. “We need to talk, Nightmare. No distractions or laters,” Celestia spoke in her court-like voice. Nightmare sighed and stopped her persistence. “Make this quick.” “Thank you,” she smiled, folding her wings back down. “Please promise me that you’ll behave, Nightmare.” “What’s that supposed to mean?” Nightmare snapped back with fangs ready to strike. “I just don’t want something happening on this vacation that won’t ever allow me to come back to Fiji.” The white palatine calmly answered. Nightmare growled with hatred burning in her eyes and carnivorous teeth ready to tear anything apart. “You think this is only your vacation?!” Nightmare snarled. Seeing her mistake, Celestia tried to reconcile. “No, that isn’t what I-” “Save your breath,” Nightmare hushed. She walked straight past Celestia, batting a wing to shove her sister out of the way. “Wait, Nightmare!” Celestia called as Nightmare neared the end of the corridors. Breaking into a full gallop, she caught up and kept a respectable distance behind. “Please sister, you misunderstand!” With lightning speeds, Nightmare snapped back and surprised Celestia. “Enlighten us then, oh dearest sister, what exactly are we misunderstanding?!” She bellowed. Stopping in her tracks, Celestia coughed to clear the knot in her throat. “I just wanted your word,” she answered. “Why in the world would someone as high and mighty as you, Princess Celestia, want something from me?” Nightmare spat. Celestia looked away in shame and rubbed the back of neck sheepishly. “I’m sorry if you think that way of me,” she said sincerely. “And for not keeping an open mind about things.” She mumbled. “Finally learning to swallow thine ego?” Nightmare grinned. Celestia nervously shuffled her flip flops, but eventually nodded. “What is it that you wish.” She said in a calmer voice. Celestia smiled at her sister and looked her straight in the eyes. “Forgiveness one; your word the other.” “Forgive; never,” Nightmare snapped. Celestia’s smile grew into a worried frown. “But forget; maybe. As for my word; you’re just gonna have to be faithful.” Celestia regained her grin and hugged her sister, which Nightmare returned briefly before gently breaking it. “Now let’s get you out of that hideous shirt.” She flashed her horn and Celestia’s attire was replaced with a coconut bikini and hula skirt. Just like you to ruin the moment, she thought. “This looks hideous,” Celestia said, trying to hide her blush. “That’s because you’re wearing it, deary.” Flashing her horn again, she was zapped with the same outfit. They looked at each other before breaking into laugh at one another. A ukulele teleported out of nowhere as Nightmare begun strumming the chords for a gentle background tune. “Come on,” Celestia gestured with a wing, continuing to giggle. “I’ll help you pack.” She raised a brow as a certain filly popped into her head. “What plans do you have for the youngest?” Celestia asked. Nightmare hit a sour chord and pondered the question. “I’m sure young Twilight is up for the challenge.” “Why, my student?” Celestia wondered. “It’s her or no Fiji-” Nightmare’s mouth was stuffed with an alabaster wing as Celestia poofed a quill and parchment. Dear Twilight Sparkle, I have need of your service once again. Please take care of the younger half of my sister for an uncertain amount of time until I can... -Celestia paused to think about a reasonable excuse until she remembered it was her student she was writing to- until I can determine your experience in dealing with the youth of Equestria. Please do not take this lightly and will mostly likely aid you in your quest to study friendship. Your Teacher, Princess Celestia P.S. Do not write me any friendship reports or anything that comes up until I have written you another letter. I will be excessively busy with a peace treaty hosted within Horstralia. You have my best regards and high expectations. May good fortunes be with my most faithful student. Celestia rolled up the letter and set the parchment ablaze. The wisp of smoke flew out the nearest open window and towards the direction of a backwater village. “Done,” she said blowing a sigh of relief. “Rather unfaithful of you to do that to your own protégé,” Nightmare said. “Screw her!” Celestia popped a pair of shades onto her eyes. “I’m on vacation!”