It is night. We are home.
Nightmare Moon swoops gracefully through the sky, departing finally from where she has languished for so long. She laughs gleefully as she nears the ground below us.
We notice something is amiss. Equestria has changed. This area is familiar—we see the mountain range there. That means home should be somewhere in...
Nightmare Moon seems to follow where my memory points her. She flies low over treetops and a small settlement or two, the few nightlifers of the sleepy villages looking up in confusion as she passes over them.
We are nearing home, but notice first a town nearby. One which didn’t exist 1000 years ago.
Nightmare Moon’s curiosity piqued, she does... something very strange.
Suddenly, we are as a flowing river of beautiful sparkling water. She runs like liquid through the air, her body now formless and shapeless. It is disorienting, to say the least, having no definable body even to inhabit.
The cloud of purple smoke which is us spots a brightened building nearby, one which is very large and seems to be the source of some celebration. Nightmare Moon’s new body seeps into the cracks between the wood, permeating through to where we can see and hear the denizens therein.
From within her hazy body, the mare we are stuck inside the mind of watches the proceedings. There is a mature-looking mare standing on a stage making an announcement. “...mayor of Ponyville, it is my great pleasure to announce the beginning of the Summer Sun Celebration!”
Ponyville? Much has changed since last we walked this land. There was also no Summer Sun Celebration. Perhaps Celestia has tried to eclipse us completely.
This entire celebration is an affront to us. How dare she take a holiday for herself! Had we a mouth, there would be a bad taste in it. What a self-centered mare my sister is.
The mayor of this town is speaking once again. “In just a few moments, our town will witness the magic of the sunrise, and celebrate this, the longest day of the year! And now, it is my great honor to introduce to you the ruler of our land, the very pony who gives us the sun and the moon each and every day—” Celestia is here? “—the good, the wise, the bringer of harmony to all of Equestria... Princess Celestia!”
There is some birdsong accompanied by trumpets as the curtains draw back to reveal a blank stage. As expected, my sister is doing something dramatic.
The mayor attempts to calm the crowd before her, unaware that my sister is most likely hiding nearby. Celestia has always had a penchant for attracting attention. “Remain calm, everypony, there must be a reasonable explanation!”
A pony who trotted into the back area comes out again, stating loudly, “She’s gone!” and eliciting another gasp of shock from the crowd.
We wish we had a stomach to feel sick to. My sister has not changed. She is still the same despicable creature she has always been.
Suddenly, the smoke we inhabit transitions to the other side of the wood and moves toward the spotlight in the center of the stage.
My sister may have a flair for the dramatic, but it seems this mare does too.
Nightmare Moon forms on the center stage, the ponies before her gazing up fearfully. They are absolutely terrified, misunderstanding of what may just be happening right now.
All except one young purple mare, who recognizes what she sees. She is rightfully frightened.
Nightmare Moon speaks to the crowd before her. “Oh, my beloved subjects,” she begins, her voice sinister. “It has been so long since I’ve seen your precious, Sun-loving faces.”
She is quickly interrupted by a cyan pony with a rainbow-colored mane. “What did you do with our princess!?”
Either these ponies are unlearned or my sister has taught them nothing of Equestrian history. Perhaps it is for the best that they’ve no idea who we are.
Nightmare Moon catches on quickly, seeming unsurprised as she pans, “Why? Am I not royal enough for you? Don’t you know who I am?”
A pink pony in the crowd pipes up. “Ooh, ooh, more guessing games! Um, Pokey Smokes! How about... Queen Meanie! No! Black Snooty, Black Snooty—” before her friend wisely silences her. To speak so brashly to a princess would have been a grave offense when last we set our hooves upon this land.
So much has changed, sister. Why have you still not arrived? Surely you won’t leave these ponies to their own devices against such a powerful creature.
Nightmare Moon feigns indignation. “Does my crown no longer count now that I have been imprisoned for a thousand years? Did you not recall the legend? Did you not see the signs?” We doubt my sister ever bespoke anything of us after our banishment, preferring instead to forget us as much as possible. It would stand to reason that there be no legend, nor was anypony watching for any possible signs of our return.
“I did. And I know who you are.” Except, perhaps, one among those gathered. “You’re the Mare in the Moon: Nightmare Moon!” It is the same purple mare we spotted initially, that one whose features seemed unconfused but still afraid. It appears she has learned something of the past.
“Well, well, well, somepony who remembers me. Then you also know why I’m here?”
The lavender-colored pony stutters, “You’re here to... to....” She trails off as she loses the words to describe what she believes. She does not want to give voice to what will happen now that Nightmare Moon has returned. As if remaining silent may stall the inevitable.
The mare of darkness speaks once more. “Remember this day, little ponies, for it was your last. From this moment forth, the night will last forever!” She lets out a maniacal laugh, venting the rage which she has bottled for 1000 years. We do not blame her for being so exuberant. We only hope her—our freedom not be short-lived.
“Seize her!” comes the harsh demand from the mayor pony. “Only she knows where the princess is!”
Several royal guards home in on Nightmare Moon, brandishing their spears as they fly bravely toward their mysterious foe.
“Stand back, you foals!” She stomps upon the ground, lightning arcing around her and striking the guards, who cartwheel away from her, their bodies cast away like unloved ragdolls.
She has just murdered several citizens of my nation. We thought her better than this... but she is even worse than Discord. Worse than Celestia. Worse than anything we have ever met.
All that she does as justification for her actions is to laugh. She has killed her own subjects, and she thinks to laugh.
And it was our wish that she be unleashed once more upon this world.
Ever since I was a tiny foal, we have made naught but mistakes. We begged for recognition, for fame as my sister has had. Now that we are the center of attention, my host has mercilessly slaughtered several citizens.
Luna, the pony who makes mistake after mistake. It was my hope that Nightmare Moon be sent back to Equestria, to wreak havoc on it.
In my mind, Celestia would have been here to immediately confront Nightmare Moon. She would have wielded the Elements of Harmony, blasted Nightmare Moon away, and brought me back for us to rule together once again.
Always, we have imagined that it would be my sister to mop up our mistakes, from now until the world ends. We would never have imagined that she not be there to help.
Nightmare Moon turns back into the purple mist and evaporates through the wall to the outside world, the rainbow-maned pony landing on the spot that our body just vacated. The evil mare glides swiftly in the direction of Canterlot Castle.
The mare we requested the Moon to unleash.