“Release us this instant, thou vial brute.” Luna roared at her captor. “Thou shall rue the day thou have lain thy hooves on my royal person.”
Bowser looked down at the her. She was scrawny, long legged, and looked like she was going through puberty, yet she had such pipes with that voice. He bellowed out heartily. “Keep sweet talking me like that and I just might.”
They had just arrived on the capital ship over the distressed planet. Troops scrambled to prepare the ship for departure as the injured arrived in droves. A goomba with bifocals and a large notepad approached. “Lord Bowser, we lost several of our ships. Mostly due to friendly fire unfortunately. Everyone has been extracted and we are ready for departure.”
A bright flash of magic exploded in the the magic bubble Luna was in. Bowser glanced over as the alicorn princess coughed harshly. “Really? Did you really think I would put you in that if there was a chance you could break out? Not too bright are you...then again, you are a moon horse, so it makes sense.”
Luna glared rage at her captor as the smoke dissipated with tears still in her eyes. “We had the same assumption regarding thine wretched foul beast.”
“Is the little princess having a fit?” Nightmare Moon strode with a sharp piercing gaze at Luna. “Might need to put a muzzle on her muzzle.”
“Whay! How!? We laid thine to rest alongside the rest of our demons.” Luna stomped on the front of her force prison. It barely sparked in response.“What black sorcery dredged thine accursed form out of the pits of Tartarus?”
“That was all me shorty.” Bowser flicked the magic ball. “You’re here because of her as well. Ain’t that sweet?”
Nightmare Moon spread her wings as her feathers lightly brushed Luna’s cage. “Did you you think you could leave me behind so easily, after all we’ve been through? I wouldn’t abandon you.”
“I am not going to accept your lies this time.” Luna whispered.
Bowser rolled his eyes as he bounced her in his hand. “Whoop De freaken’ who cares. Buck up little pony princess, because this is your new life.” He snapped his fingers on his other hand and the bubble disappeared. “You are now two million light years from your home, my mages have suppressed your magic, and you are standing in my soda drinking hand. Guards, take her to the holding cell. Princess Peach has company.”
Two Koopas covered in spiked armor saluted their king. “Come with us.”
Princess Luna closed her eyes as she took a deep breath. With head held high and eyes sharp, she followed the guards as regally as possible. She was not about to show any weakness.
They watched her leave before they turned to one another. Bowser couldn’t help but chuckle. “That one is wound tighter than my guts when Kammy makes her special chilli.”
“She’s hiding her insecurity, and for further information please do not talk about your digestive tract. Makes me feel woozy.”
Nightmare Moon shook her head as she returned her gaze to the small window into space. “This body was disappointing, it failed me when I was ready to crush them.” She turned to Bowser as dark shadows stretched around her. “This form is inadequate.”
“We’re ready to go boss!” A Koopa yelled on the overhead. “I had to kick the dashboard a few times, but it’s purring like a kitten.”
“Let’s get going then!” Bowser roared back. “All right then queen--.”
“Queen!?” Nightmare would have done a spit take at that moment. “What are you playing at here?”
Bowser blinked slowly. “Um, well aren’t you a queen?”
“No, I mean, I could be, but I never really gave it thought.” Nightmare promptly sat on her haunches. “Why would you address me with such a title? You wish to be a ruler over everything.”
“Heck yea I do.” Bowser beat his chest with one hand. “I'm the big cheese. The prime rib of all bosses.” He tilted his head and scratched his head thoughtfully. “Alright, I guess you’re new at this thing. I have several kings that work for me and rule in their respective realms. I allow it as long as they know I am boss.”
“The Boos you are so fond of. They have a king, King Boo. He’s big on scaring folks. You might meet up with him. There are a few more...I just can’t remember them at the top of my head.”
“So when you called me queen, you weren’t asking...asking for my hoof?” Nightmare sighed as she dodged a bullet.
Bowser jaw fell loose. “You thought that I was asking you that? Wow.” His belly shook with laughter as the room vibrated. Tears formed at the cracks of his eyes as he pounded his fist on the armrest. “No, no, nothing like that. Like we said you get to rule over your ponies like a queen would.”
The alicorn let her embarrassment die down before she responded. “Truely? No trickery?”
“I’ve had many partnerships in the past. The ones that worked out are still here today. The ones that betrayed me.” He leaned down as a puff of smoke left his nostrils. “Don’t last long.”
Nightmare’s toothy grin showed no sign of fear. “Believe me king, I see too many benefits to this arrangement to cut it so foalishly. Like you though, if you are going to double cross me I will throw you into a star and crush your troops with my servants.”
The Koopa King leaned back into his comfy throne. “Now then, you fine with queen?”
“Queen is a beautiful title that I will use forcefully.”
A goomba on top of another goomba on top of three more goombas and a bob-bomb carrying the star chart for Bowser spoke up. “You wanna be called the Shadow Queen?”
“No man, that one was taken by Peach. Call her The Ice Queen.”
“Does she look like a stereotype? Actually don’t answer that, Queen of Blades is a cool title.”
“Different game idiot.”
She rolled her eyes. “Queen Nightmare Moon shall suffice.”
Bowser grunted as he finally got his drink served to him. “If I need your little shadow guys for anything you better deliver.”
A wicked gleam in Nightmare’s eyes told more. “I have other servants as well, and I am interested in expanding the use of my magic in the troops. Mario will be consumed by darkness.”
---
Princess Luna, for all her bravado, was just a little worried. She was a warrior, and a dangerous princess that vanquished monsters that looked at her funny. Now she is a captive to a powerful monster and her greatest sin, just a little worried mind you. She trotted down the metal halls with a stone face. ‘A princess does not show weakness to her enemy.’
She stumbled.
Defiance in the face of your enemy is hard to do when you are in the body of an awkward adolescent. “Watch your step! Unless you want us to carry you.”
“We would rather you not touch us.” She growled at the guard.
“You know you hardly sound threatening when you squeak like that.” The Koopatrol guard mocked as he pushed her along. “Behave or we will tie you up.”
Luna considered a retort, one that involved her planting them into a wall, but decided against it. “It will not be necessary.”
“Hey, do we even have another princess cell to put her in?” The Koopatrol in front of her asked the guy behind her. “We don’t usually have more than one.”
“Should we just let them share the same cell? Lord Bowser did say the princess will have company.” The guard shrugged. Then he stepped on Luna’s tail and tripped.
Luna’s royal canterlot voice rang true as her wings sprang hard enough to smack a passing goomba over the head. “Thou bumbling half-shelled foal shall not pull on our tail!” She turned to look at her transgressor, to find he was stuck on his back. He wiggled his limbs rapidly in the air as he slowly spun around on his shell.
“...is he really stuck?” Luna tapped him as he continued his rotations. Her anger had left her and in its place, amusement.
“It’s kind of a problem that the newbies have. It’s Ralph’s first day here.” The other one answered her. “Must have slept through shell rolling 101.”
“Help me up, Shelden!”
Shelden grabbed Ralph by the tail and started to drag him along. “Come on Princess. Just a little ways to go.”
Luna winced as the metal spines scrapped along the floor. She stopped when they passed by a window. Nebulas and star clusters moved by at astounding speeds. A supernova collided with a black hole while shooting stars soared overhead. “First time huh.”
She jumped as her guard addressed her. “It’s a big place out here. Now come on, you can watch in your room.”
The alicorn princess nodded. “So, does that king endeavor to control all that is?”
Ralph pointed an eager finger in the air. “Yup, the boss wants an empire to match his ego, but he had to settle for the universe.”
“We would say his desire for power will corrupt him, but it seems he has already crossed that path.” Luna muttered.
“Lady, Lord Bowser dances on that line as much as he wants.” Shelden coldy hissed. “Here is where you’ll be staying. Princess Peach you have company.”
Princess Luna walked past the bars as the door closed behind her. She saw a biped alien in a pink dress waiting for her. “Hello, I’m Princess Peach Toadstool of the Mushroom Kingdom.”
“Greetings, we are Princess Luna of Equestria.” Luna returned the greeting. Much to her surprise she had to look up to Peach. It reminded her of looking up to her sister. “We see the females of your species are bigger than the males.”
Peach laughed clearly like a bell. “Mario is smaller than than normal and I’m a little taller than most. When did you meet him?”
Luna smiled. “He helped rescued us from myself. How long...have ye been here?”
“You are worried?” Peach nealt down to look her fellow princess in the eye. “I think I’ve been here for almost a month. They will not harm you, and Mario will rescue us. It has always been this way.”
“Always? This has happened to ye before?” Luna balked then caught herself.
Peach nodded with some red in her cheeks. “My kingdom is one of peace and he takes advantage of that often.”
“So when the Koopa King is defeated he still retains his power?” Luna frowned at what might be to her incompetence.
“Bowser’s kingdom is fiercely loyal to him, even in defeat they stay united to him.” Peach sighed as she knew exactly what Luna was getting at. “And he despite his preference for brawn over magic he does have access to necromancy.”
“So our enemy is implacable and has vast resources available to him.” Luna sat on her haunches as she thought more about her situation, and how grim it was getting. “A war of attrition, and now with Nightmare Moon working with him it becomes more dire.”
“Nightmare Moon?” Peach tilted her head as she raised one eyebrow. “Someone from your world?”
“She was us.” Luna took a short breath. “We...we became jealous of my sister and we gave in to dark powers. My raw emotions clouded our mind and we became a monster. It was recently that we were saved from my madness, and we thought it was behind me. Just memories to confront and atone for. Now she is here, alive and functioning without us. My sister, oh creation, my sister.”
“Luna.” Luna looked up to the concern Peach. She was well aware of the tears in her eyes. “May I hug you?”
“Hug us?” Luna sniffled slightly. “Why would ye, I mean we just...all right.”
Peach opened her arms wide and enveloped the lunar princess in a strong hug. Luna was surprised by the strength that she had, then she felt something. A burden being lifted as weariness and ache fled her and clarity returned to her. Like something magical.
“Princess Peach? Did you just heal us?” Luna asked in a whisper.
“You looked like you need a pick me up. How do you feel?” Peach got back up slowly.
“We feel much better, more whole. Your magic? We can use it to escape!” Luna’s cheerfulness returned to full force as she almost pranced in place.
“Luna, where would we escape to?” Peach looked out the window as worlds past by. “I have made escape attempts in the past, but this time we are on a warship in the middle of the universe.”
She paused as that poured cold water on her hopes. “Oh, right. Our situation is still hopeless.”
“For now yes.” Peach went over to a chair by the window and sat down. “This is the first time I had someone else to share a cell with me though.”
Luna sulked over to the other chair and attempted to get on. Much her annoyance it was not made for her build. “If only we had my magic then we could make them regret their choice. What does your magic specialize in?”
“I can do a variety of magic that was taught to me, but the magic I am best at is wish magic.” Peach placed her crown down on the table as she watched the frustrated alicorn continue to fuss with her seat.
“Wish magic? How does that work?”
“Wish magic is what it sounds like. I make a wish for something to happen. The more pure hearted you are the more powerful it is. I can wish for many things, but it is not all powerful and it sometimes doesn’t work.” Peach sighed as leaned her head against the window.
Luna stopped fiddling with her chair as a nightlight sprang to life in her head. “Could you wish for our magic to return to us. We am the moon princess and have many powers that could aid us in our escape.”
Peach leaned back for a moment and thought. “Yes, that could work.” She leaned down and whispered softly. “I have made a wish for an invisible power block to appear in this room, and it is here for emergencies. I haven’t found the opportunity to use it yet.”
“Excellent.” Luna smiled as she imagined returning home soon.
“Like I said we could break out, but we have no way to escape.” Peach reminded her. “But I have a better idea. In the past I have have subverted Bowser’s plans by relaying messages to Mario.”
“Perhaps we can also sabotage some of their designs as well.” Luna pointed out. “At least enough until we can find a way to escape.”
“I like the way you think.” Peach smiled sweetly as they plotted mass destruction on their enemies. “Now please hold out your hoof.”
She did so and allowed Peach to grasp it with both hands. Peach grasped it, closed her eyes, and tilted her head down. Luna waited as the room became quiet. Then Peach let go. “We don’t feel different.”
“Sometimes the wishes take a while, and sometimes it doesn’t happen. I’m sorry.” Peach frowned at her friend’s disappointment.
“It is fine, it was a long shot any..any--” Luna felt dizzy and cold.
“Well isn’t it my favorite little princess.” Queen Nightmare lurked by as the room dimmed. “And you must be Princess Peach.”
“I am, Nightmare Moon correct?” Peach answered as she stood up.
‘Must she be taller than me as well?’ Nightmare Moon grinned sharply. “That is Queen Nightmare Moon, but you are correct.”
“Queen? Queen!?” Luna strode toward the door. “What right does thou have to bear that title? Thou know our history and what Queens have done to our lands. Though given what thou tried to do maybe it fits.”
“You mean ‘we’ princess.” Nightmare glared. “It was always us until now. Don’t forget you made the decision.”
“And look what happened.” Luna swept her wings out as she bellowed. “Banished to our own moon. We tried to kill our sister! We are still understanding the magnitude of my decision all those nights ago. Thou, on the other hoof, still have that knowledge and yet here thou are siding with a tyrant. Remember Sombra?”
Queen Nightmare listened passively as Luna yelled at her. “Seems your emotions have tapped into your power.”
Princess Luna looked down and found she had indeed grown bigger. “We are done here. Leave us.”
Nightmare Moon paused for a moment. “Nothing has changed. Celestia has her kingdom, her ponies, and her law. We don’t have that. I didn’t align myself with a warlord for the thrill of conquering. I am going to have my own kingdom to rule over without being in the shadow of Celestia. Wake up little princess, you are still in a fantasy dream.”
“What kingdom do you intend to create?” Peach spoke up. “You speak of Celestia like you intend on taking her kingdom away from her.”
“Of course, why do you think we took little Luna with us on our journey?” Nightmare Moon turned and started to walk away. “Celestia is not going to allow me to have a kingdom that would appreciate me, so I am going to make sure she doesn’t interfere. We have all the time in the universe, Luna. Think.”
The two princesses stayed silent as the queen left them. Luna snorted as she stomped towards the window. Peach calmly joined her. “So that was Nightmare Moon. What is she?”
“Our rage and jealousy given form.” Luna answered sharply. “There is no harmony to be found from her.”
Luna growled as she bucked the air in frustration. She yelped in pain as she hit something she did not expect to be there. “When did this block get here!?
“That was the invisible block I was talking about.”Peach leaned down to pick up the two mushrooms that popped out. “Boo Shrooms. How do feel about getting out and seeing what Bowser and Nightmare Moon are really up too?”
“We do believe we are up for a little espionage.” Luna grinned as she took the creepy mushroom. “How does this power work?”
“It’s touch and go.”