by ArguingPizza
***
Canterlot Castle had fallen to darkness.
The throne room, the literal seat of power for the Sun herself for ten centuries, was bathed in darkness. A smattering of small, dim candles cast just enough light to emphasize the shadows’ might. The stained glass windows, testimonies of Equestria’s many triumphs, were hidden from view by thick, black curtains. Skulls from creatures of all shapes and sizes, including ponies, littered the floor in gruesome clutter. Spiders, normally kept in check by the Palace staff, had staked their claim with webbing across nearly every available space.
From the perverted dais that had marked the absolute rule of Ponydom, the Dark Princess Twilight Sparkle loomed. Her coat was dark, and her eyes rimmed with black. Across her back was a crimson cape that rippled in a nonexistent wind, bringing to mind a breeze upon a sea of blood. Fangs, sharp and fearsome, protruded from her mouth, visible even when she was silent.
She laughed, long and loud. It was a terrible, evil chortle. It rang against the masonry and echoed through the castle halls, filling all those who head it with dread.
At the base of the corrupted Princess’ throne, Princess Celestia stood haggard and tired against the ever-advancing march of shadow.
“Twilight, please stop,” she asked, her voice swallowed by the all-encompassing darkness. Twilight ignored her.
“Oh yes,” Twilight purred maliciously as she wiggled about on her stolen throne, “this will do nicely.” Twilight spread herself across the soft, silky cushion. Celestia was momentarily thankful for the darkness, for it helped conceal her blush.
“Twilight, I’m begging here, stop.”
Finally finding a comfortable position, Twilight scanned the throne room. A nefarious grin grew across her face as her eyes lit up with ideas.
“Now that I rule Equestria, things are going to be different,” she declared. “The forces of darkness have hidden long enough!” To add emphasis to her statement, she pounded her hoof against the marble like a gavel.
“It is finally time for the Vamponies to take their rightful place! Not by stepping into the light, but by encompassing all in ever-lasting darkness!” Twilight punctuated her short speech with yet another evil cackle.
Celestia sighed and rubbed her eyes with a hoof.
“That’s right!” Twilight shouted to nopony in particular, her fangs protruding ominously, “We creatures of the night, we undead fiends who walk among the living shall rule! And we shall feast to our cold, unfeeling heart’s content!”
Twilight’s attention, previously cast into the wind to ebb and flow as it would, suddenly refocused on Celestia. Her eyes glinted with villainous intent as her wings snapped out sharply, throwing up her cloak to sway menacingly behind her.
“And I shall begin the conquest with the Sun itself!” With a cry of triumph, Twilight leapt from the throne directly at Celestia, who stood helpless before the onslaught.
Twilight thumped to the floor less than halfway to her target. Her cloak, which had finally ceased its tiring flappy escapades, settled across her head. A beat of silence passed in the grand hall before loud, rough snores broke through. Celestia sniffed Twilight’s form and nearly retched. Without the distance between them, Twilight smelled like a brewery that had crashed through the front window of a liquor store.
Celestia gave another exasperated sigh. Without fanfare, she lit her horn and gently placed the would-be tyrant across her back. Along the way, a pair of plastic fangs fell from Twilight’s mouth, along with more than a little drool.
Princess Celestia rolled her eyes and shook her head.
“Every single year,” she said in vexation. Another pulse of magic lit the torches that dotted the throne room, bringing a light that rivaled the noonday sun. Celestia glanced at the Nightmare Night decorations that surrounded her, but decided to leave them in place. The staff would clean them up the next day, as they would for all the castle’s decorations. For now, if a group of foals enjoying a Haunted Castle tour wandered in, she didn’t want to be the source of their disappointment.
Instead she simply turned for the door, intent on returning to her and Twilight’s shared quarters. She was tired, and now that Twilight had finally blacked out, she could go to bed. It was a routine that had repeated without fail for years.
Just before she closed the doors to their chambers, Twilight kicked the air lightly and started to mumble on her back.
“Mmm…Celestia….sweetest…prize…”
Celestia smiled at her wife, whose sleeping face wore a happy grin as she continued to drunkenly mutter Celestia’s name. For a moment, Celestia thought that maybe Nightmare Night wasn’t so bad after all.
Then Twilight threw up on her hooves, and she went back to hating it.