Nightmare Moon woke up as the sun got in her eyes. She blinked a couple of times before eying the object with distaste. She may not be the Princess of the night but she was an ALICORN of the night. As much as she wanted to sleep more she didn't have time for that. Her troops where leaving for Crescent Glade in a couple hours and she had to be ready. She got up and stretched out before deciding on her disguise for the time being. Her mane and tail swirled around her and covered her before shrinking. Then her mane and tail unraveled to reveal a unicorn with Nightmare's features. Her mane and tail even lost their etherealness making her look like a offspring of a bat pony and a unicorn. Perfect. She adjusted her armor to fit her new form and with that left to get breakfast.
When she entered the Princess's private dining room and saw Princess Luna and Sunset already there eating. Luna looked over and smiled.
“Ah, my dear Nightmare. An excellent look, mysterious and regal. I like it. Come, join us in a hearty dinner, or in your case breakfast.” Nightmare took a seat besides Luna and when a waiter appeared gave her order. When done she looked back as Luna.
“So when are you heading out?”
“Me and Sunset will leave a couple hours after you. May your trip be uneventful since you will have plenty when you arrive. Colonel Quick Wing will be your second in command. He knows of your true form and you can trust him. He is among the finest officers in my army.”
“Sounds good, be nice to have a properly trained army for once.” Their meal arrived after that and any discussions were halted as they ate.
* * * * * *
After breakfast Nightmare was directed to the west wing of the castle there she was met by Quick Wing. Quick was a pegasus mare with a sky blue fur with a dark purple mane and tail. The mare saluted Nightmare and said.
“Colonel Quick Wing reporting for duty my lady.” Nightmare returned the salute.
“How are the troops Colonel?”
“Ready and willing to go my lady.” Before Nightmare could comment more she noticed Lavender gliding down.
“Lavender! What are you doing here?” The mare landed and tilted her head with a smirk.
“I'm still your assistant Lady Moon. I'm going with you.”
“Okay dokie. Colonel I want to inspect the troops before we head out.” She nodded and they came around the ground carriage.
“Troops attention! Your commanding officer will inspect you.” Nightmare hear a sudden clatter as the troops stood at attention. She saw rows of troops ready to move out. She moved about them inspecting their gear. It was good stuff, far better quality then what Darkmoon had to use back home. She shook one pony to see how well the gear stayed on. And it was on tight. She walked back to the colonel and said in her ear.
“Good group, I think we can move out now.”
“Aye, ma'am.” Louder to the troops she said. “Lady Moon praises your condition. I hope the same quality will be seen in the battle to come. Now, MARCH FORMATION!” The troops resembled into two columns. Nightmare then entered the carriage with Lavender and the carriage took off down the road. “Troops forward march!” Nightmare heard the marching of hooves over the noise of the carriage. Soon Quick Wing flew through the window and joined Lavender on the opposite side of the carriage from Nightmare.
“So how long will it take us to get to Crescent Glade?”
“About a week if we keep a steady pace. Sadly we have no rail line to that town yet otherwise we could be there in a couple days.”
“Very well. Nothing to do but wait.” They sat in silence for a few minutes before Lavender spoke up.
“Lady Moon, tell us of your original home. Is it anything like ours?” Nightmare took a deep breath and looked out the window.
“I expect your origin and ours is very similar. The Children of the Night were the handful of ponies that loved the night and Luna. They weren't sure what started it but our sisters fought as well but the ending was much different. They received news that Luna had been defeated and banished to the moon and fearing a similar fate they all fled Equestria. Like you they found the old homeland of the tribes and setup shop. In the centuries to follow they built their own kingdom and focused their defenses towards Equestria still fear an attack from the sun lovers. Also during that time the Children lost Luna's name and just called her the Princess of the Night. Sadly our defenses were facing the wrong way. A thousand years after her banishment the moon stopped bearing the imaged of the Mare in the Moon. Many of us hope that meant our Princess and surrogate mother had returned. Instead what show up were dark creatures from the opposite direction. For four years wed fought them but it was a losing battle. What was left of us held up in what was supposed to be are front line headquarters against an Equestrian invasion. We held there but it was hard going. In the final days we received a surprise. A strange light blue mare was found beaten up in the woods nearby. She had a horn and wings and went by the name Luna. She mourned the loss of her companions and when well enough assisted us in the defense of our home. But even she wasn't enough in the mind of Darkmoon, a unicorn mare in charge of the ground forces for the Children. Darkmoon was also a researcher and found documents left over from the old tribes and believed she found a way to become the Princess of the Night. She cast the spell and I was the result. I with help from Luna destroyed the dark creatures hunting us but when I wanted to bring Eternal Night is when Luna opposed me. At first I beat her and assume control. However she came back different, more like yours in looks rather then the light blue mare she was before. Again we fought but this time she won and assumed control. That lead me to end up here and that's everything in a nutshell.” The two mares were speechless for a time.
“That is quite a story.” Quick wing said at last. “How do you feel about our Luna?” Nightmare looked at the mare and replied.
“She gave me a purpose. When she reveal who she was I figured out I was a lie. I felt like a waste of time effort and sacrifice. She gave me a reason to go one and I will do everything in my power to help her.”
“Fair enough.” Quick said and the trip was quiet till they found a spot to rest for the night.
* * * * * *\
The rest of their trip was uneventful and soon they were on the outskirts of the town. It was a small town next to a canyon where they likely mine the gems and other precious metals useful to the Republic. She also viewed the defenses. Logically it was a stone wall surrounding the town made from the stone they cleared from the tunnels. They went through the gates and found the housed made of of wood with thatch roofs with an occasion stone building here and there. Their carriage stopped before a large stone building and she saw an earth pony in a business suit waiting in front of the door. She got out and addressed him.
“I am Lady Nightmare Moon. My forces are charged to assist with the defense of your fair town.” The Earth Pony bowed before replying.
“Lady moon, I am Mason Driver, the mayor of this fine town. Why would we need help? My captain hasn't reported anything from his meetings with the garrison's commander.”
“I prefer to discuss that in private but send a message to both of them that Luna's commander has requested their presence.”
“Very well. Come enjoy the hospitality of our town.” Nightmare followed them inside where they were offered drinks and snacks while a bat pony came in and reported that the troops have camped down for the night.
Finally the captain and garrison commander had arrived. The captain was another earth pony of fairly large size. Probably would get up to her shoulder in her true form. The commander was a Pegasus with a Republic uniform with a major rank. Mayor Mason made the introductions.
“Major Clear Skies, Captain Gem Clyde meet Lady Nightmare Moon, Colonel Quick Wing, and Lady Moon's assistant Lavender Sky.” The both saluted Nightmare which she returned.
“Now that you are here We can discuss the reason my forces are here. Mercenaries under the command of Prince Blueblood are planning an assault against Crescent Glade.” The three locals looked at each other in surprise. The major regained her composure first.
“Surely my forces alone could fend off a couple hundred mercenaries.”
“Sure, if it was only a couple hundred. Blueblood went all out on this has a division worth of mercenaries with him.” And there was the jaw drops.
“Why so many?” Gem asked.
“Because he could and for glory. Likely he picked your town for the riches he can use to replenish his wealth after hiring them all. Luckily we still have time since you haven't picked them up on your patrols. Now do you have a map so we can plan the defense of this town?”
“Yes, my lady in my study.” Mason replied.
“We will move there then.” She followed the mayor to his study and looked at the map on the wall. It showed the surrounding area with the town in the middle of it. “How well stock are you in case of siege?” She asked the mayor.
“If it happened right now about a month. With preparation can get a few months in.” Nightmare Nodded and looked the the Major and she saw the question repeated in Nightmare's eyes.
“Two months as is and six months with time.” Nightmare nodded and looked at the map again.
“What about support? Can we maintain the garrison if the town came under siege or do we have to try to fit everypony in the town walls?”
“We can maintain both easily my lady. When the garrison was planned We though about that issue. We have a tunnel under ground between the garrison and the town. We can easily move supplies and ponies from both sides if needed.”
“Excellent.” Nightmare thought for a moment before asking. “Will your ponies have a problem housing my troops?”
“For now yes but if your right and these mercs are coming I can convince them to house your troops.”
“Well it can wait till we have visuals on the enemy. What about the garrison?”
“We can hold some of your troops easily.” Clear Skies reported. “I'm currently only using a quarter of the space. It was meant to house additional forces like yours But not all of them. But comfortable half.”
“Very well. Tomorrow I'll send half my troops to your base the rest stay6 where they are for now. Now let's hope our preparations work.”
“If they don't?” The mayor asked.
“Then we play my trump card.”
“Which is?” Major Skies asked. Nightmare gave her a devilish grin.
“ME.”