//------------------------------// // Night At Winter Bells Part 2 // Story: Nightmare, Nightmare // by Admiral Q Ponyform //------------------------------// It was amusing watching Velvet get ready for Shining and Cadance's arrival today. She was running all over the kitchen. Night Light tried to calm her down but leave it to Twilight to screw that up by stating they only had fourteen minutes left. Nyx giggled next to her and Selene leaned over and commented. “Now we know where Twilight gets it from.” Nyx nodded and continued eating as Spike said. “Yeah you get used to the antics of this family.” Selene could silently vouch on that. The decades with Twilight, her Twilight made use to that mare's antics. After breakfast they got ready but ran into a hitch. It was time for Nyx to don her disguise. She didn't want to hide who she was and Selene could almost understand that. Despite her experience as Nightmare Nyx the filly was so naïve. There were times where you have to hide. She's bucking lucky she can be in her true form at all. Thankfully Twilight got to get Nyx to wear the headband Selene made for her then they headed out to the station. * * * * * * When Cadance and Shining arrived things weren't the best. It started okay with Cadance and Twilight doing their dance. No matter how many times she saw that Selene always had a smile on her lips from the sheer cuteness of it. They both greeted Selene with warmth but when they met Nyx. Cadance mentioned that she was raising an army to depose Nightmare Nyx and the hassle of dealing with the nobles after Nyx stepped down, but Cadence was eager to meet her new niece. Shining was another story. He was cold and barely acknowledged Nyx and that made Selene very uncomfortable not to mention poor Nyx. Nyx and Selene cheered up a bit when they visited Lumber Jack's Tree Emporium. The Earth Pony was as boisterous as ever. He even nicknamed Nyx Bright Grape. Thankfully Selene was too old for him to nickname here both times she met him. They toured the grounds with LumberJack telling Nyx about Hearth's Warming Eve. It was hilarious to see Night Light disagree with the Pretty Pink Pony Princess on what is pink. Nyx even got to pick a small log to burn on the grill in the backyard. It was also amusing to see Twilight deal with the fact that Nyx at one time was an adult mare and had read adult books. Selene did not envy her in that. Cadence came to the rescue with a book about Smarty Pants. 'Seriously what is with that doll?' Selene thought about that. But she and the other's thoughts were interrupted by an assault of newsponies. They asked questions about Nyx, was she Cadance's secret kid or maybe Twilight's because of her coloring. Nyx's disguise had her with a lighter lavender than Twilight with a purple mane with pink and dark blue stripes in them. Selene was trying to ignore them to summon her magic to take care of them when Shining beat her to it. He gave them an air view of Canterlot. “Honey, you okay?” Velvet asked as she and her husband came up to them. “Yeah I'm fine.” Twilight replied. Shining walked up to his wife and asked if she was okay. “Just startled from their sudden appearance and constant barrage of pictures and questions.” Cadence reassured him with. “Why did they do that?” Nyx asked as she rubbed her eyes and emerged from under Twilight. Cadence sighed and suggested. “They're probably after me. Those paparazzi ponies are always after the princesses for a story and it's been awhile since me and Shining have been in Canterlot.” Selene thought that logical and likely till Shining but in. “It's not your fault.” He said and took a moment to glare at Nyx. “I'm sure they were after something else.” Selene saw the look on Nyx's face and he gave Shining a glare of her own. When they got home Selene looked at Shining and said neutrally as possible. “Shining, could I have a word with you.” Shining looked at his wife and she nodded but looked at Selene with both curiosity and worry. “Sure, where do you want to go?” He asked. Selene looked over to Night Light and asked. “Mr. Light, may I borrow your study?” He nodded and Selene led the way there. When they were both in she shut the door and put a silencing spell. She saw Shining take notice of the spell. “Shining, I'm only going to give you this warning once. Cut the act with Nyx, it's beneath you.” “I'm only looking out..” He started to say but Selene interrupted him. “Looking out for WHAT? You're family? No that's your justification. Look I understand you have issues with Nyx, your parents do as well but they at least have the common sense to drop it for the holiday.” “But they don't realize the danger there. Nightmare Moon could brainwash them!” “Ah we get to the heart of the matter. You're afraid. Twice now you have been brainwashed. First by the changeling queen and then by Nightmare Moon. Well here's some facts for you. One; she's Nyx now. She was forced into becoming Nightmare Moon do to fear and stupidity. Did Twilight ever tell you how she felt after she confronted you during your wedding rehearsal?”He nodded. “Well Nyx felt the same way but rather then be sad she grew angry and with the memories she inherited from Luna as her time as Nightmare Moon she was dealing with a double betrayal. Number two; Nyx never put that spell on you, it was Spell Nexus who made you into a Child of Nightmare. It was Nyx who freed you when she didn't have to nor did she have to give up power which leads to number three. Your thinking in this is that Nyx wants something and is brainwashing everypony to get it. Well here's the news flash for you, she has what she wanted. What ponies keep forgetting about Nightmare moon was why Luna became her in the first place. Luna wanted to be loved and adored rather then being rejected in favor of her sister. Her jealousy, despair, and anger cause her to become Nightmare moon to bring Eternal Night to force ponies to love her night and love her. Nyx also sought that when she was forced to become Nightmare Moon. However late in her rule she found out the truth. She had her goal as Nyx not as Nightmare Moon. She was loved and adored by her friends and her mother but that was taken away from her by others. In the end being Nightmare Moon and ruling Equestria did not give her the goal she seeked. Being Nyx did and she is now a happy filly unless certain ponies dig the knife into the wound she has for being Nightmare Moon. So drop your issues for now and enjoy this holiday for if you ruin Nyx's first Hearth's Warming it won't be Nyx you will have to worry about. IT'S ME!” With that she turned off the spell and left the room leaving Shining to think on her words. She found Cadance in the hall looking concerned. “I feel a lot of anger in you Selene. Is something wrong?” “Your pigheaded husband managed to push a button of mine and I let him know it. If you will excuse me I will go somewhere and vent. I promise to be back in time for the caroling.” With that Selene teleported away and ended back in Nightstone Castle. She resumed her true form and expanded her magic as she vented out her anger. It took her an hour but she was calmed down enough to resume her disguise and teleport back. She noticed the looks some of the family gave her but they tabled it when she suggested caroling and boy did that do wonders to get her back in a good mood. * * * * * * “Okay, last inspection everypony? Twilight, fix your brother's crest. It's crooked. Honey, straighten your tie. It's crooked. Okay? Is that it? No, wait, Nyx has a smudge on her cheek. One moment... there. Okay. Oh, wait, Cadence, fix your crown. Oh, and honey, can you make sure I'm zipped up all the way? I am? Good. Okay, quick check. I'm good, you're good, you're good, you're good, you're good, and you're good. Okay, we're all good. Let's do this in three. One... two... three...” Selene was amused at Velvet freaking out again. She leaned over to Cadance who she sat next to in the carriage and commented. “You taught Twilight the breathing technique, but not her mother?”Cadence just shrugged as we got out all dressed in our finest. Night Light and Velvet in a suit and dress that seemed nice. Still more tomcoltish then not after these decades thank you. Shining was in a Guard dress uniform while Cadance wore her typical regalia. Twilight was in her Gala dress and it looked nice. She had only seen pictures of it since it went up with Golden Oaks in her Equestria. She herself was in a Rarity dress. Rarity was allowed to make only ONE dress for her and she went all out on it. It was purple with black moons and stars on it. Honestly she might have gone turquoise if it wasn't for the Nightmare Moon thing. When we all got out we were minus one. “Come on Nyx, we're going to be late.”Velvet said as she adjusted her husband's tie...AGAIN. Nyx finally emerged from the carriage with a frown and Selene couldn't blame her. Rarity made her usual works of art that matched the filly before they left. However after caroling Velvet insisted with a dress that she claimed would be perfect for dinner with her publisher. Honestly, the dress was crap. Didn't match her colors in or out of disguise and for decades with Rarity as a friend she came to tell the quality of the dress.. Selene dared anypony who was close friends with Rarity NOT pick up somethings. This dress had a mass produced copy written all over it. She tried to get Velvet to change her mind insisting Rarity's work would work much better then she was an up and coming dress maker with praise from several influential ponies but she was dead set on that stupid dress and Twilight was no help. “Oh, Nyx, you look darling,”Velvet said, as if oblivious to the filly's frown and Selene's face hoof. She then quickly moved to the front of the group and began leading them down the street. “Now, come on, we don't want to be late.”The dinner done by Velvet's publisher Equestria Publications, the top publisher in the kingdom, was being held at the Pranceton which was among the finest hotels in Canterlot. The one from her Equestria always gave her a Plaza Hotel from Home Alone 2 vibe. This place ended up being the same. Velvet was so giddy that they ended up with the same table as the president of her company and that her editor was at another table. That got Selene suspicious that there might be company political shenanigans going on. Having Luna's memories and her decades as a princess made her sensitive on such things. "So why are we........" Cadence began to ask before she deadpanned. "Velvet, is the only reason we're at this table because Print Press wanted a chance to eat dinner with a princess, namely me?" 'Ah so Cadance had her suspicions as well. Good.' “No, no,” Velvet quickly defended as she began refolding the napkins on the table from standard triangles into more elaborate origami cranes. “She’s just very eager to share dinner with us and find out how I’m doing in the book. You see, Edit Mark rejected the last two drafts of my final chapters, but I’m sure he knows what’s best.” She laughed through her teeth as she gave the tablecloth a gentle tug, removing every wrinkle from it’s surface while Selene resisted the urge to facehoof. “Why didn’t he like the chapters?” Nyx asked, lifting a hoof and scratching at her dress again. “Oh, Edit Mark just thinks I’m making the ending too predictable. I mean, it is a mystery novel and I’ve already written the rest of the story so there really is only one ending that makes sense, but he insists that I need to just come up with something better,” she forced a laugh again as she began to nervously fix and straighten everypony’s silverware. “Yes, something better without changing anything in the rest of the story. No trouble at all.” 'Yup Velvet is all on board the Sparkle Coo-coo Train.' Selene thought when Velvet then glanced up, her forced smile once more taking on a natural appearance. She stood up from the table and quickly began to scuttle away. “Oh, and here comes Print Press and her family. Everypony, sit up straight. I’ll be right back.” Velvet soon brought over her boss and her family. The boss was as tall as Cadance and dark theme in fur and mane. She and her husband wore a nice dress and tux but what their daughter was wearing caught her eye. It was exactly like Nyx's but better done. Likely Nyx's was the copy of this dress. Now Selene facehoof as it started to connect. Velvet was hoping to get her boss to okay the ending she preferred. She even went to butter up the whole thing when she introduced everyone. After Twilight explained how Nyx was her adopted daughter she looked to her mother. “Mom, can I have a word with you in a moment?” Before giving Velvet a chance to answer, Twilight had magically levitated her mother away from the table. Selene decided to join them and they walked to the other side of the room. She knew that tone of voice in Twilight. She was ticked and barely containing it. Once Twilight deemed they were far enough away from the table she turned and glared coldly at her mother. "So, you care to tell me again how you picked that dress out for Nyx?" “Oh, honey, I assure you it’s just a coinci—” “Mom?” “Now, Twilight, we’ve had discussions about these paranoid tendencies of yours—” “Mom!” Velvet lifted a hoof and waved it gently, trying to signal her daughter to keep quiet. “Okay, I’ll admit, I saw Print Press buying that dress for Green Ink from Hoity Toity’s shop and I picked up a mass market version of it. But, Twilight—” 'CALLED IT!' Selene thought. “So you guilt tripped me like that back at the house just to get Nyx in the same outfit as Green Ink?” Twilight pressed, eyebrows furrowed. “What about all that stuff you said about how you spent hours shopping for it, how you went to ten different stores, how it was the last one they had, and how you bought it just to make Nyx feel welcome?” 'Yeah, that lie will not go over well.' “Honey, please understand, Print Press is the only mare at the company that can override Edit Mark’s decisions. I’ve tried to get two drafts past him and I’m getting nowhere with the third. But, if Print Press gives the green light to one of my other drafts, then I can finally finish the book to print. This is my one night to talk to Print Press without Edit Mark sabotaging me.” “And so you sell out your daughter-in-law and granddaughter to do it!?” 'Have to admit that's a pretty low move to do.' “Do not lecture me, Twilight Sparkle, I am still your mother,” Velvet snapped back, her own temper starting to flare. 'THEN ACT LIKE ONE!' “Besides, is it so much to ask for a little support from my family? You know how much trouble I’ve had since Edit Mark got promoted. The moment he became Executive Editor he’s only made it more and more difficult for me to get my work to print.” “Then ask for our help, don’t guilt us into it!” Twilight snapped back, her voice starting to grow in volume. “Nyx would have worn this dress anyway if you had just told us why!” “Uh Twilight I doubt that one” Selene said openly. “That dress is crap. Be glad Rarity isn't here yet, she'd faint.” “SEE! just as she was so eager to wear her headband,” Velvet sassed. “And that’s another thing. Why didn’t you have her wearing it on the train here? You could have avoided all those photographers at the train station if you had just made her wear it.” “Well, excuse me for thinking Nyx shouldn’t have to hide herself like she used to!” Velvet was about to counter when Selene intervened again. “Velvet do not bring that subject in, Nyx has had to hide what she is for most of her life. As naïve as that is I can understand it and respect it. Here's the hard truth. You're worried about your book. Fine but this isn't the way to go. Your freaking out is going to cause more harm than good. Your boss will she the whole dress thing as the plot it is. You never treat your family like this Velvet. I didn't and you have such a wonderful family, one that accepted me for this holiday. Continue this course and you will regret it.” Before more could be said dinner was being served. * * * * * Selene wanted to face the plant on the table. Nobility stupidity struck again. They were serving only one type of meal. Sure that made sure everypony got something, but what if somepony was allergic to an ingredient? Nope they should have different but easy to make meals for everypony. Selene was about ready to teleport to Donut Joe's for something decent. Lucky Nyx got to go to the kids table and get something nice but it turned out that was only the start of it. During the main course of dinner Print Press wondered about why there were so many Princesses and Princes in the kingdom and off course Twilight jumped on that saying it was basically a safe face move to the Unicornian Royalty when the Sister's rose to power. That turned into talk about the Crystal Ponies and their plans to be absorbed into Equestria proper as a fiefdom. THAT then went into Nightmare Nyx and Shining's time as 'Tyrant Armor.' That went into the nature of the spell that affects the Children of Nightmare. That was interesting to hear. It seemed the core of the spell reversed the feeling ponies had towards Celestia and Nightmare Moon. So rather than love Celestia and hate Nightmare Moon it was love Nightmare Moon and hate Celestia. This also had an affect on how they conducted themselves thus the tyranny seen by the cult during their reign. Press really went below the belt when she compared Tyrant Armor to king Sombra. That off course brought Cadance quickly to her husband's defense. Velvet interfered and dismissed Cadance's words. Then when her husband tried to question where Press's friend learned this info Velvet actually kicked him. To Press's credit she did try to diffuse the situation till she asked if Nightmare Moon left something behind. Shining stated firmly that nothing was and that nearly ended the conversation at the table. Selene decided to take the silence to declare her thoughts on the whole situation. “I was away during the whole Nightmare Moon incident but I have been looking into the event and talked to some of the ponies who witnessed it. I've heard many say they want Nightmare Moon further punished. I asked them the question. Do they want to see the Princesses in jail then?” Many around the table looked confused. “Why would you ask that?” Print Press asked. “Simple, how did the Original Nightmare Moon get started? Luna made her went she felt she and her night were not given their due and Celestia was of no help back then basking in the love and adoration of the ponies of Equestria. Then when this cult tried to make Nightmare Moon without Luna. Celestia interrupted that attempt and a filly with no memories was the result. When Celestia discovered the truth she let fear take hold and she took the filly from pony she considered a mother and straight into the hands of the cult leading to the last Nightmare Moon. In irony Celestia used the wrong method for both of them that would have worked on the other. If She had acted sooner with Luna her sister would have never become the first Nightmare Moon and if she had taken her time she might have discovered the cult and prevent the rise of the last Nightmare Moon. And what actually happened during her reign. Besides from a few skirmishes did any pony die during her reign?” She looked at Shining and he shook his head. “In fact from my research every time this Nightmare Moon had a chance to kill she refused. Did she personally interfere with your daily lives? Not really accept for the Eternal Night thing which she gave up on after only two weeks. She even risked her life for the ponies of Ponyville and then released and surrendered to the Princesses you decide her fate. TO those you demand more punishment on Nightmare Moon should sit down and shut up.” The table was speechless with a few dropped jaws. Velvet was glaring at Selene, during her rant the unicorn tried to use magic to shut Selene up but despite disguise Selene is still an alicorn so that went nowhere and she was too far away to kick. “Well that's certainly an interesting view on the subject.” Print Press finally said and they continued the meal in silence. Even that wasn't the low point. As they were leaving Print Press told Velvet the whole thing. She was disappointed in Velvet but not for her family's actions but her own. She called the ploy right from the onset and owned Velvet throughout her entire rant. Then she dropped the bombshell that SHE was the one rejecting the last chapters not the editor and gave her a warning that if she tried this again she would be dropped. She also had the end of the first week of the new year to get the final draft in. She then left Velvet who was completely shell shocked. Selene just shook her head and kept quiet even though inside she still chanted 'I told you so.' This holiday was turning into a National Lampoon's movie before her eyes.