//------------------------------//
// Chapter One--The Wrong Eyes 
// Story: The Pastel Moon 
// by MariusAngelicaSue 
//------------------------------//

	"How is the sketch going?"
"It's almost done, your Majesty."
"Oh, finally. There are some pests I need to take care of and I've already put it off. Can't you move a little faster?"
"Oh, don't worry. I-it's finished."
A dark, tall alicorn sat up from her dark, regal throne. She had a coat that was black as night, and bright blue covering her head, chest, and hooves. Her eyes were not that of a normal pony's, but like a cat's, with a turquoise glow that watched your movements. When she spoke, you could see white, sharp teeth behind her lips. A wispy mane with stars floated behind her, and the symbol of a bright, crescent moon was emblazoned on her chest. This was Nightmare Moon. 
Nightmare Moon was a tyrant, to say the least. She was a strong and threatening mare that had taken her place by force, and everypony knew nopony was going to be able to overthrow her for a very long time. Proof lay in the shadow on the forever present moon in the sky, it's surface dipped in pink, blue, and green. Nightmare Moon was powerful, and the spectacle terrified Violet Tempera, the royal artist. 
Nightmare Moon had been sitting still to allow Violet to sketch out her figure on the paper. But now, she was out of her seat, and walked over the Violet, expecting a good picture. Violet wasn't sure if Nightmare Moon would like it. Her armored hooves clicked against the cold, smooth floor as she slowly approached the artist. Violet couldn't help but tense up as she felt the air turn icy at the Mare's approach. She shut her eyes tight as the image of Nightmare Moon turning her neck to look at her pencil image with judging, catlike eyes flashed through her head. 
"Hm." was all she said at first. Violet peeked an eye open. "My eyes aren't as grand and threatening." Violet felt warmth return to her body as she heard the calm voice, and hope filled her. That was the smallest amounts of criticism she had ever gotten. That meant that maybe, just maybe, she liked it. "They look too nice, far too gentle. In fact, they look like..."
Perhaps I spoke to soon, Violet thought with dread as all of the previous warmth vanished. Her ears pressed flat against her head, her eyes wide open to see glare coming from those piercing eyes. "...my sister's eyes!" she almost spat. Violet's knees shook. She hadn't meant to make it look like that! Her mind just drifted a little, and she was remembering Celestia, and it just came out onto the page... "I-I'm sorry, your Majesty, it wasn't on purpose!" she blabbered. "Look, I'll fix it immediately, here-"
"Out of the way!" Nightmare Moon shoved Violet to the side, gaining a squeak from the latter. Violet spilled out onto the floor and watched as the pencil that had been set on a nearby stool was wrapped in a turquoise aura and was lifted into the air. Violet felt herself quiver as she saw Nightmare Moon begin making quick, angry strokes on her picture.  She hates it she hates it she hates it! Violet thought to herself, her eyes shut in despair. She's going to either scribble it out or rip it to pieces! She looked up to see Nightmare Moon finish her strokes, before grabbing it in her magic to show it to Violet. But as the drawing was turned back to her, she was surprised. 
It wasn't scribbled out, in fact, it was barely altered at all. 
Violet could barely make any coherent words from her shock. Usually, when Nightmare Moon disliked a piece of art, she would destroy it. Violet looked at the mare in question, her mouth agape. Nightmare Moon only glared at her, watching as Violet tried to regain her composure, still unable to speak. But as the Dark Mare turned around and began to exit the hall, the pegasus quickly found her tongue again. "W-wait, your Majesty!" she yelled after the moving figure. "D-do you want it colored with pastels or pencils?" the shadow stopped.
"Pastels. I never liked the texture pencils gave me." She called back, and bright eyes looked back at her. "And make sure you get the colors right."
Violet shuddered, she knew what she meant. Another artist-an old stallion-had made a dire mistake and accidentally painted a Nightmare Moon with mostly shades of purple rather than blue. She was seething when she saw it, and dragged him off. Poor guy. Who knew where he was now. 
Violet gave a sheepish grin the shadow, sweat dripping down her face. "I-I could never forget your lovely image, your Majesty."
Nightmare Moon nodded, and continued walking away. "Good. Also, don't make that face again. You look pathetic."
The smile immediately vanished. Violet quietly watched the doors open and close, before turning back to her sketch with a sigh of relief. It felt like a large weight had just been lifted from the room. She looked up at the changes that Nightmare Moon had done to it, but surprisingly, there was only one difference: the eyes were more catlike, confident, and frightening. But more importantly, Nightmare Moon had kept the majority of the picture intact.
Does that mean that she liked it?
Violet found herself staring at the picture for minutes on end. What did I do right this time? She looked at the armor, the decorated throne, the starry mane, but she got no luck. Everything looked fine. They all looked the same way as the other pictures that Nightmare Moon had rejected. In fact, the quality was the same as the others. But what made this one stand out? Violet sighed. Nightmare Moon would often act like this, not knowing what to like or what to hate, and her actions were often extreme.  
"A-hem."
"Ah!" Violet hopped a little as she looked behind her. There, a white unicorn with a purple mane wrapped tight in a bun, much like the other servants in the castle, was prodding Violet with a pointed hoof. She had a tight, dark outfit, long eyelashes, and three bright blue diamonds on her flank. The unicorn gave another huff. "Could you please stop staring at your picture and leave the hall? The tapestries need changing. Again." She seethed that last word. 
Seeing that it was just another pony, Violet's heart slowed down to a calmer beat. She turned towards the mare. "Sorry about that!" she apologized. Violet only received a glare. "Y-you're.....um, Rarity, right?" Violet could recall Nightmare Moon demanding a change of the tapestries multiple times a week, and forcing Rarity to take care of them every time. Nightmare Moon was indecisive, and demanding.  The Dark Mare was anything but moderate in her choices, and especially her moods. Rarity rolled her eyes. "Yes, that's my name. But why do you care?" she snapped. 
Violet shook her head vigorously. "Oh! It's nothing, I just wanted to know." Quickly picking up all her supplies, she gently grabbed the picture and draped it across her back. "Sorry for getting in the way, I'll be going now!" she said, before promptly trotting off. 	
An irritated huff came from behind her. "First that stuck-up mare telling me to change the tapestries again, and now a bumbling artist to ruin my day." The sound of magic was faint as Rarity began her job, and Violet exited the room. The unicorn mare sighed, a sad look on her face. "And these tapestries went really well with the throne room, too..." 


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Down in the servant's quarters, Violet pushed her door open with a hoof, and walked inside, careful not to step on the many pieces of paper strewn about the floor. While this room was given for her to work on her art, Violet had moved a mattress inside, and had turned the place into a bedroom. None of the maids that passed through gave it a second thought or bothered to inform Nightmare Moon about it, so Violet wasn't worried.
The carpet was a deep blue, and the walls a lighter shade of it. While there was a window to offer some moonlight, unlit lamps were placed around the room for when Violet was working. Against a wall was the faded mattress with blankets and pillows piled on. The place was never cleaned, which was a relief. Violet had always enjoyed a messy room. Near the window was a desk for her to draw on, an easel for her paintings on the right, and a tall mirror on the left. On the opposite wall was a closet, with clothing, paintings, and various other items shoved in.  
She looked down at all of the papers covering the floor. Some of them had rough sketches, waiting to be made into something colorful and beautiful. Others had practice drawings on them, and some of them were blank altogether. However, next to the desk, was a pile of papers. Some were ripped into pieces, some were scribbled out, and some were scribbled out and ripped into pieces. It was the pile of the pictures Nightmare Moon didn't like, the pile of rejections. 
Seeing the sad scraps of paper made Violet even more grateful of Nightmare Moon's approval of the drawing slung over her back. It felt nice to not have her effort torn apart. Sighing, she walked in, and placed the sketch and all of her drawing supplies down on the table. She would work on it later. She turned around, and saw herself in the mirror. She was in a similar uniform that Rarity was in, and her black, curly mane was similarly tied up in a bun, but hers was unkempt and loose. Her blue-violet coat was bright and soft, and plastered on her flank was a light purple splatter of paint in the shape of a heart.
Shaking her head, Violet turned away from her reflection, and tiredly walked over to her bed before promptly flopping down on the stiff mattress. She was getting awfully tired of painting and drawing Nightmare Moon, over, and over, and over again.
Violet could remember the time before Nightmare Moon's reign. The monarchy before that was Princess Celestia, a kind and peaceful ruler. While she may have been almost as powerful as Nightmare Moon, Celestia had a warm presence surrounding her, a presence that made you feel that you could trust her immediately. Violet's mother, Sky Tempera, often made paintings for Celestia's castle, but unfortunately Violet had never been able to meet the alicorn in person. So, a few years ago, Violet took a vacation to go watch the Summer Sun Celebration in Ponyville.
That was the day Nightmare Moon returned. Celestia had vanished after being sent to the moon, and Nightmare Moon showed up in Celestia's place. Nightmare Moon talked, establishing herself as the new ruler of Equestria with her eternal night, before abducting several ponies in the crowd-including me-and rebuilding the abandoned castle in the Everfree Forest into the Castle of Nightmares. The painter had been stuck there ever since.
Violet turned her head to look at the easel. On it was a nearly finished painting, another portrait of Nightmare Moon. She had to finish it tonight to make sure that it could get put up in the hall tomorrow. 
She felt bile in the back of her throat at the idea of painting the Dark Mare again. But she had to, she didn't want to end up like the previous artist. She didn't know what happened to him or where he went, but she knew it wasn't good.
Pulling herself out of bed, she began to drag her hooves to the easel, staring at Nightmare Moon's painted face as she approached it. But as she got closer and closer the the painting, saw that painted confident image of evil on her face, Violet felt her resentment grow. She hated how scared she was of Nightmare Moon. Nopony else frightened Violet as much as she did! The tyrant had ruined her life, ruined Equestria, and Violet couldn't do a thing about it!
Violet stopped in front of the canvas, the anger bubbling inside her now at a tipping point. She scowled at the grin on Nightmare Moon's face, and could almost hear her aggravating, loud voice oozing out. Violet's teeth ground together. She couldn't take it anymore. Then, with one swift motion, she grabbed the canvas with her teeth, and flung it across the room. She heard something break, but she didn't care. Turning back to the now empty easel, she grabbed a new canvas in her teeth and propped it up. 
She stared at the empty canvas before her. What did she want to draw? Violet looked out the window, and stared at the moon, with the shadowy figure, and the colors of pink, blue, and green wrapped around it.
That's it! Inspiration hit her like a freight train. She quickly grabbed a pencil off of her desk, and began to sketch out a grand pony with large, kind eyes. Violet would close her own, and drew, guided by the memory of a beautiful painting of the Sun Princess by her mother.