> Imperial Affairs
>  by The Sound of Loneliness
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> A New Face on the Moon
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Your Majesty, I must ask you to reconsider. Surely you haven’t forgotten your promises.” Rarity spoke reluctantly, carefully choosing her words.
She couldn’t risk saying a single word that could be considered disrespectful—not to someone like Nightmare Moon and especially not around her always-present guards.

“And this is precisely why she must be sent away,” Nightmare Moon let a hint of irritation slip into her voice. “Would you rather see her dead, Rarity?”

“I... N-no, Empress.” Rarity had to pause to swallow a sudden lump in her throat.

“Good. I knew you would see reason, Rarity. After all, you are my most cherished advisor.” Rarity wisely said nothing in response.

Rarity thought she heard a guard behind her chuckling. To even simple grunts, who were only here to carry the chest with the Elements, her true role was no secret.

They walked silently for a few moments, but Rarity could feel their exchange wasn’t over yet. The air had begun to swell with pressure. Rarity could not bear it. She looked up at her Empress. Rarity knew full well what a repugnant creature she had ended up serving—but she couldn’t help but feel awed by her.

The black mare was wearing her new, silver tiara adorned with numerous gems, gleaming in the moonlit corridor. Her polished shoes and white gold necklace shone brilliantly. The necklace was set with the most perfect, twinkling emerald Rarity had ever seen. It had been gifted to the new sovereign by a griffon diplomat from a faraway land to indicate their good will. Rarity delivered the package herself.
Nightmare Moon’s slitted pupils moved to stare back at Rarity. Rarity quickly looked away but the Empress had already noticed her bewilderment. She smiled down to her advisor like a cat would smirk at a mouse—yet this look didn’t feel malicious, weirdly.

"Isn’t the rebuilt palace a miracle, Rarity?" Nightmare Moon suddenly spoke up, catching poor Rarity off guard. "The walls masoned from wondrous gleaming stone, softly lighting the halls at night—and the towers shine with silver in the moonlight. Guests always say they thought it was a mirage. And it was all only rebuilt in a single year. Quite a feat, especially considering the original castle took ten years to complete. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Rarity struggled to pinpoint Nightmare Moon’s intentions this time, but she knew better than to resist.

“Certainly, Your Majesty. But don’t forget the interior! Such magnificent tapestries and carpets. And, of course, no one will ever forget seeing the new throne room and its carefully restored stained glass windows complete with newly added murals,” Rarity cautiously answered. She had quite a number of similar discussions such as this during her life as a Canterlot designer. She even managed to suppress her stuttering despite the creature she spoke to.

Nightmare Moon laughed at her response. Rarity sighed in relief, recognizing the Empress was simply playing with her again.

“Yes, the interior is most certainly regal too, Rarity. But it wouldn’t be half as beautiful without you, my dear. Never forget you made nearly half of it yourself,” Nightmare Moon spoke with the sort of affection Rarity would give to Opalescence. “Come now, Rarity. Let’s not keep our prized guests waiting.”

The Empress, her advisor and the Imperial Guards tasked with carrying the chest together approached a pair of fluted, ebony doors where another pair of guards stood. They saluted their approaching Empress and were quick to open the doors for her. The Empress’ private balcony awaited beyond. Normally, it was privately reserved for her and foreign guests in the Imperial palace, but today a crowd had assembled.

In the middle of the balcony floor a chalk-white magical circle gleamed, surrounded by runes and inscriptions Rarity couldn’t make sense of. Twilight probably could, though. She studied them for at least 20 minutes before Rarity and her Empress arrived with the Elements. The rest of her friends were present too. Rainbow Dash gave Rarity a fierce look and Applejack refused to give even that simple gesture. Pinkie didn’t bother to lift her eyes from the floor and Fluttershy couldn’t even bring herself to look at Nightmare Moon. The poor pegasus had a lot of excuses to be afraid recently.

Celestia was there too, directly in the center of the circle. Rarity guessed some sort of magical barrier was present and the six, rifle-armed guards surrounding everyone assured Twilight didn’t try to break it. The young alicorn knew better than anypony that magical barriers were too frail to adequately protect from bullets.

“Luna!” Celestia called out, “Sister! I know you can hear me in there!” Stripped of her jewellery and position, Celestia was now hardly as imposing as she once was. “Send me away! Kill me, if you must, but I beg you! Push this thing away from yourself! Do not let it destroy everything we built together! Our ponies need you more than ever, sister.”

Nightmare Moon listened to Celestia’s plea without moving a single muscle before breaking into an amused smile.

“Goodness, Celestia! Have dignity! You are a princess, even in defeat. You had your chance to beg and you know you wasted it. Do not grovel for nothing.”
The Sun Princess for a moment looked like she wanted to respond but instead she sadly bowed her head, accepting her failure.

“Now then, give them their gems.” 

By the Empress’ order the two guards opened the chest they carried, revealing the tools which Rarity and her friends were to use.

One by one each mare took her gem and proceeded to her place around the circle, with Fluttershy being helped by Pinkie.
After ensuring every mare was where she was supposed to be, Nightmare Moon gave the order: “You may begin, Twilight.”

But the young Princess still hesitated.

“Do it, Twilight,” Celestia uttered. “You have no choice. She will get rid of me regardless of your help. Don’t hurt yourself over a lost cause.” Tears had already run down Celestia’s cheeks, “Remember, Twilight, you will always be my star pupil. Stay safe and keep your friends well. That is all you can do.”

Rarity couldn’t contain her own tears any longer—none of her friends could.

“I will never forget you, Princess! None of us will! I promise!”

“I know, Twilight. Thank you. Goodbye, my little ponies.” Celestia collected the final bits of her shattered pride and stood upright, awaiting the execution of the Empress’ sentence.

“Goodbye, Princess,” Twilight murmured. The young princess looked like she might collapse any second.

After gathering the remnants of her strength, Twilight Sparkle channelled the power of her crown, extending lines of light towards all of the other elements. The magical circle was becoming so bright it was painful to look at. The bat pony guards turned away, their sensitive eyes unable to handle the glaring display.
A brilliant pillar of light burst into the sky, towards the moon. No less than a second later the light was gone. The magical circle no longer gleamed and the Princess was no longer with them.

Twilight collapsed on the spot. Rainbow Dash and Applejack tried to find solace in each other’s hooves, or maybe they tried to physically support each other and not copy Twilight. Rarity tried her best to comfort Fluttershy, who was by this point weeping. Even Pinkie couldn’t resist despair. She simply sat there with her face uncharacteristically serious and her mane and tail straight, without any hint of the usual curls.

Nightmare Moon stared back at the face now looking down at her sadly from the moon and deeply grinned. Vengeance as it’s best served: cold.
She called upon the sergeant of the squad of guards.

“Prepare a carriage and send these six back to Ponyville. Make sure they get there. But first, give them an hour.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!” The guard answered readily, but his tone betrayed him.

Nightmare Moon nodded and entered her palace. The six weren't in shape to move now. In fact, nopony was. A little time from her majestic night could be spared to let her little ponies to pull themselves together. 

How quaint. They thought their helmets would help them hide tears.
> The City of Living Shadows
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Cloudy Dawn stepped out of the door to her private office, the night was lovely today. Cloudy then proceeded to lock the door, the lock squeaked as the latch got into place. Cloudy then took a deep breath of cool, night air; so sweet after spending almost the entire night at her desk.

Cloudy was quickly growing to hate her job. Her past work at the bat -or thestral, as they themselves prefered to be called- rights campaign ensured a post for her, but the other thing it ensured was that she herself now hardly had any time to enjoy the marvels of the night they all struggled to show the others. Not mentioning her new line of work and authority. Cloudy was a journalist, her calling was to keep everypony informed, not hiding everything her Empress didn’t want to see in evening papers.

Cloudy, after taking another deep breath, started her way up the street. Canterlot was such a dreamy and quiet place at night. The rebuilt city was carefully restored to its historical past and was banned to enter for cars to preserve the city’s ancient streetlife. 

After taking a turn over the corner of her office, Cloudy was now passing one thing that had drawn her to make this exact place her office in the first place: the Sunlit Plaza. This place, unlike the rest of the city, wasn’t rebuilt after the war; it didn’t need rebuilding. The Plaza and its statue miraculously avoided any shelling during the siege. Even Nightmare Moon didn’t lift a hoof to desecrate it, not even the Celestia statue.

Cloudy never asked why her Empress didn’t demolish this last image of her bitter enemy left in the city, maybe she wanted to leave a reminder of her victory, or maybe she simply wanted to gloat. Truth be told, Cloudy didn’t care. She loved that statue, there was something in that proud, stone, figure that calmed her, helped her to focus. It was like the now gone Princess still continued to support Cloudy down from her prison.

Cloudy passed another corner and walked right to the main street. It was empty there too; bat ponies, despite now having the opportunity, didn’t move to the city in mass. Cloudy continued to walk down the street for some time marvelling at the rebuilt city.

“Ugh!” Cloudy noticed there was some obstacle in her way and turned her head right on time to meet it with her snout. Cloudy then disgracefully fell down on her bottom, but she was too busy holding her hurt snout to care of grace. 

“Oh, I am so sorry, my dear! I didn’t see you there, I get so absent-minded sometimes. What an embarrassment! Let me help you back up.”

Cloudy looked up at the mare, who just bumped into her. She wore the purple uniform, signifying her as one of the royal staff. The voice was awfully familiar too.

“Hi, Rarity,” Cloudy said, accepting her hooves. Cloudy smiled at her good friend: “You never change.” Rarity smiled back in a mute apology. ”It’s so good to finally see you again!” Cloudy seized the opportunity to pull Rarity into a friendly hug.

“You do not even imagine, Cloudy! Oh, goodness! I do not even remember when was the last time we two went out together! I urgently need a break!-” Rarity wistfully smiled “-How about the next weak’s reopening of the royal gallery?”

“Eh, Rarity, I think you are forgetting something.” Rarity blinked and startled at Cloudy, “The Old Hag doesn’t give you any breaks. You are with her every night, all night.” Rarity’s enthusiasm dissipated in an instant.

“Oh, do not be silly, Cloudy! Of course she gives me breaks! It’s just that I have so much to do now with the boutiques and the palace. Sassy helps with the boutique here, but everywhere else I need to be in person. Besides, you are being too harsh on her, Cloudy. She isn’t a despot you say she is. We may have celebrated her exile to the moon, but it was a thousand years ago!  She's stiff and unforgiving, but I promise, she's different now than she was. Give her a chance, Cloudy.” Rarity defending Nightmare Moon, of all people, set Cloudy off.

“I reckon your sales skyrocketed after everyone knew about your new and wonderful boss,” Cloudy bitterly reminded. Rarity looked away, her ears dropping by each side of her head and eyes getting unusual gleam. “Sorry, Rarity. I didn’t mean to.”

“Oh, Cloudy. Don't apologise for the truth.” She wiped her eyes, "Sweet Celestia, I wanted nothing of this, neither did Luna, I swear to you! It just went down the spiral from the moment the thestral supporters were attacked!" Rarity paused to blow her nose into a handkerchief appearing from her bag, "But I can't leave her alone in this, Cloudy. I just can't!" Rarity, seeing an increasingly worried expression from her old friend, gave Cloudy a week smile and offered her another hug: “Friends?”

“Friends.” Cloudy happily accepted. “You mind telling me what are you up to in here?” Cloudy asked, mostly to jump off the touchy subject.

“Actually, it’s about you, Cloudy.” Rarity pulled away from Cloudy and started searching the ground around her. “Agh, where did I drop it?”

“Drop what?” Cloudy asked, joining the search.

“The letter, she sent you a letter. Ah! There!” Rarity victoriously levitated a paper and a broken envelope to Cloudy. 

“You are reading the imperial correspondence again, Rarity?” Cloudy teased. “That can get you in a lot of trouble, you know.” Rarity blushed.

“I swear, I only read the first sentence and most of the letter is encrypted regardless!” Cloudy blew a full sigh.

“I bet it’s some new and exciting censorship regulations, or something.” Cloudy took the letter and read the unencrypted part aloud: "My Minister of Communication. I write to inform you of my deepest regrets for your unacceptably high workload in recent months. As you are aware, I take care of my most loyal subjects. Know that I have taken it upon myself to improve the quality of the working environment for all public servants. Over your case, Minister, I took personal oversight. Within the next week, you will be receiving a personal assistant to reduce your paperwork, I believe you two don't require any introductions; also, find attached a new set of policies for your institution, which would lessen the stress for both the ministry and the private media. Work productively, Minister."

Both mares looked at each other in confusion.
> Managing Domestic Affairs
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nightmare Moon audibly groaned and rubbed her paining forehead. 
“Luna, can you, please, stop whining at least while I am at the desk? I am trying to work here!”

“Oh, my apologies! You are such a busy little fiend, always working on something to further your interests. And I wouldn’t want to interfere, of course not!” 

Luna being angry or, more accurately, moody wasn’t quite new. Some things never change, no matter how old they become. And to Nightmare Moon having a millennia-old, fretful, foal, buzzing in her head for their every waking moment together, very much got old all the way back on the moon.

“Luna, what did I do to draw your animosity this time?” Nightmare Moon asked, still trying to cope with her accumulated frustration, even though Luna, without a doubt, could feel it herself. Them sharing a body ensured that. “I did everything you wanted. I banned execution as a form of judicial punishment. I didn’t jail any of your sister’s remaining supporters. Stars, I even abolished censorship as the official practice, solely because you wanted it that way! I also sent Rarity to help Miss Dawn around her own office! Because you won’t cease tantalizing both of us over how the only thing she dreams in her sleep is quitting the job! Will you, please, let me have some peace? Thanks a lot.”

“After all you've done you still have the nerve to ask!” Nightmare Moon louringly, but hardly surprisingly, found Luna’s indignation rising even further, “You stole my body! You killed thousands of my people and you took my sister from me!” Nightmare Moon gave away a tired sigh, “You well remember how miserable the moon was! A wonderful tool for your revenge it made, now didn’t it?”

“Luna, we talked about this. This was the only way not resulting in her death. I simply couldn’t allow her to stay! Her mere presence was a threat to the Empire’s stability! Her ponies would’ve never accepted us ruling them if she was still here! Do you want back to the moon?” Luna sent a shiver down their body’s spine. Nightmare Moon pressed the advantage: “You are correct on one thing, Luna. I remember what it’s like up there and I don’t intend to go back. I don’t think you want it either.”

Nightmare Moon sensed she won this exchange, but Luna wasn’t done yet.

“And what of all the ponies you’ve killed? Are you going to tell me now I wanted this too?”

Nightmare Moon reluctantly stood up from her desk, blew a snort and begun slowly pacing around her quarters. Sadly, the formation of 3 new tank divisions would have to wait for her at the desk for now. This foal needed her time just as badly... and a lot more of her patience.

“Don’t you blame me now, Luna! We had a deal there!” Nightmare Moon no longer bothered to hold back her irritation, “You had a problem you couldn’t handle! I offered my help in exchange for some control over our body! I could have taken it whenever I so pleased, but I only did after asking you, didn’t I? I never forced anything on you! I allowed you to have your way, even that time when you nearly doomed Equestria entirely with your amateurish “Tentabus”! Luckily, Twilight and her friends are a lot more capable problem solvers than you ever were!” Luna tensed upon the mention of her another failure. “I always was honest with you on my intentions. I told you I would resolve everything, but in my way!”

Nightmare Moon interrupted her orderly circling around the room and walked up to the only window.

“Look.” Nightmare Moon peered down on the Canterlot streets. Small crowds of ponies, often having members from all four tribes, were visible all around the city, lighting candles at memorials and sending papers lanterns to fly through the dark sky, “Today is the Night of Imperial Unity. I signed the order in front of you on the last day of the War. This is what you wanted, isn’t it? Your dream was for our lovely thestrals to be accepted by other ponies and live like they did before we were exiled. Well, here they are; celebrating with all their new friends. What else is it you want?”

“Did I ask you to kill my ponies, you monster?” Nightmare Moon sighed again. Luna’s stubbornness was easily her most annoying trait, “For your damned empire you killed a few times more ponies than died from all wars in Equestria combined!”

“And you are blaming me for it now? This is what you needed my help with in the first place, remember? I didn’t start the War! You did!”

Luna hesitated before answering:
“I asked you not to fan the war, I asked you to stop it! Thestral tribes ignored my pleas!”

Nightmare Moon rolled her eyes and continued, though losing most of her venom.

“And now it's their own fault? Luna, your naivety still staggers me, even to this night. You should’ve taken some pages from your sister’s book while you had a chance.”

Nightmare Moon broke away from the window and approached the ornate tablemap featuring Equestria and all surrounding lands. A number of carved figures visualised both Imperial and foreign armies.
It was time for a lesson. Perhaps, if the Empress educated her host a little on the matters of statecraft she would become less annoying.

“Watch,” Nightmare Moon instructed and lifted a figure from the western side of the map, “This is a changeling. The insect-like creature that impersonates others and feeds of their love. A parasite. But can we blame it for having to feed of others to survive?” Luna didn’t answer. 
“I think no. Changelings didn’t choose to be this way. Even Chrysalis, as disgusting as she may be, only did what she had to so that her children won’t starve. I can blame no mother for feeding her foals. We can’t blame them for simply trying to live, Luna. Even if it makes them our mortal enemies.”

Nightmare Moon put the changeling figure back on the table and lifted a different one, this time, from Equestria.
“And here is a thestral. They are fierce, distrustful and somewhat uncouth isolationists. They all have to be. After we were sent to the moon, Celestia’s ponies have driven them deep into the mountains and then simply returned to their usual lives; trying to forget there ever was any forth tribe. With no farmland to speak of and the rest of ponykind refusing to trade with them, they had to find other ways of getting what they need. They mostly got on by stealing, raiding and smuggling. With only themselves to rely on and everyone else being their enemy, they learned to fiercely protect their own and to be wary of the outsiders.” 

Nightmare Moon then untied the small, velvet bag and levitated a regular pony figure out of it. Nightmare Moon then turned the pony around and placed it on the table, to oppose the thestral. 

“And then come you, Luna. A long lost Princess of the Night returning to tell them it was time to forget their grudges and to be accepted by the rest of Equestria in peace. Some of them had a feeling it was too good to be true; but they trusted you, Luna, so they agreed to your plan. The only problem was that you forgot to ask your other ponies for their opinions.” 

Numerous figures from all around Equestria moved to surround the lonely thestral.

“What did you expect would happen?” Nightmare Moon’s tone became openly mocking, “The dreaded Nightmare Moon followers, brigands, thieves and scarecrows were now walking on the same very streets they used to raid in days past. While you were playing with laws and giving passionate speeches, your other ponies were beating, jailing and all but killing thestrals for as much as finding them around at times.” Nightmare Moon chuckled, 
“I wonder what Twilight would say of her precious friendship now.”

Continuing her show, Nightmare Moon lifted two of the ponies and turned them to face each other.

“Who else could steal your bits if not that telltale bat on that side of the market? After all, this is what they do, right?” Nightmare Moon mockingly reminded Luna the words they once overheard at the Appleoosan market. 

The Empress, now tired of her play, knocked over the figurine congregation on the table.

“And then you told them they shouldn’t be violent. That they must not defend themselves and should simply submit to the injustice your ponies were committing to them! Did you really expect them to obey such an order? Yet, things did not end there; worse yet, your speeches actually were convincing! Many of your ponies went on to protect their newly found friends, bringing whatever weapons they had with them. A single rifle or a rusty blade can’t do much damage, but then even whole military units refused to idly watch. It's your largest success, I suppose. They all swore to protect Equestria, and you made them see that bat wings didn't make thestrals any less Equestrian. Of course, they did not intend to use deadly force against the very people they were supposed to protect; but thestrals did not intend to sit put and let their own rot in captivity either.” 
Nightmare Moon smiled, “I didn’t start the War, Luna. You did. I made the only choice you left me with: I took a side.”

A myriad of emotions kaleidoscoped through Luna’s mind. Nightmare Moon sensed denial, then anger, then it was horror and, finally, despair.

“I cannot believe this,” Luna’s startled response finally arrived. “How… how could I be so blind? I failed everyone, again. Oh, sister. I am so sorry!”

“Oh, Luna! But this is only natural!" Nightmare Moon eagerly kept pressing Luna’s weak spot. Time was for a little payback for the years of headache Luna gave her since the War, "Your sister was always the one with the brains in your family. She told you from the start this wasn’t a good idea. But you pressed on regardless and she, being a good sister as she is, stood out of your way. Apparently, she trusted you enough to let you pursue your dreams. Look where her mistake got us all now, Luna, isn’t this just delightful?” 

“E-empress?” Rarity’s stuttering voice broke the Empress away from enjoying her long awaited victory.

Nightmare Moon’s eye turned to look at Rarity standing in the open doorway with a file labelled “top-secret”. 

“Ah, Rarity! Delightful to see you!-” Nightmare Moon quite genuinely smiled at her “-That must be the intelligence report I requested, you may leave it on the desk and be free for the rest of the night. I don’t think I’ll need you anymore for today.” A surprised guard picked out from the doorway, Nightmare Moon winked at him in response, which startled him even more; but he, nonetheless, disappeared again. No doubt he intended to tell the rest of the staff of the Empress’ unusually good mood this night.

Rarity did as she was told, but instead of leaving she closed the door.

“Empress, may I see Luna?” she approached. Rarity was visibly encouraged by Nightmare Moon’s warm welcome.

Nightmare Moon, to Rarity’s dismay, allowed herself a small laugh at the request, but said no word and instead retreated further into Luna’s mind, allowing her to control her body again; and for it to decrease back to its original proportions and her other features to become recognizable again. This was going to be good,
Luna did not waste a single moment.

“R-rarity, thank you! Thank you for coming!” The Lunar Princess leapt to Rarity, pulling her into a desperate embrace, tears running in thick streams from her eyes.

“W-why, of-course, darling. This is what I am here for.” Rarity found herself panicked by the sudden burst of the royal woe.

“Thank y-you so much, R-rarity! Y-you are the only one who didn’t abandon me!”

“There-there, my dear! This is no way an Emp… a Princess should behave! You are stronger than this. Just... hold on to me, everything will be alright again soon, you’ll see.”

“Oh, Rarity! I am a Princess no longer! I bargained my crown away to pay for my own frailty! I failed in everything, Rarity! I failed my sister, I failed my dreams and I failed you all too, Rarity! You only have the Empress now and all of this is my fault! Rarity, I am so sorry!” Rarity feared this day would come, but... so soon? “The only thing I never fail at is crying. But I can’t do even that now! I don’t even have my own body anymore!”

“O-oh, dear. Don’t be so harsh on yourself. Y-you did everything you could in your circumstance. Everything else was out of your hooves.”

“There wouldn’t even be any circumstance if I wasn’t so useless at everything!” Rarity decided not to push further. 



Eventually, Luna's sobs quieted down.
“Feeling a little better now, Princess?” Rarity cautiously asked. 

“Y-yes, Rarity. Thank you.” Luna pulled away from Rarity leaving her to inspect her wet uniform, “Rarity, how are the rest of your friends?” Luna asked out of nowhere. “I haven't heard anything from Twilight or anyone else, besides you, in years. Are they all alright?” Rarity felt her newly found hope instantly sinking.

“Well…” Rarity awkwardly smiled. “Twilight is... ok. She is mostly occupied with her library these days.”

“Good, at least something doesn’t change.” Luna wiped her eyes and even managed to smile a little. “And how are the others?” To Rarity, the question sounded like a knell.

“Well… we don’t see Fluttershy often now, she’s having too much trouble looking after her critters, I think. Pinkie spends her time working at Sugarcube Corner, she says she couldn’t find a reason to party in recent times.” -Luna’s face was now gradually changing to the mask of horror, Rarity swallowed a lump- “And Rainbow Dash and Applejack, I can’t really say, they don’t take well my… service at the palace and Twilight refuses to tell me.”

Luna had to lean on the table. 
"Princess, don't bla-"

“What have I done!" Luna wept. "Rarity, I am so sorry!” The designer-mare watched in helpless horror as shivers travelled all over Luna’s body and thick drops fell on the blue carpet. But a moment later, the princess quieted down and looked back at Rarity with slitted eyes.

“I thank you for bringing this matter to my attention, Rarity.” Rarity froze at place, neither her Empress' cold tone or her rapidly rising posture promised anything good, “I have a mission for you. You are to travel to Ponyville and get me Twilight.”

“C-certainly, Empress. I shall ask when she has the time.”

“Now!” Nightmare Moon rumbled. “Drag her here yourself, if you must, but get, her, before me!” Upon noticing her servant's paralysis, the Empress had to add: “Go!”

“A-at once, Y-your Majesty!” she said before galloping away, barely remembering to open the door.

Now to deal with Luna.

“Don’t hurt Twilight! I beg you! She did nothing to foil you!” Luna cried out in the Empress’ head. But she only rolled her eyes.

“Who do you take me for, Luna? Why would I hurt Twilight, of all our subjects? Sparkle needs to remember what is her role here. It seems, she tends to fall apathetic without anyone telling her what to do.” Nightmare Moon continued upon taking a deep breath to calm herself down a bit and closing the door again: 
“You can stop worrying this much. I made a promise I won’t hurt her, or any of her friends, remember? I sent Rarity for a reason. She will make sure this "Princess" won't do anything to force my hoof.” 

”Thank you.” Nightmare Moon felt Luna's relief, she even relaxed ever so slightly, allowing the Empress to feel how tired the poor thing really was.

Nightmare Moon stepped back to the window and peered at the ponies down below again.

“Rarity is right, though.” Nightmare Moon started gently, surprising Luna. “You did all you could with the circumstances you had on your hooves back then. You messed up pretty badly, but you knew if you tried to sort it all out yourself you’ll make it even worse. So, you did the only good thing you could at the time: you gave away the crown you never wanted so your ponies could have a chance for a better future, even if through war.
You are braver than your sister ever was, Luna. She never thought this was even possible, let alone tried it. She failed you, Luna, when she left you alone in the moment of need again. It's not the other way around.” 

“Look at them,” Nightmare Moon purred, still watching the ponies below. “The mortal enemies now all living together in one city, celebrating in peace and harmony, as friends. 
Isn’t war a beautiful thing, Luna?” To Luna's surprise, Nightmare's awe was genuine, she could feel it. 
“It brings destruction, yes; but through destruction it brings hope for restoration. It gives us all a chance to build something better from the ruins of our past failures. War allows for the most unthinkable dreams to become reality. Our subjects are wise, you should follow their example, Luna. Today they remember their friends now gone, whichever side they were on. But instead of mourning, they take a moment to appreciate the things their friends died for. Being happy for a friend is a lot better way to honour them.” 



Nightmare Moon allowed Luna to watch their ponies celebrating for a while. Gradually, tension left Luna, only leaving behind exhaustion. 

“All of this is thanks to you, Princess of the Night,” the black mare tenderly reminded for the last.

Having calmed her host enough, Nightmare Moon was now ready to return to her work; but a sudden idea brought a little grin to her face. There was one more thing she could do for Luna’s peace tonight.

“Luna?” Nightmare Moon asked verbally, as if Luna was standing there with her, “Would you like to cry for a while?”

Having said that, she once again let Luna back at the reigns of her own body. Luna was too exhausted and overwhelmed to question the offer. She soon almost cried herself to sleep.

“Yes, Luna, rest for now. I will finish everything in the morning. Sleep, and worry about nothing. I will take good care of our ponies for you, I promise.”
> The Princess of The Ivory Castle
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Anyway, I think it’s time I hit the hay. Goodnight, Twilight.” 

“See you in the morning, Spike,” Twilight said without even turning away from her book. 
Spike smiled at his friend, rolled his eyes and closed the door to Twilight's library without another word.

This book was just too much for poor Twilight to pull away from, once in a lifetime opportunity. A biography of Starswirl the Bearded written by his own contemporary! 
When Ember offered to pass some dusty old book she found in her father’s hoard, Twilight could not imagine what kind of crazy luck was about to hit her. It took Twilight more than a few cross-references, authenticity checks and eye rubs to believe what found its way to her study.

The Royal Library would’ve envied such a piece. Surviving more than a thousand years under a few tons of gold and the dragon himself was nothing less than a miracle, let alone doing so in perfect condition. Twilight had to suspect the book was magically protected from decay, even though it didn’t show on any on her tests. 
Admittedly, it would be almost a crime to let such a thing decline. It was a state of art even without looking at the contents. Even more so than Starswirl’s own Grand Spellbooks. The gold-lined cover, the illustrations, even the letters themselves: all were a work of art.

To Twilight, though, the most thrilling part was easily the written. Who could tell that the ancient Archmage hardly was the quiet scientist the modern historians imagined? By the author’s account, Starswirl, in his youth, couldn’t bear sitting in class. Young Starswirl prefered learning from experience. In fact, Rainbow Dash could mistake his bio for a spin-off Daring Do book. 
Turns out, ages ago Ahuizotl had a similar rivalry with Starswirl as with the daring explorer nowadays. Though the Archmage was still mostly interested in ancient libraries, rather than talismans and statues. Oh, what a joy would it be to ask Ahuizotl what Starswirl was really like!

Well, a mare can dream. There was still the book though. And the book was running painfully short. No book could withstand an assault from the Princess of Books for long, not even a truly amazing one. There was still the final barricade of the last 50 pages to climb, but it already was 3 at night. 

Twilight rubbed her eyes and yawned. 
How many times she had fallen asleep at her late-night studies? Eh, probably enough. Maybe Spike was onto something, there’s always tomorrow to finish everything still pending in the evening. 

Twilight pulled away from Starswirl almost defeating Ursa Major and ventured to the library door. The Castle knew when to cut the lighting. 

Twilight, then, headed down the hallway stopping for a moment to admire the view of her good old Ponyville. The town was largely sleeping at this hour too, though Twilight saw several lights still glittering and a lantern flying down from the sky. Probably Derpy Hooves finishing her deliveries. Night shifts were very much a hazard nowadays.
Twilight gifted the town a dreamy smile before moving to her bathroom. Even scholars needed some hygiene once in a while.

A couple of minutes later, Twilight, not before grinning at snoring Spike, put her head on a pillow and prepared to venture into the dream realm.

*BANG*

Twilight covered her head with the pillow.

*BANG BANG*

Well, it's not like they were going to go away. Twilight mixed a groan with a sigh and had to get back up again.
Ponies coming to see Twilight in the middle of the night wasn’t quite uncommon anymore, but they always had to come when she was trying to have some sleep.

“I’m coming,” Twilight announced down the hallway in response to another round of bangs. “Don’t wake Spike, please.”

Splashing her face with water, Twilight, then, headed straight to open the door for her guest. She really hoped it wasn’t some out-of-town celebrity wanting to bluster he personally knew royalty. The last time it took nearly the entire night to get rid of him and afterwards Twilight had to go though the whole day with not a single hour of sleep. 

“So, what bri...” Twilight opened the door and stopped her greeting mid-sentence to process what exactly she was seeing at her doorstep. It was Rarity, or looked like her; maybe her eyes were playing tricks on Twilight this late. Rarity wouldn’t allow herself to disgracefully pant for air in front of others like this pony was doing. There also was someone else Twilight didn’t recognize at first glance. An earth pony with a sky blue coat and a fiery ginger mane, wearing the same purple uniform as Rarity.

“Princess,” the other pony greeted her with a slight bow and a valiant attempt to manage her own breathing.

Twilight tried to pick through her memory to remember where she could know this pony from,
“Eh… Do we know each other?”

“No, Princess. We’ve never met before, but I am very glad we finally have a chance. My name is Cloudy Dawn, I am the Imperial Minister of Communication. I am here with Rarity.” The Minister nodded at panting Rarity, “We have an urgent business.”

“Now do you?” Twilight rubbed her forehead, “Well, come inside then.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.” Twilight rolled her eyes upon hearing the official address. So pompous it sounded silly.

“What's with Rarity?” still confused Twilight had to ask while leading her guests to the sitting room.

“I found her galloping through Canterlot streets to the train station, Your Highness. She was completely terrified. From what I could pry off her she has an urgent message for you.”

“So urgent you had to run for me at 3 in night?” Cloudy had to wave her head from embarrassment.

“It's from the Empress, Your Highness,” she explained. Twilight gave out a long sigh.

“And what is it your Empress wants from me?”

“I don’t know, Your Highness,” Dawn said in the most apologetic tone her own out of wind lungs allowed her. “But she made very clear to Rarity she’s unhappy with you.”

“Me?” Twilight's confusion gave way to surprise. “What did I do?”

“I can’t tell, Your Highness. You would have to ask Rarity; when she will be able to tell you, that is.”

Twilight stopped to let her guests past her into the sitting room. It had a round table, and 7 chairs, though Twilight now rarely used all of them.

“So, did you two just ran all the way here from Canterlot?” still puzzled Twilight asked.

“More or less, Your Highness. Rarity isn’t, exactly, reasonable when she’s frightened. I had to almost pull her back to the palace. In her state, she had completely forgotten she’s a VIP and can call for the Guard carriages now. She would still have two-thirds of the way in front of her if she went on a train, even with the guards refusing to drop us off at your door and flying us to the town’s train station instead. They said it was due to some nonsense with the “officially approved destinations” and your Castle not being one of them.”

Twilight blew a short snort,
“Good. Can I get you two something? Tea, or coffee?”

“Tea, please. Thank you, Your Highness,” the blue mare said while taking a seat alongside Rarity.

Twilight was glad Minister’s etiquette didn’t allow her to refuse. Twilight herself needed some… a lot of coffee and some time to make sense of what she just heard. Nightmare Moon is angry with her? Twilight methodically sorted through her memory to find what she could do to anger their tyrant, but her sleepy brain refused to connect any dots. It didn’t make any sense. 

Upon Returning with cups, some tea leafs on a plate and a hot teapot, Twilight found that Rarity now caught her breath, but still was just as panicked. By the looks of it, the Empress indeed was very unhappy.

Twilight placed herself on the other side of the table and started pouring water in the cups,
“Here, take a sip, Rarity,” Twilight said, passing her a filled cup and stirring it a few times with the spoon. “It should calm your nerves a little.”

“T-thank you, Twilight.” Rarity drank the cup in a single mighty gulp. Twilight refiled the cup with the same result, she decided not to pour another one for now.

“So, eh...Rarity, what does Nightmare Moon want from me now?” Both mares gave Twilight startled looks. Rarity looked like she would faint, “What?”

“Y-your Highness, there is a certain protocol. We don’t call the Empress by her name. She is “Her Majesty” or “Empress”, while you and Princess Cadenza are either “Your Highness” or “Princess”. Please, excuse us for not being used to such familiarity when speaking of the Empress, Your Highness.” The Minister added another slight bow to her explanation.

“Please stop calling me that.” Twilight’s capacity for silly official speech was up. “It’s just Twilight.”

“Right, Princess Twilight.” “Princess Twilight” rolled her eyes again, well it was still better than “Your Highness”.

“Twilight, the Empress wants to see you.” Rarity managed to produce.

“That’s kinda obvious. But what does she want?”

“But I don’t know, Twilight! I was just seeing Luna when she spurred up at you! She told me to drag you if I have to.” The two other mares exchanged concerned looks.

“Umm, Rarity. Sorry for asking off-topic, but why do you always talk like Luna and the Empress are separate ponies? You know they are just different names, right?”

“It’s because they aren’t,” Twilight began explaining. “Nightmare Moon and Princess Luna are two separate po… entities, living inside the single body. Nightmare Moon took over Luna’s body during her moment of weakness.”

“Oooh...” Dawn failed to contain her wonder. “That explains so much!”

“Twilight, she was so angry! I only saw her like this after someone tried to murder Luna at her meeting in Appleoosa! I thought she would scorch me with lightning, or throw me into the dungeon or...” Rarity was shivering and cut her speech short.

“Rarity, please. This is important, did you tell her something that could’ve caused her change of attitude?” Cloudy Dawn asked in a way refined by her years of taking interviews. 

"I just told Luna about… us.”

“Us?” Twilight emphasized.

“How we all just grew apart after that... time.”

“This doesn’t make any sense!” Twilight exploded, causing Cloudy Dawn to jump in her seat. “Nightmare Moon now just suddenly cares about what we six feel for each other? What’s next? We all having a tea party at Fluttershy’s?” Twilight grabbed her head in hooves.

“Actually, it does make a lot of sense!” Dawn wistfully propped her heard with her hoof.

“It… does?” Twilight’s stunned response came. 

“Well, of course! Princess, allow me a personal question: why do you think the Empress just left the six, or rather five of you, alone after you… served her back on that day?”

“Beats me, actually. I tried to understand for a while, but then it hit me that I probably don’t want to know.” Twilight proceeded to make an ugly grimace.

“I see. Well, I believe, I have an answer for you!” the Minister announced with a slate of pride. “From what I managed to pull from other institutions and the officials at the court, the Empress rarely ever sees anyone as being worthless to her. She, somehow, always knows how to make everything serve her benefit. Be it a rivalry between her generals or tender feelings of her subjects towards each other.”

“And you think she’s using our friendship against us? Well, this isn’t exactly new.” Rarity sank her head, “And this doesn’t explain why she suddenly cares so much about us.”

“I was just getting to this part. You see, I think the Empress understands your value as inspirational leaders for her ponies and, probably more importantly, your usefulness in managing any emerging crises. And since your elements only work because of your friendship, you being on good terms with each other is what keeps you useful for her.”

“Should’ve guessed it myself.” Twilight groaned and facehoofed herself, 
“Well, this is just wonderful! So we are playing for team “Nightmare Moon” by simply being friends! Great, just great! Rainbow Dash and AJ will love every syllable!”

“Eh… Right. Well, if my theory is correct, you’ll have nothing to fear from the Empress during your visit to the palace. She wouldn’t hurt her own interests-” 

“To Tartarus with her interests!”

“-and, I think, she’s quite fond of you personally too. She, previously, always spoke very highly of you and even set you as a performance example for us on one of the council meetings.” 

Twilight groaned painfully,
“This keeps getting better and better! Cloudy, do you really have to tell me all of this? I can do without knowing how much I am liked by someone I despise!” The blue mare gave Twilight an apologetic look. 

“I… imagined you would like to know where do you stand with the Empress before you meet her.”

“I am not going anywhere just to be used again!” Twilight dropped her head at the table, ringing the silverware. Rarity gave Cloudy a panicked, begging, stare.

“Princess, I urge you to reconsider! You can’t simply refuse an invitation from the Empress and it is not in your best interests to keep her waiting for long!
Her order for Rarity to drag you there was no joke! The Empress will see you regardless if you want it or not!”

Twilight’s muffled sigh was heard,
“I forget sometimes it’s not Princess Celestia.” 

The Minister sighed in solidarity,
“We all sometimes do, Princess Twilight.” 

Twilight signed again and spent a few long minutes on the table before finally answering:
“Alright, I’ll go. Just give me a few hours to sleep. She can wait that long, right?”

“I think she’ll understand.”
> The New Imperial R&D
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Tick, tick, tick, tick. The old fashioned pendulum clock in the corner by the window was now counting down the last seconds before 9. The mechanism then stroke the bell 9 times and quieted down again. 

Nightmare Moon almost zapped the clock on the 6th time; hew own head felt much like the bell being hit by the hammer. If Luna has been quiet so far, duties were not. First having to survive an embarrassment of being waked by a Guard to raise the sun and now having to work during daylight with only a few hours of sleep was quite enough to give as good a headache as Luna herself was capable of. But what wouldn’t an honest nightmare do for her dear host?
At least the Empress could send some urgent orders through dreams while she was having that unplanned nap. Maybe it wasn’t such a waste; after all, this night quite a few divisions were supposed to move elsewhere from their usual bases.

Nightmare Moon allowed herself a disgraceful yawn. She then decided to examine the tools of her day's work one more time. Spoons - check, saucers - check, cups and tea leaves inside - check and, lastly, a hot teapot - check. 
For once, the ridiculously suspicious attitude, Captain Stormbreaker held towards any remaining day lovers, had some usefulness. Thanks to him the Empress had got an excuse to delay Sparkle enough to prepare her reception. In the end, this wasn’t quite an interrogation.

“Agh...” Nightmare Moon grimaced in pain as a sunbeam bounced of a silver spoon and hit the Empress right in the eye, blinding her momentarily. The Empress, then, had to pull the drapes over the window to protect her hurt sight.

“Luna, why do our subjects love the day so much anyway? Our night is so much more gentle than this!” Luna kept quiet, unmoved, “You still sulking, I see.”

Nightmare Moon felt Luna's hesitation, but the Princess delivered in the end,
“I don’t know what to think anymore. I thought I know you.”

"How can you not? We were together since your earliest days."

"You...defy my expectations recently."

“How so?”

“Well, I never saw you being delicate, to name one.”

Nightmare Moon chuckled to herself,
“Luna, you are always so quick to jump to conclusions. You are my host! Why would I want you to be upset?”

“That never stopped you before.”

Nightmare Moon sighed and looked over the draped window,
“Look, Luna, I am sorry I got us both on the moon.”

“Woooow,” Luna stretched out. “Your generosity knows no bound, Your Majesty.” Nightmare Moon smiled, now that sounded more like Luna. It would be too bland without her sarcastic nature.

“Trust me, if I could get my own body instead of taking yours I would have.”

“Makes all the difference in the world to me.”

“Luna, like it or not, we are in this together. I can’t get rid of you and you, certainly, can’t get rid of me. We can still do one thing though, we can still make peace.”

Luna pushed out a sad chuckle,
“Amazing. You, of all ponies, offering peace! You should’ve tried my sister first.”

Nightmare Moon groaned,
“Luna, you should be giving lessons in stubbornness to Apples. Again, I couldn’t help it! Even if she did accept, it wouldn’t have mattered! Her ponies would’ve thought we tortured her into it.”

“I know,” Luna weakly replied. She wasn't done though. Nightmare Moon, as usually, patiently waited for her host to finish: “Why didn't you stop me?”

The Empress snorted,
“Like you would‘ve listened. Luna, you don’t even listen to Celestia, what chance did I have?” Luna’s spirit sank again. “Oh, Luna, please, don’t fret. It turned out fine in the end.”

“With a few notable exceptions.” Luna louringly added. “Well, I suppose it can’t be helped. It’s already too late to weep now. Fine, have your peace, I won’t interfere any longer. I only ask this one thing now: try to avoid scaring Twilight out of her mind.”

The image in the Empress’ mind made her to smile,
“Don’t worry about that one, Luna. I don’t think I even can scare her. Dawn, without a doubt, told her a little too much for that. Besides, Twilight is not Rarity.”

The door received two quick knocks. Nightmare Moon looked at the clock, the Guards wasted just about enough time taking the Princess through all their procedures,
“I wonder if your new Captain convoyed her all the way here at gunpoint,” Luna remarked.

“Enter,” Nightmare Moon commanded. The door was pushed inside and a stallion in silvered armor appeared on the doorstep.

“Twilight Sparkle, Your Majesty,” he announced the arrival and moved aside to let the guest in. Twilight stepped through the opened doorway, bearing an embarrassed but stoic expression,
“She didn’t carry anything on her, Your Majesty. Your orders?” 

The Empress gave both of them a mischievous look. The Captain shuffled his legs uneasily. Satisfied, the Empress finally gave her order,
“Thank you, Captain, leave us now.”

“What do we do with the other two?” The Captain asked.

“Just leave them for now. They will be waiting for Princess.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!” The Captain gladly saluted and closed the door behind him.

Twilight remained standing, waiting for her own instructions,
“Well, Twilight, don’t just stand there! Have a sit!” Twilight grudgingly obeyed, Nightmare Moon proceeded to pour steaming water into the cups.
“It’s so rare we get a chance to meet and simply talk. I sometimes forget that I have two Princesses!” The Empress took a spoon and stirred her cup for a moment, before gracefully shaking and putting it behind the cup on the saucer.

Twilight kept silent, staring into her own cup. Nightmare Moon took a little sip from hers. It was still a little hot.

“Twilight, tell me, how are you these days? I hear you acquired a most fascinating book to your study.”

Twilight closed her eyes and took a deep breath,
“Yes, Your Majesty. It’s a biography of Starswirl the Bearded, written by Inky Mane. I believe, it was commissioned by Princess Celestia shortly after Starswirl’s disappearance.”

“Oh!” Nightmare Moon wistfully looked at the starsky mural on the ceiling, “I think, I remember a little of the old Archmage! He was constantly on the move around Equestria together with his friends, righting wrongs and protecting ponies from danger.” She chuckled, it all sounded awfully familiar now, “He always gave the sisters so much homework, they were busy all the way until he returned to check.”

Twilight pulled her eyes away from the tea and looked directly at the Empress,
“You knew Starswirl?” Now that sparked her interest.

“Not personally. He was tutoring young Celestia and Luna right before his disappearance. They both tried looking for him, but he wasn’t known to trust with the details of his missions to anyone but his own companions. Though on the day before their departure, Luna managed to eavesdrop-” Luna internally snorted “-at Rockhoof saying farewells to his Canterlot associates. He was well aware they won’t come back.”
Nightmare Moon then lifted her cup and took another sip, passing the initiative to Twilight.

“This leaves a lot more questions.” The delighted Empress smiled at Twilight totally forgetting for the moment who she was having an audience with, “If they all knew they weren’t coming back, they could leave some clue to where to find their bodies. I wonder...” 
Twilight eyed the room as if searching for evidence, but the reality quickly caught up with her. Twilight then groaned, gave Nightmare Moon a sharp look and returned to her cup.

“Ah, she is adorable! Your sister always had an eye.”

“Show her the newspaper that came this morning,” Luna dryly suggested. “That should get your point across.”

“Oh.” Nightmare Moon found herself genuinely surprised, “Excellent idea, Luna.”

“Twilight, books are amazing as they are. But you absolutely must get out of your Castle more!” Nightmare Moon said in a concerned voice, “The palace staff have already forgotten how you look! When was the last time you went out to chat with a newsmare?”

“I believe I did recently,” Twilight tried to lie, provoking a knowing smile.

“Have you at least read this morning’s “Equestrian Courier?” Nightmare Moon continued her line.

“I am afraid I missed this one, Your Majesty.”

“Oh, Twilight! You are a Princess! You shouldn’t get out of touch with your realm’s affairs!” Upon finishing her scolding the Empress turned towards the cupboard. 
Leaving the various crystalline and porcelain utensils alone, she went straight for the stack of papers resting on top. Upon freeing the desired print, the Empress passed it over to Twilight,
“Here, look at the very first page.”

The Empress laid back on her chair and prepared to see Twilight’s reaction, sipping on the tea. First, the young Princess simply stared, clearly not seeing any sense; after blinking a few times, the Princess widened her eyes and started desperately running through the lines.

“Is this right?” she asked upon confirming she didn’t dream any of it.

“The “Courier” is a paper of public record, they don’t spread hear-says.”

“So, we are at war?” dumbfounded Twilight asked again.

“Quite so, Twilight. But have no fear.” The Empress dropped a thick folder labeled “top-secret” on the table, “Chrysalis was foolish enough to believe she had an element of surprise. As of now, almost all forward Changeling forces were ambushed and either destroyed or pushed back. Some of our own quickest armored units have even managed to push into enemy territory.”

“You knew.” Twilight was already barely visible behind a mountain of reports, photos and recommendations.

“Of course I did!” Nightmare Moon laughed. “How can you hide a species-wide militarisation? It was the only thing Chrysalis herself and many of her subjects dreamt of! Their battle plans were hilariously easy to extract from their dreams.” Nightmare Moon ended her explanation with a wink.

“But enough of the official matters, I haven’t invited you to talk about the boring things. I believe, we drifted a little too far off. Let us start again. How are you?” No response arrived,
“I am worried about my advisor’s dearest friends. Rarity says you are falling apart, is this right?” 
Again, Twilight didn’t react, continuing to stare at her own reflection in the cup.

“Hmm, this isn’t going to work.”

“The Empress cannot motivate a single subject?” Luna teased.

“Is this a challenge? Watch me.”

The Empress took off her tiara, the elegant line of silver adorned with gems to shine like stars in the sky. The symbol of night’s rule and her metal grip. Still, it did not compare to Celestia’s royal crown. By the wearer’s intention. 

With a light clink the silver corona landed right in front of Twilight’s snout, almost knocking her tea over. Twilight blinked and slowly lifted her eyes at the now crownless Empress. The sneer was now gone and the look from the slitted eyes no longer gave away a concealed mock. Nightmare Moon had something to tell her now.

“Twilight,” Nightmare Moon made away with her fake attitude. “I am sorry.” Twilight lifted her brow, “I am sorry it all had to be this way. But there was no better, believe it or not."

"According to Nightmare Moon," Twilight coldly pointed out.

"Twilight, war isn't something you can start or end by a whim. Once the hostilities begin, it’s too late for friendship and harmony to save the day. You know this from experience, do you not? Not even Nightmare Moon can break the rules which run this world. Do you think I wouldn’t have if I could?”

Nightmare Moon took back the folder and fished out the orders she signed with her hoof a few nights before,
“I started no war, Twilight. But I am not Celestia, I won't pretend I am a saint. Not before Luna and not before you. There is no fooling you two regardless.” She passed the signed document to the Princess, 
“Given the deceptive nature of Changeling combat tactics and their shapeshifting abilities, no mercy must be exercised upon capturing any still living members of Changeling military personnel and civilians that have shown resistance, for the risk of infiltration and sabotage is already extremely high,” Nightmare Moon cited herself.

Twilight’s eyes slowly watered, "How dare you!" The young Princess looked at her oppressor in total abhorrence,
“It wasn't enough for you to beat us! You dragged us to their level!” she kicked aside the tiara, sending it flying across the room; Nightmare Moon did not move a muscle. "Well, no surprises from you here."

“How many of your fellow ponies would you see dead to save a few Changelings?” Nightmare Moon mercilessly resumed her advance. “Twilight, there is no way of avoiding casualties in war. Someone needs to die, the only thing we can do about this is to ensure that our own friends and families will not be the ones drawing the short stick.”

“This is wrong! There is always a better way than...this!”

“And what will that way be? Are you going to simply walk over to a Changeling tank and offer them your friendship? Worked wonders with Imperial troopers, didn’t it?” Nightmare Moon lifted her Princess’ chin, revealing a bullet mark.
“Twilight, wake up. They are a species of parasites, they feed off others’ emotions. They cannot survive without doing this. They do not have another way but to prey on us. Making friends with them will not change this. 
Would you rather allow them to turn everyone you know into their food? Would prefer them living their lives in misery with Changelings sucking out every last bit of their happiness?”

“Stop it!” Twilight shouted through her tears.

“Twilight, this brings me no joy.”

“Then stop!”

“I can’t,” Nightmare Moon stated with the stillness an executioner may have. “Twilight, I am not doing this because I like seeing you suffer. I am doing this because I need your help.”

The black mare freed the “Courier” from under the mountain of reports, spawned from the cursed folder. She flipped a single page and showed the headline to Twilight: “Twilight Sparkle has received an official invitation from, Her Majesty. The end of the royal hostilities?”

“How quickly the news spread,” Nightmare Moon pointed out without a single hint at a smile.
“Twilight, you cannot simply relinquish your responsibility and lock yourself up in your Castle,” Nightmare Moon hammered. "Whether your former teacher is with you, or not, you still have duties."

"I won't serve the likes of you!" 

“I know," Nightmare Moon patiently followed. "And I am not asking you to serve me. I have more than enough ponies willing to jump at my any whim. Your duty is to your ponies, just as it always was." Nightmare Moon pointed at the paper again. "This is where your responsibility is. When a foal is trying to figure out who they want to be in life, do you believe they are imagining me?” For a moment a sad smile appeared on the black mare’s face. 
“They don’t. They are thinking of you, Twilight. A few years ago you were a simple filly unicorn only interested in books. 
But look at you now! Everypony knows your name. Your ability, wisdom, but most importantly, your devotion to your friendship allowed you to rise where not even the bravest filly could dream to get!”

Nightmare Moon stood up from her chair and approached the curtained window. With a single move of the blue aurora, she pushed the drape aside, forcing herself to look at the sunlit city through the pain.
For a few long moments she waited and then turned her eye to now astonished, but still sceptical Twilight.

“Look out of the window, Twilight. I am not asking you to do anything for me. They are the ones who need you. Canterlot citizens need you, Cloudsdale pegasi need you, soldiers on the front need you, my Guards, rough they may be, need you. Soon, even Changelings will need you.“

Nightmare Moon picked up her crown and put her back on the table, before Twilight.
“You are a Princess, Twilight. This is a great responsibility. Celestia chose you because she believed you are fit for leadership. Are you prepared to prove her wrong?” Nightmare Moon once again passed the initiative.

Twilight simply stared at the article.

"What do I need to do?" Twilight asked after many ticks of the clock.

“Now, all you need to do is to repair the rift between your dearest friends.”

“But...how? Rarity is an outsider now, Rainbow and Applejack grown so bitter they can no longer even look at her. Pinkie doesn’t care about anything that isn’t her job. And Fluttershy I can’t even find anymore!” The Princess proceeded to drop her head on the mount. Paper. 

“Twilight, get a hold of yourself. You are an expert on friendship problems. How would you take care of this, if the map sent you?” Twilight slowly rose back up with a paper still stuck to her cheek. And proceeded to, finally, take a good gulp from the cup. The Empress patiently waited for an answer, stirring her own leftover tea.

Upon sufficiently calming down, the Princess began:
“I think I can get Pinkie and Rarity easy enough. Fluttershy I can reach by talking to some of her animals. One of them is bound to see her. But I don’t know what to do with AJ and Rainbow, they can’t stomach being around Rarity. They think she betrayed us by siding with you and Luna.”

“But she didn’t and she can prove it. Take Dawn with you, she will have all the evidence your friend needs to defend herself.”

“But how do I get them to listen?”

“This is the part I can help you with, I will arrange for you an occasion none of them can miss. But,” Nightmare Moon pushed down a very hard stress. “Do not tell anyone, who doesn’t need to know! This includes Rarity and everyone else you can get yourself. And NO outsiders! Do you understand?”

Twilight slowly nodded.

“Twilight, I want you to run a research for me. Again, our nation’s stability depends on this being secret. I want you to find a way to break the elemental seal on the moon.”

“You want...” Twilight had to cut short on the account of falling off the chair. Nightmare Moon quickly lifted her up.

“From this moment you are on the official Imperial duty. I will arrange for you to have every possible clearance. You will have every book and every ingredient you may need. And no Guard will disturb you. Run your research and then get your team together. Do you understand?”

“Y-yes!”

“Then go and, for everyone’s sake, remember: don’t say anything you don’t have to.”

Twilight wasted no time obeying. Nightmare Moon waited for a few moments to ensure nobody else was about to disturb her, then lifted Twilight's chair and dropped on it with an exhausted sigh.

“Are you really...” Shocked Luna tried to form a question.

“Yes, really. Please, give me a dozen minutes. Negotiations are exhaustive these days. For now, think about how do we furnish your sister’s quarters.” 
> Moon's Parting Lullaby
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Mistress, must you really go alone?” Shadow Crest asked, receiving the tiara from her Empress.

“I do, Shadow. At times, you cannot trust anyone but yourself.” Nightmare Moon answered, taking off her shoes.

“Mistress, you know you can trust me. I will bring you the artefact!” 

“Shadow, this is not for debate. This is too dangerous to entrust anyone else, even you.” Nightmare Moon turned around to look her exact copy in the eyes, “You can aid me by doing what I am now going to ask of you.”

“Any way I can, Mistress!” the other Nightmare Moon readily responded.

Nightmare Moon touched her copy’s shoulder,
“I trust you with a very important task. Watch over the court. Make sure they won’t find out I am gone.”

“But ho... of course, Mistress.”

“Good, my Shadow. Remember: the fate of the Empire is in your hooves for the next few hours. Mimicking others is in your nature, but remember the failure of your former Queen. Do not get careless.” Nightmare Moon put a simple, grey cloak over her shoulders and began tying her mane to fit under the cloak,
“This is only for a few hours, I will be back soon. Will you do this for me?”

“Anything for you, Mistress. I will not fail you.” Nightmare Moon nodded and touched her Changeling replacement one more time, before spreading her wings and leaping off the balcony into the moonlit skies.

Nightmare Moon swiftly gained attitude and then spread her wings wide, entering glide. The black mare took a deep breath of cool air and used the moment to look over her domain. Guards in towers, thestrals flying about in their work, Ponyville as sleepy as always, the Everfree Forest green and misty. Ah, the Forest! Such fond memories.

“Are you really going to trust a Changeling to rule over our land?” Luna forced herself into the mare’s thoughts.

“She is no ordinary Changeling. Shadow Crest is loyal only to me. She can’t be any other way.”

“You don’t trust your own ponies, but a Changeling?” Nightmare Moon felt Luna’s confusion.

“Oh, but I do trust our ponies, Luna. I simply have to adjust to the nature of their loyalty. Rarity, for instance, will follow you anywhere. Just like Shadow will do for me. But Rarity’s loyalty doesn't not belong to me, but to you, Luna. 
Rarity is completely trustworthy, but only until she sees it as your benefit. Rarity has to be constantly watched over, otherwise, she might push her snout somewhere where it isn’t supposed to be.”

“Then...why did you agree to send her over to Cloudy Dawn?”

“I didn’t send her anywhere. She is still very close, but she no longer simply maunders around the palace until I find her something to do. Actually, Luna, it was an inspired idea on your part.
Rarity and Dawn is a very convenient pair. Dawn would’ve been troublesome if it wasn’t for Rarity. Just like Rarity’s, Dawn’s loyalty is conditional. The condition is for her to be in the right company. 
Dawn thinks of herself as very smart; so much, in fact, that she even takes it upon herself to school others. She is potentially dangerous, unless...she tells others what we want her to, Luna. Rarity’s habit to stick her nose everywhere serves our cause now, she supplies Dawn with all the information we want her to know and more. And Dawn, in return, finds a way to use it for the benefit of the Empire.”

“And what if she finds out?” Nightmare Moon smirked at the silly question.

“She already knows, Luna. But Dawn understands it’s not her part to make moves. She used to work for a printing house; she sees all that happens, but she doesn’t act on it. She analyzes it and passes to someone who needs to know. This is why she let herself to be drawn into Twilight’s retinue, she feels the need for her talents there. Dawn will do no harm while amongst them.”

“I see now,” slightly bewildered Luna indicated, “But what of my sister?”

“Luna, please. Let us now enjoy our flight. I am honestly starting to hate the stillness of air inside the palace.” Luna decided not to insist.

Nightmare Moon completed a few practice aerobatic stunts, to stretch her wings a bit more. So rare she gets to soar now. It takes a very special occasion these days. The skies have grown outrageously empty in recent years. Maybe it was time to reestablish Wonderbolts? Hmm, maybe Shadowbolts would be more fitting. 

The Empress had to cut short her reflection. It was now time to get on the ground again, they reached the destination.

Nightmare Moon sharply dived, folding her wings. With the acquired speed, the Empress took a sharp turn right and raced around the ruined Castle until she slowed down enough to gracefully land at the stone square before the main entrance.

“Huh, the place is exactly as I remember it from those years ago.” Luna pointed out. Nightmare Moon pushed the door only for it to break off the hinges and fall flat inside; leaving another one to guard the entrance alone.

“Hmm, the stonework is impressive indeed. It still stands even a 1000 years after we wrecked it together with your sister. I was surprised it was even still here when I saw it upon our return. Let’s see if the vault still has my book.” The Empress stepped through the open doors and walked through the hall, clapping on the floor with hooves and stopping for a moment in silent memorial before the stand where the Elements used to lie.

The Castle, although still standing, was in sorry shape, many hallways have crumbled under the weight of ages, others were still standing but were ridden with moss and couldn’t confirm to their former glory.

“It’s sad to see this place in such a shape. It used to be our home,” Luna dolefully called out.

“Yes. I think I will write an order to get this place cleared up. It deserves better. Actually, it reminds me...” An antic smile appeared over Nightmare’s face, “It should be here somewhere.” Nightmare Moon began fossicking the nearest wall. A pitched click sounded to the Empress that her memory did not fail her. The wall slid aside revealing stairs leading to the Castle's catacombs.
With the anticipating giggling the mare trotted down and dived into the first archway to the left, finding herself in a simple room, with a dusty blanket on the floor and a chest in the far corner. 

“Oh no, please, don’t do it,” Luna begged, only provoking another malign snicker. Nightmare Moon pried off a loose stone tile off the floor and procured a metal key from underneath. She, then, proceeded to open the chest with it. After hastily opening the top, Nightmare Moon fished out an old book in a simple leather cover from the chest contains.

“Not quite the book we came for, but an ancient and valuable artifact this is just as much!” Nightmare Moon landed herself on the blanket. “We should take it back with us and leak it to some backwater printer. This ‘ought to make them very famous in a night!”

“You won’t dare.”

“Is this a challenge?” Nightmare Moon asked with mock seriousness.

“No,” Luna hastily backed down. “But, please. Please, just put it back, I don’t want to see it ever again.”

“Come on, Luna!” Nightmare Moon laughed. “Don’t be so stiff! Let’s remember a few pages of our youth.” Nightmare Moon opened the book and started turning pages over, “Oh! Here’s a good one.” The Empress cleared her throat, as if preparing for a speech,
“Dear diary,” she began reading aloud. “Today is the first time I met a stallion I like. His name is Hazy Glare and he is a prince from Saddle-Arabia. I wonder if he will invite me for a dance this evening.”

“I hate you,” Luna responded, sending Nightmare Moon laughing down on the blanket.

“Luna, you are just princeless!” Nightmare Moon approvingly proclaimed, “Good taste, though. Hazy really was cute. Let’s see what else is in there.” Nightmare Moon turned a few more pages,
“Dear diary, today was the best day ever! In the morning Celestia slipped on the icy stairs and stayed in her quarters the whole day! The whole Castle was mine!” Nightmare Moon chucked, “You used to be so cute, Luna! I remember that day! You’ve been ordering Guards and servants around the Castle like it was your little kingdom. Poor Pumpkin Crust, you sent him to drag over here a month worth of food.” Nightmare Moon returned to the diary: “Everyone was doing what I told them to and nobody been telling me what to do! Celestia is so lucky to be the bigger sister!”

“Hah,” Luna produced a sad chuckle. “I suppose she is.”

“Oh! Luna, I know exactly the entry!” Nightmare Moon flipped the diary closer to the end. “Dear diary, today Celestia, finally, took a break from her cursed crown. Celestia sent all Guards and servants away and we had the whole Castle just for ourselves!” Nightmare Moon passionately mimicked Luna’s delight from the diary, “We played chess, cooked, read poems and sang the entire day! Stars, I wish every day was like this one.” Luna did not respond.

Sensing Luna’s anxiety, Nightmare Moon put the diary back into the chest and locked it. She silently walked back up the stairs and closed the hidden passage over again. Nightmare Moon looked to her sides to be totally sure no one could see her leaving. That book down there was a major reputational threat, after all.

“Thank you, I suppose,” Luna finally voiced out. “It seems, I needed to read it again, after all.”

“Of course, Luna. I told you: we are in this together. What is good for you is good for me.”

“I think, I am starting to believe you now,” Luna contently said,
“You know, ever since we returned from the moon, I never thought much about why I was sent there. It isn't pleasant to think about.”

“I am with you on this one. Moon is miserable.” Nightmare Moon winced from the memory.

“I think, I finally understand,” Luna continued her thought. “It’s not because I rebelled against my sister and it’s not because of you. She had to send me away because it was the only way to stop our subjects from fighting each other. She didn’t like her options for a single moment, but she still did what our ponies needed her to.”

“Sadly. Sparkle is right on many things, but not this one. Not every matter can be solved with a hoofshake and a hearty song.”

“Sadly,” Luna gloomily agreed. “Watching you do it did hurt a lot. I can only imagine how much it hurt her to do it herself, I don’t think I could do what she did. I am so proud of her.” Luna finished with a raptured whisper. Nightmare Moon garnished her face with a coy smile.

“Good, Luna. Don't forget to tell her as much.”

“Oh, I will,” Luna musingly responded. “Thank you for this. You know, I can’t half believe this myself, but you are a lot like her now. What happened to you?” 

“Let’s get my book now.” To Luna’s disappointment, the black mare moved to continue her search.

“Actually, Nightmare,” Luna began anew. “When are we going to read your diary?” Nightmare Moon smiled wide again and even chuckled a bit.

“Oh, quiet, you silly goat.” Luna’s answer was an unusually joyful giggle.




“Oh, finally. This looks like it.” Nightmare Moon crawled over a pile of rubble and approached a heavy metal grate door, with a lighting window directly above it. A book in inscribed black cover lied on the pedestal inside, “No lock though. Looks like it was melted by something,” Nightmare Moon remarked on the puddle of solid metal right underneath the grate, “Someone's been here.” 

“Well, at least now we can simply open the door and take the book. Whoever was out here, was wise enough to not touch your things.”

Nightmare Moon tried pushing the door both ways, first with her magic and then with a shoulder. The door didn’t move.

“Stuck. Well, I suppose we can just use my Vapor Form and slip through the grate, or…we can do something fun. I didn’t practice my spells in a while, I suppose this is as good as any occasion.”

“Watch the window above. It still has glass in it, if you shatter the glass it will fall down on our head.” Nightmare Moon gave away an offended snort.

“For what kind of amateur you take me, Luna? It’s just a simple shockwave, highly directional.” 

Nightmare Moon proceeded to take off her cloak and stand back off the grate. She then channelled her, so rarely used nowadays, arcane power and blasted the grate inward, creating a huge cloud of dust in the process. 
Finding herself cowered in a disgraceful amount of dust and stone crumbs, the Empress quickly shook it down and trotted to the doorway to examine her work. The amount of force was just enough to push the door inside, curve it and leave it hanging on a single hinge.

“I still remember how to do it!” she victoriously announced. A small stone hit her on the head. Nightmare Moon raised her eyes, her curiosity changed to the complete horror as she realised that the stone was merely the first taste. 
With a deafening roar, the whole archway and the upper wall section came crushing right on the mare’s back, breaking bones and showering her with the now broken pieces of glass.

“Argh...” Nightmare Moon groaned from pain under the pile of collapsed stone. She then conjured her power once again and turned her body into blue mist, the mist slipped out from underneath the rubble and turned back to the pony again once free.

Nightmare Moon audibly swore upon landing on her side and turned to examine her injuries. 
She couldn’t move her hind legs, one of her forelegs was broken along with most of the ribs. Even worse, her whole back was covered in broken glass with one big piece, she had to conclude, cut her right through the abdomen. She was already making quite a big puddle of blood. With her heart racing, it was about to get bigger quick.

“Luna, this is bad. This is very-very bad,” she tried to reach her shocked host. “Luna, listen to me. We can still get out of this. The bones will heal, this body is not like any regular one. It will heal back in less than a day. We just need to stop the bleeding. Focus, let’s use Vapor Form, we do not bleed when we are not corporeal. But you have to calm down: we need to slow the heartbeat down, the bleeding will kill us soon if we won’t.”

“But...where do we go? You didn’t take anyone with us and there is nopony around for miles in this forest! We won’t make it to Ponyville!”

“There’s a zebra healer in the woods, Fluttershy occasionally dreams of her. I remember where she lives. We can make it, Luna. Focus on Vapor Form. It all will be alright if you just focus. The pain will get easier shortly.”

“Yes, yes. Let’s do it.” Nightmare Moon took a deep breath and tried her best to push through the pain and vaporise herself. The misty cloud quickly zoomed out of the alcove and streamed through the corridor they came from.

“Good, good, Luna. We are getting there.” Nightmare Moon encouraged.

“I…c-can’t! It hurts so much!” Luna’s focus broke, causing their body to drop down to the ground again.

“Agh!” Nightmare Moon sharply groaned on impact, “Luna, damn you! For once in your life, do not screw up!”

“I can’t handle this!”

“Luna, listen. Do you want to see your sister again? Yes or no?!”

“Yes!” Luna cried.

“Then pull yourself together! You are not getting another chance at this!” Luna forced herself to refocus and their body swiftly disappeared again.



“Here’s the Element hall, Luna. We are almost out. Just a bit further.”

“I c-can’t t-take it any lon-ger!” Nightmare Moon herself felt the panic creeping in, Luna was already on the verge of breaking and they did not even leave the ruins yet. “It’s overwhelming, everything is dizzy, I am sorry!” Luna cried out, falling them both on the stone again.

“If I have to drag you all the way there, so be it!” Nightmare Moon tried to conjure the mist form herself. “Arghhh...” 
she sharply growled, but it was no use. Luna’s darting in their head prevented her from focusing, not that it mattered. The Empress discovered her own thoughts no longer obeyed her either. Well, there was still the old fashioned way.

“Not...like...this!” she gritted her fangs and used her only working leg to drag her body to the doorway, but the heroic effort was to no avail. Her broken body didn’t have strength left.

“It’s over, Luna,” Nightmare Moon said, allowing herself to fall down on the floor. “Too late, too far, too slow.”

“I am sorry!” Luna cried out. “Why am I so useless?! How can I help any of my ponies if I can’t even help myself?!”

“Luna, quiet down. Your sister is watching,” Nightmare Moon quietly uttered. Indeed she was, the moon was low in the sky, looking at the dying mare through the absent roof. Nightmare Moon could almost see the sadness in her eye, almost.

“Oh, sister! I am so sorry...” Luna started again. Nightmare Moon took a deep sigh. Well, maybe there was one thing that still could be done. There was another entry from the diary they both vividly remembered. It always worked for Celestia in past, why not for Nightmare Moon? Regardless, this was the only good thing she could do with the remaining air in their lungs.
“...sorry, I am so sorry, Nightmare. I-” Luna’s sudden amazement forced her to broke short, as Nightmare Moon began quietly singing to her:

“Hey there Little Moonbeam
How do you do?
There’s a great kingdom
Waiting for me and you.

As you lay your tiny head
Dream of the world
They’re gonna love you
Their Moon will return.

L-little Moonbeam,
Little Moonbeam,
Let your radiance show.

Little Moonbeam,
Little Moonbeam,
Let your kind heart g-glow

Though shadows may close in,
You will stay strong.
Y-our l-little spark of love
W-will cast out the d-ark!

K-now t-hat you are n-not alone,
The s-sun’s at y-our side,
To-geth-er y-you’ll clean-”

Nightmare Moon’s breath failed forcing her to cough. Just as her sight could barely distinguish anything any longer. The bleeding was doing its work. But Luna liked the song regardless, she always did. There were no more wails and tears. Luna was quiet and tranquil, as if simply sleeping. She may be a 1000 year old fretful foal, but what a marvellous foal she was. Nightmare Moon lifted her hoof to affectionately caress Luna, chuckling softly upon realising her mistake.

The black mare saw a bright trail of fiery red, perhaps left by a meteor in the sky. She, then, softly smiled, wished Luna goodnight and closed her eyes. Soon the velvet darkness gently swallowed its happy mistress.
> The world is full of obvious things which nopody by any chance ever notices.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The night wasn’t dreamy for Twilight Sparkle. Oddly enough, she had no dreams, neither good or bad. Nightmare Moon seemed now done with weaponizing dreams, but none at all was just lazy of her.  It took Twilight a little while to realise she wasn’t even sleeping anymore.

Twilight Sparkle proceeded to yawn and sit up in her bed. The outside was still dark. She lifted up the trusty alarm clock she brought with her to the palace. The arrows pointed 2 hours, 5 minutes and 6 seconds. The longest arrow wasn’t moving.

“Ugh, you broke again,” Twilight murmured to the clock. “Spike was right, I should get a new one.”

Well, no harm in starting the work a little earlier. It’s not like she minded the dark anyway. Twilight got into her new, stupid, uniform and got herself slightly fixed up. No reason to flatter Imperials any more.

Twilight, then, took the file containing clearances and IDs from the nightstand and walked out of the room. The palace looked like it didn’t have much sleep this night either. The Guards were anxious, more than usual; as were clerks. Twilight decided not to give anyone a reason to ask where she’s supposed to be and walked straight to the palace archive. Nightmare Moon didn’t lie, she did, indeed, give her goons the order to leave Twilight alone. They were simply opening and closing the doors for her and that's all. Not even laughing and mocking her in the process. Well, one good thing at least.

The archive, though, was far from good, or even enough. It didn’t compare to the Royal Library of old. The shelling and the subsequent fire destroyed it completely. The new staff did their best to find Twilight the books she needed, but there wasn’t much they could do. Some books in the Library were the only ones of their kind, while the manuscripts… Well, no point dwelling on that.

Twilight went straight to her table, it was filled to the brink with books, notes and drawings; she explicitly told the archivists not to touch anything. This was all she had now. Twilight sighed and prepared to get back to work, the day promised to be even longer than usual.

Maybe even longer, Twilight heard some fuss being made behind the door. Twilight turned her head just in time to see Rarity’s white hoof disappear back through the door.

“Ma’am, Empress’ orders. The Princess is not to be disturbed under any circumstance.” She heard a Guard saying.

“Just let me through, you two! This is urgent!” Twilight rolled her eyes. Isn’t everything urgent these days?

“Ma’am, we have our orders! The Empress was very explicit-”

“This IS on the account of the Empress!” Rarity hammered, surprising Twilight with rare assertiveness.

“Ok, fine!” the guard bent. “But I am not taking responsibility for this.”

Rarity hastily entered, closing the door behind her. And looked over the room before stopping her sight on Twilight. She then quickly trotted to the table.

“Twilight, there’s no time! Something is very wrong today,” Rarity sounded extremely worried, on the verge of panic even. “We have to do something, quickly!”

“Eh? What is the problem this time exactly?” Twilight asked, rubbing her still sleepy eyes. Rarity simply pointed at the window, “What? You mean the hour? Rarity, can’t I now get over with my “mission” a little early?”

“Twilight! It’s 12!” 

Dumbfounded Twilight stared back at the window, “So… where’s the sun?”

“That’s it, Twilight! She didn’t raise it!”

“She what now?!” Twilight sounded out. “Why?”

“Twilight, ponies are already starting to panic. Cloudy had to censor a few morning papers so they wouldn’t stress everypony even more! The Imperial Guards are fortifying the palace! Twilight, they are assembling machine guns on the eastern side! We have to do something!” Rarity stuck it to Twilight.

“You might want to chill a bit. You panicking isn’t helping anyone. Breath in, breath out, ok?”

Rarity followed the advice, but continued the same:
“Twilight, I’ve been to the throne room. There’s something very wrong with the Empress,” Rarity continued. 
“When Stormbreaker told her the Guards are entering combat alert there was something in her look. Just for half a second, I don’t think anyone else noticed. Twilight, she’s afraid!”

“Nightmare Moon is afraid?” Rarity nodded, Twilight blinked and shook her head to throw away the remnants of sleep, “Ok then. Did you see anything else?” 

“Well, no… I am not sure what’s wrong exactly. Everything else about her is exactly like it always was.” Twilight scratched her chin.

“I have to see this for myself.” Twilight started gathering her notes, “Let’s go give her a progress update.”

Twilight took her trusty saddlebags from another chair at the table and tucked the papers inside. Both ponies were soon trotting in the direction of the throne room.




Nightmare Moon was, as usually at this hour, sitting on her throne and receiving visitors. There was a clerk with some papers talking to her. Light Shed, Twilight managed to remember his name.

“Looks normal to me, Rarity,” Twilight said, unconvinced.

“I know, it’s very subtle. I can’t explain.”

“Huh, the gut feeling. That's familiar,” Twilight gave an encouraging smile to Rarity. “Well, we still need to figure all of this out. Let’s go.”

“If they can’t bear fighting for their Empress, I suppose we can draft someone who can. Raise the requirements. I want my soldiers to be strong, if not numerous.”

“Of course, Your Majesty. I will see that it's done.” Light Shed bowed. Nightmare Moon turned her eyes to the approaching mares and smiled at them.

“Ah! And here two of my most exemplary subjects!" Twilight rolled her eyes, "You have something to report?”

“W-we do, Empress,” Rarity answered, bowing. “Her Highness has a progress update for you, it’s regarding her project.” 

“Marvellous! Lieutenant!” She turned to the guard in a silver helmet to her left.

“Yes, Your Majesty?”

“Close the reception for now. I will be back shortly,” upon giving the order Nightmare Moon immediately stood up and led her two servants to the tea room.




“Make yourselves comfortable,” Nightmare Moon instructed, sitting down at her usual place, with her back facing the cupboard. Rarity pulled over another chair and Twilight used the one already there.

“Empress, r-regrettably, we have a more urgent matter on our hooves n-now. Y-your Majesty, the Ministry of Communication reports steeply rising unrest. Your s-subjects are unhappy with the extended night.” Nightmare Moon sneered at her and looked at the window.

“Is not the Empress allowed to enjoy her beautiful night a little more before she ventures to the Dreamscape? The world won’t die from a single day without the sun.” the black mare, then, stood up and walked over to the window, giving it a dreamy smile, “Princess Sparkle, what do you have to report?”

Twilight almost gave it to her right there but bit her tongue. She, then, leaned over to Rarity,
“Dead lead, Rarity. Now we have to sit here chit-chatting with Nightmare Moon and losing time!” Twilight angrily whispered.

“Twilight…” Rarity whispered with a hint of panic. ”This isn’t her.”

“What?”

“She doesn’t talk like that! Her Majesty almost never uses names together with titles when addressing. The only time she does is when she mocks you.”

“Is she mocking me?” Rarity shook her head.

“Why the whispering, my dears?” Nightmare Moon said coming back to the table, she sounded almost offended. “No need to hide, you can always talk aloud. Now, what about that report? You’ve got something to say, are you not?” Nightmare Moon nodded at the bags.

Twilight took a deep breath. Well, if there was a good reason to end up in a dungeon, insulting Nightmare Moon was one of them. It was time for the boldest gamble of her life.

“You are not Nightmare Moon, are you?” Twilight bluntly took it to her. Rarity covered her mouth.

Nightmare Moon’s gaze wandered the room in uncertainty for a split second.

“Oh, Twilight!” she laughed. “I enjoy it when my subjects are trying to find reasons, I really do! But sometimes there is no hidden reasons! I assure you-”

“Drop your act already! You are not fooling anyone here.” Twilight jumped up at the table, flaring her horn up, “Who are you and what did you do to her?”

“Careful now, let’s not do things we all might regret...” Nightmare Moon leaned forward to face Twilight.

“So be it!” Twilight hissed. Rarity closed her eyes.

“Wait!” Nightmare Moon called out. “Fine, you caught me. No reason for anyone to get hurt.”

Nightmare Moon took off her tiara and sent a green wave from her horn down her body. The impressive stature, the ponies got used to, disappeared, leaving behind stooped and short creature both Rarity and Twilight hoped to never see again.

"Should've guessed," Twilight hissed.

Rarity immediately reached under the table to the alert button.

“No, don’t!” Shadow Crest reached to Rarity with her hoof, “They’ll kill me!”

“Back off!” Twilight rumbled, advancing with her glowing horn aimed like a lance. The changeling promptly obeyed, “What did you do to Nightmare Moon?”

“Nothing!” Shadow blinked her green eyes and shook her head, “I would never harm Her Majesty! I am her Shadow!” she pointed down at her purple uniform.

“I made this!” Rarity voiced her indignation. “Take it off, you disgusting, treacherous, roach!” 

“Rarity! Wait!” Twilight had to suspend her friend in the middle of her leap, “Who are you? What in Tartarus are you doing here? And where in Equestria is Nightmare Moon?”

“I…just let me explain myself. My name is Shadow Crest. I am the night’s servant, like you two…one, sorry. I serve my Mistress in guises of others.”

“She has a pet Changeling now?!” Twilight dragged her hoof down her whole face and dropped Rarity down, “That’s it, I am done. Next time we are bringing Cloudy!” Twilight managed to get herself back on the chair, “Well, mind telling us how did you end up here? You know, we are not exactly friends for the moment.”

“This is why...how I got here. All Changelings are adepts of shapeshifting, but the Queen hoof picks the most talented hatchlings to personally train them to be her finest tools. ...My former Queen sent me to kill the Empress.” 

“You are an assassin?” Twilight lifted her brow. The Changeling nodded.

“But I was no good at my art, not good enough. Thank the stars.” Shadow blinked, “I watched the palace from a distance in search of any holes in defence I can exploit, eventually, I found one. Or I believed I did.” She looked at Rarity. Rarity, seeing the reference, looked like she was either going to try another leap or die from embarrassment, “Sorry. You are just the only one who can come and go whenever you please. Well, before, Your Highness arrived.”

“Agh...” Twilight groaned, “Please, don’t call me that!” The Changeling bowed in apology.

“Sorry, the protocol.”

“So, what happened when you got to her quarters?” Twilight hurried her up.

“She was there, alone, waiting for me. I realized there was no vulnerability, she lured me in. I thought I was going to die, but she didn’t harm me. She just… talked to me, and then she simply told me to leave her room, and I did. I’ve been watching ponies for her ever since. I’ve seen so much of her and her kingdom! She is amazing!” Shadow gasped. “I cannot even imagine hurting her now!”

“Ugh… This sounds too familiar for comfort.” Twilight looked like she was going to puke, "So, I take it she left you in charge and you don't have a single idea where she is?"

"None, she only told me she was going after an artefact from 1000 years ago."

"Well, this is just wonderful! She can be anywhere at this point! We will never find her ourselves!" Twilight hit the table with her head.

“Your Highness, if I may, why do you hate her so much?” Shadow asked with genuine concern. “Can’t you see the wonders of her way?”

“I can, Shadow. This is exactly why I hate her.” Twilight rubbed her forehead.

“Darling,” Rarity finally decided to have a word. “Her Highness-”

“Stop calling me that!” Twilight shouted at both mares. Shadow blinked, but Rarity almost fell off the chair, “Sorry.”

“T-twilight, It’s just the protocol! No reason to get upset.”

“It doesn’t end there! Rarity, how can you be so blind?! It’s so obvious! This damn protocol, the uniforms, her laws and policies! Rarity, it’s all like shackles! She doesn’t even try to hide it, she openly mocks us with it! Everything she gives us she uses to control us!” Twilight drummed on the table with her hoof out of frustration.
“Rarity, please! We can’t get rid of her, sweet Celestia, we cannot go a single day without her; but please! Don’t talk like her another tool!”

Rarity stared at Twilight in shock.

“Look at her!” Twilight pointed at Shadow. “She is a willing slave! First to Chrysalis and now to Nightmare Moon, and she is happy to be! She openly says so!” Twilight lifted her hoof to wipe her tears, 
“We can’t break free from her, Rarity! Nopony here can! But we don’t have to be willing tools, Rarity, I can’t swallow this!”

“Miss Sparkle, if I may,” Shadow lifted her hoof. “I think, I understand your feelings for my Mistress better now. But… weren’t you doing exactly the same things for Princess Celestia?”

“You...actually…compare?!” half-angry, half-surprised Twilight asked. The Changeling bowed again.

“Princess, I am not trying to dispute. But there’s something I don’t understand. If my Mistress upsets you for your presented reason, why Princess Celestia does not? 
I may not understand how the pony way of ruling works, but from where I stand...there is almost no difference.” 
It came Twilight’s time to blink, the speech has failed her, 
“I mean, didn’t Princess manipulate you and your friends into defeating my Mistress for her? She, essentially, tutored you from since you were a filly you to do that one thing. From that point, you, more or less, became her personal henchmare. Why my Mistress is so different to you? Well, Princess Celestia must have been gentler. But does the Empress, really, deserve your hatred simply for not showing you the same affection? I haven't seen ponies treating others the same before.”

“Eh… S-shadow,” Rarity called. “This isn’t the topic...”

“But...why?” The Changeling mare cluelessly asked, “Princess, is this because of the War? ...Yes, I think, I understand now. Miss Rarity, Princess Twilight, If I may, I think, I have something to say on this.” 

She stood up from her chair, walked over to the window and turned back to the completely frozen mares, 
“If I knew that a Changeling hive is being hunted for supporting some rebellion 1000 years ago, and my Queen tried to reform our bonds: I would gladly die for that vision.”
> To conquer a nation, first disarm its citizens.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

"Just a bit further, y'all." Applejack encouraged her troop. The hike to the cave wasn't, exactly, easy. The Canterlot mountain was steep and unforgiving from this side, but it was the easiest way to get into the palace's catacombs.

Applejack grabbed the rope hanged down to her by another pony up in the cave, checked that her rifle isn't going to fall down off her back and proceeded to climb. 

She then proceeded to help up everyone without wings up, "Ok, 2...5...8...12, all 'ere. Let's get a move on."

Applejack hurried her little army further through the cave. Others were already waiting for them. The whole cave was filled with supply crates and ponies, numbering around 60 in total. Everyone, who could come was here. With Applejack's team, they numbered almost a company. Everypony was already dressed for combat and carrying rifles, shotguns, at times even one of those new army-issue sub-machineguns. 

Applejack spotted Rainbow Dash having a chat with the C squad leader. She told her lot to quickly get themselves ready and started pushing through the crowd to meet Rainbow.

She noticed her and waved the squad leader away. 
"Patrols are everywhere outside. Combat alert, they know we are coming, Sugar." Applejack fixed her hat.

"We are not getting another chance like that, AJ!" Rainbow excitedly announced. "Ponies are at the brink of taking out to streets! We give them one push, and they will help us out! Trust me."

"I'm with you anyway, Sugar, but I won't lie. I got a real bad feel for this 'ere op. This ain't stealing crates and talking to ponies no more. And what are we going to do with the Bad 'erself? You know our 'ere rifles ain't going to kill her that simple, right?"

"Well, just shoot until they do! It's not like we have any other way." Considering their exchange over Rainbow flapped her wings and raised herself to the ceiling, "Everyone!" she announced. "Today is a big day! The sky can be dark all she wants, but she will not scare us! Today, we will bring down her Empire! Today, we will rip that stolen crown from her head! Today we are showing Equestria and beyond what happens to all tyrants! For Princess Celestia! For Harmony! For our freedom!"
> Safety In Shadowy Coils.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nightmare Moon’s lungs clamorously pulled air in. The sudden influx of cool gas resulted in her having to cough out the excess; forcing her to acknowledge she was still living.
The next minute she spent relishing in less pleasant signs of life and trying to remember where she was and what happened.

“Are we not dead yet?” Luna expressed surprise. “Alicorns are hard to kill...but this much?”

Nightmare Moon lifted her head and found a pile of bloodied glass lying a few steps away from her nape. She then looked down her body, it was covered in bandages and splints.
“Hmm… not quite. Someone took very good care of us.” Nightmare Moon tried moving her hind legs, they obeyed, the spine was fine again. She tried to lift herself and the hooves held her, she managed to sit. She, then, proceeded to take off now useless splints.

“Your Shadow followed us after all?” Luna suggested.

“No, she wouldn’t dare. Someone else found us.” Nightmare Moon swiftly looked the hall over. Except for a sizeable puddle of blood a few meters away and a glass plie, it was exactly like it used to be.

Something creaked down at Nightmare Moon. A vibrant, flaming bird was sitting on top of a broken column, watching her.

“Oh, I remember you!” Nightmare Moon called out to the familiar sight. “You are Celestia’s bird!”

“Philomena,” Luna reminded.

“Philomena, right?” The bird creaked in affirmation. The phoenix, then, spread her wings and flown a circle above mare’s head, before landing again on the other side of the hall lighting up space behind the collonade. Somepony’s shadow treacherously laid itself for Nightmare Moon to see.
“Thank you, Philomena.” The mare got on her hooves and began slowly, like a cat, creeping towards the column. “Who are you?” The shadow quivered. “No need to fear me now. Come out, so I could show my gratitude.”

Nightmare Moon quietly moved around the column and found a shaking yellow pegasus on the floor, trying to make herself as small as possible. 
Nightmare Moon looked down at Fluttershy with curiosity and kneeled down closer to her.

“You are an odd one, Fluttershy,” she spoke. “You are afraid to look at me, but you are brave enough to come here at night, alone.” 
Fluttershy didn’t respond and continued shaking, afraid to make a sound.
“Come now, don’t be afraid. I won’t harm you after what you’ve done.” Still no reaction. 
Nightmare Moon looked at Philomena for a clue, but the phoenix was simply sitting on her piece of rubble without a sound or movement, watching.

“You don’t even hear me, now do you?” Nightmare Moon lightly poked Fluttershy, provoking a sob. The black mare frowned, she, then, lowered her head down to Fluttershy’s ear, “You know, Twilight is looking for you. She needs your help with something very important.” Again, no reaction.

“Tired of wasting time yet, by any chance?” Luna coyly queried.

“Shush, Luna.”

“Well, I mean, you are the Empress, you can do whatever you want; but I believed you prefer effectiveness in your approaches,” Nightmare Moon gave Luna long and heavy huff. Luna laughing at her was new.

“I take it you have a better plan, my host?” Nightmare Moon dryly reversed.

“That depends. She is no servant of yours, she will not do your bidding simply because you told her to. You need to try something different here.”

“Luna, what is it you want me to do, exactly? I am not up for games!” Nightmare Moon boomed with exasperation.

“Ugh...” Luna groaned. “Look, do what you would have done if you weren’t Nightmare Moon.”

“Eh...You mean, if I were you?” baffled Nightmare had to clarify.

“Yes...Well, no. Sort of,” Luna, finally, decided. “Why this always has to be so confusing?”

Still perplexed Nightmare Moon blinked, trying to wrap her mind around what she was supposed to do. Right then, what would she do if she was the Princess of Tears?

Nightmare Moon lowered her head again, laying it next to Fluttershy’s. She looked at her terrified subject, sighed and began humming Fluttershy a soft tune. The very same tune Luna often sang to calm down foals from their nightmares. 

Nightmare Moon allowed the yellow pegasus a few minutes to get used to her voice and calm down a little; she, then, spread one of her wings and wrapped Fluttershy in her feathers. Lastly, Nightmare Moon softly pulled her in with hooves, sharing her warmth with shivering pegasus.

The pony, gave in surprisingly quick, leaning against Nightmare’s chest. The black mare, then, stopped her humming, allowing Fluttershy to hear her heartbeat. Nightmare Moon smiled widely at her triumph.

“Luna, you are genius,” Nightmare Moon whispered her thought over to Luna in glee, watching at the resting angel in her embrace. “If she is afraid of me, don’t be me.”

“You... actually did it.” startled Luna replied, provoking a smile. “I thought you would have to drag her out of here.”

Nightmare Moon looked again at Philomena and, upon seeing her unspoken approval, allowed herself to relax together with her sweet saviour.

“No need for that, Luna. Celestia can stand her vigil a little longer just this once.” 





Fluttershy sweetly yawned and opened her eye to look her literal nightmare over, still a little frightened, but no longer frozen from fear. Nightmare Moon slowly blinked at her.

“You are...not like I imagined,” she quietly admitted. 

“I am sorry for scaring you,” Nightmare Moon apologized. “Are you better now?”

“...Yes, thank you.”

“Are you afraid still?”

“A little...not very much though.”

“Fluttershy, I wanted to tell you: thank you for what you did.” Nightmare Moon bowed her head to Fluttershy, coloring her cheeks.

“I think I was more afraid of someone dying on me than I was afraid of you. ...Sorry.”

Nightmare Moon chuckled,
“My reputation is deserved, Fluttershy. Many ponies are afraid of me.”

“Well...I think you are nice.”

“Why, thank you!” Nightmare Moon smiled.

“I don’t think anypony should be afraid of you.” Nightmare Moon smiled again, this time sadly. But Fluttershy didn’t notice, “I am only a little afraid of the dark now.”

“I think, I can help you with this. Hold still now.” Nightmare Moon lighted her horn and lightly touched Fluttershy’s head with it. Her pupils shrank into slits. Fluttershy looked all over the hall in bewilderment,
"Better now?" Nightmare Moon winked her own slitted eye. "Better get some shades though, the sun hurts."

“Thanks,” Fluttershy finally said, Nightmare Moon noded. “Can I ask something?”

“Certainly. You've earned your every question.”

“...Did you really make the stars?”

Nightmare Moon chuckled again and gave the sky above a dreamy look,
“No, Fluttershy. Stars are a lot older than I and Luna, and even Celestia.”

“Didn't you weave them?” Fluttershy’s look showed growing disappointment.

“You don’t need to create something to have control over it. Watch.” Nightmare Moon engulfed her horn in blue aura again.

The sky came alive. The stars were dancing with each other, making patterns, gleaming brighter and dimming. Fluttershy watched breathlessly until Nightmare Moon finished the show and put the stars back in their places. 

“Luna did most of the legwork up there," Nightmare Moon recounted. "I remember her having entire star maps lying around her quarters for her to change the sky every night.” Nightmare Moon smiled nostalgically, “Celestia had to stop her in the end, ponies find it hard to navigate with the stars moving around every night. But did it look dazzling...”

“Is she here?” Fluttershy cautiously asked.

“She is. There is something you want to tell her?” Fluttershy nodded.

“Princess, I am glad you are ok.”
> Homefront Fighters
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Still nothing from the outside?” Rainbow Dash checked her rifle is loaded and looked out into the hallway.

“No, Sugar,” Applejack grunted, pushing the table to barricade the second door. “Nopony’s coming, Rainbow.”

“Why?” Rainbow Dash asked in astonishment. “Aren’t they just as fed up as we are?”

“Rainbow, Daisy and her team got themselves killed trying to open the gates. Ain't no surprise everypony sees this as a lost cause!”

“Oh, finally! Get in here, quick!” Rainbow hurried the arriving ponies into the room. A grey coated unicorn immediately dropped a large backpack on the floor and took out wire cutters of his webbing.

“Teams A and C are coming, Ma’am,” a fragile-looking mare, serving as Rainbow's adjutant reported.

“Team’s B here already,” Applejack added.

“Team D?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“They are surrounded in the lower barracks,” The adjutant answered again. Rainbow Dash swore and looked down at the stallion, who was now done assembling the detonator.

“Shortfuse, we need a clean blast through the floor.“

“Figured, are we leaving through the cave?”

“Then we disperse.”

“And then what?”

“I don’t know yet. Let’s solve problems as we get them.”

“Ugh... Sure thing, Dash,” the stallion made a terrible frown. “Okay, out of the room, everypony. Ears shut, mouths open.”

The demo outranked the company command here. After a moment of violent shaking, Rainbow Dash found her ordered hole delivered dead in the room’s centre. The room was full of broken wood now; but hey, they had an exit.

“Everypony! Get in here! We are leaving!” Rainbow Dash shouted in the direction of gunshots still being heard. 

“Down the hole, down the hole, all of you!” Applejack gave every passing soldier a hearty pat for making it out alive. 

The sound of teleportation spell signalled to the remaining two commanders there were no stragglers coming and it was time to leave. Both mares jumped into the hole.

“Huh?” Rainbow Dash gasped in surprise as she realized that she wasn’t moving down. She looked at Applejack and found her suspended in the air, surrounded with pink aura. Rainbow Dash reached for her rifle, but it wasn’t there any longer.

“Would you shoot me too, murderer?” Rainbow Dash felt her spirit sinking from hearing this voice. Their weapons clinked on the floor.

“Twilight!” Rainbow desperately called out, “We have no time! The Imps are behind the corner! Let us go!”

“So you could try again?” Twilight coldly asked.

“The resistance won’t make it without us! They need us!”

“Exactly, Rainbow. They won’t make it without you. Your crusade is over.”

“Twilight, listen!” Rainbow Dash pleaded. “It’s for the cause! We came to throw Nightmare Moon down from the throne she stole! We are not here to harm anyone else!”

“Don’t waste your strength, Sugar,” Applejack spat. “I think, she made her choice already.”

“Twilight, no!” Rainbow Dash tried again, “She beat us once, but we can still make it right! Twilight, help us! We can overthrow her if we all get together again!”

“What were you thinking?” Twilight sobbed. “You murdered 15 guards and wounded 35 more! And for what? So you could say you didn’t bend your knees? Nightmare Moon is terrible, but even she doesn’t murder ponies for her hubris!”

“Twilight, they are Imps!”

“And what about the ponies who trusted you with their lives? How many of them are now lying dead in these halls because of you?” Rainbow figured she was running out of tries, Twilight's sorrow was quickly transforming into anger.

“It’s war!” Rainbow Dash shrugged, “You can’t fight without taking loses! They knew what was at stake but they volunteered anyway! But they died for a good cause! Let’s topple the oppressor! Together, like we always did!”

“I never did anything this disgusting together with anyone! I am ashamed to be friends with murderers!” Her tone permitted now more arguments. 

The clatter of hooves in the hallway signalled to Twilight it was time to process the criminals.

“Thank you for your aid, Princess.” Captain Stormbreaker bowed to her with a degree of newly found respect, “We rounded up that holdout nicely, they didn’t resist. I see you have this under control as well.”

Twilight gave him a fierce look, to which he answered with a simple nod of understanding. 

“Tie them up,” she ordered, passing her captives to the arrived guards. “I don’t want to see their faces.”




Rarity met Twilight outside the quarters, nervous but fine.

“She’s back,” Rarity plainly informed.

“Good, maybe she will even be kind enough to raise the sun again. Did she say what she was doing? ...Actually, don’t answer that. I don’t want to know. If you need me, I’ll be in the archive.” Rarity took the hint and didn’t push.

“Miss Rarity,” Shadow Crest in the guise of a Guard called her from the doorway. ”Orders for you.” She passed over a freshly written letter, “Send this to General Nutcracker of the 101st Airborne Division in a sealed Imperial envelope.” 

“Is this all?” Rarity asked in the same plain manner.

“Yes, Ma’am. The Empress said you can be free afterwards.” Shadow, then, closed the door again.

Rarity looked at the document, Empress' hoofwriting gave away her anger:
“General!
On the night of 16th, your formation will receive two new special-purpose platoons. Commanded by Second Lieutenant Stormbreaker and Second Lieutenant Rainbow Dash. Your orders are to deploy them alongside regular units following Day Black and use them for assaulting Changeling units in mildly fortified areas. Under no circumstance, you are to allow their separation. 
Under no circumstance, you are allowed to keep them away from active combat for the duration longer than 3 days a week. 
Lieutenant Rainbow Dash’s unit must not suffer extensive losses and to be given the freedom to operate within their designated combat area as she sees fit. 
Failure to comply with any described orders will result in immediate demotion and further harsh prosecution.”

A tear dropped on the letter, blurring the tidiness.
> Tyrants are seldom free.
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nightmare Moon with a practised move cut the envelope open and took out a report.

101st and 82nd have successfully cut the designated Changeling supply lines and even captured an airbase, allowing themselves to be properly supplied, while 1st Thestral Armored Guard is racing to meet them. The report also featured General Nutcracker’s personal promise to send Queen Chrysalis’ head shortly.

Nightmare Moon produced a long, angry, grunt. The Empress, then, stood up from her desk and walked to the only window featured in her quarters.

“Something is bothering you?” Luna queried, with concern. Nightmare Moon sharply recoiled from the window, “Can I help?”

“I don’t know how,” Nightmare Moon abruptly responded, the Empress took off her silver tiara, gave it a single look and hurled it away on the map, knocking over a few figurines. 

“Let me try at least!” Luna pleaded with rising anxiety. 

“Luna, I made a costly mistake.” Nightmare Moon rapidly closed on the newly installed glass case, housing a spellbook in black, inscribed cover and her old, crackled helmet, now carefully put back together.

“Do you mean what happened at the castle?”

“Tch...No, Luna. I am ready to die. I have been since the moon.” Nightmare Moon opened the case, taking both artifacts out and carefully putting them both on her desk, before returning back to the chair, “Better dead than back there.”

“Tell me then,” Luna asked again. “Let me help you with something at least!” Nightmare Moon sighed and looked at the window again.

“Luna, what does your sister have that I don’t?” Nightmare Moon bluntly asked, catching Luna off guard. “You keep telling me I am like your sister now, but you are wrong. So wrong. This pointless insurgency proved it.”

“You couldn’t stop it from happening. You didn't know.”

“Exactly, Luna! I didn't!” Nightmare Moon opened her spellbook and began flipping through pages of immolation, combustion and disintegration spells. “I did all I could for them to be comfortable, but they still took up arms! The only thing I achieved by leaving them alone are deaths of my subjects! ...Luna, I don’t know what to do now,” Nightmare Moon confessed.

“I-”

“I am nothing like your sister. Back when we returned I took my time to contemplate my failures. I waited and I observed. I observed Sparkle and her friends, I observed our ponies, and I observed you and your sister.
And one day I realized what my failure was. It wasn’t that I hadn’t enough skills, or power, or anything else. Just my methods were flawed. 
Sparkle wasn’t the only one who learned things from Celestia. Instead of forcing ponies to bend their knees, she made it so they wanted to. I watched in amazement as she turned every failing to her advantage and an enemy into a friend. Ponies followed her not because they feared her, but because they trusted her. Trusted her enough to make decisions for them.” Nightmare Moon stopped flipping pages and picked up her helmet,
“It became clear to me, that if I was to rule the land I needed to cast this away. After all, do I not destroy my enemies by making them into my friends? Silly. Who am I kidding? I am not Celestia, I am a tyrant. Maybe it’s time to stop pretending.”

Nightmare Moon dropped her helmet again, picked up the book and approached the window to look at the moonlit city.

“Look at them, Luna! They fear me regardless of what I am doing to them. No matter how gentle I am, they still view me as if I am going to hang them for the slightest misconception. And if I simply let them be - they revolt.” Nightmare Moon flipped the book until she reached her desired page. It was covered with arcane words and diagrams, detailing the persuasion spells. “If this is what I must do to prevent them from spilling blood and making the situation worse, than this is what I will do.”

“Please don’t,” Luna fearfully asked.

“Then what else can I do, Luna? How do I make Twilight’s rebellious associates to do what I need them to?”

“Celestia can wait! Let them figure out their differences!” 

“Luna, you don’t understand!” Nightmare Moon angrily snarled, “We are on the clock! Celestia cannot remain on the moon! Every moment she spends there makes her more dangerous to all of us!”

“My sister will not ruin the peace willingly!”

“Luna, we can’t reach her there! We don’t know what’s with her, we don’t know anything!”

“My sister is no threat to you on the moon!”

“Oh, but she will be once she’s back! Luna, the thing is...I’ve got a sister too.”

“Y-you mean my sister has...”

“I fear yes, Luna. Your sister isn't alone there. Nopony else would make a suitable host.” Nightmare Moon took her seat again, “Celestia is a very formidable adversary, but it’s always a matter of time and my kin has all the time she can need. I and my sister are not seeing eye to eye, Luna. The reunion isn’t going to be happy, for anypony.” 

“Nightmare, please!” Luna begged, starting to sob. "They DO trust you now! You even managed to talk Fluttershy into accepting you! It has been so beautiful!"

“Luna, I hate to do this! I really do! But sometimes you need to do ugly things to do what has to be done. Talking no longer does the trick. If they need to fear for their free will to obey me willingly, so be it. Nightmare Moon sighed and lowered her head in a mute apology, "I pray they forgive me one day."

“Please, there has to be a better way than this! This is just...horrible.”

“Luna, why do you care so much? As ever, I will not hurt our ponies unless I must and Celestia will be back regardless. I'll tell her you had no part in this.”

“Nightmare, I don’t want to lose a sister again!” Luna desperately cried.

“You wh-”

“Nightmare, I lost Celestia twice because of my foolishness! She was my only family, the only one I could turn to in the world! Nightmare, I cannot believe this still, but you are my family too! You know me better than anyone, even Celestia doesn’t understand me as you do! 
Celestia always was busy when I needed her, but not you. You are always there for me! You comforted me and cared when no one else did! Even after you got what you wanted from me, you didn't let me rot! You still cared! You are the sister I always wanted! I don’t want to lose you to my cruel fate too!”

Nightmare Moon spotted drops falling down on the desk under her snout, Luna's total desperation did the trick, “Luna, why do you have to make this much harder than it already is?”

“Don’t go! Please!” Luna begged, “I don’t want to be alone again!”

“...There isn’t another way. Dash and Applejack won’t listen to reason and it hurts Twilight to even look at them, not mentioning my relationship with them. Ponies died over it, words won’t cut it now. Luna, I am sorry, I failed! I shouldn’t have left them to the to their own devices! It wouldn’t have come to this if I just brought them in.”

Nightmare Moon felt someone’s gaze at herself and looked at the door to see both shocked and terrified Rarity at the door, covering her mouth. Rarity started to promptly close the door again,
“Rarity, it’s fi-” but it was too late. Nightmare Moon dropped her head on the desk.

“...Luna, there is no pretending with our subjects. I can never replace Celestia for them. I fooled nopony with my smiles and waves. They know exactly who I am, it’s time for me to acknowledge it too. I am Nightmare Moon, the Mare of Darkness, the Mare in The Moon, the Queen of Night; the time has come to remember what I do best.” Nightmare Moon lifted her helm and turned it around to fit it on her head.

“No,” Luna weakly sobbed.

“I am sorry.” The Empress had nothing else to say.

The newly restored Mare of Darkness allowed herself a few moments to check the straps on her armour. The helmet was a great help in the transition, it was familiar. The tears shortly stopped, no royal had time for useless sentimentality. Nightmare Moon knew exactly what she had to do now. She picked up the spellbook and ventured out to find Captain Rolling Thunder. The Guard has grown stagnant in these halls...




“I am honoured that you would come to me, Princess.” Cloudy Dawn opened the door and let the Princess in her office.

“There is nopony else,” Twilight grimly replied, putting herself on a single chair in front of Cloudy’s desk. “Rarity is away on some Imperial nonsense again and without her...well, there is only you. Fluttershy has suddenly surfaced, but she isn’t much help in these things.”

“I see, can I get you something, Princess?”

“Just your ears.” Cloudy nodded and at sat at her own chair, “Cloudy, I think, I know now why Nightmare Moon was so angry with me back there. The blood bath at the palace taught me better than any book.”

“Was it because you didn’t serve her cause?”

“Yes, but this isn’t all. Cloudy, I am a very guilty mare. I am to blame for deaths of two dozen ponies and 4 days ago two of my best friends were sent to repent for it,” Twilight colourlessly reported. Cloudy slowly nodded.

“You didn’t stop them.” Twilight shook her head.

“I didn’t do anything. I knew exactly what they intended to do after we sent our Princess away, but I chose books. While they were arming and training for their crime I was blissfully reading in my library. I refused to acknowledge my responsibility and ponies died for it. 
Cloudy, I don’t blame her for sending them away. They deserved worse. I think this is her idea of mercy.” Twilight forced out a sad smirk, “Looks like I am grateful.”

“What will you do now?”

“I don’t know, Cloudy.” Twilight shrugged, “This kinda what I came here to figure out. Maybe I will ask her to send me to their trenches, maybe I will finish my research and pray for them still being alive. You seem to know what to do better than I, so tell me.”

“First of all, I think you should talk to Her Majesty, Princess.”

“Yeah, sounds like the only reasonable idea now. Should I bend my knees?”

Twilight’s reflections were suddenly blown away, as Rarity burst through the door.

"The Empress?" Rarity nodded, panting, "Trouble?" Rarity nodded again.
> War Council
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Twilight took a deep breath, a spark of light ignited on her horn as the teleportation spell took them away. Guessing where their ruler marched was not hard, there weren’t many sensible destinations.

Twilight looked around the surrounding rubble. The Princess saw flipped and half-melted tank wrecks, collapsed bunkers, craters and even chasms in the ground, all lighted by the rising sun. Rarity was right, the sudden militarization in the palace was nothing good. Rarity coughed.

“What is this smell?” she asked, covering her nose. Twilight smelled the air and turned towards the smell direction.

“That, I imagine.” Twilight pointed at a charred, smoking, trench, “I don’t think we want to know any details.”

“No, I really don’t,” Rarity agreed, shivers running down her spine. Pinkie Pie chuckled twice, earning herself two sharp looks. Fluttershy turned away.

“Pinkie, how dare you?” Rarity gnashed, coming to comfort the teary pegasus. Pinkie shrugged.

"Just funny how they been building all of this stuff just for it to be their grave. Anyway, Twilight, let’s go and find AJ and Dashie already.” No objections were voiced.

There could be no doubt where they were supposed to go, the crumbled debris of what once was Chrysalis’ largest hive took a decent part of the view. Bunkers weren’t the only source of rubble around. The hive itself was surrounded by a fairly sized industrial ruin, probably the source of the wrecked tanks. The factories were not destroyed recently, Twilight noted. 
This was likely the result of the Imperial Air Force infrastructure bombings. The debris were partially cleared now, but Twilight made the decision to stay away from the ruins all the same. Unexploded ordnance had a nasty habit of turning into landmines, waiting for unsuspecting ponies.

Twilight soon had to interrupt her grim recollections: Fluttershy screamed in terror.
She turned around on her heels, ready to face the threat. There was a single danger, standing still in the doorway of a surviving generator shack, wearing a gas mask.
Upon seeing the Princess reading to scorch him, he immediately began waving his hooves to indicate his friendly intentions.

“Walk back inside,” Twilight coldly commanded. The trooper instead shook his head and reached for his gas mask.

“Master Sergeant Baron Shoes, Canterlot Imperial Guard regiment,” the soldier hastily introduced himself. “I didn’t mean to scare you, miss.” Twilight breathed out with relief.

“You shouldn’t ambush ponies like this!” Rarity immediately lashed out at him. “Poor Fluttershy almost fainted!”

“I am sorry, miss! It’s just that, we never knew we are having civilians nearby. Please, come inside, there may be hostiles still lurking on the streets.”

“I love your gas mask, Sarge,” Pinkie remarked without a hint of a smile, following him inside the small, empty, tool storage room. “Should go great on Nightmare Night.”

“Hah! Thank you, miss,” the soldier chuckled. “This place is comfy enough, Changelings have repurposed the generators, so we have plenty of empty space in here, drop wherever you like.” The Sergeant kicked the next door, “Hey! Everyone!” he announced in loud voice. “We have guests!”

The scene reminded Twilight her own library, oddly enough. The place was littered with empty crates, backpacks, rifles, even a single flamethrower. But all the equipment was sorted and had its place. Who could know that the Guards were so scrupulous?
They weren’t many, 4 ponies hugging a tiny heater next to the green radio box with a telephone-like receiver orderly hanging at its side. Upon seeing a Princess the soldiers immediately jumped up, saluting.

“At ease,” Baron Shoes instinctively ordered. “Firestep, Shallow Sand, Hollow Point and Growling Gear,” he introduced everyone. “We also have Wavy Shadow somewhere around, she went to see if Changelings had any coffee left: almost anything is better than the tea they issue us at this point." The soldiers rumbled in confirmation, "We are doing radio duty here. You know, listening to signals and telling the people who needed to hear them.”

“What happened here?” Twilight asked.

“What was coming, ma’am,” Baron plainly answered. “Our Empress came to finish the war. You should’ve seen her!” He widely smiled, “We never needed any fire support! She levelled the whole place herself!”

“We noticed.” Rarity was colouring green from the memory.

“Where’s the rest of your unit?”

“Followed Her Majesty, ma’am. She’s probably somewhere inside the hive by now. Do you want us to try and reach her? We only had this single radio at the start, but at this point, the folks might’ve gotten some more from the Changelings who won’t need them anymore.”

“Yes, please. We need to find Lieutenant Rainbow Dash,” the soldiers frowned upon hearing the name.

“Should’ve guessed. Well, alright.” The Sergeant sat himself down in front of the radio, picked up the receiver, rotated radio's handle and pushed a button, “Point Zebra to all callsigns: requesting Second Lieutenant Rainbow Dash on air.”

“Point Zebra, Alpha Platoon reads you, wait one,” the response came. 

"So, you just talk into that thing and ponies hear you far away?" Pinkie asked. 

"More or less, miss," the Sergeant answered covering the receiver with a hoof.

"Can't you just tell the rest of your guys to share their coffee with you?"

"That's actually a really good idea!" Firestep said, laughing.

“Rainbow Dash here, the hay do you want?” Rainbow’s frustrated voice sounded. Baron Shoes passed the receiver to Twilight.

“Rainbow, glad to hear you are ok!”

“Eh, Twilight? The hay are you doing there? We are in the middle of a warzone in case you didn’t notice.”

“Oh, Rainbow. We noticed, believe me.”

“We? You’ve got the girls there?”

“Pinkie, Rarity and Fluttershy, yes.”

“And the...tools?”

“Them too, just in case.”

“Oh, good! First good news in a while! Twilight, listen! We all are in a big trouble! Come find us, we are in the bombed-out Inspectorate building under the hive’s west wall.”

“On our way, Rainbow.”

“Be safe.” The Radio has fallen silent. The Sergeant pressed the button again to cease transmitting.

“Your Highness, there is no way I am allowing you to walk around there,” Shoes started protesting. “It’s like the Lieutenant said, we are in the middle of a warzone! The Empress will have our heads if she finds out we allowed one of her Princess to get herself killed!”

“We can take care of ourselves, thank you, Sergeant.” Twilight began conjuring a teleportation spell. 

“Rats. Pile up on her, people!” Baron was the first to follow his order, leaping at Twilight and pushing her to the floor with his weight. The rest of the squad soon joined him. Pinkie whistled at the pileup.

“Get off her, ruffians! We have no time for your silliness!” Rarity boomed with indignation.

“Can’t, miss,” Shoes tried to apologise from under the mass of soldiers on top of him. “We can’t allow you to get yourselves hurt. It’s a miracle you didn’t step on a mine or found a Changeling holdout so far! The bugs may be afraid of our Empress but they aren’t scared of any of us! Ma’am, I am sorry but I can’t let you go, we will hold you with our bodies if we must.”

“We are not going to wander by ourselves! Rainbow Dash has a whole platoon of soldiers, they’ll defend us!” Rarity attempted to reason.

“Not going to cut it, I am sorry. Look, I don’t have a lot against Lieutenant Dash and her troop, I really don’t, despite her assaulting our palace. But they are poorly trained and, therefore, unreliable. They are practically a penal unit, they can’t be trusted with the safety of anything. What if they mess up? They won't be the ones losing their heads, while we were the ones seeing you last! The whole task force knows now, someone is going to tell the Empress.” 

Twilight managed to free her head and take a breath. Twilight, then, prepared to stir up her ageing diplomatic skills.

“Ok, fine! Let’s talk about this! You say you can’t let us go? Then come with us! Your post is your radio, isn’t it? Take it along. Nopony will notice you even left. Rainbow shouldn’t mind.”

“Come now, you are not like those Army roughnecks. You are the Imperial Guard, you are supposed to be better! More reasonable!” Rarity consolidated Twilight's point. The Sergeant gave a long, deep, sigh and sounded “at ease” again, helping Twilight back up.

“Making enemies in royalty isn’t smart anyhow. Let us a moment to pick up the gear. Also, anyone has a paper, some ink and a quill? Wavy has to know her orders somehow.”

The Guard really needed just a moment. Half a minute later Twilight started the spell again, hurling them to the place Rainbow described. They ended up right in front of the Lieutenant, not surprising her in the slightest.

“Hi, Twilight. Excellent accuracy.” Rainbow Dash smiled at her, standing up from a simple wooden chair. Twilight slightly bit her lip, she had to take a bit of gamble without knowing the exact place where they were going.

“Lieutenant,” Baron addressed Rainbow. “I am Se-”

“Yeah, I don’t really care. Look, Twilight, did you really need to bring the Imps along? We have enough mindless shamblers as it is.”

“They won’t let us all go otherwise.”

“Awesome!” Rainbow facehooved herself and dropped back on the chair, making it to screech, “Look, guys, I don’t have any problem with you specifically, but can’t you, you know, leave us be? We aren’t shooting your “Empress” any time soon.”

“Lieutenant Dash,” Baron started, emphasizing his formal tone. “The Princess may trust you and your ponies, but I don’t. We are escorting Her Highness and we will do so regardless of your approval.”

“I told you lot to get lost! Since when does a Sergeant outrank a Lieutenant? You like your protocols and chain of command, don’t you?”

“In my protocol convicts don’t get to order around soldiers.”

“Oh, you’ve done it now! I’ll show you who’s the convict, bootlick!” But the Guards proved to be quicker, pointing their rifles at the raging pegasus.

“Give us a reason, I dare you.”

“Excellent show, Sergeant Baron,” Lieutenant Stormbreaker entered the room, carrying a teapot. “The Lieutenant is right, though. She does, technically, outrank you. Princess,” he bowed slightly to Twilight, putting the pot on the table, which was already housing a few metal cups. “Put the rifles away, I think she got your point by now.” The guards reluctantly obeyed, “Glad to see you again, Miss Rarity. I don’t think I know the rest of your friends.”

“I am Pinkie Pie and this is Fluttershy,” Stormbreaker noded.

“Second Lieutenant Stormbreaker, 101st Airborne Division. A pleasure.” He turned back to Twilight, “I heard you will be visiting us, Your Highness. I took the liberty to organize a reception, as modest as it is. We were just heating up the water when you called.” The officer poured the water in the cups, though the guests hopelessly outnumbered the tableware. “You’ll get some too,” he promised to the awkwardly standing Guards. 

He, then, took a look around and, not seeing another option asked Rainbow:
“Lieutenant, would you be so kind as to offer Her Highness a place to sit?” Rainbow grunted out of frustration, but stood up nonetheless. The stallion, then, took the chair to Twilight, “Please, have a seat, Princess.”

“Eh...thank you,” baffled Twilight accepted.

“Please, excuse Lieutenant’s irascibility today. She had a rather stressful night.”

“I think, we all had,” Baron Shoes added. Stormbreaker nodded.

“Your Highness, will you tell us now the purpose of your visit?”

“We followed...Her Majesty here. She raised the palace Guard and just left.”

“She told us all to equip for combat and be ready in 10 minutes,” the Sergeant explained. “She said we will end the war tonight.”

“She appeared in the middle of our camp with a company of her goons and ordered us to march at the main hive,” Rainbow continued the narrative. “We were tired, but she won’t hear of it. When we, finally, got here we couldn’t stand, let alone fight. It didn’t stop her,” Rainbow finished with a note of bitterness.

“She forced you?” Twilight asked guessing the answer already.

“You can say that,” Rainbow turned around to the doorway. “Private Applejack, report for inspection!”

A moment later Applejack trotted into the room and stood at attention, her eyes glowing green. Rarity covered her mouth. 
Pinkie waved her hoof in front of Applejack's snout, provoking no reaction.

“Seems normal to me,” Pinkie dryly humoured, provoking chuckles from the Guards.

“Sorry,” Baron apologised for everyone.

“What did she do exactly?” Twilight began examining her friend. 

“She had some sort of a spellbook,” Stormbreaker explained. “She was studying it keenly during our entire way. When Private Applejack reported our unit’s inability, she smiled and said she knew the remedy. She tasked us with mustering the Airbornes, then told us and the rest of the COs to form separately, taking all mages with us.
The end result of her spell is before you. They follow orders to the letter, but aren’t capable of thinking for themselves. The Guard were, obviously, spared; along with officers and most specialists. 
Then, she ordered to begin chart teleportation circles and started softening the fortifications for us. When she was done, there wasn’t much fighting left to do, Changeling just ran for it, hiding in the tunnels under their hive. She told us to hold the perimeter and wait for her to return with the Queen’s head.”

“It’s a blessing to witness her power!” Shoes rapturously added.

“Not for everyone.” Stormbreaker nodded at Applejack, “She sure as hay saved our hides by clearing the Changelings out, but did so for a reason. She wants us to tell everyone what we saw.”

“Cheap trick,” Rainbow Dash snorted.

“An Act of Intimidation,” Stormbreaker corrected. “Sometimes excessive force is enough to discourage hostilities before they begin emerging. As sorry as I am for your friend, Princess, I have to conclude that her actions are justified.”

“Would've been surprised if you didn’t try to cover her up, for once,” Rainbow bitterly spiked the officer.

“I believe, her hoof was forced,” Stormbreaker looked back at Rainbow.

“What? Me? You think it’s because of me?” Rainbow heated up again. “Actually, you know what? Yes! It was me! I was the only one with enough gut to walk up to her and say: “You are NOT my Princess! Get the HAY out of HER palace!” Nopony else even dared to look at the Hag without fearing for their hides! You all are no soldiers! Soldiers are supposed to defend their land! Not the tyrants! The only reason why she sits on the throne is that we let her! 
So, yes! I forced her to take off her mask and proud of it! Maybe now you lot will finally do something about all of this mess! You got the Elements, right, Twilight? Let’s spin them up, they ‘ought to help AJ; then we’ll chase the Hag down the tunnels and buck her to the moon!”

Pinkie Pie clapped her hooves,
“Nice speech, Rainbow. Practised a lot?”

“You have no idea,” she confirmed without noticing the catch.

“Rainbow!” Rarity stepped in. “I tried not to blame you! I tried to convince myself you made a mistake!”

“Rarity, you don’t get a word on this one! You chose her over us! You betrayed your friends, your Princess and your nation! You are no better than the rest of these Imps!”

“I didn’t-”

“Yeah, I don’t care for your excuses! Time for talk is over! Now we need to act! You all have a choice! You can see exactly what your Empress does! Are you going to let her do this to everyone?”

“As much as I hate to say this, but Rainbow is right,” Twilight said, retaining her cold head. “It doesn’t matter who started it, we all still have a problem. No point fighting over it now.”

“Twilight, darling, Rainbow has always been rash! There’s no need for hasty decisions.”

“Rarity, we don’t have time for thinking.” Twilight pointed at AJ, “This isn’t the end. Rainbow and her ragtags showed the entire Equestria how weak Nightmare Moon’s position really is, that anyone can just walk into her palace and take a shot at her. For her, it’s the matter of life or death. Rarity, she won’t stop until she eliminates all threats to herself and her authority, that includes us! If we won’t act now, down the line we won’t get a chance! The time of the Empress being mild is over.”

“This-”

“That’s enough, Your Highness.” Stormbreaker finished his tea in a single gulp and put the cup down on the table with a loud click. Twilight felt a rifle barrel poking her on the back of the head.

“Does it really have to be like this?” she asked.

“I am afraid yes, Your Highness.  We cannot let you harm our Empress. Whether she is good or bad our duty stands. We won't fail her for the second time. 
You will leave your Elements to us and return to Canterlot. Lieutenant, consider yourself relieved from your command, I will take care of your subordinates.”

Twilight turned around to look at the Sergeant aiming the rifle at her. He shook his head slightly.

“Fine, you win,” she told Stormbreaker. Twilight, then, engulfed her horn and lifted her bags and shook out their weapons on the table before Stormbreaker.

“Thank you for not forcing us, Your Highness.” Twilight sighed in response, “If I may, I also wish to apologize for giving you a cold shoulder earlier. The Empress saw your value and I was foolish to doubt her judgment. You wear your crown for your wisdom, not because you were Princess Celestia’s student.” Stormbreaker saluted, “I am sorry my duty had to contradict your beliefs. I express hope for this to not become a trend.”

“Too early to say.” Stormbreaker nodded.

“Sadly, I agree. Shall you have us as your escort now?”

“That won’t be necessary.” Stormbreaker nodded again and fell flatly forward in the middle of it. The rest of the Guards instantly followed.
Pinkie proceeded to giggle.

“Damn...” astonished Rainbow breathed out. “Twilight, remind me to never mess with you.” She started checking pulse, “The hay did you do?”

“Used physics. The tea they all drink is from one supplier. They are based far down south, meaning their products have to be shipped a long way. The metal boxes this tea is stored in do tend to corrode, spraying little particles of metal all over themselves.
I transmuted the metal bits in their bellies into an anaesthetic. Figured it might be the best option for nopony to get hurt.”

“Anae-what?” completely dumbfounded Rainbow had to ask.

“The thing they give you in hospitals to make you sleep. Come on, take the Elements. Let’s get AJ and the Airbornes back to normal, we have little time before the rest of Guards figure out what's going on.”

“Eh...” Applejack moaned, holding her head, being dragged out of the building. “What’s happening?”

“Short version: we are, finally, blasting Nightmare Moon.” Rainbow explained with a beaming smile.
> Together To Victory
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nightmare Moon was swiftly moving through silent tunnels, chasing Chrysalis. The Queen, cowardly to the last, refused to come out and meet her death as an honourable opponent would and sent her children to die in her stead. Well, all more fun.
Her loyal Shadow sabotaged Chrysalis’ magic inhibiting throne. Her soldiers covered the entrances; no reinforcements were coming, not that it mattered. The Queen no longer had a kingdom. Nightmare Moon smiled at her hoof-made irony. 

Nightmare Moon trotted into a large hall, the walls weren't smoothened out and the floor was covered in stone crumbs. Must be a new addition. The drones have already built numerous wide supports, which broke sight nicely. Nightmare Moon looked the hall over with a sly smile, a single exit, plenty of cover and excellent acoustics. Could it be the Queen decided to take a stand after all? Or maybe she simply had no more places left to hide in.

“You know, Chrysalis, I enjoy the welcome you are giving me! I do enjoy playing Hide ‘n Seek!” Nightmare Moon spoke into the still air. “Me and Luna were the best in all the neighbourhood, we always found all the other foals.” Nightmare Moon snaked around the supports,
“Isn’t it fascinating how a foal game can survive through thousands of years with no change at all! Let's see if I am still any good.”

Nightmare Moon noticed a number of stretched wires in between some of the supports. She smiled even wider and looked at what exactly the Queen prepared for her.

“Oh! Tripwires! Now this is almost insulting!” Nightmare Moon proceeded to carefully detach the wire from the hidden grenade and lifted both parts for the Queen to see. “You can do a lot better than this! You are the Changeling Queen, after all. Or you was, anyway. 
Tell me, Chrysalis, how does it feel to be betrayed by one of your own children? You know who blew up your throne, don’t you? I wonder how did you name her at birth. Sinew? Or maybe Femur? You have such curious naming preferences, what do you do when you run out of body parts to name your children after? 
I like the name I gave her more: Shadow Crest. I think, by now you already see why it suits her.” 

Giving her voice to echo through the hall for a few more moments, Nightmare Moon started again:
“So what’s next? Guns maybe? Chrysallis, you disappoint. We royals don’t have to contain ourselves to the same crude tools our subjects use. I remember you blasting Celestia away with your own magic! Come on, show me what you can do.” 
Nightmare Moon smiled at her mistake, “Oh, I am sorry! How could I forget! Your magic doesn’t work that simple. Chrysalis, when was the last time you dined? Must be hard to find sustenance when its source takes up arms against you.” Nightmare Moon chuckled, enjoying herself, “What were you thinking, really? You and your children used to be beneath my notice. It always was like this and you always had enough love to sustain yourselves. What changed?” 

Nightmare Moon, then, knowingly smiled, “I think I have a guess. It was never just about food, wasn’t it? You wanted power, didn’t you? Chrysalis, you have no idea how inspiring it is to finally meet a kin spirit! I should’ve shown more respect. Depriving you and your children of your sleep made defeating you far too easy, this wasn’t a fair fight. Is this is why you fear me this much? Why, thank you! This is the best compliment to my art you could have given me!”

As delightful it was to have a grateful listener, the game started to bore the Empress. She unclipped her spellbook from her armored side and proceeded to flip a few pages until finding the desired spell. The spell allowed her eyes to see the glow all warm objects emit, this would do. 

Nightmare Moon looked around, she noticed soft light coming from behind one of the pillars, Nightmare Moon smiled to herself and turned her body into the purple mist.

“What now?” she whispered into Chrysalis’ ear. The Queen with a terrified shriek, fell flat on the floor; her rifle flying out of her grasp.

“S-stay back!” Chrysalis managed to utter. Nightmare Moon cackled.

“But Chrysalis! You wanted to have my attention, didn’t you? You, practically, came knocking for it! I am no Celestia, I give away gladly everything a heart may desire. You, now, have my full, undivided, attention!” Nightmare Moon said into Chrysalis’ face, still smiling at her. “Going to beg now?”

The Queen was too terrified to try, though. Nightmare Moon laughed again.

“Oh, Chrysalis! You are adorable! 
You know, I’ve been thinking how I am going to kill you for some time now. My first thought was to have you publicly executed, but then I remembered I outlawed that a while ago. It won’t be nice to make exceptions. And then, you deserve better! You’ve been such a fun playmate, after all! 
I decided to personally do my own dirty work for once, you should feel honored. Then, I had some trouble finding out a suitable method; all of the classics, hanging, beheading, burning and the rest, felt barbaric. No Queen should go like that. 
I hoped to give you a warrior’s end, Chrysalis; sadly, not everyone is born to have one. And then, it hit me! I know exactly how to do it, Chrysalis! Just for you, I’ll do it with my hooves! Shall we begin?” Nightmare Moon proceeded to sharply rear up and aim her forelegs to Chrysalis’ head, “In the end, it is always about how we live, Chrysalis. You lived as a weakling and you shall die as one.” Chrysalis closed her eyes.

The strike didn’t arrive. Nightmare Moon's enraged roar further confirmed she was still living. Chrysalis opened her eyes and peered at Nightmare Moon now being behind a chromatic barrier, of sorts. Chrysalis was smarter than to question her luck, she quickly picked herself up and took heel. 

“You ain’t going nowhere!” Someone's hoof racing to her face was the last thing she saw that day.

Nightmare Moon watched as unconscious Chrysalis hit the floor. 

“Like that!” Rainbow Dash and Applejack clapped hooves.

“I wondered if you will, actually, dare.” Nightmare Moon crashed against the barrier, checking its integrity. It held.

“Was there any doubt?” Rainbow Dash asked in her usual brazenly manner.

“I suppose no, not in you.” Nightmare Moon looked at Twilight and Rarity instead, “You on the other hoof. Did the Guards I left to watch the Elements at least give you a good fight?” 

“I...” Twilight struggled to find what to say, while Rarity hid her eyes.

“Ha! Didn’t think of a victory speech, now did you, Your Highness?”

“I am sorry.” Nightmare Moon laughed.

“Sorry? So now you are sorry! Well, better late than not at all, I suppose. I wish you were sorry when Rarity had to drag you out of your library so you could do something useful! Go ahead everyone who died defending my palace from your two terrorist friends how sorry you are, that 'ought to make them feel better.” Nightmare Moon deeply sighed and shook her head in irritation,
"Twilight, it boggles me how Celestia could mess up so much! What is it she's been teaching you? You ended up an excuse for a Princess! While your ponies needed you to show them what do to, you locked up in your library and read books all day long! Apparently Celestia overlooked the most important lesson she could give you: responsibility."

“I know,” Twilight sadly agreed. “Nothing I can do now will fix my mistake.”

“Eh? You are buyin’ that?” AJ asked, Twilight nodded.

“Your Majesty,” Twilight began. “Forgive me for my foolishness and what it brought upon you. Thank you for trying to be better than we thought you would be. And thank you for showing me what I did wrong, I will not forget your lesson. I am sorry it turned against you now, but I cannot allow you enslave ponies on a whim! You understand why it needs to be this way.”

“Hmph, I suppose I should thank you too. For coming clear, I mean. I should've seen how hollow your friendship mantra really is. But we all have messed up at something, didn't we? Should've killed you all when I had a chance.” Nightmare Moon sat down and gave away a tired sigh. 
“Well, no point dreaming about it now. Do what you came here for, I'll make sure Celestia is briefed and ready to resume her duties. Do be quick and pull her out of my moon, I don't want to tolerate her chuffed face any more than I have to.”

Twilight produced a sigh of her own and began weaving the spell.

“Twilight!” Rarity protested. "How can you be this cold blooded? This is wrong! This isn't harmony! How can we be so merciless? And what of Luna? She is guilty of nothing!"

Nightmare Moon, suddenly, spotted a glimmer of hope, a quick flash of green at the hall’s entrance. Good girl, Rarity. Keep talking, it may turn out alright yet.

“Rarity, are you really going to sabotage us again?” Rainbow Dash jumped to her, “Rarity, I don’t get it! How can someone like you defend this...nightmare? You saw what she did to AJ! Are you going to just let it slide?”

“Rainbow!” Rarity started determinedly. “There is more to the world than just friends and enemies! I don’t follow her! I do follow her cause! I don’t care who is it sitting on the throne! As long as she is willing to protect ponies and their interests, I will follow to Tartarus itself!”

“Rarity, she cares for nopony but herself! How can you be this blind? Storm told us! Hay, she, effectively, admitted it herself! What proof else do you need?” Rainbow noticed Rarity looking past her. “Huh? Starcall?" Rainbow recognised her adjutant even in the darkness, "I thought you were back with the others.” 

“I was, ma’am! But now we are in peril!” Starcall started rapidly closing the distance. “The Imps have radioed in our mutiny! They are preparing to storm the hive to take you all dead or alive!”

“Then why...ugh!” Starcall, upon approaching at the necessary distance, dropped down to the ground, compressing like a spring, and then leapt at astonished Rainbow. Both mares fell to the ground, but fake Starcall wasn’t done, before Rainbow could react she snatched the Element from her neck.

“Give it-” but it was too late. The barrier broke and Nightmare Moon, having used the blink spell, already was standing over the wrestling mares, Shadow Crest passed the Element to her Mistress. Applejack readied for a leap of her own, Twilight recalled her combat spells.

“Enough!” Nightmare Moon grasped the resisting ponies by their necks, “Who do you think you all are?” she asked the three ponies, harmlessly suspended in the air, struggling to breathe. She proceeded to methodically disarm each one, “I don’t need the spellbook to deal with you! I can crush your puny spines with the most basic spell!” 

Nightmare Moon unclipped her book again, “But that would be a waste. No, I have just the spell for you, my rebellious insects. Not that crude insult to the art I picked from Sombra to motivate the soldiers, no. This is a lot finer one! You’ll see.” Nightmare Moon proceeded to hastily flip through the pages. “Here, you all will make good enough subjects still. No harm done.” 

Something touched Nightmare's side. Fluttershy’s hooves were failing her, tears streaming down, a mute plea written on the face, but eyes unwavering. Nightmare Moon tried to pool away from those eyes but failed. Two cyan orbs, slitted by her own blessing, the eyes to drown in...

“Please,” Fluttershy whispered, before dropping at her bottom. Nightmare Moon blinked, shaking the numbness off. And without a word returned to the book, but she couldn't read the words. Must focus, no more weakness. Push through, can’t afford to be weak, not now.

“Your Majesty,” Rarity addressed her. ”I don’t think you want to do this.”

Nightmare Moon buried her face in the book, giving up on trying to read. Weakling, can't even protect herself, let alone someone else,
“Your Majesty, we are civilized ponies, let's find a solution for our mutual predicament!" Rarity reluctantly touched her Empress' shoulder, "You are not like Rainbow. You are reasonable! We can always find a compromise, can't we?”

Nightmare Moon chuckled sadly into the book,
“Rarity, have I grown so soft that even you are thinking of making a fool of me? What kind of a tyrant I am...”

“Y-your Majesty,” Rarity broke a sweat. "I don't think this is how you want to be seen. I...can't lie, I believed you to be like that at the start; but I do no longer. I've seen how you handle your subjects. You did your best for them, even if Rainbow won't admit it. Your subjects love you, Your Majesty! The Guards we met on the way here were willing to die for you! You worked hard to build that trust, don't throw it all away now!"

“Then what do I do, Rarity? I ran out of options! I tried being mild, I tried exercising mercy, even to those openly defying me. For that, they tried to kill me. If I won’t punish you six for your transgression I will lose control over the Empire!” 
Nightmare Moon looked Rarity into the eyes, dwarfing her, 
"War is not the matter you can resolve by a whim, Rarity! War can only end in someone's victory, someone needs to yield and accept defeat. Any other solution is temporary, the war will resume as soon as the peace will stop being useful to one of the sides. Are you willing to see more of your fellow ponies die simply because you had no strength to do what's needed?"

“Didn't think... I'll be... agreeing with... Night...mare Moon,” Rainbow Dash produced, fighting for every breath.

“Not so simple now, is it, Rarity? I've got nothing to choose here! It's either to get rid of the threat or let it to become my doom! You are completely right! I don't want to do this, but nopony in this whole land gives a single bit for what I want!”

“I do, Mistress,” Shadow Crest dared to object.

“Yes, I suppose you do. The only one who does.” Nightmare Moon warmly smiled to her Shadow and the turned back to her hovering victims giving them another long look, before letting them plummet back to the ground. Fluttershy gratefuly smiled, "To Tartarus with this. I won't lower myself anymore to this childish pettiness. You want to send me to the moon? Go ahead. I don't want subjects like this anyhow. Neither does Luna, I assure you."

“Who is Luna, Mistress?” Nightmare Moon chuckled, sitting down next to the pegasus.

“The largest, silliest, grump this world produced in a thousand years. Also, the one stuck in my head for all eternity.”

“Your Majesty,” Twilight sounded out. “I am sor-”

“Dammit, Twilight! Stick your sorries somewhere where they are of any use! If you don't have anything meaningful to say, don't bother opening your mouth!" The black mare calmed herself by taking a breath, "I should ask Celestia sometime how she manages all of you alone. It feels like an entire team won't be enough.” Nightmare Moon flung hooves in frustration, “Whatever is it I do, you all are still going to complain and rebel!”

“Try not murdering our friends and stealing the crown next time. That ‘ought to help,” Rainbow bitterly answered.

“I…you...Twilight, get your subordinates in touch with reality, please.”

“Rainbow, AJ, can you two just stop? You already did enough damage as it is.”

“Us? Twilight, she is right on one thing, we’ve got nothing to talk about! She’s is still the usurper and we are still going to fight her until she’s gone, with or without you!” Nightmare Moon looked at Twilight and spread her hooves in a mute “told you”.

Shadow Crest shook her head in disappointment,
“And Her Highness called me a slave. Perhaps our kinds are not so different after all.”

“I feel they aren’t, my Shadow. Yours is shackled to your Queen, while ours is to our egos. I hoped Stormbreaker would whip some sense into them, but apparently he failed too. That’s “Harmony” for you, Shadow.”

“Hold on, everypony,” Pinkie Pie took the word. “Let me get this all straight-”

“Ah, there’s also you. I almost forgot,” Nightmare Moon rubbed her eyes. “So, where do you stand?”

“That’s what I am trying to figure out. Dashie, you are upset because Nightmare Moon sent Princess Celestia to the moon and killed the ponies you know, right?”

“Well, kinda. She also sits on her throne and walks around the palace like she owns the place!”

“How’s you, AJ?”

“To be honest, Sugar. I’ve got no idea anymore. It all feels so, damn… complicated now.” Pinkie nodded seriously and turned to Nightmare Moon.

“And you don’t like the idea of mind-controlling everypony, but feel like this is your only option?”

“Well…yes, exactly that. I hate the idea, it creates more problems than it solves. You can brainwash a few, but all others become even more rebellious than they already are.”

“And you don’t have the tiniest idea on how to resolve this crisis?”

“Honestly, none. I even asked Luna. She doesn't know either.”

“Can we talk to her?” Nightmare Moon blinked from surprise, but Pinkie was totally serious.

“I suppose so...” 

The black mare swiftly shrunk down leaving totally stunned Luna sitting in ridiculously oversized armor. The plates immediately started falling down to the ground.

“Princess, do you have any ideas?” she asked plainly.

“No…” Luna had to take a moment to regain her speech.

“Not the smallest?”

”This is beyond anything I have ever seen even my sister resolving. Nightmare is a lot better at this than me. If she doesn’t know...”

“Princess, Nightmare Moon has already said how she sees it,” Pinkie seriously reminded. “What do you think?”

“I...this is all so wrong!” Luna turned to Rainbow, “She never wanted any harm to you! Not even when we escaped from the moon!”

“Sorry, Princess, but I am not buying this. She tried to hurt us every step of the way to your Castle!”

“Uh...Rainbow,” AJ scratched her head. “I think I believe her. Like, she toyed with us the entire time. Imagine if she really wanted to kill us. You’ve seen what she can do.” Rainbow Dash had to acknowledge the fair point.

“Princess, how does she feel about this whole civil war thing?” Pinkie continued.

“She wasn’t reluctant...but she always took care to minimize casualties, if she could.”

“Tch, of course she did! No war if there are no soldiers left!” Luna shrugged.

“She always said it had to be that way for the sake of my thestrals.” 

“The bats, Princess?” surprised Rainbow asked. “What they have to do with anything? Aren’t they just praying to you like you are a goddess and hating us, day lovers?”

“Rainbow!” Rarity hissed. “Have some decency! The Princess gave up everything she had for them to have a place in Equestria again!”

“Well, sorry, I really didn’t have a chance to talk to them much. When they see me, they usually just whisper some rubbish about the moon and demons, draw circles in the air at me and walk to the other side of the street.”

“I wonder why is that,” Rarity sarcastically reminded. Rainbow threw her hooves up.

“Well, I didn’t make them to worship the evil tyrant!”

“She isn’t evil!” Luna yelled. Rainbow immediately stopped, “Don’t you see how much she does for evepony in Equestria? Why does it matter what makes her care if she does?”

“Princess, I don’t think you under-”

“Understand what? That you are a fool and proud of it? I know her! We’ve been together for more than a thousand years! You chose her as your enemy, she wanted nothing of this! I am your Princess and I command you! Leave her be!”

“But Princ-”

“I won’t hear it! I am The Princess of The Night and I hereby order you to kneel before my legitimate regent!” Luna hammered every word. She, then, took a breath and continued in a softer tone, “She is not like what you believe she is. Let her show it to you, please.”

Rainbow Dash facehoofed herself,
“Ok, fine! Look, I am not buying any of this nonsense about you suddenly being good, you might've fooled everypony but you won't fool me! If this is how everypony wants it to be, I'll play along! Go ahead and do your best to prove me wrong. No more assassination attempts as long as you are not enslaving and killing anyone.” Luna beamed happily at her.

“Thank you,” the Princess whispered. Everyone breathed with relief.

"Sheesh! What a drag this was. Glad this is over with, my head kinda hurts a bit," Applejack complained.

“Luna, I wish I could get my hooves on you right now!”

“Someone else wants to get their hooves on you too.” The yellow pegasus was already lying on the quickly darkening coat, watering it in the process. Nightmare Moon smiled and lied down to allow Fluttershy more comfort. “Who could tell that Nightmare Moon would make a friend like that?”

“Shut up, Luna.” Luna softly laughed. 

“Holy cinnamon rolls!” Pinkie exclaimed. “I think this a good occasion for a party!”

“You have the supplies on you, darling?” Rarity asked.

“Would have to use what the Guards and Changelings have.”

“Miss Pie, I think I can be of use to you here,” Shadow Crest solemnly promised.

"Postpone, for now," Nightmare Moon instructed. "There is still one more labour we must complete." She then looked at Twilight, who nodded in confirmation.

"I am almost finished, Your Majesty."
> The Last Battle
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Are you ready now?”

“I am,” Luna confidently confirmed. The princess tossed a farewell look at her notes and picked up the Imperial tiara to put it back on her waving mane, “Thank you for letting me. I need to do this myself.”

“Of course. She is your sister.” Luna turned around to the familiar ornate chest and effortlessly lifted it in the air. “Were those drafts of any help?”

“Not really. I tried to think on what I am going to say, but...what the point, really? I am going to forget all of it the moment I see her. So, I suppose I’ll improvise.”

“Don’t worry so much, Luna. When you see her you’ll know every word that needs saying. Shall we go now?” Luna smiled warmly to her inner silver-tongued demon and pushed through the door into the empty palace, the staff was sent off for a night.

“How do you always know what to say?” Luna coyly inquired.

“Easy, I don’t,” came the chuckling answer.

“No way I am believing that. You must be thinking through every line you say to the Bearers.”

“Honestly!” Nightmare persisted, “I don’t!”

“So, you just tell them whatever comes to our head?” Luna said in mock disappointment.

“I simply tell them the facts.”

“Just like that?”

“Well, more or less. You don’t really need to invent anything creative when you can simply engineer the truth to back you up. A bonus of being an empress.”

“Useful,” Luna admitted. “Do you know what you are going to tell her?”

“I suppose, I would have to improvise.” Luna gave out a chuckle, “By the way, I have never seen an uncertain mare to move like this.” Luna smiled at the observation, she really was almost running.

“It’s not a royal courtesy to keep guests waiting, Empress.”

“Hah! Smartypants. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised, considering who taught you.”

“Yes, you really shouldn’t be. Besides, am I wrong to be eager to do my chores for the night?”

“I bow to your enthusiasm, Your Highness. Metaphorically,” Nightmare Moon added. “Though, I admit, I can’t wait to see the smug face of your big sister too. Or rather for her to take over the day shift again.”

“Too bright?”

“Yeah, too bright. The eyes hurt all the time. Huh, maybe I should follow my own advice and get sunglasses.” Luna burst into laughter upon imagining that sight.

“The Empress of The Blind.” Luna teased, provoking a giggle.

“Okay, I admit, you are funny. Can you stop, please?”

“The wish of my Empress!”

“Seriously, cut it. They are behind the next door. You aren’t going to laugh at me in front of all of them, are you?”

“Is that a challenge?”

“Luna!”

“Okay, okay, I am stopping now!” A sly grin treacherously creeped on Luna’s face.

“Don’t even think about it! I swear, I am going to publish your damn diary!”

“And ruin the crown’s public image?”

“Ugh, fine...you win.” Luna victoriously giggled. “But, seriously, don’t!”

Luna giggled again and proceeded to open the door to the balcony.

“Oh, Princess!” Rarity immediately trotted to her. “You could’ve just asked the Guards to help! You shouldn’t carry this thing around yourself!” Luna smiled at her most loyal mare.

“Rarity, I wanted to carry it, besides, the guards are all away. Her Majesty felt they might be a threat to secrecy.” Nightmare Moon grunted something indecipherable. Rarity instinctively began widening her eyes. Luna gave her a disarming smile and poked her in a shoulder, passing her by.

“We are ready, Your Highness,” Twilight reported, checking the runes on the floor were in line with the book. “We can start whenever you say the word.”

Luna nodded and looked over the six ponies around her,
“And how do you all feel? Are you ready?”

“Always were, Princess!” Rainbow Dash salute. “We, in 101st, don’t live our friends behind!”

“What she said,” Applejack added. Luna thankfully smiled to them both.

“It’s...weird,” Pinkie Pie seriously said. “Something changed.”

“That’s called being serious, Pinkie,” Rainbow Dash explained. “That happens when you know from experience what bubbles and laughter can do if you are not careful.”

“Oh,” Pinkie prompted her head with a hoof. “Does this mean I can be a mime? Mimes are serious. I always wanted to learn how to do those cool tricks with invisible stuff.” 

“Pinkie! Scratch ALL of that! You never change!” Rainbow Dash managed to push through her laughter. Luna then turned to Fluttershy.

“And you?”

“Well...Princess, I am not really good at saying profound things.”

“Neither am I, Fluttershy.” Luna winked at her, “Let’s just say it’s alright, ok?” Fluttershy smiled at her and nodded.

Luna proceeded to open the chest with the magical jewels. 

“Let’s finish this.”

“Oh, yeah!” Rainbow jumped straight to her gem.

Luna stood back to let them have some space. All 6 ponies, armed with their Elements stood around the magical circle. After receiving the final nod from the Princess, Twilight began her ritual. The familiar flash of white light dashed to the moon. The light hurt, but Luna didn’t look away. Instead, she smiled at the light, her dear one was home.

Luna’s smile faded a moment later, Celestia was back, sort of. She didn’t look like herself. She wasn’t standing proudly, as Luna remembered her, not even sitting in expectation. Her sister was lying on the ground, weeping. 
Nobody dared to interrupt the griefing Princess.

“Sheesh. Looks like we found something you are better at than her. It took you almost 600 years to get to this point.” Nightmare Moon pushed through Luna for control over their body. “Don’t worry, I’ll whip her back in shape for you.”

Catching Twilight’s look, Nightmare Moon gestured her to approach. Twilight took a deep breath and cautiously approached her teacher.

“Princess,” Twilight quietly called. Celestia immediately opened her eyes and looked up at Twilight in disbelief. The Princess had to spread her hoof and touch her student, before believing this was no hallucination.

“T-twilight?” Celestia sharply raised herself and wasted no time pressing the fellow Princess to her chest, “Thank you!” Twilight was all too glad to respond in kind, embracing her oldest friend. She needed to say nothing, while Celestia was raining tears of joy over her. And then the Sun Princess remembered:
“Twilight, where is Luna?!”

“She is here, Celestia. She always was,” Nightmare Moon coldly answered.

“You!” Celestia released Twilight and turned to face her adversary, getting on her hooves. “Have you now decided to finish what you’ve started?”

Nightmare Moon smiled indulgently,
“Why, you don’t think the moon is good enough for you? No, Celestia. I have no intention to end you tonight...unless this is how you want it.”

“I won't give you pleasure!” Celestia boomed with anger.

“Good, that would be quite counterproductively for us both. I would much prefer if you could see reason.”

“You killed my subjects! You took my sister’s body! And now you wish me to bow to you?!”

“Celestia, spare me of your hostility. Did your fate teach you nothing? Your attitude is what got you your punishment in the first place.” 
Nightmare Moon gestured towards the balcony edge, “Look, your lands are fine. Exactly as you left them or better, depending on who you ask. Ponies are happy and safe from any enemy external or internal. The government is centralised and quick to react.”

“You have the nerve to brag of your tyranny?” Nightmare Moon rolled her eyes.

“Even your sister, eventually, came around. Maybe, if you would do something for her once in while you two wouldn’t be spending this much time apart.”

“Don’t you dare to bring her in this, you fiend! You took my sister away twice! I will not forget what you did to her!”

Nightmare Moon smiled at her rival again,
“But I did nothing! I merely tried to make her happy. Someone had to take care, since you prefered your court over your family. Some might say I would’ve made a better sister than you ever was, imagine that now, Celestia.”

Celestia found herself speechless at such insolence, this was a little too big of an insult to take. Celestia’s horn blinked into life, pulsing with might. The air on the balcony started becoming noticeably hotter.

“I will purge you from this land! You, filthy-” Nightmare Moon laughed in delight.

“Language, Celestia! Mind you, I want not to fight you! I am simply offering to forgive you for what your blindness forced you to do!”

“I don’t want any forgiveness from you!”

“I reckon no. But what of Luna’s?” Nightmare Moon passed control back to Luna, “This is your finest hour. A chance to win your sister back. Her stored up rage should be mostly depleted now.”

“But...what do I say?!”

“Tell her how you feel. Give her the facts.”

"Luna!" Celestia called.

“Sister,” Luna instinctively responded. The awkward silence spread over the balcony. Rarity bit her lip.

“Luna, say something! Let me hear you again,” Celestia reached out.

“Sister...I don’t know what I am supposed to tell you,” Luna confessed with a sad chuckle. “I was never good at explaining things. Nightmare said it all well enough, I think.”

“You...L-luna, what are you saying? Nightmare Moon is a fiend who stole your body and murdered our subjects! You cannot possibly agree with her!”

Luna chuckled again and shook her head,
“I kept telling this to myself too. The more I tried the less I believed it.”

“...What do you mean?”

“The problem with that reasoning is that she didn’t really steal anything. Sister, you were always so wise and righteous, but you left me to fend for myself in the world I knew nothing about. I made mistakes, ponies started dying because of me. She offered to help and didn’t ask a lot in return.”

“Oh, Luna. Why didn’t you just talk to me? It didn’t have to be like this,” Luna shook her head.

“No, it needed to,” Luna said determinedly. “Celestia, if you are righteous and good, why did you refuse your aid to the subjects who needed it most?”

“Luna, thestrals worshipped Nightmare Moon! How can you expect me to allow the enemy into our home? Sister, to protect peace and Harmony of our land sacrifices need to be made,” Luna nodded.

“And you failed to make them, my sister. 
Celestia, they don’t worship Nightmare Moon, they are afraid of her just like all other ponies. They only followed her because they knew not the difference between us. They believed she was me, Celestia, their beloved Princess! The Princess YOU always neglected! The Princess who deserved more recognition! They were ready to follow me because they trusted I was looking out for them in return! Even a thousand years later they trusted me enough to obey my call without question!”

Luna angrily snorted and pointed at the sky,
“They cared not if it was night or daylight! They didn’t even care what other ponies would think! They simply tried to protect the only one who would care for them! And what did their loyalty get them? The entire world hated them!
I may have betrayed their trust in my failure, but you willfully let them suffer! Celestia, you are unfit for ruling our ponies! Even Nightmare Moon proved to be better than you!”

“L-luna...” shocked Celestia reached for her with her hoof.

“Begone from my sight!” Luna sharply recoiled. “I don’t care where will you go, there is no place left where you will find support for your claims. You can plead to your former subjects all you want now. They are well aware who cares for them more. They will not permit you to start another pointless war, sister!”

“L-luna, how can you...say this! She-”

“You will insult her with your empty accusations no longer!” Luna deliberately articulated. “Nightmare Moon is my friend now! A better one than you ever cared to be! If you are too petty to accept her offered peace, then take your swollen pride and get out of my face! I am done with your self-righteousness!” Luna turned her head to the awkwardly bunched up Element Bearers, “You may say your goodbyes.” Luna, then, sharply turned on her heels and walked back to the doors.

“Luna, wait!” Celestia called out to her. “I am sorry! I didn’t know!”

“Tell your lies to someone who doesn’t know you so well. You knew everything.”

“No, Luna, I am sorry!” Celestia burst into tears, “I...Luna, forgive me! I am so foolish!” Celestia had to sit for her hooves not to fail her.

“Exemplary work, Luna!” Nightmare Moon's candid congratulation arrived. “Couldn’t have done better myself! You had her in it the whole time!”

“I was so blind, sister! Please...” Celestia practically begged. Nightmare Moon snickered in Luna’s head.

“Delightful! How lovely it’s to see this smug, hypocritical peacock to finally get dragged to the ground from her pedestal! I am going to savour this one, Luna.”

Luna, ignoring Nightmare gloating, smiled from ear to ear.

“Well, well. Someone’s proud of herself.” Nightmare Moon remarked. “Go to her, Luna,” Nightmare Moon lightly pushed. “Go to your family. You aren’t going to leave her like that, are you?”

Luna happily obeyed, grabbing as much of her sister as she could,
“I missed you,” she whispered.

“Luna, did I really fail you so much, that now you would prefer Nightmare Moon to your own sister?” Celestia buried her face in Luna’s coat.

“Celestia, don’t you see? You are not my only sister.”

“How could this creature win you over this much, Luna?”

“Oh,” Luna smiled. “You will be amazed.” Luna looked at the crying mares, who didn't dare to interfere with their reunion. They took the hint.
> Epilogue: Daybreak
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The stained glass windows in the throne room always were an inspired idea, Nightmare Moon believed. More than an element of decor, it was a reminder. A reminder of deeds past and the empty slots for the deeds still to follow. 
Artists always have a way of noticing subtle things in life: the facial expression, body language, even the eye shape, Nightmare Moon always marvelled at how the artists managed to so accurately portray her using something as crude as irregularly shaped glass pieces. The eyes of the black mare looking down at her from the windows indeed were her own, or they had been. 

“Your Majesty,” Nightmare Moon shifted her eye at her visitor, Celestia formally bowed to her.

“Your Highness,” Nightmare Moon returned the courtesy.

"She came," Luna asserted.

“The moment of truth is upon us.”

“Are you sure? There is no controlling her after this.” Nightmare Moon had to suppress the reflex to think again. No, not this time. She might change her mind if she thinks a single more moment in this. It had to be done.

“I ran out of other options. She is the only one who can help, my only chance now. For all of our sakes, I hope she deserves the love you all give her even at this point. Promise to be quiet for a while.”

“Of course. Not a word.”

“Shall we drop the act, “Your Majesty”? We are far too old for these games,” Celestia broke the silence. Nightmare Moon returned to staring at the window.

“Yes,” she sighed. “No point playing pretend any longer.” Celestia raised her brow, the change in attitude was far too big to miss.

“What did you do to my sister?” Celestia asked straight.

“Nothing.”

“She hated you. What did you do?” Celestia didn’t back down. Nightmare Moon closed her eyes, quivers running down her body.

“Celestia, I promise, I did nothing to her. The only thing I ever did to her is tried to silence her, so she would let me work. 
I can’t hurt her, nor that I would. I don’t imagine living without her now. She may cry a bit too much and she isn’t useful in ruling the land, but...she is the only one around who can be trusted. Until recently, maybe.”

“What are you saying?”

“Celestia, our past was never smooth. I tore your sister away from you. Your ponies died in our War. I sent you to spend years of your life on the moon. But perhaps the time has come for us to end our feud. I wish no harm to you, Luna or any other pony. What say you? Shall we now leave our bloody trail behind and give Twilight’s Magic of Friendship a chance?”

Celestia wasn’t quite convinced yet, her look was as suspicious as ever. She waited for more. So be it. Nightmare Moon sighed, if she had to lay bare before Celestia to broker her way out, then this is what she would do.

“Waiting for my motives? I understand, we can never trust anyone unless we know everything about them, can we?” Nightmare Moon gestured Celestia to follow her and led her to a different window, the one depicting King Sombra's downfall,
“Do you remember the King, Celestia? He is my nearest comparison, it seems. Some of our ponies followed because they believed in me, or more accurately in Luna, but others did because they feared the alternative.”

“The natural state of things.” Nightmare Moon nodded. 

“Rainbow Dash, as foolish and bullheaded as she is, nonetheless has every reason to fight me. No matter how much I try to hide it, I will remain a tyrant. And the natural response to tyranny is rebellion. 
It cannot possibly succeed, but ponies will continue trying nonetheless.
Rebels are a threat to everyone, so I have to put them down, this makes more ponies angry and the circle starts again.”

“You are no longer content with rolling heads and starving down your enemies in the dungeon?” Celestia sharply asked. “I remember you searching for an opportunity to exercise your power.”

“Celestia, what would you do if you could have everything?” Nightmare Moon asked and looked back at the King.

“This a bit too personal question, don’t you think?” But Nightmare Moon wasn’t listening.

“Power is pointless, Celestia. Sombra had all the power he could dream of. A nation that couldn’t resist him, an army spreading to the horizon, a circle of mages that could shatter the world at his whim and as much prosperity as he could possibly want.” 
Nightmare Moon gave a single chuckle, 
“Do you remember how miserable he was when you found him? Didn’t it seem like defeating him was a little too easy? 
He lost because he chose to, Celestia. He found no point in further conquests, they offered him nothing. He found no point in living, so he hoped he could die with dignity.  You should have indulged him. Forcing him to continue living after losing everything is nothing but cruelty.”

Nightmare Moon turned around to Celestia, but gave her a moment to process.

“We, tyrants, all have a similar fate. It doesn’t matter if we are successful or not, one day we will be gone, having accomplished nothing. Our former subjects will work tirelessly to erase our every hoofprint and forget about our existence. Our end is always the same: alone, broken and forgotten.”

Celestia patiently waited for continuation.

“Celestia, I don’t want it to end like this,” Nightmare Moon gave it straight, having trouble to hold a dignified posture. “Celestia, teach me your way. I already tried everything I knew.”

“Teach you? So this is what you released me for. Well, perhaps this is not so surprising after all,” Celestia said, having closed the case.

“Celestia, I... I can’t keep going like this!” Nightmare Moon’s even voice broke. “This is a torture! Do you have any idea how it feels to wake up with the thought of your own infirmity?!” 
Nightmare Moon pointed her hoof at the next window, depicting Twilight Sparkle, “Celestia, I am not blind or stupid! Simply looking at her hurts! It's like dying from hunger and being forced to sit on a feast but not allowed to have anything! 
I learned what makes them so strong and I learned how to beat them. But when I did so, I discovered how pitiful and hollow my gains were!
Celestia, I no longer see any purpose to continue this...existence! I did my best to hide it from everyone, even Luna knew nothing! But I can't any longer! The mask shatters! Celestia, I am breaking down! I can't focus anymore, no scheme can bring joy! I only feel pain, like a disease it slowly paralyzes me, moving this body gets harder with each day! The only sooth I have left is your sister and those crumbs I manage to get from anyone who offers!” 

Mute Celestia stared in shock as her ancient enemy dissolved into sobbing and quivering wreck before her very eyes.

“I am not naive enough to think I can be like them! But I can no longer return to my ways, a life like that is not worth living! Not after seeing how beautiful it could’ve been. 
I cannot go back, but maybe I can still have a measure of solace! I can still help to protect and nurture what they are trying to build! Celestia, please! I’ll beg if I have to! Help me! You are the only who can!”

Nightmare Moon sank down on the floor. Celestia couldn’t believe this, quivering, pathetic, creature was the one who defeated her. Luna was correct, this turned out to be nothing less than amazing. Oh sister, what have you gotten yourself into?

“I am impressed, Celestia,”  the familiar, pompous voice sounded in her head. “You completely broke my sister’s will without even being here. I must admit, your way really works. Seeing her stretched out before you like this, begging for your mercy, makes losing to you a lot less embarrassing.” Celestia ignored the compliment, “So, will you now wipe this unworthy tear puddle out of your way and take back what’s yours?”

“Quiet, I will do no such thing.”

“But...why? You know I am right. I told you killing Luna and my good-for-nothing sister will spare you and your ponies of great trouble. You didn’t listen, and your mistake came to bite you in your sweet plot. The only reason we are even here is because my sister turned out to be far too soft. She will come back to bite you again. Leaving to her own devices is a mistake, Celestia.”

Nightmare Moon cried again,
“Celestia! What do I have to say for you to believe me? I can't take this much longer! Please! I will do anything to end it!”

“Yes, you are absolutely right,” Celestia agreed with the fiery fiend in her head.

Celestia took a deep breath, collecting every last scrapple of determination she could muster. She needed all her will to force her body to do what was needed now. Taking another breath, Celestia lunged forward, grasping the mare and pulling her closer to herself. Nightmare Moon quivered with her entire body, but Celestia held her firmly.

“Thank you...” she whispered. “I will repay you one day.”

“Shhh… Quiet now.” Daybreaker wearily sighed.

“Celestia, what are you doing?”

“Silence.”

“You know she is your enemy, right?”

“Do I not destroy my enemies by making them my friends?”

“You are up for a disappointment,” Daybreaker said for the last.

“You will be alright now,” Celestia promised to the quieted down enemy in her hooves.