You know the story, Sunset Shimmer lost in another world, falling into anger and rage. Her plan to steal the Element of Magic and get revenge. A little nightmare filly might have other ideas.
In another universe, Sunset Shimmer sets in motion her plan to prove to Celestia she worthy to be an alicorn. By stealing the Element of Magic and ascending! Twilight Sparkle has to journey into the world beyond the magic mirror to retrieve her crown before the fallen student of Celestia could accomplish her goals.
Neither is prepared for the jealous filled filly of Nightshade going through the portal as well. Can the two Students of Celestia handle the cunning of Nightmare Moon Reborn?
Steam rises from the powerful engine as it plows its way through the frozen waste of the north. The train rolled along the tracks with a steady clickity clank. Combined that with the soft cloud resting beds of the royal carriage car and Luna was in a deep sleep for the journey. At least she was...
“I’m BORED!” the voice of Nightshade brought the lunar princess awake but she didn’t move to alert the other two in the car. Her ears did shift to overhear her fellow royal passengers. She narrowly opened her eyes to watch.
Celestia was sitting on one of the car’s lounge couches reading a novel. With a sigh, she lowered the book and look at the one-year-old filly. “I thought you were having fun playing with your Power Pony dolls.”
“Power ponies dumb. Masked Matter-Horn just a unicorn. Mistress Mare-velous, earth pony with an enchanted lasso. Radiance is just another unicorn with conjuration magic, Fili-second hello we know Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie both are way faster! Zapp again any pegasus has weather magic. Only Saddle Ranger something different and that just a pegasus with earth pony magic, but then again Fluttershy very good with animals. I’m also bored playing I couldn’t think of another way for Mane-iac to defeat them.” Nightshade knocks over the Fili-second doll.
“Aren’t the Power Ponies are the good guys?” Celestia saw it the moment the little filly mind switched from a normal foal‘s to that of a cunning being with the awareness of a thousand years.
“They are, heroes are boring, they are reactionary characters. Villains are better they do creative stuff they are proactive.” Nightshade nods as she starts putting the toys away.
“Oh... well that because the bad guys are out to hurt others.” Celestia puts down her book and watches the one-year-old reincarnation of Nightmare moon.
“Heroes are lazy, bad things happen all the time and they wait for it to break before doing something. Ponies can’t pay rent will become homeless and rob a bank or something, oh hero comes and stops them. A Villain would just beat up the landlord, maybe destroy the bank with mortgage records. No one can prove the ponies in the house didn’t own it beforehand. It’s not evil it’s optimization. Others call it evil because it breaks the status quo, even if the status quo is bad.” The filly then jumps up on a bench and looks out the window to the snow. “Are we there yet?”
Celestia starts wondering if there was a strong liquor in the train car’s storage. “Oh, but wouldn't that cause harm to the common ponies? They would have their own money in those banks as well.”
“Short term disruption for long term benefits. Banks have security clauses for a reason.” then an angry look to Celestia “You didn’t answer me... I asked if we are there yet.”
Luna lifts her head “Not yet, you know when we are at the Crystal Empire when we pass through the protective shield.”
“Mommy!” Nightshade leaps down and bounces onto Luna’s bed. Just like that, the filly personality went back to the normal 15-month-old.
Celestia shakes her head wondering if the dark aspect of nightmare moon would ever really leave her niece’s mind. Was it just a matter of time before Nightshade follows in her Mother’s hoof steps and become corrupt? Shaking her head to clear herself of the dark thoughts she looks out the window. “Nightshade, you might want to look out the window.”
Nightshade looks up “Why? It all snowy out there.”
“Just trust me.”
Nightshade tilts her head trying to decide to trust her aunt then figures it wasn’t a reason not to for this one time and she moves to a window seat and looks out. Just as the world rippled as the train car passed through the magical barrier and into the spring-like air of the Crystal Empire. “OHHH it all sparkling!”
“That is the emerald fields where the Crystal Ponies grow the emerald hay. Over there in the hills are where the Crystal berry vineyards are.” Luna says as she comes up from behind her daughter.
With a turn of her head, she looks at Celestia “It was a good idea to have the Princess Sumit here. It would help renew the economy as well as encourage trade.”
Celestia nods as she puts her book away “Cadence thought so as well.”
Nightshade looks to Celestia then “is Twilight coming?”
“Yes, she will. She should be arriving later today.”
With a pout, Nightshade sat down and crossed her hooves. “Don’t want Twilight, she took my place.”
Both royal sisters blinked and looked to the pouting filly. “What do you mean Nightshade?”
“Duh, I meant to rule after you two being Luna’s daughter. Now dorky Twilight is Celestia heir Bluey said so.”
“Blueblood didn’t say anything like that,” Celestia recalled the meeting she had with the Prince.
“He said his Dad wanted him to marry Twilight. Because of Twilight in line for the crown now.” Nightshade nods all matter of fact.
“Indeed he told me that... so you were spying on my office hmm?”
“Um... No... um...”
Luna chuckled “I do believe you are caught my little nightmare.”
“I’m not little, I’m a big pony. Went potty and everything.” The filly pouted and it was quiet from then on till they arrived at the station.
Luna had on her foal saddle on where Nightshade rode on her back. A lovely invention the saddle letting a foal ride on the parent’s back in comfort for both the foal and the mother’s back.
The Empire was reduced to just a single city, but that city was the crowning jewel to the once spanning empire. As the three Princesses walked for the tower in the heart of the city they could see construction going on all around. Not just rebuilding the damage from Sombra but fully upgrading the infrastructure for modern times.
“The cost of rebuilding a whole city must be massive. How are we paying for it sister?” Luna asks as they passed a statue of Cadence posed in flight with a crystal heart in her hooves. Capturing the moment of her rushing to restore the heart to the pedestal.
“It is a strain on the economy, but not as much as one would suspect. The crystals the city was built from are very valuable, even more, pure than the crystal mines in Equestria. Then you also have the tourist trade picking up. No other place you could go play in the snow one moment then the next to go swimming in a warm pool in spring-like weather.” Celestia spoke as they both come to a stop under the Crystal Tower. The area was decorated and set up to formally welcome the Royal family.
“Princess Celestia, Princess Luna, and Princess Nightshade I welcome you to the Crystal Empire.” Princess Cadence spoke up as she headed to the two elder mares. “Oh forget this formality business.” She broke the formality by hugging both mares and then nuzzles Nightshade.
The cheering grew and Cadence looked around. Softly to the other Princesses “I wish the hero worship was not quite so intense.” Louder to the gathering ponies. “My Little Ponies! I thank you all for your hard work rebuilding our home and welcoming our guests! Give a good cheer for the Princesses of Equestria, who are providing valuable resources to our fair city!” She smiles as the ponies cheering grew even more. Then led the other princesses inside.
Nightshade looks at all the ponies. She smiles and waves and practice her cute look, encouraging a few awws from the crowds. “Love me!”
Cadence chuckles “She’s a little attention hog isn’t she.”
Once inside they head to the castle lounge rooms. When the four princesses were alone Celestia turns and looks at Cadence.
“Cadence did it arrive safely?” She asks as she settles down on some relaxing pillows.
Cadence sat down as well with a sigh “It did, are you sure this is a good idea? Sunset Shimmer might not even try to come back.”
Celestia ear’s lower as the thought crosses her mind. “I can only hope Cadence.”
“Okay, you two what going on,” Luna asks after placing Nightshade down, who tackled a pillow and started playing.
Celestia sighs and looks to Luna “I told you about Sunset Shimmer, well the magic mirror due to open a portal to the world I suspect she went too soon. I’m hoping she will return.” Celestia horn flairs and from her bags she drew a folder, one that looked old having been set aside for a long time. She opened it reveling an adoption form, one missing just a signature.
“I was going to adopt her, but she had an ego larger then the one Blueblood pretends to have. A gifted unicorn that even outdoes Twilight Sparkle in creative means of using magic. Twilight has a lot of book smarts, Sunset, she was creative always testing the limits of what a spell could do.”
Luna blinked “what happened to her?”
This time a sigh came from Cadence “It was me. As Celestia said, Sunset had an ego thinking she was the best. Then I came, a simple peguses who ascendent to an Alicorn, knew nothing about spells but still I did what no one else done for as long as ponies could recall.”
Celestia spoke next “I had to protect Cadence, the nobility would pounce on her in a heartbeat. So I adopted Cadence as my niece it drove Sunset mad with jealousy. I became desperate and came up with a plan to snap her out of her hate of Cadence.” tears started falling “it failed, I showed her the magic mirror and cast a simple illusion showing her an image of herself as an alicorn. She has the magic to ascend. If she just lost that ego of hers and made some friends. No pony can safely ascend without friends to stabilize the harmony magic. Of course, if I told her that she would refuse and try to ascend another way. I couldn’t handle her becoming a dark alicorn it would break my spirit.”
Luna nodded “As I did me so many years ago.” Luna moved to her sister and hugged the grieving mare. “So what this new plan you cooked up.”
“I’m hoping Twilight will show her the way. Like I said both are brilliant in their ways. Both are my students, both at first refused friendship. Where Sunset failed, Twilight succeeded. Seeing Twilight as an alicorn I know Sunset would investigate seeking answers. Seeing that ascendancy is linked to friendship, hopefully, she will come back. Then I will formally adopt her as my daughter.”
The three older princesses didn’t notice the piercing eyes of the filly. Eyes filled with jealousy, first Twilight, now this Sunset? No... No one will take her place. She will rule Equestria once Mommy and Aunt Celestia is gone. The once and future Queen of Darkness demands it.
Nightshade had until tonight. She was sure that Celestia had timed the Princess summat to align with the magic portal.
So if she was going to sabotage her plan, she would need to be ready. As she was picked up once again, she made her plans. She would need to get to the mirror and break it.
“You are being quiet, Nightshade. What are you planning?” Luna asks as she carries her daughter down the hall.
Think quick! “I’m not planning to take the crystal heart!” Diversion!
Luna sighs then say “What would you do if you did get the heart?”
“I said I wasn’t… well, Sombra was stupid he just hid it. Love can be corrupted, just asked any mare who had a creepy Stallion watching her. So… with the right spells, I could corrupt the heart so all the ponies will love me.”
Cadence blanched looking at the tiny terror. “Is that possible?”
“Anything possible.”
Celestia shakes her head. “Don’t worry so much Cadence. Nightshade might be extremely clever… in her own way. The amount of magic needed to overwhelm the pure love magic in the crystal heart is beyond even a single alicorn could do. The Crystal Heart has been absorbing love for generations.”
“Except for the thousand years trapped, and the time it was resisting Sombra. It could happen!”
“You wouldn’t have that magic needed to even try till about a hundred years. By then the Heart would have recovered fully and even been gaining more.”
Nightshade flops down pretending to pout but is hiding her smile. So she needed magic, like the magic of the Element of Magic. There is the problem that it was bound to Twilight… IDEA.
If she got the Element of magic to the other world, it would be severed from Twilight and the Tree of Harmony. It just is a massive magical battery, oh this evil plot getting better all the time. She just has to make sure she got that crown into the portal, put it on her head, and return. Then Equestria and the entire world will be made to Love her!
Cadence looks to Celestia “She really is Nightmare Moon reborn.”
Celestia nods “Luckily she really is reborn. The attention span of a child, and now that she used up what reserves she had she can’t even cast a basic levitation spell.”
‘Oh, but I will, Celestia, oh but I will.’
The four princesses headed down the hall to a new chamber. “Well, evil plots of little fillies will have to wait. Here we are at the nursery. I hope you don’t mind Luna, I hired a mare who I think would be a good nanny. So this is a test run when I have my own.” Cadence looks to her barrel.
Pushing the door open Cadence walks in. “Tender Care, we are here. Once again I want to thank you for watching my cousin Princess Nightshade.”
A light rose-colored and red-manned crystal pony smiled as she came out of a side chamber. It was clear the mare was a bit older; a few strands of gray were showing in her mane and there were faint winkles. A mare leaving middle age but not yet elderly.
“Greetings Tender Care, this is my daughter Princess Nightshade.” Luna looks back to Nightshade. “Say hello to your temporary nanny.”
“She should be bowing. Four royal princesses enter and she is not bowing.” Nightshade pouts.
“Oh, my… your right.” Tender Care says as she bows before the four. “Please forgive me your Highnesses.”
Luna sighs. “Nightshade, do you have to be? Nevermind.” She picks Nightshade off of her saddle and sets her down on the floor. “Now be nice and don’t give Tender Care any trouble.”
“I’m sure she will be a real sweetheart Princess Luna.”
Nightshade smiles “I will be good. I just want to play adventurer!”
“That should be fine, just remember we don’t have any boxes to make a cave for you thought,” Celestia spoke up smiling to the youngest princess.
Nightshade pouts and plops down on her flanks. “Oh… well, we can make a pillow fort and um… Sheets! We can hang sheets!”
Tender Care nods “My, aren’t you a creative one.”
“Yup! I need an adventurer’s saddlebags! With things like snacks, and tools.” Turning to face Luna “MOMMY! I need bits!”
Luna was wondering if her daughter skipped ahead into the teenage mindset. “Why would you need bits?” “Stuff for adventure. We in the Crystal Empire, why wouldn’t I want to get stuff.”
Tender Care was starting to understand that the filly before her wasn’t a normal foal. She looked to the three princesses “Are all Alicorn foals so… um… advanced?”
Luna sighs and looks to Tender Care. “My daughter is a special case. We don’t know how a normal alicorn foal would develop.”
Celestia smiles and nods “You have to understand Tender Care, much like how the Crystal Empire was displaced in time, so too was my Sister and Daughter. Her time away from normal reality seems to have had an effect on Nightshade’s development. Even if she seems more alert, be aware she is still a foal. She might know she needs bits to get things, but she had no idea how much they are worth, nor will she think twice if she really wants something.”
“I’m still laughing remembering the time she got her head stuck in a cooking jar.” Cadence smirks as Nightshade gives her an angry look. Coming from a little foal it was adorable.
Luna passes over a pouch of bits to Tender Care. “Try not to let her talk you into buying everything that catches her eye.”
Once outside Nightshade was riding on Tender Care’s back. “Wow, lots of con… consr… building. Worker ponies doing lots of work.”
“Yes Princess, there is a lot of construction. Not only are we rebuilding after… him, we are also updating the building. Indoor plumbing and new kitchens.”
“OH ICE CREAM! Want Ice cream!” She waves her hoof at the ice cream cart.
“No, it's too early for ice cream.”
“Your mother told me to keep track of spending. So no. Besides if you spend the bits on ice cream, you might not have enough for your adventure pack.”
“Hmm… you win this time.”
The two then head into one of the stores. “Okay, what do you think you need for your adventure,” Tender Care asks as she takes a shopping cart. The place was a general store, the major shopping big box stores like Rich's Barnyard Bargains haven’t moved in yet.
Nightshade looks about “Rope! All adventurers need hope. Travel goodies, cookies, and ice cream.”
“Nope, we can buy some travel snacks like these cereal bars. Cookies and ice cream are not on the menu.” Tender Care puts some of the snacks into the shopping cart. She stealthy added some cookies.
“Meany. Okay, need um... OH, purple flashlight!” Nightshade was waving her hoof at the small flashlight. “Oh and sleeping bag and pillow!”
“You can use a blanket and pillow. We don’t need to buy a sleeping bag.”
“Camera?” “Nope too expensive.”
“Firestarter kit?” “What would you want a fire starting kit for? Oh no, we are not buying a fire starter for you.”
Nightshade rubs her chin. “Water bottle!” Tender Care picks up a purple water bottle having caught on that the little princess likes purple.
“How about a crowbar?”
“What would you even need a crowbar for?”
“Um… opening secret passages.”
“No on the crowbar.”
“How about holy water?”
Tender Care stopped walking and looked at the filly on her back. “Holy water?”
“Yeah, for vampire ponies!”
“Do they have thieves tools?” Nightshade looks around.
“What are thieves' tools? Where would you even hear that term?”
After a few silent moments as sheNightshade thought of an answer, “Cousin Shining Armor plays Ogres and Oubliettes.”
Tender Care sighs “So that where you learned about Thieves tools and Holy water.”
“Yeah… that where I heard about it.”
“We really need lots of rope. So we can hang the sheets for the cave.”
“Alright, I can agree to that.”
After buying the Adventuring gear the two left the general store. “It’s almost lunchtime, how about we grab something on the way back, we can eat at one of the parks.”
Once they bought, lunch the older Tender Care brought Nightshade to the park. “The grass looks funny.”
“That our grass it’s emerald green grass, we don’t have the same grass you have in Canterlot. Generations of exposure to the Crystal Heart’s magic made it permanently crystallized. Like us, Crystal Ponies were once normal ponies. After two or three generations, we are now a different group.”
Tender Care went to a picnic table and set Nightshade down in the grass. “It tickles my belly like grass…” Nightshade lowers down and pokes at the grass blades with her hoof.
Smiling Tender Care sets the lunch down then hears Nightshade yelling. “YAH, Take that!”
Turning her head she saw Nightshade jumping and kicking the grass. She brings her hoof to her mouth as she tries not to laugh at the antics of the little filly.
“Nightshade, lunch is ready.”
“Huh… OH, food!” She rushes over and gets picked up so she could eat her salad. “It all crystaly too…”
“Of course it is, you are in the Crystal Empire. Don’t worry they are all fine to eat.”
Nightshade pokes at a crystal berry with her hoof looking very focused at the strange crystal salad. She then leaned down and sniffed it and then took an exploratory bite. Tender Care laughed as she saw Nightshade’s eyes widen “IT GOOD!” Then her little face went down into the bowl munching.
Soon the little filly of terror was smiling licking the last of the crystal berry juice off her lips.
“Was it good?” Tender Care smiles at her little.
“It Yummy.”
“See little princess; sometimes strange foods are yummy.” Tender Care put the filly down and motioned to the sandbox. “Go ahead and play as I clean up.”
“Okay!” Then nightshade ran into the sandbox kicking the sand. Then Nightshade heard a voice. “HElleo!”
“It’s Hello, Gem.”
“Oh okay, Hello!”
Nightshade turns seeing a blue shaded crystal pony filly with an aqua mane and tail, and what she assumed was her mother judging by a similar color pattern. “Hello. I’m Nightshade and this... “ Nightshade looked around and sighed realizing her friends weren’t with her. Then she didn’t want to look silly, so she motioned to her babysitter. “Tender Care, my babysitter.”
“Wanna play?” Gem asks, smiling.
“Gem star… introduce yourself.”
“Right! I’m Gem Star. This is mommy.” Motioning to her mother.
Tender Care came over “Go on you two, it’s a playground. Playing kind of the point.”
“OKAY,” two fillies yelled together as they ran for the kiddie slide.
“Is it hard to take care of an Alicorn?” Gem’s mother asks. “Oh, I’m Crystal Matrix.”
“Tender Care, I only am the little Princess nanny for the stay here in the Crystal Empire. It’s surprising how sharp she is, at the same time she acts like a normal foal.” Motioning to the two fillies sliding down the slide.
The playing goes on till Gem stops and looks over at a group of ponies heading to the castle. “Lookie another pony like you.”
“Like me?” Nightshade got up on the slide and looked overseeing… Twilight Sparkle and her friends. That jealousy returned with a vengeance. “Oh… need to do something now. Bye-bye.” Nightshade leaps down and rushes to Tender Care.
“I’m tired and want a nap now.”
“Alright, we did have a long day.” She picked up Nightshade and put her on the saddle on her back. “It has been nice talking to you Crystal matrix.”
Gem walked over, looking confused. “Did I do bad? Why did you leave?”
Guilt tickles the back of Nightshade's mind as she looks at the young foal. “We play another time. I'm sleepy now.”
The little filly sat down trying to think and then nodded. “Okay, nappy time. Play later.”
Why was the idea of leaving Gem making her feel bad? It is not like they were friends, her friends were in Canterlot. The thoughts ran through her head making her quiet as they headed to the castle.
“You must have worn yourself out, you barely moved as we got back.” Tender Care says as they enter the nursery. She lays Nightshade down in the crib. “Go take your nap.”
“You make pillow forts for me when I wake?”
“Sure. I have your adventure stuff all ready.”
“YAY.” Then Nightshade lays down for a nap. She needed it if she was going to wake up during the night to steal Twilight’s crown and run through the portal to the other world.
After her nap, the day went on as normal. Soon she was in a small maze of potted plants and sheets.
The brave explorer Nightshade came out of the cave tunnel. It was a long trek through the gray-white stone of the cliffs of infinity. There in the center of the forest was the fortress of destiny. Smiling she looks behind her to…
Nightshade blinks as she remembers her friends were not here with her. Sighing she shakes her head and went into the potted plants of her pretend adventure.
“Dinner time.” Tender Care says as he peaks her head through the sheet curtain.
Turning around to face her caretaker “You broke my inmers… imers... my pretending.”
“Sorry, Princess but it is dinner time.”
Nightshade takes off her Adventurers saddlebags and stomps her way through the sheets. In truth, she was angrier that her pretending was broken due to her friends not being there then the call for dinner. Admitting that little fact was something she wasn’t accepting.
The Dinning room was large it had places for Twilight and her friends, the other three adult Alicorns, several visiting nobility, and diplomats from other nations.
Nightshade was right beside her mother and she looked down the table seeing the diplomats from Saddle Arabia, two Griffons, and even a dragon who was arm-wrestling with the Minotaur diplomat.
She looks over to Twilight who sat between Celestia and her brother Prince consort Shining Armor.
“I don’t know what to do BBBFF,” Twilight says softly so the diplomats farther down the table wouldn’t hear.
“You doing fine Twilight. Most of these events are just introductions and smoothing out misunderstandings.” Shining Armor says as he smiles encouragingly to his little sister.
“But what do I do? All I been doing was welcoming diplomats.” Her ears lay down on her head as she works herself into a worry.
Celestia gives her former student a nuzzle. “Twilight, that because no one expects you to have read all the trade deals going back years. It took Luna over a year and you only had a few months.”
“I could have… you know I can study fast.”
PThhhhhhhhhh Nightshade blows a raspberry. “Twiiilight… you fought bad guys and saved Equestria many times. You warrior Princess like my mommy was over a thousand years ago. Talking deals to stupid nobles and diplomats is stupid stuff. When I bigger I just tell them what I want they do it as they should.” Nightshade says adding her two bits into the conversation.
She of course didn’t notice the looks some of the diplomates gave her overhearing the little filly.
“Nightshade, you know there is way more to ruling then just getting what you want.” Luna smiles and leans down “That after all what a Noble would say.”
Blinking shocked “I’m not a smelly noble.”
“Of course not, you are a growing filly.” Luna then looks to Twilight. “Your natural talents of organizing and logical thinking will be a benefit. There are many trade deals that at first seem we are being cheated, but when compared to other deals.” Luna looks down at the table. “For example, we have the world’s largest supply of Gems, and that supply was increased with the return of the crystal empire. The Dragons need those gems, but arrogance prevents them from asking us directly. They have some of the wealthiest metal mines in the dragon lands. The Minotaurs have some of the best machining and tech. So we trade our gems to the Minotaurs, they trade them to the Dragons, and we get both metals from the dragons, and the Minotaur engineering final products. If you look at the trade deals one by one, the minotaurs are scamming us for those Gems, but we get the metal from the Dragons, and the tech from the Minotaurs, all for gems we have an abundance of.”
Twilight blinks “That means we are using the Minotaurs as a middle man, and the Dragons don’t have to admit they are importing so many gems from Ponies?”
“Correct Twilight. With Dragons eating gems and the constant volcanoes in their lands their food supply is low. The hot magma underground limits how many gems develop. With the abundance of magic in Equestria, the gems here grow faster and larger than elsewhere in the world.”
Nightshade nods “So we can blackmail the Dragons. If they give us trouble we can cut off their food supply. They have to obey us.”
All the other princesses as well as the bearers of Harmony, and friends all look at Nightshade. Only then did Nightshade realize something “Um… I said that out loud?”
“Nightshade, no plotting at the dinner table.” Luna stood up “I think it time for me to take a little filly to her room.”
“But… I haven’t had my cookies…”
Luna uses her magic to lift Nightshade into the air. “No cookies for little dictators.”
“No fair!” The little filly pouted as she was carried from the dining hall and into the hallways.
“Really Nightshade. I thought you were going to be a good filly. I saw you reject our evil self, as well you risked your life to defend Equestria. What is with this being a little dictator behavior.”
Nightshade had her hooves crossed as she floated in the magic. “She was a meany, wanted to hurt ponies. I don’t want ponies to hurt, just do as I say. The bug ponies were going to take what’s mine.”
“That not an answer as to why you are behaving this way.”
“It effective! With no nobles in the way, with no one questioning my orders I can make things better. We have Space ships like in the comics! When I rule the world there be no wars, no question about how much something is because all money be the same. Ponies and other creatures won’t suffer because everyone has the same work laws and safety laws. Ponies in Klugetown are treated as slaves! It not right, when I am ruler I make them follow my laws and they treat those ponies better.”
“Do you believe that or are you just saying those things not to make me angry.”
“Um… yes?”
Luna stops and rubs her hoof against her head feeling a migraine coming on. “At least you don’t want to bring about the eternal night.”
Walking into the Nursery Luna smiles at Tender Care.
“Oh… Princesses, you two are early. Is everything alright?”
“Things are going fine Tender Care. Just my little filly being a bit more vocal than what is appropriate for a formal dinner.”
Nightshade pouted as she headed to her stuff teddy bear Ursa. Then plopped down between its legs.
“I see the little princess is giving you the silent treatment now. I assume she didn’t get desert?”
“Indeed she didn’t get her cookies.”
“NOT FAIR!” She continues her pouting.
“Okay, Princess I let you return to the dinner. This Princess Summit is important to all of us Crystal ponies.”
“I trust her to your care, Tender Care.” Luna then looks to Nightshade “If you behave yourself you can have some cookies before bed.”
PTHHHHHHHHHHH the nightshade raspberry was her reply. Then the filly went behind the stuffed Ursa seemingly to pout to the adult ponies. Neither of them notices her working the seam open.
Later that night.
Nightshade woke up it was still nighttime so she smiles. She looked around and to her stuffed Ursa. “My most faithful follower. You served me well, guarded me when I was weak, was willing to sacrifice yourself in the fight against the changelings. Today you again serve me.”
Nightshade moved the teddy bear and then opened the seam she pulled out the rope she hidden inside. Then she tied that to the crib railing. She was lucky, Princess Cadence hasn’t learned yet that she needed to have a pegasus proof enchantment on the crib.
“Grown-up always underestimates me.” Nightshade climes down the rope and heads to the Pillow Fort. Then grabs her adventuring saddlebags it’s true purpose was for this adventure.
“Dummy grown-ups.” She then dismantles the pillow fort dragging some of the cushions over to the door. All hidden protectively by the sheets she had Tender Care put up for her playing. Stacking the pillows up like steps she climes them to get to the handle easily opening the door.
Once in the hallway, she makes her way. Seeing a Guard coming she ducks into the frame of a door and using what little shadow magic she had blended into the shadows. It wasn’t true invisibility if the guard shined the light on her she would be spotted. When not in direct light she is harder to see in the shadows.
Now to make her way to Twilight’s chambers steal the crown, then get through the portal. Then she will win!
As she was sneaking her way down the hall acting like some ninja nearly crawling along the floor her side pressed against the wall. If she was spotted it would be a moment of cuteness, so was her plan. She was playing… well, that what she says if caught.
“STOP THIEF.” Twilight’s voice was heard echoing off the walls.
“I was playing… wait.” Looking around she saw the guards run the other way. She wasn’t caught. But as the light came on she hurried to a door that was cracked open.
Inside was various displays. There was a statue of a foal. A display of awards, and there near the wall was a Mirror. Nightshade could tell it was the magic mirror by how it was radiating magic.
That was when Nightshade realized she had made a mistake. She didn’t know what the Mirror looked like ahead of time. Was this the Mirror portal or some other kind of magic mirror? Her ears picked up the sound of running hooves. Hooves coming this way! She hurried behind the display of awards.
Just in time as a strange orange unicorn with a red and yellow mane and tail came crashing through the door with Twilight Sparkle. As they hit the floor the Crown bounced out and flew into the mirror portal.
“What did you do to my Crown?” Twilight asks the strange pony.
“Sorry it has to be this way,” Then the pony teleports to the Mirror “Princess”.
Nightshade backs up as she hears the gasps from the other bearers at the door. She made sure to cloak herself in the shadows.
“Who was that?” Fluttershy asks.
“I don’t know, but we need Princess Celestia now. She will know.” Twilight says as the six-headed out of the room. “I hope”
Once the room was cleared Nightshade stood up and ran headfirst into the Mirror.
This was bad! All rainbow lights and swirling… she felt as if her body was being twisted and turned inside out.
Then she fell out of a statue. Looking up she saw a strange building. The night was strange too, the stars were in the wrong places, the ones she could see.
She tried to stand up only to find her forelegs were too short, or her rear legs too long. Looking to her legs she saw strand grabby things similar to Spikes claws. “Oh hands, I saw them on the Minotaur.”
“Looking back her rear legs were odd too. No longer was she standing on hooves but her feet were long and bone structure was different. “Hmm.” She stood up balancing upon the two hind feet. “How can I have such balance on two feet with no tail? I have been transformed… into a biped?”
Then she spotted a woman walking out of the building. Light blue skin and two-toned blue hair. Dressed in a magenta shirt and some kind of bottom blue garment that covered both legs. “Mommy?”
Vice Principal Luna was talking on the phone. “That right Celestia I found the crown on the ground at the base of the statue. The Theif must have either dropped it or chose not to go through with it. Yes, I will be here when the cops show up. It might have been just a prank but we should replace the locks and tighten security.” Stopped and looked up from the folder she was looking at the royal purple girl with two ponytails dark purple hair. The girl must be a new student a freshman about 14 or 15. She had on a black jacket and a pink-purple shade shirt. Her skirt was also dark purple nearly black. On the shirt was a moon with a unicorn’s shadow profile. “Do I know you?”
“Um… no sorry. I Got to go!”
She turned and tried to walk away, still a little wobbly as she got used to her odd balance.
“Wait! Who are you, you need help? You aren’t walking very well. You can trust me I’m Vice Principal at this school.”
“Sorry, I heard my mommy calling! GOT TO RUN!” She starts running turning a corner.
Softly to herself, Luna spoke “Nightshade? Impossible… she couldn’t be.” She quickly brushed a tear off her cheek. “Must be the light, and my imagination.”
Then Luna noted the sound of Celestia's voice from her phone. “Sorry, sis… there was a girl. Might be a new student. No, I don’t think she was part of the theft, she looked confused might have been coming to see the school before starting. She about the age of a freshman.”
About that time Nightshade was walking around in the dark of night in a city she didn’t know.
“This sucks!” That voice was the pony that took her crown! Sneaking to the edge of the building she looked to see an older girl with the same red and yellow hair. “All that hard work just for Vice Principal Luna to find the Crown before I could recover it!”
Nightshade watched as the Pony turned monkey ape thing kicked at a bit of trash. “Stealing the Element of Magic crown be harder now that the school be on guard for another theft. Now I have to wait till the fall formal.”
Moving back she must have made a sound. “Who’s there?” She turned and ran for some trees she saw as the red and yellow-haired thing looked around the corner. “You better run! If I find out who you are you regret it!”
Staggering from panic and fear she came to a playground. There was one of the wooden playsets with a large slide that had a roofed start. Build to look like a castle there were plenty of places to play hide and seek. Places where she snuggled up into and pulled out the blanket and pillow from her now single bag.
Then she spotted the cookies Tender Care bought. “Aww, she did get me cookies. I have to reward her when I take over Equestria.” There in the playset, she tried to ignore the feeling of loneliness as she fell asleep.
The morning was not a pleasant thing. Waking up cold, hungry, and alone Nightshade pouted as she dug in her backpack. She had snacks but oddly it wasn’t as much as she thought. “I thought I had more?”
She picked up her pillow and blanket. Then she heard voices.
“Hurry Up, we are going to be late for breakfast!” Looking over the playground wall she saw a girl with orange skin and short purple hair. Following her was a girl with long red hair and yellowish skin, then a girl with white-gray skin and curly multishade hair. Oddly these three remind her of the Cutie Mark Crusaders from her world.
“Slow down Scootaloo! We left home early, we have plenty of time.” Sweetie Belle says as she hurried behind. “If my sister catches me getting sweaty…” She shivers. “I don’t want to hear her Proper Lady speech again.”
“Yeah, did your aunts forget to make you breakfast again Scoots?” Said Applebloom. “I got some spare apple fritters and sauce in my lunch bag.”
“I had cereal, it just waffles day!” The three were soon out of range for Nightshade to hear more.
“Breakfast… I need to follow them!” She grabs her back and hurries to follow the three. Interestingly enough they look to be about the same age as her.
As soon as she saw the building behind the statue she saw last night. Would she get in trouble by that other Luna? Her belly growled reminded her she needed to eat.
“Okay operation Breakfast.” Kicking into her adventurous behavior she made her way following the three Cutie Mark Crusaders into the school. She was shorter than most of the population of the hall. Soon blocked her view of the CMC so she was confused as to where to go.
Not knowing what to do she bumps into an older student. A blond-haired gray-skinned girl with messed up eyes.
“Oh, sorry.” Nightshade and Ditzy Do say at the same time.
Ditzy smiles “Not often people apologies to me. I’m so clumsy I often the one bumping into others. You look new are you lost?”
“I’m Nightshade, um… where’s breakfast.”
Ditzy smiles and points to the wall then blink and point down the hall. “Go down that hallway and it’s on the left. Big double doors.”
“Okay, Thanks!” Nightshade then hurried down the hall. Once in the cafeteria, she saw the line of students getting food. Slipping into the line she saw the waffles, but when she got to the meat dishes she turned green. “Meat?”
The green elderly woman looked over. “A vegetarian deary? Don’t worry Granny Smith got you covered.” She scooped a heaping scoop of caramelized apple toppings. “Sweet Apple Acres apples the best in the region.”
She smiled and then got to the cash registered. For a moment she saw a flicker of rainbow light cross the cashier woman’s eyes. “Don’t forget your milk, dear.”
Taking a milk carton she headed to a table where no one was sitting. She was puzzled as she watched the other children get breakfast. Either they had to hand over some green paper or hand over a card. So why didn’t she? Then she realized it part of the magic of the portal.
Starswirl made the portal to explore other universes, so it makes sense he included some mind manipulation to brush off any question of who and why he was there. The easiest way to find someone that shouldn’t belong would be cultural habits. Habits like paying for things. “Sneaky fool found a way to steal anything he needed in another world.” She has to wonder how often he went to another universe to get rich and then come back to Equestria. “Hmm… is that why we have such funny tech, were you using this portal for Equestria’s benefit Aunt Celestia?”
She thought about this as she ate. Once she ate she saw the mass of students start filtering out of the cafeteria. Not wanting to draw attention to herself she hurried up and followed the CMC again. They entered a room so did she, and got stopped by a woman with pink skin and moderate cerise with slightly lighter stripes.
“Do you belong to this homer... “ the rainbow effect crossed her eyes. “...oom? Of course, you do for a moment I forgot. Please forgive me for forgetting your name.”
“Um… Nightshade.”
“Okay, Nightshade go ahead and sit down. There over near Sweetie Bell.”
As she headed to the desk she passed a pink girl with a tiara on. “Oh, another looser. Go ahead and sit with your kind.”
For a moment she was angry thoughts of blasting this annoying girl filled her mind. She willed the magic, just to have nothing. Not even a spark. ‘Oh, right no horn.’ Then she smiled “Yes, Your Highness.” She made sure her voice was sarcastic as she smiled and headed to the seat.
A few of the students either chuckled or snorted none were expecting the new girl to even comment.
Sweetie Belle leans over “Don’t let her bother you. She means to everyone when she can get away with it.”
“Oh? So only that girl next to her likes her?”
Applebloom leans forward “Darn tootin’; She’s a bully through and through. Acts like she a Princess or something. Anyway, I’m Applebloom, that’s Sweetie Belle, and on the other side of Sweetie is Scootaloo.”
Scootaloo nods “Those two bullies are Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon.”
Nightshade smiles if she could humiliate the bullies she would be seen as a hero. The whole class would then admire her.
“Okay, I think I understand now. So do you three want to be friends?”
The three crusaders look at each other then smiled at Nightshade. Nightshade for her part suddenly got a chill down her back and fought against the fear that she felt seeing those grinning faces.
“Don’t worry Nightshade, we got your back.” --------------------------------------
The four ran into the library. “Come on Nightshade, we need to show you our video!” Scootaloo says as she hurried to the computer.
Nightshade wasn’t so fast mostly because she spotted a lavender girl messing with the other Com...pu... whatever those things were. A girl that was acting very odd using her hand things like hooves. Her eyes widen it was Twilight Sparkle. She also spotted Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon. Diamond was messing with some rectangle objects and laughing.
“WHEN YOU A YOUNGER” the sudden music caught her attention and she saw the other three at the … thingy.
“What you think you three are doing.” Nightshade looks on as Cheerilee turned off the volume and picked up a part of the thing.
“Um… Miss Cheerilee. Should Diamond Tiara be messing with that over there?” Nightshade points to Diamond Tiara.
“Diamond Tiara, no using smartphones in school.” Cheerilee now having a new target headed over to the bullies.
All this happened and it seems that Twilight Sparkle was oblivious. Shaking her head she looks to the CMC. “Um… don’t we have a science class?”
“Oh yeah. Mr. Time Turner, you like him. He teaching us how to make a baking soda volcano.” Sweetie Belle smiles.
Scootaloo grins. “I got something special for ours.”
Later
“It’s not our fault!” The four freshmen were in Celestia’s office.
“It not your fault that your baking soda volcano exploded? There were fireworks in it.” Celestia sighs looking at the four children. At least it wasn’t tree sap this time. The Janitor Discord complained for a month about cleaning up that mess.
“They were just cherry poppers! I didn’t know they would catch the paper mache on fire.” Scootaloo states as she looked down at her feet.
“Ah, still can’t figure out how it got up and flew across the room like that.” Applebloom didn’t notice Nightshade biting her lower lip.
The fact Nightshade didn’t know how she cast the levitation spell either didn’t help.
“I’m going to have to contact your guardians.” Celestia looked at the royal purple girl. “Speaking about Guardians I can’t seem to find your files…”
“Nightshade au… ah, Principal Celestia.”
None of the four freshmen seem to notice the moment of shock on Celestia’s face. As soon as it was there it was gone and she nods. “Anyway, I would need them to come here so I can get the contact information. I can’t have four girls covered in vinegar and baking soda roaming the halls.”
“I… live nearby, Just outside.” Nope, not a lie the portal was just outside.
“Okay, given I know Scootaloo would have to head home on her own as well.”
The four kids nodded and left the office.
Celestia reached over and pressed the call button on her phone to Luna’s. “Hello, Principal Celestia.”
“This is private stuff sister. I just saw the Crusaders, they got a new member it seems. That very girl you mentioned last night, the one that royal purple. Yeah, she does look like an adult version of Nightshade. What really surprising… is she is named Nightshade.”
Celestia held the phone away from her as a loud “WHAT!” came from the phone. She didn’t even have it on the loudspeaker.
“Now Luna. Settle down it just chances, look we visit your daughter this weekend.”
“Yeah, you’re right. Nightshade no more than two now, just… why did her 14-year-old double have to show up at our school.”
“Take the rest of the day off Luna, I got things covered.”
------------------- That night
CMC treehouse was build in the branches of an old Appletree. The four girls were pouting “It not fair, Granny Smith grounding me for this.”
“Yeah, at least you didn’t get yelled at for ruling your outfit. Rarity was whining about how the Viniger was damaging the color… come on.”
Applebloom shook her head “Can you believe Applejack said I shouldn’t be hanging around you two? Said your sister a bad influence.”
“Rarity said that about Rainbow Dash.”
“No way, Rainbow awesome, your sisters are just jealous.”
Nightshade just sat there listening. “Um… Your sisters don’t like each other?”
“I wish Rainbow was my sister. But she just my Big Sister, it not an official thing it’s a program to pair older girls with younger girls who need” Scootaloo makes air quotes motions “Someone responsible to look up too. So she can’t be a bad influence or she get kicked out of the program.”
“Things were easier when they were friends.”
“They were friends but aren’t? Why they broke up?”
“Oh they were doing some get together thing, but they got the wrong times or something,” Scootaloo adds.
“Hold on… so your sisters never double-checked to see if they had the right information?”
The three Crusaders looked at each other than to Nightshade and altogether “Nope”.
“Your sisters are so stupid.”
“APPLE BLOOM! I said ya can say goodbye to ya friends. Then ya groundin’ begins. Get ya butt back here. The rest of ya get on home, it gettin’ late!”
“Coming Granny!” Applebloom hugs her friends in a group hug. “See you three at school.”
After the goodbyes, Nightshade pretends to head home only to come around and sneak back into the clubhouse. “Stupid Twilight, and stupid Sunset Shimmer. If those two haven’t lost the crown to this other mommy I will be ruling Equestria by now.” She made her blanket bed and laid down to sleep.
----------------
At the manor of Celestia and Luna.
Luna opened the safe behind a picture of a moonlit glade and removed a folder. Walking over to her desk she sat down and opened it. A sob escaped her as she saw her wedding picture.
There she was in the simple wedding dress, and besides her dressed in a police uniform was Shadow Striker. The next article in the folder was the ultrasound of her baby girl.
It was what came after that she broke down. A news article about a car crash, she was the driver. She survived, her still unborn baby survived. The passenger didn’t, Shadow Striker was the passenger. The truck that hit them came at an angle crashing into the passenger side door.
Then she picked up the birth certificate, born by emergency C-section. Baby girl, named Nightshade. Under the birth certificate was an adoption paper.
“I figure you would be looking at those.”
Luna looked up wiping her eyes seeing Celestia. “I called, Buttercream said we can visit anytime.”
“Of course she’s your friend. Her and Peppermint Heart take good care of her, and their daughter.”
“I can’t understand it, Celestia. How could a girl have such similar features, and have the same name?”
Celestia came over and pulls her sister into a hug. “It’s just chance, Luna. There no such thing as time travel or magic, the only thing it could be is just random chance.”
For some reason, a janitor cleaning up the science room started laughing for no reason. He just felt like laughing as if he heard the best joke in the world.
Another night passed as Nightshade woke up in the CMC clubhouse. “GUYS guess what!” Nightshade rubbed her eyes as she heard the yelling from outside.
“Wait… “ She sprang up realizing the CMC was about to discover she was sleeping in the clubhouse. A deep fear came to her, will they hate her for staying in the clubhouse? Her eyes look to her stuff and in that moment of panic, a purple glow covered her hands and her stuff.
Magic in that moment of panic she was performing magic, her stuff lifted up and packed away neatly.
The glowing stopped just as the door to the clubhouse opens. “Rarity, made up with the others! She’s not mad at them anymore!”
“Darn tootin’ same with Applejack. She was on the phone this morning talking to Rainbow Dash, they are friends again.”
“Nightshade! You are here early.” Schootaloo spoke up seeing the newest member of the gang.
Nightshade smiled and picked up her bookbag. “Yeah, I’m an early riser. So… your sisters are friends again? How that happen?”
“Don’t know, something about that new girl Twilight Sparkle.” Sweetie Belle adds as she joyfully twirls.
A rumbling of a hungry gut was heard and the three crusaders look to Nightshade. “Didn’t eat breakfast?”
“No, was kind of in a rush.”
“Alright! Let’s get to school!”
The rest of the day went normally till lunchtime. Nightshade was taking her time looking at her hands. Twice now she used magic when in a state of panic, twice now she failed to use magic after.
As she approaches the doors to the cafeteria she starts humming a tune. Then she “Help Twilight Sparkle win the crown”...
Wait! She stops and cracks the door open seeing Twilight and her Human friends in some kind of costumes singing a song about her winning, not just that every student and even the lunch ladies are singing. All on key, all to the right beat, they were caught in a Heart song!
Nightshade backed farther away not wanting to be caught in the magic. A Heartsong could only work in a magical environment. She needed a place to practice!
She found the storage room off the gym where she sat down on some mats and looked at her hands. Minutes and hours went by as she focused on trying to use magic. A normal girl would have got bored after spending hours meditating in a dark room. It was almost the same for Nightshade, but in the dark corner of her mind, the part of her that remembers being Nightmare Moon kept her focus.
“Okay, so it’s not just me using magic that was in my body, those children were caught in the Heartsong magic. So… how do I access magic without being scared?”
Could she use heartsong? She starts humming a melody as she concentrates. Her body lofts off the floor and she feels her body change. Pony ears appear on top of her head, her hair mimics the tail of a pony, her back sprouts wings. Once her body transforms she lands back down.
“That was interesting.” She feels her forehead, “no horn, hmm my hands did glow when I panicked at the clubhouse... “
Casting her hand out she focused on the telekinetic spell to grab and retrieve a ball from the bin. Her hand glowed that purple shade and so did the ball lifting up and came over to her grasp.
“YES!” She squealed in joy having figured out how to access this world’s magic.
“Did one of you buffoons say something?” The voice of Sunset Shimmer came from the gym. Carefully Nightshade got up and crept to the door peeking out the window.
“No, we didn’t say anything.” One of the male humans with Sunset said.
It took a few moments for Nightshade to remember, their names were Snips and Snails. The three of them were trashing the decorations. It took her a few moments to realize that if the Fall formal doesn’t happen then her chance of getting the crown was shot.
Nightshade didn’t notice but the room grew even darker and her eyes became slit like a cat’s. In that dark corner of her mind, the Nightmare was waking up.
“No one yelling, must have been the wind. Alright, you two make sure you get good pictures. I make sure that Twilight Sparkle reputation is in ruins and I will get that crown!”
Sunset turns and flips a table over. Once the sound of the table hitting the floor stops she turns her head confused. Someone was singing?
“Come, little children, I take thee away into a land of enchantment.” The voice was soft barely audible, high pitch gentle, but eerily creepy.
“Who’s there? You better come out I’m warning you.” Sunset started walking to the storage room.
“Come, little children, the time’s to play here in my garden of Shadow!” The voice jumped in volume and the doors to the storage room open revealing a wall of darkness.
One step away was all she had time to do before the wall exploded out into the gym. “AGH!” Sunset yells as the wave of darkness overcame her.
Her vision adjusted, it wasn’t pitch black dark, she could see a figure standing in the storage room. A full-grown woman with dark purple skin, hair so black it seemed to absorb light, her eyes, those eyes teal and slit like a dragon’s.
But what caught her attention was the wings bat-like wings, that and the pony ears. The figure raised her hand and shadows leaped out from every corner wrapping around the three students.
This still didn’t scare Sunset, what really scared her was when the woman spoke. “Found you, Sunset Shimmer. Celestia was clever hiding you away in another universe, but I’m far smarter than she thinks.”
“Who… who are you?” Sunset struggled against the now solid shadows holding her in place. It was like fighting against tar, the more she fought the tighter the binding.
“Oh, don’t recognize me? The Queen of the Night, The one every foal is told would gobble them up unless they leave offerings during Nightmare Night?”
Snails looked to Snips “What’s Nightmare Night?”
“Quite… don’t get the mean lady angry at us.”
Sunset visibly paled “No, you’re a myth.”
“Let me tell you a story” The dark version of Nightshade turns and shadows rippled and flowed creating a large screen where images start appearing.
“Long ago in the magical land of Equestria, there lived two sisters. Both beautiful, both fought to defend their little ponies, both suffered loss, and both found joy. It was not meant to be, for one was given power over the day and the other power over the night.”
“But time passed and the ponies began worshiping the sister of the day, they praised her warmth and played in the light of the sun. She grew arrogant and selfish, ignoring the younger sister’s pleads.”
“Day by day the elder sister ignored her younger sister and the ponies that followed her done the same. Soon the younger was left all alone, ignored.”
Nightshade turns to look at Sunset Shimmer. “Sound familiar? Let me guess Celestia ignored you too didn’t she? The only time you got attention was when you passed some test or did some impressive task for your school. You had to be the best, or you be forgotten, passed by for some political event. She was never really there for you, never gave you what you really wanted. Just like her little sister, you were ignored.”
It was a heartbeat before Sunset grasped the opportunity Nightshade presented. “Yes, it’s her fault! She ignored me, she ignored you!”
Nightshade’s darker side smiled Sunset fell right into the trap. “Of course, well you don’t need to worry about her any longer.”
“What do you mean?”
“Think little Sunset, why wasn’t the Mirror in the Canterlot Vault? Why were you able to access it in the first place? Celestia wanted you to escape before I returned. Now she’s in the Crystal Empire and she brought the mirror with her, knowing you would return. Poor little Sunset, you were played.”
“She couldn’t protect Canterlot, Discord, the Changelings, and she couldn’t stop me from finding you. Now thanks to you I can get the Element of Magic for myself, then all of Equestria will be mine!”
“No…”
Nightshade leans forward “And it’s all your fault. Don’t worry my little sunset, I reward you well for hoofing over Equestria to me. All you need to do is don’t get in my way, that crown is Mine!”
With that last word everything vanished, Sunset, Snip, and Snails fall to the gymnasium floor. Around them the gym was put back in place, not a sign of anything happened.
Except for a young girl singing as she walks down the hallway.
Sunset sat down on the gym floor. Her racing heart felt like it was going to burst from her chest. The words of Nightmare Moon echoing in her mind. “Celestia was clever hiding you away in another universe.”
Her mind replayed the time when Celestia showed her the mirror, then told her to ignore it. Was it reverse physiology? Did Celestia want her to come to this universe? Was the alicorn image she saw in the mirror an illusion of Celestia to temp her? Why? Why would Celestia do that? Was it to get rid of her, or was it to protect her?
“Um… Sunset, Who was that.” Snips voice snapped Sunset Shimmer out of the spiraling thoughts. She turned to look at Snips and Snails.
Standing up she looked at the two boys “That was Nightmare Moon.”
“What happened, how did she do all that scary stuff, she had wings, and was that a tail?” Snails ask.
“It’s complicated, just know she’s a monster from another world.”
“Alien!” Both boys called out together.
Sunset facepalms “No, not from space, from another reality. Like those comic books, yeah think of her as a comic book villain.”
Snails nod “Ah another universe dimensional being, that would explain the freaky powers.”
Looking at the normally absent-minded Snails she nods “Yeah, powers… how did she use magic in this reality?” the second part she whispered to herself. Turning to face the two boys, “Change of plans, tomorrow we need to do anything we can to get that crown.” She then stormed out of the gym.
Snips and Snails look at each other than shrug and head out.
After splitting up with the boys’ Sunset headed home. A basic cheap apartment she had been living in for the last few years. It wasn’t hard, she had real gold bits and gems to pawn to pay for her bills. Now she wonders why it was so easy, it was like people just accepted that she belonged.
“Celestia was clever hiding you away in another universe.” The Nightmare’s voice echoed again in her mind. Was it easy because Celestia planned it? She knew Celestia was a master of politics she has seen her manipulate world leaders sometimes spending years nudging things for a benefit later on.
Sunset went to her closet and started digging through the boxes and junk that cluttered up the floor. Then she found what she was looking for, a journal with her Cutie Mark on it. A gift Celestia got her, a means to communicate over long distances. How long, did it work from another universe? Was the journal part of the plan?
“UGH” She threw the book away just the thought that Celestia might have planned to have her escape Nightmare Moon by sending her to another universe nagging in her mind. Why was a magic mirror to another universe so easily accessed? There weren’t guards watching it when she fled, it wasn’t even in a secured area when she returned. More and more the words of Nightmare Moon seemed more true.
She then headed to the bed and picked up the journal where she tossed it. For the first time since she went through the mirror, she opened the book and read.
Dear Sunset
I don’t know how to say this, I’m still angry, but I’m more afraid of what you would find on the other side of that portal. The portal closed soon after you left, the portal opens here every 30 moons, but not always to the same world. Time isn’t in sync for you; it might be three years, perhaps four. Here in Equestria by the time the mirror portal opens to that world again, it would be around 10 to 13 years.
Please Sunset reply.
Dear Sunset
I wish you were here, It has been three months. I could use your help. Sunset I haven’t told you, perhaps I should have. You are so clever with magic, pushing the limits, I hoped you would be the one. My sister Nightmare Moon is returning soon. Well in about ten years, to stop her I need to find six ponies to wield the Elements of Harmony. I was sure you would weld the Element of Magic. Cadence I was sure was the Bearer of Hope or as some now call Laughter. There that young private Shining Armor she’s dating who should be the Bearer of Loyalty. Now… without you, I fear Equestria might face some dark times.
Sunset? Are you there? You haven’t read the last entry or it would have faded by now. Sunset please respond.
Sunset closed the journal “She lied. Celestia wasn’t trying to hide me here, she… wanted me to stop Nightmare Moon. I would have had that crown if I hadn’t come here.” She closed the book and stood up. Her mind buzzed with thoughts again.
She paced back and forth “Twilight Sparkle must be my replacement, she didn’t stop Nightmare Moon but became an Alicorn? How… the crown. NO!” It made sense.
“Celestia told me I could be an alicorn, she showed me the mirror but then refused to let me study it. Because… because she was going to make me an Alicorn. That crown would have been mine, I could have been the Bearer of the Element of Magic. If I had just listened. She told me I needed friends, she introduced me to Cadence, and Shining Armor.” She saw the manipulations, the steps trying to get her to be friendly to the new Alicorn.
“I refused her… Why? Why did Celestia adopt her and not me!” For the first time in years, she sank to her knees and cried. The Journal held against her chest.
Then finally after what felt like hours thought was only minutes she opened the journal and wrote.
Dear Celestia,
Nightmare Moon is here, after the Element of Magic. It’s my fault, I knew by bringing it here the bonds that it formed to Twilight Sparkle would be severed and I could wield it for myself. I didn’t know, I didn’t know you wanted me to wield it. I didn’t read any entries till today.
Celestia, I don’t know what to do, if she gets the element she is going to return to Equestria more powerful than ever! Please reply, for the first time in years, I need you. There is only one way I can fight Nightmare Moon, I need that crown. One way or another. For the good of Equestria.
Hopefully still your Little Sunset.
The day of the Fall formal. “Snip, Snails you understand the plan?”
“Yeah, we sneak in and dog nap that purple pooch.” Snips replies.
It took Snails a few moments before he adds “Oh, yeah we make sure Twilight sees us so she follows us out of the building.”
“Good, then when they are outside. I threaten to destroy the portal unless Twilight hands me the crown. No matter what I must get that crown, even if I have to destroy the portal to trap Nightmare Moon here.”
“Right, we're going to save the world!” Both Snips and Snails smile at the idea of being heroes.
Sunset Shimmer’s smile wasn’t as truthful “Yeah, save the world.” ‘Like I should have if I listened.’
“So what is this Fall formal thing?” Nightshade asks the Crusaders.
“Oh, it’s great fun. There will be dancing and music.” Shootaloo says then takes a bit of her lunch apple.
“Everyone is going to be in their best outfits. Lights down low, Rarity says it’s very romantic, hoping to get the attention of the head of the Foreign Language Club, Blueblood. I think she’s being stupid, everyone knows he is not interested in having a local girlfriend. I heard that he dating some environmental nature preserves college students, but she won’t listen to me. I made sure there was extra ice cream in the fridge when her dreams of dating one of the most popular guys in school fail.” Sweetie Belle nods seeing the events happening in her mind.
“So we need fancy outfits?” Nightshade asks.
“Well, we kind of don’t have any. We missed out on shopping thanks to being grounded.” Applebloom sighs.
Nightshade thought for a moment and then smiled. She remembers how the portal magic let her get free food from the cafeteria. “Well we got time till tonight so can we go get some new outfits?”
The other three girls in the clubhouse looked at each other. “Sounds Like a plan!”
After a quick bus ride to the mall smiling as they walked into Canterlot Mall. When Nightshade saw the sign of the mall she read it out loud “Filthy Rich's Mall Emporium?”
“Yeah, crappy name but the guy owns it so…” Applebloom said as they headed into the mall.
“OH WOW!” The mall itself was three levels high and packed full of the standard variety stores. It was time to test the portal magic to see if she could get anything she wanted. So Nightshade headed to a drink stand. “I like one plain medium soda.”
The woman behind the counter blinked and sure enough, the rainbow effect crossed her eyes. “Anything else?”
Nightshade turned to her new friends and smiled “What do you girls want, it’s on me.”
“Apple Juice” Apple bloom called out.
“Ugh, Apple Bloom you always get apple juice. I want a Power blast energy drink.” Scootaloo Chimes in.
“No!” Both Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle yelled at the same time.
“Fine… a soda” Scootaloo huffs.
“I like a Chocolate Mocha with whip cream.” Sweetie Belle added to the order.
None of the girls noticed that Nightshade didn’t buy anything. Together they headed down the mall sipping their drinks.
“So… Sweetie Belle, you are the best to know about fashion, Where should we get our new outfits?”
Sweetie Belle smiled and pointed “We want Suri’s Exquisite, it’s expensive but the saleswoman is Coco Pommel, a friend of Rarity’s. She helped us look Fabulous!”
The four girls smiled and walked into the shop. Right away Nightshade’s eyes snapped to a purple Princess dress. It was light purple at the top going darker to the bottom. Then she thought about having to fight Sunset Shimmer and Twilight so she looked to other options.
Sweetie Belle chose a White lolita dress ruffle with vintage frill and dark pink overcoat. Scootaloo snorted at the girly dresses and chose a blue halter neck and shorts with an overlay.
“Really Scootaloo? That’s the same color as Rainbow Dash.” Sweetie Belle looked the dress over.
“Exactly it’s perfect.”
“It clashes with your natural colors. Apple Bloom got a simple she swooped in and switched it for a red dress “There this fits with you better. Trust me you don’t want to look uncool in front of Rainbow Dash now do you?”
“Oh heck no. Okay, I go with the red one.”
Apple Bloom got a nice yellow dress with a flower pattern.
Nightshade spotted what she wanted: a deep dark A-line Tulle short dress that dark purple almost black fabric with a blue-purple lace.
Once they got the outfits all four girls walked out smiling. “Tonight is going to be Awesome!”
“Yeah, tonight is going to be one to remember.” Nightshade smiles as her eyes for a moment turn to slitted eyes. “Everypony is going to love me.”
“Um, Nightshade you mean everyone right?”
Nightshade blinks and her eyes snap back to normal “Yeah, of course, everyone. What did I say?”
“You said everypony.” Sweetie Belle replied.
“Must have been a slip of my tongue” Nightshade shrugged trying to deflect their questions. “Let's get something to eat.”
Scootaloo “Yeah! I’m hungry.”
“Scootaloo you are always hungry.” Apple Bloom chimed in.
Sweetie Belle walked just a few steps behind them. Was it her imagination or did she really see Nightshade’s eyes all teal and slit like a cat’s?
