> Me, Myself, and I
>  by DerpyMuffins15
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Hoof and Hand
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Pwease, Tia? Prwitty pwease?” a small alicorn begged, huffing a fake sniffle. The filly-princess, while quivering her lower lip, let well rehearsed tears flow down her scolding cheeks.

Sitting nearby, Princess Celestia retained her mask of impassivity. She watched with delicate attention as her younger sister tried to crumble her thousand-year foundation, while still appearing to be quietly eating her salad.

Seeing that the tears were fake, the master of ethos dismissed the weak attempts. “Lulu, no ice cream before dinner. I have told you already, it shall give you a stomach ache if you eat it before a proper meal,”  explained Celestia.

Undiscouraged by the umteenth no, a persistent Luna tried her plan B. She tipped over her high-chair and smashed face-first onto the hard-stone floors. Looking back up, Luna began to flood the room with tears.

Luna’s high pitched wails assaulted Celestia’s ears. Instincts taking over, she abruptly rushed out of her cushion to her sister’s aid at the far end of the small rectangular table.  Mere inches away, Celestia found herself stopped by a bigger dilemma.

A blinding nova flashed into the small room, beaming directly at Celestia causing her to reach a wing up to shield her eyes. She persisted on, treading slowly to the source. Gradually the glow died off, allowing her to quickly approach Luna before being stopped again.

In her quest to procure filly-Luna, Celestia’s jewel-clad hooves were harshly smacked away by another’s, the sound of steel on gold ringing through the cries. The blue light faded, revealing the host of the mass teleport.

Standing proud in exquisite battle armour, an onyx alicorn expanded her wings to full length, the massive pinions casting long shadows over filly-Luna. Her show of intimidation was realized by Celestia, causing her to stumble back. 

Nightmare Moon turned her attention to the filly, tenderly cradling her youth. Sitting on her haunches, she wrapped the foal into a bundle, rocking Luna back and forth in her black wings.

“Shhh,” Nightmare whispered softly. “It’s alright. That mean old Celestia can’t hurt you anymore,” she murmured softly, glaring at Celestia.

Battle-instincts now driving her, Celestia flared her own wings and stared back with keen attention. Poised in a defensive stance, she strode with caution as she approached the duo of one. Yet not by Celestia’s doing, Luna’s shower of tears calmed to just drizzles — Nightmare continuing her coos until the quiet weeps downed to snivels.

“Thank you,” spoke Celestia, ending the still silence. She lowered her guard and wings, but kept up her façade. She was regarded with a cold glare from Nightmare, and a weak smile from Luna. Tended for, Nightmare gently unfurled the bundle from within her wings.

Barely freed, filly-Luna was swept up by Celestia for a closer look. She searched for any indication of serious injury, but also kept half of her attention on Nightmare. Distracted by her pre-cautions, Celestia overlooked her sister, choking her without realizing.

Peering with apologetic eyes, she prompted Luna to open her mouth and loosened her feathery grip, find a loose pair of two front teeth. The pearly whites wiggled around freely, clearly dislodged when Luna had impacted the floor.

“Luna, please go visit the infirmary,” Nightmare said, “there might be something else injured that I might have missed.” She broke Celestia’s concentration, as well her hold on the petite alicorn. Luna was given a pushing nudge to the doors by Nightmare and she exited, leaving the two mature goddesses alone.

“You were fighting over meal plans and look how that turned out: loose teeth and a crying foal. If she wants something, simply give it her and we can avoid all of this nonsense,” scolded Nightmare, boldly flaring her wings.

“She would've gotten a stomach ache, Lu- Nightmare. I rather she’d grow up eating healthy and not skipping meals simply for the sweets of dessert. Luna needs nutrition if she’s to grow up properly, something I know you don’t take serious enough,” refuted Celestia strongly. She kept her dominance in mind instead of primal.

Nightmare hissed a terrifying screech, displaying her carnivorous fangs. Glass nearby began vibrating, exploding in all directions when she reached her high point. “She is not yours to care for, dear sister. It is my responsibility to bear for myself, for she is I. Do not interfere in matters that are not of your concern, as you cannot bear the consequences.”

Celestia thought hard for a subtle way to respond that wouldn’t cause further strife. Peering into Nightmare’s reptilian gems, she found more than she bargained for. Looking for compassion and forgiveness, she found nothing except an eternal fire burning to see her one with Faust. “And what are the consequences?” the promethean inquired.

“A wondrous and glorious feast to be held in my honour,” Nightmare answered. She cracked her infamous smirk, baring dangerous fangs dripping in saliva. A total opposite of the ear-bleeding screech earlier, she chuckled hearted laughter that boomed loudly through the room.

Celestia thought of it as just a casual joke, until she seeked further, “The occasion, might I ask?”

“My celebration on becoming an... only child, of course.” The she-devil almost drooled onto the floor, dreaming of the coming day. Nightmare brought herself next to her yang, and arched her head to face her sister’s long neck.

Celestia kept still, relying on her devotion of time and practice on the mask she wore in dire situations. Unbeknown to Nightmare, Celestia felt an odd mixture of pride and mortal terror towards her. She no longer thought of Nightmare as her little sister, but a dangerous equal. She would have shed a tear of accomplishment if not for the hinderance of fear.

“I suggest you hold still, sister, else I cannot be held responsible for my actions,” murmured Nightmare. She lightly tickled her razor-sharp canines over Celestia’s plush neck, drawing two red lines reaching to the alicorn’s warm jugular. She poised to take a love bite, only to be denied as Celestia ignored her attempts and stood like a chiseled statue.

Never once faced rejection before, the night mistress murmured a ghostly whisper into Celestia’s perked ear, “I liked you better in the times of yore, Tia.” Nightmare sighed a scorching breath into the pink flesh, causing her kin to brighten on the cheeks. “You did not discourage my kind of intimacy back then. What a shame that has befallen you.”

“I-I-I... I need to see my shrink. Excuse me, Lu- Nightmare,” said Celestia, hastening to the doors. Her wings had a mind of their own, flailing wildly and left behind her a trail of white feathers. Close enough to smell the waxy cinders from the hallways, she stopped and turned as Nightmare spoke.

“Be sure to give him my regards, as well a preen if you can. I’m sure he’d gladly return the favour. I can almost hear the cries of your foals already,” the night sister teased. She watched the small hue of pink on Celestia’s white coat bloom into a burning scarlet.

Blushing heated rays like her celestial star, Celestia had no choice but to fall for the bait, “You need to read up on doctor/patient confidentiality, sister. O-our relationship is strictly a professional one. He has no feelings for me and I him.” The panicking ruler forced whatever composure she had left to suppress any evidence to the contrary, but her rosy cheeks said otherwise.

“Then I shall no longer speaketh of the matter. If you do not feel for him, then I shall take him as my own, or would you mind that?” Nightmare tempted again. She could now easily see the strands behind Celestia’s mask unravel at the stake — revealing an insecurity long forgotten: an old mare seeking companionship, but duties set before personal need.

Already at the door, all Celestia needed was to step out and she would be away before she was to be trapped in a game of shadows. Restraining her weak-half of femininity, she walked out with the graces of a newborn, leaving the question unanswered and inferred upon. “I must leave, sister,” said Celestia.

The doors shut themselves with the squeak of rusted hinges, mingling with royal Canterlot laughter. Once fully closed, it signaled for a pair of shrouded figures to emerge from the shadows of a corner in the room. Nightmare progressively stopped her bellowing, walking to the mysterious strangers. Both were cloaked with spider silk veils, one taller than the other, the black shrouds covering everything except the glow of their eyes.

“Thine acting skills needs work, Nightmare,” the taller arcadian said. “Although your methods of seduction were very convincing, even if it could have lead to inbreeding. I shall commend you for that, but just.”

“You wanted a distraction — I got you a distraction, be it in a form that is discouraged. Our sister has grown soft, sitting on that cushioned throne of hers, like everyday shall always be joyous,” Nightmare growled, “She speaks as if this land has become an asgaard, but it is what it is, Equestria.” Her words dripped with toxified hatred, perfectly aged over a millenium. 

“Enough with your personal vendetta, Nightmare. The days of yore are long gone and forgotten, as well you and the old ways. You’re a living myth — a ghost — adapt or die. I do not have much time left, my duties await. I cast thee a good farewell, Nightmare.” The gentleness of her calm voice lessened the night queen’s anger, along with Nightmare’s growl.

“Yea! My acting was WAY better than yours, Nightie. At least I had tears to back-up my convincing performance. I even managed to score another carton of ice cream!” The excited filly-alicorn uncloaked, showing her azure coat with a silly smile, undone by two actual loosened front teeth. She held high in the air a large carton of chocolate mint fudge, along with four other boxes of frozen dairy behind her.

"Ah, yes. You’ve got my favorite flavor," a medium-size Luna declared as she uncloaked in a flash of cobalt mana, "cookie dough! I thank thee, for these next few hours the court shall be dull indeed.” She smiled at filly-Luna, walking with a hop out the door and to royal duties.

Towering above filly-Luna, Nightmare looked behind her and raised a question of concern. “You disarmed the enchantments on the ice-cream, didn’t you?”

“Uhhh...” filly-Luna mumbled. She turned around and filled her horn with cosmic magic, undoing the magical trap preset by a prepared sister. “It is now...?”

Boom


|~|~|~|~|~|


On the other side of oakwood doors, teen-Luna was splattered with melted dairy that slowly dripped down her steaming face and star canvas mane. No longer protected by her shroud, her entire front body was painted opal, forming a small puddle at her silver slippers.

“You had one job... ONE... and that was to disarm Tia’s trap...” Luna muttered, wiping a faceful of ice-cream off. Mildly disappointed and angry, her horn consumed itself in magic once more, teleporting a sticky Luna to a distant washroom in the castle.


|~|~|~|~|~|


“Oops?” filly-Luna shrugged. “Guess I forgot, hehe...” She giggled sheepishly and slightly blushed with embarrassment. Sitting on her haunches, she levitated a spoon from the table and popped the lid off of the chocolate mint. The silver utensil in her mana’s grasp, she scooped a mountain-sized first bite.

With the spoon already bending into a weird shape, filly-Luna quickly devoured the deliciousness. As her foalish taste buds screamed in delight, savouring the sweetness  of the dark chocolate and cool mint, her body began to shiver wildly as she suddenly felt a sharp pinch inside her head. No longer able to stand the pain, the underdeveloped alicorn fell onto her back, clutching her head tightly to ease some of the immense stinging.

“Ow! Brain freeze! Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow, ow! AH!” Filly-Luna writhed feverishly on the floor, getting up and spinning in circles before eventually bumping headstrong into the just-as-hard walls. 

A loud thud echoed as the disoriented Luna fell backwards, hooves now moving away from her temples and to her scalp. In search for any injury, she found a large bulge on her forehead the size of a boulder, throbbing red and excreting subtle pain when she accidently bumped it.

“Ow, ow, ow, ow, ow...” She sluggishly tried to get back up, but wobbly footing and lightheadedness caused another crash, this time impacting a softer structure. Nightmare caught the unsteady filly with her shadowing wings, holding her still until Luna regained her footing. With delicate attention, Nightmare tickled the small boo-boo with gentle feathers, inspecting for any serious injury.

“You’re as clumsy as a foal,” Nightmare scolded. She released her binding on Luna before glaring disappointedly. Her horn glowed a cool black, dispelling mana for a healing spell as she aimed her horn to the reddened bump. The black magic extended to and fro, unswelling the nasty scratch.

“Hey! I resent that! Ow. And it’s not my fault ice-cream is delicious. If something that good wasn’t meant to be eaten, then I won’t continue living.” Her blank threat never phased the serene alicorn looming above, as Nightmare poised straight again, seeming more amused than angered.

“Then perhaps we shall come to an agreement then. Control yourself and I won’t—”

“Nag me as much?” Luna scoffed.

“I was going to say criticize and save, but if that is the way you see me as then I shan't interfere any longer. Leave an old hag like me behind while you go enjoy the wonders of blissful youth, it certainly won’t break my fragile heart.”

“Geez, grandma. No need for the guilt trip, I get enough of them from Tia as is. And last I checked we were immortal, so you can’t exactly say that you’re aging. Now, can I have a pony-back ride, please? I was supposed to meet Pip in the gardens and this ice-cream is starting to melt!” Filly-Luna begged again with all the sincerity of her kind heart, beaming a laughable crooked smile.

“Spoiled brat,” mumbled Nightmare under her breath. She lowered herself as the smaller alicorn jumped onto her silky back and hugged her tight around the neck for stability. 

With extra weight and shift of center libra, the old goddess balancing them out by stretching her large black wings into full expansion. Using more magic than normal, she transported the ice-cream into micro-space and began the long walk to the joy-bringing gardens.

“I heard that you old shrew!” shouted Luna defensively.

“Well, excuse me Princess.”

“Witch...”

“Imp.”

“...Harlot...”

Nightmare’s ears perked at the comment as she tried to hold back a face of shock. “Where did you learn that?” She snapped.

“From you... The bedrooms aren’t soundproof... Give me a heads up every once in awhile why don’t cha?”

“My deepest apologies for your sleepless days then, but that does not excuse you from exposure of mature subjects. It’s impolite to call someone that, even if it is the truth. What do you say?”

“Sorry, or whatever...”

“Properly, young lady. I expect nothing less of the royal blood you carry. Be the epitome your worshipers praise you as, not a foal out of diapers. Now, what do you say?”

“I’m... deeply sorry for calling you that inappropriate word about your personal life that I have no business spying on. I am also sorry for disrespecting you, my elder. You sure do know how to ride a guilt trip.” Luna stated.

“I accept the sentiment, or at least the attempt of it. You’re an alicorn, Luna — a perfect harmony of all three pony races in one. They see you as a goddess... now act your part.” The bored filly on her back stifled a yawn, her mind barely in reality. “We may look as if in eternal youth, but our minds comprehend timeless knowledge. Don’t squander a gift others have worked their entire lifetime to achieve,” Nightmare scolded.

“Loving the lecture there, Nightie,” Luna said, trying for the least amount of sarcasm. “But I’m still a filly and I’m going to act my age all I want until I grow into you, which is waaaaaaaaaay down the line. That’s the whole point of having a youth in the first place, isn’t it? So that I can be as foolish as I want while I still can?”

The lively alicorn sitting on top casually leisured, her mind wandering the phases of reality and into a world only understood by fillies. She moved about until she laid back to back with the night steed. Her natural-cut mane nestled with Nightmare’s celestial, as the wavy portion of night’s beauty wrapped Luna whole, enfolding her in a bed of stars.

“Is that all you see life as? A game until you’re forced to grow into your responsibilities?” Nightmare questioned.

“Why not?” asked Luna back, trying to resist slumber’s temptation. The gentle cyan of her eyes fogged over with drowsiness, as she brought a hoof to rub it. She stifled yet another yawn, but this was riddled with tire and lull. The eagerness she had left her body, leaving only her spirit to fight for a longer awake-time. Shaking her head groggily, she couldn’t deter any longer.

With swiftness of shadows and silence of space, lucid dreams carried filly-Luna to her personal eden, the place where she bore them from simple thought. Her mind followed the gentle spirits that guided her back to home, entrusting them as kin, whilst her body remained fixated in midgaard.

The rising and falling of Luna’s chest slowed to once per minute, her cheerful heart beating in an alike pattern. Her small hooves snuggled against her head as pillows, with Nightmare’s magic shifting her more comfortably. Walking along stained windows, the goddess of the night bathed the still figure in glistening moonlight, her elusive mane of the cosmos blanketing Luna, easing a path to dreamscape.

She contemplated the striking words spoken, comparing the different thoughts separated by time. All together asinine at first, Nightmare began to rethink things from a younger viewpoint. Her memories long buried by golden flames, a single remnant of simple frolicking in windful fields survived the brutal onslaught of responsibilities.

‘If only life were that simple little one,’ she sighed.

In idle walk, her steel toe shoes echoed through the dim halls, as she neared a familiar bedroom door. On the old wooden frame, a crescent moon with ink splotches was decorated. With no door knob, only magic was a viable way of entrance. The locks clicked and magic barriers were undone by Nightmare, she walked into the dark room looking towards the spacious bed littered with pillows and covers.

On the other end of the room double doors were swung open, the veils hung onto it flowing in the breeze. Passing old nightstands, dressers, and bookshelves, Nightmare stopped short of her old cradle. Like the room, it never gathered dust of age but in memory. The small bed barely fit a full grown alicorn, yet yielded more than enough room for a growing filly.

Nightmare’s magic flared for the last time that morning, as she settled Luna onto the the fluffy mattress, unfurling the star riddled sheets and blanketing her. Already dozing, Luna barely stirred, whilst the warmth of the covers snuggly wrapped her.

Her glow of magic dimming, Nightmare walked to the welcoming balcony. Barely in the morn, the elusive winds whispered quietly. They bashed against Nightmare’s mantle and mane, allowing her to cease the flow of magic going to them. She stretched out her massive wings, flapping them to let the breeze rustle through each feather. A bit ticklish in her sensitive sides that are normally protected, she let a tiny giggle mingle about.

“Perhaps... I am getting old. Too old for revenge anymore, but... you haven’t yet sister. I’ve sworn vengeance and I shall have my retribution, be it by me... or by your own doing. Anger shall be your undoer and jealousy your prison, my dearest Tia. You’re still who I remember you as, and I will not be merciful to the merciless. Soon... we’ll both meet our fates...”

Beyond the skyline a chalk white moon slowly descended into rest, as did Nightmare. Behind her, light arose from the rocky mountainside, casting long shadows over the bright city. With the fuel of hatred dying off, Nightmare laid to rest, laying her underside on the cool marble and watched the moonset.

Dazed eyes took hold of her attentive ones, as she followed suit on the path less traveled. Her stiff body relaxed, allowing her tense shoulders to fall without resistance. She gingerly rested her head on folded wings as a makeshift pillow, nestling against the soft feathers. For unknown and strangest of reasons, the feathers always smelt of honeydew and fresh cut lilies, which she had grown to enjoy.

‘Hehe,’ laughed Nightmare, ‘she was right.’


|~|~|~|~|~|


Celestia quietly sipped on her tea, holding it in her golden aura. She sat comfortably on a grand divan accompanied by mountains of cushy pillows behind. Looking to her shrink, his beastly eyes pierced through her mask of deception like a warm knife on butter. “Doctor, things have gotten out of hoof faster than I’d imagine. I’m afraid my sister might actually...”

“Rape you in the dead of night while strangling you to death and then dumping your body with Hela?” The psychologist spoke with amusement but didn’t add sarcasm. He smiled wickedly as a pen scribbled down noted reactions.

“When you put it that way...” Her teacup began to wobble in mid air, as uncertainty wandered through her mind. Before a mess could be made she set the china down onto a table in front, trying to compose what was left of herself.

“I was simply joking, Celestia. I’m sure your sister has better things to do than just plotting your downfall. In our last group session it was agreed she was to be on babysitting duties until further notice, so I’m quite certain she is busier than you might believe she is to be.”

“I know that... And I trust her word... most of the time, but—” Hesitation affecting her speech, his magical pen began to scribe again.

“Has she shown signs of improvement in behavior and attitude?”

She gave a subtle nod then spoke, “Yes.”

“Has she done anything hurtful to you in the last month?”

“No.” 

“Then what is the problem, Celestia? Nightmare Moon may show signs of ill towards you, but they are just mere jokes. What has gotten you worked up?” He didn’t speak with anger, instead an annonce of an endless issue.

“I guess... old demons. Everytime I see her, I’m reminded of the monster that took my sister from me—”

“Isn’t Nightmare Moon another self to Luna? A darker side which she had worked hard to keep under wraps and mind? Doubting Nightmare would be doubting your own sister, and I know you trust her with your life and kingdom.”

“You don’t know her like I do—”

“Then enlighten me, Princess. Do tell about every single evil thing she has done to you, like that time when she put dye in your shampoo. Remember that? Oh, that must have been so... evil of her! ‘Guards, throw her in the dungeon! She has turned my mane pink!’” He re-enacted with a perfect mimic of Celestia’s voice. He showed no pity and looked to the pampered alicorn with disappointment.

“Who’s side are you on?”

“Yours, apparently. It’s not my job to sit here and listen to you whine, Celestia. If that’s someone that you wanted, I’ll hand in my resignation here and now.” The self-working pen fell limp, as well the paper it was writing on tore itself away from the notepad and crumpled into a ball. A swift throw and the yellow sheet flew into an open trash can.

“W-wait... You’re right, it’s not your job. Nightmare and I just don’t always see eye to eye about certain things. There’s a difference between a jest and taking things out of proportion. My mane didn’t change back for several weeks and when it did, she bewitched it so every time I so much as got it wet, poof, back to pink.” Celestia could only hold her ground with weak defenses, like a foal trying to delude blame.

“She apologized and removed the hex, didn’t she?” he asked back.

Celestia gave a deflated nod, mumbling under her breath, “Yes.”

“Well, I’ve got to say this session ended just about where it did last time, nowhere, with little progression. I’d say my time was being wasted, but it seems I have a large excess of that already. I’ll see you tomorrow, Celestia and no I am not your personal psychologist that can be called on whenever you feel like it. We have schedules for exactly this reason.” The harsh voice scolded the daytime ruler, insulting her like he had the right to.

“I’m sorry for waking you this early Discord—”

“If you were sorry you’d patch this up with your sister and I would still be in bed asleep. Six in the bucking morning and I don’t even have my cup of coffee yet. Punctuality would be much appreciated, your majesty, and if you don’t mind, a cup of joe. Now get out,” Discord ordered.

His baggy eyes threatened to drop any moment, as the draconequus made a nervous habit of clawing his arm chair. The spazzing twitch on his left eye told he hadn’t had a good sleep the night before and when he did, a needy Celestia awoke him. Shreds of sawdust and splinters were embedded in his talon and paw, causing annoying pain that he bluntly ignored.

“I’m deeply sorry for all the troubles I’ve caused you — I’ll show myself out.” Celestia uncurled herself from the comfy sofa, walking to the door in naked hooves.

As per usual, Discord watched with great attention to the Princess’s habits. Instead of a straight path and excellent poise that he has seen in public, Celesta swayed her hips more than necessary and if he looked hard enough, on occasion she would wink him.

After the single door to his office closed, he let out a heavy sigh. His reptilian arm gently rubbed his temples, moving downward to his eyes. In front, a steaming pot poured hot tea into a small china cup. With a snap of his fingers, the cup flashed to him in a blink.  As he took a sip out of the dragon lilies, the liquid-warmth soothed most of his nerves, but not his tire.

“I’m getting too old for this shit.” 
> Coming and Going
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Nightmare Moon awoke with a jolting start, heavy pants and sweat dripping down her sticky coat. Her slitted eyes ran wild, looking back and forth for something that wasn’t there. In the distance a blazing star began its slow descent into the horizon. The glare of crimson rays assaulted her eyes, causing her to shield herself with a massive wing, while her heart raced a million miles an hour fueled by a dangerous shot of adrenaline.

The jet black alicorn looked around, regaining her bearings before sleep took hold. All was as it should be, her younger self was still in bed and she was without a scratch, yet something gnawed at the back of her mind. She found a bitter aftertaste in her mouth, as well as noticing her nervous trembling.

Commanding her legs with all the willpower she could muster, she only felt numbness all around. Nightmare grunted with exhaustion as fruitless endeavours continued. Still, the headstrong princess persisted until the cramp in her legs screamed from the burning pain. Then the night goddess remembered, she was attacked by her namesake.

She froze where she struggled to stand, remembering with explicit detail the horror she had to relive. The forgotten outcast saw in her mind the daunting sight of a blue planet in the distance, so close that she could almost reach it, but then reality kicked in. Nightmare remembered the bitter cold and frightening silence.

In the realm she thought herself mistress of, she had started losing her grip. Nightmare saw herself back on the moon, screaming for something, someone. Only her stars heard the cries for help, comforting her in any way they could while she fought against insanity. Just an old memory to most ponies; Nightmare’s dreams are anything but.

Counting this one, it was the third time she had a nightmare. Since the accident, Nightmare began losing control of her magic. Even daily tasks are harder for her to accomplish with each passing night, sometimes she wouldn’t even wake up if the filly she watched didn’t help. The worst was that she feared her children — once her domain, now her prison.

Nightmare pushed the haunting memories into the back of her mind and like the moon behind her, she rose with the coming of the night. Her heart slowed to a calming beat and her trembling stopped. Taking long breaths and purging herself of the frightening dreams, she re-entered the bed chambers. To her left, Luna’s still form rested. Nightmare flashed her horn and closed the balcony doors behind, causing the sleeping filly to stir.

Luna slowly awoke, yawning now and again as she tried to rub the sleepiness out of her eyes. Her normal cobalt mane was tousled, her front bangs skewed awkwardly. She stretched cramped muscles and expanded her folds. The small wings fluttered quietly as Luna walked to a nearby nightstand and wrapped a hair brush with her telekinesis.

Behind her, Nightmare slowly walked up just as groggy and tired. While the unkept filly made herself decent, the sore alicorn behind gently rubbed her neck. With a twist of strong neck muscles Nightmare cracked her neck, startling the high-strung princess into flinging her hair brush across the room.

“My apologies,” Nightmare said, as she began preening herself, plucking loose feathers and dispersing them as they fell. Nightmare soon found her chest and head irritated, and began taking off her regalias, going fully naked. The normal spatial mane Nightmare always had now hung limply at her side, yet still retained all of it’s star-crossed beauty.

“I accept all my apologies in the form of a donut, thank you very much,” scoffed Luna. She picked up the fallen brush and started on her mane again. Nightmare once again ignored her and approached the immature heiress. They both sat on their haunches, the elder alicorn dwarfing the smaller filly in height and size.

“You keep eating all that sugar and we’ll pay a visit to the dentist soon enough,” threatened Nightmare. She was regarded with an angry glare from Luna but dismissed it; flashing her horn, an ink black magic overwhelmed the minor’s and began long strokes on Luna’s mane.

“I hate the dentist....” Luna half whined and grumbled. Out of Nightmare’s view, she plainly smiled to check for cavities.

“And who’s fault is that?” Nightmare sighed as she pretended to listen.

“Yours!” Luna shouted, pointing a hoof behind her shoulder to Nightmare, “You make them sound worse than being on the moon,” she huffed.

“Have I?” Nightmare asked back, checking the cleanliness of her hoof.

“Yes you did, and it’s all a conspiracy! Everytime you go there, they fix something and put something else in there to make you come back! It’s an evil cycle and I’m on to them!” Luna objected. She opened her maw again, wider than before, inspecting for hidden cavities.

“Are you now? Well, in that case I’ll have all the dentist thrown in the dungeon,” Nightmare answered back with faked enthusiasm.

“And while you’re at it, get me some frozen yogurt, please.” Luna ordered, poising like a royal.

“How about I get you some yogurt and a checkup next week.” Nightmare offered instead.

“Do I have much of choice?” Luna scoffed dejectedly.

“No, you do not.”

“Fine... but I get to choose the dentist. I’m not letting some strange-pony poke around my teeths and drug me senseless,” Luna argued back, “Have you seen how loopy some ponies get after just one visit? It’s like going into a mental asylum!”

“I can live with that, as long as you come willingly and quietly. And if you dare bite the poor soul, you can just forget about the yogurt. A lawsuit is exactly what we need right now...” Nightmare grumbled as she shook her head.

“Yeada, yeada, yeada,” Luna mouthed, as she waved a dismissive hoof, “Be polite and no throwing them in the dungeon, you don’t need to say it a zillion times.” She said as she rolled both eyes. “Besides, I’m picking the dentist here, so of course I’m gonna be nice to her. Have a little faith in me.”

“I cannot be faithful to a hopeless cause,” Nightmare retorted with a small tug on the hair brush.

“OW!” Luna screamed as she winced and twisted her head to meet Nightmare. “Hey! I can be just as fancy as you!”

“One does not simply be fancy. Your table manners are rude, etiquette crude, and worst of all you’re a foal,” Nightmare recited, noting all the times the youngling had acted foalish in public.

“FILLY!” Luna corrected. She stomped her protected hoof into the ground, cracking the marble tile. The tyke surprised Nightmare with her sudden outburst, but undid any credibility soon after. “Ow, ow, ow, ow... Stupid hard floor!” She whined.

“As I have said before,” Nightmare sneered, “like a foal.” She finished her final stroke of the brush and levitated it aside. Luna’s mane was back to its original shape, which she politely thanked Nightmare for. “Do as you wish this night, for I have an appointment to keep.”

“I won’t wait up, then,” Luna beamed. She hurried out the door before Nightmare could lecture her and was down the corridors, leaving behind her shadow.

“That foal is going to get herself killed,” Nightmare mumbled under her breath. Slowly trotting out in the same path, turning in the opposite direction and headed down a better lit hallway.


|~|~|~|~|~|


“How’s your tea?” Discord asked. Facing him was a black mare, almost growling at her cup.

“It’s hot,” Nightmare answered. The tiny china was already cracking under her magic grasp, threatening to spill if she kept it up.

“Well, that’s generally how tea is drank. Or did you want some coffee? Maybe some hot chocolate?” Discord offered. He snapped his talons and a silver platter of assorted drinks flashed before them.

Nightmare shattered her teacup, catching the liquid and putting the pieces into a nearby trash bin. She then levitated the steaming tea back into the kettle. “You know what I prefer.”

“Ah, yes,” With another snap, a silver chalice appeared, filled to the brink with scarlet wine. Soon, a rustic aroma filled the air, which Nightmare took a deep inhale of, “Hundred year old Italian wine with a dose of dragon blood. I wonder how you can possibly keep this stuff down Nightmare. It’s too acidic for my personal taste.”

The silver cup glistened as a cosmic blue engulfed it, Nightmare licking her lips as the chalice neared her. “You’re a scotch man, Discord. Something this delicate requires...” She took a tiny sip of the powerful toxin, allowing droplets to form on her fangs. “Someone just as deadly to understand it,” Licking the tiny drops on her fangs, Nightmare smiled like a foal in a candy store.

Or just a really strong stomach, Discord thought. “Have you been behaving?” He plainly asked.

Nightmare grinned and took another sip of her wine. “Of course, I swear it on my sister’s grave,” she answered, pouting an innocent look.

“I find that somewhat hard to believe, Nightmare,” Discord objected. He watched as the mare’s smile turned sour, her slitted eyes gleaming at him. “But I am willing to take your word for it,” he added.

“I’m glad with your judgement, Discord,” Nightmare smirked, downing her goblet to half empty. “Although, I would have been happier if you made your decision earlier.”

“Sorry if I don’t quite trust the mare that tried to kill me twice,” Discord reminded. Quietly sipping his tea, Nightmare broke into laughter, he joined her with a tiny smirk.

“Still won’t let that go will you?” She asked back with an amused smirk.

“Considering I still have the scars to prove it,” Discord said, pointing to his back and wings, both of them showing a darker patch of bulging flesh, “I hope you can understand my skepticism here.”

“No one has ever died being too careful,” Nightmare nodded.

Discord grinned and tipped his cup into the air. “Words to live by. Cheers.”

Nightmare clang her chalice against his tiny cup, the hum echoing as both took a sip from their drinks. While she downed the rest of her wine, Discord simply poured more tea into his cup. “Would you mind?” She asked, tipping an empty cup and hiccuping.

His reptilian tail snapped itself and the goblet disappeared, causing Nightmare to frown at him. “I hope you don’t mind Nightmare, but that was enough wine to keep you buzzed all night. I’ll have no drunken alicorn walking around ogling the royal guards.”

The mirthful alicorn chuckled softly, “Did you not get a good enough laugh the first time?”

“I did,” Discord mumbled, “but it wasn’t worth the crap I got from your sister. ‘Discord this, Discord that. Discord don’t ignite that dynamite. Discord, stop turning my guards into forks. Discord, make me a cake.’” He mimicked perfectly in Celestia’s voice. “She blew a fuse when she learned who got you drunk in the first place.”

“Oh let her blow her steam, like a foal whining to its mother. What can she possibly do to you?” Nightmare pointed a naked hoof to the all powerful Draconequus, picking up a replacement cup of coffee with her magic.

“Paperwork.” He grunted in agitation. “Lots of and lots of paperwork. I curse the pony that invented that stuff,” rolling his beastly eyes, Discord rested his head against his paw, “Would you like some sugar?” With a flash, another china cup appeared with tiny sparkling cubes,

Nightmare nodded. “Don’t mind if I do,” lowering her cup, she magicked several of the sugar cubes in and stirred with a spoon. Quietly sipping the delectable drink, she thanked the tea loving draconequus. “Why don’t you do what I do when Tia gives anything involving work: send all of it to her student via dragon mail?”

A sparkle of interest twinkled in his eyes, “Really? Does Twilight Sparkle really do all the paperwork you send her?”

“Of course. You know how she can get when her mentor needs something done,” Nightmare flashed her horn and her cup was replaced with a glazed mug, the letters #1 Teacher inscribed into the side. Directly below it read, From your most faithful student, Twilight Sparkle.

“You took her mug?” Discord asked with a concerned eyebrow raised high.

“I use her toothbrush and best student. What’s your point?” Nightmare snapped back.

Discord shook his head and made Tsk noises under his breath. “How did you manage to trick Twilight into doing your dirty work?”

“Can she not do something nice for her favorite aunt?” Nightmare asked. While she tried to hide her sharp grin behind the mug, Discord shot her another skeptical look. “I didn’t cast any charm or hexes if that’s what you’re thinking. I prefer something more subtle than brainwashing.”

“What’s your secret then, pray tell?” Discord asked.

“I politely asked her to,” Nightmare answered. No hidden tricks, grins or smirks. She looked him straight in the eye and mildly beamed.

As Discord’s jaw clanged against the floor, his tail grabbed his goatee and rolled it back up. “Alright, what’s the con here Nightmare? Forging Celestia’s signature? Impersonating her? Are there changelings involved? Bribery? Reversing time and space so that Twilight is your student?”

“Is me asking for a favour simply that impossible for you to believe?” Discord nodded yes as she sighed. “Shouldn’t a psychologist support their patients?”

“I’m a psychopath. That PhD hanging on the wall; I got it from a garage sale. I’m not even qualified to prescribe you medicine.”

“You do have a bartender license though.” Nightmare reminded. While he shot her an unamused look, she laughed with joy like the burning hearth inside her.

“I would if I could, Nightmare. But you remember what happened last time you mixed sleep medicine with tequila.”

“Remind me again? It’s quite difficult to remember with a hangover the morrow after.”

Discord shook his head in a disappointed manner. “I’ll spare you the details, but Celestia wasn’t a happy camper.” He gave another frown as realization hit him. Why do I have to be the fall guy?

“Oh, stop fretting. She’s all talk at this point,” Nightmare sighed. “As am I, I’m afraid.” Delicately rubbing her sore muscles with airy wings, she plucked loose feathers as she worked. “We’re all just walking bags of bones at this point, Discord. Not even a museum would take us.”

“Hey, I’m not that old.” Getting up from his recliner, the ancient beast cracked his back upon standing.

“Not even a timeless being such as yourself has power over age.” Nightmare added, while Discord tried to realign his back. “I suggest you get a masseuse for that back Discord. Don’t want to strain anything else.”

“I’ll be fin-ahhhh!” Jolting back up straight, Discord sprang another muscle. This time he pulled his neck muscles and achilles tendon.

“You know what will make you forget all about those back pains? Some morphine and a few shots of cherry margaritas. Knocks you right out.” Nightmare suggested.

“Can you not think of anything besides getting drunk right now?” Discord groaned. Snapping his talons once more, his neck stopped bending in an awkward angle and his foot straight again.

“Magic won’t always be our friend, Discord.” Nightmare snorted.

Sitting back onto his vibrating chair, he stared attentively into Nightmare’s turquoise gems. “You had another one didn’t you? Same dreams as well?” Discord asked.

“So much for the Queen of the Night, ha?” Nightmare plainly returned. “My time has long passed, Discord. As well you, soon enough.” She let a sigh escape her and quietly sipped her coffee. “Drinking from coconuts and sun bathing doesn’t seem so bad of an idea right about now.” Never thought I’d say that in a million years, she pondered.

“We all deserve a vacation, Nightmare, you most of all I believe,” he slyly grinned.

“You mean...?” Nightmare asked, unable to contain her excitement. She soared from the soft divan and surprised Discord with a tender hug. Nightmare wrapped her front hooves around his back and unalienated it as she squeezed the life out of him.

Discord choked on his words, unable to breath in or out. As he wiggled in his personal prison, Nightmare squashed his skinny complexion with her wings. “G-e-t-o-f-f,” he managed to wheeze out.

“Sorry,” Nightmare sobbed as she shed happy tears from her eyes. She reluctantly released her breath taking vice grip on the poor phony doctor.

“Apologize to me when you get to Fiji.” Discord distanced him from the gay equiniti, dusting his fur and flashed a mirror to look at himself.

Instead, she thanked him with a kiss on cheek. “I won’t forget to write.” She hugged him one last time, crushing Discord even further with her strong wing muscles.

This time he returned the hug, wrapping his disarranged arms around Nightmare. While she softly rested her head against his shoulder, he gently stroked through her non-ethereal mane.  Discord let out a sigh and looked to his opaque glass on his door, seeing the silhouette of a pony behind it.

The door knob rotated and creaked opened. Discord panicked and immediately looked to his wall clock. The session was well overdue and rolled into his next patient’s time. Oh crap. He heard the clang of metallic hooves on the floors, the familiar decibels that ring in his ears every time a certain princess would barge in without permission.

He tried to break the hug with a forceful shove; it didn’t work. Crap, crap, crap. Celestia patiently walked in, and for once she was invited. Discord tried to shout, anything at this point, just to get Nightmare off before Celestia got in, but his silver tongue turned to lead. Fiji doesn’t sound half bad right about now, he thought.

Nightmare broke the hug first, ears perked and alert at the sound of crushed glass. Celestia looked down and took her foot off where she stood. She frowned at the shattered china cup and directed it towards her sister. “Nightmare.” She plainly addressed. “Celebrating I see?”

“Oh, Tia!” Nightmare leaped from Discord and rejoiced with her sister. Celestia raised a surprised brow as the wicked beast she once thought she knew hugged her with welcomed hooves.

A breakthrough? she mouthed to Discord. He shook his head and gave her the short version of it with shadow puppets on the walls. While she admitted he did have adequate skills, Celestia had yet to figure out the meaning. “Are you alright, Nightmare?”

“Of course! Why do you ask?” She cried and dampened a patch of Celestia’s coat.

“For one, you would never hug me unless it’s to slit my throat or stab me in the back. Since I’m still alive, you’ve either lost it, or run out of clever ways to kill me.” She forcefully shoved Nightmare away, checking her entire body for signs of a wound. Her horn ignited next, checking for hexes and curses that might be lying dormant.

“That was rather rude,” Discord said to Celestia. He stared at the broken china cup, which sank into the ground and another reformed on the table.

“Oh forget her, Discord. I’m finally free!” Nightmare flared her horn and she was covered in casualing clothing meant for a tourist. Her mane was neatly tucked and rolled as a straw hat popped on her head. The mare’s hooves were now wearing flip flops with her chest in a sleek, airy t-shirt. Next to her a bag was suspended with towels and suntan lotion.

“Where are you going?” Celestia hastily asked.

“I’ll see you in Fiji, sister, the next time you retire!” Nightmare laughed. She scurried to the door only to have it close before she got to it. Turning around, she saw that it was Discord who closed it.

“Hold on a minute, Nightmare. I’d be insane-er to just let you vacation alone,” he turned to Celestia who looked with jealous eyes aimed at her sister. “I’m gonna assign you a babysitter Nightmare, for insurance issues.”

“You don’t trust me?” She politely asked back.

“Oh I very most certainly do. It’s the locals I don’t trust,” he explained.

“So you want me to have a bodyguard?” Nightmare inclined. “I don’t need such a trivial thing. I am able bodied enough to defend myself, Discord.”

“Just one guard, as a precaution. There can be trouble in paradise if one is not careful enough.” Discord pleaded.

Nightmare reluctantly sighed and caved in. “Fine, as you wish. There shall only be one guard though, and no more. I’ll have not anyone ruining my time relaxing.” Discord nodded his head in agreement and Nightmare walked out the room.

“You cleared her for vacation time?” Celestia asked, the candles in the room flaring to a dangerous blaze.

“Think of it as house arrest on a really nice island,” Discord corrected. “Besides, she deserves it after being cooped up in this hunk of rock all day and night.”

“Well, then I wish her the best of times while she’s there,” Celestia grumbled. Her neck veins were already bulging, pumping abnormally.

“Careful, Celestia. Don’t want that blood pressure to skyrocket, now do we?” Discord shot a mocking grin at the aging matriarch.

“No, we don’t...” Celestia mumbled, while grinding her pearly whites down to just snubs. Turning to leave, her hooves left scorch marks on the ground. The scent of burnt carpet filled the room, as well the soft crackling of something smoldering.

“Oh stop being such a hot head, Celestia. Besides, you’re not even the jealous type,” he cajoled.

“No I’m not,” she said, putting on her trademark smile, despite the bulging veins.

“That’s the spirit!” Discord cheered, swinging his right paw heartedly. He gently patted the old goat on her back, which she swatted away with a wing.

“I’ll be in my room, working,” Celestia said, her left eye nervously twitching.

“I still need a guard for Nightmare,” he reminded.

“Sorry, Discord,” Celestia growled, “If you want protection, go get it yourself.”

“Aren’t we the feisty one tonight? What’s wrong?” Discord asked. Sitting back onto his recliner, his magical china flashed into his claws, as his tail grabbed an old pipe. Softly blowing colourful cubes out of the smoking pipe, Discord stared at Celestia with interest and a smarmy grin.

Celestia sighed deeply, before reluctantly returning to the comfy sofa. Over the centuries, she had grown accustomed to the calming effects of tea, but lately she had learned to outright hate the stuff. Nothing but tea whenever she was with the draconequus. Sure it was healthier to drink tea, but once in awhile she just wants in indulge in something sweet.

“No you cannot have any cake,” Discord scorned.

Celestia looked up in surprise at the mindreader. “What?” she asked.

“I can see you drooling on my floors, Celestia.” He pointed to a sliver of liquid dripping from the corners of her moist lips.

“Oh...” She wiped away the drool quickly with a hoof and smiled sheepishly. “Pardon me.”

“Don’t be, I have that kind of effect on all the ladies,” said the McCoy.

Celestia coyly giggled, staring back at the cocky narcissus. “You’re on fire, Discord.”

“I’m just hawt like that,” he said in a high pitch voice.

“No,” she said, stuffing a hoof in her mouth to suppress oncoming giggles, “you really are on fire.” She said, pointing to his tail.

Lifting up his blazing tail, Discord grunted and put out the petty fire. He looked at the singed area and twisted it off with a strong snap from both hands. The limb flapped around in his talon before he tossed it into a trash bin and a new tail end regenerated.

“I see someone grew a sense of humour,” he frowned at Celestia. “And please, no fire puns. I’m the funny guy around here, not you.”

“Cut the crap, Discord,” she scoffed, rolling her eyes. “As your boss I’m allowed to fire you whenever I desire,” Celestia giggled.

“Yes, ‘fire’ me,” he humoured, “Now tell me, why the long face?”

Celestia made a sour face and slapped Discord with a wing, leaving a red mark across his left cheek. “That was terrible.”

“Why so serious?” He asked back, with clown makeup on. Again he was smacked, knocking the white out of him.

“Stop, now,” Celestia sighed, a hoof to her temple and gently rubbing the area.

“What’s the matter Celestia? You a little hoarse?” He was smacked again.

“Please,” she begged this time. She waved one hoof in Discord’s general direction to ward him off and the other rubbing her baggy eyes.

“Steak?” He asked, zapping a steaming t-bone in front of Celestia.  The herbivore stuck a hoof in her mouth and looked away. Discord chuckled and spared Celestia the details, gobbling the medium-rare steak in a bite. Licking his lips to clean up the juices, he downed it with a mug of tea.

“I really feel bad for you ponies,” he sighed. “All you ever eat is flowers and veggies. At least Nightmare knows my sense of taste.”

“You’ll find no envy from me, Discord,” she gulped, taking long breaths. “Now why am I here?”

“To amuse me of course. Your misery is quite laughable.”

Giving him the I’m not amused face, she freed one of hooves of a golden shoe. Celestia threw the un-aerodynamic missile at Discord’s head. She reloaded and repeated, all four shoes sticking themselves into his fancy recliner as he ducked. On her last piece of ammunition, Celestia readied her pointy crown to be tossed, only for Discord to quack a truce.

He transformed from a waterfowl back into a randomly limbed beast, stretching his wings and legs. “Calm down, Celestia.” He said in a commanding voice. “Hear me out before you decide to decapitate me.” She reluctantly put down her regalia but kept an evil eye locked on him. “Thank you.”

He daintily slurped on his teacup, Celestia increasing her impatient tapping on the couch. “Well?” She loudly asked.

Discord held up a finger to tell Celestia to wait, finishing his tea and setting the cup down, “You’re really stressed, Celestia.”

“Nooooooo,” she exaggerated, shaking her head.

“Let me finish.” He snapped his talons and a zipper appeared on Celestia’s mouth. It zipped closed, locked at the end and the key disappearing into thin air. Instead of panicking or getting angry with him, Celestia just accepted it and laid down on the couch, wings as pillows.

“As you know, I can’t exactly let Nightmare run around a secluded island, unsupervised.” Celestia rolled her eyes, closing them after for a quick nap. “Hey, pay attention,” Discord said, snapping his talons. She acknowledged him with a groggy wave of a hoof, which he accepted as good enough.

“Fine,” he sighed. You royals never listen anyways. “Pack your suitcase, Celestia. I’m sending you on a stress free vacation to the tropics and don’t come back until you’re mellow.” Both her eyes and ears perked, her mouth returning magically.

Celestia’s magic flared to life, her royal attires replaced with a sun-pattern t-shirt and flower flip flops like her sister. Next to her a bag containing sunscreen and towels floated, a pair of sunglasses stuck onto her eyes.

“Wait!” Discord shouted before Celestia could get to the door. It bolted shut as Celestia try to force her way out with magic. “Let me finish and you may go.” She let out a final sigh, turning to face Discord but never moved an inch away from the door. He stood up from his chair, his back cracking twice causing him to hunch and straighten it.

“Since there isn’t anyone I could find at this late an hour to accompany Nightmare...”

“Oh no...” Celestia mumbled.

“And since the only thing powerful enough to stop an alicorn is another alicorn...”

“Oh no!”

“With Twilight Sparkle being so far away...”

“OH NO!”

“And Nightmare has been looking forward to this vacation so much...”

“OH HELL NO!”

“Celestia,” Discord said in his most pleading voice. “Will you do me the honour of...”

“NO NO NO NO NO!”

“Will you...”  Discord then knelt on one knee, a velvet rectangular box in hand. Celestia deadpanned and went slack jawed, her shades falling to the floor. “Will you watch Nightmare during the vacation?”

“W-what?” Celestia asked, confused. He opened the box, a set of flight tickets within them. She picked them up with her magic, glancing at them before looking back to Discord. “What?” she asked again.

“By your speechless face, I’ll take it as a yes. Good luck and have fun.” He quickly slipped into an overcoat and fedora, tilting the hat to the dumbstruck Princess as he left.

“...” Celestia found herself mumbling. Behind her, the door crept open again. Nightmare walked in with a scrunched up face, staring directly at the tickets Celestia was holding.

“I’ll see you in first class,” Nightmare hissed, snatching a plane ticket for herself.

Celestia snapped out of confusion, and sighed again. She turned and followed her sister out the doorway, head hung low and gloomy. “Nightmare...” she said softly. The black soothsayer ignored Celestia and continued her fast stride to get away. Quickening her pace to match her sister’s, she cut Nightmare off with an outstretched wing.

Celestia implored. “Nightmare, please, hear me out. I need you to promise me...”

Nightmare snapped at Celestia’s neck, causing the solar mare to step back and flare her wings. “Don’t ever get in my way again,” she threatened with fangs bared.

Even with the tourist getup Nightmare wore, Celestia knew her sister was no stranger to the dark arts. She amplified her flow of magic to all her mana shields, approaching Nightmare again but with proper cautions set up. “Please,” she said once more. Nightmare groaned, letting Celestia walk towards her.

Nightmare snarled. “I have yet to finish packing, and I cannot dilly-dally with your foalish nonsense.” She tried to walk around, only for Celestia to block her path again.

“We need to talk, Nightmare. No distractions or laters,” Celestia spoke in her court-like voice.

Nightmare sighed and stopped her persistence. “Make this quick.”

“Thank you,” she smiled, folding her wings back down. “Please promise me that you’ll behave, Nightmare.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Nightmare snapped back with fangs ready to strike.

“I just don’t want something happening on this vacation that won’t ever allow me to come back to Fiji.” The white palatine calmly answered.

Nightmare growled with hatred burning in her eyes and carnivorous teeth ready to tear anything apart. “You think this is only your vacation?!” Nightmare snarled.

Seeing her mistake, Celestia tried to reconcile. “No, that isn’t what I-”

“Save your breath,” Nightmare hushed. She walked straight past Celestia, batting a wing to shove her sister out of the way.

“Wait, Nightmare!” Celestia called as Nightmare neared the end of the corridors. Breaking into a full gallop, she caught up and kept a respectable distance behind. “Please sister, you misunderstand!”

With lightning speeds, Nightmare snapped back and surprised Celestia. “Enlighten us then, oh dearest sister, what exactly are we misunderstanding?!” She bellowed.

Stopping in her tracks, Celestia coughed to clear the knot in her throat. “I just wanted your word,” she answered.

“Why in the world would someone as high and mighty as you, Princess Celestia, want something from me?” Nightmare spat.

Celestia looked away in shame and rubbed the back of neck sheepishly. “I’m sorry if you think that way of me,” she said sincerely. “And for not keeping an open mind about things.” She mumbled.

“Finally learning to swallow thine ego?” Nightmare grinned. Celestia nervously shuffled her flip flops, but eventually nodded. “What is it that you wish.” She said in a calmer voice.

Celestia smiled at her sister and looked her straight in the eyes. “Forgiveness one; your word the other.”

“Forgive; never,” Nightmare snapped. Celestia’s smile grew into a worried frown. “But forget; maybe. As for my word; you’re just gonna have to be faithful.” Celestia regained her grin and hugged her sister, which Nightmare returned briefly before gently breaking it. “Now let’s get you out of that hideous shirt.” She flashed her horn and Celestia’s attire was replaced with a coconut bikini and hula skirt.

Just like you to ruin the moment, she thought. “This looks hideous,” Celestia said, trying to hide her blush.

“That’s because you’re wearing it, deary.” Flashing her horn again, she was zapped with the same outfit. They looked at each other before breaking into laugh at one another. A ukulele teleported out of nowhere as Nightmare begun strumming the chords for a gentle background tune.

“Come on,” Celestia gestured with a wing, continuing to giggle. “I’ll help you pack.” She raised a brow as a certain filly popped into her head. “What plans do you have for the youngest?” Celestia asked.

Nightmare hit a sour chord and pondered the question. “I’m sure young Twilight is up for the challenge.”

“Why, my student?” Celestia wondered.

“It’s her or no Fiji-” Nightmare’s mouth was stuffed with an alabaster wing as Celestia poofed a quill and parchment.

Dear Twilight Sparkle,

I have need of your service once again. Please take care of the younger half of my sister for an uncertain amount of time until I can... -Celestia paused to think about a reasonable excuse until she remembered it was her student she was writing to- until I can determine your experience in dealing with the youth of Equestria. Please do not take this lightly and will mostly likely aid you in your quest to study friendship.



Your Teacher,
Princess Celestia


P.S. Do not write me any friendship reports or anything that comes up until I have written you another letter. I will be excessively busy with a peace treaty hosted within Horstralia. You have my best regards and high expectations. May good fortunes be with my most faithful student.

Celestia rolled up the letter and set the parchment ablaze. The wisp of smoke flew out the nearest open window and towards the direction of a backwater village. “Done,” she said blowing a sigh of relief.

“Rather unfaithful of you to do that to your own protégé,” Nightmare said.

“Screw her!” Celestia popped a pair of shades onto her eyes. “I’m on vacation!”
> Flying First Class
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Are you packed yet, Nightmare?” Celestia patiently asked, knocking on the door of the always fashionably late mare. “Our flight leaves in two hours, and I want to get there early,” she explained. Waiting several minutes but hearing nothing, Celestia knocked again. “Sister? Are you there? I hope you don’t mind if I come in?”

Taking the initiative, Celestia creaked the door open and cautiously entered. “Nightmare? Are you... here?” She seemed to have asked to herself. The room was empty except for an opened window; its drapes bellowing gently in the wind. “Where could you have gone?” Celestia questioned, inspecting the entirety of the elusive mare’s room.

Celestia watched her hooves carefully as she took care to step only on every third stone tile; tiptoeing to her sister’s night stand and peered at a note left on top. She tried to magic the scroll towards her only for the golden aura to falter, dropping the parchment back down. 

Celestia shook her head to clear whatever was affecting her and tried again with added focus. She broke the seal and began reading the first few sentences before a frown formed on her features.

My dearest sister,
I knew thou would not like to wait for us, so I’ve decided to meet you at the airport. I suggest you hurry as I’ve turned all your clocks back an hour to prepare for daylight saving, since I know you like to be ahead of things.


Love,
Nighting~


P.S. All of the wheels on the carriages have been destroyed for some strange reason. I do hope you get here on time though as it would be terrible should you miss the flight. I’ll be waiting, and expecting.

Celestia looked immediately at the grandmother clock Nightmare had stocked, reading it as exactly one hour from what she had thought it should be. Sprinting to the opened balcony, Celestia saw her guards in a scrambled mass. She focused her vision, peering at nearby chariots and carriages, all of them broken down and wheeless like her sister had predicted.

“Well played, sister,” Celestia intoned, controlling the nervous twitch in her eye that had developed. “I’m getting on that plane, Nightmare, even if I have to walk to the airport,” Celestia promised.  Unfurling her wings, she backed away from the balcony,  hoofed at the ground and made sure she had a steady footing before she bounded off from the opened door.

Leaping from the breezy balcony and gently flapping her wings, she expecting to glide through the air and into the horizon. Celestia instead felt numbness in her appendages and fell prey to gravity like all beings do. Desperately flapping her useless limbs, Celestia fell downward fifty stories. Her sleek feathers dislodged themselves the harder she tried to flap.

Screaming at the top of her lungs as she plummeted, Celestia clamped her eyes shut and hoped for a full body cast at the worst. Daring a peek, she had came to a slowing halt as she floated aloof inches from the ground. A darkish aura surrounded her before dispersing, causing her to fall flat on her face and another scroll puffed in front of her.

Dearest sister,
I have accidently put muscle relaxers into your morning cup of coffee and sincerely hope you can forgive me for this mistake. A side effect of the drug is the inability to use magic or wings. I do hope this scroll reaches you in time before something terrible happens.


Love,
Nighting~


P.S. Since all your guards have been working so hard lately, I decided to give them the day off.

Celestia’s twitchy eye started up again as she read the letter, watching it get engulfed in blue flames once she was done. “Very well played,” Celestia grumbled through clenched teeth as she got back up. Looking down to her golden shoes, Celestia thought of how unprepared she was for the long walk ahead. “Walking is healthier for you anyways,” Celestia said to herself, trying to stay optimistic.


|~|~|~|~|~|



Some tiresome walking later...


Princess Celestia lugged with her an exhausted, sweating body and two bags of luggage towards a noisy airport. Instead of the usual check-in station, she skipped it for her private jet, which she was thankful didn’t leave until both Royal Sisters were on board.

She hated to admit it, but the prim and press matriarch was well past her prime. If she had dieted and exercised on a daily basis like her dilly dallying sister does, she wouldn’t be panting as much. “Well... played... indeed... Nightmare...” Celestia panted, dropping dead on the doorsteps of their sleek black jet.

“Ah! Sister! I’m so glad for you to join us!” greeted a well rested Nightmare from the open doorway. “How was your walk? I know you don’t get much exercise these days, but you should still be in somewhat sha- Oh dear...” Nightmare gasped, rushing down to help her sister. “What happened?” she asked innocently.

“Wa-wat-water...” Celestia gasped, face down on the concrete runway. Using her last reserves of power, she looked up and reached out to her sister.

“Don’t worry, sister,” Nightmare assured; she stabilized herself with a wing as she took hold of Celestia in the other. Breezily carrying the hot and sticky alicorn, Nightmare walked the foldable stairways of the jet, into the cooler interior. Gently settling Celestia into a reclining chair, Nightmare rushed to the private built-in bar.

The taverness dropped ice cubes and poured clear vodka into a shot cup with ease and quickly rushed back. She passed the drink to her sister’s chapped lips, which Celestia thirstily drank from. Gulping the entire glass in seconds, Celestia instantly regretted downing it so quickly.

“Ac-ack!” She coughed, doing a spit take. Celestia tried to calm the deep burning in her throat, clutching it as she fell onto the floor with eyes watering. Desperately looking to her sister, Celestia had one thing on her mind: poison, and why her sister did it.

“Oh stop being such a foal, that drink won’t kill you,” Nightmare sighed, rolling her eyes at her sister’s over-reaction. Her horn glowed a misty black, enveloping a bottle of water and levitated it her choking sister.

Celestia uncapped the bottle immediately, spewing the liquid all over her face and only catching half of the water in her mouth. She went from choking on the vodka to choking on the water, but at least her throat had stopped burning. “Wh-ach-what did you give me?!” Celestia demanded.

Nightmare sighed, gently patting her sister on the back to stop the coughing. “I gave you vodka, ninety-nine percent, imported from the Netherlands. It’s like you’ve never drunk it before,” Nightmare scoffed.

“I asked for wa-ach-water!” Celestia gaged, half coughing and half gargling. “What in Equestria would make you think I wa-ach-wanted a drink?! It’s not even five yet!”

“Vodka translates to water,” Nightmare corrected with a light hearted giggle, “Besides, it’s five o’clock in Fiji."

“In what language does vod-ach-vodka mean water?!” Screamed Celestia with fiery anger. From ground zero to Nightmare’s eye level in lightning speed, Celestia rose up to confront the dismissive mare.

“With so many foreign relations I thought you would have picked up a language or two by now, Celestia,” Nightmare snickered. She idled her sister’s threatening glare and started for the leather cushion seats. “Calm yourself, sister. We are on vacation after all,” Nightmare reminded.

“I’ve just walked fifty miles to the airport, Nightmare,” Celestia growled, “Because someone had accidentally slipped drugs into my coffee,” Celestia grumbled, looking at her would-be-assassin, “I’m not in the mood for anymore problems, Nightmare,” Celestia threatened, neck veins popping.

“And just what seems to be the problem?” Nightmare smirked, levitating herself a martini from the mini-bar. She got herself comfortable on the custom made seats and got back into the butt grove she had going.

“YOU! YOU’RE MY PROBLEM!” Celestia screamed at the top of her lungs, using her Royal Canterlot voice for the first time in centuries.

Nightmare dismissed it, aimlessly looking out the tinted windows. She sat with her hind legs crossed, while one hoof held her martini glass and the other stirring the drink with the olives. “The problem’s not the problem; the problem is your attitude towards the problem,” Nightmare responded with a smirk.

“Today isn’t a good day to push me,” Celestia challenged, wings expanded, and eyes glowing red with flames.

“Someone can’t take a joke it seems,” Nightmare ignored, sipping her martini.

Celestia clenched her teeth to the point of cracking them, horn down and aimed at her sister. “You’re drunk,” she concluded from the selection of emptied shot glasses along the mini-bar counter and the wisp of stingy musk that loomed in the air.

“Mildly buzzed at best, sister,” Nightmare snickered, finishing her martini.

Celestia drowned her sister’s laughter with a sigh, dissipating her flow of magic. She took calming breathing exercises to slow her pulse, abiding Nightmare’s cruel humour. “You’re an alcoholic, Nightmare,” Celestia said, folding her wings and taking a seat next to her sister.

“Alcoholic is such a strong word...” Nightmare thought out loud while tapping her chin, “I prefer the term... tasteful.”

“Alcohol turns the best gentlecolts into slobbering idiots,” Celestia reminded, shooting her sister a loathsome glare.

“You say it like it’s a bad thing,” Nightmare teased at her sister’s expense, “As if you can’t recall being drunk a few times yourself. Not to mention I do recall you bringing home a few stallions home drunk out of their arse.”

“You have a problem, Nightmare,” Celestia repeated, not letting her sister change the subject. “You should set an example for your citizens, not follow the norm,” she lectured.

Annoyance now beginning to wear her down, Nightmare levitated the bottle of vodka she had poured for her inexperienced sister and magicked the cap off. “What are you? My mother?” Nightmare spited, gulping a mouthful of the clear liquid.

“I’m family,” Celestia answered, snatching the bottle away before Nightmare could finish it, “And family means nobody gets left behind.”

“A bit late for that don’t you think?” Nightmare scoffed, rolling her eyes. “A thousand years late if I’m counting correctly.”

The worn down matriarch sighed, taking a shot of the vodka herself. There was slight burning in her throat, but Celestia ignored it, hoping the alcohol worked it magic and soon. “I was a different pony back then, Nightmare. I didn’t realize what I had until it was gone.”

“Yes, if I recall, the status quo was more important than family back then it seems,” Nightmare chatted, staring out the windows, “You’re a load of bullshit and you know it, Celestia. You only follow your own words when it suits you.”

“You’re not the only victim here,” Celestia tried to argue, angrily glaring at her sister, “I was only doing what was best for the people. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few; you should know better Nightmare.”

The dark alicorn stayed silent, peering at her sister’s reflection on the window. “No... No, it seems you were the only one that went without paying her dues. Would it have hurt anyone to just have a longer night? A few hours at best?” Nightmare asked.

“No...” Celestia mumbled, a bit taken back. She slumped back into her chair, downcasting her vision.

The intercom of the plane softly beeped, as a mare’s light voice came onto it, “Hello Your Highnesses, this is your captain speaking. We are on time for our departure of the beautiful and relaxing islands of Fiji. Now if you would all buckle your seatbelts, we are ready for our takeoff.” The intercom screeched as the pilot hung up and started up the engines.

“I’m sorry, sister,” Celestia said as she turned towards her starring sister and tried to get her attention.

“Don’t be,” Nightmare grinned as she turned around, surprising Celestia, “We both say things we don’t mean; things that can’t exactly be taken back...” She fastened her seatbelt with a click as Celestia searched for hers.

“Where are the seatbelts?” Celestia questioned as the jet roared down the runway. Her eyes scanned the seat Nightmare forced her to take, just to find it lacking in any kind of safety devices. 

“You don’t have any, per se,” Nightmare smirked, levitating herself a new martini, “Had to go cheap with the safety on this plane due to someone’s inability to share in the family wealth.”

“W-what do you mean I don’t have any?” Celestia nervously chuckled, searching frantically for the safety restraints, “All planes have se-seatbelts...”

“Of course they all do,” Nightmare reassured, trying to calm her sister by gently patting her, “I just made sure I took the last one. I’m sure you’ll appreciate this one day.

“Y-y-you what?” Celestia stuttered as she felt the jet lift off from the ground. “NIGHTMARE!”

“I suggest you hold on,” Nightmare snickered, “I hired a stunt pilot as one of the captains.”

On magical cue, the jet swerved dangerously to the right causing Celestia to tumbling out of her chair and smacked face to window. Looking down she saw the outlay of the the edge of the skyfield as land began sweeping away for water. Peeling herself from the glass, Celestia heard rustling from behind and turned immediately, watching as her luggage dislodged itself from the overhang and gravitated towards her.

Nightmare heard the luggage bag hit something solid, followed by an out-of-breath huff a fraction of a second later. “Perhaps next time you check-in your bags?” Nightmare suggested, following it with a devious laughter that seemed to echo through the jet. She held steady to her drink, patiently waiting as the jet leveled again. The bags lumped to the floors, as a semi-flattened Celestia fell onto them.

“Do be careful, I have delicates in the bags,” Nightmare warned as she shoved Celestia’s limp body to the side with magic and tossed them back into the overhang, “Try to enjoy the flight, it’s only for another five or so hours,” Nightmare said with a delighted snicker.

Celestia shook her head to clear the stars that hovered above. Trying to get a grip of reality again, she stood up and attempted to walk. On her first step, she fumbled and crashed head first into the carpet.

"And you say I look stupid when I'm drunk," Nightmare spoke, enjoying her sister's clumsy state of mind, "Would you like a seat?" Nightmare offered, "I'll even throw in some seatbelts because that's just how nice I am."

Celestia quickly answered a mumbled yes in her dazed stated, as a dark aura of magic surrounded her loose-footed body. Hovering above unstable ground, she eventually made her way towards the seat next to her waiting sister. She was quickly strapped in by a pair of cotton seat belts, and was reassured as she heard the familiar clicking the straps made.

“Now onto the matter of keeping the seat belts,” Nightmare grinned as she sipped from her enchanted martini glass.

Celestia gave her a cold glare, one that showed no amusement towards the matter. “What could you possibly want, hmm?” She questioned with annoyance, “Would you like my blood? Perhaps my kingdom and crown?” Celestia offered, “How about I serve you as a personal slave for the rest of the vacation? Would that be nice? Would you like that? How about my heart served on a silver platter?”

“As tempting as that all sounds,” Nightmare pondered, tapping her chin with a smirk painted on, “I have something better in mind. I want the Royal bank accounts,” Nightmare stated.

"HA!" Celestia followed the demand with frivolous laughter, thinking of the request of a terrible joke, “And why should I give it to you?” Celestia scoffed, rolling her eyes.

“Your own safety for one,” Nightmare answered, unclipping her sister’s seatbelt, “And because I asked so nicely.”

Celestia laughed it off as if it was a petty thing, wiping a tear that had formed on one of her eyes. “Do your worst, Nightmare,” she chuckled, “I deal with politicians everyday, and not a single day has gone by that at least one threat on my life hasn’t been made. You’re paradise compared to some of them.”

“Then I suggest you take this parachute then,” Nightmare smiled back, tossing a heavy backpack onto Celestia’s chest, “Unfortunately, we only have enough fuel to carry a pegasus and a single alicorn all the way to Fiji. I’m afraid you’re gonna have to jump out onto the way there, unless you agree to my deal.”

“Just why exactly can’t it carry two alicorns?” Celestia questioned calmly.

“You’ve grown quite... bovine these past centuries, sister,” Nightmare remarked, prodding the excess flaps on Celestia’s body.

“If you’re trying to call me fat, just say it,” Celestia snapped, shoving the intruding hoof away.

“Not fat, just extra weight,” Nightmare corrected, backing away from her upstart sister, “And the drug won’t work it’s way out of your system until late tomorrow afternoon; I made sure the dosage was exact on the dot.”

“So what? I jump out of a plane onto Fiji instead of walking out when the jet lands? You call that intimidation? Honestly, I think you’ve grown soft, Nightmare,” Celestia giggled, laughing as Nightmare’s grin turn into a frown.

“Well, if I did my math correctly, we only have enough fuel to make it halfway there if you continue to be on this plane. So, the bank accounts or we swim to Fiji,” Nightmare threatened.

“You’re bluffing,” Celestia dismissed, stealing the martini out of her sister’s hoof. She snatched the drink with a quick draw from her hooves. Celestia stirred the beverage and nipped on the green olives. “Not even you are willing to swim two thousand miles in shark infested water while carrying luggage.”

“That’s funny,” Nightmare chuckled, “You think we actually means the both of us. You’re jumping out of this plane, one way or another.”

“And who exactly is gonna make me?” Celestia questioned, finishing Nightmare’s martini.

“Not who but what rather,” Nightmare answered, peering into her left wing and spreading it open. Her magic glowed an ink black and a vial was levitated out, as a bluish liquid swirled around inside it.

“How’s that thing gonna make me give you the bank accounts?” Celestia laughed.

“It’s the antidote, of course,”  Nightmare answered, waving the vial around, “For the poison you just drank.”

Celestia grimaced at the empty martini glass she had downed, snapping the cup in half with her hoof with anger aimed at herself for being so careless. She stared at Nightmare’s crazed smile, holding the antidote aloft in the air. “But you drank it as well,” Celestia remembered, calling her sister’s bluff.

“I’ve been drinking that stuff for eons, but you however has never known about this until now,” Nightmare countered, letting her smirk tell her intentions, “But then again, I could be bluffing,” she said, waving the vial about, “The question is, are you feeling lucky today?”

Smoke began to rise from the seat the solarmare sat on, as Celestia stared at the swirling blue antidote with undivided attention. “You’ll never get away with this. You’re gonna give me that antidote whether you like it or not because you can’t risk getting caught,” Celestia retorted.

“Au contraire ma soeur, there are many ways to kill an alicorn; be it torture or a knife through the back,” Nightmare snickered, pushing a button on her swerve chair.

The jet began a nauseating nosedive for the open seas, as the cockpit became weightless and oxygen masks dropped from the ceiling. Nightmare kepted a calm facade, laughing at her sister’s instant reaction to hold onto her seat.

“Tell the pilot to pull us up!” Celestia screamed over the roar of wind that smashed against the plane. “You’re gonna get us both killed!”

“The bank accounts, if you please,” Nightmare continued, calmly ignoring the fall of luggage from the overhangs. She peered out the window and stared at the oncoming surface of ocean water, making note of the time before impact. “Anytime within the next minute and a half would be appreciated.”

“Why do you want the accounts?!” Celestia shouted, hugging her chair for dear life. “You already have an allowance of five thousand per week!” 

“What can I say? Enough just isn’t enough,” Nightmare shrugged, “Tick-tock, sister, we’ve only got a minute left,” she warned with a hoof pointed to the window.

“Give me a reason! I’m not gonna have the Tribunal sticking their noses in my mane without some kind of excuse!” Celestia decided, pulling her seat belt tighter.

“Now really isn’t a good time,” Nightmare emphasized, ready to signal the pilot once her goal was complete, “I suggest you make up your mind, and I’d rather it sooner than later.”

“I’m not kidding Nightmare! A reason or no codes!” Celestia argued, wrapping her arms around Nightmare’s body for safety.

“A mare has to eat,” Nightmare quickly made up. She magicked a silver bottle from the remains of the mini-bar, pouring herself a cocktail.

Good enough, Celestia thought, “The account is NCC-One-Seven-Zero-One. Now pull up!”

“And the pin?” Nightmare asked, “What good is a bank account with all the money in the world if you can’t even get into it?” She clarified.

“Two-Two-Four-Five,” Celestia shouted, closing her eyes as the thoughts of her remains being found at the wreckage started to look like a reality.

“Much obliged,” Nightmare thanked as she pushed another button on her chair. If her demonic smirk was anything to judge by, it was like she was a foal in a candy shop.

The jet slowed out of its dangerous nose dive and leveled out. The luggaged stop rumbling from end to end of the plane, and silence fell except for the roar of the engine and Celestia’s rapid breathing. She had an iron grip wrapped around Nightmare’s unphased body, eyes still clenched shut and waiting for a crash landing.

“For someone with wings, you are deathly afraid of falling,” Nightmare said, breaking the vice grip the alablaster palatine had on her.

Celestia poked one eye opened, carefully checking that the plane had stopped freefalling and was on stable course. Letting out a long, relieved sigh she had been holding, Celestia viewed the damage that unfolded around them. Their luggage was scattered everywhere, but luckily none spilled out.

“Well, forgive me if I care whether or not I die,” Celestia exclaimed, frantically searching for the blue vial that Nightmare could have dropped.

“Looking for this?” Nightmare asked politely, holding the small bottle in her hoof. “I never thought cup holders would ever be so useful.”

“Yes! Give me!” Celestia happily shouted, reaching for a hoof for it almost like a starving predator lunging for its prey.

“Don’t worry too much about it,” Nightmare assured, uncapping the bottle. “It’s not something you would ever think about drinking.”

Celestia expected her sister to hand her the vial, only to watch as Nightmare drank from it, downing every last drop. “So you didn’t poison me after all,” Celestia deduced as the bottle was tossed aside.

“How could you think that I would do such a horrid thing?” Nightmare gasped, a hoof raised to cover her gaping mouth. “Besides, you wouldn’t have liked it; it was grape flavored.”

Celestia shook her head to clear her thoughts, gently rubbing her temples and turning away. “So that’s it? No more ways to kill me?”

“I’d be more concerned about what was in the vial,” Nightmare said. She sipped on her cocktail as Celestia quickly swung around to give her a deathly glare.

“Then O’Mistress of All Knowingness, what was in the vial, exactly?” Celestia questioned through clenched teeth that had visible cracks through them.

“My second most favorite thing to drink in the world,” Nightmare answered, siping more of her cocktail, “hangover medicine.”

“That’s it?” Celestia mumbled, eyebrow raised in surprised. “A tonic so that I wouldn’t get a hangover?” She mildly chuckled at the thought and relaxed for the short time she had.

“I had ten times the normal alcohol packed in that martini you drank,” Nightmare cautioned, “You won’t feel it now, but the effects should take over soon enough. And best of all you won’t even remember this conversion. In fact...” She mumbled to herself.

As the thought entered her mind, Celestia began to feel woozy in her head. Sound began to slow down and seem distorted, as her vision blurred as well. She blinked several times to get her vision right again, and tried to concentrate on Nightmare’s voice. Unable to control them, her eyelids began to drop at random.

“You look tired,” Nightmare’s deep voice echoed in Celestia’s mind. “Perhaps you should lay down?” She suggested.

“Annnnd what? Dieee?!” Celestia slurred. She quickly unstrapped her herself and fell forward against the wall in front of them.

“First you whine about not having seat belts and now you don’t even use them,” Nightmare sighed, shaking her head, “Strap yourself in before I make you,” Nightmare commanded in her court voice.

“HA!” Celestia laughed, steadying herself back up, “You never liked getting your hooves dirty, Nightmare! I know you’re nothing but empty threats!”

“Very well, then,” Nightmare complied, setting her martini down on her chair’s holster, “You’re right, I don’t like to get my hooves dirty, but you need to know when I don’t joke around.” The midnight mare gently put both her hooves onto the sides her glistening helmet and put the protective armour aside. Next was her chest plate, removing it with ease and placed it onto her chair.

“Neither of us has seen combat in a thousand years,” Nightmare reminded, unbuckling her seat belts. The oppositional mare confronted Celestia face to face, wings spread opened and took an offensive stance.

“Juuust like old times,” Celestia hiccuped, trying to push the effects of the drug and alcohol aside.

“If we are to go off of old times, then we both know who the better fighter is,” Nightmare exclaimed through razor sharp fangs, ready to snap at anything.

“Yea, me,” Celestia answered with a confident smirk that gained her a growl from Nightmare. “While you stood around modeling for statues and paintings I had foreign relations to accomplish.”

The amazons lowered their heads and crossed horns. Both side strafing with one another and eyeing every detail of their opponent. Celestia stumbled her footing once or twice, but quickly corrected herself before Nightmare could notice.

“You know, I really do need to thank you,” Nightmare gleefully smiled, as she stopped her circular pacing with Celestia.

“Oh? And why is that?” Celestia asked quickly as she braced herself.

“One for standing in front of the emergency escape,” Nightmare pointed out with a hoof.

Celestia instantly turned her head around to see the dead end she had forced herself into. Her eyes shrunk to the size of pins as Nightmare’s magic aura consumed the bright red emergency lever. “You wouldn’t,” Celestia desperately tried to call on her sister’s bluff as she eyed the door attentively, returning her gaze to Nightmare at any sudden movement.

Nightmare calmly tiptoed away from her fumbling next-in-kin, basking in her joy of winning the entente. “Perhaps not,” she managed to get out with a straight face, “But you’d be surprised at what you can live through,” Nightmare crazily grinned.

Celestia prepared herself for the worse; getting her wings ready to use as shields in case anything magical was shot her way. She’d be punching a hole in a pressurized plane if she deflected the shot, but at least she’d be taking Nightmare with her.

“Think of this as not a mere goodbye, but a good night,” Nightmare said as she backed away from her golden sister.

“Good night?” Celestia asked, as she looked outside to see the still sunny skies with worry of déjà vu. Fearing another episode of eternal night, the battle ready harridan locked her legs to prepare for a physical attack and hoped that her sister wasn’t headstrong enough to blow a new door in the jet.

“Sleep tight, sister,” the black vixen wished as she saluted the sunny-side diarch.

Celestia stared down her eldest sister, waiting for the mare to strike — but out of her peripheral, she saw the slightest movement of something being drawn back and aimed at her. She quickly turned to her right as the glisten of a metal arrowhead partially blinded her.

An opal pegasus was standing in the doorway to the cockpit of the plane, an arrow pulled back with her teeth, with a hoof and wing angled so that they stabilized the recurved bow she was using. Celestia stared straight down the shaft of the arrow, looking straight into the archer’s keen, marksmen eye.

Unable to react fast enough due to the profound drugs she unknowingly took, Celestia brought her wing up too late to block the oncoming arrow.

The razor sharp tip pierced through her patented hide, as she heard the solid thud it made once logged in her side. Celestia recoiled from the impact, falling to her side before the base of the bolted seats next to her. Even with her mind clouded, it still spun from the extensive pain now coursing throughout her.

Now numb in everything below her v-line, Celestia slowly twisted her neck to pull the arrowhead. Using her teeth, she bit down hard on the wooden shaft and pulled without hesitation. With her vision beginning to blur, she dropped the the blood-tipped arrowhead from her mouth. She breathed with labored breath, each one harder to get in than the last.

Celestia focused on one thing to keep her mind going, staring adamantly at the modified arrowhead. Everything was already in triple-vision, but she concentrated enough to make out the shape of what had hit her. Stained with her ethereal ichor, she made out the definite outline of a syringe that had stuck itself in a minor artery and was now empty except for the remnants of a few droplets.

“”W-wh-what did you drug me with?!” Celestia mumbled, exhausted from everything that was thrown her way. She couldn’t feel anything besides her dulling mind, as her thoughts slowed to a walking pace.

“Nothing I wouldn’t take myself of course, dearest,” Nightmare obliged with a similar syringe held aloft with her black aura. She stuck herself as proof in the small spot the arrow had hit Celestia, in her mid torso and grunted with pain as she pulled the needle out.

Nightmare clenched her fangs to steer off the the annoying prick, tossing the syringe aside. “I’ll see you on the other side, sister,” she promised, looking down to her winking sibling. The night spirit’s voice reached Celestia’s ears just in time as the olden deity blinked into unconsciousness. Her head dropped like barbell weights, landing softly on the kashmir carpet.

Nightmare stood looking down on her sister’s limp body, controlling her breathing as her body began to shift several hues brighter. The muscular wings she had folded on her sides shrunk in size, before disappearing altogether in her now misty midnight coat. Her celestial mane dissipated in magic, as the tiny stars dwindled in numbers and light.

The lone pegasus standing in the drift of the cockpit swung her wood-bound bow onto her back and curtsied to her employer. Returning to the pilot seat, she closed the door behind her and left the two siblings alone.

Nightmare felt the jet lung forward at an increased speed as the roar of the engine reverberated within the well-toned plane. She felt the world get a little bit bigger as her body shrank in stature as well as her horn length. The alicorn-turned-unicorn picked up a hand mirror from the nearby counter and inspected her new appearance.

“Hmm... Not bad...” Nightmare grinned as she looked at her handiwork, “Not bad at all. Looks like I’ve still got it,” she admired to herself in a new softer and higher voice. The flowing ethereal canvas was now a well styled, silver mane with short curls and laces that extended down to her knees. The mare’s cutie mark, a crescent moon on an ink splotch, swirled in on itself as a new one formed of a shining moon with three stars to accompany it.

Nightmare tested her motor-functions first, finding it easier to move than ever. No longer a towering immortal, the unicorn felt everything fitted correct as her swerve chair was now bigger than she was. In a new mystic blue aura, she picked up Celestia’s sleeping form and fastened her to the chair next to hers. Even with a smaller body, her magic prowess was still at alicorn capacity, which she gleefully complemented herself for.

“I do hope I got the measurements right for you dear Tia,” Nightmare whispered in a humored tone, still giddy that her life-time achivement worked perfectly. She looked out the clear windows, still viewing water as far as she can see. “This is going to be the best vacation ever!” She cheered triumphantly.


|~|~|~|~|~|


This is the worst vacation ever, Celestia thought in her misty, pounding head. She could still sense the outside world, but was unable to react to it or her non-responsive body. Luckily, she could feel her body working the drugs away, cleansing her of the numbing sensation. Feeling returned almost immediately as she felt a sultry, tropical breeze prick against her coat.

She sniffed seawater into her sensitive nose, as well hearing the sound of waves crashing onto the waiting shores. Even with eyelids clenched shut, specks of light shone through the protective coverings; enough to give Celestia indication that eternal night was not yet nigh. She daintily opened her eyes, letting them adjust to the oncoming rush of light.

Observing her new surroundings, Celestia was set facing the ocean sitting atop a foldable lounging chair that had a nice, big umbrella to shield against sunburns. Expecting to be restrained in one way or another, she found herself surprisingly free of body and mind and able to move as she willed without any outside force commanding her.

“Glad to see you awake sleepy head,” came a sweet, young voice Celestia didn’t recognize. She  steered her head to the source, finding an adolescent pair of ponies sitting on a picnic blanket. One was laid back on her stomach which she identified as a unicorn, as her opal pegasus friend above rubbed tanning lotion onto her back with a gentle massage.

“Hello Princess,” the alabaster masseuse greeted with a friendly wave of her wing, “I’m the one that shot you,” she beamed with a smile.

The voluptuous princess sat dumbfounded on her comfy tanning chair as she quickly recalled past events. She remembered distinctly looking into the eye of an archer before she was shot and drugged. “It’s impolite to stare you know,” came the same voice from before. Celestia was unknowingly gaping her mouth in surprise with eyes glued on the duo.

“Oh, sorry about that,” Celestia quickly apologized, as she looked around to see if anyone else was nearby, preferable her voyeuristic sister. Her eyes however returned to the resting unicorn, of which looked strangely familiar from the get-go. “I’m sorry, do I know you?” She asked politely.

The magical equine turned to Celestia with a trademark smile that sent her chilling waves of déjà vu down her spine. “Don’t recognize your own sister do we?” The jetblue unicorn asked with an oversized grin as she turned to face her uninformed sibling.

“Sister?” Celestia asked confused at the unknown mare. She looked into her supposed sibling's arctic-green eyes and found the familiar twinkle burning inside her that confirmed the mare’s word.

“Search your feelings; you know it to be true,” Nightmare’s new form said.

Celestia took the moment to examine the mare carefully. She noticed the subtle hints of her hellish sister: the unmistakable, confident smirk, chill sending eyes, and the oh-so-familiar moon cutie mark. Then again, who was she to believe an unknown unicorn’s words. “My apologies if I do not trust your word right off the bat.”

“Understandable,” Nightmare bemused, aware of her sister’s tenacity, “Still, how do I look?” She asked, cheerfully smiling up at Celestia.

“Fifty-thousand years younger,” the arcadian answered truthfully. If it really was her sister, damn did she look good, Celestia envied. 

“Hmm,” Nightmare cooed as she complimented herself, “Then it must have done wonders for you,” she said, levitating a hand mirror up for Celestia to look at.

Celestia peeked into her reflection, finding it wasn’t herself who looked back. Instead, a bright-eye pegasus stared back with somewhat of blissful ignorance written on her face. Her horn was nowhere in sight, yet she could still feel magic flow through her body. Another benefactor was that for once she didn’t feel her joints ache. She was truly youthful again, just as her sister had said.

“You’re welcome by the way,” Nightmare reminded as she laid her head back onto the blanket. “This transformation was a costly one and you owe me big time for it,” she intoned in a less cheery voice.

“What do you mean by that?” Celestia said with half her attention in the conversation. She was too busy examining her new allure, of which really was fifty-thousand years younger. Her once spectrum mane was now a glossy pink, silky smooth to the touch; and did she like that. A hoof pressed against her refined face, and found something she thought she lost forever, her cheek bones!

Next was her wings, smaller than her old ones, but more agile and muscular. She had missed the old days; when a royal life didn’t interfere with her schedule Celestia would always take the time to fly freely with her pet phoenix. She found herself teleporting more often each and every day as life became more civilized.

Now, on a secluded island, no one to judge her or tell her what to do beside her sister, it was time to give the old gals a good stretch again. Just as a hoof moved down to her touch her new wings, she found out why she didn’t fly that much anymore. Merely a contact and a spark of electricity was sent running up her spine.

A small blush gashed on her already rosey cheeks, as her body quivered at the sensitive muscles on her delicate wings. Celestia instinctively closed her eyes, with a small gasp escaping her gaping mouth. The wings fluttered opened with a poof as an ache formed inside her.

“I do suggest you be careful,” Nightmare warned, snapping Celestia out of her dazed state, “I had to rework the potion so that the nerves in your horn were sent elsewhere, and unfortunately for you, it seems they were redirected to your wings. A little more prep time and I would have nailed it, but as it seems we were in a rush,” Nightmare scolded herself.

“S-so what am I suppose to do with them?” Celestia said, concentrating enough to push the thought of over-sensitive wings out of mind.

“As of now, nothing,” Nightmare answered calmly, resting her head back on the makeshift pillow she had going with her fore hooves crossed, “Relax and I’ll work out the bugs later; we are on vacation after all.”

Now that she was reminded, Celestia peered away from her decently discreet sister and to the astonishing background that seemed to have been painted by a master artist. Nearby she heard the mellow chirps of a family of tropical birds, blending in with the gentle gust of wind that blew past them and the constant crashing of salty waves.

It almost gave her a false sense of security that nothing could go wrong while they were on the island, almost. Celestia gingerly pulled her wings back into a fold and felt her throat dry beyond what was bearable. “Do we have anything to drink?” She asked to her sister.

“A bit early, don’t you think?” Nightmare answered back with a tentative smirk. She twisted her head back to her waiting assistant, who at a moment’s glance grabbed a bottle of rubbing lotion and applied it gently to her outer coat.

“I meant water,” Celestia clarified, “And I do mean water this time,” she made sure.

“If you’re that parched,” Nightmare agreed. She signaled her pegasus to stop with the therapeutic massage with a small nod and spoke, “If you’d kindly,” the patron directed to her servant.

“M’lady,” she bowed, trotting into the plush forest behind them and disappeared from sight.

Once the lone assistant was out of hearing range, Celestia turned her attention to Nightmare. “Mind telling me a bit about your new assistant?” She inquired for her own safety.

“Why not ask her when she gets back?” Nightmare answered with a question.

“Because she’ll only say what you told her to say,” Celestia called, gaining an annoyed glare from her resting sister.

“Fine,” Nightmare agreed, melodramatic to her sister’s irritation. Clearing her throat she began her version, “Her mother died giving birth and she was born into the lower classes. Fortunately, she had an older brother and a working father, who worked three jobs. Not enough to send her to school though.

“Father died seven years later, just before she got her cutie mark, and everything is history after that. To think if he lived a few more weeks he might of had a taste of the good life,” Nightmare finished, closing her eyes again.

“And what is her special talent exactly?” Celestia asked intrigued, stepping off her beach chair and stared back to the returning cream colored mare in the distance.

“Luck,” Nightmare answered, “Mostly good. I have to wonder sometimes if I hired her for her qualities or because she she was lucky enough to stumble upon the job.”

“Luck?” Celestia repeated, now interested more than ever. “Can she control it?” 

“Yes, luck, as I guess it’s a way the universe is repaying her for being so cruel,” Nightmare silently mourned, “And her talent works the same way her mood does; the less happy she is the better the luck for everyone around her, and vica versa.”

“And just how old is she?” Celestia inquired next, “You do know there is a law against underage employment now,” she added.

“About the same age as your student, if not a few years older,” Nightmare answered, lifting her head up to see when her cocktail would be arriving, “It’s about time I started up the old apprenticeship.”

“With a pegasus?” Celestia questioned, recalling past history, “You’d always prefered a unicorn in the past. Why the sudden change in race?”

“I believe she can answer that for herself,” Nightmare said with a twinkle in her eye aimed at sister. “Do try to be subtle. She is quite paranoid about some things, but she’s rather helpful to have around.” The pegasus soon returned with a plate in hoof, gently flapping her wings to stay aloft.

“Your cocktail, m’lady,” came her lighthearted voice. She gripped the shot glass with a hoof and served it with a smile, doing the same for Celestia.

“Thank you,” Celestia said, taking the bottle of water. She made sure it was unopened and not professionally resealed, else another relapse should occur. “I didn’t catch your name,” she remembered, “Miss...?”

“Nighting Gale,” Nightmare answered for her, drawing Celestia attention. “Nighting, this is my sister, Celestia. Sister, meet the captain of my Royal guard.”

“Captain?” Celestia exclaimed. “I’ve never seen you before in the castle,” she said, pointing to Nighting, “How long have you been Captain?”

The loyal pegasus hesitated, waiting for Nightmare to give permission with a simple nod before she answered. “Since midnight yesterday, m’lady,” Nighting answered.

“And what exactly was your vocation before you were made Captain?” She asked delicately, noticing the exchange between master and student.

“That is on a need to know basis, m’lady,” she recited, bowing to the matriarch, “I’m sorry if I cannot comply to your request.”

Nightmare gave a subtle chuckle from her tanning spot, turning her head back to meet her sister’s. “Quite the loyal one isn’t she?” Nightmare asked gleefully. “Always eager to please.”

“I can see that,” Celestia spit with a furrow in her brow. She returned her attention to the bottle of water, concentrating on uncapping it. When it didn’t open, she contemplated why her magic wasn’t working. “Nightmare, what did you do to my magic?”

“It’s your magic, how should I know?” Nightmare snapped back, hiding a devilish grin.

Celestia exhaled a dull sigh, expecting the same answer yet asked anyways. “You know what I meant, sister. The best an appearance potion can do is make something hidden or disappear, not remove it entirely. What did you give me that took away my magic?” She asked, a little concerned, but hid it.

“Polyjuice potion,” Nightmare answered with ease.

Celestia kicked herself on the inside, but wanted nothing more than to strangle her sister at the moment. “You DRINK polyjuice potions; you didn’t need to shoot an arrow at me!” She  exclaimed angrily.

“Pish posh,” Nightmare dismissed, “I used it as a basis. The old potion was barely enough to keep an alicorn transformed and when one was, it didn’t last nearly half as long. So I added something with a little more kick to it.”

Of course there’s something extra... Celestia thought as she kicked herself for not knowing, “And the extra kick...?” She left hanging.

“Let’s leave that part to foreign relations,” Nightmare eluded, turning her head away, “You always did pride yourself on the number of countries you could trust.”

“Foreign relations, ha?” Celestia repeated, irritated. “Maybe you can shed some light then,” she said turning to the quiet pegasus with a friendly smile.

“I’m sorry, m’lady, but I’m not obliged to answer that,” Nighting responded, dipping her head in a bow, “My obligations are towards my patron first and foremost.”

“Oh?” Celestia said, a brow arched in surprise, “Then as your Princess and ruler, the request is now an order.”

Nighting kept her head inches from the ground, avoiding the waiting diarch’s gaze. “Yes, m’lady, under normal circumstances and law I would, but here, on foreign soil, outside of Equestria’s boundary and protection, we stand on equal ground. I’m afraid I’m gonna have to deny your request,” she reminded, still bowing down. 

Celestia couldn’t believe it. She was being schooled for the first time since her student departed for Ponyville and by her sister’s apprentice no less. “Err... Of course...” She said in a low voice, feeling not all that high and mighty.

“My apologies if I’ve made you uncomfortable m’lady,” Nighting atoned.

“She’s definitely a keeper,” Nightmare chuckled under her breather.

“You praise me too highly m’lady,” Nighting replied sheepishly, hiding the sudden blush from the complement.

“Speaking of praise,” the highly esteemed ex-alicorn interrupted, “Who’s going to raise the sun now that my magic is gone?” Celestia asked diligently.

“No need to worry about that m’lady,” Nighting excitedly answered, she raised from her bow and dug into a picnic basket nearby. She pulled out a wax-seal scroll with the Lunar crest, not the olden one that Nightmare used, but a more modern one she was used to, “I was told to give this to you, m’lady.”

With a wing, she gave Celestia the parchment, still sealed. Unable to use her nifty reality breaker: magic, Celestia struggled to grip it in her hooves. Even with her sister turned away, she knew Nightmare was getting the best laugh of her life out of this. Fumbling with the scroll like a toddler trying to walk, Celestia grunted in frustration as the parchment tumbled out of her hooves.

“Would you like help m’lady?” Nighting offered with a smile.

“No...” Celestia grumbled under her breath. She didn’t know how non-unicorns did it, but without magic, opening a scroll was pure hell. Thank her mother that the scroll was enchanted against ripping, else she’ll never be able to read it. “Almost got it...” She said to herself, now using both her hooves and mouth.

She finally got it, even if she had to twist in an awkward position, she got the seal to break. Celestia was on her back, wings jarred left and right to keep her balanced, with her mouth gripped one end of the scroll with a hoof bent to hold the other. With the last free hoof, she ripped the seal open and unfurled the letter.

“Did you bring the camera, Nighting?” Nightmare asked as she chuckled at her sister’s spayed form.

“Of course, m’lady,” she answered, digging into the picnic basket.

“What are you doing?” Celestia said in her muffled voice. She tried to right herself, only to find her body to be tied in knots.

“Taking pictures for the New Year’s party,” Nightmare answered, flaring her horn with magic and taking the old-fashion camera, “Maybe some blackmailing later if I’m in the mood,” she said, taking several pictures of her sister.

“It’s gonna take a lot more than pictures to blackmail me,” Celestia debunked, trying to crush Nightmare’s spirits and scheming up a plan to steal the camera later. She turned her attention towards the letter she had finally opened and held together by both hooves. Celestia read each lines, word for word, making sure she understand everything.

At least the sun is in the hooves of someone responsible, Celestia thanked, sending her blessing to her second eldest sister. She rolled the scroll up, which burned to a crisp in her hooves without harming her.

“Well, not that this hasn’t been fun,” Nightmare hummed, getting up from her tanning spot, “But I have some business to attend to.” Her back was glistening from the tanning lotions, added with the radiant sunlight, she was literally glowing. “Nighting, stay with my sister and keep her happy, but be wary of what you say around her,” Nightmare warned.

The unicorn’s horn already glowed bright and warped her away before Celestia could even finish her sentence of wait. Both pegasi brought their wings up to protect their eyes as the light dimmed and the two were left alone.

“M’lady,” Nighting curtsied, ready to serve.

“I don’t suppose you know what business my sister has to attend to?” Celestia asked with optimism of friendship with the pennate mare.

“That’s confidential, m’lady,” Nighting strictly answered.

“Of course it is,” Celestia sighed, thinking maybe her sister had gotten to Nighting entirely.

“Anything else that I may service you in, m’lady?” Nighting asked patiently.

“Not at the moment, no,” Celestia grumbled in frustration. The indecisive mare returned to her lodging chair with the borrowed assistant on the side. Now that she was younger however, she finally got taste back into her mouth as well as a severe sweet tooth she had thought was gone forever. “Actually, I’d like some ice cream,” she reconsidered.

“Of course, m’lady; a double scoop coming right up,” Nighting said with a plenty of enthusiasm and a bright smile. She raised from her bow and rocketed into the sky; with the updraft nearly toppling Celestia’s chair and herself out of sheer surprise. 

Well, that explains why you made her captain, Celestia noted, coughing at the sand that were blew up. The pegasus’ mane was now a messy tangle, with split ends everywhere. She sigh and reached into her bag that Nightmare had thankfully left beside her. She brought out a brush brought from home, and began brushing her mane back into place as Nighting returned with her request.

“M’lady,” Nighting addressed with a double scoop of vanilla ice cream in her hoof.

“Thanks,” Celestia said in a more casual voice. She accepted the welcomed treat and took her first lick since forever. It was just as good as she remembered and better yet, tasting it after several thousand years of not even having taste buds made it that much more pleasurable.

“Would you like anything else?” Nighting asked again.

“If you don’t mind,” Celestia said cautiously, “What did my sister offer to you in return?” She give Nighting a friendly smile, which she could tell the mare needed with how long she hesitated to answer.

“I’m sorry m’lady, but that is also confidential,” Nighting repeated, with a respectful bow.

“I see,” Celestia commented again, “But I believe my sister has made this confidential to you and all who you want to share it with?” She questioned again, trying to guess her sister’s motives.

Nighting hesitated on her answer, which the more than patient enough goddess waited for. “A f-full pardon, m’lady,” she said after a minute’s wait.

A full pardon, she thought to herself. Her sister either hired a war criminal or a mercenary. It really is just like old times, she reminisce. “Please, just call me Celestia. The whole point of me getting shot with an arrow is so that I don’t get trampled by the media.”

“My apologies,” Nighting said, rising from her bow, “But thank you for reminding me, m’l- I mean Celestia.” She twisted to her right and reached into her slightly expanded wing. Nighting pulled two thin sheets of plastic from her wing. “Here are your ID and credit card, Celestia,” Nighting said, giving them to her. 

“Credit card?” Celestia asked with a surprised brow raised. She took the two cards from Nighting and inspected them. Indeed it was her sister’s handiwork, or at least the craftsmanship was up to par. The ID was easily a fake, but without a trained eye it was identical to any other; Nightmare even got the shiny imprints correct. The credit card however was real, and with the same bank account that Nightmare had weaseled out of her. 

“As well an ID, Miss Skies,” Nighting added, readdressing the Princess in a new alias.

“Hmm,” she thought out loud, “Sunny Skies,” she read her new name. Funny that Nightmare should choose this of all my previous names.

“I was also told to address you as Princess while we are alone and Skies when we are in public,” Nighting said to her ladyship.

“Please, just Celestia is fine,” she reminded again, trying to get past formalities. She tried to remember what she used as pocket space when in the form of avian and specifically remembered doing something similar to what Nighting had done.

“I’m sorry Princess, but I am under strict order from my patron to call you by your status. My apologies again if this bothers you in any way,” Nighting said.

“My sister also gave you an order to keep me happy, and what makes me happy is for you to just drop the formalities. Honestly I don’t mind if you call me Princess or Celestia, but as you said yourself, on this island we stand on equal ground,” Celestia said, using her speech abilities to bring things into her favor.

Nighting stumbled with her words, forgetting her mentor’s heed about what to say around Celestia. “Of course Celestia,” she said, following orders, “Would you like anything else?”

“Nothing comes to mind right now, but thank you,” Celestia said, trying to balance between the two plastic cards and her double scoop of ice cream with her forgotten experience with wings. She tucked the two cards firmly into a slot between two feathers, constantly adjusting them to make sure it didn’t touch any sensitive areas.

“Since I’m going to be using an alias in the first place, why don’t we get our stories straight in case someone starts asking questions?” Celestia said, reminding herself of a certain predicament long ago where the sister’s weren’t prepared.

“Not a problem, Celestia,” Nighting said, “My patron has already briefed me of your story should anyone ask questions. M’lady has taken care of everything and tasked me of keeping you company until it is dinner time. Then I will show you to the island’s finest cuisine restaurant where she shall meet us there. Afterwards it’s off to the château for bed rest.”

“Who does the château belong to?” Celestia asked, feeling sorry for the pony that Nightmare had to scare into selling.

“It’s privately owned by a Madam Midnight Star,” Nighting answered from memory. 

“Of course it is,” Celestia grumbled, surprised that her sister hasn’t already own the island. “But why don’t you tell me about yourself, since you already know about me. I see it’s only fair that we get to know each other better.” She got off her lounge chair and settled onto the picnic blanket Nightmare had used, shooting her sister’s student a friendly and cheerful smile. Her ice cream was left on the cup holder, which she had placed specifically in the shade.

“My life is not very interesting compared to one as long as yours Celestia,” Nighting said, trying to be humble in the situation, “I believe my patron has already told you about me.”

“I’m afraid my sister wasn’t very good with the details,” Celestia said, encouraging the mare to be more forward and open. “This is your life after all, so why should another tell it?”

Nighting hesitated around Celestia, her vision straying to the side to avoid any looks the Princess might give her. “My life is nothing compared to yours,” Nighting said again, trying to steer away.

“Has my sister really made you believe that?” Celestia asked back, getting mildly ticked off at the lack of free will and constant hoof kissing. “We stand on equal grounds here, Nighting. Please, speak with me as you would any other pony. Whatever you say around me stays with us. I can promise you that much,” she tried to reassured.

“My apologies if I have not done you satisfaction,” Nighting said sheepishly to the side, her cheeks turning a bright pink, “But I really am not allowed to tell.”

“And stop it with the constant apologizing,” Celestia intoned in her court-like voice. “You’re still a living being, even if my sister does say otherwise,” she sighed, disappointment apparent.

“If you would like to listen, then I don’t think there is much point in arguing,” Nighting caved, turning back to Celestia, “Where would you like me to start?”

“Well, stories usually begin at the beginning, so how we start from there?” Celestia tried to joke, to lighten the sullen mood.

“Very well,” Nighting agreed, ignoring all of Celestia’s ice breaker attempts. “I was born in Canterlot, but my family was constantly struggling in the lower tiers. Both my parents were unicorn, as well my brother, so I guess that makes me the black sheep of the family,” she said, with a smile painted on.

Low self-esteem, Celestia mentally noted away, compiling a list of things to talk to her sister about later.

“My mother was a schoolteacher, before the elementary school was closed. My dad was a mechanic, and had a little shop that my brother always worked at. My mother passed away giving birth to me,” Nighting said, her voice shrill and low, almost inaudible, “She taught my brother how to read and write, and he taught me when he wasn’t busy. My dad passed away a few years later.

Orphan, Celestia added again to her list.

“By then my brother was old enough to take over his shop and started a small business from there. Even made enough to send me to school,” she in a sultry voice, keeping up the smile, “And that was the last I heard from him.”

No family, Celestia noted. She was definitely gonna have to talk to Nightmare later.

“My patron has declined me the privilege to tell you the rest,” Nighting said in a forced cheerful tone.

“My sister won’t find out,” Celestia tried to reassure, desperate to learn of the mare’s story, “I give you my word on my mother’s grave.”

“I’m sorry Celestia, but I can’t risk my patron finding out I have disobeyed a direct order,” Nighting objected, “If there is anything else I can do for you, I will do it to the best of my abilities.”

Fearful, she filed away. You sure know how to pick’em sister. “And what is the consequence for disobeying an order?” This ought to be good.

“D-death,” Nighting answered, swallowing a knot in her throat.

Gee, how did I know she would say that? Celestia rolled her eyes, “Then tell me, Nighting, do you fear death?” Celestia said in a stern voice, putting all jokes aside.

“My own life is of no concern to me, Celestia,” Nighting answered more determined than ever in her raspy voice, “Whether it ends today or tomorrow, I am ensured full payment by my patron.”

Trusting, Celestia surprisingly found herself adding. “Thanks for sharing, Nighting. I’ll make sure to talk to my sister later about how well you perform,” Celestia cajoled. Just as she began relax, a drum of thunder flashed off in the distance. Celestia instantly turned to the shores, finding a patch of dark clouds where a sunny sky should be.

“I’m afraid we’re going to have to move the schedule around,” Nighting said straight away, seeing the thunder just as fast as Celestia did. “If you’d follow me, I’ll lead us back to the château. Our dinner reservation shall be held there tonight until the storm rolls over.”

“Great,” Celestia grumbled, packing everything back into her bag, but Nighting was already ahead of her. The agile pegasus already folded the the beach chair away and the picnic blanket was tucked inside the basket. Nighting gently handed Celestia her unmelted double scoop, and swung all the bags onto her back. Celestia had to admit, the mare was endowed with her wings, being able to balance just about anything on them, including the beach chair and umbrella.

“We must hurry if we are to stay dry,” Nighting said hurriedly. She dashed along the shoreline followed closely by a well toned and surprisingly fit Celestia. Both pegasi were incredibility muscular in both wing muscles and shoulder. Celestia couldn’t remember the last time she took ten paces without teleporting let alone run at the speeds she was going. 

The pink mane pegasus easily kept up with Nighting who she was sure had well toned muscles from training and hard work alone. Celestia however was born endowed, but as the saying goes: if you don’t use it you lose it and boy did she lose it. Her train of thought was interrupted as she felt water spill over onto her hooves.

“The tide’s coming in,” Nighting shouted back to Celestia, doubling her speed in a single sprint.

She was right, Celestia thought to herself. The water was rushing in quickly, and if it weren’t for her instincts she would have never looked up and saw that the black clouds had already rolled overhead. Lightning shot from one cloud to another, as Celestia watched the electricity build within the clouds. The waves were getting much more server, almost to the size and force as a tsunami. 

Celestia was glad Nightmare wasn’t here. In one hoof she was still holding her ice cream, and with the other three she used to run for her life. She really did need to get her priorities straight; the ice cream or her life as Nighting started pulling ahead. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t perform the same balancing act Nighting was a master of.

Her wings were stretched out, with one side more off set to make up for the ice cream. If she was to die, she was gonna die happy, Celestia decided, and with a horrible brain freeze. She swallowed whole the entire top scoop she was licking and quickly ate the other scoop just as fast. She waited patiently for it, but with a hoof freed she could finally catch up to her.

“AHHHH!" Celestia screamed in horror and fell to the ground in a fitful whrive. Her hooves clutched her head to maybe ease the pain that throbbed in her head. Nighting with lightning speed stopped in her tracks and paced back to Celestia hurriedly. "Totally worth it..." Celestia mumbled through the pain.

"How much do you weigh?" Nighting asked in a humble tone.

Celestia stared up with an angry glare.  "What does that have to do with any-" Her words were hushed out of her as Nighting with surprising strength for someone of her build lifted Celestia's prone body onto her back. The talented Pegasus balanced both Celestia and their bags perfectly without as much as having to break a sweat.

"I can’t afford for us to be late, Celestia," said Nighting in a worried tone, but kept the panic at bay.

Celestia saw the determination in Nighting's eyes; the same eyes her own student always had when she would teach Twilight a new spell, except where Twilight had fear of disappointment, Nighting had fear of Nightmare and the wrath her sister could bring.

Even with the extra weight of another pony, Nighting never seemed to lose any of her previous speed. If she was this fast on land, Celestia couldn’t wait to see how fast Nighting would be in the skies. Just as her brain freeze began to subside, Celestia saw the outline of Nightmare’s château. 

From the outside, the walls were built with black obsidian that stuck out like a sore thumb against the lush and beautiful scenery. The mini-castle was built seventy-stories high, seventy meters wide by seventy meters long, all while on the edge of a cliff face. As Nighting neared the château even more, there was a paved stone path that seemed luminescent now that the sun was hidden behind clouds.

Another flash brightened up the murky sky and the first drops of rain began pouring down. Luckily, it never touched either mares as Nighting made it just in time at the front doors of the château. The cloth overhang above the reinforced-steel doors acted as an umbrella for the pegasi, just as Nighting pulled a key from her wing and opened the doors.

Celestia opted to walk on her own and followed Nighting closely through the doors. The assistant pegasus placed all their belongings next to the umbrella stand and coat hanger, leading the way for a dazed Celestia. She couldn’t believe her eyes, now starting to hate the fact that her sister was more tasteful than her. 

The arched ceiling was painted with murals of Nightmare and her history; every battle the black alicorn was in to simply rising the moon. In the center of the room was a bright and oddly shaped chandelier that glowed a mystic jetblue. No candles were used to light it, yet Celestia noticed the faint glow of a black crystal. 

Barely ten paces into the château and Celestia was already breathless. The inside walls were not as intimidating as the outside and in fact was brightly colored an aqua blue with stars painted on; which she no doubt was as accurate to her sister’s sky. The hallway they entered was a long one that stretched all the way to what Celestia guessed was barely the half point and at the end were twin stairs that lead upward.

“Please,” Nighting interrupted, “This way,” she gestured with a hoof pointing straight.

Celestia was zoned out in her admiration of the beautiful château, but easily followed Nighting on their way to the dining halls if she remembered her sister’s schedule correctly. No matter how stunning or beautiful something was, Celestia could help but feel a nudge at the back of her mind that something was off about the mansion and it would soon come back to bite her.

She however pushed the feeling into her subconscious and trailed Nighting past several hallways and dozens of twists and turns as well another spiral staircase. Even with her now well toned and slender form, Celestia felt the effects of fatigue slowly drag her down while Nighting never showed a sign of letting up.

Celestia was thankful as Nighting pushed aside the final set of double doors into a large mess hall that contained a long rectangular table that stretched from one end of the room to the other. Celestia sensed the presence of a third party in that room easily; even with her magic gone, she was still able to sense physical energy, which was enough for her to be forewarned should anything go astray.

It seemed she had guessed correctly, as Nightmare sat comfortable at the end chair where a headmaster would always sit, in front of a burning hearth that only cause the shadows to expand around her.

“Oh good, you’re early,” Nightmare said in a musical voice, “I was wondering if you had been caught in the storm on the way here. So tell me, how was your run?” Nightmare asked with a goblet in her hoof.

Both pegasi walked towards a smiling Nightmare, but it was her student who spoke first, “We were on our way here when the storm first appeared Madam,” Nighting answered with a bow the moment she reached five paces of Nightmare.

“I hope my student has fulfilled your wishes to the best of her abilities, sister,” Nightmare said, dismissing Nighting from her bow.

“She has,” Celestia truthfully answered, “Although I wish you’d give her more free will,” the alabaster sister added. She walked to the nearest seat next to Nightmare and sat on her left hand side. 

“Very well then,” Nightmare said turning to a quiet Nighting, “I give you my full permission to share anything privy about yourself if my sister should ever ask,” she commanded.

“As you wish Madam,” Nighting obliged with another bow. 

“Happy?” Nightmare asked back to her sister.

“Not exactly what I meant...” Celestia sighed.

“There is no pleasing you,” Nightmare grunted in an annoyed manner, “I put a roof over your head and an assistant that does practically everything. What more do you want?”

“No more drugging me,” Celestia started to list.

“No promises,” Nightmare mumbled to the side.

“No more using my harem just because your libido is acting up,” Celestia said with a small blush on her cheeks.

“Again, no promises,” Nightmare said in a sultry tone, licking her lips. 

"No more drinking," Celestia intoned.

"Now that's just a deal breaker," Nightmare retorted.

"And if it wouldn't be too much trouble, I'd like to know why you picked Nighting of all ponies," Celestia requested.

Nightmare surprised her sister with a gleeful grin, before she signaled her Captain to the mini bar that was out of normal hearing range. "Martini, and whatever else is in the bar," she commanded to Nighting. She then turned her gaze back to Celestia who was giving her the usual disappointed look. "So, what do you want to know about my student?"

"First off, we need to talk about her issues," Celestial said bashfully.

"Has she disappointed you?" Nightmare asked back quickly.

"No, of course not," Celestia answered, trying to be bias.

"Has she denied any of your commands that I have allowed her?" Nightmare asked, narrowly giving Celestia time to ask her own questions.

"No," Celestia answered. 

"Then what is the issue?" Nightmare asked. She swirled her goblet around with her magic and daintily sipped the mysterious concoction. 

“Her background,” Celestia answered in a strained voice. 

“I’m disappointed in you sister,” Nightmare said with a cocked grin. Oh how the tables have turned, she smirked on the inside. “The circumstances of one’s birth is irrelevant. It’s what you do with the gift of life that determines who you are,” Nightmare answered vaguely.

“Who did you get that from?” Celestia questioned, realizing her hypocrisy.

“You don’t know him if that’s what you’re asking,” Nightmare continued, “But let’s get to the point. What is your issue with her background?”

“My issue is not her background itself,” Celestia clarified, “But it’s the fact that you hired her despite knowing her background. And the way you’ve turned her into an obedient servant; she can’t think for herself without fearing that she’ll be punished by you.”

“How I teach my student is my business, not yours,” Nightmare reminded, still keeping her calm state, “And you’ve already talked to her; you know she doesn’t fear death.”

“No, she fears of what you’ll do to her,” Celestia debunked, continuing her verbal assault, “A student should never fear their mentor, only failure and disappointment. And it is my business,” Celestia said dejected of her sister, “If she’s willing to die just by commanding her to, I make it my business.”

Nightmare sat stoic as ever, while Celestia frowned at her with heated anger, “Do you know why she doesn’t fear death?” Nightmare retorted after half a minute’s wait. 

“Humor me,” Celestia quickly expelled.

“Well, I made her Captain of my Royal Guard for a reason. She’s young and determined, just like ex-Captain Shining Armor,” Nightmare reminded, making Celestia huff to the side in annoyance, “And just like him, she fights for what she believes in, except without the high morals that Armor does.”

“Get to the point,” Celestia snapped impatiently.

“The point is that she doesn’t have anything holding her back, or rather anyone. Those that fear death are ones who are afraid to let go. She doesn’t have anyone left to exactly let go,” Nightmare answered, staring past her sister and looked to the busy mare at the mini-bar.

“That’s low, Nightmare, even for you,” Celestia said in a cold voice, feeling a bit of sympathy for the student.

“If anything you should be thanking me,” Nightmare continued, shrugging off her sister’s spite, “I was the one who saved her after all.”

“Then tell me what really happened,” Celestia said in a soft tone, “Since you’re the only one that seems to be allowed to.”

“Couldn’t even if I wanted,” Nightmare intoned with a shrug, “And I use the term want very loosely.”

“And why not?” Celestia snapped with a brow furrowed.

“Memory spell,” Nightmare answered easily, “After our deal was struck, all the hard copies of her record was burned, including the ones in the royal archive. And just to make sure no one knew of her past, she asked me to cast a memory spell so everyone who knew her soon forgot her. Not even I can recall the spell,” Nightmare added.

Celestia quickly looked behind her just as hoof steps became more audible. Nighting was on her way back to the sisters and a silver platter balanced on her wing. She placed several cocktails on Nightmare’s dinner plate as well as a few cups of other drinks and a glass of orange juice for the daytime Princess.

“Thank you,” Celestia said in a friendly tone to her, “I’m sorry if my sister sounds demanding,” she giggled to side so Nightmare couldn’t hear.

“And while you’re at it, I’d like you to head into the kitchen and get supper ready,” Nightmare ordered.

“As you command Madam,” Nighting bowed, taking Celestia’s joke and Nightmare’s orders.

“Would it kill you to say thank you?” Celestia quietly asked.

“Would it kill you to grow a spine?” Nightmare growled back.

The sisters locked eyes once more, each one unyielding in their composure. Even without magic, Celestia was more than capable of taking her sister, at least if she surprised her of course. “I’ve been really patient with you Nightmare,” Celestia said, breaking their short silence. 

“And I, you sister,” Nightmare snapped back, “I can make this a personal hell for you.”

“What are you gonna do? Make me go on another vacation with you?” Celestia retorted, mocking her sister with an obnoxious face.

“If I have to,” Nightmare answered, determined in her work. She picked up one of her cocktails with magic, before Celestia quickly snatched it away with an agile wing. “You’re not much of a drinker, sister; I suggest you be careful with that cocktail.”

Celestia shrugged off Nightmare’s warning to the back of her mind and quickly downed the entire drink in a single go. Even with the high alcohol content scorching her throat, she still took it like a champ and dared her sister to match her in number.

Nightmare easily read her sister’s intention and drank her cocktail like it was mountain fresh water. “I know I got the brains part of the gene pool, but challenging a wine goddess to a drink off? I’d say the potion must of lowered your already lacking brain cell count.”

“I may lack when it comes to knowledge compared to you, but I more than make it up with wisdom,” Celestia retorted, drinking another cocktail. It was just as bad as the first one, and left an after burning sensation in her throat.

“Clearly,” Nightmare began, picking up another cocktail, “You do not understand what I’m trying to get at,” she said, gobbling another shot of alcohol, “I have brain cells to spare sister, unlike you, as well a liver donor with my same blood type.”

“You’ve been idle too long, Nightmare,” said Celestia like she had something hidden up her sleeve, “I found your wine stash a week ago. I helped myself to half of the barrels while Discord was being reformed, and let me just say: it works wonders,” she thanked.

Nightmare no longer had her smirky grin on, but almost a contorted frown from building anger. It was one thing to keep her cooped up in a castle, but it was another to steal and drink her wine without as much as a thank you. “That’s... unfortunate...” Nightmare said in a low mumble as she looked away and drank another cupful.

“I also found the special wine you had locked up,” Celestia added, gaining a perky set of ears from her sister and could almost see the anger about to burst, “Who knew a comet could alter the taste of wine into something so fine?” Celestia asked in a mocking grinning that she was sure annoyed Nightmare more than anything. 

“I’m glad you liked it...” Nightmare deeply exhaled with a contorted face. Now she actually had a real reason to drink, which didn’t slow her down in the slightest as she took three consecutive shots of cocktail, whiskey, and perfectly aged wine.

“Thank you, I did,” Celestia answered back, “But as a sisterly favor, would you mind telling me where we are?” Celestia asked as Nightmare spun around to look at her, “Last I checked — and I check everyday, Fiji was still within Equestrian waters, or at least on the border of it,” she reminded, “And since your student was so kind to point it out for me, I’d like to know where I am exactly.”

“We’re close to Fiji,” Nightmare admitted, “But if you want to get technical, about two-hundred some miles south by southwest. It’s one of the few things that still list me as the primary owner of.”

“But...” Celestia added for her, blushing brightly now that her system had time to process the drinks.

“But in the time that has spanned since I last used it, this island has become a trading route for privately owned corporations,” Nightmare explained. She began counting the empty glasses, and found herself to be the losing one. “How many had you have to drink?” Nightmare asked worriedly.

“Not enough I’ll tell you that!” Celestia hiccuped innocently, as her wings suddenly puffed into full span.

“I swear you are doing this on purpose so I’ll have to be the responsible one,” Nightmare mumbled to herself in an irritated tone, “I’ve forgotten, you can’t hold your alcohol very well...” she indirectly said to her sister as the memory of a certain Hearth Warming Eve dinner party popped up, “Hmm, this really is like old times,” she grinned to herself.

“W-what are you babbling about n-now Nighty?” Celestia said merrily. The mirthful mare quickly inched closed to her calm and collective sibling, who was more than weirded out when Celestia began sharing the same seat with her.

“I’m not sure whether I like you drunk or sober,” Nightmare grunted as she tried to push her touchy sister away, “I seriously need to teach you how to drink one of these days...” Nightmare gasped as she was forced to use magic to pry her sister’s iron grip around her midriff. 

“Calm down Nighty,*hiccup* I only want to check something out,” Celestia said incoherently. She snuggled through Nightmare’s arctic silver mane, rummaging through the smoothed out hair where she knew Nightmare kept everything important. Celestia managed to fish out a map before she was pushed aside by Nightmare’s magic.

“Clearly, the royal life has made you forget what personal space is,” Nightmare exclaimed angrily as she fixed her once neatly combed mane.

“Sibling rules, nothing is sacred,” Celestia snapped back as she unfurled the scroll with her mouth and hoof. “Not that big of an island is it?” Celestia asked surprised as she examined the perimeter of the tropical island. It was either that or her dazed vision was affecting her more than she thought.

“No, of course not,” Nightmare growled as she snatched the map back from her sister, “Most of the island sunk when a monsoon hit it three centuries ago. This is simply an updated map I had drawn up recently,” Nightmare coldly answered as she folded the scroll back and hid it with magic.

“So you bought an island that is in danger of sinking into the bottom of the ocean,” Celestia recounted, “And you call me the dumb one.”

“It’s not my fault that you flooded my island,” Nightmare growled back, but wasn’t as threatening as Celestia remembered without her dangerous fangs.

“How could I flood an island that I never even knew about?” Celestia questioned back, as she retreated from Nightmare’s personal space and back into her own chair.

“For one you never learned how to raise my moon properly!” Nightmare exclaimed with building anger, “And the night of the monsoon, you miscalculated by an entire ten degrees, more than enough to raise the water levels and cause the flooding in the first place,” she scolded.

Celestia’s ears perked down like a whimpering dog, as she dare not look her sister in the eye while she called her out on the bad miscalculations. “I’m sorry...”

“Sorry?” Nightmare repeated with hysteria on her face, “You ruin my reputation as a moon goddess and you’re sorry? I get death threats from families of ponies that you affect generations ago because you were reckless with my moon and now they blame it on me,” she continued to rant, but never raised her voice.

“Well... There wasn’t exactly a book on how to raise the moon...” Celestia tried to excuse. 

“Seriously? A book? You expected to find a book on how to raise the moon?” Nightmare repeated as she resisted the urge to facedesk, “Just who exactly would you find that knows how to rise the moon?”

“At first I asked your council for help,” Celestia replied meekly, “But they all quit after your... disappearance. I even tried to ask for help from your astronomers,” she added to abide her sister. 

“Well, at least you tried,” Nightmare said nonchalantly, “Consider everything forgiven.”

“Really?” Celestia asked ecstatic.

“No!” Nightmare shouted unexpectedly with a hint of Canterlot voice. The outgoing force knocked Celestia off of her chair and toppled her head over heels.

Celestia soon delicately rubbed her head to abate the throbbing pain she couldn’t exactly keep out of mind. Another thing she noted to herself: her pegasus body wasn’t as durable as her alicorn one and for once she wish she still had fat in her body; at least then it would have cushioned her fall. “How would you even know if I was off by ten degrees anyways?” she questioned back.

“It’s quite difficult to miss when you’re on the bloody moon!” Nightmare growled furiously down at her sister.

“Oh... I guess that would make it hard to miss,” Celestia realized. She picked herself up and dusted off the the slight amount of dust that gathered on her. She regained her paragon composure and stared back at her sister’s aghast expression. 

“This is not happening...” Nightmare mumbled to herself as she placed a hoof to rub the tiredness out of her eyes. “There is no possible way that you are this inconceivable. Seriously, drop the act it’s getting really annoying.”

“What act?” Celestia asked confused on her part.

“You aren’t kidding are you?” Nightmare said worriedly, “You have got to be the most moronic pony I have ever spoken to,” she mumbled slowly.

“I’m one of the only ponies you speak to,” Celestia reminded her with a winning smile.

“You’re doing this all just to spite me aren’t you?” Nightmare asked somewhat relieved.

“And you call me slow,” Celestia teased with a stick of her tongue, “You may be smarter but I’m wittier than you and yes I’m pretty sure wittier is a word.”

“You,” Nightmare pointed to Celestia, “Me, tonight. I’m going to suffocate you in your sleep and best of all no one but me gets to hear you scream,” Nightmare threatened with a crazy grin.

“Is that any way to speak to your own flesh and blood?” Celestia asked with a childish and innocent tone adding a pout to make it more sentiment.

“For you, I’ll make the exception,” Nightmare hissed like she was still part serpent.

“Oh relax Nightmare,” Celestia dismissed at her curvaceous sister, “You don’t see me kvetching every five minutes about you and your quirks.”

“All evidence to the contrary,” Nightmare mumbled as she continued their constant vying.

“This is gonna be the best vacation alright,” Celestia smirked deviously, “I can just tell already.”