As part of a game with her friends, a blindfolded Twilight Sparkle has to guess who kissed her.

Since defeating Queen Chrysalis, Cozy Glow, and Lord Tirek, Princess Twilight Sparkle has been coronated, taken on the mantle of Sun and Moon, and ruled Equestria through a period of peace and harmony.

There's just one problem: she can't remember any of that.

Princess Twilight Sparkle stands on her balcony, contemplating and reminiscing.

With Celestia and Luna having finally retired and passed on the throne to Twilight, the weight of Equestria has fallen on Twilight's back, and without her friends there by her side, doubts and fears haunt her, leaving her restless and anxious.

But maybe all she needs is a friend to be there with her and tell her it will be alright.

This is how Prince Blueblood lost his self-imposed title with a slip of the tongue.

He really should have thought before he spoke.

Then again, it probably wouldn't have made a difference anyway.

A dazed alicorn wanders the streets alone, her mind and body numbed, acting only on instinct. Her only companions: the clicking of her hooves, the rain, and the feeling that something is missing, that something is wrong.

But it's only a distant, vague feeling that she can't comprehend as she walks on.

Nightmare Moon has returned. Princess Celestia lied and betrayed her star pupil, Twilight Sparkle, leaving her woefully unprepared to fight the Queen of the Night.

But when she fails, rather than disposing of her and the ponies that tried to help her, Nightmare Moon sees an opportunity and a necessity. Having been locked away for one thousand years, who better to help her solidify her rule and keep Equestria from collapsing, all while rubbing it in her sister's face, than her own betrayed pupil?

This story is a sequel to Critical Mass

Two months have passed since Twilight was rescued, and since then, she has been constantly exhausted, worn out, and easily ran down. Her outlook is far from hopeful in her vulnerable state, but Rainbow and the rest of the princesses are there to help her start the long road to recovery. Perhaps the Crystal Faire, the celebration that the Crystal Empire is most known for, a prominent display of joy, love, and hope, will be just what she needs to realize that tomorrow will be better than today. A hope that things will improve, even if it isn't overnight.

This story is completely written, except with the possibility of revisions of the last chapter. Edits of the remaining chapters are still in progress, but a new chapter will be posted every two weeks until completion, barring any unforeseen problems that arise.

Everything is going perfectly for Twilight. She's been crowned Equestria's newest princess. She has six very close friends. She has her own castle, and a library filled with untold volumes of books. She even has a special somepony, and things are going well between them.

Rainbow couldn't ask for more. She's the best flier in Equestria. She's a national heroine. She's achieved her dream of being a Wonderbolt. She couldn't be happier with Twilight.

And then one mistake...

Even though they've been together for a while, Twilight doesn't realize that Luna has nightmare's on a nightly basis, caused by her creation the Tantabus, to ensure that she will never forget what she did. But maybe Twilight can help her realize that it's okay and that torturing herself isn't necessary.