Chapter Four
Luna Screamed. Whatever Twilight had done was obviously very painful. "What have you done!?" Celestia roared; furious at the unwarranted attack on her sister.
"I only finished what you started when you destroyed an Element of Harmony, Celestia. Allow me to present, in all her glory; Nightmare Moon!" Twilight Sparkle said, much like a pony on stage.
The screaming stopped. Luna, with a coat now so dark that it was like obsidian, took a breath, and opened her eyes. The turquoise colored eyes were now like a dragon's, with long pointed pupils, glistening with malevolence. Worst of all, they directed at Celestia a hatred that rivaled the heat of the sun. "Finally, I have returned! Celestia! You will now feel the true extent of my vengea- " She was interrupted by a flash of light from where Twilight was sitting.
Glancing over, the two enemies saw the lavender alicorn holding a bowl of popcorn. "Well? Get on with it! My popcorn is gonna get cold."
Nightmare Moon blinked in shock. "You're kidding. You're kidding, right?" turning back to Celestia, she said; "forgive me if I don't battle you first, but this one has caused me more pain than even you have. And now she treats me like a showpony? Acting only for the amusement of my audience? I think not."
Celestia stared in surprise. Did her greatest enemy; Nightmare Moon, just prioritize someone else's destruction over hers?
"Darn, and I thought that with my anti- entropy field down, this would be an interesting fight." Twilight said, stepping forward and flaring out her wings. "We have not been properly introduced, it seems. I am Princess Twilight Sparkle, controller of the Elements of Harmony, and chosen by the Element of Magic. Just as Celestia controls the sun, I control Magic itself. Whatever your intentions are, you will not beat me." As she spoke, the magic in the room escalated; causing the back of Celestia's neck to tingle.
Nightmare Moon sneered. "Greetings Princess Sparkle, I am Nightmare Moon, true ruler of Equestria, sworn enemy of Celestia, and bane of the sun. You would do well to mind your boasting."
Celestia shivered involuntarily. An insecure thought bubbled to the front of her mind. These were the two most powerful alicorns in recorded history. And somehow, she was supposed to stop them? Here? Now?
Nightmare moon hit the floor of the library, dazed. It had been a ten-minute battle, and it had taken her opponent ten seconds to beat her. All her attacks missed Twilight, who was a blur as she used magic to greatly increase her speed. In the end, Twilight won by simply zapping her opponent's wings with a spell; watching as the Black alicorn fell.
"I would love to continue this. But I have a proposition for you." Twilight said, eyes gleaming. "Personally, I find the night far more interesting than the day, astrology and all that. And while I could easily defeat you, again and again, for eternity, a great tactician knows when and where to make an ally."
Nightmare Moon glared at her, "Do not mock me. You have won, now end this humiliation."
"Mock you? I was being serious. Both of us want similar things, or at least, our desires do not clash with each other. And most importantly; we both have lost friends to the ravages of time." Twilight said as she helped Nightmare Moon stand up with her magic.
"Friends? I have never had friends, I am Nightmare Moon. Feared by all and loved by none."
Twilight smiled knowingly; "Do not lie to me. If I recall, there was once a blind pegasus filly, from which you were inseparable. What was her name? Snowflake?"
"Snowdrop. Her name was Snowdrop. And she was a friend of Luna, not me." Hiding her shock well at discovering Twilight knew that particular story.
"Oh really? Then why do you care about her name?" Twilight asked, knowing the answer already.
"Luna's most cherished memories are of her, nothing more."
Twilight looked the defeated mare in the eyes; "Nothing more than one of the few memories where you did not resent Celestia for outshining you, or care about the residents of Equestria for loving the day?"
"Fine, I love that little filly just as much as Luna did. But I refuse to serve under you, so save your breath." Nightmare Moon said, still in the same place she had landed earlier.
"No. Not under me. Beside me." Twilight said firmly.
"If you speak the truth, there is only one pony who can stop us" the black mare said, turning; "and she is right th- "
Celestia was gone, having fled while the other two were distracted.