The light of the moon and stars died out even faster than before, darkness overtaking everything as the black alicorn casually and gradually approached the smaller princess. Luna could not say anything as the living manifestation of her own hatred, jealousy, and anger grinned victoriously at her. She had never actually seen Nightmare Moon, for obvious reasons, except in depictions of Mare of Darkness in history books. The dark mare before her was far more intimidating than she had ever thought possible.

Nightmare stopped in front of her, standing over her with a look of disdain in her eyes, despite her vile, fanged grin. "Dear, dear Luna," she said in an ominous tone, leaning towards the blue alicorn with absolute sureness that she wouldn't dare try anything. "Why so frightened? You had to see this day coming eventually. This is the day you confront yourself… and fail miserably."

Luna simply blinked in response, as she was unsure of what she should say or do. She tried backing away from the villain in front of her, but she was already as far back against the wall as possible. Finally, she managed to squeeze out a few words: "I… I am not afraid of you."

The dark mare reared her head back in laughter at that claim, as if it were the greatest joke she had ever heard. She glared back down at Luna with a condescending look in her eyes. "Is that so? Is that why you're trembling like a newborn foal? Is that why your eyes are flooded with thoughts of fleeing? Of failure to defeat me? Of losing your precious big sister and foalish friends?"

"H-how…?" Luna was at a loss for words. Nightmare had seen through her bluff like it was a window.

The Mare of Darkness chuckled lightly, looking off to the right for whatever reason. "When you're trapped within another pony's body for as long me, you quickly learn how to read that pony like a book." She looked back at the princess. "And you're like a picture book for little foals. So simple. So scared. So weak. Your story is one of cowardice and weakness. I made you strong! I made you known! Because of me, you were recognized by all!"

"I was feared by everypony!" Luna said through gritted teeth. Nightmare merely smirked at this. "I was hated because of you! When I was freed from your control, nopony loved or recognized me! They saw me only as Nightmare Moon and cowered at the mere sight of me!"

"The best way to rule is to rule through fear," Nightmare said with complete belief in her own statement. "Love and friendship will only make one's kingdom weak. When you have their fear, you have their loyalty." She turned away and walked back to the throne, passing Celestia and the Mane 6 a spiteful glare each. She stood at the throne, Necros at her side of course, returning her attention to Luna. "You've lived for over a thousand years. Even longer than me. You should know these truths by now."

Luna stood nervously, her eyes not leaving Nightmare's gaze. She shook her head. "No. These aren't truths. You don't understand what being a true leader is!"

"And you do?" Nightmare retorted with an amused smile.

Luna cringed at that. She looked at her sister, who looked like she was hopelessly struggling against her bindings. The younger princess closed her eyes, lowering her head. "No… no, I don't know how to truly lead others." The Mare of Darkness laughed at this, and was about to say something before Luna continued. "But at least I am willing to admit to it. Celestia is far greater a leader than either you or I could ever hope to be. Not even an eternity will give you the time to fill her shoes."

There was a silence among everypony in the room as Luna and Nightmare Moon eyed each other warily, the both of them looking ready to duke it out at any moment. From the cage that she and her friends were trapped in, Twilight watched the scene anxiously, fearing whatever might happen next. She turned and looked out a nearby window. The outside world was completely black, as though the world had become a bleak, empty void. The only reason anypony could see at all were the numerous torches hanging on the walls of the throne room, their flames flickering and cracking, causing shadows to dance ominously on the walls, and making Nightmare Moon look even more intimidating.

"Hey!" Rainbow Dash suddenly shouted in frustration. "Nightmare! Why don't you just go back to being stuck in the moon forever!?"

Necros sneered angrily at the young mare's defiant disrespect. "How dare you speak to your rightful ruler like that!? You will show the One Queen the respect she deserves!"

"Calm yourself, Necros," Nightmare said, a look of amusement once again plastered on her face. "I have something of a game in mind." She returned her focus to Luna. "I will have your friends released into the Everfree Forest."

Luna blinked at that statement. "What?"

Necros gave a look that matched Luna's confused expression. "My Queen, why?" he asked. "We took away the Elements of Harmony, but they could still prove to be threat."

"Which is what's going to make this little bit of sport all the more interesting," the evil alicorn replied with a twisted grin. She eyed Luna again. "The Knights will give them a ten minute head start. As those six are being hunted, you and I will do battle. Should you defeat me before all of them are captured, they will go free, and I will leave this land forever. But when you lose…" She chuckled darkly. "Well, suffice it to say that I won't be nearly so kind. What say you to my generous offer?"

"You're an arrogant sociopath," Luna said bluntly, her gaze hardened. "But… I will accept your offer and your challenge. I shall defeat you before they are captured again. That is a promise."

Nightmare grinned. "We'll just have to see about that. Necros, release them. Give them a few minutes after they head out before you go after them. And don't kill them yet. I still have to repay them for what they did to me when I was finally free of my accursed prison."

"Of course, my Queen." The dark-coated stallion's horn glowed with a dark purple aura, and the bubble that had trapped the Mane 6 disintegrated. The ropes holding them down glowed with a matching aura and untied themselves, freeing the six friends, and the door to the cage opened. Almost the instant the door moved, Rainbow made to zoomed toward Nightmare Moon as if to attack her, but Twilight grabbed her by her tail with her magic and pulled her back down.

"Hey, what gives, Twilight!?" the multi-colored pegasus demanded.

"Rainbow, you should know that you wouldn't stand a chance against Nightmare all by yourself!" the young alicorn scolded her friend with a serious glare. "We don't even have the Elements with us! We won't be able to do much, if anything at all!"

"But-!"

"Twilight is right," Luna said with a solid look of determination on her features. "Besides, I… I need to do this on my own. The six of you must go now."

"B-but what about you?" Fluttershy asked timidly.

Luna turned to face Nightmare again, but she continued to speak to the six young mares. "As I said, this is something I need to do. Alone. I promise that I will defeat Nightmare Moon before anything gets any worse." The six mares nodded, Rainbow Dash being the most reluctant to, and made to leave the throne room. As she was about to leave the room, Twilight gave one last look back to the Princess of the Night.

"Good luck, Luna," she said, to which Luna nodded appreciatively. The purple alicorn then left with her friends, getting out into the Everfree Forest.

The minutes dragged on quietly, slowly, almost painfully, as Luna and Nightmare Moon continued their deadlocked glaring contest. Soon, the ten minute mark arrived. "We shall be going now, Your Majesty," Necros informed the Mare of Darkness. "We shall return with all six of those blasphemers in chains." Nightmare nodded her acknowledgment as her second-in-command made to leave, his fellow Knights following without question.

Now alone, save for the audience of the weakened Celestia and the petrified Discord, the two alicorns of night stood across from one another, nothing and nopony between them. Nopony to stop them.

"Before we begin," Nightmare said, "do you have any last words that you wish to share with your precious sister? Now may be your only chance."

"I have nothing to say that I have not said already," Luna stated as if that should've been obvious.

"Good. Then we don't have to waste time." The dark alicorn's horn began to glow with ominous power, a clear sign that she was ready for battle. "Let's begin."

Celestia could only watch as her sister readied herself to enter into combat with her villainous other self. Imprisoned as she was, there was nothing she could do to help her beloved sibling. All she could do was hope. Luna was the only one who had a chance against the Mare of Darkness now. Luna was hope now.

-o-

Next chapter is going to be big. Later guys.