The night dragged on rather peacefully. The group had returned to the Carousel Boutique and, ignoring the howls of an insane Ponyville, slipped off to sleep. It was the witching hour now. In the moonlight engulfing Ponyville, Discord flew, yawning. Derpy flew next to him, toying with an abacus. She sighed. "Sire, this procrastinating has become rather dull. The subjects have found two Elements in a single day. Quite the unexpected turn of events."

Discord rolled his eyes. "Subjects? This isn't an experiment, old chum. Although, I must admit, they're doing a bit too well."

"You did offer aid in the form of clues."

"Curse me and my big heart!" Discord said, dramatically conjuring a beating heart. He threw it away and put a hand to his chin. "I don't want to hinder their efforts by intervening. That would just be boring. Although, there must be a way to slow them down…" He kept thinking until a light bulb suddenly appeared above him. "I know! I won't meddle in their little game. Although…" He snapped his fingers, causing the clouds in the vicinity to suddenly circle around the small town. His eyes glowed bright as the clouds merged. "... the weather is chaotic these days." He cackled into the night sky as the winds began to speed up.

A sudden thump woke the denizens of the Carousel Boutique. Tony sat up and rubbed the sleep from his eyes. "Huh? What time is is?"

Fluttershy yawned next to him. "I think it's morning, but… why is it still dark?" Before anypony could question anything else, there was a knock at the door. Celestia looked at the group, signalling for them to stay put. She went to answer the door… only to stumble backwards at the sudden gust of wind. Everyone gasped at the condition of the outside world. Chocolate rain fell with tremendous force, flooding the streets. Gale force winds practically bent any and all present trees. Just outside the door, Discord stood with nothing but an umbrella and a raincoat. "The weather is crazy today, right?"

Celestia frowned. "Discord, what is the meaning of this?"

"Oh, I just thought I'd give the resident pegasi a day off. Just another gift from their beloved tyrant. Which reminds me…" He snapped his fingers and suddenly held a basket full of election pins that read "Vote Discord!" He tossed them at the group. "Be sure to cast your votes! Ha!"

Nightmare Moon threw the pin aside and marched towards Discord. The moment she stepped outside, however, searing pain hit her. She recoiled into the boutique, glaring at the draconequus. He smirked. "I wouldn't get cocky, Moony. With these winds and this rain… anypony who dare set foot out here would be shredded almost immediately. I hear it's a freak storm! 24 hours!"

Tony frowned. "You cheater! This wasn't part of the deal!"

Discord put a hand to his chin. "Dear me, you're right! Then again, it wasn't not part of the deal, either. Don't get your saddle in a twist, Ponyboy. This storm is only going to last 24 hours, then you can go back to your little scavenger hunt. Besides, I put a lot of power into this storm, so I can't stop it, either." He suddenly gasped as he looked at his watch. "Well, would you look at that! If you don't mind, I'll be showing myself out. My show is about to start!" With that, he snapped his fingers and disappeared.

Discord laughed maniacally as he appeared in a large, floating throne. Above him, a large umbrella stood. Derpy flew next to him, pushing her glasses up. "This seems like a waste of time."

"Come on! Live a little! The show is about to start!" He conjured a tub of popcorn and donned a pair of 3D glasses before gazing down at the boutique.

The group recuperated from the momentary shock of Discord's appearance and discussed the new circumstances. "What did he mean by 'show'?" Tony asked.

"I don't care what he meant! We're trapped in here for 24 hours! He's wastin' our time!" Applejack said, stomping a hoof. "Yer Highness, there wouldn't happen to be a way for y'all to fix this, would there?"

Celestia shook her head. "Unfortunately no. Discord said that even he can't stop this storm and I doubt any protection spells I can muster would prove useful. We just have to wait it out." The group looked at each other, worried, but Carrot Top had other plans.
"Come on, everypony. I'm sure we can bide our time somehow. We just have to wait a day, so let's do some activities to get our minds off it!" The group did as they were told and split off into groups. Tony asked Rarity if she had any spare trinkets or tools and began tinkering. Meanwhile, Rarity and Carrot Top worked together trying to figure out how to return Sweetie Belle to her fun-loving self. Discord's corruption had made her nonchalant and uncaring. Applejack sat with them, offering any help she could muster. Fluttershy and Twilight sat in their own little area to talk to one another. The same was done by all three alicorns, who went to a more private area of the house to discuss the situation.

Tony had long ago gone to the kitchen to work alone. He examined the junk in front of him. It was all extra garbage that Rarity didn't need anymore. He stared at it for a bit before getting to work. He didn't have a set goal in mind. Well, not yet anyway. He worked until a new voice interrupted him. "You and your toys. I'll never understand your fascination with useless junk."

"Well, you're as cheery as ever. Aren't you with Celestia and Luna?"

"I am practically a goddess. Do you honestly believe I can't multitask. Also, they think I'm asleep. You can't imagine how boring it is to hear them droning on about 'sister things'."

"Have you tried joining them? I mean, you are their sister… I think."

"Hmph. As if I could join in on their mushy family talk. Besides, you seem to be avoiding conversation as well, sitting alone with your gadgets and whatnot."

"I'm just passing the time. Don't tell me you're bored already. It's only been 10 minutes!"

"What can I say? I've gotten used to not sitting around on a rock for centuries. Excuse me for not wanting to spend another minute waiting." Nightmare Moon chuckled.

"Right, sorry."

A new voice suddenly intervened. "Am I interrupting something?"

Tony's eyes widened. "Princess Celestia? How did you-"

"Celestia!? You dare intrude on our privacy?"

The sun mare giggled. "My apologies. Luna and I began having our own telepathic communications, but we felt a magical energy on you, Nightmare Moon."

"We?"

"Yes, we. Sorry for the intrusion." Luna said, apologetically.

Nightmare Moon groaned. "I'm cutting off communications for now while I deal with these two. I'll talk to you soon." The link was severed just in time for Fluttershy and Twilight to enter the the room. "Hey, Tony. What are you working on?" The latter asked.

"Um, I'm not sure yet. Just seeing what goes with what."

"Well, do you need help? I mean, if you don't mind, that is." Fluttershy asked, bashfully.

Tony nodded. "Sure. Sounds good." The trio sat down and began messing around with the parts at random. They didn't care about the end goal, but they did share many laughs and smiles throughout the activity.

Discord ate his popcorn, smiling. "See, Derpy? This is something every good show needs: a slice of life. Don't you have a special somepony?" He asked.

Derpy continued to toy with her abacus. "Love is not a variable I can perfectly predict, therefore I shall keep it out of any equation."

"Sheesh. I'd hate to be the one to take you on a dinner date. Talk about boring!" Discord said, conjuring a party hat on his companion's head.

Rarity made a face at her sister, hoping to coax any response that would loosen Discord's grasp on her. Sweetie Belle responded the same way she did every time the mares tried something new: she rolled her eyes and said, "Whatever."

The fashionista sighed in exasperation. "It's no use! She won't respond to anything I do! I've tried everything! Snuggling, hugging, kissing, tickling, but it all just ends the same!"

Sweetie Belle rolled her eyes. "Whatever."

Carrot Top put a hoof to her chin. "Maybe we're missing something? What's so similar about all the ponies we've reverted so far?"

"Well, Applejack and I are Element bearers, so maybe Discord wanted you to find us?" Rarity asked.

"I don't know. We reverted Fluttershy, but she didn't have an Element. She changed back because she remembered me."

Applejack removed her stetson and scratched her head. "This is one hoot of a riddle. There's no point in givin' up. Sweetie Belle is still in there." The mares nodded as they continued their endeavor.

Discord watched with intense interest until he realized his popcorn tub was empty. "Drat. Things were just getting good. I'll have to go to the snack bar." He placed Derpy on his chair. "Save my seat!" He yelled as he approached a floating snack stand. Behind it, another Discord stood, smiling. "Good evening! How's the show!"

"It is great! I think it might be my best work yet!"

"Sounds astounding! Here's your popcorn!" He gives Discord the items before typing on the cash register. "That'll be 500 bits."

The draconequus' jaw drops. He begrudgingly pulls out his wallet, muttering something about theatre prices. Derpy suddenly flies behind him, frowning. "Sire, this is highly illogical."

Discord rolls his eyes and whispers to the cashier. "Killjoy, amirite?"

Nightmare Moon frowned at the royal sisters. "How dare you just casually intrude on our private link? I've never been so insulted in my life!" She turned her nose away, but her eyes widened when she heard a giggle. "What, may I ask, is so funny?"

It was Celestia who laughed, but she held a hoof up defensively. "Excuse me, Nightmare Moon. I just find this amusing."

"What?"

"The Mare in the Moon herself scolding the royal sisters for misbehavior." Celestia wore a warm smile. "You are vastly different from the being I fought so long ago."

Nightmare Moon turned her nose up and scoffed. "Trust me, 'sister', the irony of the situation is not lost on me. Now, if you'll excuse me, I was mid-conversation-"

"Come now, Nightmare Moon. Speak with us."

The Mare in the Moon stared at the sun mare before laughing. "This is happening? This is really happening? Just a few days ago, you accused me of being an empty shell devoid of any and all ideas of warmth, but now you invite me to a conversation? Like a- dare I say- real sister?" She mocked excitement before her smile fell into a frown. "I'll have to say… no. I'm not your sister, remember? I'm not partaking in 'family bonding'," She went back to her corner and laid down, ready to begin her telepathic link again, when suddenly, "I'm sorry."

Nightmare Moon's ears perked up as she looked back at Celestia. She had her head down and wore a sad expression. "What did you say?"

"I said… I'm sorry. I should not have assumed you were irredeemable. I see now that I was… wrong." The sun mare gestured to a cushion next to her. "Please, sit."

Nightmare Moon reluctantly did as she was told. "Fine then. I'll participate in this meaningless gab." Nightmare Moon sat with the sisters, waiting for them to begin the conversation. When all they did was stare at her, she raised an eyebrow. "What?"

"So, you don't want to talk to us about Tony?" Celestia asked.

Nightmare Moon laughed. "Why would I want to talk to you about him?"

"Well, it's obvious you care deeply for him. Even Luna has pointed out your infatuation."

"There is no 'infatuation'. He is a dear friend. That is all."

"No it's not." Luna blurted out. Nightmare Moon stared at her, frowning, but the smaller alicorn was not intimidated. "I have seen into your heart, Nightmare Moon. I have seen emotions stronger than anything I've felt in millenia. You genuinely lo-"

"Stop right there, Luna. Don't you say it." Nightmare Moon's gaze was serious. "I am the Mare in the Moon. Night Incarnate. I am the darkest being on this planet. I am not familiar with that feeling, nor do I wish to familiarize myself with it."

"Contain your pride for a moment! Love is not something to be ashamed of." Celestia pointed out. She had said the word. That word the Mare in the Moon had worked so hard to vilify. She tried to block it from her mind, but now she couldn't seem to stop it from bouncing around within her head. Her cheeks changed a slight shade of red, a shift that the royal sisters did not miss. Nightmare Moon grunted. "So what if I lo- er, admire him? There are more pressing matters at hand that-"

Luna put a hoof over the dark mare's mouth. "Don't overthink it. Just speak to him." Nightmare Moon was surprised by her boldness, but she didn't get angry. She just looked away and sighed in defeat.

Discord blew his nose into a handkerchief. "It's just so beautiful! 3 sisters bonding! Former enemies turned family! It's just so poetic! Wouldn't you agree?"

"Indubitably. The bonds of blood are truly irreplaceable."

Discord sipped tea and adjusted his monocle. "Truly, truly. Mayhaps they shall become a true unit? Though, I have little hope of that happening." He sipped more tea, letting the show continue.

The day passed by quicker than anypony could anticipate and it wasn't long before night fell. Rarity gave out extra sheets for everypony to sleep on, but practically forced the Princesses to sleep in the beds. Royalty shouldn't be uncomfortable, after all. It wasn't long before the group dozed off, ready for tomorrow's challenges. Tony shifted in his sleep as he once again entered a familiar dreamscape…

He stood in the realm he's seen so many times before. It took a moment, but he realized where he was. "Moony?" He called out, expecting his friend to be there. Instead, he was greeting by a sudden earthquake. The ground shook with increased vigor before cracking open. Tony fell back as a structure rose from the ground. He stared in shock and awe, realizing what it was: Canterlot Castle. It was an exact replica of the royal palace in Canterlot, but it seemed… darker. The entire castle was recolored in dark hues. It wasn't long before the earthquake subsided. Tony stood and looked at the castle before reluctantly heading inside. As he did, he kept calling out to his friend.

"Moony? What's going on? This is, uh, a bit different than what you usually do… Moony?" He stopped when a sudden light flashed. On the ground, a carpet that he hadn't noticed before began glowing. He examined it. 'She… wants me to follow it?' He reasoned. Tony followed the glowing carpet down the winding corridors until he reached a large set of doors.

The throne room.

He pushed the heavy door open and smiled. "Moony! What's going on? What's- whoa." He looked at his friend, who looked a bit different. Her normally limited regal attire had become a bit more extravagant. She was donned in dark jewelry that looked like it was made from the night sky itself! She gazed at him in amusement. "What's the matter? Have you never seen a princess before?"

Tony shook himself from his awe. "It's not that. You just look so… different! Where are we? What's going on?"

"For a scientist you certainly are naive." She joked. Nightmare Moon approached him. "I have created a little scenario in this realm. A world where I rule an everlasting night." She led him to the balcony. They looked out at the night sky, several shooting stars flying by. Nightmare Moon looked at Tony and smiled as he was amazed at the beauty of it all. Slowly, she wrapped a wing around him. "This is probably how it would have looked." Tony looked at her. She continued. "If I had gone through with my revenge on Celestia. If I had taken the night for myself. It would have been magnificent." Tony looked at the night sky, sadly. He knew of Nightmare Moon's legend. The stories that were told about her. When he first met her, when they actually met, he couldn't wrap his mind around it. He couldn't believe she was as cruel as the legends made her out to be. Now, however, he looked at the world he was in. It was her vision. That's why her next words caught him off guard. "I'm glad I didn't."

Tony looked at her in surprise. "What?"

She looked down, smirking. "If I had my way, the whole of Equestria would be under my iron hoof. I'd have ultimate power, but… I knew you'd never forgive me. Remember what I asked you before I came back to Equestria?"

Tony thought for a moment. A lot had happened between then and now. He sifted through his memories until one stood out. It was on his birthday; Nightmare Moon had asked for his opinions about the night. "I think so. What does that have to do with-"

"Somehow, you changed my mind. When you pointed out why everlasting night can never be, something changed. I can't explain it, and I think I won't ever be able to. Tony, I have seen how you feel about your family. If anypony were to harm them in any way, you'd never forgive them. I… I don't want that." Her wing brought him closer. "I value the company you've given me… although…" She began walking inside, frowning. "Lately, I find myself… distracted."

"Distracted?"

"Yes. I don't understand this feeling. I do not know if I want to understand it. I created this vision because I have often found myself lost in thoughts of 'what if?' I wonder what it would have been like to come out victorious, but I can never imagine it alone. You're always… there." Tony saw her cheeks flush a bit. She continued. "I see a castle. A tall alicorn is inside, sitting at dark throne. Her king stands beside her, lovingly. I see their gazes. It's a gaze I often find myself staring at you with. I see… I see…" She sighed as she sat at her throne.

Tony looked at his friend, blushing. He knew what she meant. He felt surprised that it was coming from her, of all mares. The Mare in the Moon. He approached her and embraced the alicorn. She was taken back by the sudden action, but wrapped her wings around him. She laughed. "I see this." She kissed him.