Here we go!

Twilight sighed as a daisy sandwich floated up to her mouth. She took a bite of it, savoring the flavor before chewing and swallowing. She drank in the birds chirping, the slight breeze on her coat and the feel of the blanket beneath her as she sat outside Fluttershy's cottage with her five best friends and the dragon who was like a younger brother to her. Finally, she opened her eyes-to find Rainbow Dash hovering about two inches from her nose. "Ack!" she cried out, falling back and dropping the sandwich.

Dash flitted about in the air, rubbing her hooves together. "So, do you think they'd like my idea?" she asked, grinning so wide her muzzle almost split. "I mean this has to be the bestDaring Do fiction written ever!"

Applejack rolled her eyes and rose from near the basket. "Honestly, Dash. That yarn's about as interestin' as a trip to tha spa." She suddenly glanced to her side as Rarity rose from her couch. "And I ain't takin' it back, neither," she spat out, smirking.

Rarity rolled her eyes and lay back down. She looked to Dash as the Pegasus landed. "Honestly, Dash. It's heavily padded, the action is told rather than shown and your new character is you with a new mane job!"

Dash hopped back into the air and cocked her head to the side. "And?"

Silence permeated the picnic before Fluttershy coughed. "Well... maybe you could spend some more time with Daring as opposed to... Multicolor Trot?" She shrank slightly as everyone there turned their eyes to her. "Well, it's a thought at least?" She pasted a grin onto her face, but her cheeks still burned scarlet.

Dash shrugged and looked to Pinkie Pie even as she stuffed a hoofful of cupcakes into her mouth. "Pinkie, what do you-"

The pink Earth pony suddenly dropped her cupcakes off her hoof and her eyes went wide. Her mane, tail and entire body suddenly shook and she bounced up and down on the blanket. "Twitch! Something big's-" She suddenly leapt forward, forelegs stretched out as she tackled Dash to the ground.

The pair rolled off the blanket. "Pinkie Pie, what the hay are you-" Dash's rant was silenced as the sky above stretched, yawning open with a midnight-blue flash of energy. A large mass tumbled out, pinwheeling around in the sky before crashing a dozen meters away.

Twilight hopped to her hooves. "What in the wide world of Equestria?" She narrowed her eyes at the dark form. "We've got to check that out!"

Spike's eyes widened. "Twilight, are you nuts? We don't know who or what that thing is!"

Rarity nodded as she hopped off her couch. "I agree with Spike, Twilight. Sometimes discretion may be the better part of-"

Dash slithered out of Pinkie's grasp and flew up into the air. "I'm on it!" she said, tossing off a salute before speeding off, a multicolored contrail streaming behind.

Fluttershy gasped. "Dash, wait up! It could be dangerous!" The Pegasus swallowed before jumping into the air, flying off after her oldest friend. She paused at the edge of the blanket and looked back, a stern expression on her face. "What are you waiting for?" she asked, waving with a foreleg. "Our friend needs help!"

Spike hopped onto Twilight's back and she, Pinkie Pie, Applejack and Rarity galloped off, quickly crossing the distance to the huddled form on the ground. Twilight slowed to a halt as the form took shape into a familiar Alicorn. "No, it can't be!" she gasped as she beheld Nightmare Moon.

Applejack shook her head. "It can't be!" she shouted. "We jus' saw her a coupl'a days ago in Whitetail Wood! She was... happy, and smiling!"

Nightmare Moon's head suddenly rose. Everyone backed up as she opened her eyes. The glow there faded for a second, revealing eyes clouded with confusion. She looked around before her head slumped back down, eyes closing.

Dash hovered over her, hooves near her mouth. "Oh my gosh oh my gosh!" she panted out. She looked to Twilight. "Twilight, did Princess Celestia send you any letters about, I don't know, Luna going nuts again?"

Twilight's muzzle twitched. "No, she didn't," she said through ground teeth." Her horn glowed and she paced around Nightmare Moon's form. "She's alive, but weak." She paused near her cutie mark. "I'm sensing magic here, seems familiar but... " She shook her head. "I-I don't know what to make of it!"

Spike hopped off her back and crept forward, right up to Nightmare Moon's head. He waved a hand in front of her face and let out a slow whistle. "Whatever did this to her packed one heckof a punch!" He patted himself down and snarled. "Twilight, I left the quill and scrolls back at the picnic!"

Applejack glanced at Twilight, right eye wide. "Yah brought a quill an' scroll to tha picnic?"
Twilight looked to her. "And this surprises you... why?"

Applejack shrugged. "No reason."

Twilight rolled her eyes and closed her eyes. Her horn glowed for a second and there was a sudden burst of violet light. It faded, leaving behind a floating quill and scroll. The scroll unraveled and the quill began writing. "Dear Princess Celestia," Twilight dictated. "There is an emergency here near Fluttershy's cottage, on the edge of the Everfree Forest. It concerns... your sister. Please hurry here as soon as possible. Signed, Twilight Sparkle." She rolled the scroll back up and floated it over to Spike.

The young dragon grabbed it out of midair and held it up. He took a deep breath and a stream of green, enchanted flame spurted from his mouth, incinerating the scroll and sending the ash and smoke up and away. He looked up into the air and began sliding away from the Alicorn. "Okay... so now what?" He chuckled nervously and scratched his belly. "I mean if she wakes up... and you six without the Elements of Harmony and if she's angry, what do we do?"

Dash smirked and kicked at the air. "Come on, Spike! We can take out Nightmare Moon no problem!" She circled around the Alicorn. "Together, nothing can stop us, Elements or no!"

Applejack tilted her head up and looked at Dash. "Yer kiddin', right?"

Dash shrugged. "Got me, but I won't go down without a fight-or let her harm my friends."

The sun suddenly brightened, turning the sky a brilliant white. It contracted , turning into the regal form of Princess Celestia, who slowly descended to the ground. Dash and Fluttershy quickly landed as everyone there quickly ducked their heads. Celestia looked them over before focusing on the unmoving Nightmare Moon. Her brow wrinkled as she walked forward. "This is impossible!" she declared.

Twilight trotted over to her side and looked up. "Believe me, Princess, I don't want to believe it either, but something's happened and-" She stopped talking as shadows suddenly darkened the immediate areas and a chill wind blew in. "What the hay?"

The shadows rolled in on themselves, building up as details formed. Within seconds, Princess Luna stood by her Elder Sister, a dark counterpart to the Goddess of the Day. She looked down at Nightmare Moon, then glanced to Dash and Pinkie Pie. "Before we proceed any further, a question comes to mind." She held up a foreleg and jabbed it at each of them. "Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie!" she spoke, the air rattling. "Is this a prank?"

Dash blinked and her mouth hung open. Seconds passed before she shook her head. "What? No, way!" She cantered over to Pinkie Pie and leaned in close. "This isn't one we forgot about, right?"

Pinkie scratched her poll, right in front of her mane. "Nope!" she finally declared. She bounced over to Nightmare Moon and leaned in close. "Pranks are supposed to be fun for all, and this wouldn't be fun for Princess Luna or Princess Celestia." She looked up to the Alicorns, her expression grim. "Right?"

Luna nodded. "Indeed not, Pinkie Pie." Her eyes narrowed and her horn flared. Her armored hooves dug into the ground. "Be warned, she stirs!"

The ponies and Spike all backed up a few steps as Nightmare Moon's head slowly lifted. Her eyes opened and she looked around. "My head..." She suddenly focused on Celestia and Luna standing in front of her. Her eyes flashed, turning bright-white. "Impossible!" She leapt to her hooves and jabbed a foreleg at Celestia. "You were laid low by the Tyrant Filly, sucked dry of all but the bitterest dregs of your power!" Her mouth twitched, slowly curving up at the ends. "I am so... happy to see you!"

Celestia stared right back at Nightmare Moon, her countenance neutral. "I see." She looked the twisted reflection of her younger sister up and down. "This is impossible." She looked to Luna. "Most impossible."

Nightmare Moon locked eyes with Luna and bared her fangs. "It IS impossible, for this-"

"Speak softly," Luna interrupted, thunder rumbling in the clear sky. Her own eyes glowed for a moment. "You are not on a balcony addressing throngs of ponies. You're here, now and not having to use magic to project." Her eyes narrowed to slits. "You, mockery of all I am, all my power with no restraint, no kindness or decency -" She stopped as she felt Celestia's wing brush against her back. "I apologize," she said, cheeks blushing.

Celestia smiled at her younger sister before looking to Nightmare Moon. "So, what are you?"

Nightmare Moon pursed her lips before speaking, her voice no longer a physical force. "What are you?" She shook her head. "This is-is this some sort of mental break? Am I hallucinating in the throes of death?" She tossed her head back and looked up to the bright-blue sky. "Tirac, are you playing with me?"

Celestia stepped forward. She stomped the ground, causing the ponies and dragon to jump a half-foot into the air. "Enough!" she snarled. Her eyes narrowed. "Who are you? What are you and where did you come from?" She looked to the side at Twilight. "Twilight, how did she appear?"

Nightmare Moon followed Celestia's gaze and her entire body tensed, her mane standing nearly straight up into the air. She canted back and the tip of her horn flared. "Beware, Sister!" she called out. "The Tyrant Filly... is now a mare with a cutie mark?" The flare dimmed to nothing as she stared at an equally-dumbstruck Twilight. "What is going on?"

Rarity cleared her throat. "Pardon me for interrupting..." She swallowed as Celestia, Luna and Nightmare Moon all looked to her, but she squared her shoulders and held her head up high. "That is the second time you've spoken the term 'Tyrant Filly', this time looking at Twilight." She glanced up and pointed at the sky. "Now you appeared in a flash of light in the sky and corkscrewed to the ground looking like you were a mouse after going ten rounds with my cat."

Nightmare Moon nodded to the Unicorn. "Correct." She looked to the two Alicorns. "Tell me, Luna. A thousand years ago, were you sealed into the moon by your jealous sister and-"
Luna's wings flared out and lightning crackled as storm clouds swirled into being. "Yes, I was sealed into the moon to stop my insane rampage of death and destruction, to stop Eternal Night from falling and never rising again!"

Rainbow Dash crept forward and positioned herself in front of Fluttershy, who had shrunk down into a small ball. "Get ready to fly," she whispered out of the corner of her mouth. "If this gets ugly, I'll cover you."

Twilight's horn suddenly brightened and she vanished, popping back into existence between Nightmare Moon, Luna and Celestia. She raised herself up on her hind legs and held her forelegs up. "Stop!" she called out. She looked around. "This isn't getting us anywhere!" She dropped back to all fours and cleared her throat before turning to face Nightmare Moon. "Okay, as Rarity said, you had crashed through some... hole in the sky before landing. Now I'm assuming the general details of what happened a thousand years ago are the same, so we can skip needless exposition about it. What happened immediatelybefore you came here? And why do you refer me as the 'Tyrant Filly'?" A low chuckle escaped her. "Only Shining Armor can call me that."

Nightmare Moon focused on her, but sighed. "Very well." She closed her eyes, gathering her thoughts. "I had been set free by the stars, but when I descended the sun was locked permanently on the horizon. The land was, if not dying, then sick and cold. I went to Canterlot and found you... on the throne of the undying Sun." Her eyes sprang open and brightened. Hooves dug into the ground and her mane and tail wavered. "In your own words, seven years ago during an entrance exam you stoleCelestia's powers, sucking her dry of all but the bitterest dregs of her magic. Now the land is cold and you rule from a half-empty Canterlot, your own Royal Guard leading me right to you."

Silence filled the air as Twilight fell back onto her haunches, jaw slack. "I-I stole Princess Celestia's powers? Istole them?" Her head craned around to focus on Celestia, standing there before turning back to Nightmare Moon and bounding to her hooves. "But she's right there, whole and not... sucked dry! And seven years ago was when I took my entrance exam, but you were freed from the moon three years ago, so how can you have been freed only today and my head is spinning and..." Twilight screwed her eyes shut and she groaned. "I have a bad headache now."

As Spike walked over and wrapped his arms around Twilight's neck in a hug, Dash looked Nightmare Moon over, rubbing her chin. She suddenly gasped and shot into the air. "Wait, I know what's going on!" she shouted. Everyone looked to her and she chuckled. "Twilight, don't you remember 'Daring Do and the Shattered Mirror', where she flew through the Mirror of Possibilities and ended up in that weird, twisted Equestria where Ahuizotl was good and Daring Do was an evil thug?" She waved her forelegs at Nightmare Moon. "Well, why not something like this? It fits with the story!"

Rarity rolled her eyes. "Oh please, Rainbow Dash! Do you really think something from your adventure stories can really apply to this situation in real life?"

Twilight glanced to her fellow Unicorn. "Well, actually... alternate realities have been proven at least mathematically possible, in Scientific Equestrianthey ran an article last month on-"

"So it's possible?" Dash blurted out.

Twilight blushed and nodded. She glanced up at the sky. "When you arrived the sky seemed to stretch open, like a tear before snapping back closed." She looked to Nightmare Moon. "What happened?"

Nightmare Moon's own gaze followed Twilight. "I met you in Canterlot, and fought you. But you had stolen too much of my Sister's power, so I fled. You gave chase and I sliced the sky open with my horn." The brightness from her eyes faded. "I had no true idea what I was doing. I merely wished to escape from her, so here I am." She looked back down and met Luna's eyes. "I do not know why I was released so long after you. Maybe the sky was broken?" She chuckled bitterly. "So your Sister is alive and well and mine is dying, at best, while the land dies with her." And with that, she cantered around and began trotting off, wings unfurling.

There was a blue blur to her left and Dash suddenly appeared in front of her muzzle, forelegs crossed as she hovered. "And just wheredo you think you're going?" she asked, scowling.

Nightmare Moon shrugged. "This is not my Equestria, not the one I was destined to rule." Her horn glowed. "Now float aside, foal. I must return and-"

Celestia was suddenly there, by her left. Luna was to her right. "And do what?" Celestia asked. "You just said you lost before to this... other Twilight." Her eyes shifted as she felt Twilight's gaze upon her. She turned her head to regard the dark image of her sister. "So what can you accomplish by going back there besides dying?"

Twilight trotted over, the rest following. She made a wide turn, ending up in front of Nightmare Moon. "And there's so many questions!" she said, looking up. "How could I beat you, even some alternate version of myself?" She paused. "And there's something I never thought I'd hear myself say..."

Nightmare Moon looked to Luna on her right. "Am I to assume you and Celestia are balanced on the sword's tip, each one as powerful as the other?" At Luna's nod, she regarded Twilight. "Even with the limited time here, I can feel your raw power." She bent her head down, staring deep into Twilight's wide eyes. "In myEquestria, my Sister and I are fully equal in power. It is why she needed the Elements to imprison me. And while you are... nowhere near as powerful as I am-"

"Hey, you take that back!" Spike shouted, shaking a fist. "Twilight's the most powerful Unicorn in Equestria!"

Twilight's cheeks reddened. "Spike, do you mind?" She let out a sigh. "Nightmare Moon's right. I'm powerful, but compared to an Alicorn?" Her voice trailed off, leaving the implication hanging.

Nightmare Moon's eyes closed. "But you andmy Sister, combined?" She barked a laugh. "Such raw power in such a fragile little vessel, Twilight Sparkle." She shook her head. "You were quite mad when I met you, in both senses of the word."

Luna snorted. "And that is enough of that," she said, mane flaring.

Nightmare Moon nodded slightly.

Celestia's eyes narrowed. "So, now that you're here and going back would result in your death, what happens now?" She cantered around, looking up at Canterlot off in the distance. "I wonder if Cadance would like a new baby sister?" she said, smirking.

Nightmare Moon's mane flared and flapped in the still air. "I do not know who this 'Cadance' is, but regardless, I still cannot stay. My throne is occupied by a filly, and I will not rest until she is off and Equestria is restored." She trotted forward, steering around Twilight and Spike. Her wings unfurled once more as she faced Celestia and Luna. "I have no other choice."

Twilight's voice suddenly sounded out. "Maybe you need help!" Her head dipped low as Celestia, Luna and Nightmare Moon all looked at her. She paused, but squared her shoulders and held her head high. "Ponies can do amazing things when they work together." She looked around at all her friends. "I've got first-hoof experience in that."

Applejack smiled and bowed her head. "Well thank yah kindly, sugarcube."

Luna spoke up. "If you truly are some alternate me, then I know that you doubt them." She shook her head. "Don't. Twilight and her friends freed me from the chains of hatred and jealousy that still bind you and-"

"I prefer to think my eyes are wide open," Nightmare said, sneering and her eyes blazing. She looked to Twilight before her gaze drifted around to the other Elements. "What of the rest of you?" She looked to Dash. "You seem most eager for a fight."

Dash snorted. "I'm not in it for you, but this other Twilight sounds like she needs help, and I never abandon my friends." She flew over to Twilight and hovered right behind her. "Will you have me?"

Twilight nodded. "Of course, Dash. It wouldn't be the same without you."

Fluttershy hopped up and floated over to Dash. "I-I-I" She swallowed as a fine sheen of sweat formed on her forehead. "I'm going too, for my friends," she finally squeaked out.

Applejack trotted over to Twilight and bobbed her head. "Don't even think 'bout leavin' me behind... even though I got no idea in Tartaurus where we're goin," she said, shrugging. She looked to Rarity as she trotted over. "'Fraid of getting yer hooves dirty?" she said, winking.

Rarity tossed her mane back. "Oh, please, my dear Applejack. I'm not sure whatprecisely is going on, but I know Twilight needs us." She looked to Twilight. "It's what friends do. She needs help, so I'm giving her my help."

Pinkie Pie suddenly bounced over and around the group, finally stopping right below Dash and Fluttershy. "And the party won't be complete without the party pony!" Her grin fell away. "And this other you needs to be cheered up, to remember how to laugh."

Twilight looked around at her friends, the other Bearers of the Elements. "Thanks." She suddenly looked to Spike on her right. "But you're staying here, Spike."

Spike's lips curled. "What, no way!" He waved a claw at Twilight. "You're not going to some freaky Equestria without your number-one assistant!"

Twilight's eyes narrowed. "You're my number-one assistant, but you're also a baby dragon." She looked away from Spike and blinked. "If anything happened to you..." She trailed off and her barrel heaved before she looked back. "Someone's gotta hold down the library, anyway."

Spike snorted, sending out a small gout of green flame. He kicked at the ground, digging tiny furrows in the dirt. "You'll be careful, right?" he finally asked, reaching out and wrapping his arms around her neck.

Twilight's eyes widened at the hug, but she nodded. "I promise." She glanced to Nightmare Moon. "So, will you take our help?"

Nightmare Moon glanced to the other two Alicorns. "They can help?"

Luna spread her wings out. "They helped me," she stated. She looked to Celestia. "My Sister, with your permission, I wish to accompany everypony back to this alternate Equestria." A small smile played across her muzzle. "I feel Nightmare Moon might need my help."

Celestia's eyes narrowed slightly before she inclined her head. "If you're sure."

Nightmare Moon's gaze drifted between the two. "What are you playing at?" She stomped the ground, causing a mild ground tremor. "I shall notbe manipulated or coerced away from the throne."

Luna walked up to her, gaze steady. "I would think nothing of it, but perhaps you could do with a different perspective on things. Besides, you'll need my power to help against this 'Tyrant Filly' who overwhelmed you so easily."

Nightmare Moon held Luna's gaze before whipping her head around, her ethereal mane trailing behind. "How long before we can depart?" she said, walking off.

Twilight rubbed her chin and looked around. "Two hours?" At their nods and confirmations, she looked to Celestia. "The Elements?"

Celestia nodded to her student. "Easily done." She looked to Nightmare Moon. "Please stay here," she said. "Luna, could you please come with me to Canterlot?"

Luna walked off to her sister's side. "As my Sister said, remain here and wait for us." With that, she and Celestia spread their wings, leaping into the air and flying off to Canterlot.

Nightmare Moon snorted as the other ponies and baby dragon walked off. She looked around as the field quickly emptied, leaving her alone. "Where would I go?"

Please read and review

Author notes/replies

Celestia's Paladin-Essentially, yeah. ;)

Progos-Thanks! :)

The Unknown Twinkie-Thanks.