Midnight followed her sister deep into the cave complex before they reached the chamber they used as a bedroom. Guise was waiting for them, as he always did after their meetings.

"How did it go, princesses?" He asked eagerly. Luna smiled gently, yet sadly.

"The assembly was a success. We now have the beginnings of a plan. However, I will need your assistance in carrying it out, will you help us?" He bowed his head.

"Anything, princess,"

"In that case, I apologize for what I am about to ask of you. Midnight, might I have a minute alone with Guise?"

"Of course,"

She left the room to give the two momentary privacy. Luna had seemed worried about the plan she had thought of.

Inside the room there was an awkward moment of silence before Luna spoke.

"We have a plan to show ponies that I am not Nightmare Moon. We shall be staging a fight between me and my dark counterpart." Guise shifted uncomfortably.

"But how can you do this? Surely not a transformation spell, much too unpredictable."

"I am afraid that is where we require your help." He sighed and shook his head sadly.

"You know I prefer not to."

"Yes, I am aware of your feelings towards your past, it is of course your choice. That it's why I ask you, not as your princess, but as your friend, please assist me in assisting Equestria."

There was another silence before the Changeling reluctantly returned to his true form.

"Very well, Luna, just tell me what to do."

Night fell over Equestria, with the moon still very much under the younger princesses control. A large silhouette covered the pale orb momentarily, before being knocked aside by a magical blast. Nightmare Moon crashed to the ground below, waking many of the ponies who had not been too frightened to sleep in the first place. The mare growled and turned to her foe. Princess Luna, speeding towards her. More fighting ensued, each alicorn taking damage, both locked in battle. Ponies began to peek through windows and open door, curious as to what was making such violent noises in the dead of night. When they saw their princess fighting the Nightmare, they became confused. Everypony had thought Luna was currently Nightmare Moon but this scene threw those assumptions out the window.

The dark mare soon spotted the onlookers.

"Well well well, what is this? Come princess, protect your precious subjects." A deadly blast barely missed two fleeing ponies.

The battle continued, but while Luna continued to attack her evil self, Nightmare Moon had turned her focus to the common ponies. Lunas attention was now split between their safety and her own. She worked furiously, speeding and blasting magic with all of her might and, slowly, eventually, she prevailed.

As Nightmare Moon blasted down a wall, revealing several cowering ponies, Luna blocked her path, causing her to veer off course into the crumbling wall.

When the rubble cleared Luna delivered the final blue to a still defiant Alicorn and the princess was victorious. Luna turned to address the shivering ponies. As she spoke, ask who were present heard her true words, and believed.

"Citizens of Equestria, you have no need to fear! The dark mare is vanquished. We are here to guard the night and protect all ponies from the dangers that lurk there."

Then she flew away. Ponies returned to sleep, some dreaming of their lunar protector.