The farm was beautiful. A wonderfully build barn, wondrous orchards of apple trees. Seeing the apples, Crowley got hungry. After all, bat ponies – despite the vampiric fangs – mainly eat fruit, including, big, shiny, juicy, ripe red apples and their sweet, sweet juice. Albeit Crowley prefers more sour green apples. "Is this heaven?", she asked, causing the Unicorns to laugh.

"Despite their names, they don't only grow apples. They grow other fruits, veggies, and grain as well.", explained Lyra, "So I suppose it is."

"Thestral!", yelled an all too familiar voice. But this time the earth pony wasn't running. Instead to earth ponies came dashing from the orchards. An orange mare and a reddish stallion.

"Pony feathers, there's really a Thestral.", said the mare.

"Yep.", agreed the stallion. "What now?"

"A Thestral?!" A small filly came running, but the stallion caught her so that she can't come any closer.

Twilight and Lyra approached them. Lyra explained, "Calm down, Crowley is harmless. She's probably more afraid of you that you of her."

"Hey!", said the Thestral offended. "Also, I prefer the term bat pony, instead of that slur."

"Thestral is a slur?", asked the filly. "Oh, I am sorry, Miss."

"Apology accepted, little one.", said Crowley as she walked to Twilight's side.

"But the teeth!", said the oldest mare.

"Oh, that. We bat ponies have these to pierce the skin of fruits. We pretty much only eat fruits, so nothing to worry, Miss.", replied Crowley, "You're Granny Smith, right? The mare that yelled when seeing me twenty years ago?"

"Aye... you were that Thestral?"

"Granny...", said the filly, trying to be threatening when her grandma used the slur. Again.

"Yes, that's me. Now that isn't why we're here.", said Crowley. "Twilight?"

Now it was Twilight's turn to talk. "I am tasked to plan the Summer Sun Celebration, which is hosted in Ponyville this year.", she explained. "I wanted to ask if your family could handle the catering?"

Lyra chimed in, "We all know the Cakes would be overwhelmed just thinking about it."

The Apples relaxed at that. The filly asked excitedly, "Here? In Ponyville? Wowie!"

"Oh, of course we do that!", said the mare. "By the way, I am Apple Jack, the silent stallion is my brother Big Mac, my sister Apple Bloom and Granny Smith. But you met her already."

"Nice to meet you.", said Twilight. "Now, have you an idea where we could find Rainbow Dash?"

"Everywhere and Nowhere.", said Apple Jack, rolling her eyes. "You have to find her, she never is at one place. It is annoying at times."

On their way back to the Oak – Crowley was gifted a basket worth of wonderful apples as a sorry, they needed to be stored as they were heavy and she won't allow her charge to carry them, even with her magic. As they rid Crowley of her weight, they started to look for Pinkie, Rainbow or Rarity, whoever they find first. They found Rainbow Dash first, well, she found them.

"Hey, you! Are you Rainbow Dash?", asked Twilight, as she saw the mare with a rainbow for a mane rest on a cloud. Twilight created a stair case of magic and took it to the cloud.

"Woah...", said the Pegasus, seeing Twilight's display of magic. Even more when she stepped on the cloud and nothing happened. Only Pegasi can walk on clouds, and Alicorns. But this mare is a Unicorn. She chalked it up to some spell, considering the stair case. "Uh, yes! What ya need me for?"

Twilight explained the situation. "Do you need help? I would organize volun-" Rainbow Dash darted off the cloud and cleaned the sky of any rain cloud in ten seconds, leaving Twilight impressed. "I suppose not."

"Don't worry about the weather, as I am enough. You can count on me!", said Rainbow Dash proudly.

"Good to know.", said Twilight as she left the cloud via her stair case.

"Two ponies off the list. Now..."

"You go to Rarity.", said Lyra. "Without me. Rarity and I, uh, argued about something, so, that one is on you." Lyra than left. "You can't miss her carousel boutique!"

They really couldn't, partly because they stood in front of it. As they walked in, Spike saw the love of his life. A Unicorn matching Equestria's beauty ideas of the decade to a tie. White coat, blue eyes and a solid color mane. "Oh, shush Romeo.", said Twilight, seeing his reaction. "Excuse me, are you Rarity?"

"Yes, that is me? Do you and your friend need a dress? Maybe for the Summer Sun Celebration?", asked Rarity excitingly. She then saw Crowley. "Oh! The bat pony I hear about."

"I... you don't use the slur?", asked Crowley surprised.

"Of course not! I won't want my little sister to use slurs, so I don't use them myself.", answered Rarity. "Now why are you here?"

Twilight explained her task. "I was told you could do the decorations?"

"Of course! I am honored. Now, you're from Canterlot?", asked Rarity. "That must be wonderful. The architecture, foods, the class! Are you part of the nobility? You look like it."

Crowley smirked, full well knowing that Twilight is a princess. But Twilight said, "My parents are Viscounts."

"Oh, major nobility! An honor!", said Rarity, her eyes shining with excitement. "My family used to be Barons, but now we're just Baronets."

"Doesn't sound that bad.", said Spike.

"Eh... not if you get bullied out of your home by some Earls." admitted Rarity with a tint of annoyance and anger in her voice.

"Oh, I am sorry that happened to you, Rarity.", said Twilight. When she makes her debut, she needs to be more strict with the major nobles. Celestia tends to be too lenient with them for all Twilight cares. "Now... I heard you argued with my friend Lyra?"

"Ah, yes, Lyra. She said I make too big of a deal out of her nobility status.", explained Rarity, now more clearly annoyed then about the earls.

"Well, you seem to be obsessed with it.", chimed Crowley in. "For once, you assumed that Twilight, just because she is from Canterlot, is noble. I mean, you weren't wrong, but not all Canterlot Unicorns are noble. You argued with Lyra about it."

"I... suppose you're right.", replied Rarity. "Arguing with someone about this feels not worth it. I should apologize to Lyra. Now, what do you need me to decorate? The town hall I suppose?"

Their next stop was Sugar Cube Corner. Pinkie was not there. With that, Twilight and Crowley decided to continue tomorrow. As they walked into the library, everything was dark. But not for Crowley as they could see in the dark. She smirked and thought Lyra was right. "Uh, Crowley?"

The library got bright again and Twilight saw that Pinkie Pie really held a party for them. The ponies still seemed weary of Crowley, but one mare, Bonbon, said, "We're sorry how we treated you, Crowley was it?"

"Mm! And I forgive you. Now, did anyone of you touch my apples while in here?" Apple good, all good.

"No!", chirped Pinkie.

As the party calmed down after a few hours – and people got to know Crowley and her love for fruits – Twilight talked to Pinkie Pie about the celebration. She accepted to do it, of course. Pinkie said, "I'll come to you tomorrow, then we can plan the music. I have a pony on mind for the job!"

More hours later, after the party was over, Twilight dropped on her bed. "What a productive day."

"Mm.", agreed Crowley as she sucked on her apples.

"Oh, I need to report to the princess." So she started writing.

Celestia was with Cadence as she lowered the sun for the night and raised the moon. Cadence likes to watch her aunt to do it. This night she asked, "Auntie, why don't you change up the night sky?"

"I can't do it as beautifully as Luna.", said Celestia. "And changing her art would just make her more angry with me when she returns."

"Fair point.", said Cadence. "Now why aren't you telling Twilight the truth?"

"Honestly, I am considering to do it.", admitted Celestia. "But I have no idea how to tell her. When Lulu returns, I have to."

"Exactly.", agreed Cadence. "You know, I am more curious how Velvet will react. If you haven't noticed, she is very worried about Twilight ditching her and Night Light, as they are 'just' her adoptive parents. I can tell Twily loves them as much as one can love their parents, but Velvet still worries."

"I've noted." Velvet's insecurity became clear as her day when a doctor asked about her blood type as hers and Night Light's won't naturally result in Twilight's type negative O. An interesting side effect of being an Alicorn is that all Alicorns are O types. While Celestia and Cadence are O positive, Twilight is negative. She is sure Luna is negative like her daughter. Being an Alicorn has weird quirks sometimes.

The next morning – Crowley was asleep as she is partly nocturnal and tends to be awake until Midnight and a bit after – Pinkie met up with Twilight. She guided Twilight and Spike to a cottage a good distance away from the town. The mare in question is very shy. As she opened the door after Pinkie knocked, she got a scare seeing Twilight, a stranger.

But then she came out and cuddled with Spike. She was so excited to see a baby dragon. Twilight made sure to explain why she is here as softly as possible to not scare Fluttershy. "Mm, what about a bird choir?"

"That sounds sweet.", said Twilight. "I'll check up on you and the others until the celebration."

The celebration crept closer, so did Twilight's worry about Nightmare Moon. Even Crowley couldn't calm her down. She had her wing draped over Twilight as the major held her speech, Fluttershy's choir sung their song and the veil revealed the Princess. Panic spread like a wild fire when in the place of Celestia, Nightmare Moon stood there.

She spoke with a dark voice, "Ah, my little ponies! I haven't seen your sun loving faces in a millennia! Celestia's era is done for, I start now the eternal night! I suppose you all don't know who am I?"

Twilight stepped away from Crowley and approached Nightmare Moon. "I know who you are!"

"Oh?" She saw the necklace, thinking it looks familiar. "Say it, little Unicorn."

"You are Nightmare Moon, the mare in the Moon!", said Twilight. "You used to be Princess Celestia's sister, Princess Luna, but you got banished to the moon thousand years ago."

"Oh! Looks like someone did their homework. Very thoroughly, seeing your jewelry.", said Nightmare Moon. It was nice to see somepony representing the moon with such a piece of silver. "Then you probably know what happens now? I take over all of Equis! Not just Equestria!"

"Equis!? You are insane!", yelled Crowley, returning to her side by Twilight.

"Oh, a bat pony! Mm, I thought my sister had let your species gone extinct.", commented Nightmare Moon. "But good to know that at least some of my nocturnal Pegasi are out there." She jumped off the stage and approached Twilight directly, scanning her. Her eyes rested on the necklace, she could sense a spell hanging on it. "You look familiar, Unicorn. What is your name?"

"Twilight Sparkle! The personal student of Princess Celestia!", announced Twilight.

"My sister's pupil? Then you must be powerful for her to take you under her wing.", said the evil Queen. "In that case, Twilight, I have an offer. When I take over the land, I'll take you as my apprentice and teach you the full potential. Even the parts Celestia likes to pretend do not exist."

"I have to decline.", said Twilight. She then blasted Nightmare Moon with her pink magic, before running out the hall as Nightmare Moon crashed against a wall. Crowley followed her charge. As they dashed though the town to the forest, Twilight said, "We need to find the elements! And the Princess!"

"Ideas?", asked Crowley, following her on swift wings.

"The old castle of the two sisters." answered her charge. "Where it started."

"You think? But the elements vanished!", countered Crowley.

"Yes. What if they returned to a place Celestia didn't think about checking. Right under her nose?", guessed Twilight. "We have to try something."

"Then let us help you!", said Rainbow Dash as she flew to them. Twilight and Crowley stopped near the forest as Rarity, Fluttershy, Apple Jack, Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash caught up to them. "That was so cool how you faced that witch!"

"Now what are you looking for?", asked Apple Jack. "The Princess and?"

"The elements of Harmony.", said a voice. Turning around they saw a pink Alicorn descent from the sky.

"Cadence! What are you doing here?", asked Twilight with happy surprise.

"Helping you, of course.", said Cadence. She was skeptical as Celestia hadn't said the truth just yet.

"Uh, who are you?", asked Rarity, scanning the mysterious Alicorn with her sapphire eyes.

"My name is Princess Mi Amore Cadenza but you can call me Cadence.", she introduced herself. "And yes, I am the secret yet rumored Princess. Now, the elements Twilight mentioned, they were used a millennia ago to banish Nightmare Moon, but they vanished afterwards. Twilight, I assume you got a hunch where they are?"

"Yes! In the castle of the two sisters." answered Twilight.

"It sounds like that could be the case.", said Crowley. "When Princess banished her, the elements floated into the direction of a tower if I remember correctly."

"If you remember correctly?!", asked Apple Jack, "How long do you bat ponies life?"

"Normal pony lives, maybe a decade longer on average.", explained Crowley. "The Princess send me into the future to... guide Equestria against Nightmare Moon." Apple Jack was irritated by that answer. She felt a tingle of a lie in what feels otherwise sincere.

"It is true.", confirmed Cadence. "Now let us get going. We can't waste any more time."

They followed Cadence. Twilight asked, "Have you an idea what happened with Princess Celestia?"

"Not really. Nightmare Moon is holding her somewhere... I have a hunch where, but that may mean we walk into a trap." answered the Princess.

"The castle, Princess?", asked Crowley.

"The castle." confirmed Cadence. "It looks like Nightmare Moon may also hold onto 'right under their nose' logic."

As they approached the castle, Rainbow Dash and Apple Jack started to talk. "Hey, Rainbow. Call me crazy, but... I think Crowley lied to us.", she said. "I mean, her words felt sincere, but there was something off. She hesitated to why she was send here. Odd, don't you think?"

"Agreed. But Twilight ain't lesser suspicious.", said Rainbow. "She walked on a cloud."

"And?" asked Applejack, not seeing the issue at hoof with that.

"Only Pegasi, Alicorns and Thestrals – mean Bat ponies – can do that. Folks who can fly, have the needed magic!", informed her Rainbow. "I mean, she could have used a spell, but still weird. I didn't see her cast a spell."

"Twilight's a powerhouse. Probably passive magic.", guessed Apple Jack. "Have you seen that blast against Nightmare Moon?"

"But I should believe your lie detecting while you disregard my suspicion?", asked Rainbow. "Well, I mean you are accurate... and slightly creepy at doing just that."

Crowley overheard them. The perks of a bat pony ear. She told Twilight who replied not to worry.

The way to the castle was less stress than expected. Cadence was able to defend them from everything Nightmare Moon threw at them. That was, until she appeared herself. Nightmare Moon pushed everyone away from Twilight and offered her to join the Night again.

"No.", said Twilight plain and simple.

"Looks like you need a bit more coercion.", said Nightmare Moon as she lit up her horn. Crowley seemed to recognize the spell and jumped in front of Twilight to take the shot for the secret princess. Nightmare stopped the spell. "Bat pony, why are you protecting her?"

"Oi, I have a name, wrench!", complained Crowley. "It is Crowley!"

"Crowley? A name I haven't heard in centuries." she answered.

"So you remember me? I am sorry to turn on you, but my loyalties are now with Twilight.", said Crowley. "And Aurora, I suppose."

"Aurora?!" Shadows appeared behind Crowley and dragged Crowley off, leaving the scene. So did Nightmare Moon.

"Crowley!", screeched Twilight! "Crowley!"

"Who is Aurora?", asked Rarity.

"I don't know?", answered Twilight. "I've never met an Aurora."

"Aurora Dawn.", said Cadence. "A Princess from a millennia ago."

"Oh, her old self?", asked Pinkie.

"No, her old self is Luna... we better get going.", said Cadence. "You'll learn about Aurora when Celestia is ready... I hope. Aurora Dawn is a sore topic for my aunt."