TSC:F - Ch. 2: Nightmares Don't Last Forever pt1

The Sweetie Chronicles: Fragments
Chapter 2: Nightmares Don't Last Forever
By Wanderer D
Based on the original story by BB

o.o.0.o.o

"Aaaaaaaaaaaaah!" Sweetie Belle kept screaming in panic, unable to move as Nightmare Moon herself entered the library. Never before had she been so scared. Not even being almost eaten by a werewolf invoked the deep-rooted fear that the alicorn before her inspired. She was suddenly reminded of the manic laughter of the Nightmare as she had somehow taken Celestia away during the Summer Sun Celebration.

"Well, you do seem to know how to impress ponies," Twilight stated as she came all the way down the stairs to stand in front of the Nightmare.

"Aaaaaaaaaaah!"

"Well, I do have quite the presence," the alicorn chuckled. "You look good, Twilight. I thought you hated wearing that."

"I do," Twilight growled. "Hate it, I mean," she added when she saw Nightmare Moon begin to smile. "I'm only wearing it because it's your birthday and you begged me to wear it."

"Aaaaaaaaaaah!"

The alicorn chuckled and punched the unicorn on the shoulder playfully. "Oh, Twilight, you say the kindest things."

Twilight glared at the alicorn. "It's not your birthday, is it?"

Nightmare Moon raised her eyebrows in fake surprise. "Whatever gave you that idea?"

"Aaaaaaaaaaah!"

Both ponies looked at Sweetie as she continued screaming.

"So, what's her problem?" Nightmare Moon finally asked.

"Apparently she's scared of you," Twilight replied.

"But... really? That much screaming? Isn't it... too much?"

"Aaaaaa-oof!"
The alicorn and purple unicorn blinked as a pony-sized cushion knocked the filly over, interrupting her scream.

"Sweetie Belle!" Rarity groaned as her horn stopped glowing. "What do you think you're doing?! Haven't I told you not to scream like that?"

"Ugh... mah head..." Applejack groaned, blinking heavily as she slowly raised her head from Rarity's mane.

Fluttershy twitched, and slowly opened her eyes, wincing under the light. "Oh... oh my..." She blushed. "I think I drank too much... again."

The white pegasus next to her blinked and opened her eyes, yawning cutely. "Sis!" She happily jumped to her hooves and trotted up to Nightmare Moon.

Pinkie groaned and dragged the rest of her body into the kitchen. Spike, for his part, kept snoring as Rainbow Dash turned over and fell off the table with a dull thump.

Sweetie pushed the cushion off of her and stared as the group groggily got up and proceeded to discuss the last night as if Nightmare Moon was not there... unless...

"Is this a Nightmare Night prank, Princess Luna?" she asked the alicorn, whose eyes widened.

"Sweetie Belle!" Rarity gasped then frowned, "What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be at home?"

"Oh, so this is your sister!" Twilight said with a smile. "I was wondering who she was and why she was here," she said, looking down at the filly. "Hi! My name is Twilight Sparkle!" she continued, then frowned. "Although you already seemed to know that."

"Twilight..." Sweetie said without taking her eyes of the alicorn, who was watching her intently. "Why is Princess Lun-"

"Ahem," the alicorn interrupted. "I'm afraid you have it wrong, my little pony. I am Nightmare Moon... ruler of Equestria!"

"Oh." Sweetie considered her options. The pillow that Rarity had thrown at her slowly levitated off the floor and then smashed into Nightmare Moon's face. "Quick, everypony! Run! I'll protect you!" Sweetie shouted, horn glowing again as a couple more pillows were pulled into the air.

The pillow slid down from Nightmare Moon's face as she gave an amused look at the filly. The look turned into a frown when another pillow smacked her in the face.

"What are you waiting for?" Sweetie called. "Sis, run! Twilight, if we cast the shield spell we can hold her back!"

"Shield spell?" Twilight blinked as she turned to look at the flabbergasted Rarity. "Your little sister knows how to cast the Shield spell? Why isn't she in Canterlot studying magic?"

"Now, Sweetie, hold on just a second..." Nightmare Moon said before another pillow found its place embedded on her horn.

"I-" Rarity blinked. "I have no idea how she's doing it!"

"Why are you still here?!" Sweetie asked, turning to look at the group as her control of the pillows faltered.

"If we're done with that-" Nightmare Moon started to say, only to be interrupted by another pillow to the face. The alicorn turned to glare at Pinkie Pie, who gave her a wide smile from within a pillow fort she had somehow constructed while they were distracted. "Oh... It. Is. On!"

Rarity dodged the flying pillows as she made her way to her sister. "Sweetie, let's get going."

"Sunny!" Nightmare Moon roared as several pillows around her floated threateningly. "How dare you join Pinkie Pie's side! Once I win this fight you will be grounded and spend the next thousand years in your room at the castle, you hear me?"
"But..." Sweetie Belle's horn glowed as she sent another pillow flying. "Nightmare Moon! We have to stop her!"

The older unicorn just sighed and ushered her sister out. "They'll be fine." Once they were outside, Rarity looked up with a frown. "I just hope they finish their pillow fight soon so that Nightmare Moon can raise the sun."

Sweetie blinked. "Huh? Buh- but, come on, sis! This is serious!" She looked at her sister doubtfully. "Isn't it?"

"Okay, that's enough, Sweetie, you're starting to sound like Twilight," Rarity chided. Then, when she saw the small frown in the filly's face, clarified, "The purple unicorn."

"I know who Twilight is!"

Rarity sighed. "Of course dear, I just... I'm still tired. Now, let's take you home."

The two walked in silence for a few minutes until...

"Sweetie, I may be... a bit under the weather, but... did you just levitate and throw pillows around?"

o.0.o

As they walked away from the library, Sweetie's eyes were glued to the ground.

So I didn't make it home... back there Nightmare Moon was stopped by sis and the others... even in that strange world where Trixie and Twilight were together, Nightmare Moon was gone! What am I going to do? Why isn't everypony more worried about this?

To Sweetie Belle's surprise, the sun eventually made its way up into the sky. "I thought Nightmare Moon wanted eternal night?"

Why?

Rarity glanced tiredly at her. "No, I think the only thing she really wants is Twilight..." She sighed. "Ever since we tried to use the Elements of Harmony on Nightmare Moon and failed, everything has been such a rush... with Twilight suddenly becoming Nightmare Moon's slave and Celestia being..." Rarity stopped, looking around, "... indisposed... everything is very confusing. It might be easier if Nightmare Moon had been a tyrant- but no, we get a prankster..."

That made the filly stop. "What?"

What does Nightmare Moon want with Twilight? It can't be good! Oooh, I should find the piece of Twilight in this world, but can I just do it and not help her defeat Nightmare Moon? What would my Twilight want me to do?

The older unicorn yawned as she herded her sister into the boutique, and looked longingly at the stairs that led to her room. "I know you just met Twilight, Sweetie, so you don't know... she's Nightmare Moon's personal slave..."

"Slave?!"

Rarity held her hoof against her head. "Could you please not yell? Listen, Sweetie, why don't you go play around town; maybe find that pegasus friend of yours, just don't get into trouble, okay?"

"But-"

"Go on, Sweetie. Big sis needs some more sleep."

As she was ushered out the door, Sweetie rolled her eyes. "Fine."

The cool morning air welcomed her into its embrace once more as she pondered what to do.

Nightmare Moon has turned Twilight into her slave! She makes her dress like a belly dancer! Does that mean that she defeated Princess Celestia? What am I going to do? Should I tell them about... the accident? But, how will they treat me if I do? Will sis still think I am her sister? Or maybe she will be scared of me! I don't have Trixie here to explain... I'm... alone... She sighed, but her thoughts were interrupted by a familiar filly walking past Carousel Boutique.

"Apple Bloom!" she called, running up to meet her friend. Well, maybe not completely alone.

The earth pony stopped and looked at her, confused. "Sweetie Belle, right? Rarity's sister?"

What? But... oh... right. I'm the other world thing. Sweetie face-hoofed, then looked at her would-be-friend. "Uh... right! And you're Applejack's sister, right?"

"That's me!" Apple Bloom said with a proud nod. "Ah'm lookin' for her right now; she's s'posed ta be back on the farm buckin' apples you see..."

A plan started to form in Sweetie's mind. "Hey, I know where Applejack is right now... want to hang out after we get her?"

Apple Bloom blinked. "Uh, sure."

"Great!" Sweetie grinned as she motioned for the earth pony to follow her. "I'll introduce you to another friend, and then..."

"... and then?"

"We'll rescue Twilight!"

"Who?"

o.0.o

"So, let me get this straight," Scootaloo said, looking at Sweetie Belle as if the unicorn had grown another horn. "You want the three of us," her hoof went around encompassing them, "To take on The Nightmare Moon in order to free this Twilight Sparkle, who you just met this morning."

Sweetie nodded excitedly.

"Ah met her a couple of days ago!" Apple Bloom supplied.

"Right..." Scootaloo gave the earth pony an odd look. "So you really want to do this, even after Nightmare Moon defeated Princess Celestia," the pegasus pressed.

"Eeyup!" Sweetie smiled, ignoring the odd look Apple Bloom gave her in turn.

"Sweetie, I hate to break it to you, but we can't do this!" Scootaloo rolled her eyes. "This is nuts! Besides," she glared at the unicorn, "Since when do you want to go on crazy adventures? You're usually the one telling me to not do this sort of stuff!"

The unicorn's smile faded. "But... but," she stammered. "Think about our cutie-marks!"

Apple Bloom blinked and looked at her flank. "We don't have cutie-marks."

"Exactly!" Sweetie said, nodding sagely. "Maybe we can get them by defeating Nightmare Moon!"

"That's completely-" Scoot paused, eyes narrowing as she scratched her chin with her hoof. "You think that might work?"

"That would be really cool," Apple Bloom added, eyes wide.

"So, what do you say? Cutie Mark Crusader Nightmare Vanquishers!"

"Yay!" the other two fillies joined, jumping up in excitement for a second before Scootaloo and Apple Bloom stopped.

"Cutie Mark Crusaders?" the earth pony asked.

Sweetie coughed. "Uh... ye-yeah! We're trying to get our cutie marks, right?"

"You know..." the pegasus said thoughtfully. "It's weird to say this, but... it sounds natural."

The three looked at each other for a moment before wide grins were shared. "Cutie Mark Crusader Nightmare Vanquishers! Yay!"

The three ran in circles, cheering, until Scootaloo suddenly stopped, which ended in the other two piling on top of her.

"Ouch! Get off! Get off!" she shouted.

"Why'd you stop?" Sweetie asked, as she rolled off to the side, making Apple Bloom slide over.

"Well, I was thinking... we need to plan this out," Scootaloo said. "And we need a base!"

Sweetie blinked. "Well..." Her eyes widened. "There's this filly pegasus called Sunny who lives at the castle, I think. Maybe she can help us find a hiding place there?"

"But... how can we get to the castle?" Apple Bloom asked.

"I saw Nightmare Moon come out of a magic door," Sweetie provided, looking from one pony to the next. "I bet we can also use it to get to the castle!"

The three exchanged glances.

"We can do it!" Sweetie Belle insisted.

Finally Apple Bloom and Scootaloo both nodded. "Let's go!"

o.0.o

Spike groaned as he dragged himself to the library door as the persistent knocks continued. "Hold your horses, I'm coming!" When the door opened, he was greeted by three grinning fillies. "Uh... can I help you?"

"Spike!" Sweetie said with a bright smile. "We need to get to the castle! Can you help us?"

The baby dragon looked at her, confused. "Buh- what? Castle?"

"Yeah... uh..." Apple Bloom, pointed towards the distance in direction of Canterlot. "Ya know, where Nightmare Moon is?"

"But... why in the name of Celestia's mane would you want to go there?" the dragon asked.

"W-well.... I..." Sweetie hated to lie to Spike, but if they were going to save Twilight... "Twilight told me that I should apply to Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns?"

Spike gave her an unamused look, arching an eyebrow. "She did, huh? Do you know any magic?"

"Y-yes!" Sweetie nodded. "I know Levitation and Prestidigitation and Shield, and I was learning some illusion magic and..."

"Fine! Fine!" Spike sighed. "I can tell a bookworm when I see one, especially after living with Twilight," he muttered before peering around Sweetie at the other two fillies. "But what about you two?"

"Uh..." Scootaloo shifted nervously. "Moral... support?"

Apple Bloom nodded quickly.

Spike rolled his eyes as he stepped back, opening the door all the way, "Come on in."

The three fillies made their way into the library. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo looked almost horrified at the sheer amount of books in there. "This reminds me of school..." she whispered.

"Spike? Could we also talk to Sunny?" Sweetie asked. "She knows the castle and where we have to go..."

Spike blinked, "Sure. I'll go get her. You three stay here in the meantime, okay?"

The three fillies nodded as the dragon went up the stairs. Once he was out of sight they all released a deep breath.

"It... it worked!" Apple Bloom said in awe.

"I can't believe you convinced him you knew magic!" Scootaloo added, turning to look at Sweetie with a huge grin. "That was awesome! Levitation and Presti-whatever! Ha! Classic!"

"But-" Sweetie raised a hoof.

"You mean you don't really know magic?" Apple Bloom blinked. "Ah believed you when you said all them fancy words! You should be an actress, Sweetie."

"But-" the unicorn filly tried again, only to be interrupted this time by Spike as he jumped down the stairs.

"Aha! I knew it!" the little dragon said walking towards them, brows furrowed. "You almost got me, but there's no way Twilight would tell you that without telling me about it! Besides we arrived a few days ago and-"

"I do know magic!" Sweetie interrupted. "Look!" she levitated a couple of books off the shelf and then floated them up to the table. "See? I can do magic!"

"How the hay did you do that?!" Scootaloo asked, surprised. "I've never seen you do anything like that!"

Spike glanced at Sweetie with a raised eyebrow. "Moral support, huh?"

The unicorn filly cringed.

"Well?" Scootaloo pressed her face against the unicorn's. "When did you learn to do that?"

"I..."

"Spike, are they the ones looking for me?" A voice interrupted them. They all looked up towards the upstairs room as a white pegasus with a sun cutie-mark and a gem on her forehead asked walked down the stairs, stifling a yawn.

"Prin- I mean, Sunny!" Spike smiled nervously. "Yes, that's them."

"Oh... hi!" Sweetie smiled nervously as she walked around Scootaloo, who frowned at her but held her tongue.

"I recognize you," Sunny said after looking at the unicorn filly for a few seconds. "You're Rarity's sister... Sweetie Belle, right?"

"Rarity is your sister?" Spike gasped as he grew dreamy-eyed. "No wonder you know magic... with a sister so perfect-"

"Yeah, well..." Apple Bloom looked at Sunny. "We was wonderin' if you could give us a tour of the Castle?"

Sunny smiled. "Huzzah! At last! New friends!" she exclaimed giddily. "Sis will be so proud!"

The three fillies looked at each other. "Um, sure!" Sweetie hastily reassured the pegasus. "We'd be happy to be your friends!

"Well! Let's get going!" Sunny giggled, a spring in her step as she trotted towards the now-hidden portal. "I'm sure sis would love to meet you!"

o.0.o

"So, she lives in the Castle," Scootaloo said in a sing-song voice that vaguely resembled Sweetie Belle's. "She can help us get a place to hide and plan there! Why, she's the best pony that we could ask for help! She looks really nice!" She hissed at Sweetie, who winced. "Oh, and she's also freaking Nightmare Moon's sister!"

The unicorn filly winced as she and Apple Bloom watched apprehensively as the white pegasus nuzzled the dark Queen of Equestria. Next to the queen, Twilight Sparkle stood, this time without her belly-dancer costume, looking at them with confusion and something akin to panic.

"Ah'm not sure comin' here was a good idea..." Apple Bloom noted.

"Sis! I made new friends!" Sunny said excitedly. "This is Apple Bloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle."

"Welcome to Canterlot, my little-" Nightmare Moon's eyes narrowed as she looked at Sweetie. "You."

The unicorn filly gulped, but then took a deep breath, "Nightmare Moon!" she challenged, "I am here to save Twilight Sparkle!"

Twilight started coughing, looking at the filly in disbelief.

The Nightmare's eyes widened as she suddenly grabbed the purple unicorn with a foreleg and cuddled up to her. "No! You cannot take her! She's mine!"

"She is not!"

"Is too!"

"Is not!"

"Is too!"

"Is not!"

"Is not!"

"Is too!" Sweetie blinked when she saw Nightmare Moon smile. "Heeeey!"

The trio of fillies watched as the Nightmare nuzzled Twilight affectionately, a hoof tracing its way up and down the purple unicorn's horn. "She's mine, and she likes it..." She grinned at the flushing purple unicorn. "Don't you, slave?"

"I... I-" Twilight trembled, her blush deepening as her embarrassment grew.

"Don't surrender, Twilight!" Sweetie shouted. "I'll save you!"

"Ni- Niiii- Nightmare Moon!" Twilight gasped as she pushed back the queen. "They're just fillies! They shouldn't be seeing this!"

The queen pouted. "But Twilight, you know you like it..."

"Sis, is it okay if they stay here for a little while?" Sunny asked, blissfully unaware of the teasing and embarrassment. "They really wanted to see the castle..."

Nightmare Moon stopped trying to catch Twilight and looked down at the three fillies. "So you would condemn your lives to the misery of living in these empty halls, alone, save for each other, my sister Sunny, and the occasional visit from your family?"

Apple Bloom opened her mouth to inform the black alicorn that she was, in fact, not interested in doing that at all... but found that she could not speak at all. She blinked, starting to panic.

The Nightmare smiled. "Excellent! You will then stay at the Castle!"

"But-" Apple Bloom blinked. "Hey, I can speak again!"

"Oh, and I heard Sweetie Belle say that she wanted to study at my school for gifted unicorns!" Sunny provided helpfully.

Both the alicorn and Twilight turned to look at her with raised eyebrows. "Reeeeeally?" Nightmare Moon grinned.

"Um... I..." Sweetie stammered, looking around worriedly.

"Why, yes!" The white pegasus beamed down at the unicorn, "She even said that Twilight suggested she try out!"

"I did?" Twilight blinked. "I must've been drunk..."

"Hey, I'm pretty good!" Sweetie complained.

"I remember you attacking me with a pillow this morning..." Nightmare Moon remarked. "That means that you do have some magical skills, but enough for the School for Gifted Unicorns?"

"I was trained by the best!" Sweetie stomped the floor with her hoof. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo suddenly grabbed her and shoved an apple into her mouth.

"If you'll excuse us fer jus' a moment, yer highness..." the apple farmer filly quickly said as the pair dragged Sweetie to a corner of the room.

"Are you crazy?!" Scootaloo asked, glaring at the unicorn. "What the hay are you thinking?!"

"You're provo- pro- gettin' into a fight with Nightmare Moon!" Apple Bloom said. "This ain't part of the plan!"

Sweetie cringed. "But..."

"No 'buts,' Sweetie!" The pegasus said, "I don't know what's gotten into you, but you can't just come to the castle and start a fight with Nightmare Moon!"

"You mean she's not usually like this?" Nightmare Moon asked.

"No!" Scootaloo said, annoyed. "All of a sudden she wants to be the stallion in shining armor that wants to save... the captured... unicorn...." Her words slowly died as she looked to her right... And into the slitted eyes of Nightmare Moon herself.

"AAAAAAAaah!" The pegasus jumped onto Apple Bloom's forehooves, who stumbled, screaming in fright, and jumped, still carrying Scootaloo, on top of Sweetie Belle.

As the trio collapsed, Nightmare Moon laughed. "Priceless! I almost didn't do it; I mean, I could hear you all the way to the throne, but I thought 'Will they notice me? Oh, of course they would,' but then I came over here and you didn't!" She pounded her hoof on the floor, trying to quell her mirth. "The looks on your faces!"

"Why, you..." Scootaloo glared at the Nightmare. "Now it's personal!"

"Good," Nightmare Moon said. "Since you'll be staying here, I expect you to provide enough entertainment-"

"Wait, wait!" Twilight interrupted. "We can't simply keep them here!" She looked straight at Nightmare Moon. "As much... entertaining... as they might be, their families will miss them!"

"But Twilight," Nightmare Moon whined. "I'm the Evil Queen of Equestria! Can I keep one of them? Pleeeease?"

"No!"

"Pretty please? With me on top? And sugar? And honey? And anything else sweet that you might like?"

"No!" Twilight repeated firmly. "They cannot stay and that's final."

Nightmare Moon sighed and looked at Sunny. "Sorry, Sunny, I guess you won't be able to have that sleep-over you wanted. Twilight doesn't want you to have friends over."

"What? But-"

"Twilight stopped, feeling cold sweat run down her side when she heard the whimper. Slowly, she turned to look at the white pegasus, who was slumped on the floor next to the throne, looking at her in misery, tears welling up in her innocent eyes... Twilight knew that it was her fault, that Sunny's unhappiness was a direct result of her lack of compassion and-"

"Stop that," Twilight growled, putting a hoof over Nightmare Moon's mouth and ceasing the alicorn's alarmingly accurate narration of her thoughts.

"Can they stay one night, Twilight? Please?" Sunny pleaded. "I promise we'll be good!"

"Yeah," Scootaloo said, glaring at the smirking Nightmare. "I wouldn't mind staying a night at the castle."

Apple Bloom shook her head as she also gave an evil look at the black alicorn. "Ah don't mind stayin' either, as long as mah sister is okay with it."

They all looked at Twilight, who sighed, lowering her head in defeat. "Fine. I'll go ask your sisters."

"Yay!" Four voices echoed in the throne room, with a less enthusiastic Apple Bloom smiling uncomfortably.

When they settled down, Nightmare Moon turned to her sister. "Sunny, show your friends around the castle in the meantime. I have to arrange Sweetie's test."

"You're really doing it?" Twilight gasped.

The alicorn just smiled.

o.0.o

"Twilight, Ah know that the- that Nightmare Moon and you have a... special... kind of relationship, but Ah can't believe you're askin' me to let Apple Bloom stay the night over with her!"

"I have to agree, dear," Rarity said with a grimace. "Sweetie was acting strange enough today, and I fear that-"

"That's not all..." Twilight closed her eyes. "She... Sweetie Belle is..."

"What? What is it?" Rarity asked, walking closer to the purple unicorn, worry evident in her eyes.

"Um... Sweetie is taking the test for Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns... today," Twilight said.

"Oh no! That's horrible! I-" Rarity stopped. "Are you serious?"

"Do I look like I'm joking?"

Rarity stared at Twilight, whose eyes shone with an unspeakable stress. Her mane was disheveled with little hairs sticking out in random directions, the strands around her horn seemed to be matted down, as if she had been rubbing a pillow on them or...

The fashionista coughed into her hoof. "Uh, no dear, you look like you were having... fun... and it was interrupted."

"WHAT?!"

"Not that there's anything wrong with that, Twilight, but I hope that my sister didn't-"

"Nothing happened!" Twilight growled as her coat started smoldering and turning white.

"We believe you, sugarcube," Applejack hastily interjected, giving Rarity a look. "Now, what was this about a test?"

Twilight took a deep, shuddering breath and let it out slowly. "Sweetie convinced Nightmare Moon that she was ready for to try out for Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns and-"

"But, darling... Sweetie cannot cast a single spell," Rarity pointed out.

"Well, this morning she was levitating and flinging pillows like a pro," Twilight said. "And she claims to know at least two other spells and some illusion magic."

"But, I haven't taught her anything, and the Ponyville school doesn't teach magic to young unicorns!" Rarity insisted.

Twilight shrugged. "Well, that's what's happening. She'll be taking her test in a couple of hours. We could go watch her if you want."

"But of course!" Rarity said. "What kind of sister... wait, we would go to Canterlot!"

"Well, yes, the School is in-"

"Oh, Celestia! What am I doing here? Two hours you said? Well, I should get ready! And maybe make something for Sweetie! She needs to look good for her test, in front of all those noble ponies!" Her eyes glittered with a sudden memory. "Do you think that Prince Blueblood will be there?"

Twilight frowned thoughtfully. "Blueblood usually stays away from any form of education or source of knowledge. So, I sincerely doubt it."

Rarity looked downcast for the barest of seconds. "Oh well, I still need to get ready. See you at the library then!" With that, she cantered away.

The purple unicorn sighed. "Well, time to find Scootaloo's parents."

o.0.o

"Do you understand what I am asking of you?" Nightmare Moon's eyes glowed with inner power as she looked down upon the cowering forms of the board of trustees at Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns.

"Bu-but... your- your Highness..." a grey unicorn stammered. "What you're asking for... it... it doesn't exist!"

"Aaand?" Nightmare Moon leaned closer, her long mane waving like a malevolent aura all around them.

"Aaaaand... we'll get it done!" the unicorn squeaked.

"Good!" the alicorn said, leaning back. "Have it ready in two hours."

"T-t-t... two hours?" the unicorn coughed, unable to fully express his shock. The wide eyes of the others was enough to bring a smile to Nightmare Moon.

"If you don't have it ready... there will be consequences." With a megalomaniacal laugh, Nightmare Moon turned into mist and flew out of the window.

The unicorns looked at each other in shock.

"How are we going to do this?" an elder, yellow coated unicorn asked the others. "This is..."

"We have to," a blue male unicorn said with a sigh, "We have no choice. If we fail... the school would have nopony to repair whatever damage that monster might attempt against our students."

"I..." A cream coated mare coughed. "I might have an idea..."

o.0.o

Rarity and Applejack followed Twilight through the halls of Canterlot Castle and out into the gardens. Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns was right next to the castle, since Celestia herself would sometimes teach and monitor promising students, as well as mentor a select few unicorns besides her faithful student.

"Well, this place here sure is pretty," Applejack said, looking around the grounds. "Pretty empty, that is! Where is everypony?"

"Well, since Nightmare Moon came back, most of the nobles left the castle," Twilight explained.

"How awful!" Rarity sighed.

"Well, to be fair, we have managed to do more work for the good of ponykind since they went away than ever before-" Twilight elaborated.

"There she is!" Rarity beamed as she spotted her sister walking with Sunny, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo. "Sweetie Belle!" She waved with a hoof to get her sister's attention.

"Sis!" Apple Bloom called as she ran up to Applejack. "Sunny just showed us the kitchens! They're huge! Granny Smith would love 'em!"

"Yeah!" Scootaloo grinned, "The kitchen was great, and I can't wait for dinner tonight!"

"You should have seen Scootaloo's face, Twilight!" Sunny declared. "Her eyes went really big and she started running around and grabbing stuff and-"

The purple unicorn chuckled. "As long as nothing was broken, it's fine. I'm glad you four are having such a good time."

Rarity stepped forth to hug Sweetie. "I am so proud of you!" She gushed, "I can't believe you've learned magic so early! You must tell me who taught you."

Twilight caught the filly sneaking a glance at her for just a second. But Sweetie's attention was back to her sister as a blue and white cape slowly draped around the filly's form. "Sis... what-"

"You must look good for your test, Sweetie! Remember, It's the first impression that..."

"... will either open the door or close it." Sweetie finished.

"Exactly!" Rarity smiled, stepping back to take a look at the filly and carefully arranging the cape until it was perfect. "So, you were saying, darlin'?"

"Um, her name was Trixie," Sweetie said with a twinge of guilt. Well it's not really lying... "She's a showmare who has travelled all over Equestria."

"Oh..." Rarity blinked. "I don't believe I've ever heard of her."

"Don't worry," Sweetie said absently, looking towards the school nervously. "You will."

"Are you ready for your test, Sweetie?" Twilight asked.

"Um... no?"

"Well..." the unicorn coughed. "I can't guarantee that you'll pass, but if you remember smile and look confident, I guarantee you'll make a good first impression," the purple mare advised with a wise nod of her head.

"Will they make me hatch an egg?" Sweetie asked.

Twilight blinked. "How did you..." She looked at Sunny hopefully. "Did you tell her, Sunny?"

The pegasus looked surprised. "No... I didn't know what the test was..."

"Oh..." Twilight sighed, but her mind was working furiously. How did she know?

"Well, it's time!" Nightmare Moon said, inserting her head between Rarity and Twilight.

"Yes indeed-WahaHAha?!" Rarity jumped, her dress fluttering in the wind until she landed on top of Applejack who gave her a half-amused, half-annoyed glance, while everypony else worriedly stepped back from the queen's sudden appearance.

"You keep landin' on top of me Rarity, and Ah might think yer lookin' for something else!"

"Th-that's nonsense!" Rarity stammered as she turned to glare at the black alicorn. "Don't do that!"

"I'm the Queen. I do what I like," Nightmare Moon said. "Now, let's go, Sweetie!"

o.0.o

The room was a dull gray with the biggest chalkboard Sweetie had ever seen on the wall behind her. She faced the rest of the study hall, idly wondering if Miss Cheerilee felt so nervous in front of classroom. Of course, Sweetie was only facing a class of four unicorns, but it didn't help matters that all four were older and staring at her rather intently.

She looked nervously towards Twilight and Rarity, both of whom smiled widely and pointed at their mouths.

The filly struggled to bring a small smile out, and was rewarded by the board immediately taking notes.

A brown stallion walked into the room dragging a cart, in the middle of which a large egg of the utmost black rested.

"Well, Miss Belle," one of the unicorns spoke, although she couldn't know which one it was, since her eyes were glued to the egg. "It says here you are the student of... Trixie." There was a pause. "Are we talking about the 'Great and Powerful' Trixie by any chance?"

Sweetie looked at them. "Uh, yes. That's her."

Fast scribbling.

"The Great and Powerful Trixie?" Twilight wondered aloud. "Never heard of her, but she sounds like an interesting unicorn based on the title alone..."

"Miss Belle, to be admitted into the school you need to hatch the egg in front of you using magic you know. Please, go ahead.Whenever you are ready."

Sweetie gulped. I have no idea how to do this! What am I going to do?! She started hyperventilating. We never covered this in Twilight's class! I don't have a sonic rainboom to help me! A quick look at her mentor's counterpart helped calm her down a bit. Well... if I don't try, I won't know...

How should I start? Maybe try to levitate half of it? Her horn blazed and the egg's top part started glowing. Carefully pulling, she started the process of what would hopefully hatch the egg and-

"Why is the egg stretching like that?" Rarity whispered to Twilight, who was looking at the black egg in complete befuddlement.

"... I- that- why..." the purple unicorn stammered, her eyes widening as the lower half of the egg remained in place, but the upper part slowly stretched farther as if the egg was made of bubblegum.

Nightmare Moon turned her head away and shook silently, drawing Twilight's attention to her. The purple unicorn raised an eyebrow, but chose to remain quiet.

Sweetie opened her eyes and gasped, releasing her control of the egg, which immediately reformed into its original shape. "Wha- what!?" She squeaked out before glancing at the board of instructors as they wrote more notes.

Calm down Sweetie! You can do it! She focused on the egg once more and slowly a visible aura formed around the egg as she concentrated even more.

The silence in the room stretched for a couple of minutes until a cough from one of the unicorns broke it.

"Miss Belle, while a continuous use of Prestidigitation as a warming spell would indeed hatch an egg eventually, we don't have months to wait nor you the stamina to sustain it that long... however, I have to commend you, since you are the first unicorn ever to think of anything remotely similar to natural hatching... But I am afraid that still doesn't mean you pass."

"Oh..." Sweetie pouted.

Next to Twilight, Nightmare Moon could barely contain her laughter, drawing the attention of Celestia's student.

"You... you had something to do with this!" She said, raising her voice and calling everypony's attention to the Nightmare. "You're-" Twilight's eyes flashed in anger. "You're cheating!"

Nightmare Moon smirked. "Now, dear Twilight, I just thought that such a smart filly would need a better challenge than a boring old dragon egg."

"What did you do?"

"Well, I asked them to give her an ink-dragon egg," Nightmare Moon smiled.

"You... what... I can't... no..." Twilight started to smoke as her anger increased.

"Wow!" Sweetie Belle looked at the egg in awe. "An ink-dragon! I've never even heard of one of those before!"

"Now, Sweetie, that's because-"

"Miss Sparkle," one of the unicorns coughed. "If you're quite done, Miss Belle has one more try, and we all have work to do."

Think, Sweetie, think! The unicorn filly looked around for inspiration. Ink... ink...

"Ink!" she shouted suddenly, her eyes filling with hope.

That's it! It's just like that time that I dropped the ink bottle in Miss Cheerilee's class! I had to use some paper towels! But... where can I get some paper towels... or even just some paper?

"Um..." Sweetie looked at the unicorns sheepishly. "Could I have some paper please?"

"I don't know what you have in mind, Miss Belle, but the test can only be completed with skills and spells you posses and can do by yourself. The only paper in this room is in our notebooks and we are using them."

Sweetie sighed, frowning as she pawed the ground, thinking. "Well, there goes that idea..."

What else can I do? She thought. Levitation doesn't work, Prestidigitation takes months, Shield wouldn't help, and that spell Trixie taught me won't work unless I can talk it into hatching... She sighed. I should really review it, maybe take some notes later on that notebook Rarity gave me in the other world... I really hope the summoning spell works here.

The unicorn filly sat down and stared despondently at the egg. "I- I give-"

Everypony held their breaths.

"I- notebook!" Sweetie screeched, making the surrounding ponies jump in surprise.

"Yes, the notebooks are the only sources of paper here, so-"

"Not yours! Mine!" Sweetie said with a big smile as her horn shone with magic again. Slowly, to the surprised eyes of the gathered ponies, the space in the air just in front of Sweetie seemed to open, and an object slowly floated out.

"An Inter-dimensional Pocket? A filly her age?! Impossible!" one of the unicorns shouted in surprise, dropping his own notebook and pen as the pocket closed up.

Ignoring everypony's gaping stares, Sweetie opened her notebook and approached the egg. "Okay... all I have to do is get the top off the egg..."  she slowly started pressing the open notebook on top of the egg. Everypony watched in awe as the top was slowly absorbed into the paper.

"That's-" Nightmare Moon's eyes were wide. "That's cheating!"

"So is having the board create an egg for a dragon that doesn't exist!" Twilight growled.

Still concentrating, Sweetie slowly lowered the notebook until-

"ACHOOO!"

"Ah!" Sweetie jumped back in surprise, loosing her concentration on the notebook. The gem-studded booklet fell straight down, splashing the ink in all directions, splattering her face and her cape.

"No!" Sweetie yelled, running up to the egg while the unicorns exchanged worried glances.

"Why did you do that?!" Twilight rounded up on Nightmare Moon.

The alicorn rubbed her nose with her hoof. "I'm sorry! I really didn't mean to."

"Right."

"Uh... this exam is concluded," one of the unicorns said shakily.

The group watched the unicorns get up and slowly walk out of the door, casting uneasy glances at the ink in the floor.

Sweetie sniffed. With a flash of magic her notebook was gone. "... I failed."

"It's okay, Sweetie," Rarity said, carefully stepping around the ink. "I think I can still remove the ink from it..." She sighed, then gave her sister an encouraging smile.  "You did your best, and I have to say, I am very, very proud of you!"

The filly looked at her sister with big wet eyes. "Really?"

The fashionista nodded, "Really! I never thought you knew so much magic! I'm so proud!"

"It was impressive," Twilight added. "And don't worry, you really impressed them. I'm sure next time you take the test you'll get in; you're still very young... and although I never heard of anypony breaking the egg, it was nothing more than a fake egg ."

Sweetie slowly smiled, "Thanks, sis! Thanks, Twilight..."

She was suddenly hugged by two other fillies. "That was super awesome, Sweetie!" Scootaloo said. "You have to tell me when you learned all that!"

"Ah never seen anythin' like it!" Apple Bloom nodded.

A loud growl made them all cringe. The group turned to look at Nightmare Moon, who had the decency to blush. "What? All of this made me hungry! We should eat!" she said, starting towards the door.

Sweetie nodded and followed the group, but not before looking back at the ink spots on the floor. "I'm sorry... even if you weren't a real egg."

o.0.o

"Oh, my!" Rarity gasped as they entered a large hall. It was tastefully decorated with banners depicting Nightmare Moon in various poses of unquestionable power. "This is amazing! Definitely what you would expect of Canterlot Castle!"

Nightmare Moon chuckled, "This is one of the smaller dining halls."

Applejack's eyes widened. "This is one of the smaller ones? Just look at that table!"

The wooden dinner table was set by the time the group arrived. It could easily accommodate twice the amount of ponies, yet somehow all of it was covered with different dishes.

"Ah don't rightly know if Ah can eat that much!"

"Don't worry sis," Apple Bloom patted her foreleg comfortingly. "Nopony expects you to; we're supposed to only eat what we want."

"Ah-" Applejack blushed as Rarity and Twilight chuckled. "Ah know that, Apple Bloom. Ah'm just sayin' it's a lot of food."

"Oh, okay!" The filly smiled brightly. "Let's eat!"

"Ah don't see that many apples, though..." Applejack muttered, looking around the table.

"Applejack, darling," Rarity shook her head. "There's more to food than just apples!"

"Ah'm just sayin', just sayin'..." the apple farmer shook her head, looking around the dainty decorations, the three different types of forks and spoons and knives and pincers and... she shuddered. It was like being back with the Oranges.

The four fillies, three mares and incarnation of-all-that-was-evil-in-ponydom sat down for dinner, with the black alicorn at the head of the table.

"Oh! Good! They made clover soup! That's my favourite!" Nightmare Moon grinned.

"We were asked by Miss Scootaloo to prepare everypony's favorite dish," a pony in a chef's coat and a toque said, walking towards the table. "For Miss Twilight, we made a daisy salad with dried tart cherries and greens, with a hint of smoked almonds. I remember well the first time she ate it," the chef chuckled as Twilight blushed. "For Miss Rarity, under Miss Belle's advice, we have a wide selection of deli mushroom dishes, hoofpicked by myself and my assistant. Not too much of each, but all of them carefully prepared." The fashionista blinked as her stomach growled.

"Oh... I am so sorry," she looked around the table, distressed. "It's been so long since I ate mushrooms and..."

"It's okay, sugarcube." Applejack said. "We understand."

If anything, the chef looked pleased. He coughed, "For Miss Belle we have a daisy and clover sandwich with a side of fried potatoes."

"Oh, I love daisy and clover sandwiches too!" Twilight said, smiling at the unicorn filly. "I have them all the time at the library!"

"Really?" Sweetie chuckled nervously, causing the purple unicorn to raise an eyebrow.

"Next, we have a hay milkshake and a carefully glazed portobello mushroom, with lettuce, dandelion and tomato sandwich with a single slice of bleu cheese made with multi-grain bread, toasted just to crispiness, along with a salad of greens, red-onion, chili, bleu crumbles, and nuts, tossed in the vinaigrette she personally made herself for Miss Scootaloo."

Everypony at the table gaped at the furiously blushing pegasus.

"So that's what you were doing when you strayed from us!" Sunny gasped. "My! That sound delicious!"

"It is!" the chef said. "I wrote down the recipe, with Miss Scootaloo's permission, of course."

The pegasus seemed to shrink as everypony showered her in praise. "Just don't tell Rainbow Dash! Cooking is not cool!"

"We have buttered spaghetti with fresh basil for Miss Sunny..." the chef continued, although he seemed amused at Scootaloo's denials of cooking skills. "A plate of waffles with honey for Miss Bloom-"

"Apple Bloom!" Applejack turned to look at her sister. "What kind of lunch is that?"

The filly blushed. "But I love waffles!"

"... and finally, under Miss Bloom's recommendation, we have an apple-pecan stuffed cabbage with a cold pasta & apple salad as a side, and an apple variation of the crepe suzette for dessert, courtesy of Miss Scootaloo..."

The pegasus hid under the table, her face darker than her mane.

Applejack stared at all the apple dishes in front of her she had not seen as she walked to the table. Her mouth started watering, but she remembered her manners. "Why, this looks simply delightful, chef! My compliments to you, your assistant and of course, our little darlin', Miss Scootaloo," she immediately complimented, her eyes widening at the words pouring out of her mouth.

The table became very quiet. Applejack looked around nervously. "What? Ah said it looked delicious!"

"Buh-" Rarity stammered, her jaw hanging in a very unlady like expression. "Buh- but... you said..."

"Ah said it looked DELICIOUS!" The farm pony repeated, her tone slightly hysterical.

The others slowly turned to look at their plates.

"Well? What are we waiting for?" Nightmare Moon demanded. "Let's eat!"

The chef pony bowed and retired, leaving them to their meal.

"Yeah!" Scootaloo seconded, her grin widening as the alicorn dug into her soup with gusto. "Enjoy, everypony!"

Following the example of both the pegasus and the alicorn, the rest of the group started eating. It was a few minutes before conversation started again.

"So, Sweetie, that test was very impressive," Twilight complimented. "I can't be sure, but if it had been a normal Dragon egg, you might have been able to hatch it!"

Sweetie looked down at her plate sheepishly. "Thanks, but I tried all my spells..."

"Well, it was a very nice try, regardless." Rarity said. "Sweetie, this Trixie that taught you should be very proud to have you as a student."

Sweetie's eyes sneaked a peek at Twilight, but when she saw the unicorn looking at her, she quickly returned her focus to the plate in front of her. "Ye- yeah..."

"To think my little sister might get into Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns!" Rarity gushed. "That is amazing! I really hope she passes!" She caught herself, adding, "I mean, whatever happens Sweetie, you'll always make me proud."

"Ah'm very impressed too!" Applejack said after a few more bites of her salad. "Now, if I could get Apple Bloom to dedicate herself to school like you do..."

"Hey! Ah study all the time!" Apple Bloom complained.

"Sure you do, sugarcube," Applejack smirked. "That's why Ah had that long talk with Cheerilee about your homework."

"That was just once! And she told you in a bar! It wasn't even official!"

A screech on the floor made everypony in the table tear their eyes away from the bickering sisters and settle on Nightmare Moon, who had suddenly stood up.

"I have to go. Now." the alicorn said, turning around and galloping out of the dining hall.

"How rude!" Rarity said, looking at the door as it slammed behind the dark queen.

"I wonder what happened?" Twilight pondered as she stood up slowly. "All of you, please go ahead, I'll be back shortly."

The group remained silent until the purple unicorn had left the room. Then Scootaloo started laughing. When she saw that Twilight had left Nightmare Moon's schedule for the day at the table, her laughter died as she took hold of it.

o.0.o

Twilight winced when the sudden scream tore through the halls of the castle. She hurried after the sound, knowing that whatever it was that could upset Nightmare Moon herself that much could not be good... or should that be bad? She got so confused lately.

She followed the angry mutters until she arrived to the... Royal Restrooms. Twilight blinked. "Uh... Nightmare Moon?"

"I can't believe this!" The alicorn shouted from within. "WHO put cling wrap between the toilet seat and the bowl!? HEADS WILL ROLL!"

Twilight stood outside, paralyzed as she mouthed the words she had just heard. "... cling wrap..."

There was a blast of magic from within the restroom then some scrambling then... Twilight walked away slightly so she didn't have to hear more. After a few minutes waiting, Nightmare Moon made her way out on shaky legs. She was sweating. "Somepony is going to pay for this..."

Twilight noticed that the dark queen was dragging a long piece of toilet paper on her left hoof, but chose to remain silent. "Who could have done it?" Twilight wondered. "I doubt the head chef would-" her eyes widened.

The alicorn's eyes narrowed. "Oh, this means war..." she took a couple of steps towards the dining hall, but then her eyes widened and she grimaced. "Slave. Make sure those three fillies stay the night with Sunny." She then turned around and ran into the restrooms again.

o.0.o

Twilight walked back into the dining hall where everypony still sat and ate. All of them turned their attention to her with oddly quivering lips.

"Now, Scootaloo, that was a very mean thing to do-"

Twilight was interrupted by the whole table bursting into laughter. Even Rarity, as hard as she tried to cover her mouth and keep some composure, was madly giggling.

The purple unicorn shook her head at the juvenile humor of her friends. Then as she thought about it, she also started giggling.

It was then that the door opened again, admitting a young pegasus guard into the hall. "Um, I am here for a Scootaloo?" He questioned, looking around the room.

"Uh..." the filly in question raised a hoof. "That's me?"

The guard blinked. "Oh, okay. I was asked on behalf of somepony named Rainbow Dash to escort you to get some flight training, but I don't know if that's-"

"YES!" Scootaloo shouted, jumping to the floor. "Yes! YES! I can do it! I want to! If Rainbow Dash thinks it will help, I'm sure it will!"

"Well..." the guard still looked uncertain. "I do have to take you there, but-"

"Let's go!" the pegasus filly shouted in excitement. "I wanna do this! I wanna fly with Dash!"

"Oookay..." the guard said as the filly bounced up to him. "This way, please."

The other ponies in the room watched silently as the pair of pegasi left.

"Did Dash know we were coming here?" Applejack asked, "Or even that Scootaloo was in the Castle?"

Everypony looked down at the remains of their food.

"... what happened?" Sweetie asked. "I don't get it."

"A lesson." Nightmare Moon said, as her gaseous form slowly materialized in the room, eyes narrowed. "We'll see how she likes it!"

o.0.o