>You are Nightmare Moon
>you have just returned to the planet only to have your joy cut short
>at first the adulation was welcome if unexpected but this soured once you learned an impostor had ruled them
>disgraceful, that some mare would dare to run around thinking she is worthy of the name Nightmare Moon
>and one with such horrid taste in architecture as well
>as you float through the cool night air you thank the abyss none of the ponies are sharp enough to realize you aren't their ruler
>though you should be
>you land on the gaudy castle, it's opulence disgusts you! Where's the flying butresses? The Gargoyles? The vaulted arches?
>as your hooves hit the cobblestone you see guards,once again in the tackiest fucking outfits dragging a..
>is that a minotaur?
>seriously what the buck is that?
>the darkness certainly doesn't help
>either way it looks worse for wear, to the point where even you almost feel for sorry for it
>you clear your throat and flare your wings
>presentation is everything
>the guards draw their spears
>you simply cackle
Fools, do you not recognize thy true queen?
>The guards gasp
>"The impostor." The rightmost one, a Unicorn stallion shrieks
>well looks like the faker keeps some of the brighter bulbs to herself
>they fling their spears only for you to easily knock them aside with your arcane might
>you loudly cackle enjoying the terror as your horn lights up and you throw both against the crumbling masonry
>both are out cold
>with those foals out of the way your attention to the now shivering creature in chains
>it sort of looks like a shaved monkey.
>Why would anypony shave a monkey?
>still something about it's shiver tells you it's sapient, or at least intelligent enough to know commands
>you approach and it jerks away head still held low
Ape Creature! If thou knowest what is best you shall take me to your... OH STARS AND VOID WHAT HAPPENED TO YOUR EYES?
>as the creature lifts it's admittedly oddly cute face instead of occular organs were two still bloody holes.
>it takes every once of strength in your body not to void your stomach of what little lunch has remained in your stomach since your banishment
>"Y-you don't remember?"
>he asks, a voice somehow between shocked, pleading and angry.
Nay.
>You shake your head though you know he cannot see you.
>"But you did this to me Luna."
>you throw up in your mouth a bit
>you may have been a villain, but that was bucked up.
>and the idea that this was the kind of thing associated with your name may have been even worse than the architecture
>"Are you ok?"
>He asks as he hears you almost fail to hold back an avalanche of acidic slime which burns your tongue.
>seriously what the buck was wrong with this impostor?
>the creature didn't even hate you!
>in fact it seemed to care for you
>after around a minute of fighting the acidic burn in your throat you feel ready to speak
>you had to stop this doppelganger
>.. for practical reasons.. that was it practical reasons..
>good excuse
>you had an image to uphold after all
>and besides good help was hard to come by especially when a mare with your face was alienating them.
Creature, thou art clearly a part of this liar's regime! We have decided to take thee as hostage!
>yes hostage, and then interrogate him by applying medical supplies!
>some of those herbs stung after all!
>despite the two major missing organs you can tell by his brow he's confused, deeply confused
>it's the kind of face a pony pulls when one of their coworkers suddenly starts declaring themselves Naponian Bone-Apart.
>in fact he does not even talk
>enough he is your hostage, you do not need his consent!
>you pick him up with your aura, his malnourished frame surprisingly light as he falls on your back
>for somepony tortured by the deciever he doesn't put up much fuss
>like he's resigned
>that hurts... you can't find a reason to excuse that thought but you're sure you can find one.
>the sound of hoofsteps and rough voices signals the approach of more guards
>No doubt armed and ready to attack
>with a running start you leap off the castle balcony spreading your great black wings into the dark night
>"Wh-what's happening?"
>Asks the creature now unnessecarily clinging to your back for dear life
We are escaping.
>hoof wigglers clenched as hard as he can with what little strength he has.
Release thy grip on the royal coat!
>he whimpers
>"But what if I fall?"
>he asks terrified
Do you not trust Nightmare Moon to keep her own hostages secure?
>you ask turning your head with a glare he of course cannot perceive
>he simply shakes his head and grabs on even tighter
Fine but thou shalt receive rougher treatment for such infractions next time!
>you spot a clearing in the forest between a grove of oak trees
>you extend your long legs gently touching down on the soft grass
>you lie down before releasing your grip on the primate
>he falls with a soft thud
>he gets up wincing and rubbing his forehead
>normally you'd not care but.. well with how he was doing it's hard not to
>"So... what happens now?"
>he asks slowly steadying his form
We.. we do not know.
>despite the obvious lack of eyes Anon is now staring at you with deadpan disdain
>the tension is gone from his form but it's probably because he's thinking
>'Now I know you're not my Nightmare because you're an idiot'
>you are truly grateful he can't see your blush at the moment
>you thought this would be easier, show up pretend to be the liar and then easily defeat her
>after all if this wasn't Celestia, surely you were dealing with a mortal
>and copies were usual inferior to the original
>but now you don't know what to do
>you certainly didn't expect to take a 'hostage'
>you steel your nerve and put on an imperious scowl for the few Squirrels and bats watching this farce
Enough, we should be the ones asking questions, and thou art required to answer!
>you hope he doesn't pick up on the insecurity in your voice
>"Alright Luna.."
>He says with a heavy sigh
>"What do you want to know?"
>you huff
You are not to call us by that name.
>you pause
>he would be the first being in a thousand years to be your subject
>what would he call you
Thou shalt call us Queen Nightmare.
>he gives another sigh
>it's amazing how sarcastic this ape can be in such pain
>it's almost impressive
>later on you shall ask what training he received to achieve such an ability
>"Alright, 'Queen Nightmare', what do you want to know?"
Who is the pathetic filly who claims our mantle?
>"Luna."
>you scoff
Tis impossible! We were Luna.
>"You said yourself you didn't want me to call you that."
>he grunts the pain getting to him again
Of course we do not, but that does not change the fact that it is impossible.
>he keeps the deadpan expression
>he really believes that there was a Luna running around before you
>the fact he thinks you're the impostor fills you with a simmering rage
>still your job is to gather information not to berate ponies for their stupidity
Very well, when and in what manner did this 'Luna' first appear?
>"A few years back..."
>he gives a pant the adrenaline rush fading allowing more pain
>"She came back as Nightmare Moon before I got here."
>", got hit by the-urgh- elements, and then she was Luna again."
>odd, this pretender was quite dedicated to this farce
>what caused her to go back to her original plan?
And when did this 'Luna' become 'Nightmare Moon?'
>his face grows somber
>but somehow you can tell it's not from pain
>"Last year... after a fight with Celestia."
>very dedicated
Over what?
>his face grows more miserable
>"Over me."
>you smile a bit, surely this creature is quite useful and now you had him in your hooves
And what were you to them.
>his face grows sadder, his head hangs low
>as if even though his vision is gone he can no longer bear to face you
>"I was her lover."
>Lover.
>the somber mood is shattered
>it was just too humorous
>that you would go so far over a Love triangle
>or that you'd pledge yourself to a hairless biped at all
>you chuckle
>then you giggle
>then you laugh
>>37740234
>in seconds you are now cackling from the pit of your belly
>the echoes penetrating the dark forest
>surely this is a jest
>by the time you come down, anon looks grumpier than usual
Thou art serious?
>he nods
>you giggle some more, this time your body falling on the floor and laughing again
>perhaps this death by laughter is your Doppleganger's plan for you?
>you almost feel as if you're choking before air returns to your lungs
>"Seriously, how do you not know this?"
>you grunt
We were indisposed... lover.
>He harrumphs but it turns into a yelp as the adrenaline finally fades from his system
>letting him bare the full brunt of his pain
>you wince
>you scan the area quickly as if you somehow have a knowledge of which plants can heal
>after your initial search comes up empty you think of the next best thing.
>with your telekinesis you tear a bit off of the creatures worn clothes and wrap it around his eyes
>now for the tricky bit
>healing magic was never your forte
>in fact you have probably hurt more ponies trying to heal them than trying to kill them
>"Wh-what's goin-AAAAGGGHHH."
>Anon falls to the ground reeling in pain as the spell takes effect
>his eyes scaring over in seconds as blood clots and solidifies, skin dissolving and reforming
>after a few more seconds of screaming the creature weakly pushes himself up by his hands
>"What the fuck was that for?"
>you smirk
Consider it payment for tearing our coat.
>you stomp your hoof
Now creature
>"I have a name you know?"
>you ignore that comment
Thou shalt tells us of where we can hide and recuperate from this pretender queen!