After the customary greetings, Twilight made a short flight over Canterlot. Despite Princess Celestia's disappearance, she could see life was still going on. She accelerated her cruising speed as she landed within the castle grounds, galloping through the corridors. When she reached the throne room and opened the door, Twilight saw that she was arriving in the middle of an audience.

"What do you mean by ‘no results’, royal mage?" Luna, as usual, sat to the right of the large, empty seat that had been Princess Celestia's throne for over a thousand years, looking scornfully at a slate-grey vampony.

A thick piece of linen in front of her hooves, the latter remained imperturbable in spite of the Princess's raised tone. "Just as I said to Your Highness. Despite the sample, we tested various spells all night long, although the clocks remained inert. No doubt the nature of the target made our magic unfit to hold her. Or that she knows how to make herself undetectable so nopony can hunt her down."

The indifference in the vampony’s cherry eyes was hidden behind the tinted lenses of the full-length glasses that protected the retinas from the sun at all angles. This was a necessary protection for all vamponies: unicorns, one of whose parents, direct or distant, was a bat pony. They inherited their sensitivity to light and their sharper canines that went along with an omnivorous diet.

Twilight remained silent at the rear of the room. She had a vague idea of the individual in question, but did not dare to intervene.

Luna snorted, exhausted. "Everypony out. I want to speak with Twilight Sparkle alone. Dusty Nova, leave the sample where it is."

They obeyed, waving to the princesses before they left. Luna watched the stained glass windows without paying attention, becoming distant. Meanwhile, Twilight respectfully greeted the guards and the royal mage she had recently met, the latter levitating a wooden pencil to her mouth. Her long, jet-black mane was twisted into an improvised bun, bobbing as she bit into the wood of the pencil to calm her nerves.

Now alone, Twilight walked up to where Dusty was standing a moment before. She didn’t take an interest in the piece of flax at the moment. "You summoned me, Princess Luna?"

Luna lowered her head and closed her eyes. "Yes, Twilight Sparkle. I swore you'd be the first to know if I had any news about my sister."

Twilight had a sudden surge of hope, a faint smile on her face. "Do you know where she is?"

Luna raised her head, looking up at the sunlight through the stained glass window. "Two days ago, just before the setting of the Sun, Pepper and I had a little chat on the observation deck."

Twilight held her breath. "Really? What did you learn? Where's Princess Celestia?"

Luna looked at Twilight, crestfallen. "Twilight Sparkle, I regret to inform you that my sister, Princess Celestia... has been murdered. Pepper confessed committing this unforgivable act in order to gain her powers by setting the sun herself."

Twilight's heart was instantly crushed, Her limbs locked. She became a statue, unable to react, Luna's words echoing in her head.

"As you can see, I'm trying to locate her, but she’s well hidden. Do you think you can succeed where Dusty Nova failed miserably?"

"Forty hours," Twilight said weakly.

Luna bowed her head, raising an eyebrow. "What did you say?"

"Forty hours," Twilight repeated. "You know she's been dead all this time, and you've made no announcement?! All of Equestria's turned to Canterlot, waiting for any information, and you've done nothing? Why is that?!"

"Twilight Sparkle!" Luna shouted, striking the floor with her right hoof to signal the young unicorn back to her hooves before she continued, "For four months, all of Equestria has been mourning the absence of my sister! The memorial in the new section of the public gardens I had built for her last month is constantly crowded! The offerings are raining from all corners! Equestria awaits her return with hope. Do you want to deprive them of that hope? They're already suffering! Do you want to tell them that she's dead? To feel what you're feeling right now? I'm sure my late sister wouldn’t have wanted it that way. But if you believe otherwise, if you believe it is right to make all of Equestria weep over an empty grave, then tell them."

Twilight bowed her head in resignation. "You're right. It's probably what she would have wanted." She used her magic to open the linen. With wide eyes, she gasped, then looked up at Luna. "How—"

Luna interrupted. "It seems that yesterday, Pepper had intended to go to the Badlands. Unfortunately for her, a regiment of my Lunar Guard welcomed her with blades in the clear, and a bat pony hit her in the head before she fled. They would have lost sight of her in the nearby forest."

Twilight looked at the bloody strand of mane and phoenix feathers. "What were the bat ponies doing out there? Pepper is anything but predictable. You couldn't have known she'd go to the Badlands."

"I told you so," Nightmare Moon whispered at Luna's mind, listening from the very beginning.

"Even in these troubled times, you keep a sharp mind. The least I could do is tell you the whole truth."

"What truth?" Twilight asked.

"You're joking. You're joking, right? ... Oh, it seems not. Unexpected of you, but interesting nevertheless," Nightmare Moon softly said to Luna.

"The day Pepper left Equestria, a part of me realised I wouldn't see my sister ever again. That Pepper had been playing us all along. So, in a maelstrom of conflicting feelings, I gave in to her. Nightmare Moon once again took control of my body and my life."

"What?! But how?! I mean, you're not Nightmare Moon now, are you?"

Luna lifted a hoof to impose silence, then resumed. "But Nightmare Moon knew that if you noticed her presence after Pepper and my sister's disappearance, you wouldn't give her time to explain. So, she made me an offer I couldn't refuse. A borrowed body in exchange for her help and my freedom."

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"Her help? But that's Nightmare Moon! The one who wants the eternal night you're talking about! We don't need her help, Princess Luna!"

"Silence!" Luna shouted, using the traditional Canterlot Voice in a fit of anger.

Twilight hiccupped, then fell silent.

"I'm not perfect like my late sister. I am the Princess of the Night! I must watch over it and the dreams of ponies from all over Equestria. Without her help, I could not ensure a peaceful sleep for everypony. Celestia simply could not do so, for she was Princess of the Sun. She had no control over dreams. Since my return, I have watched over dreams every night. Yet, I cannot stay awake indefinitely. This is why Nightmare Moon's help is invaluable to me. She's been chasing those nightmares ever since, while I make sure that the kingdom prospers. You must understand, Twilight Sparkle, that I am acting for the greater good."

"It's—"

"Necessity is law," Luna said, cutting Twilight short.

"So Nightmare Moon goes into these ponies' dreams and chases the bad dreams away? But nopony talks about her!"

"She's no foal. She takes my appearance, just as I've taken hers to scare the foals at every Nightmare Night festival since I've been back."

Twilight was trying to think. But after being caught off guard like that, she was getting nowhere. Only one question popped into her head. "Where is she now?"

"Right here with us," Luna replied, before turning her gaze to her regalia. "Show yourself, Nightmare Moon; your presence is required."

Twilight panicked for a moment, searching for which way the alicorn would come, until a bright spark from Luna's regalia caught her attention.

A black cloud came out of it, landing on the ramp that separated the dais from the floor of the hall. There, the cloud shaped into the ethereal form of Nightmare Moon before it took on a physical appearance, looking down on Twilight neutrally.

Twilight, mouth agape, found herself unable to speak as she witnessed something straight out of a bad dream. Nightmare was just standing there non-aggressively, yet her mere presence terrified her. This time, she didn't have her friends with her to fight the mare of the Moon.

With a royal gait, Nightmare Moon descended to the level of the princess of friendship. Facing her, the queen, who was two heads taller than Twilight, put one knee on the ground as she performed a curtsy of circumstance. "I, Nightmare Moon, salute you, Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship. I understand your concern. We share a stormy past, but I hope you and I can put it aside to do what is right for the greater good. The future of Equestria is at stake."

Twilight's jaw was desperate to touch the ground. Luna was also surprised by the gesture, but was careful not to show it.

As Twilight didn't seem able to speak, Nightmare Moon resumed anew. "While this conversation has been enjoyable, Princess Twilight, I am sorry to have to take my leave, but I have no doubt that we will have the opportunity to share another equally enjoyable moment in the days to come." On this mock ending, Nightmare Moon became a mere cloud and returned to where she came from.

Twilight couldn't believe it. The situation was getting worse and worse by the minute. She didn't know what to think anymore. Had she been that blind for that long? She was trying to remember any clue from her visits to the palace over the past four months, but her mind was blank. Staring down at that bloody lock of mane, she was pulled from her torpor by Luna's hoof lifting her chin.

"Twilight Sparkle? Do you hear me? I've called you three times without success. I said that we must find Pepper so we can exact our revenge."

"Revenge? Shouldn't we bring her to justice or use the Elements of Harmony on her?" Twilight asked, looking up at Princess Luna.

"No. If we were to judge her, we would have to make the facts public. What's more, the justice of Equestria—instituted by my late sister—is too lax. As for the Elements of Harmony, what's the point? To make her a threat to future generations? Nay, we will apply the old Broncoliande adage; an eye for an eye, a fang for a fang. And we will make her suffer as much as she made us suffer. Then, when we are tired of her wailing, we will strike the final blow."

"I don't know, Princess. That sounds extreme."

Luna was about to retaliate, but there was a knock on the door. "Come in," she ordered.

A guard opened the door, saluted, and reminded Luna that the time for her audience with Lady Storm, Lady Shawarma, and Sir Adamantium was fast approaching.

Luna rolled her eyes, clearly overwhelmed. "The audience is cancelled. I've got more important things to do. Send them home." The guard saluted and closed the door. She turned her attention to Twilight. “All right, just find out where Pepper's hideout is. Then, we shall discuss a more appropriate punishment. Can I count on you?"

"Count on me, Princess Luna., Twilight replied, wings up, hoof on her chest, and determined to succeed. With these words, she used telekinesis to take the linen and its contents with her at a full gallop.

As Luna watched Twilight leave the room, Nightmare Moon spoke again. "I can't believe you lied to her with such panache."

Luna smiled briefly. "Whatever. When she's faced with a fait accompli, what can she blame me for? Absolutely nothing."

Nightmare Moon remained silent.

In the corridors, Lady Storm, the Pegasus, Lady Shawarma, the Earth pony, and Lord Adamantium, the Unicorn, were protesting against the intolerable treatment. Their families had laid the foundations of Equestria! They were the top echelon of the aristocracy!

Twilight did not care for this, running for the exit. However, when she reached the entrance, a huge silhouette stood in front of her and forced her to stop.

"Is this way for a princess to run in the halls, Miss Twilight?" asked the silhouette in a deep and stern voice that had suffered the ravages of time.

"Reynaud? I—"

"Lady Luna has entrusted you with a task, and you are scurrying home. I understand this perfectly. But remember that you are a Princess. Sometimes, it is good to take the time to behave in the proper manner within the corridors of the palace. With your permission." With those words, the earth pony, who was as tall as Luna, but much more physically imposing, grabbed the linen and slipped it into one of the saddlebags before handing it back to Twilight. "Lady Celestia used to have it for some time. I thought you would enjoy having it too. I took the liberty of putting a meal for you and your friend in the other saddlebag."

Twilight looked at the purple saddle for a moment. Attached to it were two saddlebags of a yellow and white colour, adorned with three amethysts, similar to the ones on Celestia's regalia. The leather was worn out, scratched here and there. No doubt it had been used for a long journey. Her gaze softened. "Thank you, Reynaud, but which friend are you talking about?" She glanced at the earth pony, whose pale coat and mane had become white with the time, though he was still dressed to the nines in his butler’s uniform.

"The one you made during the trip from Ponyville to Canterlot, Lady Twilight. What a question."

Twilight realised he was talking about that Sunset Shimmer she'd met earlier. "Oh, right! But, how did you know about—"

"Miss Twilight, with all due respect, it is the duty of a butler to know what he needs to know when he needs to know it," he replied with a fine smile.

She smiled at his words, but it faded quickly.

"As far as I know, by the time you get there, you might find her in the gardens."

Twilight was stunned.

Reynaud ran the back of his hoof over his perfectly trimmed beard. "Leave now. A friend is waiting for you."

"She's not really my friend, as you said. Just a unicorn I flew with all the way to Canterlot," Twilight said with a small, uncertain pout.

He wrinkled his electric blue eyes, giving him that stern expression that many feared. "By the perfect moustache, the Princess of Friendship who doesn't know a friend when she sees one! Perhaps I should take you to the infirmary, you must be ill, Miss Twilight. No doubt a few vitamin injections will set you right."

Twilight was wide-eyed, the painful memory of her last vaccination in the castle infirmary immediately came back to her mind. And she didn't want to spend the rest of the day standing up again. She forced herself to smile tensely, an imaginary pain rekindling in her rump. "I don't have time, I have to go find my friend. Thank you and goodbye, Reynaud." Immediately, she teleported herself behind Reynaud's back, fleeing to the gardens.

Once assured that the young princess was gone, the butler went to join Bitter Truth, who was hiding in the servants' lounge of the castle. "The saddle was given to Princess Twilight, Sir Bitter. And I have given your directions regarding the whereabouts of Miss Sunset. And those that you are fleeing from are about to leave the castle grounds."

"Thank you, Reynaud," replied the unicorn, pensively.