The Unwanted One

I feel like I did back at the castle, standing on the windowsill and looking down. Damn it… Nah, it was probably even easier there. I sighed nervously and lowered my gaze to my chest, turned around to look at my back and my side… The blue and turquoise dress was tight around my body, flowing the hem down my back legs, glinting dimly with rhinestones in the dim light of the lamp backstage… Beautiful. Magical. On me. Yeah, it’s not the first time: there have already been fittings, and even a little test run with Rar… But now it’s the time to go out in this to the crowd, humming somewhere in the front! And there was a sawing feeling in my soul, that the world would never be the same for me after that… Damn it! Hasn’t she said at her bruise and that hole in the wall that, “no big deal, forget it”? Why didn’t I listen to her, why? Ah, it became uncomfortable! And now it’s comfortable, isn’t? Should have found money and pay it away — and that’s all. And now?.. Think of me as a disabled one — I don’t have brains, damn it! I feel like… Like!… A-a… The mere phrase “my dress” already freaks me out… “Nightmare, your turn.” Spike poked me with his fist and, turning around, walked away, leaving me alone to suffer with my dress. “Hey, Nightmare…” The head of an orange pony with a naughty dark-pink mane suddenly peeked out from around the corner where the dragon had disappeared. “Don’t worry, yep?.. And… Yeah…” Scoot, hesitating and shying, hastened to hide back. “Thanks, Scootie!” I answered with a little bit of nervous smile. I’ll try, there’s nowhere to run… With nervous awaiting, I turned to the scaffold’s way — to the podium. It didn’t last long, though, as the curtains slid to the sides and the blinding light of the spotlights came into my eyes, and my ears were filled with the muffled hum of the crowd, the music, and Pinkie’s voice, ringing out over evening Ponyville. “Here-e it come-e-es!!! The first dress of this collection — “Sky blue evenings”!!! Mod-e-el… Nightmare-e Mo-on!!!” The light stops blinding. Heart pounded somewhere in the temples, throat was dry. My legs are growing weak… Get a grip! How did Rarity say that?… “Wings up, neck out”… Well… Stop, smaller pace! Hem! Shove that damn lump in the throat — I’m sick of it… Let’s go… With a wooden walking, I headed that way — towards the noise and the light. To the podium. To demonstrate the dress. And yeah, I should smile… Lips stretched into a wry, nervous grin. Without fangs! Or Rar would eat me alive right with my dress… The shoes thundered across the podium. Pinkie was speaking something inspirational into the microphone, the music was playing… and a thick silence over the crowd. Smile! Straighten your neck! Step more confident! Ban-bang, ban-bang, ban-bang… Swing tail. Turn to the left side. Put leg down. Bend the neck. Swallow the lump in the throat. Smile! Turn to the right side. Unfold the wings. Turn them back. Back, not fold them completely! Still the same dazed silence in the crowd. Round glassy eyes, dropped jaws. Heart is pounding frantically in ears, like it’s trying to get out. Throat seems to be stuck together, tongue is like sandpaper. Smile!!! Pinkie is inspirationally broadcasting something in the background of everything that’s going on. Turn away. Swing tail. Twist the croup. Ban-bang, ban-bang, ban-bang… Rarity is going near the podium. Gnawing a hoof, looking at me without taking her eyes off. I’d like to have a hoof right now as well… I literally fell into the tent behind the stage, which was used as a dressing room: I could barely keep my legs. “N-nightmare, how are you?..” Fluttershy looked at me sympathetically. “Don’t ask.” I wheezed out. “Water!” I drained the served glass. Oh, man… I’ve never had a cigarette in my life, but now I desperately wanted to smoke. If I had fingers, they would have been shaking… I feel like I’m committing complete insanity… Sweetie Belle, Fluttershy, and the spa sisters, Lotus and Aloe, silently and as quickly as possible pulled the dress off the bruised log — off me. And there’s the new one, and the decorations to it… Rarity, who do you take after to be so creative, damn it? How will I survive eight such appearances?! Oh, speak of the devil and he is sure to appear… The unicorn, falling into the tent, wasn’t in a better shape than me. “Rarity, how are you?” Spiked looked at her with sympathy. “Awful!” She panted. “Water!” She drained the served glass. “I!.. Oh… I didn’t think that your appearance will shock everyone so hard… I’m worrying terribly! What if… What if this is a failure?!..” “D-don’t be worried, Rarity!” The dragonfly stroked the soon-to-be-in-hysteria milliner on the side. “You have, ehm… Excellent dresses! Very… Delicious! Well, I mean, wonderful… Everyone will like them! Just, ehm — no offence, Nightmare! She’s that kind of a model… Well…” “Better than you, kiddo.” I snapped weakly as a squad of mares led by, suddenly, Flutty played the “Formula One” team of technicians at the pit stop with me as the car. Took off the dress and jewelry, drenched the damp fur… “Oh, I!.. Yes. Thanks, Spikey!” She exhaled and smiled gratefully at the literally glowing dragon. “Let’s go to the next!.. Yeah… Don’t forget to correct the make-up! It should be flawless!” She fit into the circle of “technicians”. The new dress: the cool fabric caresses my heated body with its touches. Close my eyes: I wouldn’t have guessed Fluttershy to be a makeup virtuoso. Clicks of clips in my ears: heck with them — I don’t want to pierce them! Quick, professional motions of hooves across my mane. I have to lie down, standing up only when a rare necessary occurs: it’s hard to serve a standing alicorn… “Get up, Nighty! Did they wrinkle your dress? Turn around! Yeah… Okay, fine, I have to go! Don’t forget to change your shoes! And don’t forget to change your make-up at the fifth performance as well! Nightmare… Nicely done, you’re doing great!” Designer smiled a little nervously and hurried out of the building. Okay… Great if it’s great… Last changes. Spike glances expressively at the clock — it’s time for the second exit. One minute and I’m standing in front of the closed curtain again, feeling my pulse quicken. Okay, well… The first time’s not bad… I walk back and forth. The hem of my dress tickles my hind legs a bit. I adjust the pendant on my neck. Rar, goddammit, what did you mean with that openwork thing on the chest? No, it’s beautiful and stuff, but the suspension clings to it!” “Nightmare, your go!” Spike reminds. Get ready! And don’t forget about the smile!

…

When the?.. The last performance. The eighth dress. I corrected the hem: it’s a little strange… or is it supposed to be that way?.. Silver with elements of deep blue; it looks more like an evening gown than a ball one — it’s tight, flowing down in a weightless fabric… A beautiful dress. Crescent-shaped earrings, the pendant is in a full moon form, a silver tiara, and a horn ring as a decoration. The last makes me nervous a bit… The shoes, somewhat similar to mine, are from the armor. Metallic this time, not made of a cleverly crafted thick fabric like most of the previous ones. “Nightmare…” “Yep. I’m ready!” A smile appears on my face by itself. With fangs: no one cares anymore. Everyone admires. Me. Other people’s fear can be entertaining, can be annoying… But this admiration!.. It’s!.. The curtains part, letting me under the beams of lights and projectors. Music rumbles, Pinkie announces another outfit… The applause booms out loud. Shouts of elation ring out. Strobe lights explode into the night with camera flashes. Yes! Adore me! Ironic, isn’t, Luna? You’re the one who’s been dreaming of recognition! Of fame! Of admiring glances! But everything goes to me, Nightmare Moon! I pose spectacularly, with pleasure, noting new and new camera flashes. I will be admired! And you, Luna, will remain a nobody in your sister’s shadow!!! My smile is full of absolute happiness. I’m turning from one side to the other, opening and folding my wings, and enjoying the stomp of applause. It was as if all these ponies have forgotten in an instant, that they are facing a terrible tale from the distant past, and now they are admiring and feast eyes on it. I notice, that the attention of some mortals is shifting away from me. Who?!… I look around angrily, squinting my eyes. Rarity. Stops beside me: the unicorn’s eyes are shining with happiness. Relaxing, I smile: she’s allowed to share this triumph with me! She’s done a lot for it… and for me. “Thanks!” I sincerely thanked her in an ear, breaking through the rumble, clamor, and music. My friend gave me this jubilation! She deserves to bathe in their delight as well! “Thank to you, dear!” She almost shouted back and wiped away the joyful tears. “Night, Rarity! It was!… O-oh-h!!!” Pinkie Pie flew out from somewhere in the crowd right onto the podium in front of us. “I haven’t seen such superbeautiest dresses for a long time! Nightmare, you are super-super-super-super matchless-supermatchless with these dresses!!! Rarity! This is… Oh! It’s superwonderful!” “Thanks, Pinkie!” Rar hugged her, not thinking about her hair. “Hugs!” Pinks answered eagerly. I shook my head with a smile and stared thoughtfully at my hooves. “Adore me?”. The last three performances went on a kind of incomprehensible courage, I must admit… The stunned and enthusiastic eyes fixed on me, the jaws dropping, the applause until the hooves were crushed — this attention… was intoxicating. Now that everything has calmed down and the obsession was gone… It definitely wasn’t mine, one hundred percent. I mean, it was mine, but… No, not really mine, but…

…

Doesn’t matter anyway. Right? In any case, I… “Nightmare, would… Would you mind talking a bit with the guests! Answering questions and…” The unicorn touched me shyly. “I’m not against it…” I answered a little bit slowly, getting back into the real world. Not against it. I’m tired of their fear. “Oh, this is absolutely wonderful! Thanks, Nightmare!” Rar thrived. “Nice!” Pinkie jumped on the spot in unison with the unicorn. “I just got two microphones!” The pony shook a pair of rather imposing plaques with clips, in the manner of lapel microphones, from her mane to her hoof, and promptly hooked them onto our dresses, on our chests. “Nightmare.” Rarity whispered as I leaned toward her at her sign. “I beg you: do without the chilling threats and your creepy jokes! Please! Don’t scary everyone, I beg you very hard!” “I’ll try to.” Straightening, I mumbled with a sigh. I’ll try to. “Are you ready? Time to turn on!” Pinkie looked at us and waved her front leg theatrically as she stepped forward: “Ladies and gentlecolts! Don’t be in a hurry to disperse — it’s not over yet! Right now you have an incredibly incredible opportunity to have a wonderful conversation and speak out your questions for these magnificent ponies: Rarity and Nightmare Moon! I’m sure you have a lot of them today!” “And N-nightmare… Well…” The stallion in the front row twitched his ears uncertainly, looking at me with cautious interest. “Not “well”!” Pinkie shook her curly mane. “You all have seen that she’s beautiful! Just don’t ask her about the Moon and all this ancient past and everything would be alright! Well, let’s go! For the starters: Night, how do you feel about this spectacularly cool evening?” “Spectacularly.” I chuckled indefinably. “I haven’t been in such a situation before.” “Did you like it?” “I did definitely…” Damn it!.. What’s the point of being dishonest and lying to yourself, when you just naturally went crazy from what was going on?.. A-a. “I’m… You know, I’m a little amazed at how quickly and smoothly Rarity organized everything.” I tried to switch to something else. “The stage, the music, the commercials… It was as if everything has been prepared in advance and all she needed was my consent and the outfits.” I winked at the unicorn, which became shy a bit. “Well, I had some experience about it…” She took the floor. “Not as impressive and more in the background, but still. And, of course, this great evening wouldn’t have been possible without my friends, lending me a hoof of help! Applejack and the Apple family for helping me so much with the scene!..” “Ya welcome, sugarcube!” Applejack kindly chuckled from the first row. Wow, I just noticed her… “… You, Pinkie, for organizing and conducting everything beautifully!..” Rar emphasized a bow with a thankful smile. “Did you like-verylike it? It’s awesome! Happy to help!” The happy earthpony jumped on the spot. “…Lotus, Aloe, and Fluttershy, who were so helpful with the outfits! Spike and my sister, Sweetie Belle, who were so supportive about this whole initiative! And of course, Nightmare Moon, without whom this fashion fest wouldn’t have happened! Honestly — I didn’t think you’d agree, dear. It’s hard to put into words what that means to me.” The unicorn nodded appreciatively again, this time at me. “Yes… You’re welcome…” I didn’t find the answer for it. The sincere gratitude touched me. “And you all, Ponyville! Thank you for coming here today!” The milliner concluded by bowing to the crowd and shaking her mane in a spectacular way, accepting the applause with a joyful smile. “Thank you, Rarity! It was magical! And now I think Ponyville already wants to join our question and answer game, too!” With one last wink, the pink earthpony literally dove into the crowd. “And, for the starters!.. O! Nightmare, it seems your friends wants to say a few words! Let’s go!” “Ehm… No, I… I’d just, not…” The familiar voice hesitated. “Oh, don’t be shy! Night would be happy to hear you!” Pinks cheered her up. “Of-f… Okay… Ehm, Nightmare… I just wanted to support you… Well, it was very beautiful and you were worried for nothing.” “Thank you, Scoot! You’re the best!” I thanked the pegasus from the bottom of my heart, not holding back a smile. She’s a desperate one. Doing such a thing for all the town to hear… Thanks, Scootie. “You are really best! Here, have a cake! It’s on the house! …Oh, it’s nothing! My pleasure! Supporting friends is a very-very-very good thing! Welcome — Scootaloo!” I joined in the applause, rumbling my hooves across the stage and smiled again. It looks like someone else has got an unexpected moment of glory, too… Oh, Pinkie, well done!.. “We’re continu-u-uing!!! And his question will be asked by!.. O! O! By you! You’re brave and you have a question!” A few chuckles of uncertainty swept through the already a bit hushed crowd. I and Rar smiled together. Let’s go. Fire away, hoofed one! “Ehm… Hello… I’d like to ask you a question that… is probably on everypony’s mind: Nightmare Moon, will you… set an eternal night?..” The questioning pony almost whispered the last words, but the microphone faithfully did its job and delivered them to the entire square, an intense silence of which hung in the air. It seems that absolutely all eyes were crossed on me, such that it was even a little uncomfortable… “Well…” I pondered the wording. I cannot just spit it all out! “Eternal night is… it has never been an end in itself for me. But the pony, for which… it was needed, had demonstrated conclusively, that she did not deserve such an effort. So, in answer to the question: no, I won’t. Personally, I simply don’t need it.” The square became a little more alive, and the people exhaled with a relief. In some places I could hear the stomp of applause, and there was a shout of “Thank you!” I hid the smile with a tilt of my head. “Here… Yes, thank you.” A mumble was audible from the speakers as the microphone went to the next speaker. “Nightmare Moon! I guess, in a way, continuing this topic… What do you think about Princess Celestia?” “The answer will definitely surprise you.” I chuckled, rearranging my dress. “I think about her well. We have a very pleasant and warm relationship, and I hope that I will have the opportunity to visit her again soon.” The square supported my answer with brief applause and smiles. The tension was visibly reduced, the questions started to gain pace. “Nightmare! Do you really live with Rarity? What is your connection to her? Thank you!” I glanced at the snow-white unicorn, standing next to me. “Rarity is my close friend. And yes, she invited me to stay with her for a while, until… I guess I can get a place of my own.” I shook my wings uncertainly. “Stay as long as you like, sweetheart! You’re always welcome.” Rarity confessed to all of Ponyville into her microphone, giving me a warm smile. “Question to you, Rarity! Can I, yes?.. Good!” The questioner received a generous nod from the milliner from the stage. “How? Just: how?” How did you become such friends? Not with anyone, but with Nightmare Moon!” “Well…” Rar looked at me with a hesitant, thoughtful glance and lowered her eyes. “I’m sure many of you remember me, wandering around Ponyville in search of work, when I didn’t have a cutie mark. Thank to everypony, which supported me in those times with words and actions! Being alone in the middle of a then strange town, not knowing where to go or who to turn to for help… It’s hard. And who would help Nightmare Moon herself, who was in the same situation?.. When the thought suddenly occurred to me, I realized that I simply couldn’t do nothing. And… And I made a friend. Sensitive, kind and…” “Rarity!” I hissed… For all the square to hear. Forgot about the microphone… Unsure short chuckles swept through the motley crowd. Damn it!.. “Sensitive, kind a bit shy friend!” Rar chuckled briefly at my hissing and finished her sentence. “She doesn’t like cowardice, and it can be difficult to communicate with her, but… I’m sincerely happy, that I had the chance to meet her. Nighty… Thank you for everything!” The unicorn emphasized a slight bow to my side. “Yeah, thank you too… It’s…” I mumbled, shying… Forgetting about the microphone once again. Damn it… “Night is the best! We just have to get to know her better!” Pinkie drew a conclusion. “So let’s get back to the questions! A-and it would be-e… O! You!” “So, uh… Nightmare, do you have somepony… special? Rarity is a friend to you or… Or she means more?” I think the mare’s voice sounded with a kind of undercurrent of hope from the speakers. Sick of it!… You have nothing to ask more, huh?… I’m gonna… I didn’t have time to answer, getting a sensitive tug on my tail, and turning around grudgingly, I was confronted with… a very emotional look from Rarity. “Do not threaten her!” The unicorn’s sapphire eyes gleamed eloquently from under her long lashes. “I’m, ehm…” I turned away and tried to formulate something appropriate. “I’m not… not ready to consider that kind of relationship yet, yes…” “But why?” What wasn’t clear in my answer for you, scumb… “Please, do not take on this, dear.” Seizing initiative, Rar dishonestly tug my tail again. “Nightmare… For Nightmare it still takes time to get used to the way Equestria has changed over the years…” “…so I think I’ll consider the question of any kind of intimate relationship later.” I picked up on that, nodding appreciatively at my friend. “I don’t think I’ll take too long: I think fifty or seventy years will be enough for me to get used to it more or less.” I tried to draw a spectacular line in the alicorn style, which earned me the rounded eyes of Rar and some of the guests, and even a really disappointed sigh from the crowd. It wasn’t clear who did that… “Nightmare Moon! I’m sorry if my question seems indelicate… Frankly, your reputation is… um… incongruous with today’s event, and it doesn’t really fit in the head… Even Rarity didn’t really believe it herself! So the question is still: why did you agree?” “Rarity has helped me a lot.” I moved my wings shyly. “I wanted to do something for her in return — that’s all.” “Okay… Which of these dresses did you personally like best?” Pfft, yeah… If I’d have thought of questions and answers before the show, I would have categorically cut off this one: “None!” and now… It’s still women’s dresses — adjusted for anatomy. But the eyes fixed on me, the admiration! Damn it. I’m afraid I’m too much Nightmare Moon to answer in such a way… Unfortunately or fortunately? “The third one. And it wasn’t just me who liked it, right? It clearly made a lasting impression on everyone!” The crowd cheered, discussing and applauding my choice. The first performance was, except for the music and Pinkie, in a deadly silence. By the second, the people have calmed down a bit and come to their senses, but most of them were clearly out of place. By the third, the dam has collapsed. The dress was off the hook, and Pinkie finally got the crowd going… The applause, timid at first, but spreading like wildfire, the looks, the enthusiastic shouts… It just made my head spin, filling me with a kind of excitement. My pace was no longer wooden, my smile was no longer forced, my dress was no longer a hated rag, restricting my movements. By the fourth, the wait backstage already seemed unbearably, unfairly long… “Miss Nightmare, forgive me for asking… But the whole town was talking about it, and I can’t help myself: what really happened to the griffon, who is now being treated here? There’s been all kinds of gossip… I have to figure it out for myself!” A cautious stroking of my leg, a pleading look from Rarity. What? A standard question, nothing new… “Don’t “miss” me, okay?” I answered, chuckling. Seemed to try to be friendly, but the crowd somehow got quiet all at once. “About the question… Shall I tell you in all the unpleasant details or in brief?” “Ehm… It’s better to make story short…” “Well, long story short, Gilda made harm to my friends and has been… Punished for this.” Rarity clearly shivered. “Later I visited her and apologized for sending her to the hospital and helped in any way I could. All in all, we parted without any complaints against each other. It’s long story short.” I have a hardened reputation… I smoothed out all the angles I could, but people were still visibly tense, and the possible positive end of the answer did not seem to help much. I felt a growing irritation: well, where is the rapture and adoration with which you showered me fifteen minutes ago?.. “Yeah… There was a rumor, that you were going to… kill Princess Luna.” Some idiot decided to kill the atmosphere of festivities for good. A silence fell. Even the music seemed to fade and got lost in the background. A look of desperate pleading in Rarity’s eyes flickered towards me. I’ve had enough. Who needed all the previous claptrap if you bastards are trying to move away from me unintentionally again? Where’s your adoration?! They don’t care what I answer: they’ll all remember just this question — and keep scattering and hiding, just like before! Losers! “Questions about my conflict with Luna must be addressed to Luna herself by all who wants answers!” I spit, hardly containing my annoyance, irritation, and some kind of powerless longing. “Something more? If there’s none, then…” “I don’t know what she was up to.” Applejack said in a ringing voice very close to me, perfectly audible in the almost dead silence. “But if I understood everything correctly, she has carried wounded Princess Luna out on her own back! That’s what counts, and their quarrels are…” What? Applejack?! How?! How she?! I!.. I’m… I stood in an unsteady pose with my foot raised to step, feeling my thoughts rapidly evaporating from my head. Now the silence was really dead. Even the music has gone completely silent for real… “Nightmare… Is it true?..” Rarity whispered to the whole square, looking at me with a look full of hope and fear at the same time. “We-ell, yes… It just happened…” I mumbled with a loss, turning back to the crowd. For all the square to hear as well… “So I was right to tie the only one chain of traces to ya.” In the farmer’s voice, which was translated through the microphone, a distinctive smile could be felt. “Been there and I’ve seen Princess. She was in tough shape, she would have been lost without ya…” “Wohoo-o!” Pinkie burst out of the crowd and, without any shame, grabbed me in a hug, hanging around my neck. “Night! I knew you’re awesome! Awesome, isn’t she?” She raised her tone. Affirmative voices and nods went through the crowds… Someone started to stomp, and that was the rock, that started the avalanche. In the next second, the stage drowned in applause. “Oh!” The pink earthpony, who has just been stomping enthusiastically along with the crowd, panted with satisfaction, when the applauses began to die out. “I think the record in the gramophone has ended — we’ll have to continue without music!” For some reason, the phrase, tossed for no reason at all, made me shake off the stupor, with which I have been looking at the crowd around the stage, and I smiled uncertainly. “Night, I’ll just explode and fill everything around me with confetti if I don’t ask about how it was like!” Pinkie jumped up again, vibrating in anticipation. “Can you tell us, right? Can you? Can you?!” “How it was…” I vaguely flapped my wing, trying to get my thoughts together in my rather now empty head. “For the details you can go to Luna. Yes, I got her out of the woods… Even though without much desire, honestly… I had to fight off a manticore on the way. You know, we’re lucky that its poison doesn’t take alicorns off that easy…” I grinned wryly, studying the scene beneath my feet thoughtfully. “I barely remember my exit from the woods. I came to my senses in Canterlot, more or less.” I moved with my wing again. The crowd hummed, discussing. Someone applauded briefly, there was even a shout: “Thank you!” You’re welcome… I just hope this kindness wouldn’t back blast in the future… “It was very honorable, dear! I’m admired to the bottom of my soul! But why didn’t you tell it earlier?” “Well… Hadn’t reasons to.” I replied thoughtfully. “Nightmare, Rarity! Are you ready to continue the evening and our great game of questions and answers?” The Pinkie’s voice from the speakers interrupted the barely started dialog. And what?.. I looked around the crowd. Gazes: joyful, admiring, interested — they were looking at me. They waited my words. It was as if a wave had risen from within, washing away the uncertainty and fatigue, inviting me to stand on its crest again. “Let’s go!” I smiled. Rarity nodded in agreement with a quick glance at me, standing nearby. “Great! No-ow… It’s your turn!” “Newspaper “The Ponyville farmer”! Hello!” Oh, I knew it — there are sharks of the quill! “We’ve already heard, that you and Princess Celestia are tied by friendly relationships. But have you met Princess Cadence? And, if you don’t think it’s unpleasant, can you tell us what the relationship is between you and Princess Luna?” Luna again, huh?.. “I’ve met Cadence. I was quite surprised.” I chuckled, remembering our real, not demonstrative, acquaintance. “We didn’t communicate much, but now, not without mutual pleasure, I suppose, we correspond. And I think my relationship with Luna, on the other side, has been beautifully described before me, with the issue of me trying to kill her. I don’t see the point in adding anything on top of that.” “So there was some truth in that question?” With a sigh of doom, I glanced around the crowd, astonished to note the unfriendly glances cast by some of the ponies there, and some of them went somewhere in the direction of the one who asked. “You like walking at the edge… I’ll say nothing new to you! Any questions of such kind should be addressed right to Luna! That’s it! Pinkie, next question, please!” “Greetings! Persistent Discover, newspaper “The capital evening”!” Here we go… Press, and not even a local one! That’s good! I couldn’t hold a triumphant smile: it means, that soon Luna will see my triumph too! “Is it possible to expect to get your interview? Thank you!” A good question… “It is. Just make sure you pick someone who’s not shy! And by the way, what brings a reporter from the capital publication here?” “We will pick him definitively! I was brought here by sheer sensation and a bit of luck to be in Ponyville right now! Rumors have gotten around, but our competitors haven’t been enterprising enough to bother checking them out! And given that our publication, don’t think of it as advertising, has already been privileged to interview Princesses Tselestia and Cadence, we couldn’t afford to miss the opportunity to meet you now, Nightmare!” The pony grinned with obvious smugness. “Well, I think the raid paid off.” I chuckled in microphone in return. “Just make sure you don’t misinterpret anything in the report on your joyfulness!” “How could I?!..” He became indignant. “Thank you again!” “You’re welcome.” I nodded. “The next question!” “Nightmare Moon, could you tell please!..”