This story is a sequel to Fractured Moon
A week after being freed from her prison by Nightmare Moon, Celestia has adapted to her new situation, she is prohibited from being involved in politics or any kind of decision making, Celestia isn't even allowed control over her precious sun. But this has given her the opportunity for a new career and she is about to open her own bakery.
Not all prisons have bars and guard towers. Celestia will experience first hoof how it is to live in Nightmare Moon's Lunar Empire. She will have to learn to be watched constantly and have every move of her observed and noted.
The Lunar Empire is firmly under Nightmare Moon's control, but there are still those that prefer the old way's over the new ones. And of course there is the issue of Rarity's remaining friends, where are they and what are they planning.
This is not a direct sequel to Fractured Moon but I still recommend reading it first to get some more context about the founding Lunar Empire and Celestia's release.
Set in the Equestria at War universe, but you don't need to play the mod to understand this story.
Cover art made by myself
Great chapter!
When you say “not a direct sequel”, is this like supposed to be somewhere in between the first story and a upcoming sequel?
awesome chapter keep it up
10420224
This chapter was fun to write, I haven't done slice of life stories yet but they are very enjoyable to write.
Thank you I will
10419753
Thank you. The reason I called it "not a direct sequel" is because even though this story is set after Fractured Moon, this will be it's own self contained story with it's own themes and plot. So this story will not continue the plot of Fractured Moon but instead is a different story set after the events of Fractured Moon. Does this make sense or do you think I should just call it a sequel?
10420537
I think I get it, thanks!
Great second and third chapters!
Will Rarity explain her reasons to her friends or will they still be to blind to understand?
How will Twilight and the others react when facing bat ponies?
How will they react when they find out that Celestia is living “freely” in Nightmare Moon’s world?
Is there going to be a scene where Nightmare Moon speaks to Celestia about what she’s been doing or is there going to be a scene where she and her spies interrogate Celestia in some unknown area?
is Nightmare Moon going to give Rarity some of her Nightmare powers?”
10429900
Thanks I really enjoy diving more into the emotional state of characters.
Firstly at the moment I am still figuring out exactly where I want to go with this story so things can change. Now to answer you questions (minor spoilers)
I do plan to write interactions between Rarity and Nightmare Moon and the rest of the main 6.
I am not sure about specific interactions with batponies but I do want to show how ordinary life is in the Lunar Empire and show how Nightmare Moon's ideology is implemented.
Reactions will be mixed and it will mostly be about how the main 6 minus Rarity get involved in Nightmare Moon's little plot to one up Celestia.
Definitely in fact I can't wait until I get to that part because I have some (hopefully) fun and interesting ideas on how their conversations will go
I haven't thought about that yet.
10430041
Thank you!
Great chapter!
Are going to see more of Sweetie Belle and Raven Inkwell?
10441765
Thanks. I will probably write some more scenes including Raven and Sweetie Belle, to show how ordinary life looks, however she is not a major characters in this story.
awesome chapter keep it up
10442331
Thanks I really enjoy writing in a somewhat lighter tone and focusing more on slice-of-life scenes.
Great chapter!
10452341
Thanks it was difficult to write because I wanted to write about several different things but I got there in the end.
10452347
You’re welcome!
I feel... disappointed in the Mane Six; I expected Twilight at least to refuse regardlessof the cost, or perhaps to at least fake submission in hope of continuing the fight. I hate it when the good guys just give up. And to blast with denouncing Celestia and swearing fealty to MMN!
10452446
I do agree with that sentiment but in this specific case I would find it more difficult because for all intents and purposes the war is over. Nightmare Moon likes her theatrics especially when it comes to one upping her sister. However she would do best to remember that swearing loyalty and being loyal are two very different things.
awesome chapter keep it up
10453667
I really enjoy writing this story so far so don't you worry
Thanks
I wonder if Ol' Idiot Moon has ever heard the Scripture from Proverbs 16:18: "Pride goeth before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall"?
Because methinks she's going to get a nasty surprise before this is all over.
Her and Rarity both.
I'm hoping so, anyway.
Great chapter!
Are Twilight, Rainbow, Applejack, Pinkie, and Fluttershy going to see Celestia working at her bakery?
Is Cadence and Shing Armor going to be assisting Rarity while she’s governing The Crystal Empire? What will become of Flurry Heart?
10463581
That is a very nice quote and it does fit in with Nightmare's personality. I always envisioned Nightmare Moon as being emotionally very twisted because Nightmare Moon is created from Luna's bad emotions, so I always try to portray Nightmare Moon as mentally unstable.
10463649 Yes, it is, and yes, it definitely does.
And that's good to know.
10463610
They are going to meet at some point. As for the other question they will not be major characters, so I might write some small scenes with them but nothing to big (at least how I envision it at the moment)
awesome chapter cant wait for the next chapter
10464000
Thanks I am very glad you keep enjoying this so far
Great chapter!
Orange.
A couple of days; weeks; or months?
Really, going nuts over cake? I thought better of this Nightmare. I think I will skip this story
10588612
Nightmare Moon is partly the product of Luna's jealousy of Celestia. The cake merely symbolises how ponies prefer Celestia over Nightmare Moon, Celestia can start a bakery and become immediately popular. This would enrage Nightmare Moon because of how much jealousy is a part of her being. So she isn't angry just because of the cake, the cake represents all the feelings of uncertainty that Nightmare Moon feels.
10588586
Thanks, this was a very difficult one to write.
in retrospect that would have been a much more fitting name. I really had trouble coming up with a fitting street name and Strawberry was the first thing that came to mind.
Good that you spotted it, I thought I already wrote it down but apparently I forgot. Thanks for bringing it to my attention.
10588728
You’re welcome!
I meant orange earth pony, you wrote yellow earth pony.
10588744
I changed it, thanks again
10588747
You’re welcome!
With how the other 5 girls are in the Crystal Empire, I wonder is Spike with them or not?
10600844
Spike is with the rest of the main 6
10601010
Ok then, pretty curious on whats in store for him in this AU there.
the whole chapter remind me of german force labour camps during ww2 mixed with north korea ideals awesome chapter mate keep it up cant wait for the next chapter
10602667
Thanks, for Nightmare Moon's regime I drew a lot of inspiration from East Germany (the Night Guard is basically combination of the STASI and the SS) and I drew a lot of inspiration from Nazi Germany.
I still haven't figured out completely where I want to go with this story but I will try to make some exiting stuff happen next chapter.
Finally managed to catch up on this.
Curious on what happens next.
Such as for Spike there.
10662763
Due to some issues in my personal live (mostly study related) I have had less time for writing but I will try finish something soon.
10663681
Ok then.
How long you think the fic might be?
10663684
I am not sure, I am aiming for at least 20.000 words but it might be longer. I don't know yet.
10663724
Cool.
Wonder if you got any fic ideas involving Spike in some way too?
10663736
I don't have any right now, though I have been thinking about a future story about the Crystal Empire and the relationship between Sombra and Radiant Hope so maybe I can give Spike a main character role in that one. But this story at this point is just a concept, I have no concrete ideas (yet).
10663743
Ok.
What other MLP stories you might make in the future too?
10663750
My only other idea as of now is a short story about Trixie (an alternate universe set after the events of Boast Buster) where Luna tries to pull a prank on Trixie which goes wrong. But I am still debating wether or not the idea is any good. But other than that one I have no additional ideas right now. But I am sure that those will come
10663751
Ok.
Which season is your most fav actually?
10663763
My favourite one is season 5 because it introduces Starlight Glimmer, my favourite character and it also has her redemption. And it also has some other great episodes like Tanks for the Memories and The Lost Treasure of Griffonstone.
Which season do you like most?
10663771
Not sure which season is my fav honestly.
They all got some stuff I like but also stuff that bothers me alot.
My fav episode of all is probably Sparkle's Seven where Spike is finally acknowledged as part of Twilight's family(and not some pet).
Along with how he and Luna teamed up and one-upped everyone. Those 2 clicked so good and I wished they got to interact even more.