//------------------------------// // Chapter Four // Story: Where the Duck Nuggets are we? // by Chrysanthemum //------------------------------// Max sighed, looking at the three fillies, and then to the window, “It’s getting dark, so you might want to stay here. Unless you want to brave the woods at night.” Sweetie Belle looked at Max, sighing, before asking, “Why was Nigh- I mean, Mikayla so mad…?” “She’s tired, and dealing with a lot. It also doesn't help that those ponies were yelling at her, makes her cry. And Mikayla hates crying, says it makes her look weak, and that she can’t just smile through it.” Resting a wing Sweetie Belle’s back, causing her to squeal, he continued, “How about we all just get some sleep.” With that, Max trotted towards the stairs. One by one, the three fillies followed him. ---- A flash of purple illuminated the large bedroom, and dragged a tired moan from one blue filly. “Gah! … Teleporting all of us… is not that easy…” Twilight Sparkle muttered, looking at her friends, and the room they were in. Nightmare Moon laid in a corner, curled up in a ball. The blue filly laid by her stomach, while the C.M.C laid across the room. “Apple Bloom!” Applejack whisper-yelled, galloping over to her sister. “Wha? Oh, mornin’ AJ!” Apple Bloom smiled cheerfully, while prodding her two friends with her hooves. The two soon woke up, and Sweetie Belle was immediately swept up by Rarity.The blue filly shifted, before getting up, and stretching. She lazily shoved a hoof at Nightmare Moon’s shoulder, and muttered something about water. Nightmare Moon’s eye shot open, a dopey grin on her face. “Hiya, my queen, Maximilian! Ready for a day of fun, and food!” she cheered, before her gaze landed on the six who made her cry. She moved her gaze back to the blue filly, nuzzling her. “Oi, King Moonbutt. Get up. I want food and you’re the adult.” The filly groaned, shoving Nightmare Moon again. “King Moonbutt needs waffflesss…..” “Excuse the king for a moment. If anyone here can get us some waffles, I would much appreciate that.” the filly told the six, before returning to the newly dubbed, King Moonbutt. Rainbow Dash hovered where she was, staring at the two. Pinkie Pie bounced in place, handing the filly and plate of waffles, which was quickly snatched up by King Moonbutt. She soon got up to her hooves, stretching. “Yum.” Max sighed, flying up and whacking Moonbutt in the head. Twilight spoke up, politely asking, “Would it be alright if we brought you both to meet Princess Celestia, and Princess Luna?” Max shrugged, curling up on Moonbutt’s back. “Sure. Its not like I have any hope of getting home..” Moonbutt mumbled, causing Max to whack her in the head, hissing about not giving up. “Shut up, Mikayla!” Max groaned, shoving a hoof in his sister’s starry mane. Nightmare Moon stuck her tongue out, while making bleh sounds. Twilight made her way to the Cutie Mark Crusaders. “Are they usually like this?” she asked, glancing at the two. Sweetie Belle nodded, “Yeah. Those two are close though, and Max is even able to tell her what to do!” Her voice squeaked in the middle of her sentence, before Scootaloo spoke up. “Nightmare Moon apparently doesn’t even know how to do magic!” Max trotted over to them, a soft smile on his muzzle. She opened her mouth to greet Max, only to be cut off. “Ma’am, I’d like to apologize for when we met. We both panicked, and we both we’re having drapetomania. And, please don’t be too hard on Mikayla. She’s some of my only remaining family, and I don’t want to lose her like we did with Lilyann...” He apologized, glancing at Mikayla. “I don’t think I ever introduced myself! I’m Maximilian Alec Summer, but most people call me Max. That moonbutt over there is Mikayla Noelle Summer.” Max grinned, pointing at Mikayla when he introduced her, while she waved wildly. “Weird names!” Scootaloo said bluntly, while Max faked hurt. Mikayla trotted over, ruffling Max’s mane. “Max! The shame! Gossiping about lil old me!” she grinned, hugging him. The two laughed, grinning. The two moved to trot downstairs, while the three fillies dashed to follow them. Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, and Applejack where next to follow, while Fluttershy lagged behind with Rarity and Twilight. Max groaned, laying on Mikayla’s back. “Come on! We haven’t got all day!” he whined. His sister laughed, while jumping down the last three steps, and running into the Throne Room. The mane six followed, and they all left the Castle. ________________ The group got onto a train, and sitting in a private car. Mikayla sat in a corner, staring out the window absently, while Max sat next to her. Rainbow Dash sat in front of the twins, watching Mikayla. Twilight moved into the seat across of Mikayla. “Nigh- I mean, Mikayla, may I ask you some questions?” she asked softly. Said girl jumped, before looking at Twilight. “S-sure..” she murmured, shifting in her seat. Twilight nodded in thanks, pulling out a quill and paper from somewhere. “So, how are you and Maximilian twins? You look nothing like each other, and your ages are different.” she began, causing Mikayla to stiffen up. “W-well, we used to look about the same, but… when we woke up a couple days ago, we looked as we do currently… and we are the same age. We both turned 17 this year, and had our 12th annual prank war…” she replied, keeping her eyes on her hooves, “Before we woke up here… we were ditching school, and got into an accident….” Max put a hoof on his sister’s shoulder, shaking his head lightly. “Oh.. Moving on… What were you doing so close to Ponyville?” Twilight asked, a bit awkwardly. “Well, we weren’t doing anything, really. Sure, we did race each other and teach ourselves how to fly a bit, and I did end up having to lick a tree, but we weren’t doing anything else than that.” Max answered, sending Mikayla a playful glare. “Why’d ya have to lick a tree?! Did Nightmare Moon force you to?!” Dash butted in, causing the twins to erupt in laughter. Once they calmed down, Max answered. “No! That’s the stakes of our races! Last one gets to lick something of the winners choice! I picked a dirty window the last time Mikaykay lost!” he started laughing again, falling off of his seat and onto the ground. He laid there laughing for a few more minutes, before getting a hold of himself, and crawling back into his seat. “What did you mean by annual prank war when you told me your ages?” Twilight asked, finishing up the notes of the last two questions. “Every year, since we were five, we’ve had a prank war. It starts on the day after our birthday, and lasts until someone surrenders. It is a brutal time, trust no one during the prank war, for they may be spies for the enemy.” Mikayla answered, her tone dead serious. She narrowed her eyes at the skeptical looks Dash and Twilight were giving her, “It is a treason on the Summer family to shame the Prank War. It is about honor, nobility, and strength!” Max nodded sharply. “The art of Prank Combat is sacred. Blemish it’s name, and ye shall forever suffer.” he stared at them, narrowed eyes. Twilight nodded hesitantly, writing it down on her papers. She then launched into her questions again. _________ To say that Celestia was surprised would be the understatement of the year. Nightmare Moon just trotted into the Throne Room, with two fillies on her back and head. The Elements were behind and beside her, chatting. “Princess!” Twilight greeted, running up to hug her mentor. “Hello, Twilight. I believe you might be able to clear up why you brought Nightmare Moon here?” Celestia asked, glancing at Nightmare Moon, who sat off to the side, playing with her mane. “Well, uh.. we found Mikayla and Maximilian yesterday, but they.. um.. fled…” she trailed off, rubbing the back of her neck nervously. “Mikayla and Maximilian?” Celestia repeated, confused. “Oh yeah,” Twilight pointed at the fillies and Nightmare Moon, “Apparently, Nightmare Moon goes by Mikayla Noelle Summer now, and Maximilian, the blue filly, is her twin brother. They are pretty nice, as long as you don’t yell at the-” she was cut off as Luna walked in, and yelled. “NIGHTMARE MOON?!” she exclaimed, frowning in anger. Said pony, turned her head to look, only to get a face full of hoof. The force launched her across the room, where she laid limply. Luna had punched her. She let out a quiet sob, while Max dashed over, pushing a hoof into her side. “Get up! Mikaykay, you get up right now! Don’t let other bully you! We’re tricksters! We’re not victims!” his cries were in vain, as Mikayla just laid there, quietly sobbing. His rage was then pointed at Luna, “WHY THE HELL DID YOU DO THAT?! SHE’S ALL I HAVE LEFT!” A flabbergasted expression overtook Luna’s face, as she stared at the unresponsive alicorn. “Why isn’t she getting up…” she growled after a second, her fury at the mare reignited. “BECAUSE SHE IS IN PAIN, YOU MOTHERFUCKER! YOU JUST HIT HER IN THE FACE, AS IF SHE JUST KILLED YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY!” Max yelled, desperately trying to wipe the tears off of his twin's face. “God dammit, Mikayla, snap outta it!” The fight was soon interrupted by a upset Fluttershy. “She might be Nightmare Moon, but she’s not mean! She cares about others, and she’s crying because of you!” she exclaimed, before backing away, embarrassed. For a while, everything was silent, other than the sobbing of one alicorn. Rainbow flied over to her, poking her in the shoulder. “Hey, please get up. Max needs ya, so don’t leave him hangin!” she told her. Slowly, Mikayla got up on shaky hooves, and stumbled over to Luna. “Whatever I did to anger you, I apologize. But, one question, who the hell are you?” she mumbled, steadying herself. “How do thou not know, foul nightmare! I am Princess Luna!” she exclaimed, causing Mikayla to wince. “Uh.. Cool… I guess… Though, I’m not some weird ass nightmare. I’m a trickster, sure, but not scary. Unless I’m in the Prank War.” she gazed off in the distance, pausing dramatically, “We lost many souls in the 12th Prank War..” She then stumbled away, and laid down next to the wall, laying her head on her hooves. Max followed after her, and they promptly started to nap. Scootaloo had one thing to say, “They do that a lot.”