Living with Nightmare Moon Chapter 3

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>Groggily you opened your eyes. What time was it? The clock on your nightstand it said roughly about 2 in the morning.
>You still had a few hours of sleep.
>”Anon go back to sleep.”
>Looking at your left side you saw Luna snuggled against you, Nightmare did the same on the right.
>Due to the construction on the house, the two’s bedrooms were currently being worked on, so you allowed them to share the bed with you while their rooms were finished.
>Relaxing yourself you fell back into a peaceful slumber sandwiched between the two mare’s of the night you fell back into a peaceful slumber.

>The next morning was uneventful, except that Nightmare and Luna, were both laying atop your arms causing them to fall asleep.
>Trying to dislodge yourself only ended with them clutching onto you even harder.
“Girls, I need to get up. There are things to take care of in the store.”
>”Five more minutes.” Luna murmured, her face nuzzled into the crook of your neck.
“Just let me get up and you can go back to sleep.”
>”Is it morning already?”
>The other occupant of your bed was slowly waking up as well.
“Morning Moonie.”
>She gave you a big yawn as response. So much for manners, she didn’t even cover her mouth.
>Wriggling like a worm, you managed to eventually free yourself, and finally get off the bed.
>After the usual morning ritual, you made your way to the kitchen, well what was left of it anyway.
>The large hole where the entire wall used to be was open to the outside world.
>Normally you liked making your own breakfast and coffee, but today due to extenuating circumstances you think you might just pick something up on the way to work.
>Foregoing the lunchboxes you returned to the bedroom to wake the two sleeping mares.
>During your absence the two scooted together on the bed and snuggled against each other for warmth.
>As quietly as possible you stepped back out of the room and walked over to your closet.
>Quickly grabbing a camera you returned to the bedroom. The scene was just too adorable, and the present situation would provide blackmail material for the future.
>After snapping a couple of pictures of the two snoozing mares you set the camera down, you’d have to remember to get that developed later.
>Walking over to the bed, you gently shook them both to wake them.
“Nightmare, Luna, it’s time to get up. We got work today.”
>Small whinny’s and grunts were the only responses you received. Trying again resulted in the same response.
“Alright, just remember you forced my hand.”
>Placing your hands underneath the mattress you lifted it in one swift motion.
>The beds previous occupants screamed when gravity took over the situation, both falling onto the hard floor in a mess of sheets.
>”Anon, I’m going to kill you slowly and painfully.”
“Promises, promises, but you might want to get up or you’ll smother your sister with your flank.”
>Nightmare looked down at her current position, and realized she was indeed sitting right on top of Luna.
>Attempting to get up she fell right back down, due to the sheets wrapped around both of them.
>Luna however was fighting a losing battle, her hooves flailing and without any success trying to move Nightmare.
“You two should hurry, we leave for work in ten.”
>After a few seconds of squirming both Nightmare and Luna managed to untangle themselves.
>Scrambling over each other they raced to the door, both trying to be the first to use the bathroom, completely forgetting the events of the past few minutes.
>It was going to be an interesting day.

>After patiently waiting on both mares to finish their morning rituals, you all set out towards the town in order to get some food.
>The plan was simple, stop at Sugarcube Corner for a hearty breakfast to start the day.
>The walk there was a relatively quiet affair, both Nightmare and Luna walked alongside you, their eyes fighting to stay open as they tried to keep up with you.
>“Anonymous must we leave so early? I’m still sleepy.” Luna mumbled still fighting against her morning grogginess.
“We could have left a bit later, but that would mean skipping breakfast.”
>”Then why didn’t we eat at your home?”
“Luna half of my kitchen is strewn about on the lawn, and the other is in shambles courtesy of your construction crew.”
>”Oh.” Her voice was barely above a whisper, whether from lack of sleep or embarrassment you didn’t know.
>Deep down you knew she didn’t mean to wreck your home, but she definitely lacked that little voice that told you when doing something was a bad idea.
>After a few more minutes of walking through the early morning mist you all reached Sugarcube Corner, traipsing up the door you held it open for both the tired looking mares.
>When you entered behind them you saw both Cup and Carrot working behind the counter, the smell of eggs and fresh coffee permeating through the air.
>With a small wave to the Cakes, you led your party to one of the empty booths.
> You looked over the expansive menu, your eyes scanning the various choices you decided on some eggs and hash browns with a cup of coffee.
>While the three of you were looking at the menu you didn’t notice Carrot approach the table until he spoke.
>”Good morning Anon, Princesses Luna and Nightmare it’s a pleasure to have you all here on this fine morning.”
“Morning Carrot, were just here for a quick breakfast, then it’s off to work.”

>”Well then, order when you’re ready.”
>You motioned for the girls to order first.
>”I’ll have a azalea and onion omelet, and a large coffee.” Luna ordered first, then poked Nightmare who looked like she fell back asleep.
>”I’ll have the same.” Nightmare mumbled with her head lying down on the table.
“Two eggs sunny side up and hash browns for me, mind filling up my thermos with some coffee as well.”
>You brought out your trusty container which Carrot placed on his back.
>”I’ll get your orders ready in a jiffy and fill you up for the day.”
>With a smile Carrot left to start making your food.
>When you looked across at the girls you saw Luna’s head nodding, her eyes closing then snapping back open, only for the process to repeat.
>Nightmare however was fighting a losing battle with staying awake, she was now using a bunch of napkins as a makeshift pillow.
>You’d let them nap when you go to the store.
>Relaxing you waited patiently for your food to come. Closing your eyes you drummed your fingers on the table.
>”Stop it, or I’ll bite those things off.”
“Promises, promises.” Even with the sarcastic retort you stopped.
>After a few silent minutes Carrot returned sporting a platter full of food balanced on his back.
>”If you all need anything else don’t hesitate to ask.”
“Thanks Carrot, it all looks great.”
>After setting the plates down your friend walked back to the counter, leaving the three of you to tuck in to the great smelling breakfast in front of you.
>It didn’t take long for the food to be scarfed down.
>Leaning back you patted your now full stomach; breakfast is the most important meal of the day.
>Looking at the girls you noted that they were finished as well.
“You both go on ahead and I’ll catch up after I pay.”
>Nightmare and Luna both nodded sleepily and left the booth, while you walked up to the counter to pay for the meals.

“So how much do I owe you Carrot?”
>”Fifteen bits, oh and here’s your thermos, filled it up with some fresh brewed stuff.”
>Carrot placed your thermos on the counter while you dug through your pockets for the necessary coins.
>Sometimes you wished Equestria would use paper currency, then again with most ponies handling money with their mouths maybe that wasn’t the best idea.
>You waved to the Cakes as you left their establishment.
> Time to catch up to Luna and Nightmare, it didn’t take very long either; both were still shambling towards your shop in a relatively slow place.
“Come on girls, at this pace we’ll reach the shop in time to close it.”
>”Silence peasant, royalty arrives exactly when it means to.”
“Well royalty can arrive late all it wants, but it gets docked when it comes time to get paid.”
>Nightmare quieted pretty quickly at that comment, would you dock their paychecks?
>Probably not. Would you use it to gain an advantage in an argument, yup.
>It didn’t take long to reach your shop, unlocking the door you let the ladies enter first, being the gentleman that you are.
>In your head the mental you tipped an imaginary fedora at the smoothness.
>Come to think of it, with Nightmare manning the store front, what would you have Luna do?
>She could probably give you a hand with repairing the items that were brought in. Then again you took pride in the fact you fixed everything by hand and not magic.
>Following the two princesses inside, you continued to think on what job you could give her. Nightmare continued straight to her regular spot behind the counter.
>Seeing her horn light up book floated up from underneath the counter.
>You could have sworn you returned all the books to Twilight’s library when Nightmare originally left, she probably hid it under there.
>But back to figuring out what Luna’s job would be, if she wanted to expedite the recoupment of debt you’d have to find something that she could do effectively.
>”So Anonymous, what will my role be within your business enterprise? Intricate repairs? Payment collections? Your bodyguard?”
>She emphasized the last one with several jabs at an invisible opponent with her hooves.
>Staring at the princess of the night you thought about it, she did seem enthusiastic about helping. So who were you to deny her that chance.
>With that you realized the perfect job she could do, and it would help you both.
“Actually you are going to have a very critical role Luna, you’re going to be the last step of the what I do here.”
>Luna’s eyes lit up at your declaration.
“You’re going to deliver the finished products and make sure that the pony’s receiving their repaired items are satisfied with the repairs.”
>”Huzzah! We shall not fail you Anon, just wait and see!”

>An hour or so into the work day found you sitting while tinkering with a sewing machine for Granny Smith.
>Big Mac had dropped it off some time ago hoping you could fix it, he said there was no rush on it as Granny didn’t use it as much as she used to.
>But today you were going to finally start working on this thing.
>A snore broke your train of thought; Luna who currently didn’t have anything to do was napping on your couch.
>Lying on her back with all four hooves in the air, the image was just comical.
>Sadly you left your camera at home, so getting any blackmail on the princess today was not happening.
>Suppressing a chuckle when you saw her start galloping you resumed working.
>You began the disassembly, this thing was old no doubt about it.
>Every piece you removed was catalogued and drawn in a notebook, if would serve as a instruction manual for re-assembly later.
>You’d do your best to clean and salvage whatever parts you could, but if any piece was too far gone you’d have to find a unicorn or metal smith to make replacements.
>Taking the balance wheel off and noting the heavy rust you continued. You should be able to grind most of the rust off.
>There’s the first victim, the friction ring was completely torn to shreds probably from years of use by the Apple matriarch.
>The ring alone would take a lot of time to make, so you got up and headed out to see the town blacksmith.
>Looking over at Luna you decided to wake her up before you left.
“Luna wake up.”
>”Wha.. what, who’s there? What vermin dares interrupt the royal nap?”
>Eloquent as ever. Her eyes quickly adjusted and fell on you.
“I’m going to see the blacksmith for a custom order, watch the back room for me. If you have any questions ask about anything just ask Nightmare while I’m gone.”
>Passing through the doorway to the front you saw Nightmare deeply engrossed in her book.
“I’m stepping out for a minute, mind the front for me.”
>”Sure, sure.” She waved her hoof dismissively at you.
>The smith’s forge was only a couple minutes away from your shop.
>Smithy the towns blacksmith was a relatively young unicorn  mare, but she was one of the best.
>And as you approached her already open forge you saw her throwing hot coals into the pit.
“Morning Smithy, how’s everything.” You greeted the soot covered mare.
>”Same old Anon, ponies tell me what they need, I hit stuff with a hammer and make it. So overall, pretty good.”
>Her straight to the point attitude was something you always liked, it reminded you of, well yourself.
>”So what do you need this time, did you break another pair of pliers?”
“No, not this time, I came to see if you were capable of making a friction ring.”
>You held up the severely used up one you took out from the sewing machine.
“Metal cylinder on the inside, with a rubber coating surrounding it.”
>A soft glow surrounded her horn and the damaged piece as it floated right up to her face so she could examine it closely.
>Her eyes narrowed on the worn part as she scrutinized it.
>”I can do this, but with how small and precise it is, it might take a day or two.”
“No rush, I’m just happy you can make it for me.”
>”What? No faith in me Anon, and here I thought we were friends.” Smithy gave you the hurt puppy eyes.
>Pulling the most straight face you could muster you met her quivering lip and glistening eyes, which lasted all of about three seconds before the both of you broke out into fits of laughter.
>Giving her a pat on the head you waved goodbye as you left.
>Well that takes care of that piece, you’d finish cleaning up and cataloguing everything else today and hopefully by the time Smithy was done, you’d have everything ready to be put back together.
>As you started on the way back you couldn’t help but notice an odd smell in the air, was someone having a barbeque?
 >No sooner did the though cross your mind when the Ponyville Fire Brigade rushed past you.
>They were headed in the direction of your shop.
>Breaking out into a run you chased behind them the fire fighting ponies. You had an extremely bad feeling about this.

>My Store! Everything you worked so hard for was destroyed.
>All the items the ponies entrusted you with, smoldering in the heap of ash and burning lumber.
>You fell to your knees and hung your head. Several wooden beams from your shop still smoldered from the fire that engulfed them earlier.
>The fire department ponies had already begun stowing all their gear from when they fought the blaze.
>How could this have happened, you were away from the store for maybe twenty minutes at most.
>”Anon, were truly sorry.” Luna was the first to speak.
>Both Princesses approached you from behind.
>”We had an argument and before either of us realized how out of hand it got everything was burning.”
>Whatever strength you had left you used to stand up. You just wanted now was to lay down and sleep.
>Maybe when you wake up this will have turned out to be nothing more than a bad dream.
“I’m going home.”
>Not even sparing a glance at the two of them you started walking home.
>How were you going to explain to everyone that all the items placed in your care were burnt?
>You’d be lucky if they trusted you even if the shop was rebuilt.
>Without even realizing it you arrived at your house, opening the door you made your way inside.
>The crews repairing your house were still working, their tools creating an almost soothing white noise.
>Shuffling your way into the bedroom you slammed the door shut and fell onto your bed.
>Pulling the covers over yourself you tried to get comfortable. Closing your eyes you let noise of the workers lull you to sleep.