--The Brewing Storm--
*Tick...Tock...Tick...Tock...*
The clock above Cheerilees desk let out another echoing clack as the minute hand drove forward with a strenuous display of effort. Cheerilees voice drifted above the anxious crowd in front of her, her words hanging in the air, helplessly attempting to reach their audience. A welcoming breeze drifted through the ajar window, rustling a stack of papers on the pink teachers desk.
Nearest to the window sat Scootaloo, her small purple mane rustled as the draft blew around the class. Sitting next to her was Sweetie Bell. Cheerilee appreciated that the little white filly at least tried to pay attention.
She even admitted herself though, that concentration so near the cusp of summer break was hard to maintain. The class had already finished learning material for the year, all that was left was an hour of required class time. Cheerilee decided it would be fun if they read stories for the last hours of the school year.
Her voice trailed off as she finished the last sentence of the story, the ending caught in the wind and carried away. She glanced at the clock and felt the eyes of twenty others join her. Twenty minutes left, and then the school in Ponyville would go on break until next fall.
"We have time for one more story, class. What should it be? Name your favorite fairy tale."
Applebloom put up a hoof, her red bow in her hair bouncing as she tried to reach the sky.
"Ohh Ooh! Ah know, Ah know!" Applebloom excitedly bounced in her seat. "Read The Mare In The Moon!"
The entire class chided as Cheerilee flipped the page. Everyone knew this story, they all grew up with it. Applebloom sat straight in her desk as Cheerilee started the story, listening intently, as her classmates retired to their own thoughts of the summer vacation to come.
"It was then, that Princess Luna began to change, her mane glowing with the power of the night..." The school bell rang and Cheeriliees words were drowned out instantly by the eruption of excitement let loose by the class.
“Aww, I wanted to finish it...” Applebloom said out loud to no one in particular.
“But...why? That’s a babies story anyway!” Silver Spoon made her opinion heard as she passed.
Apple Bloom didn’t care, it was her favorite fairy tale. It gave her the shivers every time she heard of the princesses transformation. Sometimes she wondered if something so crazy could happen to her. If she became a large scary demon pony then bullies wouldn’t make fun of her for being a blank flank.
Storm clouds were gathering over the Everfree forest and a warm wind blew down from Canterlot. Apple Bloom threw her saddle bags over her back and walked over to the teachers desk. The class room was already empty and Cheerilee jumped at hearing Apple Blooms little voice.
“Excuse me, Miss Cheerilee? I was hoping that I could borrow the um...” Apple Bloom’s voice trailed off as her teacher cocked her head questioningly. “Well yah see, my Granny says she doesn’t like to spread fairy tail nonsense around. So I was hoping that I could borrow yer book for a few days.” Apple Blooms face reddened around the cheeks
“Why of course Apple Bloom" Miss Cheerilee loved it when her students got into reading and stories. "What story is it that interested you the most?"
Apple Bloom put her hoof on the book, as if to take it.
"I really like the story of Nightmare Moon, although it scares me everytime I hear it.”
"Well, I hope you enjoy it Apple Bloom, just bring the book back over to my house when you're done with it. Okay? And don’t let them scare you too much, they are just pony’s tales after all!”
Apple Bloom excitedly nodded her head and shoved the book greedily into her saddle bag. With self perceived haste the young filly tore out of the school and into the town of Ponyville, where ever ominous clouds grew over the dark Everfree Forest."
----
"I can feel my very self, changing. It's been years since I've felt this...presence. I have a sense of being again. Like being born for the very first time and seeing the world. Only now...I feel the world, the universe, and all it's pain. All the revenge, and sorrow, and anger, so much anger. And it is mine to use..."
----
Twilight burst into the room, knocking Spike back off of his feet.
“Spike?! Spiiiiiike?!! Spike? There you are! Quick! Find me a copy of Predictions and Prophecies!”
Spike didn’t know what she needed this crusty old book for. Twilight was probably just freaking out again and trying to get out of going to Moon Dancers party. She was more interested in books than friends, after all.
“See Mare in the Moon?” Twilight exclaimed.
Spike had enough of her shenanigans, he just wanted to have a good time while on their study break that Celestia had granted them. They rarely ever got breaks from studying and now that they finally got one, Twilight was making him study even more!
“Mare in the Moon? But that’s just an old pony’s tale!” The tiny purple dragon pointed out with a hint of attitude.
Twilight ignored her assistants protests and continued on reading.
“The Mare in the Moon, a myth from old pony times. A mare who wanted to rule Equestria, defeated by the Elements of Harmony and imprisoned in the moon. Legend has it that on the longest day of the thousandth year, the stars will aid in her escape and she will bring about nighttime eternal.”
Twilight’s face hardened “We have to warn Princess Celestia...”
----
Princess Celestia stood on the balcony of her private quarters. The storm over the Everfree Forest had strengthened over the past few days. It frightened her, because she knew what the storm meant. It had been one thousand years since she had defeated her sister in battle and banished her to the moon.
Celestia paced back and forth on the balcony, thinking of her sister and the time she has spent on the moon. Questions blossomed in her mind, perhaps her sister had fought off the evil demon inside of her? Perhaps the demon had defeated her sister and had taken complete and total control?
Worry grew on her face and doubt thrived in her heart as she watched the swirling of the clouds above the forest. She would need to protect her subjects, even if it meant sacrificing herself to stop her sister.
Lightning split the summer night in two, and for a brief second she could see the old castle in the Everfree Forest. The crumbling steeples silhouetted by the weather's wrath sent shivers down her spine and she collapsed onto the stone balcony beneath her hooves. She couldn’t do this on her own.