Luminous Atonement

by Metool Bard

Luminous Atonement

Princess Luna's spell hit Orthrus in between his two heads. The great hound was propelled back, flipping in midair before landing on his paws with a mighty thud that shook the foundations of the ruins.

"Impressive," Orthrus's right head snarled. "But all you are doing is delaying the inevitable."

He then let loose a low howl. While Discord's earmuffs protected Luna from the sound, she was not prepared for what happened next. Before her eyes, Orthrus dissolved into purple smoke and disappeared into the cracks of the ruins. Scowling, she kept her guard up.

"Do not think that you can fool me, Orthrus," she growled. "I know you wouldn't run away from a fight like this. Come out and show yourself!"

"As you command, Mistress."

Luna turned to the source of Orthrus's voice and fired a bolt of magic from her horn. Sure enough, the great beast had appeared behind her. However, she was shocked to find that Orthrus absorbed the counterattack as if it were nothing. Before Luna could ready another spell, Orthrus slapped her to the side with one blow of his great paw. Luna skidded across the floor a few times before catching herself with her wings. When she had recovered, she was horrified to discover that the force of the blow knocked Discord's earmuffs off her head. Before she could make an effort to retrieve them, several howls resonated from the forest. The ensuing migraine forced the poor alicorn to her knees.

"It seems you have lost your last hope," Orthrus's left head gloated as he crushed the earmuffs with his mighty paw. "Now nothing in Equestria can save you from our wrath."

Luna glowered at Orthrus with all the spite she could muster as she forced herself to her feet. "I cannot, be defeated here," she said in a strained tone. "I-I am going to fix this."

"You can try," Orthrus's right head said with a sneer. "But you really have no chance. Even if you had the dark powers that created me in the first place, you still wouldn't be able to best me."

Luna snorted, not willing to dignify the monster with a retort. Instead, she charged forward, spreading her wings and forming a magic wall in front of her. Orthrus tried to swipe her out of the way with his paw again, but she nimbly sprang into the air and propelled herself into a sharp dive. She hit Orthrus square in his left forehead. He fought against the charge, locking the two into a test of strength. Orthrus's right head eyed her carefully, waiting for the opportune moment to strike. When he felt he found his opening, he snapped at the young alicorn with his sharp teeth.

But just as he was about to sink his teeth into her, she disappeared in front of his eyes. His forward momentum from resisting the charge cause him to stumble, and he fell to the ground with a mighty boom. Luna reappeared above him, determination still burning in her teal eyes.

"I am more powerful than you give me credit for, Orthrus," she said coldly. "And I will not rest until you are stopped. That is my solemn vow."

"A word to the wise, Mistress," Orthrus's left head growled as he got to his feet. "Do not make solemn vows that you cannot hope to keep!"

He reared back and let loose a powerful howl that could be heard for miles. Luna tumbled to the ground as the piercing pain struck her like a lightning bolt to the forehead. When the howl subsided, she opened her eyes to find herself surrounded by starry smoke. Suddenly, her eyes began to water and she was forced into a nasty coughing fit. Spreading her wings, she tried to fan the offending smoke away. Alas, her efforts were in vain, as the smog was too dense.

Gradually, she started to feel woozy. The entire room spun around her as it became a chore just to stand upright. She shut her eyes and tightened every muscle, hoping to banish the feeling from her body. But in her effort to keep herself from collapsing, she did not notice Orthrus charge forth and snap at her with his enormous jaws. The very sound of large teeth gnashing together startled her out of her wits, and caused her to fall on her back.

"Scared you, didn't we?" chortled Orthrus's left head. "That was but a taste of what we have in store for you and Equestria."

Luna shook herself and struggled to get back on her feet. However, the toxic smoke still hindered her senses. With a growl, she closed her eyes, and her horn began to shine with dark blue energy. After a pause, her eyes snapped open, and a concussive shock wave blasted from her horn, dissipating the smog and flipping Orthrus over onto his back.

"You should not be so complacent," she said boldly. "I would sooner perish than allow Equestria fall into your paws."

"That can be arranged," said Orthrus's left head as the great hound flipped himself over again and caused a tremor that made Luna stumble. "After all, that shall be your ultimate fate."

Luna was about to respond when the timberwolves began howling again. The torment was even worse than before as she collapsed to the stone floor and clutched her head in agony.

"You see, the moon has always fascinated us," said Orthrus's left head as he began pacing around the princess like a wild beast stalking its prey. "It just looks so, delicious. Up in the night sky, shining amongst the stars. We have to wonder; what would it taste like? Sweet? Savory? Perhaps it's not even something to eat, but merely a large chew toy. We have pondered this question since you created us, and soon, we will find out for ourselves."

"Besides which, it's unnecessary," Orthrus's right head added. "What's the point of eternal darkness if everypony can still see what's in front of their faces? How am I supposed to instill fear in my subjects when that blasted ball of light gives them hope? Even as Nightmare Moon, you did not consider this flaw in your majestic nights."

"And because your moon is so appetizing..."

"So annoying..."

"So tantalizing..."

"So inconvenient..."

The great hound stopped pacing and looked down upon Luna with hungry eyes. "We/I must devour you, and snuff it out forever."

Luna glared at Orthrus, tears of pain stinging her eyes as she struggled to her feet. The torture inflicted by the howling timberwolves prevented her from standing tall, but the blaze in her eyes simply would not die. Slowly, she walked towards Orthrus, wobbling and stumbling every so often.

"I will *nngh* not let that *augh* come to pass!" she spat, grunting and groaning in agony as she advanced.

Orthrus's two heads looked at each other and began roaring with laughter.

"Stubborn as a mule to the very end, aren't you?!" Orthrus's left head guffawed. "Take a look around you, Ex-Mistress! You are alone! Everypony has turned their backs on you!"

"Not only this, but you have reached your limits," Orthrus's right head chimed in. "Face it, my little pony! All hope is lost!"

"Oh, now I wouldn't say that."

A familiar sly voice echoed in the chamber. Orthrus looked around, confused by this turn of events. Luna smiled weakly.

"Took you long enough," she muttered.

All of a sudden, several viewing portals popped up all around them. Portals of ponies watching in Canterlot, Ponyville, Fillydelphia, and beyond. The last portal that appeared looked like an announcer's booth, with Discord and Fluttershy sitting side by side.

"Fillies and gentlecolts, live from the Everfree Forest, it is the fight for the fate of Equestria: Her Royal Eminence of the Night Lunatic versus an actual raving lunatic!" the Master of Chaos proclaimed. "I'm your host, Discord!"

"And I'm, Fluttershy," Fluttershy mumbled, hiding her face behind her bangs. "Um, Discord? I'm, not comfortable doing this."

"Oh pshaw, my dear. It's not us they're watching," said Discord. "It's the actual cause of this eternal night! Yes folks, you heard right! Those rumors about Nightmare Moon and me? They're all a bunch of rubbish spewed by this two-headed flea factory! Don't believe me? Here's the proof for those of you who are just joining us! Angel, roll the footage!"

The screen with Discord and Fluttershy disappeared, and replacing it was a replay of the entire adventure, from start to finish. Orthrus snarled.

"Pah! You're too late, draconequus!" his left head snapped. "The Princess of the Night is as good as ours! The truth cannot save her now!"

"Don't listen to him, Princess Luna! We believe in you!"

"The Great and Apologetic Trixie vows that you shall not lose to the cretin!"

"C'mon, everypony! Lend Princess Luna your strength! It's the least we can do after doubting her."

"Let's go Luna! Don't be troubled! With our help, your fun will be doubled! Goooooo, Luna~!"

"You can't give up, dear sister. Not now, not ever."

The sounds of encouragement from every corner of Equestria drowned out the howls of the timberwolves. Orthrus barked angrily at the screens, hoping to silence them. However, his efforts were in vain. Luna stood tall against Orthrus, her horn glowing with intense energy.

"All of Equestria knows the truth, Orthrus," she proclaimed. "And now, they will all see as I put a stop to your dark designs, once and for all!"

She then closed her eyes and recited a spell in her Canterlot voice.

Her eyes snapped open, revealing blank white pupils radiating power. Around Orthrus, two circles of glowing beads manifested. Each bead seemed to represent a phase of the moon. The beads converged on the great hound, clamping around his necks like collars. Orthrus howled in pain as the beads sparked with energy. The howls caused Luna's migraine to return, but she fought against it as she maintained her concentration. The battle of wills played out before all of Equestria until finally, Orthrus's howl petered out.

Luna looked over her handiwork as she recovered from her powerful spell. The beads around Orthrus's necks continued to pulse with energy, and Orthrus lay unconscious on the ground. Luna panted heavily, a smile of triumph on her face.

"Now as long as the moon you hate so much shines in the night sky, you will remain unable to use your dark powers," she said between pants. "Not even an eclipse would grant you enough of a window of opportunity. You are finished, Orthrus. And you will be brought back to Tartarus where you belong."

With that, she felt her strength ebb as she fell to the ground once more. Completely and utterly exhausted from the whole ordeal, she looked out the window towards her home in Canterlot.

I, did it, Tia, she thought to herself. I, finally atoned for Nightmare Moon's greatest mistake...

She had just enough time to see the radiant glow of the new dawn before she passed out.