//------------------------------// // Chapter 22 // Story: Darkness of the Eclipse // by Silverstream233 //------------------------------// Back in Ponyville Twilight's POV (third person pov) Twilight blasted another shadow monster away with her magic and watched as Pinkie blasted another with her party cannon. Rainbow and Applejack were kicking and karate chopping a bunch of other monsters. Even Discord was snapping his fingers to summon various objects to attack them. Princess Cadence had returned with a couple of her guards after checking to make sure her kingdom was safe Just then, there was a sudden glow of light that made everypony battling turn around. The bright ball of glowing light had appeared again, and as Twilight squinted and she could see the shape of Princess Celestia slowing flying down to the ground. "Princess?" Twilight asked uncertainly stepping towards her. "Be careful, Twilight. Remember she has the amulet on," Princess Cadence told her. "But she doesn't...look!" The glare had vanished and they could see Princess Celestia clearly now, her pink mane matted and her eyes were filled with sadness. "Princess Celestia, are you alright?" The mane six hurried over to her. "I'm fine," She replied shakily. "Hey, where's Princess Luna?" Applejack asked, looking around. Princess Celestia didn't reply, only looked down at her, tears beginning to form at the corner of her eyes. "What is with royal sisters? Abandonment one after the other," Asteria sneered, stepping towards them. The mane six lined up beside Princess Celestia, glaring up at her. "What's wrong, little sister? Too ashamed to speak?" Asteria continued. Twilight stared at her former teacher in surprise. "Princess, is she really your sister? Yours and Luna's?" She asked. Celestia let a out sigh. "Yes." She replied. "Let me explain," She interrupted as gasps of shock came from the mane six. "Asteria was found outside the castle when she was only a filly. I was only a filly myself when it happened and Luna wasn't born yet. My parents took her in and raised her. For the first couple of moons, I believed that she was truly my older sister until my parents told me the truth. I was shocked and felt betrayed...yet," She paused, letting out another long sigh. "I decided to keep this from Luna when she was born. I did not want her to resent her parents at such a young age. Soon, when I was of age, my mother began teaching me the ways of a ruler. Asteria became jealous because she was the oldest of the three of us. She believed that she should be taught the way to rule before me. However, our parents believed she could never be a true leader because she did not share the royal bloodline. After that, she left and went out to pursue her own ambitions. I don't remember much, but I remember her returning and trying to exact revenge and our parents banished her," Celestia sat back, her ears down. "Well well well, you told the story quite truthfully. Our parents were fools to believe that I wouldn't be a great leader! I should be the one raising the sun, not you!" Asteria screeched. "No! A good leader must be willing to risk her life to protect her subjects. You have done the opposite!" Celestia snapped. "Equestria has never known a third royal sister! You have been lying to them. A TRUE leader does not lie!" Asteria screamed, her horn lighting up. I challenge you for the throne!" . . . Luna's Pov (third person) Luna watched as her sister disappeared through the portal and it closed shut. She sat down and wiped away the tears. Equestria will not fall without me, my sister can raise the sun and the moon. "It's not like they would want you," A chillingly familiar voices made her entire body tense up. She stood up and turned to find herself face to face with Nightmare Moon. Fear coursed through her body and it refused to leave as she tried to put up a brave face. "Y-you! What do you want from me? Begone, you vile creature!" Luna yelled, taking a step back, energy flowing into her horn. "Ha! You're calling yourself that? How pathetic," Nightmare Moon cackled. The dream landscape around her shifted into the moon landscape. "I am n-not you! I am Luna. Leave me alone!" Luna shouted, glancing around wildly at the sudden change of scenery. "Listen to me, Luna. You have a chance with me here. You can defeat Asteria once and for all. Just let me in! I can help you, Luna. I can lend you my powers," Nightmare Moon pressed closer, her flowing purple mane curling around Luna's horn slowly. "I do not need your powers!" Luna began. "Really? She defeated you! The ponies of Equestria were depending on you but you have failed them. You failed to fight Celestia when she threatened you and your subjects. What does that make you? A wise ruler? I do not think so," Nightmare Moon sneered. Luna's heart sank as she realized she was right. Dark clouds began circling her as she sank to the ground. "You can redeem yourself right here! You defeat both Asteria and Celestia and you can be the sole ruler," Nightmare Moon leaned and whispered into her ears. "B-but why Celestia?" Luna whispered, her eyes darkening. "She was fooled by Asteria into wearing the amulet. Perfect, admired Celestia turned against her subjects...you'll be doing them a favor. Accept my offer now or be trapped here forever," The dark alicorn gestured to the moon landscape around them. "It's now or never." Luna closed her eyes, feeling the darkness closing in around her once more. "Luna." A gentle voice, so achingly familiar, called to her that Luna snapped opened her eyes once more and turned to the sound of the voice. She sucked in a breath and she could see a pale blue pegasus walking towards her. Her mane was white with a few blue stripes and on her flank there was a flower with a snowflake on top. "Snowdrop," Luna's voice was barely audible. "Luna, I've missed you so much," The pegasus broke into a run towards her, but Nightmare took a step forward, her expression angry. Her eyes gleamed once and the dark swirls blocked Luna's view from her. "No! Leave her alone!" Luna's horn began to glow. "You cannot hurt me here! What would you want with a pathetic blind pegasus who can't even see the night but claims she appreciates it?" Nightmare Moon sneered. Luna glared defiantly back, realizing the words Nightmare Moon spoke was the same ones she had on the night of her transformation. "I won't be fooled by you again. I will never let you take control of me again! It wouldn't make my subjects love me, only fear me and getting rid of the trust I had worked so hard to built," Luna snapped, scanning through the darkness for Snowdrop. "Trust? How much trust did you see in everypony's eyes that night when you arrived in Ponyville?" Nightmare Moon sneered. "Even if they still don't trust me," Luna said quietly. "I will try my best to earn their trust, even if it takes another thousand years." At those words, Nightmare Moon's influence over her seemed to shrink back. As it did so, the dark clouds cleared and Luna could see Snowdrop fully now. They walked towards each other, their eyes gleaming, but Nightmare Moon knocked Snowdrop to one side with her horn, slamming her to the ground. Instantly, Luna shot out a beam of magic at her, fury coursing through her. Nightmare Moon countered it. Snowdrop got up and stared at the two alicorns battling with fear in her eyes. "You see? You've made Snowdrop fear you!" Nightmare Moon screeched. "No! She fears you. You are nothing more than my imagination now," Luna told her calmly. Nightmare Moon's magic faltered and stopped. Luna's magic shot through her, and she vanished instantly. Luna's strength left her so fast that she collapsed. She looked up to see Snowdrop. She looked bigger than the last time Luna had seen her, which was a few days before her banishment. "Snowdrop, I'm sorry...I said such hurtful things to you that night and..."Luna began to cry. "You had to pass away with those last words in your head from your friend...I'm sorry!" Snowdrop stroked her mane gently with her hoof. "I forgive you, Luna. They will all forgive you, if some haven't already."