---2 weeks before the return of Nightmare moon---
Celestia was worried. Nightmare moon was returning soon and the elements were not ready yet! Twilight was getting restless, her studies were more or less over, they had been for the past 3 months, but Twilight was so determined to keep studying and learn more. Celestia would just have to find a completely new subject. Maybe she could get Princess Cadence to teach Twilight about love, no, not love, maybe if she taught her about the elements of harmony, it was about time she knew and she could help figure them out. No, Twilight would probably be reading books about that already. What about friendship? Twilight has very few friends, and the ones she does have she doesn't spend much time with. Celestia sighed, thinking about Twilight made her think of her own child, 'Twilight's only a little older, they would be great friends. I wonder how iris is doing up in Cloudsdale, I hope she was adopted into a caring family, oh, if only the government weren't so racist! And I guess if I was actually allowed to have a foal... I should have never made a government, I should have made the laws myself, and let the public decide on things I couldn't decide for myself. hmph...'
"PRINCESS!!" Twilight's voice called out cheerily. "Princess Celestia! You asked to see me?" Celestia instantly made up her mind, Twilight would start to study friendship, but not yet, she wasn't completely ready.
"Yes, the summer sun celebration is coming up soon and I need to get ready ahead of time, so I will be rather busy, I wont be able to do my regular check-ups on you so don't expect me. While I'm busy, I'd like you and spike to be outside as much as possible, I can't tell you to do so if I'm not there, and we both know how much you love to study."
"Okay, Princess, but really? Do I need to go outside? Studying is way more important!" Twilight argued
"Well, you might want to study a bit on vitamins then" Celestia replied.
"Study on vitamins? I already know about all the vitamins, Vitamin A is in food like eggs, cheese, milk and yoghurt, it helps with our vision and immune system, vitamin B has multiple sections, B1 through to B12. It helps the nervous system and is found in vegetables, eggs and bread, Vitamin C comes from fruits and vegetables, a lack of it can cause scurvy, vitamin C helps protect our cells. Vitamin D comes from sunlight, it is one of the most important vitamins, a lack of vitamin D can cause bone deformities like rickets and bone pains called osteomalacia. Vitami.... oh, right, I need to be out in the sun more, I'm spending too much time inside" Twilight trailed off, sheepishly. Celestia, who had stopped listening halfway through Twilight's explanation noticed that her student had finished talking and was waiting her response.
"Correct, my student. Now, I must be getting on with my work, please spend some more time outside, hang out with your friends or, go to the park, or even just go and sit by the lake, just do something that doesn't involve you staying couped up in the library studying all day." Celestia pleaded.
"Okay, Princess. I wont let you down!" with that, Twilight turned and left.
---1 week before Nightmare moon's return---
"The princess didn't say I couldn't study, just that I had to be outside more" Twilight told Spike, she had told him the same thing every day for the past week. "Right, hmm, what should I study today?" Twilight pondered.
"How about 'Predictions and prophecies'?" Spike suggested
"No, not today Spike, find me 'Perplexing pony plagues ' and 'Forbidden spells of ancient times'" Twilight said, deciding what she wanted.
"On it!" Spike called out, already rushing over to the shelf that housed those books.
---2 days before Nightmare moon's return---
"Hmm, elements of harmony, I know I've heard of those before, but where?" Twilight couldn't think of where she had heard of them, so carefully, she picked up the book, placed it in her saddle bag and ran off in the direction of the observatory/library she was staying in.
"Spike, SPIKE!" She called. "Spike?" Twilight saw him on the floor rubbing his head. "There you are" Twilight said, not sounding the least bit concerned, "Quick find me an old copy of 'Predictions and prophecies'. What's that for?" On Spike's tail, there was a present, it was wrapped in red wrapping paper and had gold string tied around it. A studded teddy bear fell out, only the stuffing was falling out too.
"Well. *sigh* It was a gift for Moondancer but..." Spike answered, trailing off at the end.
"Oh Spike, you know we don't have time for that sort of thing."
"But were on a break!" Twilight ignored him, insted using her magic to pick several books from the bookshelf.
"No, no, no, no, no, no! SPIKE!" She called, not being able to find the book she was looking for.
"It's over here!" Spike called back, waving the book from high up on a ladder. Twilight gripped the book in her magic and quickly brought it down to her, Spike still holding the book.
"Ah!" Twilight exclaimed, obviously happy with the book. "Elements, elements, e, e, e, e. Aha, elements of harmony. See mare in the moon?"
"Mare in the moon, but that's just an old pony's tale" Spike said.
"Mare, mare, aha! The mare in the moon, myth from olden pony times. A powerful pony 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 night-time eternal. *Gasp* Spike! Do you know what this means?"
---1 day before Nightmare moon's return---
"My dear Twilight" Spike read, "There's more to a young pony's life than studying, so I'm sending you to supervise the preparations for the Summer sun celebration, in this years location, Ponyville. And, I have an even more essential task for you to complete, make some friends!" Spike finished reading the letter. Princess Celestia had sent the two to Ponyville where Twilight was going to see to the preparations.
--time skip-1 hour(Or so)--
"There's supposed to be a pegasus pony named 'Rainbow Dash' clearing the clouds."
"Well, she's not doing a very good job, is she?" At that moment a rainbow blur crashed into Twilight and both Twilight and the rainbow blur crashed into a puddle of mud.
"Heh heh heh heh heh, ughh, scuse me? he he he" The rainbow blur giggled, though now it seemed to be a cyan pegasus with a rainbow mane and tail. "hehe, let me help you" With that the rainbow pegasus flew off and came back with a rain cloud. She then proceeded to jump on it, letting out all the water onto the mud covered unicorn. "Ooops, I guess I over did it. umm, uhh, how about this! My very own patented 'Rainblow dry!" The pegasus said as she swirled around Twilight in a sort of mini tornado. "No, no, don't thank me, you're quite welcome." The pegasus said ads she landed on the ground, "Bwa ha ha ha ha ha ha!" The rainbow pegasus couldn't contain her laughter at the sight of Twilight, Spike joined in a few seconds later.
"Let me guess, you're Rainbow Dash." For some reason, the pegasus looked slightly familiar but Twilight knew that she had never seen her before.
"The one and only!" Rainbow Dash proclaimed. "Why, you heard o' me?"
"I heard, you're supposed to be keeping the sky clear, *sigh* I'm Twilight Sparkle and the Princess sent me to check on the weather."
"Yeh yeh, that'll be a snap, I'll do it in a jiffy, just as soon as I've finished practicing"
"Practicing? For what?"
"The wonderbolts! They're gonna perform at the celebration tomorrow, and I'm gonna show em my stuff!"
"The wonderbolts?"
"Yup!"
"The most talented flyers in all of Equestria?"
"That's them"
"Phhh, please, they'd never accept a pegasus who can't even keep the sky clear for one measly day." Twilight was challenging the pegasus here. She wanted to get the sky clear as fast as possible, so that she could get right on to studying.
"Hey, I could clear this sky in 10 seconds flat."
Twilight knew the pegasus was lying, no-pony could do it, even the wonderbolts would struggle, Spitfire might just make it, but if this pegasus could do it, then she'd be a wonderbolt already. "Prove it" She said, oh, she'd have a good time rubbing it in to the pegasus's face later. With that, Rainbow Dash dashed off the cloud she was on, destroying it, flew to the next cloud, bucked it and flew off to the next one, she repeated this until all the clouds in the sky were gone. Twilight had timed the pegasus, to see how fast she could actually do it. Twilight had barely got to 9 seconds by the time the sky was clear. Her jaw dropped, so did Spike's.
"What did I say? 10 seconds flat. I'd never leave Ponyville hanging. You should see the look on your face. Ha! You're a laugh Twilight Sparkle, I can't wait to hang out some more." Then she darted off.
"Wow, she's amazing!" Spike said. Twilight, didn't know how the pegasus had done it, she had cleared the sky in 9 seconds. Faster than she had bragged. 'How could she be that fast and still not be a wonderbolt?' Twilight thought 'She's also a good flyer too. With enough agility to make such a tight turn at that speed, and the "Rainblow dry" move, I can't believe Spitfire hasn't accepted her yet' Then, Twilight got the feeling of recognizing the pegasus again. 'hmmm, why do I feel like I know her from somewhere?'
"Spike," she said, "Do you feel like you recognize her?"
"Hmm? No, why'd you ask? Though I guess her rainbow mane looks similar yet completely opposite to Celestia's pastel coloured Ethereal mane." Spike replied. 'That's it! Her mane! Its a rainbow, similar to Celestia's but it has more colours, it's much more vibrant and it's not Ethereal.'
"Oh, thanks Spike, and I just thought I recognized her from somewhere..." 'It must be something else too, it can't just be the mane'
------Nightmare moon's return------
Twilight was walking towards the town hall, that was where Celestia was going to make her appearance to raise the sun. She didn't know why they were going to do it inside a building, surely you had to be outside for it to work and get the full view. Come to think of it, all of the other Summer sun celebrations, as far as Twilight knew, were done outside. So why inside this year. 'Maybe it has something to do with this being the thousandth year of the Summer sun celebration' Twilight thought.
"So, you really think that Nightmare moon's gonna come back tonight?" Spike asked.
"I don't know spike, I hope not" Twilight answered, looking up at the moon, where 4 stars circled slowly. Twilight walked into the town hall, she already saw Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Fluttershy, Rarity and Rainbow Dash. Pinkie Pie had tried to throw Twilight and Spike a party, but Twilight didn't join so it was just a WELCOME TWILIGHT AND SPIKE! Party. Pinkie Pie was desperately trying not to eat the cupcakes, Applejack was there stopping her whenever she tried to eat one.
"No, Pinkie, those ere are fur after the sun is risn'" She would say. Rarity and Fluttershy were standing close by, rarity talking about how good a job she did of 'beautifying' the town hall up, Fluttershy was quietly agreeing every so often. Rainbow Dash was flying in the air just above them, obviously bored. Rainbow Dash noticed Twilight enter and called her over.
"Hey Twilight! Come over here!"
"Ughhh, I don't need any friends." Twilight muttered to herself.
"Come on Twilight, the Princess asked you to make friends, so just go over, they already consider you a friend so, why not?" Spike reasoned with her.
"Fine, I'll make some friends, but only because the princess asked me to. As soon as the celebration is over, we're going back to studying in Canterlot." Twilight said, walking towards Rainbow Dash and the others.
"hey, Twilight?" Spike said
"yes Spike?" Twilight replied.
"Do you think you could drop me off with rarity?" Spike gave his question, he was drooling slightly and he had that look in his eye, the kind of look you get when you fall in love. Twilight chuckled.
"Sure Spike."
-
After dropping Spike off with Rarity, Twilight went and stood by Rainbow Dash. Twilight decided that, if she was going to make friends, she needed to know a bit more about them.
"So, Rainbow, where are you from?" Twilight asked.
"I'm from Cloudsdale, same with Flutters, I take it you're from Canterlot?" Rainbow replied.
"Yes, I am the Princesses personal protege." Twilight said a little boastfully. She had expected Rainbow Dash to be amazed by that, but she wasn't.
"Cool, so, who's the little dragon that fell for Rarity?" Rainbow inquired.
"Oh, that's Spike" Twilight was a little upset that Rainbow Dash had just dismissed her being the Princesses protege as being 'Cool', she was hoping she would have got an 'Awesome!' from the pegasus, knowing Dash, although Twilight had only known her for a few hours, 'Awesome' sounded like a word she would use. 'I guess "Cool" is better than nothing' Twilight thought to herself, she was about to ask another question but she was interrupted by the mayor starting the celebration.
"Welcome, Mares and Stallions. As mayor, it is my great honor to introduce you to the one and only ruler of Equestria, Princess Celestia!" The mayor called out. The choir of birds gave an introduction song and Rarity pulled the curtains apart to reveal,... nopony. Everypony gasped. Twilight looked at the moon, the mare in the moon was gone, the moon was now plain.
"She's gone!" Rarity exclaimed. Everypony was in a panic now, they didn't know what to do, the princess had disappeared just before the sun was supposed to rise. Twilight was having a panic attack. The mare in the moon was gone, Celestia was gone, purple smoke was filing out from where Celestia was supposed to be, Pinkie was acti..., wait, purple smoke? Twilight looked at the purple smoke, it was rising into the form of a tall black alicorn.
"Nightmare moon." Twilight murmured. Rainbow caught it.
"You know that creep?" She asked, quizzically.
"Yes, she's the mare in the moon. Nightmare moon!" She exclaimed the name, catching the attention of the pony in question.
"Well well well, you remember, tell me little pony, why am I here?" Nightmare moon asked.
"You're here to..." Twilight couldn't finish, so Rainbow Dash did.
"You're here to get your sorry flank kicked!" Rainbow shouted.
"Muahahahahahaha! We'll see about that! COME FORTH MY MINIONS OF CHAOS! COME AND SERVE ME AS YOUR QUEEN!" Nightmare moon shouted, and as soon as she did, hundreds of Chaos beasts came crashing through the walls and windows of the Town hall. Ponies tried to run for their lives but the beasts circled them and kept them huddled together. Twilight, Rainbow, Applejack, Pinkie, Fluttershy and Rarity were also trapped in the crowd of ponies. The beasts growled. Rainbow flew up to one beast and bucked it as hard as she could in the face, the beast was pushed backwards a little. But the beast recovered quickly and swiped Rainbow Dash back into the crowd. Twilight tried to cast a protection spell around everypony, but her magic wouldn't work. None of the unicorns could use their magic. Their horns had all been encased in a black aura stopping any magic. Applejack bucked a Chaos beast, but just like Rainbow, she was forced back. Twilight and some other ponies started to charge at the beasts too. Eventually, everypony was attacking the beasts, only to be pushed back. There were too many, nopony was prepared and with Nightmare moon controlling and leading them, the battle was fruitless for the ponies of Ponyville. Nightmare moon laughed at the impending doom that was coming to the ponies.
"Remember this day little ponies, for it was your last. From this moment forth, the night will last FOREVER!" Nightmare moon exclaimed, then she disappeared in a cloud of purple smoke. As soon as Nightmare moon shouted 'forever', all the beasts pounced.
In that single moment, time seemed to slow down for Twilight. She evaluated everything, looking for a way out. After a few seconds, she saw a glimmer of hope. As the beasts pounced a small gap of time was formed, in the space above them, a pegasus could fly out, with all the creatures pouncing, none could stop a pegasus who was quick enough to escape, unfortunately it was too far away for a normal pegasus to reach fast enough. However, right beside her was not a normal pegasus. Time sped up again and in that split second Twilight shouted.
"Rainbow! Get out of here!" Twilight pointed above them. Rainbow didn't have time to process what she just heard. She just acted, flying straight up and out, however, as soon as she did that, she realized what she had done and desperately tried to save her friends, but they disappeared to in the same purple smoke that clouded Nightmare moon. Rainbow Dash was all alone in the town hall. She was shocked, how could she just abandon her friends! NO! They needed her help and she just left them! Tears started to form in her eyes, but she wouldn't let them fall.