The Road Goes Ever On

by Thrawn1800

Prologue

Author's Note:

Before you begin, this story is a... well, what if. What would have happened if Polaris had stayed where he was, and didn't love Luna? I need an evil laugh machine...

Prologue

I did a lot over the course of the next year, helping the Princesses out with several problems. I continued my studies in magic, which took a weird turn when I discovered I’d forgotten most of what I’d learned before I’d gone to the Crystal Empire. After a while, though, I was able to enchant the armor of the Royal Guard, which made them all look the same. I thought it was a good idea, since it protected their identities. I worked with Starswirl on his many and varied ideas, including one to “Send you back in time”. We made very little progress on that one.

The whole time, the Doctor stayed close to me, always there help when I had a panic attack. The frequency of the attacks decreased, and I was soon able to stay calm enough to leave the castle. During this time, Luna and I would often go for walks along the edge of the city. Occasionally, Blue or May might join us, or even Celestia when she had the time. As time went on, Luna and I grew closer together as friends.

I noticed something strange. Luna had been fine when I’d gotten back, but she’d gradually grown more and more irritable. When I asked her what was wrong, she refused to answer, and acted like everything was fine. I dropped it, but I didn’t forget.

___________________________________________

Celestia and I were in the throne room, talking about Starswirl’s latest comical attempt at time travel. He’d managed, not to jump through time, but through the wall of his room, and had ended up having to teleport to safety to avoid dropping off of a cliff. Safety, it turned out, was right on top of the Captain of the Royal Guard. I knew how that felt, since I’d managed to do the same thing several times myself. The ensuing argument had been hilarious to watch, and the two of us were still suffering from minor giggling fits. During one of these, I heard the sound of a door slamming. I turned to see Luna emerging from behind her throne, shivering slightly as she glared down at me.

“Luna?” I started towards her.

“Not another step!” she declared.

“Luna?” I stopped and sat, surprised by her livid tone. “What is it?”

She ignored me, and turned her gaze on Celestia.

“Did you really expect me to sit idly by while they all basked in your precious light?”

“What are you talking about?” I said. “Basking? What?” Today had been the Summer Sun Celebration, so that might explain what she meant. But basking hardly seemed like the right word.

“There can only be one princess in Equestria!” she yelled, walking up on to the balcony between the two thrones. “And that princess will be ME!”

She smashed the balcony’s front, her eyes glowing bright white with power. Behind her, cracks spread up the wall, followed by a dark shadow. The window above the thrones burst open, the shutters shattering into tiny fragments. The sun was revealed, shining it’s blindingly bright rays down on us. From below it, the moon appeared. It was dark and shadowy, not even a hint of white visible as it eclipsed the sun. The stars appeared in the sky, and darkness streamed from the fiery moon, surrounding Luna in a dark sphere. I backed away, but Celestia stood her ground. The sphere glowed from within, and the darkness gave way to an orange light.

The light faded, and Luna emerged from a smoking column. But she was different. She was as tall as Celestia, and her coat had become as black as the night sky. She opened her eyes, which now had slit-pupils, like a cat’s. They were no longer kind, but cold and hard, glittering with malice. She laughed, not her usual laugh, but a terrible and merciless laugh. One that knew how terrifying it was, and reveled in the fact. She blasted the ceiling, dislodging large chunks of the stone arches. I jumped out of the way of a falling piece, landing at Celestia’s hooves. She glanced down at me, then back at Luna. She emerged from the dust clouds, the stars shining down through what had been the roof. Celestia took off, her broad white wings stirring up a new cloud of grey dust. Luna unleashed a magical blast at Celestia, who dodged and returned to the ground. I jumped between them.

“Luna!” I yelled. “What are you doing?!”

“Luna!” said Celestia. “I will not fight you! You must lower the moon, it is your duty!”

“Luna?” Luna said. “I am Nightmare Moon.” My heart throbbed painfully. Why was she doing this? Why?

“I have but one royal duty now.” said Nightmare Moon. “To destroy you!”

She unleashed a blast at Celestia, who took off. I dodged to the side, avoiding the magical bolt. Celestia flew out through the hole in the ceiling.

“And where do you think you are going?” said Nightmare Moon.

I watched as she took off in pursuit of her sister. From outside, I heard the sound of magical chaos, and saw flashes of light arc across the sky. The magic was so powerful, the air around me tingled with electricity. Then above me, Celestia shouted in pain as one of the blasts made contact with her, blasting her from the sky. She landed with a loud thud in front of me. I ran forward, as above us, Nightmare Moon cackled with wicked glee. Celestia lay on the ground, unmoving. Then slowly, she forced herself to stand, gazing up at Nightmare Moon.

“Oh dear sister,” she said, “I am sorry, but you have given me no choice!” She looked over her shoulder at a spot on the floor.

“Celestia?” I asked. “What do you mean?”

“Polaris.” she said. “I need you to help me.”

“What with?” The look on her face scared me. I’d never seen Celestia like this. I glanced back up at Nightmare Moon. “What’s wrong with Luna?”

“You heard her. She is not Luna. She is Nightmare Moon. I must protect the ponies of Equestria.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Do you know what the Elements of Harmony are?”

“Yes. Why?”

“They will only work if more than one pony helps to use them. I cannot do this myself.”

“Do what?”

“I must send her away. She is too dangerous.”

“Send her away? Where?”

“That does not matter.” she said, angry. “Will you help me?”

I hesitated, and then a loud crash sounded, and I whirled around. Nightmare Moon had landed in front of us.

“Stop this!” I shouted. “Luna, please!”

“And why should I do that?” she demanded. “What’s to stop me from ruling?”

“Luna…” I hesitated, then forced myself to talk. “Luna… please, I don’t want to do this. Don’t make me.”

She laughed derisively. “Please! As if you could stop me!”

She lashed out, her dark mane slashing at me, shards of darkness flying at me. I deflected them with a quickly conjured shield of golden energy. The kinetic force of the attack launched me backward across the room, crashing into a chunk of the now-destroyed ceiling. I tried to get to my hooves, but I crumpled, gasping as burning and freezing sensations ran through me. My magic had deflected the worst of the blow, but it still hurt… a lot.

“Sister!” shouted Celestia. “What are you doing?!”

“I have attended to one of the insignificant threats.” she said, advancing on Celestia. “And now for the other one.”

Celestia’s horn glowed, and behind her, a large section of the floor slid away, and a stone pedestal rose out of the ground. Five arms extended from the column, above each of which hovered a different colored crystal. They spun slowly on the spot, refracting the starlight across the room. Celestia flew to the top of the structure, magicking the five crystals to herself. From the spherical stone at the top, a sixth crystal emerged. It was carved into the shape of a six pointed star, similar to my cutie mark, but violet. It joined the others, orbiting around Celestia.

She flew high into the air, far above the castle, Nightmare Moon in pursuit. They faced each other, Celestia grim faced and determined, Nightmare Moon grinning evilly, completely confident. The two alicorns, dark and light, blasted each other with highly focused beams of magic. Luna’s glowed icy blue, and Celestia’s was a prismatic display of rainbow colors. The magic arced between them, crackling and giving off so much energy I was getting a headache. The part of the beam that was Nightmare Moon’s began to force Celestia’s back. Celestia’s forehead was beaded with sweat, the strain of holding back the attacking magic.

I remembered what Celestia had said. If the Elements of Harmony needed more than one pony to work, that would explain why she wasn’t succeeding in using them. I lifted my head, aiming my horn towards the conflict. I activated it, a golden aura sparkling around it. I could feel the magic above me stronger than ever, sending waves of power through the surrounding air. It was so powerful, it was disrupting my own magic, and I had to focus harder than usual to maintain it. I reached out, pushing through the interference, until I located the six crystals. If the Crystal Heart had been powerful, this was like plugging myself into six of them. Celestia must have felt my magic join hers, because her eyes widened.

“What is happening?” demanded Nightmare Moon, as the Elements lined themselves up. “No!”

The Elements released their magic, dumping it along the arcing magic, which crackled and flared brightly. A pulse ran through the magic, overwhelming Nightmare Moon’s hastily constructed defences. A multi-colored comet lanced upwards, flying higher and higher until it collided with the moon. A pattern of dark craters appeared, arranged into a formation that looked like the head of the dark alicorn who had been banished there.

My magic flared out, and my head thudded against the ceiling fragment. I slid to the floor, and my vision went black.

___________________________________________

Celestia landed on the ground next to Polaris, who’d fallen unconscious. She’d felt his magic brush against hers, and quickly joined forces with him to finish Nightmare Moon. The effort seemed to have drained him of energy, probably in combination with the strain of fighting off the magical power radiating from the energy arc that had formed between her and Nightmare Moon. She lifted him, setting him on her back. His front hooves dangled limply in front of where her wing met her shoulder, his hind legs doing the same behind.

She was about to take off, when the Tardis began to materialize next to her. When it had finished solidifying, the Doctor shoved the doors open. He gaped at the mess that had once been the throne room.

“What happened?” he asked. “Did I land in the wrong year?”

“No.” she said. “I will explain later. I need you to get him out of here. Take him to Canterlot, I will meet you there.”

He nodded, letting her levitate Polaris onto his back. He took him into the Tardis, and returned shortly.

“What are you going to do?” he asked.

“I must get the other inhabitants out of the castle. It is no longer safe here.”

“Huh. I thought I picked up residual magical radiation.” He shrugged. “See you in Canterlot.”

He stepped back into the Tardis, shutting the doors behind him. The light on the top began to flash, and the Tardis dematerialized.

Comments

[Shellybox]

... no words can be said that can describe how much I want this. At the same time I want them to be peaceful towards each other.

Now I can have both.

I can evil laugh pretty well. In the 8th grade, I once made the entire cafeteria stop what they were doing and look at me. It was the most proud moment of my life.

Also, when Polaris said I love you to nightmare moon, it actually had some of an effect on her, though she said it didn't.

[PickleSurprise]

I'm a just leave this riiiiight here...

Muhahahahah!

[Bad_Seed_72]

Interesting... So this is like an AU continuation of the first story.

Good start, looking forward to more.

[Thrawn1800]

3897621 That's great!

[NeovilusAlpheim]

Oh! Oh! I know! Make him cry or something because of what he did to Luna, then make him ask The Doctor to bring him 1000 years to the future! (he can also meet mane 6... But that's not gonna happen, right...)