Truths of a prophecy

by Cookiedash

The second prophecy

The CMC were now deep in the Everfree forest. They had set multiple traps up for the beasts and were now monitoring them. So far, none had been sprung.

"Ughh, when's a beast gonna come past? I'm sooo bored, why can't we just go and find one? That's what Rainbow Dash would do!" Scootaloo moaned, quietly.

"Well we're not Rainbow Dash, Scoots, were the CMC! An' we're gonna do it this way 'cause it's safer." Applebloom told her.

"Ughh, but this is boring! What if a beast never comes?" Just then a rustling was heard in the bushes.

"Shh, something's coming." Sweetie Belle quietened her friends. Then, a large, black, familiar, alicorn came rushing through the bushes. She was weak, she had almost no magic left, she had used the rest to teleport herself and minions to the Everfree forest. Now she ran through it, heading for the castle. Because of her weak state, she did not notice the poorly hidden trap on the floor, she also didn't see the three Fillies hiding, watching, waiting. Nightmare moon ran straight into the trap and got caught in the cleverly designed trap. The net was built out of a very strong steel mesh, so you couldn't cut through it. But it was weak enough to be malleable. The holes were too small for any escape through them, the net closed itself at the top, over it's contents preventing any escape, and it tightened itself so that the creature caught inside it couldn't move.

"Aghhh!" Screamed Nightmare moon "Let me out at once! Whoever put this trap here is going to pay!" The CMC looked at each other, then back at the trapped and weakened Nightmare moon. Slowly, they crept over to her. The net was suspended a few feet in the air, just above the CMC's heads.

"YOU THREE??? I WAS TRAPPED AND CAUGHT BY THREE, USELESS, FILLIES???" Nightmare moon roared. The CMC scowled at Nightmare moon, then they looked at each other and nodded. They each reached into their bags and pulled out their blow pipes and tranquilizing darts. They loaded the blow pipes up and each shot a tranquilizer into the moon on Moon butt's flank. Nightmare moon yelled as she felt the tranquilizer darts, then promptly fell asleep. The CMC cheered in delight and looked at their flanks, unfortunately, they were still bare.

"But we caught NIGHTMARE MOON! How could we have not gotten our cutie marks???!! AGHHH! Why does life have to be so unfair!" Scootaloo wailed.

"Ah, can't believe we caught Nightmare moon."

"We finally caught something! YAY!"

"Ughh. I want my cutie mark!...Whatever, hmm. Lets take Nightmare moon to the dungeons we found. We can lock her up in one of the cells. Sweetie Belle, do you have that magic prevention ring?"

"Yup, I found it in my sister's room. Though I don't know why she would have one. Anyway, here you go." Sweetie Belle answered cheerfully, rummaging in her saddle bag before pulling out a metal ring. The ring sloped inwards slightly at the top, just like a unicorns horn. Scootaloo put it on their captive.

"Hmm, Applebloom, do you have any rope? We're gonna have to tie her wings down if we don't want her to escape."

"Sure, here you are Scoots."

"Great! Now come on! Maybe we just have to bring her to our hide-out and lock her in the dungeons to get our cutie marks!" So the CMC began to drag the limp body of Nightmare moon in the direction of their hide-out.

Applebloom, Scootaloo and Sweetie Belle were sitting down glumly. They hadn't gotten their cutie marks for capturing and bringing back Nightmare moon. On top of that, when they tried going back to Ponyville to get some adults, they couldn't find their way out. They tried following the set up of their traps, but they didn't find the exit. Now they just sat down, looking at the floor, not knowing what to do, when Sweetie Belle noticed something.

"Hey, From here I can see the sun!"

"What? But it's night??" Scootaloo said.

"Not anymore." Sweetie Belle retorted, pointing a hoof in the direction of the sky. True enough, through a small parting in the leaves, they could see the sun. From anywhere else in the Everfree forest, you couldn't tell whether it was day or night, but from here, you could see straight through the tree line.

"I hate the sun." Came a voice from behind them. The cutie mark crusaders spun around to see Nightmare moon, awake, lying in the cell and, thankfully, still bound up. "Those pesky ponies ran me off my throne!" Nightmare moon glanced at the three fillies, a thoughtful look in her eyes "It's my right to be the ruler of Equestria, Celestia had her time, now she's gone and I'm here to take her place!"

"That ain't true!" Applebloom yelled.

"But believe me it is, little fillies." Nightmare moon's usually raspy, dark voice, took on a softer tone "Celestia left before I returned, her time was up. Alicorns don't live forever, they just live a very long time. My time has been extended, because my sister sent me to the moon for a thousand years."

"You deserved to go to the moon! You tried to kill Princess Celestia!" Scootaloo shouted.

"Oh, so that's how Celestia has told the story. The younger sister attacks her older one."

"Wait, your Princess Celestia's sister??!" The CMC shouted in unison.

"Why yes, My real name is Princess Luna, but, because of Celestia, I am now Nightmare moon."

"So, Celestia turned you into Nightmare moon?" Sweetie Belle asked

"Sort of. Do you really believe that I would attack my own sister. The stories may depict me as a cruel, heartless demon, but I assure you, that is not the case. If you don't believe me, ask yourself this; would you attack your sisters?" That question through the CMC right off. They knew the stories of Nightmare moon, how she had tried to kill Princess Celestia, and how Princess Celestia had banished Nightmare moon to the moon. They had also seen what Nightmare moon had just done; Kidnap everypony in Ponyville and take them into the Everfree forest, where they were watched by some evil beasts that she called upon to serve her as their Queen. She had then refused to bring the sun back up, she had been defeated by the CMC's sisters and friends. Now, though, Nightmare moon was telling them that the stories were not real.

"I guess we wouldn't hurt our own sisters, but then, why would Celestia hurt you?" Sweetie Belle asked.

"Oh no, she didn't hurt me like that. She placed a curse on me, so that I would turn into Nightmare moon. I cannot change back unless I am released from my curse. Celestia turned me into Nightmare moon so she would have a reason to send me to the moon for a thousand years and take over Equestria. So many things have changed since before I was banished. No race is separated by their own language, because everypony speaks New Equestrian. Lots of ancient traditions have vanished and replaced with new ones. Friends have long gone and I know nopony, my sister finally passed on, leaving me as the air to the throne. Now I have been chucked off of it, just because of my decisions as ruler of Equestria!"

"Wait, so you want us to help you out of your curse?" Sweetie Belle asked

"If that were possible, I'd ask for your assistance. But as things are, to get rid of the curse, you not only have to have the 9 elements of Harmony, but you also have to have a special power that comes with a prophecy." Nightmare moon responded, a hint of mischief in her eyes, the CMC did not see it.

"What is that prophecy?" Scootaloo asked, a bit excitedly.

"I shouldn't tell you, it is meant to be only told to those who will hold the power of the prophecy. I know it because it is my duty to pass on the message. Only those who have the most courage can complete the prophecy."

"We can do it!" Scootaloo shouted "We could be cutie mark crusaders:Prophecy revealers!"

"But, once Nightmare moon tells us the prophecy, won't it already be revealed?" Applebloom asked

"Ok then, Cutie mark crusaders:Prophecy completers!"

"It sounds a bit unrealistic, but its another chance to get our cutie marks! I'm in!" Sweetie Belle considered.

"Ok then, Ah'm in too! So, Nightmare moon, tell us the prophecy."

"You're only fillies, I couldn't let you go through the trouble."

"But we've heard your story about this, it seems realistic, an' you seem nice enough, ya know, to care 'bout our safety an' all, but, who captured you an' brought you here? If we c'n do that, then we can do anything!" Applebloom encouraged, hoping against hope that Nightmare moon would let them.

"You're right, you three handle yourselves perfectly, you had the courage to even try to capture me, and you believe me. You have kind hearts. I will tell you the prophecy, but I will not let you go until you free me from this prison."

"Deal." Applebloom said as she moved to free the dark princess.

"The prophecy is this, 'There will be nine, each to hold an element, each to hold a power. The powers shall run to get them away, the elements shall stay to drive the evil away. Friendship and faith shall battle the mess, winning only to defend the queen. Faith shall rise and find it's strength, the three shall follow, finding their marks.' I do not know what most of the prophecy means, but I know that it speaks of the 9 elements of harmony." Nightmare moon said. The CMC's brains were swirling at all the things the prophecy could mean. Scootaloo piped up with some very wishful thinking.

"The prophecy could mean us! I mean, it talks about 'three' and there are three of us, it also says that three will find their marks! It must be talking about cutie marks!"

"An' since none o' us 'as our cutie marks..." Applebloom began

"The prophecy must mean us!" Sweetie Belle finished.

"So do we each hold an element, or, do friendship and faith have nothing to do with the elements?" Scootaloo asked.

"I do not know" Replied Nightmare moon, she was lying, of course, she knew the three had an element in them, but she could not let them find out.

"It talks 'bout them separately, so ah'd guess they were different things, so we're faith huh, who's friendship then, an' who hold the elements?" Applebloom asked

"That, I do not know either, you must figure out on your own. If you need me, I will be here." Nightmare moon said, before trotting away. "Perfect..." She muttered under her breath. The trap had been set, now to call upon her Night guards.

"Ok girls, let's go!" Scootaloo said, then in sync with the other two, she jumped in the air, high hoofed the others and shouted:

"CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS:PROPHECY COMPLETERS! YAY!"

Comments

[Tim the Planes-pony]

"CUTIE MARK CRUSADERS:PROPHECY COMPLETERS! YAY!"

And suddenly Nightmare Moon felt a massive chill down her spine, as if she made a terrible mistake.