During her entrance exam, Twilight's magic goes out of control... and things get worse.
During her entrance exam, Twilight's powers goes far out of control, leaving Celestia a shell of herself and Equestria in ruins. Now Nightmare Moon is free, but even she can't stop the Tyrant Filly. She flees through time and space, finding herself in an Equestria familiar to us but odd to her. Can the Mane Six help her stop a Twilight out of control?
She was at the edge of consciousness, her sight first returning, then hearing, smell, taste and touch in sequence. Her sense of magic flared to life as she felt the stars moving, aligning to twist open her dimensional prison, exactly as she had set it in motion a thousand years ago.
The spell holding her prisoner in the Moon shattered, freeing the captive. The prisoner flew forth, wings spread out from her body, ethereal mane and tail streaming behind her. Nightmare Moon fell from her prison, descending to her home to take her rightful place as Equestria's ruler.
Nightmare Moon's reverie shattered as the blighted land below grabbed her attention, the trees with barely any leaves and the fields little more than stretches of dirt. Her glowing eyes widened as she beheld a sick land, not yet dying but not well. “What is the meaning of this?” she bellowed, flying over farms with stunted crops. “This is the Summer Sun Celebration, is it not?”
The Alicorn paused in mid-flight and looked around, kicking at the air as she focused her attention on the sky. Most of it was dark, but the edge of the horizon was a sliver of brilliant orange. The sun, her sister's domain, hung low in the sky, the moon over it in an eclipse. No stars shone in the sky - there was nothing but a deep, endless expanse of inky blue.
Nightmare Moon's lips curled back in a sneer. “So, my dear sister! Unable to control both the sun and moon? I knew that without me Equestria would fall into disarray.” She leaned forward and her horn glowed a deep blue as she telekinetically latched onto the moon and willed it to move.
Nothing happened.
The Princess of the night grunted and her wings flapped. She flew back as she focused all her might on the moon, her domain, her former prison and now object of her will. Move... move!
The moon remained in place, hanging over the sun and casting Equestria in perpetual shadows.
Nightmare Moon snorted, lightning flashing from her nostrils. She reached out, sensing the powerful magic holding the moon in place. She traced its path, all the way to Canterlot. She twisted around, angling towards the former fortress. "So, my enemy takes residence in the ancient fortress of the Mages? Very well, I shall smite thee and take my rightful place as ruler of the night!"
Fancy Pants, prime minister of Equestria, backed away from the throne as the current ruler glared at him. “B-but your majesty,” he began, his monocle shifting slightly in his telekinetic grasp. “It's not that nopony wants to celebrate. It's just...” His voice trailed off as he unconsciously glanced to a window and the eternal dusk outside. “With crops barely enough to sustain the population, they just can't.” He hung his head and sighed, tensing for the ten thousandth time.
The throne's occupant, a purple unicorn filly half Fancy Pants' size, glared down at him with stark white eyes. “But why?” Twilight Sparkle demanded, horn ablaze with a brilliant pillar, a pillar of energy. She hopped off the throne and stomped up to Fancy Pants. Twilight snorted, a white cloud coming out of her nostrils. “All I want is for everypony to be happy, and I'm trying my best with the sun!” She followed Fancy Pants' gaze out to the window, where the sun was hanging in place. “I've almost got it, too. I think it twitched today!” She clapped her front hooves together. “Soon, I'll fix everything. Don't you worry!”
Fancy Pants clamped down on his lips and merely nodded. “As you say."
Twilight's head suddenly shot around, her eyes widening. “What is this? I feel something--no, someone! Such power, too!” Her horn's energy changed slightly, going from pure white to gaining tinges of purple to it. She walked to the window overlooking the sun's position, her eyes narrowed the slightest fraction before widening again. After a few minutes, he looked back to Fancy Pants. “Send out the royal guard in escort formation, but tell them if any one of them attacks, I'll be VERY angry. Got it?”
Fancy Pants nodded and dropped down to one foreleg He then rose back up to all fours and trotted out. Twilight spun around, walked behind the throne to a door hidden behind it and opened it. She entered a small, dimly lit room and walked up to a bed, her blazing horn chasing away some shadows and casting others with sharp angles and lines. “Someone's coming,” she said to Princess Celestia, her voice dropping as low as it could. “But don't worry, Princess. I'll make sure they don't mess anything up!”
Princess Celestia stirred, her normally resplendent coat all but faded to dullness, her matted wings fluttering slightly. Princess Celestia's head rose and her bleary eyes gained focus for a moment. “No....” she drawled out. “Pl-please, Twilight. I can help you, but you need-”
“Help? why would I need help?” Twilight said, her right eye twitching ever so slightly. She reached out with a foreleg and patted Celestia on her forehead, right below her little nub of a horn. “Don't worry, I almost made the sun move today. Isn't that great?” She rose back to all four hooves. “Don't worry, Princess. As soon as I deal with whoever's messing with the moon, I'll get right back to fixing the sun. You'll see!” She turned and trotted out of the room, her eyes flashing wildly.
Celestia's eyes focused on Twilight as she left. She heaved her head up, but a wave of dizziness hit her, sending her crashing once more to her bed. She groaned slightly as a presence made itself known to her, one not felt in a thousand years. Tears streamed from her eyes as she felt the presence approach. “L-Luna... run!”
Nightmare Moon circled over Canterlot, glowing eyes focused on the cracked minarets, faded white paint and the general state of decay. A few ponies wandered the streets, bundled up in thick clothing that spoke more of functionality than form. A small gasp escaped her lips as she beheld a large, grotesquely misshapen purple dragon, sitting in an open lot. A pegasus hovered near its gaping maw, dumping a few gems down its gullet.
Tightness gripped Nightmare Moon's chest and she found herself growing hot. “Sister, I knew you were soft, but you were never stupid! Has the Griffin Empire invaded?” She suddenly paused in mid-air. “Is this... Discord?” She abruptly dove, sending a few ponies galloping away in fright as she narrowed her eyes, casting her senses out.
The trail led to a large field of withered grass, little tufts of bushes and a few scattered statues in various states of disrepair. One statue, a mismatched conglomeration of animal parts, stood out simply by virtue of having no cracks upon its surface. Nightmare Moon touched down in front of the prison of the God of Chaos and walked up to it, horn glowing. She paced in front of the frozen draconequus for a few minutes. “Still frozen, beast. My sister and I did well with your sealing.” Wingbeats stirring the air caught her attention and her head whipped around. “Who dares approach me?”
A dozen white-coated pegasi, each one clad in the gold armor of the Royal Guard, touched down and trotted to a stop in front of the Alicorn. The one on point dipped his head. “Greetings from... the interim caretaker of Equestria,” he said, voice dipping low.
Nightmare Moon regarded him, eyes narrowing and lip curling back. “'Interim caretaker'? Celestia is not on the throne? What could overthrow her?” She stalked up to the pegasus, mane flaring out and lightning crackling with each stroke of her hooves, leaving scorch marks upon the dead grass. She leaned her head down, boring into the pegasus' eyes with her own white orbs.“Speak quickly, for it may be the last time you do so.”
The pegasus swallowed, but held his ground. “There was an... incident seven years ago. I cannot say more.” Sweat beaded on his brow. He took a breath and continued speaking as he felt Nightmare Moon's penetrating gaze. “Please, I beg of you,” he whispered. “If you must kill, kill me but spare my squadron.” His eyes finally darted away and he stepped back, head hanging.
It was a span of heartbeats before Nightmare Moon sneered.“You have courage, and honor. Not the best thing to have, but it is inside your heart. Tell me, what is your name?”
The pegasus looked back up. “Spanish Steel.” He clicked his hooves together and straightened his body. “Sergeant of the Royal Guard.” Spanish Steel regarded her with wary eyes. “But if I may, who are you?”
Nightmare Moon snorted. She held up a foreleg and pointed up to the moon, hanging over the sun. “Tell me, when you were a colt, did you ever hear of the Mare in the Moon? The Nightmare sealed away?” She bared her teeth and chuckled, Spanish Steel recoiling slightly. “That was me, and now, after a thousand years, I have returned to take back my throne!” She spread her wings and thunder crashed in the clear skies. “Whether it is my sister or this... caretaker, it matters not. I shall not be denied my destiny a second time!”
Spanish Steel dropped to one foreleg, the rest of his squadron following suit. “Then as per our orders, we shall escort you to the Royal Palace,” he said before standing back up.
Nightmare Moon nodded to him as she strode forward, the pegasi breaking rank and reforming around her. “Good," she intoned. She looked to the sky and spread her wings, tensing her legs before springing into the air and leaving four small craters in the ground as she and the squadron took off for the best maintained building in Canterlot.
Twilight paced about the throne room, empty save for herself. Her head swung back and forth, the energy around her horn flashing with every step of her hooves. "I need the farm reports!” she bellowed. “If I read them, I can understand them. And if I understand them, maybe I can figure out how to grow more food.” She stopped in mid-stride, her teeth grinding. “Get me Blueblood, on the double! No, not him. Shining Armor?” Her head whipped around. “Shining Armor, where are-”
The doors at the far end of the throne room suddenly bulged, a split-second before disintegrating into a shower of splinters and chunks of metal. Nightmare Moon strode in, mane and tail flaring out behind her. "Behold your ruler!” she bellowed. Her eyes focused on Twilight and her jaw dropped as she saw the cone of magical energy around the young filly's horn. “By the Herd, what is...” Her voice trailed off. “That power. I would know it even if I was locked in the moon for ten thousand years.” She snorted and dragged a hoof across the ground, digging up the tiles. “You, what have you done with my sister?”
Twilight stopped her pacing and looked to Nightmare Moon, then to the door frame and the debris scattered about. “What the–now I've got to get the DOOR fixed too? As if I don't have enough on my plate with the sun!” She suddenly focused her own glowing eyes on Nightmare Moon. “Wait, I know you..." She gasped and staggered back, the energy around her horn blazing forth for a second before settling down. “You're Nightmare Moon! I read about you in the archives of the Royal Library!”
A smile slowly crept across Nightmare Moon's face. ”Ah, so I am not completely forgotten? Good.” She lowered her head and her horn lit up with her magic, her smile falling away. “What has happened to Celestia, foal? You wield her power with all the grace of a dragon!”
Twilight's jaw dropped. “H-hey!” she stuttered out. “I'm doing the best I can, here!” She stalked forward, stopping a few feet from Nightmare Moon. “Probably better than how you would! You wanted eternal night! I'm at least trying to fix things here!”She glanced to the window and wandered over. “I didn't mean to do it! It just all happened and now the sun's broken, but I'm going to fix things for Princess Celestia!” She whirled about to face Nightmare Moon once more. “You'll see! Fancy Pants doesn't think I can do it, and neither does his... friend, I think. Blueblood didn't either, but I showed him!”
Nightmare snorted, sending forth billowing steam from her nostrils. “You have not answered my question, child.” She strode forward, punctuating each word with a slam of her steel shod hooves upon the floor. “Where. Is. My. Sister?”
Twilight's blank eyes stared back and she hung her head, a black tear falling from her eye. She walked to the hidden door behind the throne. “I didn't mean to,” she muttered, opening the door. “It just... happened.”
Twilight writhed and twisted in a sphere of white, all senses blocked by the hammering in her skull. A flash of light engulfed her parents and they changed into plants. The instructors floated in midair, helpless under the unrestrained onslaught of power coursing through her.
She spun about as a flash of white passed by her. Celestia appeared before her trembling form, mene whipping out behind her. She reached out to the young filly with a long foreleg, a smile on her face. Twilight's own forelegs shot out... and twin beams of energy emerged from her hooves, striking and enveloping the Princess in a misshapen blob. Celestia cried out, her horn suddenly shrinking, her wings shedding feathers. “Young one... stop... this... please.”
All of Equestria shook, from the outer borders to Canterlot itself. The sun dipped low in the sky, stopping at the edge of the horizon. The sky dimmed, turning a deep blue as the air chilled. And a lone Pegasus filly returned to Cloudsdale, her cutie mark still shiny on her flanks, blissfully unaware of what had transpired.
Nightmare Moon stood in the doorway, stunned silent. Even her mane and tail had flattened out, hanging limply from poll and dock respectively. She took a step into the room that held Celestia's withered form. "Sister?” she whispered, voice numb and flat.
Celestia's head lifted slightly and a single eye opened. “L-Luna...” She groaned and panted, that action seeming to drain her. “I'm sorry... you had... to see me like this.” Her head fell back to the bed and her torso heaved. “Not her... fault...”
Nightmare Moon was beside her bed in an instant. She raised a foreleg and pressed it against Celestia's right shoulder, shaking her. “Celestia, Celestia!” she cried out. Her head darted back and forth and her eyes dimmed slightly. Her breathing quickened as the continued shaking increased in tempo. “Wake up! Wake up! It wasn't supposed to be like this! It was to be in battle, between two equals for my rightful vengeance! Sister, please!”
Twilight swallowed. "I'm sorry," she said, voice wavering. She entered the room. "The sun stopped working and I've been trying so hard to fix it, but nothing's worked!" She groaned. "And I feel so bad about it but I've been trying really hard to fix it!" She titled her head back and looked up at Nightmare Moon. "I really have-"
A solid-black beam of energy shot from Nightmare Moon's horn, striking Twilight directly on the chest and sending her hurtling back through a wall on the far side. The entire wall shuddered before collapsing into a large mound of concrete and rebar, sending out a large cloud of dust.
The Alicorn emerged from Celestia's room, teeth bared and sharp. “I shall rend the marrow from your bones!” she screamed, the air reverberating. Spittle flew from her mouth as she walked forward and tears flowed freely from her eyes. “You have hurt my sister, the one being who might be my equal! You pathetic filly, without even a cutie mark! She is Ruler of the Undying Sun, Caretaker of Dream Valley and my sister! You will pay for what you have-”
The mound of rubble suddenly exploded, sending debris flying in all directions. A shield of pure magic flowed from Nightmare Moon's horn, deflecting incoming shrapnel from her. Her forelegs kicked at the floor as Twilight floated out from the mound, unharmed. “But how?”
Twilight snarled and moaned, her entire body twitching. “I told you I'll FIX IT!" she screeched. She held up her forelegs and a beam of energy emerged from each, intersecting a few feet away from the filly and striking Nightmare Moon's shield head-on. It washed over the barrier, engulfing it. Cracks quickly formed in the shield and it shattered, the magic fading away from the onslaught of power.
Nightmare Moon quickly trotted backwards, leaning her head forward. Her horn was completely covered in energy and her wings beat as she poured every bit of energy she had into the shield. She suddenly leapt into the air mere moments before it failed, barely dodging the blast of energy below her hooves.
A sudden telekinetic strike slammed into Nightmare Moon's side, sending her pinwheeling about the upper levels of the throne room. Her head spun and sides ached from the blow. A voice echoed from below, the thunderhead of a foal's tantrum. “I can fix this! Don't you DARE stop me from fixing this! I broke it, so it's my responsibility to fix what I did wrong! It's what Mom and Dad taught me!”
Nightmare Moon regained control of her movements, looked around, spotted the window and jumped through it. She sailed into the sky and turned around even as Twilight floated up into the eternal dusk. Her eyes flashed and stomped her hooves on the air, sending forth a staccato flurry of lightning bolts forth from her hooves, but they bent around Twilight's upright form. Another telekinetic wave rippled out from Twilight's horn, but Nightmare Moon angled her body up and climbed through the air, managing to fly up and over it, only to be struck by another shot from Twilight's horn. The Alicorn tumbled through the air, her wings spreading out and she slowed down, but a cough wracked her body as she spat blood from her mouth. Her eyes darted about and she quickly located Twilight even as the filly flew towards her. Nightmare Moon kicked at the air, swinging herself around as she shot off once more, eyes wide with a strangling sensation that clutched at her chest and quickened her breath.
Twilight fired off several more bolts from her horn and forelegs, each one narrowly missing nightmare Moon but still close enough to send her tumbling with the backwash. “Get back here!” she bellowed. “You have to be punished for what you did!" She leaned back before casting out, snaring Nightmare Moon. Her right eye twitched. "You did some bad things, Nightmare Moon!”
Nightmare Moon blocked out Twilight's ranting as she kicked at the air, whinnying and nickering. Even with all her effort, she slowly slid back to Twilight. Her horn glowed and a thin beam of energy shot up into the sky. Her head twisted and turned as she was dragged down, down to the filly who had stolen her sister's powers and sent Equestria into ruin.
Her horn sliced straight down, tearing a hole in the sky. The crack, a thin slice of blackness in space, yawned open right before Nightmare Moon, distorting and rippling. Twilight gasped in shock and her telekinetic grip slackened, allowing Nightmare Moon to surge forward, kicking and flapping against the filly. As quickly as it had opened, the hole began closing, but she managed to enter the hole just as it closed, her ephemeral tail barely making it through before the it closed up.
Twilight floated in the sky for a few moments, mouth open and eyes wide. A few groans came from her throat before she kicked at the air, the energy from her horn shooting up into the sky. “Get back here!” she shouted. “That's not fair! You did a bad thing and you have to come back and fix it! You have to FIX IT!” Lightning crackled and winds howled as she continued her ungodly tantrum, tears falling from her eyes. After a few minutes, she turned around and flew off back to Canterlot and landed near a dragon. She dropped down to her knees, still sobbing. “I-I'm trying my best! Why can't anypony see it?” Her crying died down as a rather large claw stroked down her back. She raised her head and looked up at the dragon, sniffling. “Th-thanks, Spike.”
The bright blue sky cracked open, a thin line of black yawning open and kicking up wind. Nightmare Moon tumbled out of the hole, corkscrewing through the sky. She spread her wings out to regain control, but she continued spiraling down to the ground and the green grass and lush trees and open fields.
Where am I?
Her thoughts were interrupted as the ground rushed up to meet her. She slammed into the dirt, digging the soil up as she continued tumbling and rolling across the hard, unyielding earth. Pains she never knew she could have sprung up over every inch of her nigh immortal body as she continued, finally coming to a stop just outside a small town near a large forest.
Nightmare Moon lifted her head up and blinked, but the entire world swam. Her eyes briefly dimmed before regaining their light. She ground her teeth together and concentrated, the sight of purple catching her attention. She smiled at the sight before her, even as the dizziness returned. Perhaps I am in Tartarus? Grogar, have you come to claim me? she thought as the filly who had wielded the powers of a goddess, now all grown up, stared right back at her. Then the world was swallowed up once more by darkness.
Twilight sighed she floated a daisy sandwich up to her mouth. She took a bite of it, savoring the flavor before swallowing. She drank in the birds' chirping, the slight breeze on her coat and the feel of the blanket beneath her as she sat outside Fluttershy's cottage with her five best friends and the dragon who was like a younger brother to her. Finally, she opened her eyes to find Rainbow Dash hovering about two inches from her nose. “Ack!” she cried out, falling back and dropping the sandwich.
Dash flitted about in the air, rubbing her hooves together. “So, do you think they'd like my idea?” she asked, her grin so wide that her muzzle almost split. “I mean this has to be the best Daring Do fiction ever written!”
Applejack rolled her eyes and rose from where she sat, near the picnic basket. “Honestly, Rainbow Dash. That yarn's about as interestin' as a trip to the spa.” She glanced to her side as Rarity rose from her couch. “And I ain't takin' it back, neither,” she said, smirking.
Rarity rolled her eyes and looked to Dash as the pegasus landed. “Honestly, Rainbow Dash. It's heavily padded, the action is told rather than shown and the new character is just you with a new mane job!”
Dash hopped back into the air and cocked her head to the side. “And?”
Silence permeated the picnic before Fluttershy coughed. “Well... maybe you could spend some more time following Daring as opposed to... Multicolor Trot?” She shrank slightly as everyone there turned and focused their attention on her. “Well, it's that's all right with you? It's not a big thing.” She pasted a grin onto her face, but her cheeks still burned scarlet.
Dash shrugged and looked to Pinkie Pie even as Pinkie stuffed a hoof-full of cupcakes into her mouth. “Pinkie, what do you think?”
The pink earth pony's eyes went wide. Her mane and tail shook while her entire body bounced up and down on the blanket. “Twitch! Something big's–!” She suddenly leapt forward, forelegs stretched out as she tackled Dash to the ground, the pair rolling off the blanket.
“Pinkie Pie, what the hay are you–” Dash was silenced as the sky above stretched, yawning open with a midnight-blue flash of energy. A large black shape tumbled out, pinwheeling around in the sky before crashing a dozen meters away.
Twilight hopped to her hooves. “What in the wide world of Equestria?” She narrowed her eyes at the dark form. “We've got to check that out!”
Spike's eyes widened. “Twilight, are you nuts? We don't know what that thing is!”
Rarity nodded as she hopped off her couch. “I agree with Spike, Twilight. Sometimes discretion is be the better part of–”
Dash extricated herself out of Pinkie's grasp and flew up into the air. “I'm on it!” she said, tossing off a salute before flying off, a multicolored contrail streaming behind.
Fluttershy gasped. “Dash, wait up! It could be dangerous!” The pegasus swallowed before jumping into the air, flying off after her oldest friend. She paused at the edge of the blanket and looked back, a stern expression on her face. “What are you waiting for?” She waved a foreleg. “Our friend needs help!”
Spike hopped onto Twilight's back and she, Pinkie Pie, Applejack and Rarity galloped off, quickly crossing the distance to the huddled form on the ground. Twilight slowed to a halt as the form took shape into a familiar Alicorn. “No, it can't be!” she gasped as she beheld the form of Nightmare Moon.
Applejack shook her head. “It can't be!” she shouted. “We just saw her a couple of days ago in Whitetail Wood! She was... happy, and smiling!”
Nightmare Moon's head suddenly rose, and as she opened her eyes everyone backed up. The glow there faded for a second, revealing confusion. She looked around, but her head wobbled and she slumped back into unconsciousness.
Dash hovered over her, hooves near her mouth. “Oh my gosh oh my gosh!” She looked around. “Twilight, did Princess Celestia send you any letters about, I don't know, Luna going nuts again?”
Twilight shook her head. “No, she didn't,” she said through gritted teeth.” Her horn glowed as she paced around Nightmare Moon's form. “She's alive, but weak.” She stopped her pacing right in front of Nightmare Moon's cutie mark. "I'm sensing magic here. It seems familiar, but..." She shook her head. “I... I don't know what to make of it!”
Spike hopped off her back and crept forward, right up to Nightmare Moon's head. He waved a hand in front of her face and let out a slow whistle. “Whatever did this to her packed one heck of a punch!” He patted himself down and grumbled. “Twilight, I left the quill and scrolls back at the picnic!”
Applejack glanced at Twilight and cocked her right eyebrow. “You brought a quill and scroll to a picnic?”
Twilight looked right back at Applejack. “Yeah, why?”
Applejack shrugged. “No reason.”
Twilight rolled her eyes before closing them. Her horn glowed for a second a floating quill and scroll appeared in a burst of violet light. The scroll unraveled and the quill began writing. “Dear Princess Celestia,” Twilight dictated. “There is an emergency here near Fluttershy's cottage, on the edge of the Everfree Forest. It concerns... your sister. Please hurry here as soon as possible. Signed, Twilight Sparkle.” She rolled the scroll back up and floated it over to Spike.
The young dragon grabbed it out of midair and held it up. He took a deep breath and a stream of green, enchanted flame erupted from his mouth, incinerating the scroll and sending the ash and smoke up and away. He began sliding away from the alicorn. “Okay... so now what?” He chuckled nervously and scratched his belly. “I mean if she wakes up and she's angry? Without the Elements of Harmony what do we do?”
Dash smirked and kicked at the air. “Come on, Spike! We can take out Nightmare Moon no problem!” She circled around the alicorn. “Together, nothing can stop us, Elements or no!”
Applejack looked up at Dash. “You're kiddin', right?”
Dash shrugged. “Got me, but I won't go down without a fight–or let her hurt my friends.”
The sun suddenly brightened, turning the sky a brilliant white as it contracted, transforming into the regal form of Princess Celestia who slowly descended to the ground. Dash and Fluttershy quickly landed as everyone present quickly bowed their heads. Celestia looked them over before focusing on the unmoving Nightmare Moon. Her brow wrinkled as she walked forward. “This is impossible!” she said, breath quickening with every step she took.
Twilight trotted over to her side and looked up at Celestia. “Believe me, Princess, I don't want to believe it either, but something's happened and–” She stopped talking as shadows suddenly darkened the immediate area and a chill wind blew in. “What the hay?” she said, head darting about.
The shadows built up on themselves, rolling on top of each other and forming into the silhouette of a pony while the obsidian form shunned all light. Within seconds, Princess Luna stood by her elder sister, a dark counterpart to the Goddess of the Day. She looked down at Nightmare Moon, then glanced to Dash and Pinkie Pie. “Before we proceed any further, a question comes to mind.” She held up a foreleg and jabbed it toward each of them. “Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie!” she spoke, the air rattling. “Is this a prank?”
Dash blinked, her mouth hung open. Seconds passed before she shook her head. “What? No, way!” She trotted over to Pinkie Pie and leaned in close. “This isn't one we forgot about, right?”
Pinkie scratched her head. “Nope!” she finally declared. She bounced over to Nightmare Moon and leaned in close. “Pranks are supposed to be fun for everypony, and this wouldn't be fun for Princess Luna or Princess Celestia.” She looked up to the alicorns, her expression grim. “Right?”
Luna nodded. “Indeed not, Pinkie Pie.” Her eyes narrowed, magic flared from her horn and armored hooves dug into the ground. “Be warned, she stirs!”
The ponies and Spike all backed up a few steps as Nightmare Moon's head slowly lifted and she opened her eyes. “My head.” She suddenly focused on Celestia and Luna standing over her. Her eyes flashed, turning bright-white. “Impossible!” She jumped to her hooves and pointed a foreleg at Celestia. “You were laid low by the Tyrant Filly, sucked dry of all but the bitterest dregs of your power!” Her mouth twitched, slowly curving up at the ends. “I am... so happy to see you!”
Celestia stared right back at Nightmare Moon, her countenance as neutral as possible. “I see.” She looked the twisted reflection of her younger sister up and down. “This is impossible.” She looked to Luna. “Most impossible.”
Nightmare Moon locked eyes with Luna and bared her fangs. “It IS impossible, for this-”
“Speak softly,” Luna interrupted, thunder rumbling in the clear sky. Her own eyes glowed for a moment. “You are not on a balcony addressing throngs of ponies. You are right before us; there is no need to project your voice!” Her eyes narrowed to slits. “You, mockery of all I am, all my power with no restraint, no kindness or decency–” She stopped as she felt Celestia's wing brush against her back. “I apologize,” she said, cheeks blushing.
Celestia smiled at her younger sister before looking to Nightmare Moon. “So, what are you?”
Nightmare Moon pursed her lips before speaking, her voice no longer a physical force. “What are you?” She shook her head. “This is... some sort of mental break? Am I hallucinating in my final moments before death?” She tossed her head back and looked, eyes wide, into the bright-blue sky. “Grogar, are you playing with me?”
Celestia stepped forward. She stomped the ground, causing the ponies and dragon to jump a half-foot into the air. “Enough!” she snarled. Her eyes narrowed. “Who are you? What are you and where did you come from?” She looked aside to Twilight. “Twilight, how did she appear?”
Nightmare Moon followed Celestia's gaze and her entire body tensed, her mane standing nearly straight up into the air. She canted back and the tip of her horn flared. “Beware, Sister!” she called out. “The Tyrant Filly... is now a mare with a cutie mark?” The flare dimmed to nothing as she stared at an equally-dumbstruck Twilight. “What is going on?”
Rarity cleared her throat. “Pardon me for interrupting...” She swallowed as the three alicorns all looked to her, but she squared her shoulders and held her head up high. “That is the second time you've said 'Tyrant Filly'.” She glanced up and pointed at the sky. “Now you appeared in a flash of light in the sky and corkscrewed to the ground looking like you had just come from one of Pinkie Pie's wilder parties.”
Nightmare Moon nodded to the Unicorn. “Correct.” She looked to the two other alicorns. “Tell me, Luna. A thousand years ago, were you sealed into the moon by your sister and–”
Luna's wings flared out and lightning crackled behind her as storm clouds swirled into being. “Yes, I was sealed into the moon to stop my insane rampage of death and destruction, to stop eternal night from falling and the sun never rising again!”
Rainbow Dash crept forward and positioned herself in front of Fluttershy, who had shrunk down into a small ball. “Get ready to fly,” she whispered out of the corner of her mouth. “If this gets ugly, I'll cover you.”
Twilight's horn suddenly brightened and she vanished, popping back into existence between Nightmare Moon, Luna and Celestia. She held her forelegs up. “Stop!” she called out, looking around. “This isn't getting us anywhere!” She dropped back to all fours and cleared her throat before turning to face Nightmare Moon. “Okay, as Rarity said, you crashed through some... hole in the sky before landing. Now I'm assuming the general details of what happened a thousand years ago are the same, so we can skip needless exposition about it. What happened immediately before you came here? And why do you refer me as 'the Tyrant Filly'?” A low chuckle escaped her. “Only Shining Armor can call me that.”
Nightmare Moon narrowed her eyes as she focused on Twilight, but merely sighed. “Very well.” She closed her eyes, gathering her thoughts. “I was set free by the stars, but when I descended the sun was locked permanently on the horizon. The land was, if not dying, then sick and cold. I went to Canterlot and found... you on the throne of the Undying Sun.” Her eyes sprang open and brightened. Her hooves dug into the ground and her mane and tail wavered. “In your own words, seven years ago during an entrance exam you stole Celestia's powers, sucking her dry of all but the smallest morsels of her magic. Now the land is cold and you rule from a half-empty Canterlot, your own Royal Guard leading me right to you.”
Silence filled the air as Twilight fell back onto her haunches, jaw slack. “I... I stole Princess Celestia's powers? I stole them?” Her head craned around to focus on Celestia as she stood there before turning back to Nightmare Moon and bounding to her hooves. “But she's right there, whole and not... sucked dry! And seven years ago was when I took my entrance exam, but you were freed from the moon three years ago, so how could you have been freed only today?” Twilight screwed her eyes shut and she groaned. “I have a bad headache now.”
As Spike walked over and wrapped his arms around Twilight's neck in a hug, Dash looked Nightmare Moon over, rubbing her chin. She suddenly gasped and shot into the air. “Wait, I know what's going on!” she shouted. Everyone looked to her and she chuckled. “Twilight, don't you remember 'Daring Do and the Shattered Mirror', where she flew through the Mirror of Possibilities and ended up in that weird, twisted Equestria where Ahuizotl was good and Daring Do was evil?” She waved her forelegs at Nightmare Moon. “Well, why not something like that? It fits with the story!”
Rarity rolled her eyes. “Oh please, Rainbow Dash! Do you really think something from your adventure stories can really apply to this situation?”
Twilight glanced to her fellow unicorn. “Well, actually... alternate realities have been proven at least mathematically possible. In Scientific Equestrian they ran an article last month on-”
“So it's possible?” Dash blurted out.
Twilight blushed and nodded. She glanced up at the sky. “When you arrived, the sky seemed to stretch open, like a tear, before snapping back closed.” She looked to Nightmare Moon. “What happened?”
Nightmare Moon's own gaze followed Twilight's. “I met you in Canterlot, and fought you. But you had stolen too much of my sister's power, so I fled. You gave chase and I sliced the sky open with my horn.” The brightness from her eyes faded. “I had no true idea what I was doing. I merely wished to escape from her, so here I am.” She looked back down and met Luna's eyes. “I do not know why I was released so long after you. Maybe the sky was broken?” She chuckled bitterly. “So your sister is alive and well and mine is dying, at best, while the land dies with her.” And with that, she cantered around and began trotting off, wings unfurling.
There was a blue blur to her left and Dash suddenly appeared in front of her muzzle, forelegs crossed as she hovered. “And just where do you think you're going?” she asked, scowling.
Nightmare Moon shrugged. “This is not my Equestria–not the one I was destined to rule.” Her horn glowed. “Now move aside, foal. I must return to-”
Celestia was suddenly there, to her left. Luna was to her right. “And do what?” Celestia asked, arching an eyebrow. “You just said you lost before to this... other Twilight.” Celestia shifted her eyes as she felt Twilight's gaze upon her, but she quickly looked back to the dark image of her sister. “So what exactly can you accomplish by going back there besides dying?”
Twilight trotted over, the other ponies and Spike following. She made a wide turn, ending up in front of Nightmare Moon. “And there are so many questions!” she said, looking up at Nightmare Moon. "How could some alternate version of myself beat you?” She paused. “There's something I never thought I'd hear myself say...”
Nightmare Moon looked to Luna on her right. “Am I to assume you and Celestia are balanced on the sword's edge, each one as powerful as the other?” At Luna's nod, she regarded Twilight. “Even with the limited time here, I can feel your raw power.” She bent her head down, staring deep into Twilight's wide eyes. “In my Equestria, my Sister and I are fully equal in power. It is why she needed the Elements to imprison me. And while you are... nowhere near as powerful as I am-”
“Hey, you take that back!” Spike shouted, shaking a fist. “Twilight's the most powerful unicorn in Equestria!”
Twilight's cheeks reddened. “Spike, do you mind?” She let out a sigh. “Nightmare Moon's right. I'm powerful, but compared to an alicorn?” Her voice trailed off, the implication lingering in the air.
Nightmare Moon's eyes closed. "But the power of you and my sister, combined?” She barked a laugh. “Such raw power in such a fragile little vessel, Twilight Sparkle.” She slowly shook her head and smiled. “You were quite mad when I met you, in both senses of the word.”
Luna snorted. “That is enough of that,” she said, mane flaring.
Nightmare Moon remained silent, but nodded.
Celestia's eyes narrowed. “So, now that you're here and going back would result in your death, what happens now?” She cantered around, looking up at Canterlot off in the distance. “I wonder if Cadance would like a new baby sister,” she said, smirking.
Nightmare Moon's mane flared and flapped in the still air. “I do not know who this 'Cadance' is, but regardless, I still cannot stay. My throne is occupied by a filly, and I will not rest until she is off and Equestria is restored.” She trotted forward, steering around Twilight and Spike, her wings unfurling once more as she faced Celestia and Luna. “I have no other choice.”
Twilight spoke up. “Maybe you need help!” Her head dipped low as Celestia, Luna and Nightmare Moon all looked at her. She paused, but squared her shoulders and held her head high. “Ponies can do amazing things when they work together.” She looked around at all her friends. “I've got first-hoof experience in that.”
Applejack smiled and bowed her head. “Well thank you kindly, sugarcube.”
Luna spoke up. “If you truly are some alternate me, then I know that you doubt them.” She shook her head. “Don't. Twilight and her friends freed me from the chains of hatred and jealousy that still bind you and-”
“I prefer to think my eyes are wide open,” Nightmare said, sneering and her eyes blazing. She looked to Twilight before her gaze drifted around to the other Elements. “What of the rest of you?” She looked to Dash. “You seem most eager for a fight.”
Dash snorted. “I'm not in it for you, but this other Twilight sounds like she needs help, and I never abandon my friends.” She flew over to Twilight and hovered right behind her. “Can I help?”
Twilight nodded. “Of course, Dash. It wouldn't be the same without you.”
Fluttershy hopped up and floated over to Dash. “I... I...” She swallowed as a fine sheen of sweat formed on her forehead. “I'm going too, for my friends,” she finally squeaked out.
Applejack trotted over to Twilight and bobbed her head. “Don't even think 'bout leavin' me behind... even though I got no idea in Tartarus where we're goin,” she said, shrugging. She looked to Rarity as she trotted over. “'Fraid of getting yer hooves dirty?” she said with a wink and a grin.
Rarity tossed her mane back. “Oh, please, Applejack. I'm not sure what precisely is going on, but I know Twilight needs us. It's what friends do.” She looked to Twilight. "She needs help, so I'm giving her my help.”
Pinkie Pie suddenly bounced over and around the group, finally stopping right below Dash and Fluttershy. “And the party won't be complete without the party pony!”
Twilight looked around at her friends, the other Bearers of the Elements. “Thanks, everypony. I'm glad you're coming with me.” Her gaze fell to Spike on her right and she gasped. “But you're staying here, Spike.”
Spike's lips curled in a frown. “What? No way!” He waggled a claw at Twilight. “You're not going to some freaky alternate Equestria without your number one assistant!”
Twilight's eyes narrowed. “You may be my number one assistant, but you're also just a baby.” She looked away from Spike and blinked. “If anything happened to you...” She trailed off and her barrel heaved before she looked back. “Someone's gotta hold down the library, anyway.”
Spike snorted, sending out a small gout of green flame. He kicked at the ground, digging tiny furrows in the dirt. “You'll be careful, right?” he finally asked, reaching out and wrapping his arms around her neck.
Twilight's eyes widened at the hug, but she nodded. “I promise.” She waited for Spike to break the embrace before glancing to Nightmare Moon. “So, will you take our help?”
The dark alicorn did not respond, instead looking to the other two alicorns. “They can help?”
Luna spread her wings out. “They helped me,” she stated, looking to Celestia. “My sister, with your permission, I would accompany everypony back to this alternate Equestria.” A small smile played across her muzzle. “I feel that this Nightmare Moon may need my help.”
Celestia's eyes narrowed slightly before she inclined her head. “If you are sure.”
Nightmare Moon slowly turned her head as her gaze drifted from Celestia to Luna. “What are you playing at?” She stomped the ground, causing the ground to shake beneath everyone. “I will not be manipulated or coerced away from the throne.”
Luna walked up to her, eyes never wavering from her dark counterpart. “I would think nothing of it, but perhaps you could do with a different perspective on things. Besides, you'll need my power to assist you against this... 'Tyrant Filly' by whom you were so easily overwhelmed.”
Nightmare Moon held Luna's gaze before whipping her head around, her ethereal mane trailing behind. “How long before we can depart?” she said.
Twilight rubbed her chin and looked around. “Two hours?” At their nods and confirmations, she looked to Celestia. “The Elements?”
Celestia nodded to her student. “Easily done.” After receiving acknowledgement from Twilight, she looked to Nightmare Moon. “Please stay here,” she said. “Luna, could you please return with me to Canterlot?”
Luna walked off to her sister's side. “As my sister said, you shall remain here and wait for us.” With that, she and Celestia spread their wings, leaping into the air and flying off.
Nightmare Moon snorted as the other ponies and baby dragon walked off. She looked around as the field quickly emptied, leaving her alone. “Where would I go?”
Celestia and Luna quickly reached Canterlot, flying up to the tallest tower in the capital and landing on a balcony near the top. They entered a large hallway lined with stained-glass windows, a long carpet on the floor and an imposing door at the far end with a sun pattern painted over the center and a keyhole in the hub. Celestia trotted forward to the door, bent her head down and inserted her tip of her horn into the hole. Electric-blue light radiated from the hole and spread through the tips of the sun's rays. The door split open, revealing a gem-covered box on a dais.
The box floated out and the lid opened, revealing the Elements of Harmony. They floated out while Celestia glanced at Luna over her shoulder. “Are you sure about going with her to this alternate world?” She turned around. “This other Equestria needs help, yes. But Nightmare Moon's help? Wouldn't that be worse?”
Luna locked eyes with Celestia, holding a steady gaze. “If we use the Elements of Harmony on her, she'll be severely weakened and might not trust us. An ambush and attack is not exactly something that would engender cooperation.” She stepped up to her sister. “This other me, she will need all her strength to aid me.”
Celestia shook her head. “I don't like it.”
The box floated up to Luna's side, taken by the dark alicorn's telekinesis. “Neither do I,” she responded. She sighed and her wings drooped. “And I was to cut the ribbon to the Manehattan Train Station next week, too.”
Celestia bit her lip. She reached up with a foreleg and gently stroked Luna's back. “I'll have a talk with the officials and maybe push the opening date back,” she said, winking.
Luna glanced away. “No,” she said. “It wouldn't be right.” She trotted up to the balcony. “Come, sister!” she cried out, spreading her wings. “To the Everfree!” She leaped into the air, flying off with the box of Elements trailing behind, enshrouded in her magic.
Celestia rolled her eyes, but jumped up, following Luna across the sky and back to the Everfree Forest.
Nightmare Moon sat in the field, completely still save for her tail and mane. Her eyes slowly moved up to focus on a lone cloud floating above. “I can hear your heartbeat, pegasus. Come on down and talk if you're able.”
The cloud exploded into fragments as Rainbow Dash zoomed down, a multicolored contrail behind. The pegasus had a pair of saddlebags slung around her withers, each one full to almost overflowing. She threw out her hooves, skidding to a stop right above Nightmare Moon's muzzle. “Don't think I won't be keeping both eyes on you, Nightmare Moon!” She jabbed a foreleg at the alicorn. “If you try anything with my friends, I'll buck you so hard-”
“-You'll shatter your hind legs in the attempt,” the alicorn said, interrupting Dash. She arched an eyebrow. “What, do you really think useless posturing will impress me in any way, especially since we both know your threats are hollow?” She slowly stood up, smiling as Dash inched away from her. “Still, if you'd like to try, go ahead. You don't need your legs to fly, after all.”
Dash's lips curled back. She flew around Nightmare Moon's head and body, making quick changes in direction. “It doesn't matter, Nightmare Moon!” She flew up, stopping suddenly and turning around. She dove straight at the alicorn's back, stopping at the last possible second and flying around back to stare at Nightmare Moon's muzzle. “No matter what, I won't let you hurt my friends or betray them in any way!”
Nightmare Moon's body remained still, but a genuine smile crept its way across her mouth. “I see Loyalty found itself one quite suited to wielding it,” she said, her head slowly nodding. “I would still crush you in a fight, but there would be... regret at turning one such as yourself into a red mist. You have my respect, Rainbow Dash. At least in that regard.”
Dash's mouth opened for a moment. “Yeah, well... thanks, I think?” She cocked her head to the side. “So, even if you're from another dimension, the Elements of Harmony still feel the same?”
“At least Loyalty does, even though it's been a millennium since I wielded it,” Nightmare Moon responded. She broke eye contact with Dash, her gaze wandering up to the blue sky above. “I remember, long ago. Celestia and I wielded the Elements against all forces of evil. Discord, Sombra, the Smooze, Grogar and even the Changeling Queen herself fell before us. For a time, I felt at peace... and then the ponies betrayed me, casting me aside and my glorious night!” Nightmare Moon's wings shot out and arcs of electricity traveled up and down her horn. Her eyes turned white. "And they shunned me, turning away from my gifts and siding with Celestia, when all I wanted was appreciation for my hard work!” She focused on Dash. “Tell me, is it fair? Is it nice at all to do THAT?” she shouted, stomping the ground and cracking it.
Dash flinched at the stomp, but held her place in the air. She sucked in a deep breath. “It wasn't like that,” she said. “Princess Celestia tried to talk to you – well, the 'you' from this Equestria. But you, well the other --” Her eyes crossed slightly. “Oh, buck it this is confusing.” She shook her head. “Well, if my reality is as close to yours as we think it is, then didn't your Princess Celestia try to talk to you?”
Nightmare moon's head shot up. Her nostrils flared and she snorted, physically pushing Dash away. “You weren't there,” she stated, her voice unnaturally even. “How would it feel to you if everything you worked on, everything you slaved over was rejected? All those beautiful nights, all those jewels hanging in the sky. I did it all for the little ponies.” Her eyes faded back to normal. “And they stayed inside during my nights, waiting until daybreak and my sister's return.”
A slow wind blew through the field. Neither Dash nor Nightmare Moon spoke for a few minutes. Finally, the pegasus cleared her throat. “So... guessing you were also Generosity?”
Nightmare Moon's head slowly turned away from Dash. “I gave them all I could. I protected them, and they betrayed me and rejected my gifts.” She turned her head back, her mane whipping about like in a hurricane. “And now they suffer under the Tyrant Filly, while my sister lies at death's door.” The corners of her lips twitched, almost as if she wasn't sure whether to smile or frown.
Dash shook her head. “Yeah, they so deserve it.” She flew up, spinning around in a circle, gathering moisture and dust particles up. Within seconds, a small cloud had formed. She swooped up and over, doing a backflip before settling down on it. She stretched her forelegs over her head, but paused. She turned over and looked back down. “What was the other one?”
The sun slowly crossed the sky as Nightmare Moon continued to wait, her only companion Rainbow Dash, and the pegasus had been rather silent after their initial exchange. Finally, her ears twitched as they picked up the sounds of hooves and wings. She looked to the sky and saw Celestia and Luna flying in from Canterlot, a large box trailing them. After a moment she turned her head and saw the other Elements galloping down the road from Ponyville. Each one had saddlebags stuffed full with supplies, Spike sitting on Twilight's back.
Nightmare Moon slowly stood as they approached. “You have them,” she stated, looking at the box. She snorted and took a single step back. “I am not sure how much I trust that you won't simply blast me with them right now.”
Celestia eyed her. “We won't, as long as you don't attack or betray us.” She tilted her head to the side and the box floated over. It opened, five necklaces and a crown floating out to their respective Bearers. Celestia trotted up to Nightmare Moon. “You are my sister, but also not my sister. My feelings are... conflicted on this matter,” she admitted, hanging her head for a moment before looking back up and locking eyes with her. “But I promise you this. If you harm Luna or the ponies who go to aid you and your Equestria, I will not rest until I see you brought low.” Celestia's mane flared, billowing out behind her and whipping about.
Nightmare Moon met Celestia's stare with one of her own. “If I am not betrayed, then I shall not betray. My word binds me.” She turned to the ponies, eyeing Rarity. The alabaster-coated unicorn had a reddish cloak fastened about her neck, and five others trailed behind her. “A wise decision,” she said, nodding.
Rarity's cheeks colored. “Why, thank you!” She crossed her left foreleg over her right, striking a pose. “They're not only functional, with a waterproof fabric, pockets on the inside and flaps for wings and a hood loose enough for horns, but also quite fashionable!” She floated one over to each of her friends. “Their clasps are your cutie marks!” Her eyes lit up. “I created them earlier, just needed an impetus to put the entire ensemble together. You understand, don't you?”
Each cloak wrapped itself around a pony, Spike hopping off before Twilight's cloak encircled her. The clasps hooked together around the neck and the cloaks draped themselves over each pony, hanging snug enough to keep all but the strongest winds out, but also loose enough at the hems as to not impede leg movement.
Applejack moved about, cantering to and fro. “Not bad, Rarity.” Her eyes went up to her hat, perched on her head. She jerked her head forward and the cloak's hood slid forward right over her beloved heirloom. “Might good of you Rarity. Thank you kindly.”
Nightmare Moon looked to the others. "And the rest of you have some provisions and supplies?” At their nods and words of assent, she looked to Luna, still standing by Celestia. “Are you prepared?”
Luna trotted up to her dark reflection, circling around Nightmare Moon. “I am.” She stopped after one full circle. “Are you?”
Nightmare Moon turned away, trotting off and away from the group. She stopped a few meters away. “I... thank you for your assistance,” she said, staring straight ahead. “Now be ready, as I do not know how long I can keep this open.” Her eyes half-closed and a low humming filled the air around her. Her horn began glowing, cerulean bolts of energy arcing up and down it. A long, flickering pole of energy grew from her horn and she reared back, slicing through air, space and the ether itself.
A long gash was torn open, quickly widening. It was rimmed with blue, crackling energy and wavered about. Nightmare Moon stepped back, her horn's glow intensifying. “GO!” she shouted, digging her hooves into the dirt.
Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy and Rarity all galloped through the hole. Rainbow Dash flew through the sky, pausing for a moment and glaring at Nightmare Moon before entering. Luna glanced back at Celestia and smiled before galloping forth through the hole. Finally, Spike wrapped his arms around Twilight's neck in a hug. She leaned into it for a moment, then galloped off for the hole, disappearing into the nothingness.
Celestia cleared her throat. “Remember my promise, Nightmare Moon,” she said, her eyes hardening.
Nightmare Moon allowed the barest fraction of a smile to cross her lips. “I remember, and I shall honor the help. Loyalty looks after their own!” And with that, she spread her wings, lifted her hooves off the ground and shot forward, turning into a blue flash that passed through the portal a half-second before it closed.
Celestia quietly trotted over to Spike's side. She knelt down to the baby dragon's level and leaned in close to him. “She'll be all right,” she said, smiling. “They'll all be all right.”
Spike's head bobbed up and down. “O-of course, your majesty!” He punched the air and hopped about. “There's nopony in all of Equestria who can stop Twilight, not even some weird copy of her!” He stopped bouncing around and looked to Celestia, his eyes wide. “Right?”
Celestia simply looked to where the hole was. “There's very little that can stop Twilight Sparkle, Spike.” Her gaze softened. “Stay safe, all of you.”
It was fire and ice. Up was left, right was backwards and backwards was standing still. Time stretched into infinite ether and it snapped forward...
The ponies exited the hole, slowing their gait down quickly. Dash flew out, followed by Luna and then Nightmare Moon. The hole behind them closed up, the tear in space resealing itself with a small whoosh.
Twilight glanced around. “Everypony okay?”
Applejack glanced down at her hooves and what was beneath them. “I'm all right, but this grass sure ain't.” She looked up at Twilight, her expression grim. “It's dyin'.”
Everyone looked around at the field they stood in. The grass, in stark contrast to the healthy green of the Equestria they came from, was a pale-yellow and short. Farther in the distance stood trees, a few with leaves but most bare, their skeletal branches poking into the purple sky. A cool wind blew, rattling them and sending a few leaves to the ground.
Twilight's breath caught in her throat as she spotted the sun on the horizon, a pale disk hanging there, casting little light and almost as much warmth. She craned her head and neck up, reaching a hoof up as if to touch it. Her gaze drifted to the left and the moon, also hanging in the sky. “It's... stuck there?” she asked, glancing to Nightmare Moon.
Nightmare Moon nodded. “Indeed, Twilight Sparkle. My own power is insufficient to move it, and the Tyrant Filly’s stolen power has tilted the balance I shared with Celestia.” She looked to Luna. “Do you suppose if we combined our powers, we could wrest control of the sun from her?”
Luna slowly shook her head. “We’d be constantly fighting her for control of the sun, and you and I both know how much damage might happen during the struggle.” She approached her dark reflection. “It’d be better to confront her at Canterlot... Fluttershy, what’s wrong?”
Everyone there looked to the pale-yellow pegasus sitting on the grass. Fluttershy’s shoulders hitched slightly as tears fell from her eyes. “P-Ponyville...” She swallowed. “All the animals, all of us!” Her head darted around. “What’s happened there?”
Rainbow Dash landed next to her and wrapped a wing around her body in a tight hug. “Hey, it’s all right! I’m sure everypony there is doing their best there.” She looked around at her friends, her expression of confidence fading with every pair of eyes she met. “Right?”
Twilight turned and walked up to Nightmare Moon, craning her neck up to look at the alicorn. Her ears folded back against her head, but she cleared her throat and spoke clearly. “Nightmare Moon, I think it’d be best for us to first check on Ponyville, to put our minds at ease.”
Nightmare Moon snorted. She bent her head down low, locking eyes with Twilight and smiling when the unicorn visibly flinched. “That would be a complete waste of time.” She unfurled a wing and gestured to Canterlot. “Once the Tyrant Filly is defeated and my rightful place on the throne is restored, then perhaps we can visit Ponyville and assuage any fears you might have.”
Luna trotted around, turning to face Nightmare Moon. “I believe it would be wise to at least have a look at Ponyville,” she said, her expression neutral. “You’ve been sealed away for a thousand years, and you need at the very least a base assessment of what’s been going on, do you not?” She turned and motioned in the general direction of Ponyville. Her mane flared and wind whipped through, rattling branches and sending dead leaves scattering. “Besides, a visit there would lift their spirits, and turn them to your banner, would it not?”
Nightmare Moon’s mouth slowly turned upward. “Yes, you’re right. To have their loyalty, to show them that their true Princess has returned?” She spread her wings out, but a gesture from Luna stopped her from soaring into the air. “What?”
Luna pointed up at the starless sky. “It would be better to walk, to keep under the Tyrant Filly’s senses. Besides, we’ll get a better lay of the land on hoof.”
Pinkie Pie hopped up and spun around. She jabbed one foreleg at Canterlot. “If Canterlot is there, then Ponyville is...” Her other foreleg swept across, finally settling on a small gap in the trees. “There!”
All eyes turned to the small break in the trees and a dirt path barely wide enough for one pony to cross. Applejack trotted up to it and scrapped a hoof across it. “Land’s sakes!” She looked back. “Back home, this here’s wide enough for a fully-laden cart with all the trimmin’s to roll through!”
Nightmare Moon strode up to Applejack’s side. “Lead the way, then. I look forward to seeing my future subjects and assuring them their true princess has returned.”
Applejack hesitated. She glanced to Twilight, then Luna. At their nods she turned and trotted off, Nightmare Moon close behind. Pinkie Pie and Rainbow Dash shadowed Fluttershy as they followed, Rarity close behind. Luna and Twilight took up the rear. Twilight looked up to Luna as they approached the small gap. “So... Princess, why are we going to Ponyville? I mean really why?”
Luna’s horn softly glowed and the branches parted slightly, allowing them to walk side-by-side down the path. A translucent shield formed in front of them, blocking their words from reaching Nightmare. “I believe my counterpart needs an object lesson in what ‘Eternal Night’ would truly bring.” She glanced down to Twilight. “It was a harsh one for me, but necessary. And my counterpart will need it even more. Otherwise, we’d simply be exchanging one tyrant for another.” Her gaze hardened. “And I know all too well what would happen if Nightmare Moon gained power over this Equestria.” She looked ahead to Nightmare Moon. “By all my power, it will not happen, Twilight Sparkle. It will not.”
The six ponies and two alicorns moved through what was supposedly Whitetail Wood, their hooffalls muffled by a dense layer of dead leaves. Fluttershy's head darted around, not stopping for an instant. Her ears stood straight up, twitching at any sound made. Her breathing increased slightly as they made their way past leafless trees and the occasional log.
Dash glanced to her from her left. “Fluttershy, I know how stupid this will sound, but are you all right?”
Rarity looked over from the right. “Indeed, darling. You're shaking worse than Carousel Boutique did last time the Crusaders were there for their weekly sleepover.” She closed her eyes, shuddering herself.
Fluttershy reached up with a hoof, pushing her hood back. “No, Dash. I'm not all right, but Whitetail Wood is even worse off!” Her eyes darted from Dash to Rarity. “Well, can't you hear it?”
Rarity blinked. “Hear what, exactly?”
Fluttershy trotted ahead a few paces before turning and facing her friends. “Exactly!” She waved a foreleg in the air. “I've barely heard any insects while walking through here, to say nothing of birds, squirrels or any other animals! Whitetail Wood is dying!”
There was a pause for several seconds before Luna cleared her throat, gaining everyone's attention. She waited for them all to turn back to face her and Twilight at the back before speaking. “I'm afraid I can confirm Fluttershy's assessment of Whitetail Woods is correct, as well as Applejack's earlier statement about the grass.” She turned her head to the side and craned her head up, focusing on a branch and an abandoned nest nestled in a crook. “This land is sick and malnourished. The food chain has been broken.”
Nightmare Moon snorted, drawing everyone to the front of the group. “The Tyrant Filly's blundering, no doubt. Her mismanagement of the sun and inability to rule has no doubt wounded Equestria. When she is removed and I am on the throne, then it can be made right.”
Fluttershy suddenly hopped up and flew right to Nightmare Moon, hovering a couple of feet from her muzzle. “It's not this version of Twilight, well it is, but it's the sun under her control. Well, n-not under her control.” The pegasus shook her head, her pink mane swinging wildly. “I mean without the sun, photosynthesis won't occur. The plants die, the herbivores eating them starve, the carnivores eating them starve and the scavengers and carrion eaters eventually run out of food as well! Then they all die off and...” Her voice trailed off and she dropped back to the ground as Nightmare Moon's gaze drilled into her. “And you... get t-the idea, N-Nightmare Moon.”
Nightmare Moon stood there for a moment before lowering her head to Fluttershy's level. She cocked her head to the side and her eyes dimmed back to normal levels. “So where are the ponies to help out the animals and plants?” she asked, her voice tinged with mild curiosity. “Before I was betrayed-” A grunt from Applejack brought her head whipping to her side. “What?” she asked, staring at the earth pony.
Applejack swallowed and drew herself up as tall as she could before speaking. “Beggin your pardon, yer majesty, but that's not the case. You see, without the sun, there's only so much we ponies can do.” She held up a foreleg and pointed up at the dark, starless sky. “Pegasi can make it rain, or clear away clouds. Earth ponies can help plants grow and unicorns can aid with their magic, but without the sun...” Her voice trailed off and she merely shrugged, letting the wind whipping through the bare branches speak for her.
The alicorn's slitted eyes shifted from side to side before she wheeled about, digging a furrow in the ground with her armored hoof. “Then it is best we finish this trip to Ponyville as soon as possible!” she declared. She glanced back, her starlit mane whipping about. “Come, little ponies. Time is short in my land!”
Applejack hung her head, but followed Nightmare Moon, the others trailing behind as they made their way through the woods.
Twilight, still near the back with Luna, looked up to the Lunar Diarch. “Pardon me for asking, Princess, but-” She suddenly looked to the fore of the group and Nightmare Moon marching straight ahead, her ears twitching slightly.
Luna's horn shone for a moment. “She cannot hear you,” she said, looking down at the unicorn by her side. “So, you were about to ask if I was as delusional as she is?”
Twilight's eyes widened and she seemed to shrink into herself. “I well it's just...” Her cheeks turned a dark red and her mouth clamped shut. “I'm sorry,” she finally mumbled, hanging her head.
A slight chuckle came from Luna. “She is deep in the throes of denial,” she finally said. “Just as I was. The similarities are unnerving, to say the least.” She glanced back at her cutie mark. “I have learned of what happens when a pony is unable to perform their special talent, the thing they love doing the most. The research is in its barest stages, but it describes what happened to me precisely.” Her gaze drifted to the sky. “I am not sure, but I believe back then I suffered through a rather extreme case of such a disorder. It was somewhat magnified by being the Bearer of the Elements of Honesty, Loyalty and Generosity.”
A small gasp escaped Twilight's mouth. “Oh, my gosh.” She reached up with a hoof and patted Luna's upper arm and shoulder. “I'm so sorry.”
Luna's eyes slid down to gaze at the smaller one next to her. “I appreciate it, but I do not deserve it.” She looked ahead at Nightmare Moon. “What I did back then was wrong, no matter what excuses I might give myself.”
Dash suddenly hopped into the air and held a foreleg up to her forehead. “Hey, is it just me, or is lighter ahead?”
Applejack craned her head forward and squinted. “Why, I reckon you're right, Dash.” She looked back to the rest of the group. “Ah, Fluttershy, is it just me, or isn't the boundary o' Whitetail Wood supposed to be a lot further away? It shouldn't be thinning out so early...” Her eyes widened and she suddenly shot forward, breaking into a gallop within seconds.
Fluttershy's entire body trembled before she too took off, flying past a startled Nightmare Moon and leaving a yellow and pink contrail in her wake. “No, no no no no!” she shouted, tears streaming from her eyes.
Rainbow Dash followed her oldest friend a half-second later. “Hey, wait up!” she cried out. “You don't know what's ahead!”
Nightmare Moon's wings flapped as the three shot off. “Wait, come back!” she cried out. Her horn lit up, but she ceased as Luna and Twilight trotted up to her side. “We must stop them!”
“Why?” Luna asked. She turned and looked ahead down the path. “We're going that way anyway.” She looked back to Rarity and Pinkie Pie as they trotted past. “It looks like you'd better hurry,” she said before she and Twilight followed along.
Nightmare Moon's lips curled back, but she set her gaze straight ahead and followed suit, moving quickly and catching up with the rest of the group, now standing in a cluster at the side of an elm. She stopped next to Applejack and looked down at the earth pony. Her brow furrowed at her slack-jawed expression. “Well? What is it?”
Applejack's head slowly tilted up and she looked up at Nightmare Moon. She slowly looked back down and wordlessly motioned to where she was staring.
Nightmare Moon slowly looked up, her eyes widening as she stared out. “What...”
A slow wind tossed a few leaves around tree stumps, the dominant feature of the land as far as anyone could see. Hundreds-perhaps thousands-of them sprouted from the ground, the remnants of the trees once standing proud and tall.
Applejack slid her stetson off her head and placed it over her chest as she looked out at the devastated forest. “This... this is bad.” She looked up to her left at Dash as she hovered by her side opposite Nightmare Moon. “Dash, how fast can you fly around Whitetail Woods' borders and scope out the situation?”
The pegasus' eyes narrowed and her wings buzzed. “I'm on it!” she shouted, shooting off and leaving a rainbow-streaked contrail behind close to the ground.
Nightmare Moon reared back. “Come back here!” she shouted, mane flaring out after Dash. “I DID NOT GIVE-”
Luna was suddenly by her side, her own mane reaching out and blocking Nightmare Moon's reach. Her expression was neutral, save piercing eyes that almost caused Nightmare Moon to flinch. “Let her be,” she stated. “This is important.”
The dark alicorn snorted and her eyes glowed. “What, some tree stumps?” She stepped over to Applejack and leaned her neck down, bringing her visage a scant few inches from Applejack's face. “Do not tell me that in your Equestria, trees aren't cut down!” she shouted, sending the earth pony sliding back.
Applejack flinched, but planted her hooves wide apart and squared her shoulders. “It's not just that.” She backed up to a stump, keeping her eyes on Nightmare Moon the entire time. “There's no saplings nor new growth. They've all been clear cut and none o' them replaced.” She sucked in a breath. “They're killin' Whitetail Wood, and this can't be the only place it's happening.”
Fluttershy let out a strangled sob and her entire body shook. “W-without the t-trees, the soil will be eroded away,” she stuttered out. She trotted over to Nightmare Moon and looked up at her with wide, watery eyes. “And n-no new growth or plantings will m-mean W-Whitetail Woods will c-continue to shrink with every tree cut down.” She swallowed. “All the animals, no homes for them. No homes...”
Rarity and Pinkie Pie were by her sides in an instant. “There, there,” Rarity said, wrapping her forelegs around Fluttershy in a hug.
Nightmare Moon's body trembled slightly. “All right, so what does this change, precisely? The Tyrant Filly must still be stopped.” She turned her gaze to the general direction of Canterlot. “We should not be wasting our time going to Ponyville!”
Luna, still standing by Nightmare Moon's side, shook her head. “And you know we won't go there until we see how this Equestria's Ponyville is doing. It's not only for our benefit, remember?” She cantered right up to Nightmare Moon's flank and waved a wing in Ponyville's direction. “It has been a millennium, after all.”
Nightmare Moon's teeth ground together. “Very well, but I will brook no further delays!” she shouted, her mane and tail flapping about. Her gaze shifted slightly to the right as Rainbow Dash flew back to the group. “Well?”
Dash landed in front of everyone there, panting slightly. “About half of Whitetail Wood's gone,” she reported, the hood of her cloak casting her face in shadow. “I saw a few animals here and there, but not many.” She focused on Fluttershy, her eyes sympathetic. “Sorry, Fluttershy.”
Fluttershy's right eye twitched. “I-it's all right, Rainbow Dash.” She suddenly hunched down and covered her head with her wings, sobs coming from underneath. She barely reacted as Dash, Pinkie Pie, Applejack and Rarity huddled around her, patting her on the back or gently rubbing her wings.
Twilight walked up to Dash's side. “Did you manage to see Ponyville?”
The pegasus focused on her. “Yeah, and I hate to sound like I'm in a Daring Do novel, but I think you're gonna have to see for yourself what's happened there.”
Twilight nodded. “All right.” Her head suddenly shot up as Nightmare Moon was there, by her side. “Eep!” she shouted, hopping into the air.
Nightmare Moon's slitted eyes flashed for a moment. “Then perhaps we should find out, correct?” And with that, she turned her gaze to Dash. “The direction of Ponyville?”
Dash kept her gaze low and hood covering her eyes as she jabbed a hoof in the general direction opposite of where they came from. Nightmare Moon nodded to her before turning and trotting off.
Luna's lips turned up as she watched her counterpart walking off. “Excellent,” she said.
Applejack blinked. “Excellent?!” Her head shot up and her voice rose in pitch. “Half the forest is gone? How's that 'excellent'?”
Luna swallowed and her cheeks turned red. “My apologies, Applejack,” she said, glancing over her shoulder. “I did not mean Whitetail Wood. I meant that I believe Nightmare Moon's eyes might be opening. Slowly, but they are opening.” She unfurled a wing and motioned to Nightmare Moon as she slowly receded in the distance. “Come, my little ponies.” And with that, she walked off, following Nightmare Moon.
Rarity gently reached out and lifted Fluttershy's right wing. “Fluttershy, darling, are you fit to continue?”
Fluttershy's eyes darted about. “N-no, I'm not. It's dark here, and scary. The land and animals are dying...” She lifted her wings from her head and folded them back against her body. “B-but t-things won't get better w-while I'm sitting here shivering!” She stood up on all fours and stared straight ahead at Nightmare Moon and Luna. “Now let's go!” she shouted, her head suddenly ducking low. “Before I change my mind!”
Twenty minutes later The first thing they noticed about Ponyville was the wall.
It was solid, wrapping around the entire town, with metal bands reinforcing the timbers. Gemstones of various colors, shapes and sizes were embedded in the wood. A haze hung over parts of the town, supplied by several chimneys burning nonstop. A massive gate stood in front of the main path, with a smaller pony-sized door built into it. Near a bend in the wall, a small culvert of stone could be seen, built into the bottom for drainage. And finally, guard towers were evenly spaced right behind the wall, each one with at least two ponies staffing it.
Twilight cantered back and forth as she beheld the wall. She and the rest were standing about a dozen meters away, near a lone tree and a group of stumps. “Oh, my gosh,” she repeated, her head swishing back and forth and bits of her mane springing up, pushing her hood around.
Nightmare Moon rolled her eyes. “I assume there's no wall around Ponyville either.”
Dash flew around right up to her muzzle. “Well, duh!” she said, rolling her eyes.
Rarity eyed the gems and rubbed her chin. “Oh, my,” she muttered. “It's brilliant, but so sad that they have to do such a thing.”
Everyone turned to the pearl-white unicorn. “What do you mean?” Applejack asked.
Rarity shrugged. “Well, if a magical current is run through those gems, a force field will be created, strengthening the barrier. It's a neigh-perfect arrangement.” Her eyes lit up for a moment. “Oh, to be able to get a few of those...”
Twilight's eyes lit up. “Rarity, that's amazing!” Her expression darkened. “Wait, I've never read anything like that.” She looked to her. “When did you learn that?”
Rarity snorted and waved Twilight off. “Oh, please, darling! I taught you everything you know about gems, but not everything I know.” Her expression turned grim. “Oh, this is most unsettling!”
Pinkie Pie blinked. “Why, the gems clash with the wood color?”
Rarity's jaw cracked to the right before she shrugged “Well, all right, there's that.” She pointed a hoof at the wall. “But think about it, girls. Ponyville is less than a half day's travel from Canterlot. If they feel this threatened in the shadow of the capital itself, how's the rest of Equestria doing?”
Twilight suddenly gasped. “Shining Armor, Cadance!” she cried out, rearing back and kicking the air. She dropped back down and trotted over to Nightmare Moon. “Ah, did you happen to see either a white-coated unicorn stallion or a pink-coated alicorn mare before coming to our Equestria?” she asked, hopping from hoof to hoof.
Applejack was by her side in an instant, foreleg draped around her withers and back. “Easy, sugarcube.”
Dash dropped down on the opposite side and extended a wing. “Yeah. Remember, they're not the Shining Armor or Cadance you know.”
Twilight's head whipped back and forth between the two. “I know I know, but it's still 'a' Shining Armor and Cadance, my big brother best friend forever and the best foalsitter ever.” She slowly leaned back onto her haunches. “My brain says the ones I know are safe back home, but my heart...”
Nightmare Moon slowly reached out and placed an armored hoof on Twilight's shoulder. “I was not here long,” she said. “I have no information one way or the other.” She drew her head back slightly. “I am... sorry.”
Twilight looked up, eyes shining. “No, it's all right,” she whispered. “Thank you for your concern.”
Nightmare Moon opened her mouth, but her head shot up and her horn flashed. “Down, foals!” she shouted as a violet shield sprung up around the group a half-second before an arrow would have embedded itself in the back of Twilight's head. The arrow shaft flexed for a moment before snapping, the two halves dropping to the bare dirt.
Nightmare Moon strode forward, shield expanding into a full dome even as the smaller ponies scrambled back, either of their own accord or for one particular pegasus pony, Nightmare Moon's telekinesis. Her lips drew back into a sneer. “Do they not know who they're dealing with?!”
Luna rolled her eyes. “No, they don't,” she said, walking up beside Nightmare Moon. She looked to her, suppressing a shudder. “These are obviously difficult times for them, and we are strangers huddled near their gate.”
A shout from one of the guard towers drew everyone's attention. “Who goes there?” a mint-green unicorn mare shouted, two crossbows floating by her head. “And who are the alicorns?”
Rainbow Dash, still caught in Nightmare Moon's grip, twisted around at the voice, her eyes wide. “No, way! Is that... Lyra Heartstrings?”
Pinkie Pie bounced up and down. “Ooh, it is!” She waved a foreleg in the air. “Hi, alternate universe Lyra! Have you and Bonbon married here?”
The Lyra at the guard tower leaned forward over a rail. “Who are you?” she shouted, golden eyes narrowing.
Pinkie Pie blew out a breath. “It's me, Pinkie Pie!”
Lyra's eyes darted back and forth. “Who?”
Rainbow Dash suddenly gasped. “Oh, horse feathers. Pinkie Pie, I don't think this Lyra knows you!”
Pinkie Pie scratched her head. “Wait, why not? Am I going by...” She swallowed. “Am I going by Pinkamena here?”
Twilight slowly looked to her. “Or... in this reality, you never left the rock farm to begin with!” She looked around at Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash. “All of your lives could be completely different!”
“I could still be at Manehattan!” Applejack exclaimed.
“And I could have never left Cloudsdale,” Rainbow Dash added.
Fluttershy sucked in a breath. “Both of us could still be there!”
Rarity swooned from side to side. “And I could be still in that Celestia-forsaken wasteland I was in after finding that geode!”
Nightmare Moon rolled her eyes. “Well, the alternate versions of you might not be here, but you six are.” She locked eyes with Luna. “So, what do you suggest we do?”
Luna glanced at the guard tower and Lyra. “Announce who you are and your intentions. But don't threaten anyone.” Her own eyes glowed for a moment. “I'll be watching, after all.”
Nightmare Moon walked forward. She spread her wings out, lit her horn up from root to tip and opened her mouth wide. “Tell me, Lyra Heartstrings. Have you heard of Nightmare Moon, locked away in the moon for a thousand years?”
Luna leaned down next to Twilight. “Was I this bad?”
Twilight shrugged. “Give or take, yeah.”
Other ponies from other guard towers were staring down at Nightmare Moon. Lyra finally spoke up. “N-no, I've never heard of Nightmare Moon. Is that-”
“Yes, I am Nightmare Moon!” the alicorn cried out, mane flaring out and drinking in the surrounding light. She reared up before dropping both forehooves to the ground, cracking the dirt. “For a thousand years I waited to return and claim my rightful place on the throne, but I see that a usurper has stolen what is mine!” She slowly rose into the air, finally coming level with Lyra. “Twilight Sparkle, correct?”
Lyra nodded, eyes wide and crossbows clattering to the floor. “Yes.” She looked away from Nightmare Moon. “She stole the sun from Celestia, and now the land freezes.” She suddenly gasped. “There are rumors of a battle at Canterlot involving her. Was that you?”
A low chuckle came from Nightmare Moon. “I faced her in battle, yes. She is powerful, but a mere foal. I fled and gathered allies from across the veil of reality.” She turned her head. “Come forth, Elements of Harmony and my other self!”
Rarity snorted. “Well, she's gotten into the role, hasn't she.”
Applejack snickered. “Yeah, but I think we'd better mosey on forward.” She adjusted her hat and motioned to Nightmare Moon's general location. “After you, darlin'.”
Luna and the others left the general vicinity of the lone tree and trotted forth, heads held high. “I greet you from across space and time!” Luna shouted. “We are here to aid our fellow ponies in restoring balance and order to this land!” she continued, staring straight up at Nightmare Moon.
“Will you bring back the sun?” another guardpony shouted.
Nightmare Moon kicked at the air. “I will defeat the Tyrant Filly, yes. I merely ask that my allies and I be allowed to met the ponies inside and reassure them that their time of salvation is at hand!”
Lyra turned and ran to a set of stairs in the back of the tower, disappearing down them as Nightmare Moon floated back down to the ground. She looked to Luna and nickered. “Well, how was that?”
Luna's eyes shifted as the giant gate slowly opened. “You got the point across. Now. Let us see how you can deal with the common ponies and their problems.”
A bark of laughter escaped Nightmare Moon. “Foal's play,” she said as she trotted forward.
Luna kept her gaze on her. “She'll be in for a harsh lesson very quickly,” she said as Twilight and the others walked up to her side.
Twilight let loose a sigh. “I figured that, Princess. But it's one she's got to learn, right?”
Luna nodded. “Right.” A small smile crossed her muzzle. “Now, let's go. We shouldn't keep Ponyville or her royal highness waiting, now should we.”
And with that, the seven followed Nightmare Moon into Ponyville.
In their own Ponyville, clothes were mostly an option. During winter or special tasks, the ponies would wear appropriate layers or specialized gear for whatever they had to do. But for the most part, most of them would only have accessories on for fashion.
Here, everypony was swathed in layers. From muzzle to dock, from poll to hoof, almost everyone there was layered up. The few foals that could be seen were little more than irregular spheres of pony wrapped in layers.
Smoke from fires lit for warmth and light stung their eyes and noses, causing more than one of the Bearers to wrinkle their noses or sniff. Pinkie Pie's head reared back and she opened her mouth almost impossibly wide, but only a tiny little “achoo!” came out of her.
Three ponies approached the group. In the middle was Mayor Mare. Except this Mare had a mane of bright-pink hair instead of one dyed gray. She wore a red jacket, tightly buttoned across her barrel. Tan pants and actual boots completed the ensemble of someone quite literally buttoned up against the elements. Her expression was grim, mouth turned down. In place of Pince-nez glasses, she had a pair of goggles strapped over her eyes.
Big Macintosh stood on her left, his harness still around his neck. Compared to most of the other ponies, he was lightly dressed, with 'only' a shirt and pants on. He had no stalk of wheat in his mouth, which was set in a grim line.
Applejack swallowed before ducking her head low, letting the shadows from her hood hide her face.
On Mayor Mare's right was Rarity, or at least this reality's Rarity. Her clothing had a bit of flair to it, a gold stitch here and gemstones for buttons, but the material was dark-colored and otherwise mostly plain. She had a pair of glasses perched at the end of her muzzle. A pair of saddlebags hung across her hips and croup, a trio of diamonds the only adornment on them. A clipboard, quill and inkwell floated in front of her as she took notes.
Rarity suppressed a shiver, but her nose still wrinkled at her doppelganger.
The three dropped to one knee in front of Nightmare Moon and Luna. “We welcome you to Ponyville,” Mayor Mare said, raising her head slightly to look upon the two alicorns and motioning to her left, then right. “My name is Mayor Mare and these are my assistants, Big Macintosh and Rarity Belle. We also apologize for your... 'reception' outside.”
Nightmare Moon stared down her muzzle at the earth pony. “Your apology is accepted, Mayor Mare. These times are difficult for you, with the Tyrant Filly ruling Canterlot.” She raised a foreleg to the sky. “But do not fear! With my counterpart and her Elements of Harmony, we shall bring her down and restore Equestria to what it once was!”
Lightning flashed overhead in the inky-black sky, causing most of the Ponyville residents to look skyward, squinting their eyes against the brightness.
Mayor Mare slowly raised her head and body, keeping her eyes lowered to the dirt. “Thank you, your majesty. We are at your service.”
Nightmare Moon nodded. “Excellent, Mayor Mare.” She raised a foreleg and swept it across. “I wish to know the condition of Ponyville, so that once I reclaim the throne, I may better restore this and other environs.”
Big Macintosh stepped forward. “Beggin' your pardon, your majesty, but I have a question for you.”
Nightmare Moon's eyes narrowed to slits. “Yes, Big Macintosh?”
The stallion trotted forward, right up to Applejack. He held up a hoof almost half the size of Applejack's head and pushed her hood down. “Could you please tell me why my sister's with you? If this even is my sister? Last time I saw her, she was back at Sweet Apple Acres, you see.”
Applejack swallowed and shifted under his even gaze. “Well, you see it's like... oh, horse apples.” She looked around, eyes widening. “Help?”
Rarity Belle blinked. “Oh, my!” her horn glowed and the clipboard, quill and inkwell slid back into her bags. She walked up to Applejack, standing beside Big Mac and about two inches from Applejack's face and looking her over. “You are Applejack!”
Applejack leaned back, darting her head around to keep it away from Rarity Belle. “Hey, personal space!” she shouted, finally reaching up and pushing her away.
Rarity Belle stepped back. “My apologies. But Big Mac's question and line of inquiry still stands unanswered. Are you Applejack Apple?”
There was silence for a few moments before Big Mac spoke up. “If she is, she's not my Applejack. The one back at Sweet Apple Acres ain't spoken like that since before she visited the Orange's in Manehattan.” His eyes narrowed. “So, who are you, Missy?”
Applejack kicked a bit at the dirt, sending up a small dust cloud. “I'm not sure we got time for a story, Big Mac. And where we're from is one hay of a tall tale.” A mild chuckle escaped her. “Shucks, I've lived through it and I'm still not sure how to put it into words. I am Applejack, just not your Applejack. I think.” Her eyes shifted back and forth. “Help?”
Luna raised a hoof, clearing her throat and gaining everyone's attention. “I shall attempt to put this as simply as possible,” she began.
“Good luck with that,” Dash muttered under her breath.
Luna's eyes shifted, but she continued. “As Nightmare Moon stated while we were still outside Ponyville, she sought help from 'across the veil of reality'. We are from another plane of existence, basically.” She looked to Mayor Mare. “For the moment, any more explanations will waste time that clearly cannot afford to be wasted.” She held up a foreleg and extended a hoof to the earth pony. “We offer our help. Will you accept it?”
Nightmare Moon arched an eyebrow at her counterpart, but remained silent for the moment.
Mayor Mare focused on the hoof. She let out a sigh and her head drooped. “At this point, Tirac himself could show up and I'd be mighty tempted to accept any offer of assistance.” She raised a foreleg and tapped it against Luna's. “Thank you.”
Nightmare Moon cleared her throat and 'lightly' tapped the ground, shaking everyone but Luna. “Now then, if the pleasantries are over, I wish to speak with you concerning Ponyville and its status.” Her eyes narrowed slightly. “And then we shall finally be able to deal with the Tyrant Filly in Canterlot.” She stepped forward and looked down her muzzle at Mayor Mare. “Now then, direct Princess Luna and myself to City Hall.”
Luna rolled her eyes before pasting a smile on her face. “Yes, please direct us to City Hall. As my friend here meant to say,” she said before leaning her head forward and looking at Nightmare Moon. “Right?”
Night mare Moon's mane whipped about, but she finally let out a sigh. “Very well. Please direct us to City Hall.”
Mayor Mare bowed her head. “Big Mac, check on the crop forecasts. Rarity, check the defenses,” she said, glancing to the stallion and mare respectively. She looked to Luna and Nightmare Moon. “If you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go ahead and prepare myself for the meeting.” She then stepped back and swung around before trotting off.
Nightmare Moon's nostrils flared. Her left eye swiveled and locked onto Luna. “You and your friends will eventually leave this Equestria. I will still be here, though.” She cantered around until she faced Luna. “Do not undermine my authority here. I must lead these ponies when this world's Twilight Sparkle is defeated.”
Luna returned the glare with a calm expression and steady gaze. “I know, which is why I said what I did. Politeness will carry you far, Nightmare Moon. Your subjects are deserving of respect.”
Nightmare Moon stared at Luna for a moment. “That sounds like something...” She shook her head. “Never mind.” She looked past Luna to the other six. “Follow us.”
Luna cleared her throat, drawing Nightmare Moon's smoldering glare beck to her. “What now?!” she growled out, sending Luna's mane whipping about.
Luna blinked and stood there for a moment before speaking. She waved a foreleg at Big Mac and Rarity Belle still standing there. “You and I should be sufficient for the meeting with Mayor Mare. I would suggest that the rest go around Ponyville. They can report back and give you a clearer picture of the situation. They could also help the townsfolk out.”
Big Mac inclined his head in Luna's direction. “That'd be might nice o' you, your majesty.” He looked to Applejack. “Care for an agricultural report at Sweet Apple Acres?”
Applejack gasped. “It's still around?”
The stallion kicked at the ground, dislodging a clod of dirt and sending it flying. “I suppose you could say that.”
Applejack broke from her friends and cantered around to Big Mac's side. “Iffn' you'll excuse me, then,” she said, tilting her head to them.
“Just be careful,” Luna said.
Nightmare Moon fixed a penetrating gaze on Big Mac. “Her safety is your responsibility. Take care of her.”
Big Mac swallowed and bobbed his head. “Ah, yes, your majesty!”
The pair swung around and began trotting off, but a sudden shout halted them in their tracks. “WAIT!” Fluttershy cried out, galloping forward. She skidded to a halt, spreading out her wings as an impromptu air brake. “I want to come, too!”
Applejack and Big Mac exchanged a glance. “Beg your pardon?” Applejack asked.
Fluttershy let out a breath. “I... I need to see how the animals are doing, and if I can help!” she cried out. She panted for a second and looked around. “Please, please? There's got to be something I can do to help them out!”
Applejack's eyes shifted to Big Mac. “Big Mac, do you... recognize Fluttershy at all?”
Big Mac pursed his lips and rubbed his chin with a hoof. He leaned in close to the pegasus, who shrank back into her hood. “Now that you mention it... nope. Sorry, but she doesn't ring any bells.” He looked to Applejack. “Iffn' she's got some counterpart here or whatever, she's not around these here parts.”
Applejack let out a sigh at his pronouncement. “Dang,” she muttered.
Dash flew over to Fluttershy's side. “You gonna be alright going there?” she asked, stroking her friend's back.
“Indeed, darling. There's no need for you to go if you don't want to,” Rarity said.
Fluttershy's body locked up. “No... but I have to do this.” She looked up at Dash and smiled. “Thank you.”
Dash's brow wrinkled. “For what?”
A tiny chuckle emerged from Fluttershy. “Oh, nothing.” She turned back to Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Luna and Nightmare Moon and waved a hoof. “I'll be okay. I'm with friends, after all.”
The trio trotted off, Applejack and Big Mac shadowing Fluttershy.
Rarity Belle glanced to Rarity. “So, it's about time you stopped hiding yourself,” she said, her horn glowing and shoving the hood covering Rarity's facial features down and away.
Rarity's eyes widened and her jaw dropped. “I beg your pardon!” she exclaimed, her own horn glowing and the hood sliding back up over her head. “It seems manners are one thing we don't have in common.”
Rarity Belle leaned back slightly, looking at her counterpart out of the corner of her eye. “It has nothing to do with 'manners'. Why you were hiding in the first place?”
Rarity chuckled and patted her chest. “It was less hiding and more surprise at being confronted with a double of myself. I wasn't sure on how you'd react.”
There was a pause before Rarity Belle shrugged. “I suppose.” She walked by her double, horn glowing once more and shoving the hood back down. “Then I'm guessing you don't need this anymore?” she said, smirking.
Rarity's own horn glowed and the hood once more covered her head. “To hide myself, no. But considering the awful chill here?” Her whole body shook, sending her cloak flapping about.
Rarity Belle stared down her muzzle at her. “This is nothing compared to winter, darling. I sincerely hope you won't have to experience that.” She glanced to the rest. “Now if you'll excuse me, I have work on the gemstone defenses to do.” She turned, but stopped and looked to Rarity. “Care to help? I don't mean to brag, but it is my best work.”
Rarity's eyes brightened. “I should have known such exquisite work would be my hoofiwork!” She walked over to her counterpart's side. “How did you get so many finely-shaped gems?” she asked, batting her eyelashes.
Rarity Belle leaned back, looking at the others and rolling her eyes behind Rarity's loin before trotting off to the front gate, Rarity following behind. The front gate opened and they exited Ponyville proper.
Nightmare Moon's eyes flicked over to Dash. “Rainbow Dash, I have an assignment for you.” A grunt from Luna and she ground her teeth together. “Could you please do something for me?” She looked to Luna. “Better?”
Luna nodded, a smirk barely formed on her lips. “Much better, Nightmare Moon.”
Dash flew over to Nightmare Moon, stopping and hovering a couple of feet in front of her muzzle. “I need you to do a recon of the surrounding area, paying attention to weather patterns, population distribution and a general feel for the terrain.” Her blue eyes narrowed slightly. “If you find anything troubling or suspicious, do NOT engage. Instead, report back on your findings immediately.”
Dash leaned back slightly. “You seem awfully concerned there with that last part.”
A snort escaped the alicorn. “If you die, any data dies with you. That is all.”
Dash waved a foreleg at her. “Yeah, so much better. I – URK!” She choked out a gasp as a tendril from Nightmare Moon's mane reached out and wrapped around her torso and neck, putting the mildest bit of pressure on them.
The mane pulled Dash right up to the alicorn's muzzle. Her eyes narrowed to mere slits and she growled. “Remember our conversation in the field. You may make me work for it, but in the end it will be your end.”
Nightmare Moon's mane suddenly dissolved, freeing Dash, who flew up and over the alicorn to Luna, Twilight and Pinkie. “Thanks,” she said to Luna as she sailed over her head. She skidded to a stop in midair and turned to glare at Nightmare Moon even as the alicorn turned to face the group. “I'll do this for the ponies here, but not for you,” she said before flying off, a rainbow-colored contrail trailing behind her.
Luna locked eyes onto Nightmare Moon and strode forward, stomping into the ground and leaving hoofprints a few inches deep. “I realize how hard it is to rein in your temper. Believe me, I've been there with Rainbow Dash.” She stopped a few inches from Nightmare Moon's face. “But you will not threaten her or anyone else here again.”
Nightmare Moon held her ground, staring right back at Luna. “She undermined my authority, in front of my future subjects. That can NOT be tolerated. When I retake the throne, I –“
“If,” Luna interjected.
There was a pause from Nightmare Moon before she continued. “When I retake the throne, I must have the respect of those under me. Rainbow Dash was undermining my authority in front of my future subjects.”
Luna snorted. “You won't have their respect, but their fear. And I will not replace one tyrant on the throne with another. The ponies here have suffered enough.”
Nightmare Moon growled. “And I will end their suffering with a firm hoof and the guidance they'll need to emerge from this time of strife. I will do right by them, but I need them to respect and follow my lead. And I cannot do that when I have that upstart featherbrain mocking me in front of my subjects!” She turned on a hoof, muzzle jutting into the air. “Now then, I believe Mayor Mare is waiting for us?” She strode off.
Twilight rolled her eyes. “Well, that was almost polite of her!”
Luna let out a chuckle. “It's a start, at least.” Her expression hardened. “But this version of me still has a long way to go and many lessons to learn before I feel better about her taking power.” Luna took a step forward, but quickly stopped. Her ears twitched. “Do you hear that?”
Twilight blinked. “Hear... what?”
Nightmare Moon swiveled her head around and peered at Pinkie Pie from over her shoulder. “Precisely. The pink one is not droning or chattering like she normally does.” She walked up to the eerily still pink party pony and gently nudged her with a hoof, showing no shock as 'Pinkie Pie' collapsed into a full-sized, empty costume. “Of course,” she deadpanned.
Twilight smacked her forehead while Luna looked the costume over. “When did she do this?” the alicorn wondered out loud. She looked the costume over, quickly levitating a note clipped to the forehead up to her. “'I am going to see the Cakes at Sugarcube Corner. I know they're not my Cakes but they're still Cakes. And I have to make sure they're alright! I'll meet you in an hour, and that's a Pinkie Promise!'” She folded the letter and placed it back on the costume. “Well, that settles that.” She looked to Nightmare Moon. “To City Hall?”
Nightmare Moon eyed Luna. “And if she doesn't show up?”
Twilight spoke up. “Pinkie Pie made a promise, and she always keeps her promises, no matter what. She believes that the breaking a promise is one of the fastest ways of losing a friendship.”
Pinkie Pie's voice suddenly echoed all around the mostly-empty streets. “ForEVER!”
Nightmare Moon's right ear twitched. “I see.” She turned around once more. “If that is all, then, we shall be off!” she shouted, marching forth once more.
Twilight cleared her throat, catching Nightmare Moon's attention just after the alicorn passed a side street. “Actually, your highness, if this is like Ponyville in my home reality, then you should've taken that side street. It'll lead right to City Hall.”
Nightmare Moon stopped in midstride, turning and cantering off down towards the side street. A mumbled 'Thank you,’ could be heard before she disappeared from view.
Twilight rolled her eyes and blew out a breath. “She's got a lot to learn.”
Luna nodded. “But she is beginning to learn. And the hardest lessons are to come.” She glanced at Twilight out of the corner of her eye. “Pinkie Pie will be alright?”
Twilight paused and glanced to the side. “Physically, yes. Mentally and emotionally, I'm not sure. When it comes to the Cakes', Pinkie's a lot more vulnerable than normal. Then again we've got no real idea what life is like for them here.” She looked to her left, spotting a group of ponies huddling around a fire. “Although with all we've seen, I can't imagine it actually pleasant.”
The pair began trotting down the road, taking the left and approaching a somewhat dilapidated building. “I believe Nightmare Moon has taken a step or two in the right direction,” Luna said as they trotted up some creaky steps and passed by a pair of guardponies all bundled up against the cold, “but her next lessons will come very quickly and very harshly indeed.” She glanced to Twilight out of the corner of her eye. “For you see, not all problems can be solved by shouting at them.”
Fluttershy winced with every step, her ears darting back and forth. “More animals here, good,” she said, more to herself than Big Macintosh or Applejack. “Much greater diversity here. The food chain is still linked, here.”
Big Mac raised his head and looked at Applejack over Fluttershy's back. “Is she all right?”
Applejack's head bobbed back and forth. “I think... well, she's better than before. Back in Whitetail Woods she nearly had a good old breakdown.” She glanced to her brother’s counterpart. “That forest has seen better days, mind.”
“Yup.” There was a pause before he continued. “Iffn’ you think we should apologize or somethin’ fer what we’ve done to it, not happenin'. We needed the wood to keep warm. It hurt like the dickens to cut those trees down, but I’d do it again.”
Applejack opened her mouth, but any response died in her throat. She hung her head, letting her hat slide down. “You're right. I ain’t been in your horseshoes, so I can’t say nothin’ ‘bout what you’ve gone through. Hopefully we can help start the healing.”
The three trotted in silence for a bit, crossing a stream and eventually coming upon the gated entrance of Sweet Apple Acres. Applejack let out a gasp as she beheld the apple trees still dotting the landscape, their branches half-bare and very few with apples hanging from them. A few ponies here and there were applebucking the trees, their kicks half-hearted and, in some instances, doing little more than shake the trunks. The main house had seen better days, too. The paint was peeling in more than one spot, and even from this distance missing shutters could be seen. Plumes of smoke rose from behind several hills, causing them to wrinkle their noses.
Big Mac reached over Fluttershy, nudging Applejack as she stood still as a statue, mouth agape. “Applejack? Applejack!”
Applejack blinked and shut her mouth. “Sorry It’s just, I knew it was bad, but seeing it with my own two eyes is somethin’ altogether different!”
They passed through the main gate and past a pair of large, armed and armored earth ponies. Applejack’s eyes drifted to them as they walked. “Expecting trouble?”
“Eyup.”
“Darn.” Applejack muttered as they trotted up to the main house. “I wonder how Apple Bloom’s managing in this,” she wondered out loud.
Big Mac paused at the bottom of the stairs leading up to the porch. “Who?” he asked, arching an eyebrow.
Applejack and Fluttershy both stopped in their tracks, staring at the stallion. “Apple Bloom,” Applejack said. “You know, our baby sister?”
Fluttershy leaned in close to Applejack as Big Mac stood there, staring at them. “Applejack, remember that little talk we had outside of Ponyville about how much things might have changed? I think this might be one of them.”
Applejack cantered around Fluttershy to face Big Mac directly. “Big Macintosh, do you have a younger sister besides me?”
Big Mac slowly shook his head. “Nope.” His head dipped down. “With things how they are, Ma and Pa didn’t feel good with bringin’ another foal into Equestria.” He glanced back up. “Where you come from… we got a baby sister?”
Applejack’s ears folded down against her head. She slumped and kicked at the dirt. “Her name’s Apple Bloom. She’s a rambunctious little bundle o’ energy, but after what happened to Ma and Pa --”
She was cut off as the front door opened and two mares walked out, one after the other and standing side by side on the porch. The first one was the Applejack of this Equestria. Like most everyone else, she was clad in heavy, multilayered clothing that covered almost every inch of her coat. Her mane was done up in a somewhat more complicated style than the simple band that kept Applejack’s mane out of her eyes. She also wore a necklace with an orange-shaped locket as the centerpiece. “Big Macintosh,” she said, eyeing Applejack and Fluttershy, “may I ask who… your friends are?”
Applejack’s jaw dropped. “Well, you see it’s a bit o’ a long story… Applejack.” Her eyes drifted to the other Applejack’s companion and she nickered. “Horse apples!”
The second pony’s lips curled slightly. She was a unicorn mare, a star-spangled cape tied around her neck and a pointy hat perched on her head, covering her horn. “I assume you know me from somewhere?” Trixie Lulamoon observed, focusing on Applejack, then looking to Fluttershy, who ducked her head low.
Applejack let out a sigh. “All right, all right!” She jabbed a hoof at Fluttershy. “This here’s Fluttershy and my name is Applejack. We’re from another dimension or plane of existence or some such thing. You heard of a ruckus at Canterlot?” At their nods she continued. “Well, that was Nightmare Moon and your Twilight Sparkle having a dilly o’ a pickle fighting. Nightmare Moon ripped a hole in reality, came to our Equestria and recruited us to help out.” She let out a sigh. “Now this is where you ask us what the real deal is, right?”
The other Applejack and Trixie exchanged a glance. “No, I believe you,” Applejack said.
Fluttershy gasped. “You do?!”
Trixie chuckled. “A tale like that? Almost too strange to be fiction. I’ve known my Applejack for a few years, and she’s a terrible liar.” She looked to her left and right before trotting down to Fluttershy and leaning in close to her. “She has far too many tells,” she said, winking.
Despite the situation, Fluttershy chuckled. “Oh, yes.” She suddenly swallowed and looked to her Applejack. “Oh, no offense, Applejack! I’m sorry!’ she said, flapping her wings.
Applejack waved her off. “None taken.”
Big Mac cleared his throat. “Applejack -- my Applejack, Mayor Mare sent me to get the crop forecasts.” He leaned forward. “How bad?”
Applejack let out a sigh. “They’re not as bad as I feared, but not as good as I thought.” She waved him up. “Trixie, could you please entertain our guests while Big Macintosh and I talk?”
Fluttershy spoke up as Big Mac walked up the stairs. “Oh, but we’re here to help if we can! Please, there has to be something you need help with!”
Applejack nodded. “Fluttershy’s right. Iffn’ there’s anything we can do to help, we’ll do it.”
A voice from Applejack’s left caught her attention. “Well, that’s mighty grateful of you, missy. Ah guess an Apple’s an Apple, no matter where they come from.”
Applejack slowly looked as a stallion with a light-gray coat and graying mane appeared from around the house’s corner. By his side was a mare with a deep-purple coat and a lighter-shaded mane, although gray had begun to creep in. They walked up to Applejack and Fluttershy. “We heard the whole thing, so no need to repeat yourself,” he said, chuckling. He trailed off. “Ah, are you okay?”
Fluttershy nudged Applejack. “Applejack?”
Applejack’s breath hitched in her throat. “Ma? Pa?”
Rainbow Dash zipped along the battered landscape, head low. “Think she can bully me or anypony,” she muttered. “She’s got a long way to go before she’s ready to rule anything!”
She suddenly stopped, skidding to a halt in midair as a large cloud formation appeared, traveling against the wind and making its way to Ponyville. A few darker shapes could be spotted hovering above it and on the cloud proper. Dash flew back a bit before zooming off back to Ponyville. “This is Not. Good!” she squeaked out.
Commander Dash paced back and forth, the ancient armor of Commander Hurricane rattling about on her. She reached back, grabbed a strap with her teeth and tightened it against her barrel. “Why’d he have to be so bucking big?” she groused. She turned to face her two lieutenants. “Gilda, Lightning Dust, I want this quick and clean,” she said, pacing back and forth in front of the griffin and pegasus. “We go in, grab what we can and haul flank back to Cloudsdale.”
Gilda raised a claw and blew on her razor-sharp talons. “You got it, Dashie.” She looked Commander Dash over, a predatory glint in her eyes. “Any chance for even a tiny bit of fun, though?”
Lightning Dust snorted, her nostrils flaring. “Come on, Gilda. We wanna leave something for the townsfolk to rebuild with.” She looked to Dash, expression becoming serious. “Although we’ll be pretty close to Canterlot and to… her,” she said, kicking at the cloud and sending up wisps.
Dash nodded, her helmet sliding back and forth. “I know, Lightning Dust. That’s why I want it quick.” She looked to Gilda. “Sorry, G, but you’ll have to control yourself this time.”
Gilda groaned, but nodded and tossed Dash an informal salute. “You got it.”
Commander Dash looked back to the ground below as her force moved to their next target. “Good. We’ll get as much as we can and get out before they even know what happened!”
Pinkie Pie trotted down the street, barely paying anything else any attention. Except when she slowed down to cheer up some foals, or when she stopped to help keep a fire stoked, or when she stopped and gave out all the candy and food stuck in her mane. Other than that, though, she kept on course for Sugarcube Corner.
Her gait slowed as she approached her home. Her hair flattened slightly at the dilapidated condition. Like all buildings, Sugarcube Corner had seen better days. There were several hastily-patched holes in the roof, and the second floor balcony wobbled in the breeze. The windows were dirty and shuttered, but a dim light could be seen through the blinds and film.
Pinkie cantered back and forth in front of the door, her nerve failing her. More than one passerby stared at her antics, but she paid them no mind. She could tell from the barest visual glance that the door was unlocked, and smells wafted out, tickling her nose. Without even thinking about it, she pushed the door open and walked in.
The interior was a bit dim, but in relatively good repair. The shelves were bare for the most part, but were mounted onto the walls straight and strong. Pinkie continued inward, nose in the air and sniffing. One ear flopped down before saloon-style doors in the back swung open.
Cup Cake backed out, a tray of plain muffins balanced on her head and another on her back. A pair of foals – Pumpkin and Pound Cake – floated around her legs, managing to barely keep out of her way as she left the kitchen and entered the store itself. Like almost everyone else, she and the foals wore layers of clothing. But even those could not hide her being a bit thinner than the one Pinkie knew and loved like a mother. She spun around, gasping at the sight of Pinkie. The tray on her head bounced, the muffins hopping on the steel before settling right back in their place. “Oh, my!” she said, eyes widening. “Hello, there!” She leaned forward and squinted. “Wait, who are you?”
Pinkie's hair flattened slightly at the lack of recognition and she kicked at the floor slightly, taking care not to scuff it. “My name's Pinkie Pie. I'm just from... out of town.”
Cup Cake sucked in a breath in shock. “Wait, out of town? You're with the group that just arrived, right? The ones from another Equestria?” At Pinkie's small nod she continued forward, passing by the counter. “Nightmare Moon, will she be able to help us?”
Pinkie tilted her head back and forth. “It's a work in progress, but she's a lot better than when we first met her.” She suddenly dropped down as Pound and Pumpkin toddled over. “Oh, oh!” she cried out, reaching out with her forelegs at the foals. “Hi, there! You have no idea how good it is to see you two!” Her joy was squashed as Cup Cake prodded them back behind her. “Hey, hey! What's wrong?” she asked, darting to and fro, even as Cup Cake blocked her. She looked up at the older mare. “Wait, you don't think I'm gonna hurt them, do you?”
“Calm down, calm down!” Cup Cake said as she cantered back and forth, finally slowing down along with Pinkie. “Please, I don't know what it's like where you come from. I'd like to think it's what it was before, where we didn't have to fear most strangers. But nowadays, you can't be too careful of those coming down the road.”
Pinkie rubbed her poll, trying not to wince. “Yeah, we got that impression outside.”
Pumpkin and Pound Cake both scampered around Cup Cake's forelegs, each opposite of one another. They crowded around Pinkie's forelegs, grabbing onto them and cooing.
Cup Cake swallowed. “Oh, my. Come on, dearies!” She looked up at Pinkie. “I'm very sorry about this. They're normally not so clingy around others.” Her brow furrowed. “They actually do seem rather taken with you.”
Pinkie knelt down to the twins' height. “It's okay. I'm good with foals, especially these two.” She nuzzled Pound, who wrapped his stubby little arms around her muzzle. She raised her head and he hung on, tiny little hind legs kicking the air. Pumpkin floated around her head, circling around and cooing.
Cup Cake's mouth quirked up at the sight. “It looks like the twins trust you. There's a Cake family in your Equestria, too?”
Pinkie lowered her head, gently placing Pound Cake onto the floor before shooting back up and bobbing her head up and down. “Yup! You and Mister Cake are like second parents to me!” Her head suddenly stopped. “But not here. Maybe I never left the rock farm.”
Cup Cake slowly reached out and patted her on the shoulder. “Carrot and I never met you, Pinkie. Not here.” She bit her lip. “But right now, I wish we did.”
Pinkie placed a hoof over Cup Cake's. “Thank you.” Her eyes darted about. “Say, where is Carrot Cake, anyway?” she asked, voice hitching slightly with nervousness and anticipation.
“He's out with the logging crews,” Cup Cake responded, sighing. She cantered to the front window, staring out. “He leaves before the twins are awake, then usually gets home after they're asleep. Then he does what he can in the kitchen before nodding off. He's missing their childhood. And I miss him.” She knelt down and nuzzled the twins, her eyes closed and expression downcast.
Pinkie's gaze went to the kitchen. “Back where I come from, you two had your hooves full running this place, and that was before the twins were born.” She looked to the twins, then to Cup Cake. “Okay, I know you don't have much of a reason to trust me. If I was you I wouldn't trust me either. If I was me, half the time I wouldn't trust me. But right now you need help, and I'm offering both forelegs to you.” She held out her forelegs and waggled them.
Cup Cake swallowed. She looked at Pinkie's forelegs, then down to the twins, then to the kitchen. “I want to, Pinkie. I want to be able to-to trust again. It's just been quite a while since I could, since a stranger outside Ponyville was a blessing instead of an extra mouth, or worse.”
Pinkie sighed. “I understand, Missus Cake. Well, I don't, but I do. I kinda do.” She turned and walked to the door, mane and tail hanging down near the floor. “I'm sorry for taking up your time, Missus Cake.”
Cup Cake's eyes tracked Pinkie. She bit her lip, finally raising a foreleg. “Wait!” she cried out. “I-I-I I'm sorry, Pinkie. I do need the help, here. I have to remember the good, not just the bad.”
Pinkie spun around, trotting up to Cup Cake even as her mane and tail sprung back up. “I won't let you down!” She hopped up and tossed Missus Cake a salute. “We'll have everything ready in no time!”
Pumpkin and Pound Cake suddenly raised their stubby little forelegs and waved them about, gurgling and spitting up a bit. Pinkie and Cup Cake both lowered their heads to them, nuzzling the twins. Cup Cake gently swept them up and onto her back. “Okay, you two. Let's get back to the kitchen along with our new helper.” She glanced to Pinkie. “Thank you.”
Pinkie smiled, not one of mirth but of relief. “No, thank you.”
Nightmare Moon sat on her haunches in Mayor Mare's office, the chairs too small to accommodate her large frame. Twilight and Luna were to her left, and the mayor herself darted from various filing cabinets to the desk, each time with a manila folder to add to an ever-increasing pile already piled haphazardly on the desk. “Now here are the reports on crop returns. This one is on the culling of Whitetail Woods. Here is a report on border activities.” She suddenly stopped and looked up at Nightmare Moon, who was staring up at the wall behind her. “Your highness, are you all right?”
Luna stood up and walked over. She floated a folder off the top of the pile and flipped through its contents. “Hmm, expertly done, Mayor Mare. I commend whoever compiled this data.” She sent it over to Nightmare Moon. “Wouldn't you agree?”
Nightmare Moon's head suddenly shot up and darted about, her eyes blinking rapidly. “What, yes! Of course!” She ripped the folder from Luna's telekinetic grip, sending pages scattering across the room. Her cheeks turned bright-red as the papers flew about in the air. She bared her teeth as she snagged each one, bringing them back to her. She glanced at them, putting them back into proper order before placing them onto the open folder and looking at the first page. Her eyes narrowed and the folder floated closer, stopping only an inch or two from her muzzle.
Silence descended upon the office as Nightmare Moon continued to read, flipping from page to page. Finally, she set the folder down on the desk and locked a penetrating stare onto Mayor Mare. “Thank you, Mayor. That was a most informative report on crop production. So, what is being done to increase yields and better distribute them?”
Mayor Mare's mouth opened. She slid the folder closer to her and picked out a single sheet of paper closer to her. “B-but, your majesty, everything that can be done is being done. There's nothing more we can do without increased solar output and the temperatures rising. It's right here.” She leaned forward. “Did you... miss that?”
Nightmare Moon shook her head and waved Mayor Mare off. “W-what? Of course I didn't! I saw it on the page. It's simply that as mayor, you're the leader of the community and must direct those under you to accomplish the tasks set before them.”
Luna spoke up. “Mayor Mare is doing the best she can under these extremely trying circumstances, Nightmare Moon. All the ponies here are. There is simply nothing more they can do. No amount of ordering or shouting can change those cold, hard facts.”
Nightmare Moon locked eyes with her counterpart. “What are you implying?”
Luna stared right back, not flinching or moving. “I am not 'implying' anything. I am stating facts that Mayor Mare had already said. You understand that, yes?”
The temperature in the room seemed to drop even more than it already was. Before Nightmare Moon could open her mouth, Luna continued. “I think you and I need to have a full conversation, Nightmare Moon. And I think if we do it while conscious, half the town will be leveled before we're done. Therefore, I propose we talk things out on in more 'neutral' setting.”
Mayor Mare blinked. “Excuse me, 'while conscious'?”
Nightmare Moon paid her no heed as she nodded. “Very well, Luna. I see your wisdom in that, at least.” She looked to Mayor Mare, then Twilight “I shall see you in a minute or two after I'm proven right.” And with that, she stood up and turned to directly face Luna. Her eyes rolled almost into the back of her head, her eyelids closing until only a sliver of faintly-glowing white could be seen.
Luna mirrored Nightmare Moon's actions, but before she closed her eyes, she looked to Twilight. “This won't take long here,” she said before turning her head to face Nightmare Moon. Within seconds her own eyes closed.
Mayor Mare stared at the two alicorns. She trotted around her desk up to Nightmare Moon, stood up on her hind legs and waved a hoof in front of her muzzle. She swiveled around to face Luna before repeating the hoof-waving. She dropped back to all fours before looking to Twilight. “What is going on between them...” She suddenly stopped. “Oh, I'm terribly sorry, but I never did catch your name.”
Twilight straightened up. “Oh, that's all right, Mayor. I don't think it came up in conversation. My name is...” She paused and leaned back, eyes widening. “M-my name is... Dewdrop Dazzle!” she suddenly blurted out, sweat forming on her brow despite the cold. Her hood tugged down over her forehead and eyes, casting the rest of her face into shadow.
Mayor Mare arched an eyebrow, but waved her off. “No skin off my muzzle.” She waved to the two alicorns. “So as I was about to ask, what are they doing?”
Twilight slid off her chair and cantered around until she stood between the pair. “My guess is they're dreaming. Princess Luna can enter into the dreams of ponies in my Equestria, so I'd bet they're both dreaming right now, talking to each other through them.”
Mayor Mare nodded. “I shall take your word for it. How long would this take? Is this safe for them?”
Twilight shrugged. “I don't have an answer for either of those questions, Mayor. The only thing we can do right now is wait and hope for the best.”
Nightmare Moon flew through the nothingness of the dreams, an inky-blue void with scattered white dots and fog floating through it. The fog thickened, turning from a mist into a thick bank. Nightmare Moon's eyes glowed and the tip of her horn sparked, but the fog remained around, cutting off the range of her vision to a few feet. She snarled and stomped her hooves, spittle flying from her mouth. “Luna, where in Tartarus are you?”
Two huge moons suddenly appeared in the sky, shrinking and changing into eyes. They blinked and Luna's face appeared around them, followed by her body. She walked forward, the fog parting in her wake. “Ah, excellent. You're here.”
Nightmare Moon stared at her. “A bit dramatic, even for us.” She looked about the fog, eyes narrowing. “What does this represent? Whose dream are we in?”
Luna's right ear waggled back and forth. She tilted her head up. “Can you not hear them, Nightmare Moon? I can, and you are me, after all. It's not loud, but it's there.”
Nightmare Moon looked around, ears flapping. “Hear who?” She lurched forward, coming within inches of Luna. “Who else is here, Luna? Speak up!”
Luna's horn lit up and the faint murmurs of voices were now audible. “Can you hear them now, Nightmare Moon? These are the thoughts of Equestrian citizens, little ponies sleeping.”
Nightmare Moon smirked. “My future subjects?”
Luna shook her head. “Your future victims.”
The fog suddenly disappeared, leaving the pair standing in a field covered in snow. Gravestones, little more than stone slabs with inscriptions, poked out at haphazard intervals as far as either could see. The voices increased in number and volume, now comprehensible to Luna and Nightmare Moon.
“So cold, so cold.”
“Why did Mommy and Daddy have to go away?”
“When will it be warm again?”
Nightmare Moon flapped her wings and stumbled back, kicking down some of the tombstones. For every one she destroyed, though, two more sprouted. Her head darted back and forth. “What is this?” she cried out. She planted her hooves into the ground and glared at Luna. “What trickery is THIS?”
Luna matched Nightmare Moon's glare and walked forward. “This is no trickery, Nightmare Moon. This is their future, either under the Tyrant Filly's reign or if you usurp her as you are now. I know from personal experience how difficult–“
Nightmare Moon fired a beam of magic from her horn, enveloping Luna and vaporizing her. “You will CEASE this prattling! I want their love and adoration, not their demise!”
Luna suddenly reformed next to Nightmare Moon. She let out a sigh as Nightmare Moon cantered to her right in shock. “As I was saying before being interrupted, I know how difficult it is to accept this, but it's true. This is Equestria's fate with Eternal Night.” She waved a foreleg at the graves. “Are you really so surprised? Even I had some inkling before learning the full truth.”
Nightmare Moon rounded around to face Luna once more. “N-no! I have no intention of doing this! I will ensure all of my subjects are well cared for! They will love me for what I do for them! This is some fantasy, concocted by someone who has no idea of our true powers!” She chuckled and shook her head. “Perhaps the Elements removed more than you think they did, my dear counterpart.” She craned her head up and around. “Tell me, is it my imagination, or is your horn a little shorter than before?”
Luna turned and looked to the graves. Snow had begun to fall. “They removed my blindness to plain facts and the truth. This world barely exists with the sun on the horizon. Do you really think it could last without it?” She looked to the sky as another moon rose into the sky, a pale-gray orb. “Our magic is great, but it cannot substitute for the sun.”
The wind kicked up. Nightmare Moon flinched slightly while Luna stood, not even her mane or tail ruffling. “The cold, the dark, all closing in on them. On you. The plants would die, depriving the animals of the base of the food chain even worse than how it is now. They would die, and then the ponies themselves would pass.”
Nightmare Moon suddenly turned and lunged at Luna, but Luna's body wavered, turning translucent and allowing her counterpart to pass through her. Luna turned even as Nightmare Moon skidded and stumbled in the snow, solidifying once more. “And on a throne of ice would sit a beautiful, terrible princess, her heart almost as cold as the frozen wasteland she ruled. The land will be covered in snow, the only sounds the wind as it howls, sounding more like the cries of the dead. All that the ponies built would fall into decay and ruin, swallowed up by drifting mounds of snow and ice. That will be the result of Eternal Night, Nightmare Moon. That will be your legacy, if the word 'legacy' can be applied.”
Nightmare Moon stood and turned, lunging at Luna once more. She passed through Luna again, this time striking the snow and falling through the snow. She plummeted through space, flapping her wings but unable to gain control of her fall. She suddenly landed on a stone floor, the breath driven from her body.
A few minutes passed before Nightmare Moon stirred and raised her head. She saw a snow globe on the floor in front of her. Curiosity overtook her and she floated it over. Even in Nightmare Moon's telekinetic grip it felt heavy and wobbled around. Inside was a miniature version of Canterlot. The water surrounding it was frozen solid, the flakes suspended in mid-float. Her eyes lost their focus and the globe dropped to the floor, shattering and sending shards of glass spraying out.
Luna emerged from the shadows. “And that is Equestria's fate, as well as your own if you continue down this path.” The tip of her horn glowed as she slowly approached Nightmare Moon and kept her eyes locked on her counterpart.
Nightmare Moon slowly rose, keeping her head down. Her mane hung straight down, covering half her face and neck. “I just want them to love me, to admire me like Celestia.” She closed her eyes and her body shook. “It's not fair, not fair! She got all the love, all the attention. I want that, too. It's not right!” Her head shot up and she locked eyes with Luna. “You know what I'm talking about, too! Don't try to deny it, either. You're me. You were THERE!”
Luna nodded. “I know your feelings, Nightmare Moon. They are mine, yes. Or rather, they were.” She placed a hoof on her barrel and stared off to the side. The floor faded, leaving them hanging in the ether once more. “Jealousy and hatred blinded you. The ponies hid during the night because of the dangers just outside their homes, not because they feared you.”
Nightmare Moon scoffed and shook her head. “I fought those dangers. We fought those dangers. We did our best for them, but it meant nothing.”
“So they deserve to freeze to death?” Luna retorted, her gaze sharpening. “Their worst 'sin' was, what, neglecting us? Hardly one that calls for their slow, tortuous demise.”
Nightmare Moon bared her fangs and snarled. “Will you stop that? I will not kill them!”
Luna nodded to her. “You're right. You won't kill them. The cold will do that instead. They will suffer lingering, slow deaths because ponies a thousand or so years ago stayed inside during the night. That seems quite fair to me. Does it seem fair to you?”
Nightmare Moon opened her mouth, but closed it. She slowly shook her head. “I won't kill them,” she repeated. Her eyes narrowed and flashed white. She raised her horn and fired a beam of magic at Luna. “Stop saying that!”
The beam enveloped Luna and she suddenly turned to ice. It shattered and blew off in a sudden gust of wind. The ice shards flew about before spiraling about and compacting together into Luna again. “I say it because it's the truth, a truth you need to hear and understand. And please don't try that again. We both know physical attacks are meaningless here.”
Nightmare Moon stomped on the ether. “I will not be talked to like a foal!”
“Then stop acting like a foal and listen to me!” Luna said, an edge to her voice. “What I am telling you is the truth, whether you wish to believe it or not. Eternal Night will destroy this land and leave it full of corpses. We've seen how much suffering has happened with the sun mostly taken away. Things would be worse with its total absence. So stop plugging your ears and listen!”
Nightmare Moon growled. “All right, fine. I will bring back the sun. Then all here will flock to my sister once more. I'll have gained nothing!”
Luna shook her head. “No. You'll have gained perspective, as well as the maturity to put others before your own desires. You'll have saved countless lives – neigh, the planet – and you'll have proven that you can see beyond your own muzzle.” She paused for a moment. “Please, show that you can look beyond your own ego, to those you swore to protect. I know how you felt, how you feel now. I've been there, as much as you.”
Nightmare Moon closed her eyes, and responded.
“The only thing we can do right now is wait and hope for the best.”
Nightmare Moon's eyes suddenly snapped open, sending Twilight skittering back in shock. She waited for Luna to open her eyes before bowing her head. “Very well.” She looked to Twilight, who was sitting on her haunches. “What are you doing on the floor?”
Twilight scrambled to her hooves. “W-well, I was just expecting whatever it was you were talking about would've taken longer.” She looked to Luna. “So... what did you talk about?”
Luna pointed a hoof at Nightmare Moon. “Please ask her.”
Both Twilight and Mayor Mare turned to Nightmare Moon, who shifted ever so slightly under their expectant eyes. “The time for talking is past,” she finally said, stomping a hoof on the floor and sending her audience hopping into the air by nearly a foot. “I know what must be done. The Tyrant Filly must be stopped... and the sun must rise once more over Equestria.”
Applejack stood and stared at two ponies she knew either as Jonathan and Martha Apple, or Ma and Pa. They stared back at her, the silence dragging out for a minute or so before Martha held up a foreleg and pointed it at Applejack. “Dearie, are you all right? You seem a bit in shock.” She looked to Fluttershy. “Is she all right?”
Applejack's muzzle quivered slightly. “It can't be you,” she whispered. “It's no-not possible. You're not here. You can't be here.”
Jonathan looked to Fluttershy. “Excuse me, Miss Fluttershy? Is Applejack here all right?”
Any response was cut off when Applejack surged forward and wrapped her forelegs around Jonathan and Martha's neck, hugging them tightly. Tears streamed down her eyes.
Martha slowly reached over and gently patted Applejack on her withers. “There, there. It's all right, sugarcube.” She chuckled nervously as Applejack hung on, still crying. “it really is all right. Y-you can let go, now.”
Trixie leaned in close to Fluttershy. “What happened in your Ponyville?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Fluttershy swallowed and ducked her head down, letting her wings fold out over it. “W-well, a few years ago, there was a bad flood i-in Ponyville. I-it hit close to Sweet Apple Acres, you see.”
Jonathan scrunched his forehead. “Well, nothin' like that's happened 'round these parts since the Tyrant Filly took Celestia's powers.” His expression fell and he looked to Applejack, still hugging him and Martha. “Wait a tick, here. This is making a bit more sense and I'm not liking it exactly. I even hesitate to ask, but in your Equestria, are Martha and I... well, are we dead?”
Applejack swallowed and hugged the pair tighter, bringing them as close to her as she could.
Martha sucked in a breath, then looked towards the others standing there. “Ah, Trixie, would you mind taking Fluttershy inside to help out in there with... something?”
Trixie nodded. “Sure thing, Martha.” She placed a hoof on Fluttershy's shoulder and led her up the porch. She stopped at the door's threshold and looked back. “Applejack?”
Both Applejacks looked to Trixie. “Yeah?” they both said, before looking to each other in a mixture of shock and embarrassment.
Trixie rolled her eyes before looking to 'her' Applejack. “Okay... Jacqueline? Will you meet us inside later?”
Jacqueline paused for a moment. She tilted her head from side to side before she nodded to Trixie. “Yes, that should work. I'll see you inside.” She walked down the porch and up to Applejack. She waited for Big Mac to sidle up to her before speaking. “Applejack?” She placed a hoof on one of Applejack's forelegs and gently slid it off from around Jonathan's neck.
Big Macintosh mirrored his sister's movements, freeing his mother from Applejack's hug.
Applejack swallowed and hung her head low. “I-I am so sorry 'bout that.” She chuckled nervously and pushed her hat down low over her eyes. “I ain't got no excuse for my actions, there. I acted like a dang-burned foal towards you.”
Martha slowly shook her head. “Well, I'm not gonna say that was exactly expected, then again there's a lot that ain't exactly been expected over the past few years.” She reached out and gently rubbed Applejack's cheek. “No need to cry, sugarcube.”
Applejack sniffled and her body shuddered slightly. “Yeah, you're right.” She cleared her throat and blew out a breath. “Now, as I was sayin' earlier.” She looked up, staring slightly askance at the two ponies before her. “We're heading to Canterlot later on and restoring Celestia to her rightful place, but right now, if there's anything you need help with 'round here, we'll lend you a hoof.”
Jacqueline arched an eyebrow. “That's an odd order of priorities. Shouldn't you deal with the Tyrant Filly, first? The land is dying by inches every second you're not there.”
Applejack slowly turned to face her counterpart, chuckling nervously. “W-well, let's just say Nightmare Moon needs a bit of talking to at the moment, you know? She needs a bit o' the lay of the land, so to speak. She took a thousand-year nap, least she did where I come from.” She glanced to Big Mac before focusing on Jonathan and Martha. “So if there's anything Fluttershy and I can do to help, just ask. We've both got four good hooves ready to kick apple trees! Or anything else, really.”
A sudden gust blew through, causing everyone to shiver. Jonathan and Martha walked around the porch and glanced at the orchard extending out behind and beyond the main house. “Looks like there's not enough for kickin',” Jonathan said, his expression downcast.
Martha leaned in close to Jonathan before turning around, but she gasped as Applejack was standing right behind her, leaning in close. She stumbled back, landing on her backside.
Applejack craned her head and neck forward. “So, no applebucking? You sure?”
Jacqueline trotted forward and slid herself between Applejack and Martha. “Mother is sure,” she said, her tone cool.
Applejack swallowed and bowed her head, letting her hat slide down to shadow her eyes. “Sorry.”
Martha groaned slightly as Jonathan helped her back to her hooves. “I-it's all right,” she said. “No harm, no foul here. Jus' a little surprised is all.” She dusted herself off. “Now, Applejack, Jonathan and I have to take a tour around the perimeter and check on guards and patrols.” She looked to the sky. “There's been reports o' raiders moving in from Cloudsdale and we've gotta be careful.”
Applejack's mouth dropped open. “'Raiders'? F-from Cloudsdale? What the hay? No, how the hay does that work?”
Jacqueline regarded her. “With the breakdown of the central government, among other things, a lot of ponies have struck out for themselves. Cloudsdale's one of the biggest, and they've gotten bolder with every raid.”
Applejack snorted. “Ah, hayseeds! This is that time when ponies should stick together, not break apart!”
Big Mac trotted up to Applejack. “Times are tough, here. Ponyville itself is barely able to take care of its own. There's even rumors of worse happenin' elsewhere.”
Applejack shook her head. “That's precisely why you all gotta stick together, like caramel to an apple!” She held a foreleg out and swept it around. “There's nothin' a little talkin' can't settle, especially with your fellow pony. Just sit 'em down and–“
“It's rather difficult when the pegasi are darting about trying to steal all that's keeping you alive for themselves,” Jacqueline said. She glanced at the ink-blue sky. “Mother, Father, we're burning what very little daylight we have left. Applejack, I don't wish to be seen as rude, but we all have a lot of things to do at the moment and very little time to accomplish them in. We all appreciate your offer of assistance, but we don't have time to... to dilly-dally.”
Martha gasped. She marched right up to Jacqueline, her expression darkening with each step.“Now, see here! That is no way to talk to one o' your kin, even if she's not from 'round here. She and Fluttershy offered their hooves for help, and it'd be mite snooty and short-sighted of us to turn them down.”
Jacqueline leaned back slightly, barely able to meet her mother's glare. “I-I didn't mean it like that, Mother! I do appreciate her offer. But we also don't have time to waste either. We both know the truth of that.”
Jonathan rolled his eyes to the sky and shook his head. “Celestia's sake, not again,” he muttered, even as his wife and daughter continued to glare at each other.
Applejack trotted up to his side and leaned in close. “They... do this often?”
Jonathan shrugged. “It can flare up from time to time. Most often they get along, but every so often bees just get into their bonnet and buzz around. Not sure when it started, but it's gotten a mite bit worse over the past few weeks.” He strode forward, pushing in between the two mares. “All right, all right! Settle down you two. Again.”
Applejack slowly shook her head as Big Mac walked up to her. “B-but, it's her ma! Why'd she be arguin' with her at all?”
Big Mac quirked an eyebrow at her. “You didn't argue with your own mother before she...” He suddenly nodded. “Ah, right.” He strode up to Jacqueline and nudged her away from Jonathan and Martha. “Come on, now. We got work to do, like you said. Inside, little lady. Inside now!” He walked with Jacqueline past Applejack, but stopped. “Listen, you said Nightmare Moon needs a 'lay of the land', right? I think Jacqueline's forecasts can give you a good report for her to read.”
Applejack's eyes widened. She looked from Big Mac to the counterparts to her parents, then back to Big Mac. “Well, I don't know...” She scratched the back of her head, rustling her cloak's hood. “Never been very good with fancy mathematics, you see.”
Big Mac stopped right in his tracks. He turned and stared at Applejack, then turned to Jacqueline before looking back at Applejack. “You-you sure 'bout that?” he asked, jaw working a bit.
Applejack shrugged. “I usually left all that to you. O-or rather, the 'you' from where I'm from.” Her brow furrowed and her eyes crossed slightly. “Dang it, this is never gonna be easy to keep straight.”
Jacqueline chuckled lowly. She turned to the main house, but paused and motioned to Applejack. “Well, there's one way to tell us apart, then. Still, you might as well come along for the forecasts anyway. There's not much that's complex about failing crops.” Her expression darkened at the last words, and she walked up and into the house, Big Mac following.
Applejack trotted over to Jonathan and Martha. Her eyes darted back and forth between the two. “I wish I could go with you two, but Nightmare Moon needs this info.” She looked down at the ground and kicked it. “I know you're not my parents back home, and I'm sorry for how I acted towards you earlier. I just–“
Jonathan spoke up. “No worries. You're an Apple. You're family, no matter what. And when you and your friends settle things in Canterlot, stop by again, okay? We can talk a bit better then.”
Applejack's eyes shone. She ducked her head low and composed herself before speaking. “Much obliged,” she choked out. She backed up, turned and headed into the house.
Fluttershy and Trixie walked through the living room, passing by several ponies and even two donkeys. Fluttershy nodded to several of them and waved, but she was met with cold glares and even some hoof-dragging across a hardwood floor. She shrank down, letting her mane and hood cover her head.
Trixie looked to her as they walked into the kitchen. “You'll have to forgive them. Strangers not wanting to steal our food and supplies is something of a rarity, and I'm not talking about our defense coordinator.” She suddenly paused. “Wait, do you know anyone named 'Rarity Belle' in your Ponyville?”
Fluttershy nodded. “Oh, yes! A-although in my Ponyville, she's a fashion designer.” She rubbed her chin. “Although your Rarity's saddlebags were a bit brighter than everyone else's.”
A chuckle escaped Trixie as her horn glowed and she opened several cupboards. A burner on a gas stove suddenly ignited below a tea kettle as cups, saucers and teabags floated out and about. “She hides it as well as she can, but not being able to go into the fashion industry kills her inside every day.” Her expression fell. “Sometimes late at night she gets into the cider a bit much while over here visiting Applejack. She goes on about not being able to follow her dream of opening up a clothing shop, and you don't know if you wanna slug her or hug her.” She looked to Fluttershy. “She's not the only one who's had to shelve their dreams because of this endless twilight.” She suddenly held up a hoof. “Pun not intended.”
Fluttershy nodded as she took a seat at the kitchen table, Trixie following suit and floating over a couple of cups of tea. Fluttershy slipped a foreleg into the handle, took a tentative sip, then a larger one. “Thank you, Trixie. So, how did you end up here? I-if you don't mind me asking, that is.”
Trixie glanced at the door leading to the living room, then looked to Fluttershy and slumped down in her chair. “Well, it was in Manehattan. I had run from Canterlot almost without stopping and, through a series of convoluted incidents, found myself living with Applejack and her Aunt and Uncle Orange in their hotel. I won't elaborate on why I ran off or how I ended up here and – what? What is it?”
Fluttershy covered her mouth, but it did little to hide several small chuckles. She shrank back a bit, cheeks colored a pale pink. “O-oh, sorry. It's just we met you back in our Ponyville, or our own version of you, which is not to say you're not just a Trixie but...” She sighed and shook her head. “Boy, this really is hard to put into words.”
Trixie waved her off. “It's all right. I'm guessing 'your' Trixie would elaborate, weave some grand tale about her exploits?” At Fluttershy's small nod she slumped down. A bottle of hard cider floated out of a drawer and landed on the table. “Perchance to dream of what might have been.” She uncorked the bottle and took a swift belt from it, shuddering slightly.
The two sat in silence for a bit, several other residents coming and going around them. Fluttershy suddenly slid off her chair, floated over to Trixie's side and draped a wing over her. Trixie startled slightly, but remained sitting. “You know, I'd love to hear some of what happened to you, at least. If you're up for it.”
Trixie's face scrunched in concentration as Fluttershy went back to her chair. Her horn lit up and a hazy cloud of magic formed above the pair. Several other ponies and the donkeys walked in, stopping and looking up. “Watch in... in... amazement, Fluttershy, as I regale you the tale of the last pony to see the Tyrant Filly before she usurped the powers of the Princess!” She suddenly hopped onto the table and thrust her forelegs up. “Behold!”
"Would you like to be Trixie's friend?" she had asked, excitement in the undercurrents of her voice.
Twilight Sparkle turned her head and smiled as the exam proctors called her. "I'll answer you after the exam!"
Trixie bounced up and down in excitement. She was going to finally have a friend!
Then, the Sun stilled. When things had calmed down, rampant curiosity had brought Trixie into the Exam Room.
That Filly had turned her incandescent eyes on Trixie. "I'm sorry, but can you tell Trixie I'm going to be too busy to be her friend for a while? I want to, but I need to fix this."
“... I ran, straight out of the School for Gifted Unicorns and as far away from Canterlot as possible. I had no family even then, so there was nothing holding me there. Fortunately Equestria was still... Equestria, so I was able to find shelter on my journey. But by the time I reached Manehattan, things had begun to grow dim for Equestria, like the sky overhead.”
Several others had gathered around Fluttershy, watching Trixie as she painted the air with ethereal images of her travels. She looked down at the crowd, gasping slightly. “You're all listening to me?”
A stallion that Fluttershy recognized as Caramel spoke up. “Hay yeah, Trixie! I never knew you had a talent for this, I tell you! Keep on going!” The others around cheered, waving their hats in the air.
Trixie motioned to him and opened her mouth, but the slam of the front door, as well as Jacqueline and Big Mac marching through the kitchen, interrupted her. “I cannot believe she's me, even some alternate version,” Jacqueline said, growling. “I know I was not exactly the most sophisticated pony before Manehattan, but even so!”
Big Mac rolled his eyes, but stopped as his gaze fell on Trixie, still on the table. “Trixie, you might wanna be careful. I haven't gotten 'round to fixing the wobble on one of the legs.”
Jacqueline's right eyebrow arched. “And what were you doing up there?”
Trixie slid back down to the floor. “Telling a story,” she said, grinning slightly. “Fluttershy asked me about Canterlot, so I told her. And others as well.” She rose to her hind legs and bowed. “Thank you all for listening!”
Jacqueline walked into the crowd and waved a foreleg around. “As amusing as this sounds, we all have important tasks to do before the end of the day. Now go on, everyone.”
The audience grumbled slightly, but went about their previous business, leaving the kitchen.
Trixie dropped back to all fours. “Well, I think it did some good.” She rubbed her chin. “I wonder if I should try to improve the images, or work on the vocals instead. “ She looked to Fluttershy, still sitting at the table. “What do you think? How did your Trixie handle things?”
Fluttershy's head seemed to shrink behind her mane and hood. “O-oh, she m-mixed things u-up a bit. Admittedly I didn't see m-much of her act.” She suddenly stood up and walked to Jacqueline. “H-how did things g-g-go with Applejack? Is she outside with her – I mean your parents?”
Jacqueline nickered slightly. “She should be along soon, though Celestia knows if she'll be able to follow what I say.”
Big Mac grunted and 'gently' nudged her, sending Jacqueline stumbling slightly. “I think she can follow it pretty well.” He looked to Trixie, suddenly grinning. “You'll be all right with Fluttershy for a bit longer, schmoopie-doo?”
Trixie cantered over and kissed Big Mac. “I think we can manage for the time-being. Now go on and make sure things don't go pear-shaped.” She stepped back, smiling as Big Mac and Jacqueline turned and walked up a staircase to the second floor. She turned, stopping as she saw Fluttershy staring right at her. “What?”
Fluttershy suddenly blinked and shook her head. “What? Oh, sorry! That just took me a bit by surprise.” She leaned forward, wings spreading out slightly. “You and Big Macintosh?You're each other's special somepony?”
Trixie smiled and her eyes sparkled. “He swept me off my hooves, the smooth-talker. Three years next month.” She looked down to the floor. “Even in all this, there's a little bit of happiness.” She glanced up at Fluttershy. “Can you really fix the sun?”
Fluttershy's brow scrunched. She hopped up, punched the air and spun about. “Don't worry, Trixie! We'll fix things in Canterlot!”
Trixie's expression brightened. “When you come back, tell me about it. The... something-something Trixie will spread your tale far and wide!”
Applejack walked in. She stopped by the threshold and slid her hat off, but put it back on. “No hat rack,” she muttered. She looked to the pair. “So where'd Big Mac and tha other me go off to?”
Trixie pointed to the staircase. “Second door on the left is Jacqueline's room. You can't miss the big orange on it.”
Applejack's right eyebrow rose. “Say, what? Don't she have no pride in bein' an Apple?” She grunted before trotting up the stairs, leaving Trixie and Fluttershy below.
Trixie's mouth dropped in shock. “I hope she doesn't say anything like that upstairs!”
Fluttershy walked to her side. “Well, my Applejack is very proud of being an Apple. Is yours not so proud?”
Trixie hesitated for a moment before shrugging, her cape fluttering slightly against her body. “It's complicated. Ooh, I'll tell you about it while I do maintenance and repair out in the barn!” She walked out of the kitchen, Fluttershy following as she made her way to the front door. “I can work a bit on my stage name, too. I haven't given that any thought in years.”
Applejack walked up the stairs, quickly spotting the door and knocking on it. Jacqueline's muffled voice bade her to enter and she pushed it open, walking in. She looked around the room, noting how clean and organized it was. A bed, dresser and desk, all oak, dominated the room, several pictures of a younger Jacqueline, Trixie and Aunt and Uncle Orange on the dresser. Jacqueline and Big Mac were at the desk, a pair of glasses on Jacqueline's muzzle that had Applejack thinking of her Rarity. “Sorry I'm late.” She walked up to Big Mac's side and looked down at several unrolled scrolls on the desk. She twisted her head around and narrowed her eyes. “So... what am I lookin' at?”
Jacqueline glanced up from her reading. “It's our crop yields over the past year and projections for coming seasons. Our predictions are rather dire at the moment.”
Applejack looked up and rolled her eyes. “Well, anyone could've figured that out jus' by looking at the trees and the land. The lack of sun and warmth's killing them, and we're starvin' 'cause of it. Not much more to say, is there.”
Jacqueline eyed her counterpart down her muzzle. “That is the bare facts, Applejack. There's a lot more to it than 'lack o' sun',” she said, the last words drawled out. “Both Mayor Mare and Nightmare Moon will need as concise and comprehensive a report as possible, for both long and short term planning. Even when the sun comes back, there's going to be a lot of work ahead for us.” She looked to Big Mac. “Make sure not to get these mixed up.”
Big Mac rolled his eyes, “You trip over a log one time and I've never heard that end o' it.”
Jacqueline chuckled slightly, then turned back to Applejack, her expression darkening. “I'm quite surprised you haven't learned the value of detailed reports. Do you run Sweet Apple Acres back in your Ponyville?”
Applejack tilted her head from side to side. “Well, I never did get much into the fancy mathematics much. Truth be told Big Mac is more the stallion behind that scenes where I come from.”
Jacqueline opened her mouth, but hesitated for a moment. She slowly shook her head. “I... how? In your Ponyville, Mother and Father – “
“Ma and Pa.”
Jacqueline blinked, but nickered slightly. “'Ma and Pa', as you put it, have passed on. How much responsibility do you have, there? Granny Smith's retired in our Sweet Apple Acres, but does she still run things there? How could you not have learned the ins and outs of business practices and the need for detailed information? Those were some of the first lessons taught to me by Auntie and Uncle, and I took them to heart!”
Applejack snorted. “Aunt and Uncle Orange, from Manehattan? You went there, too? Ah, no wonder you're so high-falutin' and wearing them fancy duds. You stay there a while after the sonic rainboom, I'm guessin'?”
Big Mac slapped a hoof against his forehead. “Ah, dang, that ain't good,” he muttered.
Jacqueline's eyes narrowed as the temperature in the room suddenly plunged. “I... went there, yes. And when the sun stilled, I remained for a while. What else was I to do at the moment?”
Applejack shrugged. “Go be with your family, maybe?”
Jacqueline's jaw wavered for a moment. She leaned forward, planting both fore hooves on her desk and glaring at Applejack. “W-what precisely do you consider Aunt and Uncle Orange to be, then, strangers who just happen to be your mother's sister and brother-in-law?”
Applejack backed up a bit as Jacqueline slid off her chair and stalked over to her. She held up a foreleg. “N-now wait just a dang-burned minute, here! I got nothin' against Auntie and Uncle Orange back where I come from! They took me in when I ran away from home. It's just they were a bit too frou-frouy for me!”
Jacqueline peeled her upper lip back, exposing her teeth. “Oh, I see! That's all they did for you? All they did was take in someone who ran away from home, gave them almost no warning she was coming, let her stay with free room and board and tried to teach her how to act all properly! But I guess being 'frou-frouy' is an unpardonable sin for you!”
Applejack glared right back and leaned forward, butting foreheads with Jacqueline. “Now hold on, missy! I didn't say nothing' like that! You're right, they took me in and for that I'm forever grateful, but Aunt Orange was way too different and too changed from what she was 'fore she moved to Manehattan and married that Orange fellow. She wasn't no Apple no more.”
Jacqueline stared at Applejack. “She... she wasn't...” She suddenly leaned back, letting Applejack stumble forward before slapping her counterpart right across the muzzle. “How DARE you say that about her! She and Uncle Orange were wonderful ponies and wonderful family! They took me in, took Trixie in and helped out Celestia knows how many others!”
Big Mac suddenly slid between the two, thrusting his forelegs out. “Okay, simmer down, you hear!”
Applejack slowly turned back to face Jacqueline, a hoof rubbing an already-forming bruise on her nose. She ignored Big Mac, snarled and stomped the floor. “Then why ain't you back there in the big city, huh? Why ain't you there instead of here?”
Jacqueline's eyes lost focus for a moment. “Do you think I'm here in Ponyville because I want to be? Do you think Trixie and I would've left Aunt and Uncle Orange if we had a damned choice in the matter? Did you fail to notice how I said they 'were' wonderful ponies?”
Applejack's eyes widened as the implication hit her. She backed up slightly. “T-they're... dead?” She looked to the floor, sliding her hat off her head and placing it over her chest. “I'm sorry. I didn't know.”
Jacqueline's body heaved slightly. Her gaze drifted down to a point in space somewhere past Applejack and Big Mac. “Things got bad, real bad. The Royal Guard was called in, but rioting broke out in the Broncos. It spread throughout the city, and quickly reached A-Aunt and U-u-Uncle's hotel..."
“How full is the carriage?”
“We got room for the two fillies, but that's it!”
“Take them, then. Please!”
Jacqueline and Trixie looked around at everyone galloping about, their ears folded against their skulls because of the din. Jacqueline reached up and tugged on Aunt Orange's sleeve. “Auntie, what's going on? Is it the bad ponies?”
A pair of forelegs suddenly scooped her up and deposited her into the carriage interior, Trixie following. She squirmed about a bit, pushing against other ponies before sticking her head out the window. “Auntie! Uncle!” she cried out.
Aunt Orange walked up to the carriage and gently touched first Jacqueline's hoof, then Trixie's. “Make your way to Ponyville. You'll find family, there. Talk to Granny Smith and Martha Apple. They'll help you two out.” She suddenly reached back, slid a pin off of her mane and hoofed it to Jacqueline. “Take care of each other, and remember. We love you.”
The carriage started rolling, carrying Jacqueline and Trixie off and out of Manehattan. The two called out to Aunt and Uncle Orange, not quite understanding what was going on.
“We kept on going, eventually reaching Hoofington. Trixie and I wandered a bit before coming upon Sweet Apple Acres. I wrote Aunt Orange dozens of times, but the riots took their toll. I haven't gotten anything back, and I don't think I ever will.”
Applejack swallowed, her cheeks burning scarlet. “Aunt and Uncle Orange, Ma and Pa. I am a dang-burned fool, and I'm sorry for what I said earlier. That was wrong o' me.”
The corners of Jacqueline's mouth turned upward, slowly and slightly. “And I apologize for treating you like I did. I had missed that you and I share the same pain, the pain of losing two people that you looked up to and guided your formative years. Mother and Father for you, Aunt and Uncle Orange for me.” She looked up to Applejack. “After you've saved Celestia and after... talking to Mother and Father, could you do something when you return to your home?”
Applejack nodded. “I think I got a hankerin' on what you want me to do. Write to Aunt and Uncle Orange?” At Jacqueline's short nod Applejack, placed a hoof over her heart. “I swear to you, Jacqueline. I'll write them.”
Big Mac looked from one to the other before lowering his forelegs and sighing. “Great we got that settled.” He turned to the desk, scooped up several scrolls into his saddlebags and then cantered to Applejack's side. “Ready to head back to Ponyville?”
Applejack chuckled slightly. “Ah, heck. And I didn't even get to help y'all out any.”
Big Mac looked to Jacqueline, who was visibly more relaxed than mere moments ago. “Not too sure 'bout that.”
The three were startled by a sudden banging from the wall. Jacqueline glanced to a window and gasped at the sight of a blue pegasus banging against the reinforced glass. “Sweet Celestia above, it's a pegasus raider!”
Applejack arched an eyebrow. “What? Aw, hay no! That's my friend Rainbow Dash!” She walked up to the window and placed her hooves against the frame, but the window stayed shut. Applejack grunted and groaned as she tried – and failed – to open the window. “Land's sakes,” she said, looking up at the top of the sill. “It's locked. I guess Apple Bloom's right when she calls me a silly pony.” She reached up, undid the lock and heaved the window open.
Rainbow Dash flew in, flapping her wings and sending her cloak billowing out. “Oh my gosh oh my gosh this is bad and I mean bad!” She suddenly stopped and looked from Applejack to Jacqueline. Her right eyebrow arched. She opened her mouth, but suddenly waved a hoof in the air. “Nah, no time.”
Applejack let out a sigh. “Dash, for that you get two barrels o' cider first day next cider season!”
Jacqueline's eyes darted back and forth. “For what?”
Rainbow Dash pumped a foreleg in the air. “All right!” she cheered, her expression turning jolly for a moment before she settled back into being serious. “Okay, bad news time! There's a cloud formation heading this way, along with a lot of pegasi armed and armored up. They're about a half-hour behind me, if that.”
Jacqueline whinnied and stomped the floor. “Raiders!” she gasped out. She looked to Big Mac. “Sound the alarm and shoot off the fireworks!”
Big Mac nodded before turning off and galloping out the door.
Applejack sucked in a breath as Jacqueline closed and locked the window. “Raiders? Like what y'all were talkin' 'bout beforehoof?”
Jacqueline nodded. She turned and faced Applejack, her expression grim. “It appears their desperation or boldness have beaten out their fear of the Tyrant Filly and the Royal Guard. I'm sorry to say, Applejack, but you and your companions are about to get an object lesson on how bad things really have gotten here.”
Rarity and Rarity Belle walked along the exterior of the wall surrounding Ponyville, the latter floating a clipboard and quill in front of her. Rarity Belle stopped at various sections of the wall, tapping gems with her hoof, then scribbling something down. On occasion her horn would glow and a gem would either move slightly, or would detach from the wall, float into her saddlebags and another would float out to replace it. The pair continued along, the only sound their hooves on the ground, the scratching of quill against clipboard or the clink of gems.
They continued on for about halfway around before Rarity finally spoke up. “I must commend you on this exquisite work, my counterpart. Your eye for detail and high standards are definitely something both of us share, especially concerning gemstones.” She leaned in and examined a ruby. “Although I think this one has a minor flaw.”
Rarity Belle looked over her shoulder, then spun around and leaned in close to the ruby. She looked up at her counterpart and shook her head. “That was something I did intentionally. It diffuses the magical energy in order to cover a wider area with the same amount of energy.” She smirked slightly. “Although I must say, good catch. Nice to see I've got an eye for detail no matter what reality I'm from.”
Rarity chuckled and waved her off. “Oh, I should've realized you wouldn't let such a detail go by unnoticed. Rather good idea, too!” She looked over the wall and sighed. “Such a shame that this loveliness must be used in such a manner.”
“I agree,” Rarity Belle admitted, sighing and slumping slightly. She raised a hoof and adjusted a diamond. “How I wish this could adorn a dress, or a tiara. Or simply wait inside a jewelry box instead of being used in such a manner!” She looked to the dark sky and let out a long sigh. “It's been a long time since I've enjoyed a warm summer day, or even a night where I didn't have to bundle up. Tell me, my counterpart, can you and Nightmare Moon really save Celestia and restore her powers?”
Rarity's horn glowed and the Element of Generosity floated from underneath her cloak. “Do not fret, my dear! With the Elements of Harmony we shall restore Celestia!”
Rarity Belle's eyes widened at the necklace and the single purple diamond shining with an inner fire embedded in the gold. She slowly reached a hoof towards it. “Oh, my stars!” Her head tilted to the side and her eyes lost focus for a moment. “So pretty... but what does it do, exactly?”
There was a bit of silence as Rarity slowly floated her necklace back inside her cloak. She opened her mouth, but quickly closed it. “Well, truth be told, I'm not entirely sure,” she admitted, chuckling nervously. “We just gathered together the last two times and they just sort of lit up, combined their powers and fired a rainbow at our target. Then things just sort of... worked themselves out when we came to.”
“They just 'worked themselves out',” Rarity Belle repeated, arching an eyebrow. “Well, not exactly the most comforting thing to know about these Elements of Harmony. If they do work like you say, then why didn't you just go right to Canterlot and save Celestia in the first place?”
Rarity looked around for a moment before she leaned in close to her counterpart. “Well... truth be told? Nightmare Moon needs more than just a little 'update' to the current times. In our Equestria, Nightmare Moon goes by a different name – Princess Luna.”
Rarity Belle blinked twice. Her eyes suddenly widened. “Wait, you mean they're... but their eyes and face... but then again their manes and general posture...” She stopped. “Oh, my stars. What happened over there, precisely?”
Rarity's Element floated back out and wobbled slightly in the air. “Well, to make a long story short she emerged from the moon a little unhinged, power-hungry and without the ability to bring it down a notch. To be frank, if we simply went to Canterlot, you'd be trading one tyrant for another. However, we have no idea what condition Celestia will be in, nor how the return of her power will affect her. And if we hit Nightmare Moon with the Elements she'd be drastically weakened and in no condition to do anything here. So right now our best bet is to have Princess Luna show her just how horrid things are and make sure Nightmare Moon knows how much worse it could get.”
Rarity Belle's right eye brow twitched slightly. “I... see.” She glanced to the wall. “How's it been working out so far?”
“A lot better than we thought,” Rarity replied. A sudden boom caught her attention. She looked to her right as fireworks blossomed in the air above Sweet Apple Acres. She gasped and smiled. “Oh, what wonderful fireworks!” She suddenly rubbed her chin. “Wait a moment, those fireworks look a bit familiar.”
Rarity Belle, however, gasped and reared back. “Oh, no!” She turned and galloped for the main gate, but stopped and looked back over her shoulder at her counterpart. “They're a warning. Raiders are incoming!”
Rarity stood stock-still for a moment before galloping up to Rarity Belle. The two entered Ponyville and walked into a scene of controlled chaos. Ponies all around ran about, more than a few of them armed with bows, spears, swords and even cookware. Buildings were being closed and locked up, windows closed and locked.
Mayor Mare suddenly bolted out of city hall, Twilight, Nightmare Moon and Luna following. Mayor Mare's face was scrunched and her teeth were bared. “Everyone calm down!” she shouted. “Barricade the buildings! Get all foals inside! Secure the food and water. Everyone arm yourselves and prepare for battle!” She ran inside a building and emerged a few moments later, a spear slung over her back and a mace strapped to her foreleg.
Twilight blinked as she observed her. “Okay, her, I'd vote for.”
Rarity ran over to Twilight and the two alicorns. “Fireworks shot off over Sweet Apple Acres and apparently some very unpleasant company is coming,” she explained.
Luna's nostrils flared. She tilted her head to the side. “That smell...” She shook her head. “No time at the moment.” She looked to Nightmare Moon. “I have a feeling unless you or I intervene, this could get very bloody very quickly.”
Nightmare Moon returned the gaze, but curtly nodded. “I fully agree.” She strode over to Mayor Mare, who was directing ponies armed with crossbows up to the towers along the wall. She lowered her head, her mane whipping back and forth. “Mayor, keep everyone inside Ponyville. Order them not to engage. I shall deal with this threat.”
Rarity looked to Twilight, who held up a hoof. “We got through to her,” Twilight said.
Mayor Mare hesitated at Nightmare Moon's order for a moment, but nodded. “Very well, but we'll keep on our guard.” She looked around, spotting Rarity Belle. “Rarity, ready the energy infusion for the defense shield!”
Rarity Belle froze in place. “W-what? Ready the shield? B-but I can't do it alone! It requires at least two unicorns to power it, two unicorns who know the spell, mind,” she said as she glanced at Rarity as she raised a hoof and opened her mouth. “Sorry, darling, but I don't think we'll have the time for me to teach it to you.”
Before Rarity could respond, the front gates swung open. Trixie, Big Mac and Applejack galloped inside, Fluttershy trailing behind them in the air. Trixie's cape fluttered a bit as she turned a bit and headed straight for Rarity Belle. “I'm here, I'm here!” She slowed down, her legs pumping as she cantered around, thrust a foreleg out and held her head up high. “Ready to assist you, my dear Rarity! Let us defend Ponyville!”
Twilight and Rarity stared at Trixie, but Fluttershy flew up to them and waved her forelegs about. “Wait, wait! It's all right! She lives at Sweet Apple Acres with the Apple family and is really nice!”
Twilight and Rarity slowly looked to Applejack, who galloped up to Fluttershy's side. “She's tellin'... the... truth,” she panted out, her breath coming out in clouds of steam.
Rarity walked up to Applejack, floated a cloth over to her and wiped her forehead. “If you say so, then.” She looked into the air. “Is Rainbow Dash with you?”
Applejack and Fluttershy exchanged a glance, then looked around the immediate area. “Wasn't she right behind you?” Applejack asked Fluttershy.
Fluttershy shot a foot into the air. “Oh my goodness, oh my goodness! She was right behind us when we left Sweet Apple Acres!” She suddenly grabbed Applejack by the shoulders and shook her. “Where did she go? Where did she GO?”
Applejack's head whipped back and forth. She knocked Fluttershy's hooves away and adjusted her hat. “Calm down, calm down, Fluttershy! I don't know where she went!”
“Where who went?”
The group turned as Pinkie Pie bounced around a corner. A tray of muffins was balanced on her head, and she stopped every few feet to bounce one off of the tray at a passing pony and place the tray onto a table once it was empty. She stopped right beside Twilight. “Sorry, had to make sure Missus Cake and the twins were all right.” She let out a sigh and half-smiled. “They're safe in a shelter, with a dozen muffins to munch on and share with others.”
Twilight smiled right back. “Glad to hear, Pinkie. As for who's missing, Rainbow Dash is. Apparently she got lost between Sweet Apple Acres and here?”
Pinkie Pie's right ear flopped down. “Oh, good. I thought it was Fluttershy for a moment.”
Applejack snorted. “Pinkie, she's right – “ She stopped as she suddenly realized Fluttershy was no longer there. She craned her head around, quickly spotting the pegasus flying over the wall. “Ah, hayseeds.”
Nightmare Moon strode forth, Luna trailing behind slightly. “You may raise the shield, but only after Luna and I exit Ponyville proper,” Nightmare Moon announced. “These interlopers shall be dealt with!”
Luna leaned in close to her. “Do not kill them. Understood?”
Nightmare Moon snorted and smirked. “Oh, please. A little telekinesis and weather-control and they'll be eating out of the pad of my hoof.”
While the alicorns walked out of Ponyville's main gate, Trixie and Rarity each walked up to a rather large diamond embedded in the wall. Their horns glowed and shot out beams of magic at it. The diamonds brightened to a blinding-white, tendrils shooting out from it and hitting other gemstones. The magic raced around and up the wall, quickly reaching the top of the wall and extending out and forming a dome over the wall and town.
While the dome grew, a large bank of clouds slowly approached. Flights of pegasi flew about, some pushing clouds and others diving at Ponyville. The raiders spread out, surrounding Ponyville and coming in low, close to the dome.
Nightmare Moon looked up at the largest cloud, a mass of gray that looked to be a quarter the size of Ponyville. “The leader of this is probably on that cloud.”
“Yeah, that's what I'd do. Intimidation and ease of coordination.”
Both alicorns arched their right eyebrow and slowly looked to their right. Rainbow Dash hovered there, looking up at the cloud. She looked down and over, catching their glares. “What, is my cloak bunched up?” she said, chuckling slightly.
Nightmare Moon growled and bared her teeth. Her horn glowed and she telekinetically yanked Rainbow Dash over. “Just what in Tartarus do you think you're doing out here?”
Rainbow Dash swallowed and looked away from Nightmare Moon's penetrating stare. “Reinforcements?”
Luna's own horn glowed and Nightmare Moon's hold on Rainbow Dash dissolved. “Noble intentions, but I am afraid we can ill afford to divide our attentions between dealing with these raiders and protecting you.”
Rainbow Dash scoffed and punched the air. “What, you really think I need protecting? Come on, Princess! There's no way – “
Three pegasi raiders suddenly kicked their clouds, sending down bolts of lightning right at Rainbow Dash mid-punch. Nightmare Moon's horn glowed and a shield formed around Dash a half-second before the lightning reached her. The bolts strobed around the dome, enveloping it in cerulean before the lightning streaked down into the ground, blowing apart the ground and sending out a small shower of dirt.
Nightmare Moon lowered her head and sniffed the ground. “Hmm, lethal intensity.” She slowly looked up, locking eyes with Rainbow Dash. “Yes, I do think you need protecting. Why do you ask?”
Luna shrugged and looked back up at the raiders. “Fortunately, Rainbow Dash is rather tough and can overall look after herself. She's also the only one...” She trailed off as Fluttershy floated over the wall and flew over to Rainbow Dash's side.
Fluttershy grabbed her friend's shoulders and shook Rainbow Dash back and forth. “And just what do you think you're doing out here, young lady? You had us worried sick inside there!” She suddenly stopped as Luna and Nightmare Moon loomed over her. She let go of Rainbow Dash and dropped down to the ground, wings folding over her head.
Nightmare Moon glanced up at Luna. “You were saying?”
A sudden shout from the largest cloud caught their attention. “Hey, who the bucking Tartarus authorized those lightning bolts?” Commander Dash poked her head out over the edge of the cloud, but her helmet slid down over her face. She fumbled with it a bit, letting out numerous swears.
Rainbow Dash gasped. “Oh my gosh! That's me! Or that's this Equestria's me, except I would totally wear Commander Hurricane's armor if I had the chance!”
Gilda and Lightning Dust peeked out over the cloud's edge. Gilda's eyes widened as she spotted Rainbow Dash. She leaned over and knocked Commander Dash's helmet a few times. “Hey, Dashie? Did you have a twin sister you forgot to tell us about?'
Commander Dash finally managed to slide her helmet away from her eyes. She looked down at Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Nightmare Moon and Luna. “Hey, that's me! Wait, that can't be me. I'm me! Is this some early Nightmare Night prank? Who are the alicorns?” She jumped off the cloud and flew down, Gilda and Lightning Dust following close behind. “Okay, you losers! I want all the food and stuff you can spare, or else that little eggshell of a shield is gonna be cracked!”
Nightmare Moon slid her hooves a bit, widening her stance. “Big words from a little pony.” Her horn lit up and a high wind suddenly sprung up. Her eyes turned white and her horn flared to life. She reached out, grabbing the three in midair and halting their descent. She chuckled as she floated them down. “I see news of my return hasn't reached you yet. I am Nightmare Moon, Celestia's younger sister and the one who will save her and bring back the sun.” She heard a mild grunt from her left and she groaned. “With help from friends we shall bring back the sun and save Celestia.” She looked to Luna. “Better?”
“Better.”
Commander Dash kicked and bucked against Nightmare Moon's telekinetic grip, but she continued her slow descent, finally stopping a few inches from Nightmare Moon's muzzle. She glared at Nightmare Moon and shook a hoof at her. “What, you think this is gonna stop us? I've got fifty loyal soldiers here who are gonna kick your flank from here to Griffonstone!”
Nightmare Moon smirked. She looked to Rainbow Dash. “Sound familiar?”
Rainbow Dash snorted. “No kidding.” She rubbed her chin. “Weird seeing and hearing it from this side. Was it this amusing to you when I went off on you back in my Ponyville?”
There was a pause, then Nightmare Moon shook her head. “Your bravado was to defend your friends and to stop someone you saw as a mortal threat to your world. This one, however, wishes to pillage and destroy those who cannot defend themselves.”
“Hey!” Commander Dash shouted. “It's not like I want to do this! We don't have any choice. There's not enough to go around, and I won't see my friends or family starve! I'd rather rip my own wings off than let that happen!”
Fluttershy spoke up. “W-well, I think you'd be able to do better if you work together with other villages and towns. That way you'll have more to go around and it would be easier to get what you can. There'd be no more fighting.”
Commander Dash turned to Fluttershy. She leaned her had back slightly. “Hey, do I know you?” She suddenly gasped. “Wait, no way! You're... uh... Flubber Why?” She shook her head. “No, no. You're Fluttershy! Dang it, I haven't seen you in years. I thought you were dead, for Celestia's sake.”
Fluttershy sucked in a breath. “Oh, I'm sorry. I don't mean to be alive.” Her head suddenly shot up. “Wait, I'm not sorry for that at all! Why should I be?”
Lightning Dust looked Fluttershy over. “Hey, I remember you telling us about her, Dash. Weren't you sticking up for her against Hoops, Dumbbell and Score?”
Commander Dash nodded. “Yeah. She waved the flag to start the race, I sped by and she fell off the cloud.” She looked in Fluttershy's general direction. “It wasn't until the next day that I had even remembered about you. I flew down to the ground and searched for you, but all I found was bloody bits of your mane stuck in bushes or on tree branches.”
Rainbow Dash suddenly reached over and wrapped her forelegs around Fluttershy, squeezing her tightly.
Commander Dash regarded her counterpart. “Okay, so who the hay are you?” She awkwardly thumped her armored chest. “Has the legend of my raids reached so far I have imitators? If so, the mane's all wrong.”
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “Ha, ha. Okay, remember 'Daring Do and the Shattered Mirror' where Daring flew through – “
“Daring Do? Oh, please!” Commander Dash waved a foreleg in the air and rolled her eyes. “I don't have time for geeky stuff like that. Eggheads read books like that, not heroes trying to save Cloudsdale! I got enough in my trough without sticking my muzzle into some book!”
Rainbow Dash's ears folded against her skull and her muzzle drooped down. She glanced back at Ponyville. “I gotta apologize to Twilight when this is all over.”
Lightning Dust crossed her forelegs in front of her and blew out a breath. “Okay, enough of the reminiscing and talking about books. We got a town to pillage and sack!”
Commander Dash glared at her for a second, but she also smirked. “Thanks for the reminder. We've got a lot to get and little time to get it.”
Nightmare Moon's eyes slowly slid over. She tossed her head back and laughed, shaking Lightning Dust from the sheer force. “Y-you really think you're going to do anything other than float there and like it? You still think you have a chance in this?” She extended a wing and wiped her eyes. “O-oh, this is too much!” She looked to Luna. “Could you take over for me here, please? I'm going to be a little occupied for the moment.”
Luna nodded. “But of course.” Her horn lit up. The magic surrounding Commander Dash, Gilda and Lightning Dust flickered slightly. The shield surrounding Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy dissolved for a moment before reforming around them, the color slightly lighter than before.
Commander Dash turned and looked up. “All forces!” she shouted, waving her forelegs about, “attack! Break that shield and – “ A muzzle suddenly popped into existence on her mouth, silencing her.
Luna trotted up to her side as muzzles also appeared on Lightning Dust and Gilda. “Now, now, no need to get anyone riled up. The show is starting, after all.”
Nightmare Moon flapped her wings and flew into the air. Several of the raiders kicked their clouds, sending lightning bolts right at her. Each one struck her personal shield, illuminating it before quickly dying down. Several of them attacked Ponyville, their own attacks striking the shield and shaking it. A few raiders dove in at her, but were quickly seized with her magic and held in midair. “Useless actions. I am Nightmare Moon. I control the sky. I control the night.” Her horn lit up and several beams of midnight-blue magic shot from it. Each one struck a cloud, vaporizing it and encasing any pegasi pushing it in a bubble. Several more lightning bolts struck her shield, doing little more than annoy Nightmare Moon. Her eyes glowed and her lips peeled back. Her mane and tail flapped about as wind picked up. “I control the dreams. I control the ether! Now I command you all. SLEEP!”
Within seconds, almost every single raider's head drooped down and their eyes closed. A few struggled to maintain consciousness, but they lasted only a few moments more than the others. Nightmare Moon grabbed every single raider and lowered them to the ground. She then turned and trotted up to a wide-eyed, now open-mouthed Commander Dash. “Oh, I'm terribly sorry. Did I ruin your plans?”
Commander Dash looked around at all the sleeping ponies. She banged her hooves on the force field encasing her. “Hey, wake up! I order you to get up! Come on, you dweebs! We've got a town to attack! Come on!”
Nightmare Moon rolled her eyes. She looked up and focused on Ponyville. “Ponyville, you stand secure!” she shouted. “The raiders are subdued. You are safe, now!”
For a moment, nothing happened. Then, the main gate slowly opened. Mayor Mare peeked her helmeted head out and looked around. She gasped and fully emerged. “I-I don't believe it!” She trotted around several of the raiders, leaning in close to their sleeping forms. “They're all asleep. We heard some shouting, saw some lightning and now... it's over?”
Nightmare Moon nodded. “Ponyville is safe, Mayor Mare. And it will remain safe.”
Mayor Mare galloped over to Nightmare Moon. She bent low and touched her head to the ground. “Oh, thank you, thank you so much!” She looked up at Nightmare Moon, eyes shining.
Nightmare Moon stared down at her. “You're... welcome.”
Big Mac poked his head out the main gate, then slipped back inside. The shield dissolved, and he and Trixie walked out of the main gate. A stream of ponies followed them, spreading out and walking amongst the still-sleeping pegasi.
Mayor Mare trotted over to Commander Dash, Gilda and Lightning Dust. She tapped their bubbles with her mace as she walked around them. “So, wanted to strip our town bare? Wanted to take everything and leave us nothing? Looks like the horseshoe is on the other hoof, you bandit!”
Commander Dash bared her teeth and flapped her wings. “Hey, we would've left you with enough to pass a night!”
Mayor Mare stopped and glared at her. “A night? How generous of you, oh Commander! I shall bow to your benevolence, after I bash your skull in!”
Luna suddenly grabbed Mayor Mare's mace away from her and floated it in the air. She also extended a wing, blocking Commander Dash from Mayor Mare. “Cease and desist, Mayor. Commander Dash and her raiders need compassion, not concussions. You must work together.” She leaned down and locked eyes with Mayor Mare. “You must!”
Mayor Mare fell back onto her haunches. She bobbed her head up and down. “All right, all right! We won't harm them.”
Nightmare Moon walked over and stood over Mayor Mare. She locked eyes with Luna for a moment before bending her head down and staring at Mayor Mare. “If there are any spare provisions, distribute them among the raiders. Keep them under guard, but do not harm them or unnecessarily starve them. Understood?”
Mayor Mare raised herself up onto her four hooves and brushed at her coat and pants. “I'll see what we have, but Ponyville barely has enough for its residents. I can guarantee their safety, but not their stomachs.” With that, she walked over to Big Mac and Trixie.
Nightmare Moon watched her go. Twilight Sparkle and the rest of the Bearers of the Elements caught her attention. She smiled as they approached. “Well, nice to see the sensible ones emerging.”
Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes. “Okay, okay, I get it! It was dumb of me to stay out here. I'm sorry!”
Applejack walked over to Rainbow Dash's side. “Yer heart was in the right place. Brains, on the other hoof...”
Luna cleared her throat. “Any recriminations and good-natured ribbing will have to wait. We must get to Canterlot as soon as possible and repair the damage caused.”
There was stunned silence. Nightmare Moon spoke up. “I see the error and damnation of Eternal Night. The sun will rise again on Equestria.” She looked at Luna out of the corner of her eye. “But why the sudden rush? I thought you'd have us stick around to... change diapers or something.”
Pinkie Pie spoke up. “The Cake twins should be fine on that account. Mister Cake and the logging crew should be back soon.”
Luna opened her mouth, closed it, then shook her head and spoke. “No, that's not it. Nightmare Moon, smell the air. Smell the emotions. Smell them.”
Nightmare Moon's eyes narrowed, but she sniffed the air. She suddenly gasped and kicked the air. “Windigos!”
Twilight Sparkle reared back. “What, windigos? The beasts from Hearth's Warming? That's impossible! They were all destroyed in Friendship Cavern!” She stopped and her ears folded against her skull. “Right?”
Luna shook her head. “Not all died, not in our reality or this one. Those that survived were driven far beyond the boundaries of the former Crystal Empire, but here, in this Equestria, hate has returned to their hearts. Hate, anger and fear have drawn them back from their exile.”
Rarity drew her cloak closer to her body. “Oh, what ghastly beasts! I knew it was getting colder here.”
Applejack slid her hood up over her head. “Actually, now that I think 'bout it, it got mighty chilly at Sweet Apple Acres when Jacqueline and I were arguin'.”
Luna slowly turned and looked up to Canterlot in the distance. “We must act quickly, but there are problems.” She looked over her shoulder at Nightmare Moon. “I assume this Twilight sensed your presence?”
Nightmare Moon nodded. “She did, and send guardsponies after me.” She slowly smirked. “They went to my side soon enough, though. I doubt any of them would attack us. Although the Tyrant Filly herself would be ready.”
Twilight paced back and forth. “So, I'm guessing walking's out of the question. Flying, too. A mass teleport?”
Luna rubbed her chin. “That might drain us a bit, unless the energy's spread out.” She smiled at Twilight. “Care to give us a hoof?”
Twilight drew herself up to her full height and patted her chest. “It would be a pleasure, Princess.”
Nightmare Moon suddenly turned. She held up a hoof and spread her wings out. “Citizens of Ponyville, it is time for us to go!” she shouted, loud enough to gain everyone's attention but not quite the Royal Canterlot Voice. “We go to Canterlot, to save my sister, to bring back the sun and save you all!”
Big Mac stomped the ground. “Thank you, your highness! Thank you!”
Trixie joined in on the stomping. Within seconds everyone was stomping the ground in applause and cheering Nightmare Moon and the others on.
Nightmare Moon swallowed. “They... they love me? They're cheering for me?”
Luna leaned over and lightly nuzzled her. “You've brought them hope. For some, it's the first ray of light in five years.” She knelt down slightly and her horn lit up. “All right, I believe the best place is right inside Canterlot. If we arrive in the throne room we might startle her.”
Twilight half-closed her eyes and her own horn lit up, followed by Nightmare Moon's. All eight gathered in close as the air rippled around them.
Nightmare Moon looked to each of them. “Whatever happens, know this. I am grateful for your help. Thank you.”
Luna patted her on the shoulder. “What are friends for?”
A sphere formed around them. When it vanished, they were gone.
A low wind blew through Canterlot, sending shivers racing through the heavily-covered denizens still living in the half-abandoned city. Most of them were indoors, especially after the battle that had occurred a half-day ago. The few that braved the outside kept in groups, and only stayed outside as much as absolutely necessary.
A sphere of energy suddenly flashed into existence, right inside the main gate. It faded, leaving behind Luna, Nightmare Moon and the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony. Pinkie Pie looked around at the few ponies standing about. “Hi, there!” she said, waving a hoof at them. “We're here to save you all!”
Applejack arched an eyebrow as she looked at the various ponies staring right back at her. “A lot more o' them than I thought there'd be.”
Nightmare Moon strode forth from the group. “Citizens of Canterlot! I am Princess Nightmare Moon, here to aid in your liberation from the Tyrant Filly! Rejoice, for on this day, the sun shall rise again!”
Rainbow Dash snorted. “'Princess Nightmare Moon' sounds so weird.”
The various ponies there stared at her. Some backed up, but most remained in place. After a few minutes, a white-coated unicorn stallion wearing ornate armor trotted up, followed by several other guardsponies. “Greetings, your highness. I am Shining Armor, captain of the Royal Guard. I believe you met some of my subordinates during your last visit.”
Nightmare Moon chuckled slightly. “They were most helpful to me, Captain. Now, please stand aside. We have a country to save.” She walked forward, but Shining Armor stood in her path. “What are you doing?”
Shining Armor looked up at Nightmare Moon and his horn lit up. A concave shield appeared in front of him, stretching out around him and the guards behind. “I know there's a very slim chance of me stopping you, but that's my sister up there. I've seen the damage – “
Twilight walked forward. She kept her head down and hood pulled tightly over her head. “She needs help,” she said, keeping her voice barely above a whisper. “This land needs help. We don't want to hurt her. We want to help her.” She raised her head and her hood fell back. “And the best way to do that is to...” She trailed off as she felt a mild breeze ruffle her mane. She reached up and waved it about her head. “Oh, horse apples.”
Shining Armor's eyes widened. He leaned forward and slowly looked Twilight over. He finally looked up to Nightmare Moon, then to Luna. “What is this?”
Twilight closed her eyes for a moment, sucked in a breath, then began speaking. “I'm... I'm a possibility. My name is Twilight Sparkle, and I got the help I needed when I needed it during my exam. She didn't. And you know as much as I do she needs help.” Her horn glowed and the Element of Magic floated out of her saddlebag and onto her head. “There's an explanation, really there is. But it's long, convoluted and there's not enough time for it. I know you have little reason to, but please, trust us. We can help your Twilight, and save Equestria.”
Shining Armor locked eyes with Twilight Sparkle. After a minute, he spun about and waved them on. “I better get that explanation later,” he said. “I'll take you to her. I think I can help her calm down, but she's still pretty agitated after this morning.” With that, he walked away, his fellow guardsponies spinning about on their hooves and falling into formation behind him.
Luna, Nightmare Moon and the ponies quickly followed. Applejack cantered around to Twilight's side. “You handled that a lot better than I did back at Sweet Apple Acres.” She patted Twilight on the shoulder.
Twilight looked to her. “You have no idea how much I wanted to rush Shiny and give him a massive hug and then hop around him. This entire situation has me on edge right now.” She looked up, past Shining Armor and down the street as the few ponies there scrambled out of their way. “I mean think about it, Applejack. A few seconds earlier or later and that'd be me on that throne. And it scares the hay out of me.”
Rainbow Dash, currently flying along, tilted over and floated over to hover right above Twilight Sparkle and Applejack. “But that wasn't you, Twilight. Yeah, it could've been you, but it wasn't you. It might've been, but here you are, helping out and trying to fix this mess. So don't be down on yourself, you hear?” She dropped down and lightly ruffled Twilight's mane.
Twilight squirmed slightly, but smiled. “Thanks, Rainbow Dash. I appreciate that.” She cocked an eyebrow at her. “Lemme guess, that part from 'Daring Do and the Shattered Mirror' where Daring Do got depressed and needed a pep talk was a bit of inspiration for you?”
Rainbow Dash shrugged. “Maybe a little, but not enough for plagiarism,” she said, winking.
Ahead, Luna and Nightmare Moon leaned their heads in close to each other. “I find your tales concerning this Twilight's power level to be most troubling,” Luna said. “It's far beyond what she should be capable of even with the addition of Celestia's power.” She held up a wing. “And no, I am not accusing you of lying.”
Nightmare Moon smirked. “I wasn't going to. I agree with you on that point. It's as if the powers together became more than the sum of their parts in some sort of multiplying synergy.”
Pinkie spoke up. “I'd bet all the sugar in Equestria she doesn't know how to control all that power, either. She probably has trouble opening cookie jars without crushing them.” She suddenly gasped. “Oh, no! It's been five years since she's had any cookies! That's so sad!”
Luna's eyes shifted from left to right. “Yes. Anyway, we must be ready. Hopefully we can talk her down a bit, but I have a feeling things will get rather messy before it gets better.”
Nightmare Moon snorted. “It shouldn't be that bad. We have the Elements of Harmony, after all.”
Rainbow Dash slapped her forehead and dragged her hoof down her face. “You just had to say it, didn't you...”
The group eventually arrived at the double doors that led to the throne room. Some lid thuds and crashes could be heard, even through the thick wood. Shining Armor stood next to them and hesitated for a moment. “She's calmed down a bit since this afternoon, but Twiley is still – “ he suddenly turned and looked up at Nightmare Moon and Luna. “You're going to help her, right? I haven't been played like a foal this entire time, have I?”
Nightmare Moon bowed her head to him. “I swear to you, Captain. We'll help her as much as we can.” She raised her head and narrowed her eyes. “But we can only help her as much as she will allow it.”
Twilight looked around. “Okay, do you happen to know anyone named Cadance or Mi Amore Cadenza?” she asked, finally looking to Shining Armor. “In our Equestria, she was my foalsitter, and one of my best friends.”
Shining Armor's ears wiggled back and forth. “Cadance? Yeah, I know her” She's my special somepony,” he said, his cheeks turning red. “But I'm afraid she's up north at the moment.”
Luna whinnied. She held up a hoof even as Twilight opened her mouth. “We don't have time to get her, I'm afraid. Even now the air grows cold. Captain, if you please? It is time.”
Shining Armor sucked in a breath. His horn lit up and the doors swung inward. He slowly walked into the throne room. “Twiley, are you there? I've got some ponies who would like to meet you.”
Twilight Sparkle sucked in a breath she she beheld her counterpart, standing near a window and looking out at the dark sky. The filly stepped away and turned her glowing white eyes to everyone. “They would? That's fine, big brother, but I've got work to do. I think the sun almost moved!” She suddenly gasped. “H-hey, that's that meanie Nightmare Moon!” The pillar of energy around her horn blazed. “You ran away and didn't get punished! Why are you back?”
Nightmare Moon held up a wing and waved the others back. “I am back... for atonement, Twilight Sparkle. I'm back to make up for my actions against you and my plans for Eternal Night.” She dropped to one knee and bowed her head. “I was wrong, and apologize for it.”
Rainbow Dash blinked. “Whoa, she has gotten better.”
Luna stepped up to Nightmare Moon's side. “Please, Twilight. You wish to fix things, correct? I wish to fix things, too. We all want to help you.”
The small filly blinked, the light leaking through her eyelids even while closed. She leaned forward and eyed Luna. “Hey... wait a minute! You can't be Luna!” She waved a hoof back and forth between the two alicorns. “She's already Luna!” She placed a hoof on her temple and massaged it. “That doesn't make any sense at all! There can't be two LUNA'S!” With each word, her voice rose in volume, until everyone in the room was wincing.
Fluttershy hunkered down and folded her wings over her head. Halfway through, though, she stood back up. “I must do this, I must!” She slowly walked to Twilight. “M-Miss Twilight? I know things seem a little confusing, but we all want to help you and get the sun working again. Ponies are really cold out there and there's not a lot of food to go around. We all know you're trying your best, but maybe you need a teensy, tiny bit of help to get it going?”
Rainbow Dash opened her mouth, but both Nightmare Moon and Luna held a wing up in front of her head.
The filly Twilight stared at Fluttershy as she approached. “I need help? Are you sure? I think I've got this almost figured out.” Her head dropped and she stared at the cracked floor. “It's so hard, though.”
Shining Armor cantered around to Twilight Sparkle's side and leaned in close. “That's the calmest I've seen Twiley in a while! Who is she?”
Twilight grinned. “That's Fluttershy, Element of Kindness. She can calm just about anyone or anything, Shiny – I mean, Captain Armor.”
Shining Armor glanced away for a moment before patting Twilight on her shoulder. “Shiny is all right, and thank you.”
“Thank you for trusting us,” Twilight responded.
Fluttershy gingerly reached out with a wing, holding it right above the filly's head. “I'm sure it is. And you're such a young filly, too, to have such a burden put on you.”
Young Twilight sniffed and her head bobbed up and down. “I-it wasn't my fault, I swear! I-it was an a-a-accident, what happened to Princess Celestia. I'm trying my best, really I am!” She looked up to Fluttershy. “I-I just want to fix things, make them better.”
Rainbow Dash suddenly flew close to Luna and leaned in as close as she could. "What is she doing?" she asked, her voice barely audible. "She realizes she's gotta be over here for us to use the Elements of Harmony on her, right?"
The young filly's head snapped up and the pillar of magic around her horn flared. “W-what?” She whipped her head around and stared at Fluttershy with her glowing white eyes, that were even now brightening. “W-what does she mean by that? Use the Elements of Harmony on me!?”
Silence descended upon the throne room. Nightmare Moon slapped a hoof against her forehead and dragged it down her muzzle.
Luna shook her head and looked to a wide-eyed Rainbow Dash. "There was no way you could've known her senses would be enhanced, as well. Save anything for what is to come."
Fluttershy scooted back, her expression one of pure terror. “W-what s-she m-m-means is – “ She suddenly lurched forward as the Element of Kindness was magically slid out of her cloak and yanked forward, pulling her along.
Applejack's eyes widened. “Hey!” she shouted, running forward. “Yah leave her alone, hear? We're just trying to – “
Pinkie's entire body bounced up and down. “Oh, no! This is one Tartarus of a – “
Twilight suddenly vanished in a ball of light, reappearing in the middle of the group and flinging everyone back. Her head darted back and forth. “And who are all of you? Where did you come from, and what's that magic coming from you?” She scratched her right temple. “No, wait. It's coming from something on you, but – no, still from you?” She stomped the floor, cracking it and shaking the room. “I don't get it! And I want to GET IT!”
Shining Armor rose to all four hooves. “Twiley, please. They don't want to hurt you. You need help!”
Twilight spun around. “But who ARE they? Where did they come from? What are they wearing? Their magic's so different, but familiar. One of them really...” She turned to one pony with her hood drawn tightly over her head and ran over to her. She grabbed onto the older mare's hood and, despite resistance, yanked it back, revealing Twilight Sparkle. “Who... who are YOU?”
Twilight Sparkle swallowed. “Okay, this might take a bit of explaining, but I think you deserve it. I'm Twilight Sparkle, just like you. I'm just an alternate version of you from another Equestria, someone who went left instead of right, like you. We just want to – “
“Wait, you're me? You can't be me! I'm me! I'm the one who screwed up! If you didn't screw up, you can't be me! If you d-didn't screw up then you're not Twilight Sparkle! You CAN'T be me!” A low wind picked up, whipping through the room and tossing bits of detritus about. The walls started shaking and bits of plaster and stone began falling from them and the ceiling.
Shining Armor, standing next to Rarity and Pinkie Pie, lit his horn up and formed a shield around him and the pair. He leaned his head down and gritted his teeth as the shield was battered. “Twiley, please! They're just trying to help you!”
Twilight's horn and eyes lit up and her body began spasming. She rose into the air and the wind picked up. “No no no! You can't be me!” She jabbed a hoof at Twilight Sparkle. “I-it's not fair! If you're me, then you hurt Celestia, but you didn't! Why didn't you? Why was it me and not you?”
Luna's eyes darted around, noting the location of the ponies scattered around the room and huddling behind impromptu barriers. She looked to Nightmare Moon, standing by her side. “The Elements of Harmony won't activate unless they're brought together.”
Nightmare Moon eyed the floating filly. “It might be a bit tricky. We'll have to distract her while they get together.” She suddenly twisted her head around and gasped. “Celestia!” she shouted, eyes widening.
Luna opened her mouth, but her gaze followed Nightmare Moon's to the throne – or the wall behind it. “By Dream Valley,” she whispered. “That is what happened to her?!” She gasped. “The room, it's collapsing!”
“And in her condition, she might not survive,” Nightmare Moon said, her horn glowing. She suddenly looked back at Twilight, floating along, then to the other ponies hiding from her outbursts. “Can I risk going to help her, right now?”
Twilight Sparkle suddenly vanished, reappearing in front of the alicorns. “Wait, where's this Equestria's Celestia?” She suddenly ducked as a chunk of masonry whizzed by, barely missing her head by inches. “Whoa!”
The younger Twilight snarled. “I-I just wanted to fix things! Why won't you let me simply fix things? Just leave me alone! SPIKE! SPPIIIKE!”
The entire room suddenly shuddered, sending everyone hopping into the air. Twilight's eyes slid to the window. “Spike? Spike! Oh, horse apples.” She looked to Nightmare Moon, scratched the back of her head and chuckled nervously. “Say... when you first arrived, did you happen to see a dragon that looked like an overgrown infant?”
Nightmare Moon nodded as the room thumped once more. “Now that I think about it, it looked somewhat like your draconic friend back in your Equestria. I assume that happened during your own entrance exam, then was reversed by your Celestia?”
Applejack, hiding behind a fallen column of stone, raised her head slightly. “You three thinkin' of a plan, maybe? Land's sakes we can't do anything right now!”
Nightmare Moon's eyes narrowed. After a minute, she thrust her foreleg out and slowly pointed from pony to pony. “Twilight,” she began, “my sister is in a room behind the throne. Please get her as far away as you can in five minutes, then get back here.” She suddenly dropped to one knee and stared right into Twilight's eyes. “She is very weak and barely hanging on. Be careful... please?”
Twilight sucked in a breath. She straightened up and nodded, her expression one of determination. “You can count on me!” Her horn glowed and she teleported away.
Nightmare Moon spread her legs out. “All right, then. Luna and I shall contain the filly while the rest of you get anyone in the path of the dragon to safety. As soon as Twilight returns, regroup and ready the Elements. Any objections?” At their silence her horn lit up. “Then get moving!”
Shining Armor gritted his teeth as debris battered his shield. “She's got a name, you know!”
Rainbow Dash, flying about near the ceiling, rolled her eyes. “Not the most important thing to be focusing on, Shiny!” She dove down to the floor and Fluttershy hiding under a table. Rainbow Dash scooped the petrified pegasus into her forelegs and flew out the window, dodging and weaving all the while. “Come on!”
Rarity placed a hoof on Shining Armor's shoulder. “Forgive my friend's abrasiveness, Captain. However, she is right that we have other things on our plate. The ponies outside need our help, for the moment, while our Twilight helps Princess Celestia. Then we can help your sister. All right?”
Luna suddenly popped out of existence, then reappeared with a flash of light in front of Shining Armor, Rarity and Pinkie Pie. A magical shield formed in front of her, roughly three times larger than the one Shining Armor had erected. “Applejack!” she shouted, rattling the air, “break cover and head outside with the others! Nightmare Moon and I shall contain the filly until you've regrouped!”
Applejack rose and galloped over to the other three. “Much obliged!” she said as she, Pinkie Pie and Rarity ran for the door.
Shining Armor sighed as he looked at Twilight, floating and thrashing her forelegs about. He backed up to the door, keeping his eyes on her until he reached it. He then turned and galloped away, his eyes shining.
Twilight screamed and several waves of telekinesis shot out from her, striking both alicorns and forcing them back despite their best efforts. “Why don't you leave me alone!” she yelled. “I didn't mean to! I really do want to fix it!” Tears streamed from her eyes, evaporating halfway down her cheeks. “Why won't you let me fix it and help Celestia? WHY?”
Nightmare Moon sighed. “Forgive me,” she said, her own eyes shining. “I see now my mistakes, in the past with my sister and how I dealt with you. The others helped me to find my way, now it's time I help you find yours.”
Twilight Sparkle materialized inside a darkened room. Her horn lit up, sending the shadows scurrying away and casting everything into sharp relief. She gasped as she saw the magically-drained Celestia lying on the bed. “Oh, my gosh!” She hopped from hoof to hoof, her breathing picking up pace.
Celestia's eyes slowly focused on her. She raised her head and arched an eyebrow at Twilight Sparkle and her actions. “Hello... I seem to be dreaming?” She cocked her head to the side. “Who are you? And how did you get the Element of Magic?”
Twilight Sparkle paused and rubbed her chin. “Well, there's a long explanation that we really don't have time for.” She suddenly looked up and grabbed several pieces of falling plaster with her magic, stopping them from hitting Celestia. “So I don't suppose we could dispense with that until after I get you out of here?”
Celestia grunted and lowered her head. She folded her dilapidated wings as close to her body as she could as Twilight Sparkle gently floated her off the bed. She suddenly held up a foreleg. “Wait." She pointed at a corner of the room and a pair of potted plants. “You must get those as well. I am sorry for forgetting, but there's been a lot on my mind today.”
Twilight Sparkle followed the direction of Celestia's foreleg, spotting a fern and cactus there. She suddenly trotted over and leaned down over them. “Oh, no! Mom? Dad?” She suddenly slapped her forehead with a hoof. “Wait, not my mother or father. It's her mother and father. Just alternate versions of my own.” She suddenly reached up and smoothed down part of her mane that had sprung up, then levitated both plants up and onto her back. Twilight Sparkle turned back to Celestia and carefully walked back to her. “There's a spell on both of these, and I don't mean the transformation one.”
Celestia half-smiled. “I showed an old friend of Twilight how to cast a preservation spell on them. They haven't aged or known of the passage of time. It was the least... I could do...” She lowered her head and panted slightly. “Sorry, even talking takes it out of me.”
The room shook. Twilight planted her hooves and stood over Celestia. Her horn glowed and a tendril of energy wound its way from it to the alicorn. “It's not much, but I think that'll help you get to your hooves. I'm sorry I can't spare any more, Princess, but I can't risk the plants or being unable to teleport you out of here.”
Celestia's mane brightened ever so slightly and stirred a bit. Her wings and coat regained some of their luster, if only a little. She slid her legs away from the bed and, with some telekinetic assistance from Twilight Sparkle, managed to get her hooves under her. She stumbled a bit, but managed to remain vertical. She stumbled a bit as the room shook again. “What's going on outside?” she asked, looking towards the door.
Twilight swallowed. “Things are getting a little... hairy out there.” The walls rippled around the door frame. “And I don't think we can get out that way.” Her head darted about, focusing on a far wall. “Although I've got an idea.”
The pair slowly made their way to the wall. Twilight's horn lit up and she fired three blasts of energy at the wall, blowing a large hole in it and sending debris flying about. She leaned out over the lip of the hole and looked down at the empty street, far below, as bits of the wall struck it and shattered.
Twilight blinked a few times and stepped back. She glanced at her croup and sighed. “What I wouldn't give for a pair of wings right now,” she muttered. The floor shook under her, pitching her forward and almost over the edge. With a shout, Twilight reached out with her forelegs, clutching at the wall with them and pushing herself back into the room proper. She sucked in a breath. “Okay, gimme a second. I'll need to concentrate for this one, but I think I can teleport us down to – “
The room shuddered once more. The walls twisted, groaned and buckled inward slightly. Some more chunks of the ceiling fell, smashing into the bed and destroying it. Twilight hopped into the air and kicked her legs about. Her horn flashed and she, Celestia and the plants disappeared in a flash of light.
The group reappeared about ten feet above the street. Twilight slowly looked down as they hovered in midair for a moment. “Oh, horse apples,” she muttered as gravity took over...
Celestia suddenly reached out with her forelegs, grabbed Twilight and hugged her tight while her wings spread out and flapped as hard as she could manage. They slowed slightly, but still landed hard on the concrete with a thud. Celestia's legs buckled under her and she collapsed onto her haunches, groaning and hanging her head almost to the street.
Twilight blinked twice. She spun around and her head darted around as she looked Celestia over. “Oh, my gosh! I am so sorry! Are you all right?”
Celestia blew out a breath and raised her head slightly, just enough to see Twilight. “Nothing broken. And please, don't apologize. You saved my life.” She extended a wing and patted Twilight on the head. “Thank you, and thank you for taking such good care of the plants, too.”
Twilight glanced back at the fern and cactus still balanced on her back. Both were still intact, albeit some of the fronds on the fern were slightly bent. Twilight sighed in relief. “Oh, that's a massive relief.” She rose to her four hooves and looked around. “Okay, I've got to get you as far away from here as quickly as possible to some sort of safe place. Or as safe a place as possible. Hmm, if this Canterlot is anything like mine, then if we go down this street and take a left at the first intersection, we should arrive at the School for Gifted Unicorns. That's the best and closest place I can think of off the top of my horn.”
Celestia's eyes narrowed. "'This Canterlot', you say? For the record, you're right. It is that way, and is probably the best place at the moment.” She motioned with a wing down the street. “Lead on.”
Twilight's horn glowed and she and Celestia started down the street, even as a low thumping sounded out. Twilight looked up to her mentor's counterpart and suppressed a sigh. She bit her lip for a moment before speaking. “So... I'm not sure how much I can explain before we get to the school, but would you care to hear some of an explanation?”
A smile blossomed on Celestia's face. “That would be most appreciated.”
Twilight's brow furrowed. Finally, she started to speak. “Okay, have you ever read 'Daring Do and the Shattered Mirror...”
Shining Armor, Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Applejack burst out of Canterlot Castle's main entrance and made a sharp right. They circled around the castle perimeter, quickly finding Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. The pair of pegasi were on the street, Fluttershy hunkered down and trembling while Rainbow Dash stood over her.
Rarity trotted over to a trembling Fluttershy and knelt down beside her. “Darling, are you all right? Speak to us, please!”
Fluttershy's wide eyes slowly rose to look at Rarity. They slid to Pinkie, then Applejack, and finally to Rainbow Dash before losing focus and staring off into space.
Applejack blinked. “As well as I thought she'd be.”
Rainbow Dash's face scrunched up as she kicked at the street, sending a loose pebble flying. “Yeah, would've been even better if I'd keep my danged muzzle shut!”
Applejack's eyes narrowed. She trotted over to Rainbow Dash and jabbed a hoof at Dash's chest, tapping her cloak. “Now listen here, missy. Princess Luna herself told you there wasn't anything you did wrong, there. Heck, I was almost as close as Luna and I couldn't hear you that well. So put a stop to any pity-party you might have brewin'. I've got a feelin' we got bigger things on our plate.”
Pinkie Pie's head bobbed up and down. “Yeah, yeah!” She jabbed a foreleg into the air as booming thuds resounded in the air. “And that bigger thing's coming!”
The group looked up as the ground continued to shudder. A long shadow stretched down an intersection, widening and shortening with each shake. Suddenly, an oversize dragon turned the corner. Little more than a huge baby, the pink-scaled dragon waddled along on too-short legs. It snorted, blowing green flame from its nostrils every few seconds.
Rainbow Dash's jaw dropped and her eyes widened. “You know... she was calling for Spike back there,” she finally said, floating between Spike and Fluttershy.
Shining Armor looked about, spotting a few residents staring up at Spike and frozen in their tracks. His horn lit up and a concave shield formed. He galloped about, pushing at them. “Get out of here!” he shouted. “It's not safe here!”
Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Applejack galloped or bounced off, helping Shining Armor in clearing the streets. Rainbow Dash knelt down next to Fluttershy. “Okay, look. Are you – “
Fluttershy suddenly stood up. “I know what you're going to ask, Rainbow Dash, and no. I'm not all right.” Her head bobbed back and forth. “We're in an alternate dimension where the sun's broken. An insane version of Twilight Sparkle is right now battling Luna and Nightmare Moon, and a giant infant Spike is slowly coming towards us while ponies panic in the streets.” She suddenly flared her wings out. “But now is not the time to panic, no matter how much I desperately, desperately want to run inside the nearest building and scrunch myself into a small, small ball!” She turned to Rainbow Dash. “It isn't too late to do that, is it?”
“It's too late, Fluttershy.”
Fluttershy folded her wings back to her body and hung her head. A stray lock of her mane fell in front of her face. “Oh, all right. But I'm still gonna help!”
Rainbow Dash smiled as Fluttershy flew off and shepherded a group of ponies down a street, away from Canterlot Palace. Within a few minutes the street was empty save for Shining Armor, the Bearers of the Elements of Harmony, and the slowly-advancing Spike.
Applejack tilted her head and worked her jaw slightly. “So... anyone got any sort of plan to deal with him? I know he's not our Spike, but trying to hurt him just don't seem right to me. He just seems so... helpless.”
Rainbow Dash's eyes narrowed. “'Helpless', eh? Yeah, you're right. He's not really doing much more than walking towards Twilight when she called him. A Twilight who hasn't really aged or matured since she absorbed all that power...” She suddenly reached into the collar of her robe and pulled out the Element of Loyalty. Rainbow Dash slipped it over her head and placed it at the hooves of Shining Armor. “If this doesn't work out, you're the new Element of Loyalty!” she shouted before flying up to the dragon.
Shining Armor blinked, then looked down at the necklace. “Wait, what?” His head shot up. “Hey, get back here!”
Rainbow Dash paid him and other shouts no mind. She stopped mere inches from Spike's muzzle and shook a foreleg right at him. “Hey, you big bully! You'd better stop right now before someone gets hurt!” She waited for him to notice her before continuing. “Yeah, you! What do you think you're doing, stomping around like this? You're scaring ponies!”
Spike's eyes almost crossed as he stared at the tiny pegasus floating in front of him. He suddenly fell back onto his rear and began bawling.
Pinkie Pie tilted her head. “Well, that was anticlimactic!”
Shining Armor directed a withering glare at Pinkie Pie. “Did you want a fight or something?”
Fluttershy slowly walked forward and craned her neck up as far as possible. “Rainbow Dash, are you all right up there?”
Rainbow Dash looked down. “Yeah, but I think this guy might actually need you.” She turned and cringed slightly at the still-bawling dragon. “There, there... I think.”
Rarity let out a breath. “Oh, of course! He's just a big baby! No mental development at all.” She trotted over to his right leg and patted him. “Poor dear. I feel quite sorry for him.”
Spike suddenly stopped crying and looked down at Rarity. He reached down with his hand and grabbed at her. Rarity gasped and tried to evade him, but his hand engulfed her and brought her up to his eye level.
Rarity squirmed in his grasp. “Put me down, you brute!” she shouted. She banged her hooves against his tough, scaly hide as he brought her closer to his muzzle. “Why, of all the nerve!”
Applejack suddenly fished a length of rope out of her saddlebags and, with a mighty snap of her head, tossed it all the way to to wrap around a claw on the hand holding Rarity. She reared back, tugging with all she had but only managing to budge Spike's claw a tiny bit. She dug her hooves into the street, actually managing to dig up tiny furrows in the concrete. “Let... Rarity... GO!”
Fluttershy's eyes narrowed. She suddenly flew up, all the way up to Spike and Stared straight into his eyes. “Spike, you put Rarity down this instant!” she said, her voice hardening as she jabbed a hoof at the ground below. “She is not your toy and does not appreciate being treated as such. Get it?”
Spike whimpered. He gently placed Rarity back on the ground and sniffed.
Applejack let go of the rope, galloped over to Rarity and hugged her. “You all right?”
Rarity gingerly returned the hug. “Yes, darling. Thank you.” She slipped out of the embrace and patted Spike on his comparatively-gigantic foot with one foreleg while she adjusted her mane with her other. “Still more polite and gentle than that cad Blueblood. Hopefully when this is over he'll be closer in size to our own Spike than how he is, now.”
Pinkie Pie bounced around the street, her head looking back and forth, usually in the direction opposite from where she was hopping. “Okay, streets are clear around here. Now, what?”
Just then, Twilight Sparkle galloped up to the group. She skidded to a halt and stumbled a bit. “Why... didn't I... pace myself better...” she panted out. “Running of the Leaves... why did I remember then and not now?” She sucked in a breath and slowly looked up at Spike. “Oh, Spike, no.” She walked up to him, stopped right before him and cantered back and forth before him. “Just like at my entrance exam.”
Shining Armor walked up to her. “Twiley's done her best by him, but he's got the mind of a newborn.”
Twilight looked over at him, then up to the tallest tower in Canterlot Palace. “Girls, I think it's time. Ready?”
Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash descended to the street, joining Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Applejack. “Ready!” all five shouted.
The top of Canterlot Palace suddenly exploded, sending out a cloud of dust and a shower of debris that scattered all across the sky, landing several blocks away. Luna and Nightmare Moon flew out of the dust cloud, pinwheeling around each other. They halted and turned back to the remnants of the throne room as Twilight floated up and out of it.
The filly was surrounded by a large, purple shield of magic. Her body twitched and her legs kicked in the air. Her teeth ground together and everyone winced from the screech. “I need to FIX THIS! Celestia's hurt because of me and I need to FIX THIS! I've had it with you and the others trying to stop me.” The pillar of light around her horn began to stretch out. “I'm stopping this right now, so I can help Princess Celestia!”
Several minutes earlier
“... The others helped me to find my way, now it's time I help you find yours.”
Twilight growled. “You're just a big meanie, Nightmare Moon! You tried to hurt Celestia a thousand years ago, and I'm gonna stop you, just like she did!” She leaned forward and fired a blast of magic right at Nightmare Moon.
The blast struck Nightmare Moon's shield, physically pushing the alicorn back. Nightmare Moon dug her hooves into the floor, digging up rivulets and sending stone chips flying. She snarled and leaned forward, pouring energy into her defense.
Luna, meanwhile, turned her body into mist. She flowed across the throne room to Twilight and reformed close to her. She leaned in and her eyes turned white. “Sleep, Twilight. Sleep...”
Twilight's eyes fluttered close for a moment, but shot back open. “No, you can't do that to me!” She thrust her forelegs out and another pulse of magic fired off, flinging Luna back.
Luna twisted in midair. Her body turned once more to mist, but she still caught the brunt of the pulse. The mist scattered about, eventually flowing around Nightmare Moon's shield and coalescing back into the general shape of an alicorn. Bits and pieces of the mist turned solid, and after a minute Luna resumed her corporeal form. She stumbled around a bit, her mane and tail whipping about. “That was... painful...” she muttered, eyes crossed.
Nightmare Moon glanced at her out of the corner of her eyes. “You remember that never worked on Celestia, right?” She looked back to Twilight. “I'm not sure how much more I can do against her, if anything. Get your horn back on straight and give me a hoof!”
Luna steadied herself. Her own horn flared to life and the shield around the pair brightened, turning almost solid. Twilight fired off several blasts of magic at them, but these ricocheted off and hit the walls. Holes were blasted in the ceiling, and the far wall around the throne itself buckled and cracked.
Nightmare Moon snarled. She fired several blasts of pitch-black magic at Twilight, but each one was deflected away. “Well, it appears right now we have a stalemate, filly. I'd suggest you stand down, or else I can't say what will happen.”
Twilight shook her head. “No, no! I won't let you bad ponies win! You're going down, Nightmare Moon. You're all going to be punished for your crimes!”
Nightmare Moon sighed. “Believe me, filly. I do have much to answer for, and I won't deny my crimes. But before that, I'll make amends with my sister.” Her head suddenly shot to her right. “Luna, feel that?"
Luna's brow furrowed. She cantered over to Nightmare Moon's side and leaned in close. “Feel what?”
Nightmare Moon nodded and sighed in relief. “Exactly. Twilight Sparkle got Celestia out of there.”
Twilight gasped. “Wait, WHAT?!” Her head whipped around and she floated over to the throne. “No nonono! If she's gone, she can't rest! She needs her rest! She's not well” Her lower lip quivered. “She's hurt and tired and it's my fault she's like she is.” Her head whipped around and her body shuddered. “You CAN'T take her away from here! She's going to get hurt!”
Luna sucked in a breath. “Let's hope Twilight gets back here quickly.”
Nightmare Moon took a step back as the area around Twilight suddenly brightened. “I believe this time discretion is the better part – “
There was a flash, and the world turned white. When it faded, Nightmare Moon and Luna were outside, flying away from Canterlot Castle.
Both Twilight Sparkle's and Shining Armor's horn lit up. Two impromptu shields extended over the group, blocking the rain of debris. They waited a moment for everything to have fallen before dropping them. Twilight Sparkle looked around at her friends and motioned them closer to her. “Okay, get ready, everyone.” She looked to Shining Armor. “Shiny, sorry, but you might wanna step back. We're not entirely sure what's gonna happen.”
Shining Armor nodded. He saluted her, then turned and galloped down the street, stopping after a few seconds and turning back. His horn glowed and a shield formed around him.
Twilight Sparkle planted a hoof and looked up. “Okay, girls, formation!” She waited for them to arrange themselves in a circle, then craned her neck to the sky. “Twilight! Twilight Sparkle! You're right!”
Twilight looked down, her glowing eyes widening slightly. “No, no! You won't stop me! I'm going to save Celestia and fix what I broke!” She clapped her hooves together, sending out a shock wave that rattled buildings and broke glass. “Why can't you understand? I have to FIX THIS!”
“Yes, you have to fix what you broke,” Twilight Sparkle replied. “But you don't have to do it alone.”
Twilight Sparkle's own eyes turned a bright white. The entire area around the six Bearers of the Elements of Harmony glowed and two rainbows shot straight up into the sky. They twisted around each other and curved towards Twilight. She gasped and erected a shield around her, but the rainbows bypassed it and engulfed her. She gasped as the pillar of light around her horn faded, and her eyes turned back to normal. “What is... what is...” Twilight slowly floated to the ground as the magic she had gained from Celestia disappeared from her body.
Spike's body suddenly shrank down to an infant half the size of Fluttershy. He grabbed his tail and began sucking on it.
In the sky, Nightmare Moon stopped in midair and cocked her head to the deep-blue sky. She gasped and grinned. “Yes, yes! The moon is mine once again!” Her horn glowed and the moon in the sky suddenly lurched about. She giggled and held her forelegs up as the moon danced about in the sky. She waved her forelegs to the left, and the moon slid to her left. She waved them to the right, and the moon followed suit.
Luna flew over to Nightmare Moon's side and crossed her forelegs in front of her chest. “Do you mind?”
Nightmare Moon rolled her eyes, but quickly dropped her forelegs. The moon slipped below the horizon and the sky suddenly brightened. Her eyes narrowed as the sky lightened and she raised her hooves to shield her eyes. “I had gotten used to the light level.” She leaned forward. “Come on, Celestia. Come on! Bring back the sun.”
A minute passed, then two. Suddenly, the sun rose into the sky. It brightened from pale yellow to blazing gold. Shadows were cast into sharp angles and retreated all over Equestria. Ponies all across the land looked up in awe as the sun returned. They shielded their eyes even as tears streamed down their cheeks.
And from the sun, Celestia emerged, soaring across the sky. Her mane and tail flowed out behind her, vibrant and bright. Her coat glistened in the light and her wings were full. She dove down to Canterlot and stopped in front of Nightmare Moon and Luna. Her eyes darted back and forth between the two. “I see Twilight Sparkle was right when she talked about alternate dimensions.” She slowly approached Nightmare Moon. Her mouth moved, but only a bit of stuttering starts came out.
Nightmare Moon held up a hoof. “Sister, I no longer oppose you or the day. I've learned what Endless Night would cause. We will talk, but right now, there are some ponies down in Canterlot that you must talk to, including a very scared filly.”
Celestia nodded to Nightmare Moon, then glanced to Luna. “Thank you,” she said before turning and diving down into Canterlot itself. She landed in front of the Elements of Harmony and bowed her head deeply to them. “Thank you for coming here. You've saved everyone.”
The six bowed to her. Twilight raised her head and leaned to her right. “We were happy to help, Princess.” She raised her right foreleg and jabbed it straight ahead. “But right now, there's someone else who needs to see you even more.”
Celestia turned around. “Oh, my.”
Twilight sat on the street, openly crying. Her eyes were back to normal, albeit bloodshot and ringed with black. The pillar of white light around her horn was gone, and the very tip was slightly blackened. Her small body heaved and she continued bawling. “I-I-I'm so sorry. I just... I didn't mean to.” She slowly looked up as Celestia approached. She shrank back and covered her head with her forelegs. “I-I... just wanted to fix things, like you would've.”
Celestia dropped down and sat in front of Twilight. She leaned forward and gently nuzzled the bawling filly. “I know, I know. It wasn't your fault. You did your best.” Her horn gently glowed.
Twilight Velvet and Night Light, Twilight's parents, appeared next to their daughter. The two dropped down next to their daughter even as Shining Armor galloped over.
Nightmare Moon and Luna landed next to the Bearers. Nightmare Moon let out a sigh and her entire body sagged. “This part, at least, is over.” She glanced around as ponies began emerging from buildings and from down various side-streets. Some of them were shielding their eyes from the sudden brightness. Others were shedding articles of clothing. “But there's still so much to be done.”
Luna patted her on the shoulder. “I don't know what lies ahead for you, but I have faith you and Celestia will be up for it.” She looked down at the ponies. “How are you?”
Fluttershy suddenly started crying. “I'm so... happy she's all right!” She wiped her eyes and sniffed.
Rainbow Dash gently patted her on the back with a wing. “Hey, it's all right. We did it. We saved Equestria!”
Pinkie Pie bounced up and down. “This calls for...” She suddenly stopped. Her mane and tail flattened slightly. “This doesn't really call for a party, does it.”
Applejack turned around and stared off in the general direction of Ponyville. “My guess is there's a lot o' shocked ponies out there that need to know what's goin' on.”
Nightmare Moon nodded as Celestia walked over to them. “And I think I know where to start, Applejack.” She held out a wing and swept out to her side. “To Ponyville!”
The flight to Ponyville took longer than normal. Celestia was still weakened, but insisted on flying there under her own power, in order to see even a small part of Equestria. Twilight and her family were hidden away in the depths of Canterlot Palace, with several trusted guardponies standing watch.
Nightmare Moon and Luna flanked Celestia as they flew across the sky. Four guardsponies pulled a double-wide chariot with Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Pinkie Pie and Applejack in it. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, meanwhile, flew along besides them.
Rainbow Dash glanced down as they passed over Whitetail Wood. She let out a low nicker and slowly shook her head. “Dang, didn't realize how bad it really was.”
Fluttershy quickly looked down, then locked her eyes straight ahead. “N-normally you c-can't get the full view unless it's from the air.”
They arrived at Ponyville. A large crowd, almost the entire town's population, was gathered outside the main gate. Almost all the raiders were all off to the side, bunched up. None of them were restrained, but guards lined the perimeter of their group. About half of them had plates half-filled with food in front of them, mostly hay with some apples and other assorted plants.
Mayor Mare and Commander Dash were out in front of the crowd, the former without her heavy red jacket and the latter wearing only her oversized helmet. Mayor Mare gasped as the group landed. She slowly walked forward. “Even in my wildest dreams I didn't think it was possible. For five years we've watched and struggled and fought and died. But now, now it's back. The sun's returned!” She thrust a foreleg into the sky. “You did it, Nightmare Moon! Just like you said you would! You brought back the sun and saved Princess Celestia!”
The rest of the ponies slowly made their way forward. They began talking to each other. Their words blended together at first, but several voices rose above the general din.
“I can't believe she did it! She saved us all!”
“We can grow food properly again!”
“What a tale to be told!”
“Three cheers for Princess Nightmare Moon!”
A loud cheer went up. Nightmare Moon stepped out, away from the rest, and held up a foreleg. She waited for the crowd to quiet down before she swept it in front of her and spoke. “Citizens of Ponyville! As promised, the sun rises once more over Equestria!” She swept a foreleg to her right and motioned to Celestia, standing just behind her right. “And Princess Celestia, my sister, is now fully restored to her former glory!”
Celestia waved at the crowd. She opened her mouth, but the crowd suddenly surged forward. Her jaw hung open as most of them gathered around Nightmare Moon, some cheering while others bowed deeply. Some walked up to her, and she smiled and bowed her head to them. She glanced over at Nightmare Moon talking with the crowd and her smile grew larger.
Luna leaned in close to Celestia and, in a voice too low for the crowd to hear, asked, “How are you holding up?”
Celestia shrugged. “I'm glad... my sister is free and better. I'm glad Equestria can heal now.” Her gaze turned to the raiders still huddled together and under guard. “Although that healing will take some time. And I wonder how it will go. “
Luna followed her gaze. “It won't be easy.” She glanced to Nightmare Moon as she conversed with the ponies. “Aren't you going to speak up?”
Celestia slowly shook her head. “I'm going to hang back unless she really needs me.” Her voice dropped as low as it could go. “I'd like to see just how changed she really is.”
Nightmare Moon suddenly raised her head. Her eyes narrowed and she stomped a hoof on the ground, sending everyone hopping into the air. “Commander Dash, bring your raiders forward!” she bellowed.
Commander Dash gulped and shrank back slightly, but suddenly stomped forward. Gilda and Lightning Dust broke from the raiders and walked beside her. The crowd around Nightmare Moon parted as they approached. “Okay, So what do... what is it? We going to jail, now? If you're gonna do anything, do it to me. They followed my orders. I'm the leader, here.”
Nightmare Moon snorted and rolled her eyes. “Oh, please. If I wanted to wipe your entire party out, I would've done so when you first attacked. No. This land needs to heal, and the ponies here must come together to rebuild. I am willing to pardon you, in exchange for you and some of the raiders staying here in Ponyville to protect it and to help the surrounding area recover.”
Lightning Dust's ears perked up. “Hey, that doesn't sound too bad! If we organize, can we get cool uniforms like the Wonderbolts have? Oh, oh and badges, too? Can we have badges, please?”
Gilda rolled her eyes and slapped her face with the palm of her hand. “Lightning, just don't, okay? Just don't.”
Commander Dash hesitated. She glanced away and scrunched her brow, then looked back up at Nightmare Moon. “What about Cloudsdale? I mean, it's my home. I can't just... abandon it for this small town.”
Mayor Mare snorted and turned her muzzle up at that.
Nightmare Moon smirked. “The more they change, indeed. The raids you and possibly others conduct for Cloudsdale will, quite obviously, cease. I suppose you could go back to Cloudsdale to represent the central government, but those left behind here need a leader. Is there anyone else who could fill your horseshoes, Commander?”
Commander Dash glanced to her left, then right. “I got two good candidates right here.” She pasted a grin on her muzzle. “Gilda, Lightning Dust, what do you either of you say to a promotion?”
Gilda's beak dropped wide open and her feathers flared. “Wait, what? A little sudden, don't you think?”
Lightning Dust, meanwhile, rubbed her chin. “Do I get a nice office?”
Gilda grabbed Commander Dash's head and turned it around so she could look her in the eye. “What time do I start?”
Nightmare Moon chuckled. “I believe we have two viable candidates. I leave you to hash out which one stays.” She waited for the three to walk or fly off before shifting her gaze to her left. “Mayor Mare, in one week's time you are to report to Canterlot with a new set of reports. I'll need information on everything concerning Ponyville, Whitetail Wood and the surrounding area.” She dropped to her knees, low enough that her head was level with Mayor Mare's own. “And I promise, this time I shall give your presentation the respect it deserves.”
Mayor Mare's eyes watered. She nodded furiously, then rose to all four hooves and turned around. “Okay, listen up! Cup Cake, when Carrot gets home send him and the logging chief to City Hall. Rarity, I need a full update on our defensive position. Big Mac, Trixie, get to Sweet Apple Acres!”
Rainbow Dash leaned in close to Applejack. “Can we take her home with us?”
Applejack slid her hat down over her muzzle, but her shaking body betrayed the laughter bubbling up.
Nightmare Moon slowly turned, looked to Celestia and winked. “I trust my decisions are agreeable to you? You didn't step in, so I presume they were.”
Celestia chuckled slightly and nodded. “Okay, got me there. Yes, I agreed with what you said...” She stopped and shook her head. “Forgive me. I just... I don't know what to call you. You're not Luna, but you're not Nightmare Moon. At least not to me.” She raised her head and stared at Nightmare Moon's helm. “I'm sorry.”
Nightmare Moon's jaw clenched, but she eventually waved Celestia off. “I am Nightmare Moon, Celestia. Don't get me wrong. I realize the magnitude of my sins, and the horrors I would've inflicted upon this world if I had succeeded. But I am no longer 'just' Luna.” She looked to Celestia's left and Luna standing there. “That is Luna. I am not.”
Celestia closed her eyes and bowed her head. “I suppose for now, that will do... Nightmare Moon.”
Nightmare Moon swallowed and her mane and tail settled slightly. “As for you, and you six, words alone cannot express my gratitude for your help.” She held up a hoof and waved them off. “I know I already said thank you, but it still feels inadequate for your deeds.”
Luna reached out and patted Nightmare Moon on the shoulder. “And as I said, that's what are friends are for. This Equestria has a chance to heal, and that's all we need.”
Rainbow Dash spoke up. “Although I don't suppose there's a chance we could get a stained-glass window in the palace?” She shrugged as the other five turned and glared at her. “What? We got two back home!”
Fluttershy spoke up. “Um, pardon me for asking, but what about the windigos? Aren't they still around?”
Luna sniffed the air. “They are retreating. Their presence is diminished, but there's still a threat.”
Celestia blinked. “Wait, windigos?”
Nightmare Moon rubbed her chin. “At least this time we know of them and their threat. All that we can do is stoke the fires of friendship to keep their chill at bay.” She looked up to Celestia. “The windigos not destroyed at Friendship Cavern have been making their way south to take advantage of the strife during your incapacitation.”
Celestia half-smiled. “Aren't I supposed to be filling you in on the latest news, instead of the other way around?”
Nightmare Moon nickered. “Trust me, Celestia. I've put my hoof into my mouth on more than one occasion concerning news and reports. I have a lot of work to do, in order to regain their trust and respect.”
Celestia nodded. “And I'll be with you every step of the way, Nightmare Moon.” She licked her lips. “That... still feels weird to say.”
Applejack cleared her throat. “Pardon me for askin', but how long 'fore we all head back to our own Equestria? I mean I know we all gotta get back, but you see there's a certain... couple of ponies back at Sweet Apple Acres I'd like to talk to. If it's all right?” She scuffed a hoof over the ground, kicking up a small cloud of dirt. “I-I mean, if it's – “
“Can you be back in about ninety minutes?” Twilight Sparkle asked, while the others nodded their approval. Twilight Sparkle walked up to Applejack and winked. “I think I know who they are, so go on ahead, Applejack. We've got some time.”
Applejack swallowed and nodded. “Much obliged, Twilight.” She reared back and whinnied before spinning about and galloping off in the general direction of Sweet Apple Acres. “Trixie, Big Mac, wait up! I'm comin'!”
Twilight chuckled as Applejack sped off. She turned around to the other Bearers. “Okay, we've got some time before we head home. Any ideas on how we can pass the time?” Her head suddenly darted back and forth as she counted only three other ponies there. “Wait, where's Pinkie?”
Rainbow Dash jabbed a foreleg to her right. “She's all right.”
Over in the crowd of Ponyville residents, Pinkie Pie could be seen next to Cup Cake and the Cake twins. She bounced up and down, Pumpkin hanging onto her mane and Pound toddling around her hind legs. A tray of muffins was balanced on her head. Every time she bounced, a muffin hopped off of the tray and into the mouth of a nearby pony.
Twilight Sparkle nodded. “Okay, no problems there.”
Rainbow Dash flew up and circled around Twilight Sparkle. “Hey, Twilight? Any chance I could speak with you for a moment?” She swallowed, but quickly chuckled. “I mean if you're not busy.”
Twilight Sparkle arched an eyebrow, but shrugged. “Okay...” She walked off, Rainbow Dash flying by her side.
Rarity looked to Fluttershy. “Darling, I'm going to go seek out my counterpart. Would you like to accompany me?”
Fluttershy looked around. She quickly spotted Commander Dash talking with Gilda and Lightning Dust. “Thank you, Rarity, but I'll pass. If it's all right with you?” At Rarity's nod, she trotted off towards the three.
Rarity turned and bowed to the three princesses. “Well, if you'll excuse me, I shall be off as well.”
Nightmare Moon nodded to her. She waved a wing at Ponyville. “In the meanwhile, Celestia, would you care to be shown around Ponyville? I think it would prove most beneficial for you.”
Celestia nodded. Her eyes traveled up and down the wall encircling the town. “I think you're right. Time to get my hooves dirty, so to speak. After you, Nightmare Moon?”
Nightmare Moon nodded. She strode towards Ponyville, Celestia and Luna trailing behind.
Rainbow Dash led Twilight around the wall, away from the majority of the crowd. They stopped next to a small culvert in the wall. Twilight Sparkle looked up at Rainbow Dash as she floated above in the air. “Okay, so what is it?”
Rainbow Dash let out a breath. She darted back and forth before finally blurting out, “I'm sorry for acting like a jerk to you when you tried to get me into Daring Do.”
“That's all – wait, what?”
Rainbow Dash dropped back down to the ground. She blew a strand of her mane out of her eyes and chuckled nervously. “Well... remember when I was laid up with my broken wing and you tried to help me pass the time by introducing me to Daring Do and I called you an egghead, said how uncool it was and was generally a rude flankhole?”
Twilight Sparkle arched an eyebrow and rubbed her chin. “I seem to recall something like that happening, yes.”
Rainbow Dash looked down at the grass and her wings drooped. “Well, I got a taste of that from Commander Dash outside Ponyville. And it stung a bit. Well, more than a bit, but not a whole lot. And I realized how it must've hurt you when I said those things to you. And I guess... I guess...” She groaned. “Hay, this is harder than I thought it'd be.”
Twilight Sparkle walked up to Rainbow Dash and placed a hoof on her friend's shoulder. “No need to say anything else. Thanks for that.” She stepped forward and hugged Rainbow Dash. “Remember, you're not Commander Dash. Just like I'm not like this version of Twilight.”
Rainbow Dash nickered slightly. “Thanks, Twilight.” She pulled away from the hug and winked. “That was some pretty good advice I gave, wasn't it?”
Twilight Sparkle rolled her eyes. “Yes, brilliant advice.”
Rainbow Dash's stomach suddenly growled. Her cheeks flushed as she pulled a daisy sandwich out of her saddlebags. She held it up to her muzzle, but stopped. With a bit of care, she tore it in half and gave the larger piece to Twilight. The two ate in companionable silence as they made their way back around the wall.
Fluttershy slowly approached Commander Dash, Gilda and Lightning Dust. The three had their heads down and close together. “Um, excuse me?” She stepped closer and craned her neck out. “Excuse me, I don't mean to be a bother. But...” She waited as they continued conversing amongst themselves. “Excuse me? If you're not busy, could I talk to you for a moment? If you're not busy, that is?”
Commander Dash's ears twitched. She looked up and over at Fluttershy. “Well, to be honest, we kinda are.” She let out a groan as Fluttershy shrank back. “Okay, fine. What is it?”
Fluttershy sucked in a breath. “Well... I hope things work out for you and you figure out who stays in Ponyville. It's a nice town and it needs help. Then again Cloudsdale probably needs help, too. But if you work together, things should be fine. Goodbye and good luck!” She quickly turned and trotted off, eyes burning slightly.
“I'm sorry about what might've happened to... the other version of you. But I'm not sorry she hasn't crossed my mind all this time. Things have been a bit crazy here, if you hadn't noticed.”
Fluttershy slowly turned back to face the three. She opened her mouth, but stopped and hung her head. “You're right. I'm sorry for that. I'm not sure what I was expecting here. You're Dash, but you're not the Dash I know. You're... different.”
Gilda punched Commander Dash in the foreleg. “Hey, different or not, she's never left us hanging!”
Lightning Dust nodded and punched Commander Dash's other foreleg. “First in, last out. Quick and clean!”
Commander Dash winced and hopped into the air. She rubbed her forelegs and the bruises rapidly forming on them. “Thanks, but next time, don't show so much enthusiasm, okay?”
A small smile formed on Fluttershy's mouth. “Maybe there's more in common than you think,” she whispered.
Fluttershy giggled slightly and waved her off. “Oh, nothing. Thank you for your time. And whoever stays in Ponyville, it really is a great place. I'm sure you'll love it. Goodbye.”
Gilda slapped her beak as Fluttershy walked off. “That was weird! There's no way you'd be friends with someone that lame, Dashie. No way in Tartarus.”
Commander Dash stared at Fluttershy. “Maybe, Gilda. Maybe.”
Applejack kept pace as Jonathan and Martha Apple galloped all over Sweet Apple Acres, barking out orders to everyone within eyesight and earshot. Jonathan turned to Applejack as they headed back to the main house. “Sorry we haven't had much time to chat, Applejack. But with the sun back there's heaps of work to get done and no time to get it done!”
Martha blew out a breath as they slowed down from a gallop to a walk. “But we do thank you for helpin' us out here. You definitely are an Apple, to the core.”
Applejack, grinning widely, shook her head. “Not a problem. And thanks. This has been the most fun I've had all day!” She trotted up between the two and swallowed. “Ah, I know I said this earlier, but I'm still sorry for the way I acted when I first saw you two. It was still wrong o' me and embarrassin'.”
Martha and Jonathan both wrapped a foreleg around Applejack and pulled her into a hug. “No talkin' like that,” Martha whispered into her ear. “Another Equestria or not, you're still family. You're still Applejack. And you and your friends saved us all. So thank you.”
Jonathan broke from the embrace and walked into the house. He emerged a few minutes later with three apple pies balanced on his head and back. “I asked Mom to bake these up for us while on our rounds.” He slide one off in front of Martha, one in front of Applejack and the last one landed right in front of his muzzle. “Dig in!”
Applejack swallowed and wiped her eyes before leaning down and digging in. All three pies were quickly polished off and the pie plate itself licked clean. “Thank you,” Applejack said. She kicked at the dirt. “I know I gotta get back to Ponyville, my Ponyville, but I don't wanna leave you two. But I know I gotta. My own family's back there, including a little sister.” She chuckled at Martha's gasp. “Back where I come from you had one more daughter named Apple Bloom. Gets into all sorts of mischief, but smart as a whip. Big Mac and Granny Smith are waitin' for me, too. So...”
Martha and Jonathan hugged her once more. “Just look up and wink at the night sky when you wanna think of us or your parents, okay? We love you, and we'll miss you.”
Applejack closed her eyes as tears streamed down her cheeks. “I'll miss you, too.” She slid out of their embrace and wiped her eyes. “I love you.” She turned for the gate that led out of Sweet Apple Acres and back to Ponyville...
Jacqueline, Big Mac and Trixie suddenly emerged from the house. Jacqueline held up a hoof and shouted out, “Applejack, wait!”
Applejack skidded a bit and stumbled. She regained her footing and spun around. “Wait, what?” She looked up at Jacqueline and smiled. “Well, good to see you, too!” She trotted back as Jacqueline, Big Mac and Trixie walked down the stairs to stand by Jonathan and Martha.
Jacqueline extended a hoof to Applejack. “I just wanted to say thank you, not only for saving Equestria, but for helping me to get past some... issues I was having.”
Applejack pressed to Jacqueline's and the two shook. “You're welcome. And thank you for making me realize how badly I treated my own Aunt and Uncle Orange. I'll write them up first chance I get tomorrow, that's a promise.”
Trixie spoke up. “Applejack, your name and deeds will be immortalized in song and story. I, the... something-something Trixie will make sure of it.” She leaned forward and held a hoof up to her mouth. “Princess Nightmare Moon's already asked me to construct a performance and story of this day. Can you believe it?”
Applejack chuckled. “You'd be just the mare for it, Trixie.”
Jacqueline looked to Jonathan, then Martha. “Speaking of Aunt and Uncle Orange, I have an announcement. In one month's time, Trixie, Big Macintosh and I are heading back to Manehattan.”
Martha gasped. She reached out to Jacqueline, hesitated, then placed a hoof on her shoulder. “Jacqueline, are you sure?”
Jonathan nodded. “Seems a little sudden.”
Jacqueline half-smiled and nodded. “I don't know if they're alive or dead. It gnaws at me, and with the sun returned, I have a chance to find out. They did so much for me, it's the least I can do.”
Martha nodded. “I've wondered every day since you and Trixie showed up at our doorstep. I hope sis is all right, but we don't know, do we.” She choked back a sob. “J-just be safe, all right?”
Big Mac tapped his chest. “That's why Trixie and I are goin' along, Ma. It's way too far and dangerous for her to go alone. Trixie and I will be back, though. Don't you worry none 'bout that.”
Martha blew out a sigh of relief, but quickly looked to Jacqueline. “Wait, Big Mac said he and Trixie'd be comin' back. He didn't mention you, Jacqueline. Are you... stayin' there?”
Jacqueline lightly brushed a hoof against the Orange-shaped manepin in her hair. “If they're alive, then yes. If not, I'll return with Big Macintosh and Trixie.” She held up a hoof. “Now, please, don't try to dissuade me from – “
Jonathan nodded. “Fair enough, then. Here's hopin' the two made it through those danged riots in one piece.”
“ – taking this course of action. I...” Jacqueline trailed off and arched an eyebrow. “Come again?”
Jonathan barked a laugh. “Jacqueline, your mom and I love you and want you to be happy. And we know you were happy in Manehattan. Sweet Apple Acres, well, it ain't for you. It's not where you belong. Manehattan is, though.”
Martha half-smiled. “And I'd give my left foreleg for Mosley and Orange Sherbet to be alive. So as weird as it sounds, stay a while there, okay? Just don't forget to write?”
Jacqueline swallowed and wiped her eyes. “Every day. Thank you, Mother. Thank you, Father.” She looked straight ahead to Applejack. “May I ask your thoughts, my counterpart?”
Applejack stepped right up to Jacqueline and tilted her hat. “I think you're doing what's right for you, and I'm hopin' your own Aunt and Uncle Orange are all right. I belong in Sweet Apple Acres, but you're not me. And that's not wrong. I'm sorry for not seein' that earlier. Good luck, Jacqueline.”
Jacqueline tilted her own head to Applejack. “And good luck to you, back where you belong.”
Applejack backed up. She blinked away sudden moisture in her eyes. “Okay, if I don't go now...” She spun around and galloped off, tossing a “See you!” over her shoulder as she left.
Martha rubbed her eyes. “I'm gonna miss her.”
Jacqueline slowly nodded. “I shall, too. She brought a fresh perspective to my life. The road not taken, in physical form.”
Trixie chuckled. “Wish you turned out to be an old-fashioned farmmare instead of a Manehattan socialite?”
“Not in a thousand years!”
Applejack galloped full-speed all the way back to Ponyville. She quickly arrived and spotted her five friends standing near the main gate. Luna, Nightmare Moon and Celestia were there as well. She slowed down as she approached. “Well, looks like the gang's all here!” She swallowed. “Hope I didn't keep you waitin'.”
Twilight Sparkle waved her off. “We just got here, Applejack. And we're all ready to head home.”
Rarity nodded. “Indeed. I cannot wait to get back to my boutique and get creating again. The Rarity here is pleasant to talk to, but her sense of beauty's been a bit stunted. Understandable, mind. But still, I need to beautify, to make art!”
Celestia bowed her head to the ponies. “I cannot thank you enough for your actions, my little ponies.”
Twilight Sparkle looked up to her. “Princess, if I may ask... what's going to happen to the Twilight of this reality? I mean, it wasn't her fault, right? It was an accident! Okay, how she handled it might not have been the best... but she meant well.”
Celestia paused, then shook her head. “I truly don't know. I wish I could have an answer for you, Twilight Sparkle, but right now, there hasn't been time to consider it.” She leaned down and gently nuzzled Twilight Sparkle. “But I can tell you I'll make sure she's treated well and given help.”
Nightmare Moon rubbed her horn and sighed. “We'll do the best we can for her. It's the least she deserves after the trauma she's gone through. You're right. It wasn't her fault.”
Luna smiled at her counterpart. “You really have come a long way. So, ready?”
Nightmare Moon stepped forward and spread her wings out. Her horn flared to life and crackled with pent-up magic. She glanced to Rainbow Dash. “For your actions here, a stained-glass window and a statue in the Royal Gardens!”
With that, a long pole of magic stretched from her horn. She sliced the air, cutting a hole open in space itself. Her horn's magic brightened. “Go!”
Fluttershy, Rarity and Pinkie all ran through the hole. Applejack glanced over her shoulder once more before following. Rainbow Dash flew through, followed by Twilight Sparkle.
Luna looked to Celestia. “Your road ahead will be difficult, but together, you can make it.” She turned and galloped through the hole and back to her own Equestria.
Across the gulf
Princess Celestia glanced up at the sky. She and Spike were still outside Ponyville, waiting on the return of her sister and the Bearers of the Elements. She had met with several government officials, making sure she kept her appointments. “I hope Luna returns soon,” she said, as the sun lowered and the sky began turning dark. “She was always better with the night.”
Spike yawned and stretched his stubby arms out. “I hope they're back, too. But I'll stay here until they get back!” He clenched a hand into a fist and shook it in the air.
Celestia smiled at him. “Twilight and the others are lucky to have a friend like you, Spike.”
A gust of wind kicked up. A swirling, crackling hole in space ripped open. Six ponies and one alicorn tumbled out, ran into each other and landed in a tangled heap in front of Celestia and Spike.
Twilight Sparkle kicked and untangled herself from the others. She stumbled about and rolled her eyes. “Now I see why Nightmare Moon was so loopy when she got here,” she muttered, her face green.
Spike gasped and ran over to her. He wrapped his arms around Twilight Sparkle's neck and steadied her. “Twilight, you're okay!” He leaned in close and narrowed his eyes. “Wait, are you okay?'
Twilight Sparkle leaned into his embrace and wrapped a foreleg around his shoulders. “Oh, Spike! I'm so glad to see you again. And to see you're small and intelligent, too!”
Spike broke the hug and looked Twilight Sparkle over. “Say, what?” He placed a palm on her forehead and rubbed his chin. “Hmm, no fever. Did you get into the hard cider over in that other Equestria?”
Rainbow Dash flew up and away from the others. “No, but I know what I'm gonna be doing tonight. Applejack, remember that barrel you were telling me about?”
Applejack rose to all four hooves and nodded. “I think I'll have a barrel right beside you, Dash. Well, after I get quill, inkwell and scroll and fire off a letter to Manehattan. Several of them, in fact. I made a promise, and I don't go back on my word.”
Luna's horn flashed. She, Pinkie, Fluttershy and Rarity all disappeared, then reappeared a moment later, upright and none the worse for wear.
Pinkie hopped up and down. “Thanks, Luna.” She bit her lip and her cheeks puffed out as she bit back on a massive yawn. “Oh, I think I'm too pooped to party until at least... tomorrow afternoon?” She slid a calendar out of her mane and checked the pages. “Hmm, maybe tomorrow midday, if I have some coffee.”
Celestia walked up to Luna and hugged her tightly. “I am so glad you're all right! What happened over there?”
Luna leaned into the hug, then tilted back and looked Celestia over. “You're all right. Praise Zacherle, you're all right.”
Celestia arched an eyebrow. “Okay...” She broke from the embrace and walked over to Twilight Sparkle and Spike. “My prized pupil, please, what happened over there?”
Twilight Sparkle suddenly leaned back on her hind legs and hugged Celestia's chest. “Oh, Princess! I'm so glad to see you're all right!”
Celestia blinked. She reached over and patted her student on the withers. “Thank you, Twilight. I suppose it can wait a bit?”
Luna walked over to Celestia's side and draped a wing over her. “Believe me, sister. It's a long story.”
Nightmare Moon walked through the halls of Canterlot Palace, several scrolls floating in front of her. Over a dozen ponies trailed behind her. One by one, she floated a scroll to them. Finally, she stopped in front of a door and turned to them. “All right, we've gotten a lot done, but there's even more to do after a good sleep.” She opened her mouth and yawned loudly. “Even alicorns get tired, especially after a day like this.”
One of the ponies, Fancy Pants, unrolled his scroll and looked it over. “Jolly good, Princess. But are you sure there's nothing else we can do? Is there anything we can do for you, perchance?”
Another pony spoke up. “Right-o! There must be something we can get for you!”
Nightmare Moon's cheeks reddened slightly. She held up a hoof and waved them off. “No, no. I appreciate it, but the best thing you can do is leave me to get some rest for tomorrow.” With that, she turned, opened the door to her new room and walked in.
Inside was a relatively simple room, with a few pieces of furniture scattered about, two doors that led to a bathroom and bedroom, and a large balcony that overlooked the street below. Nightmare Moon walked up to the balcony and looked down at the ponies below, then up at the night sky, a true night sky, with the moon hanging overhead and stars shining brightly. A warm breeze blew through the air, just fast enough to ruffle through manes.
Nightmare Moon's eyes darted back and forth at the large number of ponies still out and about, either by themselves or in groups. More than one stopped in their tracks and waved to her, shouting greetings and cheers. Nightmare Moon grinned and quickly began waving back, even as fatigue seeped into her bones.
“Didn't you say something about getting rest? It's not good to ignore your own advice.”
Nightmare Moon continued waving as Celestia walked up behind her. “Well, they're waving to me. It's not like I can just ignore them!” She laughed. “Thank you, thank you. I love you, too. I love you being out here for my glorious night!”
Celestia grinned at Nightmare Moon. “I've made sure to cultivate an appreciation for the night among the populace over the past thousand years. To make up for... before.”
Nightmare Moon turned and faced Celestia. She narrowed her eyes. “All right, Celestia. Young Twilight is hidden away. You're better, the sun is healed and I'm out.” She cantered around Celestia, into the room proper. Her horn closed and the bay windows to the balcony closed, glowing with a noise-cancellation spell.
Celestia turned and shrank back slightly. I... I'm sorry!” She dropped to her knees and began crying. “I'm sorry I didn't try harder. I'm sorry I did that to you. I'm sorry I didn't notice or do something to help you out. I'm so, so sorry, Nightmare Moon! If I could I'd go back and make everything right!”
Nightmare Moon turned and looked over her shoulder at Celestia. “You're kidding.” She spun around and knelt down to Celestia's level. “You're kidding, right?”
Celestia gulped and looked up slightly. “W-what do you mean? I failed you!”
Nightmare Moon's expression changed to confusion. After a moment she rolled her eyes. “Sweet Zacherle, you're not kidding. You think... you really blame yourself for my actions? My atrocities and crimes?”
Nightmare Moon dropped to her knees and placed a hoof on Celestia's cheek. “Celestia, look at me – look at me!” She waited for Celestia to lock eyes with her before continuing. “Don't. Don't blame yourself. Not for what I did, for what I was going to do. That's on my horn, do you hear me? That wasn't your fault.”
Celestia sniffed. “B-but the other Luna, she got through to you. W-why couldn't I do that? If only I had – “
“If only you had bludgeoned me over the head and forced me to fully confront the sheer magnitude of my crimes through the dreaming. If only you had the time between me trying to blow a hole through your chest, then enact Eternal Night, which would've killed every single thing in Equestria and beyond?” Nightmare Moon slapped her forehead with a hoof and slowly dragged it down her face. “Okay, Celestia? I'm going to tell you something. You may not believe it, but it's true. Ready?”
Celestia slowly nodded.
Nightmare Moon leaned in close to Celestia's ear. “You did the right thing. And I'm glad you stopped me.”
Celestia looked away. “It doesn't feel right, or that I did the right thing.”
“But it still was. Trust me, there wasn't anything you could've done differently. I was out of control and insane with petty jealousy.” Nightmare Moon stood up and extended a hoof to her sister. “But now my mind is clear, and you're well. It's time to heal Equestria. Let us do it together.”
Celestia looked up. She wrapped her forearm around Nightmare Moon's, stood up and drew her in for an embrace. “Together it is, sister. Like we were meant to.”
