The land was desolate. Ravaged by war, no life could be seen. Not the enduring tumbleweed, the survivable lichen. The sky was filled with dark, dead clouds. The wind howled, sounding like a chorus of forgotten souls.
In the center of it all, She stood. Waiting.
Her armies surrounded her, the souls of long dead ponies.
The Saddened. Their shrill calls as they screamed their sorrow across the land.
The Silent. Their dead eyes searching, for anything they could make become. Like them, silent. Dead.
The most frightening were the Shattered. Tall muscular shapes of ponies long forgotten, merged with other shattered spirits to create one ethereal form. They stood, towering over the army, like mountains they stood, watching. Where one would think the mane grew, tall spikes of blackened bone stood. Thick leathery skin replaced hair.
But the most terrifying were the eyes. Massive red orbs, projecting their hatred of everything onto the land and creatures around them. Where they looked, things withered and died.
They all watched their goddess, waiting to show the world their powerful hate.
She looked at her armies, each in turn.
She who was Night turned, slowly opening her black wings. The Saddened screams grew in tempo, becoming more and more frenzied. The Silent, twitching with quiet anticipation, ready to spread their terror.
The Shattered, pounding the ground with their hooves, causing great cracks in the dead ground.
She who was Night smiled, as she saw the sky begin to brighten. She could already see the troops of her sister, gathering on the hillside.
She appeared.
Brighter than the sun, her radiance silenced the Saddened, caused the Silent too look away.
The Shattered looked on.
She who was Day hovered, massive white wings open. Her mane gleamed with the light of a thousand suns, flowing in the wind, light falling upon the ground.
“ Why?” She who was Day asked. “ My sister, why wouldst thou betray us?” She who was Night laughed, a deep rumble that made the ground shake. “It was thou who betrayest.” She said, “You become revered by our subjects, whilst I was shunned, and spoken about in whispers.”
She who was Night unfurled her wings again, eyes hardening. She lifted into the air with her great wings, looking down upon She who was Day, and screamed.
The Saddened howled, flinging their incorporeal bodies at the enemy.
The Silent charged, cutting down all in their wake with their gaze, causing ponies to flee in terror.
The worst charge of all, was the onslaught of the Shattered. Hulking frames crushed the enemy lines, shattered ranks. All who beheld them were driven mad at the sight. All, save for one.
Sunrise, Pegasus of legend, rode to meet them, his platoon of crusaders behind. They met the assault, bringing morale to the maddened troops. They too, rose from the pits of insanity, and charged.
Spears clashed with claws, swords with teeth.
I can see them…The mighty Sunrise thought, beholding the hellish spectacle. Crawling over each other like beasts of the marsh. When one falls, others devour it, trying to sate their hunger for life. He turned, mid-charge, and saw the Shattered, waiting, eyes filled with hatred.
He rallied his crusaders, and yelled their battle cry.
“ Come forth hated enemy! Let there be an end!”
* * * * * *
She who was Day watched, as her troops were decimated by the hellish onslaught. She turned to face her sister.
“ Come back to me, my sister. We will rule together!” She pleaded.
She who was Night laughed. “ I will not fall to your twisted mockery of lies again Sister.” She spat the word, and flared her black horn. Black magic started to come into being, swirling around Her like mud. Her horn. and eyes flared, shooting the beam of magic directly at Day.
“It is you who have lied.” She that was Day said quietly.
She too flared her horn, a brilliant white light shooting from the tip. She who was Night’s beam of black energy was shattered, and she was thrown back.
She that was Day, eyes aglow, flared her horn more, as a beam of moonlight encased her younger sister.
“ I have always been more powerful.” She said, her voice echoing across the battlefield.
Six stone artifacts spun around her, coming as if from nowhere.
“I banish you!” She who was Day screamed, magic swirling around her like a storm.
The artifacts spun more and more, faster and faster, until they radiated power. A beam of focused light shot from them, streaming upon Nightmare Moon.
She who was Night laughed again.
“The seas may swell, the sun may rise, the moon may fall, but I will return. And then, even you will bow to me.”
The moonlight vanished, taking the goddess with it.
The armies of the night, stopped, seeing their master defeated.
She who was Day, panting turned to see the wake of the battle. Ponies and shades alike, lay strewn on the ground. Groups of ponies huddled together, trying to cope with the horror they had just witnessed.
Her commander, Sunrise, and his crusaders saluted their fallen, opening their wings and bowing. Several living taking up their dead, and flew them to the clouds.
Now to the matter at hand.
“Who will re-join the land of the living?” She who was Day asked them, hoping with Night gone, they would regain their will.
The Saddened cried, their shrieks piercing the air, as they dispersed.
The Silent paused, and slowly marched to She who was Day.
The Shattered looked on, and one by one, they slowly turned away, disappearing into the horizon.
She who was Day sighed, and turned to the Silent.
“Your brethren know not what they do.” She said. She flared her horn, bathing the Silent in her heavenly glow.
When the light receded, several new crusaders stood, white wings replacing spikes, fur replacing skin, and one by one, they began to thank her.
The mighty Sunrise, bowed to his goddess, turned to his crusaders, new recruits and all.
“We are victorious!” He shouted. Crusader and soldier alike shouted with joy.
Celestia awoke with a start. Panting, she got up and looked in the mirror at her bedside table.
Her normally glorious mane was smashed down, frizzy in places, and made her look like the laziest ruler Equestria has ever seen.
She sighed. When will I be free of this guilt? She asked herself inwardly.
It had been a thousand years since that fateful night on that wretched plain. She could still see it clearly. Her forces destroyed by malevolent entities, only to rise from their fear when her commander appeared.
She smiled to herself, thinking of the exhilaration she had when he arrived. Long since had Sunrise passed, but she could still hear his battle cry. Without him, and his loyal squadron of heavenly warriors, they may have lost that day.
But alas, the need for such battles was gone. Peace had reigned in Equestria for centuries. Celestia had rebuilt the doomed country into a thriving state. She had deserted her old city, the memories there threatened to tear her apart.
Now she lived in Canterlot, the greatest city Equestria had ever seen.
She sighed again.
Today is another Sun celebration. She thought. In remembrance of him.
She levitated her mane brush from the counter, and slowly coaxed her mane into its normal, flowing state.
She stepped outside her chambers into the hall beyond. Several guards bowed at her passing, as she trotted toward the door.
She exited her castle into the gardens outside. AS she entered, she felt a sense of peace. The gardens always calmed her.
She heard a loud call, and turned to see her mythical pet, Philomena, gliding to her.
“Ah Philomena, my pet.” She said, stroking her feathers. “Radiant as always.” The bird cooed at her statement, running her beak through Celestia’s mane. She stood there for awhile, stoking the phoenix, basking in her sunlight. It warmed her, calmed her, made her feel awake.
“Go play now my pet,” She said, sending the bird off.” I’ll visit you tonight.”
With that Celestia turned, and walked slowly toward the sculpture garden.
Several large statues, stood tall and proud, their masonry almost perfect.
She kept walking, searching for a certain one.
There you are. She thought.
A pony, rearing on its hind legs, holding a spear between both hooves, a flag tied to the end, stood where she looked.
She bent down to read the plaque on the stand in front of the statue.
“Through diligence and strength, we create peace.”
Victory.
She re-read the last word several times. She looked back to the statue.
“Without you, we would not be here today.” She said aloud.
They charged, all yelling, lances held in front, impaling any who got close. The Silent turned and fled from them. The Saddened howled and soared away.
But they weren’t here for them. They were here for the most frightening.
The Shattered beckoned them closer, eyes working their dreadful magic.
One by one, his crusaders fell, under the intense hate radiating from those eyes.
Sunrise looked on, not to be defeated. He shouted morale to his men.
“WE must defend all that we stand for!” he shouted. “The enemy we swore to defeat has finally arrived! To honor!” His crusaders whooped, and took to the sky.
Discarding his broken lance, he also took to the sky, replacing his saddle holder with a long curved blade.
They flew to meet the unstoppable onslaught, and stop it they did. One by one the Shattered fell, disappearing into craters in the ground.
The sky blackened, and the Shattered began to reform, slowly recreating themselves to enact vengeance.
“No…” he said aloud.
He reared in mid air, and plunged his sword into the clouds, breaking them apart.
His sword began to glow, heavenly light surrounding it until he was forced to look away. The sword burned in his grasp, until he began to scream with effort.
He turned and dove, gaining speed as he headed for the still standing Shattered.
The sword had a mind of its own, cutting deep into the leathery skin. The Shattered roared, a deep sound that made the bones in Sunrise’s body quake.
His crusaders yelled, empowered by their leader. Their bodies, aflame with otherworldly light, began to tear through the Shattered with stunning precision.'
Several crusaders fell to the Shattered, snatching them out of the air and breaking them.
The more crusaders fell, the more the living fought with greater ferocity.
They heard a scream, and as soon as it had started, it ceased.
The terrible battle was over.
Celestia awoke again, sweat on her brow. She jumped to her feet, to find she had fallen asleep next to the monument. She shook her head vigorously, trying to clear the vision from her mind. As glorious as it seemed, that battle was one of the most terrible in Equestrian history. She couldn’t even think about her ground armies’ state after the war.
“Princess?”
She jumped, and turned around, to see her royal advisor, taking a step back.
“Oh, it is only you. How may I assist you?” she asked, calmly.
“I don’t need help, your majesty, just came to deliver a message.” He held up a scroll in his magic.
“Oh thank you.”She said graciously, accepting the scroll with her magic.
The advisor bowed, and trotted away.
Hm..? It’s from Twilight. She thought.
Dear princess Celestia… yes well… something bad is going to..
She stopped, and screamed, dropping the paper like it was some sort of disgusting creature.
She can’t be right… it’s not possible… she thought, panicked.
Twilight just got ambitious and guessed, nothing more. She told herself.
She knew she was lying to herself, for she knew Twilight would never guess at something so important. Twilights chance of being wrong in calculations, chances were even slimmer.
Mustn’t scare her though. I’ll just send her a letter, telling her to go somewhere, away from danger… Ponyville! That place is safe, far away….. But I need an excuse….
What would Twilight believe? Celestia thought, wracking her brain for ideas.
She needs to study? No.”What better place to study than in Canterlot Royal Liberary?” she’d say. What about…. A party? No, Twilight's never gone to a party in her whole life!
She paused. But that means…
A smile began to slowly come across Celestia.
She dashed to her chambers, barely getting to say “At ease,” to her guards.
She ran to her desk, and found a piece of parchment. She began to scrawl upon it, writing so fast that she spilled some ink on her white coat.
When she was finished, she teleported it to Spike, knowing that he would help her on this.
She must go make friends. Believe it or not, this excursion is going to help her a lot in life.
“Hello again….Sister..” a voice like ice said. Celestia froze.
No…
“I see you’ve abandoned our glorious city. Shame, I thought at least there would be SOMETHING worth looking forward to. All well.” Nightmare said.
Celestia remained still, facing her mirror, watching the ice creep up it, covering the reflection of the Nightmare.
“However, at least…” Night started. “I can still end you.” She said, tone full of malice.
Celestia sighed. Standing and turning, she saw Night was directly in front of her, as menacing as she remembered. Sleek black combat armor covered Nights entire body, a tight fitting black helm atop her head. Her dark blue mane flowing in the wind.
“What have I ever done to wrong you sister?” Celestia asked in a mournful tone.
Nightmare laughed, chilling Celestia to the bone.
“You have never wronged me sister.” Nightmare spit, “But they have.” She pointed a spiked hoof out the window, towards the bustling city below.
“You are the only one who can protect them,” Nightmare whispered.” And without him, you are nothing.”
“Wrong.” Celestia said, quietly.
Her mane began to brighten, until it was ablaze with fire. Her eyes shot open, revealing white hot power surging beneath them.
Celestia began to rise. Higher, until she stopped near the top of her colossal bedchamber. Her horn began to flare, growing in power as the Nightmare watched.
The Nightmare took a step back, and then smiled.
She began to laugh, an ear-splitting cackle, which turned into a menacing shuddering belly laugh.
“You may be more powerful, Sister, but I have always been more resourceful.” Nightmare melted into the shadows.
Celestia focused, tracking Nightmares heat , until it disappeared. She opened her eyes, to see a white Pegasus hovering near the ground, back towards Celestia.
She gasped.
Impossible…
She lost her focus, and fell to the earth.
She staggered to her feet.
“How can this be?” she asked herself.
Gleaming armour, massive white wings…
Celestia couldn’t believe her eyes. There he was, returned from beyond death.
She reached out, to see if he was some trick, a alluring mirage. When her hoof contacted skin, she jumped back.
The figure turned, revealing a muscular Pegasus, head to hoof in armor, gleaming with the greatness o the sun.
She gasped, a great smile breaking her lips.
“You have returned to me….” She said, out of breath.
Sunrise said nothing. He just stared at her.
She frowned. This was not the charming air cavalry commander she remembered.
Those eyes…
They were dead. Unseeing.
No… she gasped, stumbling back.
A loud laugh wracked the chamber.
“Even you will bow to me...” Nightmare said. “You would’ve done anything to get him back, but he is my slave now. All of his knowledge, all his strength, is for me to control.” She cackled again.
“If you don’t mind, I must destroy the sun, along with their hope. The night….will last…forever.”
Celestia paced inside the chamber that Nightmare had locked her in. More a cell than a chamber. High stone walls rose all around her, a small tightly barred window was high above. She could see her former comrade’s shadow outside the door, watching her every move.
It all came so suddenly. Luna’s return, Sunrise’s sudden appearance, Twilights letter. They all took her by surprise.
She stopped pacing.
I should have been prepared.
She stomped her hoof on the stone floor, causing an echo. The shadow outside stayed still.
I should have known she’d return! She is my sister, almost as strong as me. She created that spell; she would know how to reverse it.
Celestia face-hoofed. How could she have been so ignorant?
She paused her thoughts, trying to justify everything to herself.
I was in mourning. I was repairing a shattered empire. I was…..
She groaned. All this was doing was bringing back memories, memories of he who now stood guard over her.
The memories broke through the physiological dam inside her heart, loosing their power on her mind.
She started to cry. Soft sobs at first, but gradually turning into loud wails. Her long flowing mane dimmed, from being without the sun. Tears streamed down her face, adding to a growing puddle on the floor beneath her.
Why is this happening to me? Haven’t I been through enough?
She cried out, but for her, there was no one to cry out to, no power higher than her that she could seek for comfort.
After a while, she started to calm down.
Enough of that! She yelled at herself mentally. Your people need you! Twilight needs you! She paused, and then face hoofed again.
Except SHE’S out there, and I’m in here!
Angry, Celestia hoofed the ground, wishing there was something in the cell to break.
Her anger subsided as a plan began to form in her mind.
Not much of one really..
She straightened herself, and, standing up, seized the door with her magic, and with a grunt, tore it from its steel hinges. Sunrise turned, to catch a bolt of fiery light from Celestia in the chest. He was thrown to the end of the hallway, rolled a few times, coming to a stop in front of the stairwell.
Celestia, panting from exertion, walked out of her now demolished cell. The old stonework couldn’t handle so much raw power. The energy left over from the door, wreaked havoc on the room. Shattering the steel bars on the window, cracking the walls, and leaving large craters in the floor.
Regaining her breath, she walked to her unconscious commander.
His breastplate was melted, his front legs were bending at awkward angles, yet his eyes remained open.
She sighed.
Its time you remembered.
* * * * * * * * * *
One thousand years earlier:
She could feel herself rising. With great speed, she left the atmosphere of their blackened world.
The…pain…
Luna could feel herself screaming, as the light burned her flesh. Searing white-hot agony drenched her body, causing her to writhe within the light, exposing more of her already blackened body to the unrelenting brightness.
And then it was over. She lay in a freshly made crater, broken, bleeding.
For years she laid there, slowly regenerating her being.
But those long years were not without gain. She had a plan.
It was beautiful. In her eyes, un-failing.
But in Luna’s eyes, she only saw more heartbreak for her beloved sister.
Nightmare scoffed at her, every time Luna asked her to stop this. To end it.
The spirit of the Nightmare was outside her now, not wanting to share the great pain Luna endured.
Centuries passed.
Over the years, Luna’s body began to re-form. Muscles and sinew grew where flesh was melted. Her coat began to return, a dark midnight blue.
She was finally herself again.
Gingerly, she got to her hooves. After hundreds of years, she was very unsteady. But after many failures, she could walk again.
But her body wouldn’t run, or fly, or cast any spells. Re-growing half your body is taxing.
The Nightmare began to notice that Luna was returning to herself. Her fragile self.
It began to watch Luna, waiting for the right moment.
Many years passed, each day Luna’s strength returned. Every year she could do more, she could run, even cast spells.
But all was not good.
The Nightmare struck.
It had patiently waited, and now, as Luna tried to cast her reversal spell, its waiting was rewarded.
It swooped at her, slamming her mind, threatening to collapse it where she stood. The spell fizzled and went out.
Luna groaned, falling onto her side.
Why hello again.. Did you miss me? Because I missed YOU.
“Get OUT!” Luna screamed, flaring her horn, tore the Nightmare from her mind, the pain in her head dissipating.
She stood again, legs spread, waiting for another possession.
She heard a deep cackle. The sound came from all around her, but it also came in her head.
“Why would you do this?” Luna asked her counterpart. “You told me that my sister, we would be equal!” Luna yelled.
“She would never be equal to you.” Nightmare sneered. “You are Weak! You will never be noticed, always the bottom rung! No pony or creature will ever look to your night for comfort or peace. They will only see you as you are now!”
The Nightmare cackled. “As I am.”
“You lied to me. How many other ponies have you destroyed?” Luna said voice full of anger.
“Countless.” The Nightmare whispered. “All will perish at my hand!” It screamed, the blue mist writhing, and rising high above the night Princess.
“By MY hand, they will live!” Luna screamed, horn blazing. Using her great blue wings, she took off, but in the moons thin atmosphere, she could not gain purchase on the weak air.
She landed, and tried to track the incorporeal form around her, but there was nothing.
She was alone.
Luna roared angrily, tears flowing. She blasted the moon countless times in her anger, releasing the bottled up sadness.
She collapsed, having used up her strength. She lay in her crater, weeping.
