Twilight Sparkle and her friends must save Equestria from the Mare in the Moon, Nightmare Moon.
Can Twilight and her friends save the world of Equestria from the eternal darkness of Nightmare Moon? Or will they fall victim to the Princess of the Night and her demons, leaving the entire land in helpless despair?
With this re-imagining of the Mare in the Moon tale and Friendship is Magic storyline, live through the battle for Equestria from the vantage point of Nightmare Moon herself. Was her attack justified? What was occurring in the Princess of the Moons mind while fighting Twilight? Is Nightmare Moon really gone...?
Little foal stories aren't meant for the young ones. They are meant for the adults they will grow up to be. Within the yellowed pages of old mares tales, beyond the simplistic teachings we hold so fickly close to our hearts, and beyond the ensconce of the perpetually happy ending, lies the ever embattled purpose. Exuding it's meaning between the lines, that those so cursory will be quick to miss it, and the few with intellectual acuity are constantly pricked by the profound realization of consequence. For the tales aren't falsely spun, adjoined for mockery and pleasure, rather they are accounts, scripted to be instilled in a young ones minds. Lasting for aeons, whispered to sleeping foals before bed, impregnating the minds of society, but not with a story. With a warning. A warning that's been forgotten, abated behind the curtains of perceived security. For when murmurs and truth have lost their call, and Equestria shall stand, only to fall, that is the time. That is the time when the night will cover all.
The clock above Cheerilees desk let out another echoing clack as the minute hand drove forward with a strenuous display of effort. Cheerilees voice drifted above the anxious crowd in front of her, her words hanging in the air, helplessly attempting to reach their audience. A welcoming breeze drifted through the ajar window, rustling a stack of papers on the pink teachers desk.
Nearest to the window sat Scootaloo, her small purple mane rustled as the draft blew around the class. Sitting next to her was Sweetie Bell. Cheerilee appreciated that the little white filly at least tried to pay attention.
She even admitted herself though, that concentration so near the cusp of summer break was hard to maintain. The class had already finished learning material for the year, all that was left was an hour of required class time. Cheerilee decided it would be fun if they read stories for the last hours of the school year.
Her voice trailed off as she finished the last sentence of the story, the ending caught in the wind and carried away. She glanced at the clock and felt the eyes of twenty others join her. Twenty minutes left, and then the school in Ponyville would go on break until next fall.
"We have time for one more story, class. What should it be? Name your favorite fairy tale."
Applebloom put up a hoof, her red bow in her hair bouncing as she tried to reach the sky.
"Ohh Ooh! Ah know, Ah know!" Applebloom excitedly bounced in her seat. "Read The Mare In The Moon!"
The entire class chided as Cheerilee flipped the page. Everyone knew this story, they all grew up with it. Applebloom sat straight in her desk as Cheerilee started the story, listening intently, as her classmates retired to their own thoughts of the summer vacation to come.
"It was then, that Princess Luna began to change, her mane glowing with the power of the night..." The school bell rang and Cheeriliees words were drowned out instantly by the eruption of excitement let loose by the class.
“Aww, I wanted to finish it...” Applebloom said out loud to no one in particular.
“But...why? That’s a babies story anyway!” Silver Spoon made her opinion heard as she passed.
Apple Bloom didn’t care, it was her favorite fairy tale. It gave her the shivers every time she heard of the princesses transformation. Sometimes she wondered if something so crazy could happen to her. If she became a large scary demon pony then bullies wouldn’t make fun of her for being a blank flank.
Storm clouds were gathering over the Everfree forest and a warm wind blew down from Canterlot. Apple Bloom threw her saddle bags over her back and walked over to the teachers desk. The class room was already empty and Cheerilee jumped at hearing Apple Blooms little voice.
“Excuse me, Miss Cheerilee? I was hoping that I could borrow the um...” Apple Bloom’s voice trailed off as her teacher cocked her head questioningly. “Well yah see, my Granny says she doesn’t like to spread fairy tail nonsense around. So I was hoping that I could borrow yer book for a few days.” Apple Blooms face reddened around the cheeks
“Why of course Apple Bloom" Miss Cheerilee loved it when her students got into reading and stories. "What story is it that interested you the most?"
Apple Bloom put her hoof on the book, as if to take it. "I really like the story of Nightmare Moon, although it scares me everytime I hear it.”
"Well, I hope you enjoy it Apple Bloom, just bring the book back over to my house when you're done with it. Okay? And don’t let them scare you too much, they are just pony’s tales after all!”
Apple Bloom excitedly nodded her head and shoved the book greedily into her saddle bag. With self perceived haste the young filly tore out of the school and into the town of Ponyville, where ever ominous clouds grew over the dark Everfree Forest."
----
"I can feel my very self, changing. It's been years since I've felt this...presence. I have a sense of being again. Like being born for the very first time and seeing the world. Only now...I feel the world, the universe, and all it's pain. All the revenge, and sorrow, and anger, so much anger. And it is mine to use..."
----
Twilight burst into the room, knocking Spike back off of his feet. “Spike?! Spiiiiiike?!! Spike? There you are! Quick! Find me a copy of Predictions and Prophecies!”
Spike didn’t know what she needed this crusty old book for. Twilight was probably just freaking out again and trying to get out of going to Moon Dancers party. She was more interested in books than friends, after all.
“See Mare in the Moon?” Twilight exclaimed.
Spike had enough of her shenanigans, he just wanted to have a good time while on their study break that Celestia had granted them. They rarely ever got breaks from studying and now that they finally got one, Twilight was making him study even more!
“Mare in the Moon? But that’s just an old pony’s tale!” The tiny purple dragon pointed out with a hint of attitude.
Twilight ignored her assistants protests and continued on reading.
“The Mare in the Moon, a myth from old pony times. A mare who wanted to rule Equestria, defeated by the Elements of Harmony and imprisoned in the moon. Legend has it that on the longest day of the thousandth year, the stars will aid in her escape and she will bring about nighttime eternal.”
Twilight’s face hardened “We have to warn Princess Celestia...”
----
Princess Celestia stood on the balcony of her private quarters. The storm over the Everfree Forest had strengthened over the past few days. It frightened her, because she knew what the storm meant. It had been one thousand years since she had defeated her sister in battle and banished her to the moon.
Celestia paced back and forth on the balcony, thinking of her sister and the time she has spent on the moon. Questions blossomed in her mind, perhaps her sister had fought off the evil demon inside of her? Perhaps the demon had defeated her sister and had taken complete and total control?
Worry grew on her face and doubt thrived in her heart as she watched the swirling of the clouds above the forest. She would need to protect her subjects, even if it meant sacrificing herself to stop her sister.
Lightning split the summer night in two, and for a brief second she could see the old castle in the Everfree Forest. The crumbling steeples silhouetted by the weather's wrath sent shivers down her spine and she collapsed onto the stone balcony beneath her hooves. She couldn’t do this on her own.
“Legend has it that on the longest day of the thousandth year, my stars will aid in my escape and I will bring about ever lasting night. Finally.”
“Aughh! All the ponies in this town are CRAZY!” Twilight grabbed her mane in between her front hooves and tugged hard. Pain shot across her scalp and she rolled over in her bed burying her face in a pillow. She disliked this place already, back in Canterlot nopony would just throw a party in her house without prior consent! Back in Canterlot nopony would douse cupcakes with hot sauce, and back in Canterlot she could do more research to figure out how to stop Nightmare Moon from returning! Warmness pricked at the corners of her eyes and she was forced to squeeze them shut to prevent tears from flowing.
Through squinted eyes she gazed out her window at the full opulent moon hanging low in the sky. With a small sniff she cocked her head trying to take in the view from a different angle. It was larger than it’s usual self, something about the stars was off kilter and the mare formation in the moon seemed to be less obvious than usual. She let out another small sniff and rubbed her eyes, perhaps she was just seeing things.
“I hope the Princess is right” the words barely escaped her lips “I hope it’s just an old pony tale.” Music from the library downstairs erupted into the purple mare’s room as the door was flung open.
“Come on Twilight! It’s time to watch the sun rise!” Spike’s enthusiastic demeanor did little to calm the pony’s restless mind, but he was right. The festival was about to start whether she was ready for it or not.
----
Celestia signed her name at the bottom and rolled up the freshly penned scroll. After handing it to a pegasus of the royal guard and directing him towards the griffin homeland, the Princess turned to her two personal guards. With a nod they bowed lightly and dismissed themselves.
The predawn darkness pressed down on the Princess with the weight of the world. Looking out over her balcony she exhaled a single breath she wasn’t aware she was holding. The steam from her mouth floated up towards the sky where her eyes fell on the moon. It’s radiance, made brighter by the lack of any lunar formations, cast her shadow through the balcony door and onto her bedroom floor. Keeping her eyes locked on the celestial orb, she spoke.
“I knew you would be back for me first.” Her sisters moon shimmered in the tears streaming slowly over her cheek bones. “I have to try to stop you. You know that right?” Silence encroached on her words as she spoke them, as if trying to prevent them from coming out of her mouth.
Princess Luna’s timid voice broke the silence, seemingly hours later. “It’s gorgeous, isn’t it?” Her soft words penetrated the night causing Celestia to inhale sharply.
“Luna...” Celestia whispered as she turned to face her sister. A sob escaped her throat as she saw the pony standing next to her was not her sister at all. “Luna, listen to me!” She demanded with feeble composure.
Still fixated on the moon, the dark mare spoke again. “I do hope that the rest of Equestria enjoys it’s gorgeousness as much as we do...” Her voice became constrained and higher pitched as she continued her sentence, becoming less and less like Luna’s voice “...because it will be there for the rest of their lives!”
Nightmare Moon turned to Celestia, revealing her full set of armor and elliptic teal eyes. Jagged teeth glinted in the moon light as she sneered at the quivering state of the Princess.
“Hello, Sister” The demon mare let out a high pitched laugh at her own words, causing Celestia to take a shaky step back. “I’ve missed you, but now I think it’s your turn.”
----
Twilight loitered back at the outskirts of the crowd, poking her head in and out of the other groups that had gathered, looking for Spike. A sense of loneliness filled her heart as she continued looking for her friend.
She let out a long sigh and dropped her gaze to the ground, wishing her brother were here to experience the raising of the sun with her. Having Shining around always provided a sense of security she could never have with anypony else. She drug her hoof through the dirt, lost in thought.
Twilight was called back to reality a few moments later by Spike calling her name from somewhere in the middle of the crowd. She felt a jump of joy and started inching behind ponies to reach her friend.
“There you are!” Pinkie Pie threw her front hooves into the air and grinned, somehow keeping Spike secure on her back the entire time too. The other ponies that she had checked up on earlier in the day were there too, waiting to view the rising of the sun.
Twilight let a smile creep across her face as she stood with the other five ponies, if Spike liked them they at least had good character. Twilight let her gaze wander to the raised pedestal where the Princess and her personal mentor would make an appearance to raise the sun in just a few minutes.
----
Celestia knew what would happen next. Having prepared for this night, her plan was not to go down easily. Ideally she would have had her sister return from the moon full of forgiveness. Worst case scenario she would come back and need to be retaught how to use magic. What had actually happened was much worse, as not only did Nightmare Moon come back in place of Luna, but every word she spoke and movement she made seemed to be laced with malice and a cruel intent that wasn’t there before.
Nightmare Moon leveled her head and with a fluid motion of the alicorn’s wings propelled herself forward, driving her horn towards Celestia’s heart. A blinding flash of white light and the demon's horn drove straight into the stone wall, leaving a thick hole.
“Luna, listen to me! You don’t need to do this, I can help you fight this demon and we can rule Equestria together!” Celestia was screaming from the other side of the room at her sister. Pain was apparent on her face as she stared back at her sister through moist eyes. “Please...” she offered.
Nightmare Moon simply laughed and used her own magic to teleport closer to Celestia. “Neat trick, but you can’t run forever!”
With that she teleported beside Celestia and thrust her horn forward, this time making contact with the Princess’s abdomen.
Celestia grimaced as her own sister’s horn dove further into her side. Dark magic raged through her body, anger and fear replaced the love and harmony that previously occupied her heart. She turned towards her assailant to look her in her eyes, the deep teal eyes that had replaced her sister’s so long ago.
The demon pulled her horn out of Celestia’s side, with nothing supporting her anymore the Princess dropped to her knees. Towering above her stood Nightmare Moon, but when the Princess looked up, her blood froze. The rage filled teal eyes that had donned her sisters face were now gone, in their place were her sisters eyes, Luna’s eyes. Filled with one thousand years of sorrow and regret. Admiring the work that their owner had just performed.
“Luna...” Celestia said, keeping her eyes locked on her sister's as they changed back into the nightmare eyes filled with hatred. A grin spread across her sister’s face as she lowered her horn to Celestia’s own. “...I’m sorry”
Nightmare Moon touched her horn to Celestia’s and the white alicorn collapsed. Stepping away, she watched as the former Princess of Equestria’s body began peeling away into licks of fire. Soon her entire presence, physical and magical, had left the kingdom. Nightmare Moon watched as the last few shreds of flame extinguished and turned to ash, floating to the ground.
Nightmare Moon turned from her sister’s chamber and dissipated into a deep purple smoke.
Airy Carrier flew high above the ground, propelling himself forward with each flap of his wings. Below him he could only see the silver rolling landscape that were the clouds, reflecting the bright moon’s light. Frost had started to build up on his goggles, drastically narrowing his field of vision. Not wanting to put himself and Princess’s message at risk he decided it was a good idea to stop for a brief respite and clean them off.
He touched his hooves down on the clouds, feeling their powdery stability beneath his hooves always made him feel secure. Walking around a little bit, Airy spread his wings wide, stretching them after the long flight they had endured and preparing them for the longer flight that still lay ahead.
It was with a great sigh of relief and relaxation that Airy slid off his saddle bags and shook the icy dew out of his fur. Although he made it often, the flight from Canterlot to the Griffon’s capital city always exhausted him. It usually required him to take a respite about halfway through, and it wasn’t uncommon on night time trips for his goggles to freeze up like they had.
“Let’s see,” Airy started talking out loud to himself. “If I started while the moon was at a 35 degree angle compared to the constellation Starswirl, then it should be…” His voice trailed off as he squinted his eyes and looked closer at the moon. Then realizing he still was wearing the icy goggles, he reached up to his face with one hoof and ripped the flight goggles off.
“Well now then…” Started Airy again, “That can’t be right, not one bit!” His voice rose slightly as he continued talking to himself, however now he had added slapping his goggles with one hoof in order to remove the ice.
While Airy normally kept track of what time it was and how much further he had to go, he found that now it didn't seem like he could. The moon did not appear to have moved since he left. As a matter of fact, nothing in the night sky had seemed to have moved. Everything was in the exact same position, even the stars. It was then that he noticed something that made his blood run cold. He idly dropped his goggles, which were now ice free, to his feet. They made a little poof sound as they made contact with the cloud he was standing on, but Airy seemed not to notice.
Airy took a few steps forward towards the moon, mouth hanging open. His mind raced as he thought of reasonable explanations as to what his eyes were seeing. The Mare, the figure of the horse that lived in the moon for the entirety of Airy’s life, was gone. A few lone moon formations replaced it, but the moon looked naked without the equine figure patterned on it’s surface.
Airy’s mind raced from one scenario to another, and regardless of the means, every outcome looked bleak. Either the alleged Princess Luna, co-ruler of all of Equestria and sister of Princess Celestia was back and ready to rule the nighttime again. Or…
“Nightmare Moon…” Airy heard himself say out loud, his eyes darting from the pale faced moon to the satchel containing Princess Celestia’s letter that lay at his feet. He now realized how important his task was. No matter the costs, the Griffons needed to know that Nightmare Moon could potentially be back, they needed to ally with the ponies to help defeat this common enemy.
Airy grabbed his goggles, and with a sense of haste and urgency that he did not have before, snapped them to his face to cover his eyes. He blinked a few times to adjust his vision in the goggles and turned to grab his satchel containing Celestia’s letter to the Griffons.
However when Airy turned away from the blank faced moon to gather his belongings, it wasn’t his cloth satchel that caught his eyes. There was the dark figure standing next to his satchel, rifling through his belongings. As though it could hear his thoughts, the figure turned and stared at Airy with large, teal eyes. Although it was nearly pitch black above the clouds in the middle of the night, Airy could still see the creature’s mouth. It’s thin lips peeled back allowing the moon to glint off the sharp teeth, forming a sneering smile in the middle of the darkness.
The creature then started to move towards him. Each hoof fall seemed to take hours to make contact with the cloud as the creature’s cruel smile bore deeper and deeper into Airy’s mind. Then, suddenly as if the creature had been there all along, he felt it’s presence beside him. He turned his face to his right and saw the figure of Nightmare Moon, standing next to him, staring him in his eyes.
“That’s right…” The creature spoke as Airy felt hot tears escape his eyes and trickle down his face.
