A different take on alicorn ascension. Sixteen years after arriving in Ponyville, Twilight Sparkle is excited to have invented a brand-new kind of spell, but it will come with consequences she cannot possibly anticipate. Meanwhile, threats in shadows around the world conspire to overthrow the Solar Throne. With her world turned upside down, she will have to come to terms with the role that fate has dealt her while straining to keep Celestia in power.

Now with a TVTropes page! Please show it some love! Also check out the official side stories, Designing Intrigue, and Love and Barriers! (With even more in my stories page!)

(Please Note: This story was started before any season three information was available. All episodes in season three and later are non-canon for this story, which also means there's no Crystal Empire in this one. In addition, the promotional map released close to the beginning of season three was also not available and is not compatible with this story. While the OC tag is active because there are OCs in the story, they're really just supporting characters. The focus is on Twilight.)

Also be sure to check out the Rites of Ascension Expanded Universe Group! We're working to develop the resources needed for other authors to try their hand at writing stories set in the Rites Universe!

The Book Two cover art was created by the amazing Silfoe! The original cover art can still be found at Violet Squiggle's deviantArt page.

Author's Notes, including proofreader's credits, can be found here!

"This is 100% Approved by Twilight's Library!"

For almost a thousand years, the immortal Nightmare Moon has reigned over Equestria as Empress. To the average pony, Nightmare Moon is an overarching enigma whose rule is absolute and whose wrath is terrible. But to Twilight Sparkle, who as an orphan has never known her parents, the Empress is something else entirely. When the young unicorn is brought under the royal wing as an apprentice, she learns a great deal more about the supposed tyrant than she ever knew. But as Twilight is introduced to life with her new mentor, she is thrust into a world of political intrigue, conspiracies and secrets. Secrets that were never meant to be revealed. As allies and enemies plot against the very peace of the nation, will Twilight fall prey to the perils of her new position? Or will she prosper and find in Nightmare Moon the mother she never had?

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My eternal gratitude to my editor, LordOfTheWrongs, without whom Night's Favoured Child would not be the story it is today.

Now with added TVtropes!

Twilight becomes alicorn of the stars. This is sort of a problem, because Luna kind of already was alicorn of the stars. Oops!

TV Tropes

(Set a month after the events of the season 4 finale)

Chrysalis has returned to Canterlot, but this time under a flag of truce, instead of a banner of war. She has come because her race is dying, and much to everponies surprise, the last hope for her race is in Equestria.

However, nopony is prepared for the news of who is carrying this last hope, nor the ramifications of what this last hope is likely to bring.

Rating: Rated teen for some sexual scenes and violence in later chapters.

Warning Number 1: Later chapters may contain scenes of graphic violence, viewer discretion is advised.
Warning Number 2: Despite the similar title, this is not a ponyfied version of the movie Enemy Mine.
Warning Number 3: I know Twilight is a unicorn in the cover, but she will be an alicorn in the story, just so no-one is confused.
Warning Number 4: Twilight's brother Shining Armor will me getting a major change to his character portrayal throughout the course of this fic, a change that will involve some dark undertones, which is one of the reasons for the dark tag.
Final Warning: This fic will delve deep into a fannon portrayal of changeling hive structure, hierarchy, and culture, so those who already have head cannon's behind those and are unwilling to accept or tolerate new ones should probably steer clear of this fic.

On secret assignment from Princess Celestia herself, Twilight investigates a powerful magical artifact for clues to the mystery of Luna's transformation in the evil Nightmare Moon. Incautious use of the artifact sends Twilight hurtling back in time. Can Twilight discover what caused Luna's transformation? And will she ever make it home again?

Kickass cover art used with permission from Bitz.
http://allthebitz.tumblr.com/

"Tirek tricked me into believing that he could offer me something more valuable than friendship. But there is nothing worth more. I see that now. He lied when he said that this medallion was given as a sign of gratitude and loyalty. But when I say that it is a sign of our true friendship, I am telling the truth."

The minute Ah heard those words, somethin' budded deep in my heart. Ah knew then that he was speakin' the truth, the entire truth, and he was talkin' from deep in his heart. Ah had always thought of Discord as a nuisance; a draconequus who was just bidin' his time by playin' along with this friendship gig, then strikin' when we let our guard down. But when he said those sentences, even though they weren't directed at me, they took root, down at the bottom o' my heart. O' course, Ah didn't know it then, but that was love Ah was feelin'.

Honest, crazy love.

Featured August 17-19th! A dream come true! I owe it all to all of you wonderful people! I honestly don't deserve this. Celestia bless you all!

Luna's isolation and difficult reentry into Equestrian life has left her without the confidence to communicate with the ponies around her. Especially the one pony she most wants to talk to. Celestia is angry, Twilight is upset and it's all her fault. Then she has an idea... She'll invite Twilight into her dreams. What could possibly go wrong?

This a story of Luna and Celestia leading up to the Nightmare Moon incident. But something is not quite right... The destinies supposedly written in stone by the most primordial of forces begin to shift. The Royal Pony Sisters soon find the world they thought they knew unraveling around them to reveal something no pony would have ever expected.

Luna fights against a destiny that would see her descend into darkness while Celestia soon comes to question what harmony really means.

What lies beyond harmony?

Disclaimer and Original characters:
The picture is a mash-up of
http://enframed.deviantart.com/art/Cracked-glass-texture-19247388
by enframed
and
http://spiritofthwwolf.deviantart.com/art/Elements-of-Harmony-Vector-258413792
by SpiritofthwWolf

My little Pony Friendship is magic and all characters from which that are featured in this story are the property of and credited to their rightful owners. (Hasbro/The Hub/ Studio B/Lauren Faust)

My first Pony related fiction, hope you all enjoy it.
I encourage comments and constructive criticism.

My attempt at a more serious 'Luna meets Neil Armstrong' storyline. What would really happen, both on the moon and on Earth? Inspired by 'The Eagle has Landed' by CyanBlackStone.

Princess Luna has found herself on a very different moon after some strange force interfered with her banishment. She doesn't know what the metal objects that keep orbiting and sometimes landing there are, but she wants to find out. Meanwhile, Neil Armstrong believes that being the first man on the moon will be the crowning achievement of his life. Hoo boy, is he ever in for a surprise.

For those who are interested, the most excellent Zanec has provided this link to an interactive Apollo 11 site.

As they say, it takes money to make money, and with Ahuizotl’s recent cavalcade of failures completely draining his finances, the fearsome fiend finds himself unable to support his diabolical treasure-snatching lifestyle. His exploits not even garnering the attention of his arch-nemesis Daring Do anymore, he decides to swallow what little pride he has left and do the unthinkable: earn a living through… honest work. However, where can a world-infamous dungeon raider start anew to pay off his mountain of debt and dues to the unforgiving Association for Harrowing Archaeology?

Proofread by ShutterflyYay and FinalFan
Special Thanks to: Manaphy

Chapters 1&2 Edited by RainbowBob and jeray2000