//------------------------------//
// Chapter 38: Best Laid Plans 
// Story: When Snow Falls 
// by Prophet Of Doom 
//------------------------------//

     Luna stood at the near the end of the southern most causeway. Ahead of her lay the wastes that surround the city, completely obscured by the howling storm. Between her and it was barriers of magic, from the Crystal Heart keeping the foul weather at bay and one Shining Armour’s renowned shield spells. This same spell was now under a continuous bombardment from various hidden unicorns. Nightmare Moon and her army stood at the very gates of the city, just out of sight in the storm.
Luna craned her head round to the path behind her, alive with activity. On the causeway with her, were all does involved in their last ditch plan. All the bearers of the Elements of Harmony, standing side by side with the heads held high and ready, including Fluttershy. The figures of Sunset Shimmer, Cadence and Midnight Snow, like luna, waiting to lend their magic to the main casters, Sunburst and Starlight Glimmer. These two were busy preparing the final elements for the spell. 
Luna’s gaze wandered to the towering palace at the centre of the city. On the main balcony that overlooked the main square, Shinning Armour was standing with his horn glowing bright. 
It was at the palace that the majority of the small contingent of guardsponies were stationed, positioned to defend the cities residents that had been ushered into the grand building for their protection.
The rest of the guard along with the Wonderbolts were standing watch on rooftops around the city.

“I Think were ready.”
The sound of Glimmer’s announcement brought Luna’s gaze back to the pair of unicorns. 
“Yes, I think we are,” Sunburst reiterated, whilst turning to Cadence. “We’re ready to go, on your word.”
“Understood,” Cadence nodded slowly. “Is everypony ready?”
They all one by one acknowledged her, ending with Luna, “I’m ready.”
“Then let us begin,” Cadence declared. She turned to Spitfire, standing on top a nearby building. After exchanging nods, Spitfire took to the sky and flew over to Shinning Armour.
After a second, his horn ceased glowing and his shield spell started to fall away.
Luna watched the barrage against this barrier come to an abrupt halt, as the attackers realised that it was coming down. And then, like a falling curtain, it was gone.
Gradually and with growing intensity, the sound of marching hoof-steps reverberated through the air. Luna focused on the swirling darkness that was the storm and eventually, silhouettes of ponies began to appear. As they entered the city limits and came under the glow of its streetlights, Luna was mortified. She was expecting to see hypnotised members of the royal guard approaching, instead, she saw the citizens of Canterlot in the front ranks. 
They all recognised many familiar faces in the crowd. Saffron Masala, Sapphire Shores, Minuette, Fleur Dis Lee, Moon Dancer and many more. All under Nightmare Moon’s spell. All bearing her terrible eyes.
From behind her, Luna heard Applejack call out to her brother. Big Macintosh was one of several stallions tethered to Luna’s chariot. Riding on it, wearing an undeserved grin, was the demon herself. With a raise of a hoof, Nightmare Moon’s army came to a halt.

“Princess Luna,” She beamed. “How nice of you to welcome me personally.”
Her words grated against Luna’s soul, “Nightmare Moon. I see you have found my chariot.”
Nightmare Moon ran a hoof along the body of said chariot, “So it is yours, Luna. I have to say, you have excellent tastes.”
Luna’s eyes wandered across the ranks of her army and back to her, “One wishes the same could be said about yourself, Nightmare.”
“Oh, you disapprove of my army?” She said between giggles. “You shouldn’t, for they all volunteered to serve in my ranks.”
“Did they?” Luna responded in the flat sarcasm that only a royal could pull off. Nightmare Moon cackled maniacally, clearly enjoying the silent anger building in Luna.
“But they did, my dear Luna, they did,” -Nightmare Moon descended from the chariot- “Once I showed them my divine light.”
“Your divine light, is nothing but darkness through and through,” Luna retorted. Her anger was rising and she took a moment to cool it, reminding herself of her goal. Luring Nightmare Moon away from her lines.
“Well if you're not here to welcome me, Luna. Then why do you stand before me?”
Ponies parted as she approached luna. Just a little further, demon.
“Do you plan to stand against me in your condition? I can see that you are still injured, you know,” Nightmare Moon mocked. “Or is it that you wish to become my host once again. Not that I need a princess now.”

To the disbelief of does looking on, especially Luna, Nightmare Moon unfolded her new wings, displaying her alicorn status. Luna’s anger almost boiled over, “How did you learn that spell?”
“I got it from the vaults of Canterlot Castle,” She beamed, lapping up Luna’s bearly contained rage. “I do look forward to what I can learn from them. The spells, the knowledge, the dirty secrets that you and your sister hides.”
Luna once again attempted to calm herself down. The hidden vault has been compromised She thought. No matter, I have you where I need you.
Nightmare Moon’s flamboyant display of her wings had left her vulnerable. She had strayed several paces in front of her lines. Luna began slowly drawing a triangle on the ground. Soarin, who was atop a nearby roof, had been watching Luna like a hawk for this signal. He turned and locked eyes with Starlight Glimmer and relayed the signal. 
Glimmer’s horn glowed, as she started drawing magic from Sunset, Midnight and Cadence. Luna then felt her own magic being drained by Glimmer’s spell. It would have been easy for any of them to break it but she like the others, allowed it. 
Sunburst had not been idle throughout this. Opening up a velvet lined case, he levitated its constance above his head. They consisted of several crystals, all sculpted to the various shapes of the former Elements of Harmony. When Glimmer had gathered the magic that was needed, she channelled it into the crystals, which glowed intensely. 

This alerted Nightmare Moon that something coming. She released that remaining in her current position was unwise and started backing up to her army. At the same time, several guardponies rushed forward. 
Now infused with magic, Sunburst lowered the crystal elements in front of the bearers of the originals. With a pulse from the crystals, they left Sunbursts magical hold and floated in front of their respective pony. Then both crystals and ponies started floating into the air. The crystals pulsated and ponies eyes shined a blinding white. Then with a burst of colour, a rainbow shot high into the air before turning towards Nightmare Moon. Two unicorn guards stepped forward and cast a protective barrier but the rainbow passed through it as if weren't there and struck home. Nightmare Moon quickly became engulfed in a rainbow tornado, that brought cheers from the ponies from the palace.
Luna exhausted from the magical drain, however, could feel something was wrong. The day that she was freed from Nightmare Moon’s influence  is one she never forgot. The power and the strange sensation that rainbow brought were etched deep into her memories. This rainbow did give the same power or sensation as she remembered.
The feeling was reinforced by the sound of the crystals breaking. First Rainbow Dash’s, then Rarity’s, Fluttershy’s Applejack’s, Pinkie’s and ending with Twilight’s. When each broke the ponies flopped to the ground and the rainbow became less, until it was nothing.

Nightmare Moon stood unaffected, grinning cynically, “Ooh, that tickled.”
She started giggling again, which quickly turned into a full evil laugh. Behind Luna, Twilight and the others were trying to make sense of what had happened.
“Was that your the great plan to defeat me?” Nightmare Moon purred triumphantly. “What a shame. Now, it's my turn.”
She raised her right hoof until it was level with her shoulder, then pointed in Luna’s direction. On command, all the ponies in the front ranks charged forward. All were hypnotised citizens.
Luna lead by example donned a defensive pose which was copied by everyone save Fluttershy, who hunkered down instead. There she was exhausted Luna readied a shield spell to repulse any incoming attacks but none came. Most of the ponies ran straight past her and the ones that didn’t, circled her instead but kept their distance. Luna was unnerved by this strange turn of events and that none of them blinked or even looked at her. Looking over her shoulder again, she saw that they were doing the same to the others, clearly disturbed by them.
Nightmare Moon brought her hoof down with a loud stamp, bringing the circling ponies came to a halt. Luna looked back at Nightmare Moon, who was returning the stare, her horn aglow. Luna attention was then grabbed by the nearest pony to her, Ponyville’s mayor, Ivory Scrolls. Like the others, she was wearing saddle bags containing supplies. What Luna had failed to see until now was the red paste that was decorated them, which were now glowing.

Runes! Luna screamed internally. She threw herself around to face Twilight, “Get back from them! They have captu….”
The rune on Ivory Scrolls bag shot out a chain of magic, wrapping around Luna’s snout and cutting off her warning. More chains joined the first, binding themselves to Luna’s horn and legs. Completely immobilising her. Now on the cold ground, she forced her head up and watched the others.
In short order; Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Cadence and Sunburst were all ensnared in magical chains. Twilight and Sunset had already teleported themselves away from danger. Rainbow Dash had also taken flight, soaring high into the air out of the reach of the chains were she was quickly joined by the Wonderbolts.
Starlight Glimmer was slow to react to the change of events but was teleported away by a quick thinking Twilight.
What startled Luna most were the actions of Midnight Snow. Instead of falling back, he went forward, dodging all incoming chains and running straight at Nightmare Moon. When he was no closer to her then Luna was, he stopped and shouted, “Foxtrot!”.
Nightmare Moon was not amused by this display. She immediately turned and fired a beam upon him. In the space of a second, Sunset Shimmer suddenly appeared behind him. Grabbing him in a headlock, she teleported them both away. The beam now with no target, blew up an empty home in a stunning blast.
Nightmare Moon, however, did not see this. Believing she had felt with him, turned her eyes to the central palace. In a similar fashion to earlier, she proceeded to raise her left hoof and pointed it at the palace, “Advance!”
With this command, the remaining elements of Nightmare Moon’s army swarmed forward.