//------------------------------// // Nightmare Moon // Story: The Element of Courage // by Banshee531 //------------------------------// Flash was having a blast at the party. Pinkie Pie may have been a bit odd, but she could sure throw a humdinger of a party. Though he made sure to stay clear of the hot sauce snacks after one try of them. Thankfully, the punch and other sugary treats were more likeable. As the party continued, he couldn't help but think about Twilight. He still wished Twilight would come down and try to socialise. He had asked Spike to try and see if she was in a good mood but, when Spike returned from her room grumbling, he knew she was being her usual stubborn self. With this fact in mind, he headed up, ready to see if he could make her leave for just a second. As Flash arrived at the top of the stairs, it divided into two rooms. He looked inside the left one and found it empty, so he tried the right one and found Twilight staring out the window. "Legend has it." she said to herself as she scanned another book and looked at the moon. "That on the longest day of the thousandth year, the stars will aid in her return and she will bring about ever lasting night." she sighed as she tapped the window in despair. "I hope the Princess was right and it is just an old Pony tale." "And if it isn't," Flash said, getting her attention as he walked up to her, "Then I'm sure Princess Celestia is prepared for her." "And if she isn't?" "Then you'll find a way to stop her." he replied with a small grin. "And you won't be alone." "Yeah. I have you and Spike after all.” "And everypony out there." Flash said as he gestured to the window, "If she returns, she'll have to face a whole army of Ponies. It'll work out Twilight." Twilight sighed, ready to retort. But before she could say anything, Spike came in with a sheepish grin. "Twilight, Flash, it's time to watch the sunrise." Soon they and everypony else found themselves in town hall, waiting for the start of the ceremony. "Aren't you excited?" Pinkie Pie asked, shooting up to them as if she hadn't lost a cent of energy. "Cause I'm excited so much that I've never been so excited! Well, except for the time that I saw you walking into town and I went 'GASP!' but seriously, I'm so excited!" Fluttershy's birds began singing as a spotlight focused on a late aged Earth Pony with a scroll for a Cutie Mark. "Fillies and Gentlecolts, as mayor of Ponyville, it is my great pleasure to announce the beginning of the Summer Sun Celebration." everypony cheered at the announcement as several others clapped their hooves. "In just a few moments, our town will witness the raising of the sun, on this the longest day of the year." Flash noticed Twilight wasn't paying attention. Instead, she was looking out the window at the moon. He wanted to say say something, but the mayor spoke up again. "And now, I am proud to announce the arrival of our fair ruler, giver of the sun and the moon each and every day. The good, the wise, the bringer of harmony to all of Equestria." Rarity pulled a cord, opening some curtains. "Princess Celestia!" As the curtains opened and the spot light moved up, everypony soon realised that nopony was there. "This can't be good." Twilight said, a gulp going down her throat. The mayor looked around, panic creeping onto her face. "Stay calm everypony, there must be a reason for this." "Oh! I love guessing games!" Pinkie Pie exclaimed as her body kept shaking in excitement, "Is she hiding?" "She's gone!" Rarity called down, panic also in her voice. "She's good!" Pinkie said before screaming, and Flash knew why. From out of nowhere, smoke began to collect itself on the balcony. The sight caused Twilight to slowly shrink back and whisper, "Oh no." "We need to evacuate the hall." Flash commanded as he flared his wings. “Twilight, I need you to-” But it was too late. In an instant, the smoke disappeared and she was in it's place. She stood at the same height as Celestia, but unlike the white Alicorn, this one's coat was pitch black. Her mane and tail were dark blue with star-like sparkles adorning it, her flank was purple with a silver crescent moon for a cutie mark. "Nightmare Moon." Twilight whispered again, her mouth trembling. “That's not good.” Flash replied, ready to take to the air. Nightmare Moon opened her eyes as gazed upon the crowd. Her face soon shined an evil, malicious smile. "Oh my beloved subjects, It's been so long since I've seen your precious little sun loving faces." "What did you do with the Princess?!" Rainbow Dash asked trying to fly at her, only for Applejack to hold her back. "Whoa there! Hold on!" Applejack yelled as she slammed Rainbow into the floor. "Why, am I not royal enough for you?" Nightmare Moon asked as she placed a hoof on her chest. "Don't you know who I am?" "We know who you are Nightmare Moon." she looked down to see Flash and Twilight standing before her, ready to fight. Spike on the other hoof, was laying on the floor, having fainted from pure shock. "I see somepony's been keeping up with the old legends." she said with a slight chuckle. “That's good.” "One of us did." Flash said, flashing Twilight an apologetic gaze, "But even if we didn't know the legends, we'd still see you for who you are. An enemy of Equestria!” "Enemy?" Nightmare Moon gasped, sounding hurt. "Why, I only want what is best for my kingdom." "This isn't your kingdom." Twilight barked back, "You gave up any right to call yourself a ruler after what you did a thousand years ago!" "What I did?!" she screamed. "What about what your precious Princess did to me?!?! She sealed me away!” Nightmare then let out a small sigh as a smile appeared on her face again. “Well, now I will have my revenge." she looked around the room as she shined her fangs. "Witness my subjects, the dawning of a new age! The age of NIGHT TIME ETERNAL!" and with that, she disappeared in a puff of smoke which soon flew outside. "Somepony stop her!" the mayor ordered, "Only she knows where the Princess is!" several Pegasi flew after the cloud, including Flash and Rainbow Dash, but as soon as they were outside, the cloud was gone. "Nighttime..." Rainbow said, fear in her voice. "Forever?" Flash looked down and saw Twilight rushing out of the great hall. He spread his wings and flew after her. "You got a plan?!" "Our only hope are the Elements of Harmony!" Twilight replied as she kept gaining speed, "But I still have no clue what they are! We gotta get back to the Library!" "Then lets go." as they got back to the library, Flash had to put Spike to bed while Twilight was searching for anything related to the Elements. "Spike's asleep. Find anything?" "Nothing on the Elements of Harmony." she replied, still flipping through another book. As she continued, a sudden blur zoomed inside the library. It was Rainbow Dash and she got up in Twilight's face. "And just what are these Elements of Harmony?!" she yelled. "Rainbow Dash?" Flash said as he ran up to them. "What are you doing here?" "Investigating two suspects on the Princess's disappearance." she replied with crossed hooves. "You can't mean us." Twilight asked with a deadpan tone. "All I know is that you two show up in town and the next thing we know the princess is missing, and some crazy Alicorn arrives and has a conversation with you two!" "Now hold on there sugarcube." said a voice. They all turned to see Applejack, Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie walk in, "We can't go accusing folks of misdeeds over something we don't know." she then turned to them. "But you do know something, don't ya?" Twilight and Flash shared a glance and nodded. "All I know is that a thousand years ago, Princess Celestia banished Nightmare Moon to the moon, using something called the Elements of Harmony. I've been searching for anything mentioning them but I haven't found anything." Suddenly, Pinkie spoke up, "The Elements of Harmony, a Reference Guide." they all turned to see her reading the spine of a book. "What?!" Twilight exclaimed as she ran up to the book, "How did you find that?!" "It was under Eeeee." Pinkie said, cheerfully bouncing around. Flash couldn't help but laugh as he watched her take the book off the shelf and open it up. "There are six Elements of Harmony, but only five are known. Kindness, Laughter, Generosity, Honesty and Loyalty, the sixth is a complete mystery. It is said that the last known location of the Elements is in the Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters. It is located in what is now..." she suddenly stopped reading and gulped. “It can't be...” "Now what?!" Flash asked, but he had a feeling he wouldn't like the answer.