////
Chapter 4-The Watcher in the Dark
////
Nyx ran as fast as she could through the streets of Ponyville, trying to escape from everything. Tears stained her cheeks as Diamond’s words burned into her head, repeating over and over in her mind. She didn’t know how long she ran, but she knew she had crossed well across town, leaving its buildings to the hills that watched over the rooftops. Little light polluted the night sky here, and as the redness of her eyes faded, her surroundings came into focus.
Upon the hill before her there stood a tree, old and twisted in its roots that stuck out from the ground around its base. Its branches bent low, hanging down as though it wept for her, involuntarily giving her a sense of empathy. Above her the night sky glistened with speckled stars and a waning moon, softly shining down upon her with a comforting light. Nyx looked up at the tree as she wiped her eyes, sniffing as she studied it in detail. It was indeed a sorrowful display, inviting her to set her emotions free and cry her tears.
But the tears had long been spent, and now she was angry.
Nyx stared bitterly at the tree and its low hanging branches as she tore one off in her magic, observing how thin and blunt it was. Sieving in her emotions, she began whacking the branch against the bark of the tree, lashing out all of her aggression upon the trunk. Why did Diamond have to open her stupid mouth? she wondered, tirelessly beating the tree even harder. Why does she have to be right!? Nyx gritted her teeth, snorting loudly. Why couldn’t she leave her alone?!
Nyx increased her assault on the tree with dangerous ferocity, whipping it harder and harder until the branch snapped, splintering onto the ground as she let go of it in surprise. This did little to cool her temper, however, a slow, steady buildup of magic welling up inside of her. Baltimare. Cherry Blossom. Nyx growled as her horn ignited, the ground around her starting to burn.
In a burst of rage, her magic lashed out into an arching whip that cracked against the bark of the tree, singeing it with each lash she dealt it. Her magic flashed like an intense blue flame, illuminating her face in the dark of the night. Nyx snared and screamed as she whipped the tree, again and again, venting her anger until she was spent. Her magic flickered away, her power drained, her little body heaving as tiny licks of blue flame cracked against the grass around her and died away.
Exhausted, Nyx collapsed onto the ground, shifting over to lean against the tree. She wasn’t used to using so much magic at once, and doing it was draining and painful. Just an output of power was straining for the young filly, and now she just wanted to rest. She felt so weak, why couldn’t she be stronger?
She looked out upon the town she had grown to love. Surely Ponyville was safe, wasn’t it? That was a comfort that she wanted to cling to, but Diamond Tiara's words struck a chord deep within her. In the end, she was right. Ponyville, her home, was only safe for the moment, shielded behind a princess and the Elements of Harmony. The peace that she enjoyed, even her life itself were in debt to forces that were out of her control, and to her despair, she envisioned that this was how it would always be. And there was nothing she could do, which made her feel ashamed.
Nyx looked up at the stars in the sky, new tears forming once more. She was mentally kicking herself for running away and leaving her friends behind. They were counting on me for the show, how could I be so selfish? she thought with a sense of self-loathing, casting her eyes downward. But she felt… lost. Trapped even. Feeling that her life was dictated by the confines of her mother’s protection, but she wanted more, she wanted peace. She wanted to be… safe. Yet, reality seemed to deny her this, having a different idea on how life should treat her. Nyx frowned, sobbing as she curled up into a ball and contemplated over these matters.
“Nyx!”
The filly’s ears twitched, picking up on the familiar sound of her name. She looked up just in time to see her mother making her way up the hill. She hadn’t noticed her yet, and Nyx felt the urge to call out to her but found herself silent, the words choking up in her throat.
“Nyx? Nyx!” Twilight called, her eyes darting left and right as she hurried up the hill, searching for the filly. She was starting to panic a little, the fear of Nyx this far outside of town stressing her out to no end. She had been fine with her being out with her friends in the middle of town, but outside?
Twilight breathed, remembering the technique Cadance had taught her since she was a filly herself. She let the air flow into her lungs and outward, releasing all the tension she was feeling and casting it away. Letting out a sigh, the princess opened her eyes, her mind now clear as she took in the hills surrounding her.
Then Twilight saw her, and the alicorn’s heart sank down into her chest. Even in the dark, she could see Nyx hunched over sitting by the tree, soft tears rolling down her cheeks. As she wandered closer, she noticed the markings on the tree and the scorched grass, still fresh from her beating. Twilight looked at her sympathetically as she pushed aside her own emotions, taking a small step towards her.
“Oh, Nyx…” Twilight’s ears flattened, her movements becoming slow and gentle. Taking a careful step forward, she made her way to where her daughter sat, listening to the soft sound of the crunching leaves under her hooves. Nyx kept quiet for the most part, giving her one quick glance to acknowledge that she was there. Twilight offered her a smile, but the sad look in her eyes betrayed her all the same.
“Mind if I sit down?” Twilight asked softly, letting herself be as gentle with the filly as possible. Nyx nodded silently, making room for her as she continued to stare at the ground. Twilight huffed and sat down, brushing away a few scattered leaves before leaning back against the tree.
“Not exactly what you expected on your first Nightmare Night, huh?” Twilight tried to lighten the mood with an awkward laugh, one that was ignored by a distant Nyx. Twilight cast her eyes downward, encapsulated in the silence.
“Nyx, I’m so sorry you had to see me fighting with that mare, I didn’t want that,” Twilight offered her apology with a sad, broken expression. Nyx breathed out from her nostrils, tilting her head to the side to rest on her mother. Twilight gave her a soft smile as she extended her wing, letting the filly lean into her.
“Why can’t they just let it go?” Nyx asked calmly, staring out into nothing. Twilight stared, feeling as though she were betraying her for not having an answer. It wasn’t clear-cut as black and white.
Twilight looked up at the stars, reflecting on how she herself played in this question. She remembered the day when the filly had come into her life, the panic and suspicion she had felt. She remembered how she grew attached to Nyx as those months passed, and how it became so maternal. And she remembered how quickly she had betrayed her trust, and how great a consequence that had made. It hurt Twilight each time she reflected on this, but it was partly her fault. The princess looked down at the girl and sighed, wrapping her wing around her.
“Sometimes, ponies say they want to forgive others for their mistakes, to forget about the past. But, when that’s tested, we often disappoint.” Twilight looked away for a moment, thinking about the times she had failed that test herself. She looked back at Nyx, seeing those big pleading eyes looking up to her, sighing as she pulled her close. “I know it’s hard, but I promise I won’t let anypony hurt you as long as I’m here.”
“But what if they’re right? I’m Nightmare Moon. I know I did good, but, what if that’s not enough?” Nyx said unsatisfied, doubting herself as her emotions started overwhelming her again.
Twilight held Nyx’s head and drew her gaze up to her, her expression growing serious. “Now you listen to me and you listen close. No matter what anypony says about you, you are a good pony. Never forget that.”
“I guess...”
Nyx squeaked as Twilight suddenly pulled her into a hug, releasing her after a few moments and leaned down to look at her face to face. “Hey, you’re my little filly, don’t you think I would know better than anypony else?”
Nyx looked at her and saw the confidence in her eyes, and smiled. Twilight always knew what to say to get to her, breaking down those barriers the filly would build up for herself against the world. After a moment Nyx nuzzled into her mother’s fur comfortably, taking in her warmth eagerly.
“Now… do you mind telling me why you’re all wet?” Twilight asked, causing Nyx to flinch. Nyx looked up at her quickly, seeing the expecting look on her mother’s face as she raised an eyebrow, waiting for an answer.
“Oh… ahh,” Nyx blubbered out, her cheeks flushing red as she felt as if she were suddenly under a microscope. She looked up at those waiting eyes and buckled.
“M-Mrs. Sauerkraut hosed us when we walked by her house,” Nyx said sheepishly, knowing how much this was going to upset Twilight. Sure enough, Twilight began to steam, her voice rising higher as she voiced her outrage.
“Oh, that crazy old goat! She could really make some foals sick! What was she thinking?!” Twilight began to rant, her wings flaring out.
“I-I got her back though!” Nyx spoke up quickly, trying to get her to calm down. Twilight paused and looked down at her, giving her a stern look.
“Oh? What did you do?” Twilight said in a harsh tone, somewhat critical of the possible methods she had.
“I… may have used an illusion spell to make her think her mane was on fire,” Nyx said nervously, hoping she wouldn’t get in trouble for admitting this, “and I may have hosed her down and caused her to lose her wig.”
Twilight stared at Nyx for several moments as her face transitioned from a blank expression to a crinkled smile that quickly grew larger and larger. Nyx looked up at her in confusion as Twilight started off with a quiet snicker, only to grow into an all-out belly laugh.
“You’re kidding!” Twilight exclaimed, trying to hold back her laughter the best she could as Nyx sighed in relief.
Twilight giggled, lighting her horn as she enveloped Nyx in her magic. “Well here, let’s dry you off before you catch a cold!”
“Oh, thanks!” Nyx muttered nervously, finally realizing how cold she actually was. She had been so agitated and filled with adrenaline that she had forgotten how soaked she was. That was soon corrected however as Twilight worked her drying spell on Nyx’s fur, the filly suddenly feeling a rush of warm air as her coat poofed up like a balloon. Twilight snorted at this, giggling as the filly shook and started running her hooves through her fur to straighten it out.
Nyx couldn’t help but laugh herself, feeling the weight of the world lift off her shoulders, if only for the moment. Deep down she wished to hide away from the truth, but she knew it was something she could not do. No matter what she did, no matter how much good she’d bring to the world, she would always be trapped under Nightmare’s shadow. She’d never be normal, she would always be her. But under her mother’s wing, she could always just pretend.
“I love you, mom,” Nyx said softly, nuzzling her leg. Twilight smiled, resting with her against the tree. The two would remain there for as long as they wished, gazing up at the stars and the milky moon that shined down upon them.
Unknown to them from their quiet setting under the tree, a shadow watched them from the dark, staring at them with calculated interest. There the specter stood for a brief moment, observing the girl with his own eyes. He had waited for this moment for so many years, yet now that he was here, he couldn’t believe his eyes. After so long, he had finally found her, and she was everything he had dreamed of. Giving a silent prayer, he thanked the gods for awarding his patience, still knowing that even so, he would have to wait for a short time more. He could feel how close she was, but he sensed that she was… incomplete. She felt weaker than she should have been, his vision into the spectral plane showing him the broken chambers of her soul.
Reluctantly, and with great sadness, the phantom returned to his vessel and watched on, anger and outrage filling his being. He hadn’t come all this way to only obtain a shard; he would have the jewel of his life reforged. Using his magic to tear into the fabric of existence, he searched for what was lost, his haunting glance peering across the land through vision unseen by mortals. There he found the light, a faint glow staring back at him from a high castle, hanging from the distant mountain.
Returning his mind to the physical plane, he gave control back to his host, her eyes looking to the city with longing as a memory surfaced in her mind. She frowned as she held onto it for a moment, before igniting her horn, teleporting away in a flash of orange.
Over the towering spires of Canterlot, where the moon could be seen kissing the summit of the mountain, Princess Luna flew over the city, taking in the revelry of the streets down below. Canterlot went through a metamorphosis this time of year, fall colors fully embraced among its pearly structures, and the citizens were treated to a grand parade that snaked throughout the different levels, magicians and performers showing off their talents throughout the night. And in the palace itself, the nobility enjoyed the Masquerade Ball, donning their masks and showing off their rich robes of foreign silks and linen.
Banking left over the eastern tower, Luna descended onto her bedroom balcony and walked into the room, sighing happily as she took off her masquerade mask and set it on her nightstand. Sure, the ball was a traditional highlight of the holiday, but it was more to Celestia’s liking than hers. But now that she had gotten away, the true fun of the night would begin, as she prepared her makeup for her trip across Equestria to the small settlements for a truly haunting performance. In the four years since she had been introduced to the holiday, she had grown to love the festivities, and the citizens loved her. This was her night, and she would savor it.
Luna made her way to her vanity mirror, opening up a case of makeups, eyeliners, and lipsticks. Oh, what fun! She absolutely loved applying the finer details herself to create the most chilling effect possible, while also highlighting her beauty with her natural features. Gingerly she took the brush and lightly touched up her cheeks, making them stand out in far darker shades as opposed to her natural color. Her mane hung to her sides in beautiful waves of twinkling constellations, galaxies swirling with a glowing declaration.
She had become absolutely devoted to the art of scaring ponies on Nightmare Night, something she could proudly say she was a master over her sister. Luna had asked Celestia why she didn’t get into the holidays as much as she did, and the princess, being the diplomat that she was, simply stated that she disliked the holiday because of what it truly represented. And while Luna had no doubt that there was some truth to that, she’d bet her royal share that Celestia was just bad at it. That of course was probably her prideful side kicking in, but while her sister was gifted in practical jokes and causing a scene, her acting skills were terrible, a trait where Luna clearly had the upper hand.
Adding the final touches, she checked herself over in the mirror, admiring the little details before putting her beauty products away. She looked absolutely terrifying, dragon contact lenses making her eyes appear slit. Dentures replaced her natural teeth with jagged ones. She imagined the stunned looks from the nobles when she would burst into the ballroom, purple fog flooding in with her as she’d cackle and howl. Oh, how they’d shake where they stood, crying for Tia to save them! She snickered with glee at the thought.
Sniff.
Luna paused mid-trot, tilting her head as her ears twirled to adjust to the sound. As she listened closely, she was sure she heard the faint echo of sobbing, coming from deeper within her chambers. Stepping back inside, she moved to investigate the sound, tip-toeing into her bedroom that held the door to the hall outside. The walls were painted in cool shades of blue, reflecting the pale light of candles that hung from branch-like lamps. Her bed sat in the middle of the room tucked generously into a hollowed out moon headframe, covered in starry blue and purple sheets. Moving around the frame, she followed the sound to its source, a discovery that left her stunned.
In the corner next to her bed, shrouded in the moonlight, was a child crying softly to themself with their back towards her. Luna looked to her door and moved towards it, looking to find the lazy guard who had allowed a foal to wander into her chambers, only to find the door locked from the inside. She glared at the knob, disbelieving, then turned to the foal, then back to the door. The doorknob was too high for the child to have tampered with it, the foal clearly neither a pegasus or a unicorn, and she was the only one with the key.
Luna was truly puzzled by this. She was determined to find out how a child had found themselves in one of the most guarded rooms in the castle, with no sign of breaking in at that. But she also felt sympathy for the foal, who as she came closer to she realized was a colt, and she desired to try and bring as much comfort to him as possible.
“Child, what troubles you?” she softly said, standing behind him, her voice gentle and mindful.
The colt looked up to her with tear-stained eyes, whimpering as he stared at her from over his shoulder. He seemed surprised to see her, marveling at her form as he took in how much bigger she was to himself. Luna offered him a genuine smile, yet the colt said not a word, opting to keep silent.
“Can you speak?” she asked, pressing forward a little as she offered a hoof, only to stop when the colt recoiled, pulling back.
“Yes!” he answered quickly, looking at her with wide eyes as he shied away from her touch. She paid this very little mind, continuing her questioning.
“Well, that’s good. What is your name?” she lowered herself to his level of sight, looking into his sorrowed eyes and giving him a pleasant and comforting smile.
“H-Hulm. Layl Hulm,” the colt answered, looking into her eyes as if holding onto something hopefully.
Luna blinked. What a peculiar name for an Equestrian child. It didn’t even sound like any of the old Ponish names that she could recall. Who would name their child something like that? she wondered, backing away for a moment with a frown. The more she thought of it, the more it began to sound foreign, possibly Saddle Arabian. She decided to push it aside, for now, giving her attention back to the foal now sitting in front of her.
“Well, Layl, ‘tis certainly a pleasure to meet you. However,” she paused, glancing back over her shoulder to the door, gesturing to it with a nod of her head, “...it would interest me deeply if you told me how you happened into my chambers tonight?”
The question, however, seemed to go completely ignored by the colt, the child turning his back on her as he continued to cry and ramble to himself, “She doesn’t even remember my name, how could she not? How could she so?”
“I do not understand.” Luna gave him an inquisitive look, completely lost by his sudden ramblings. She reached forward to try and calm him down, only for him to move right underneath her hoof and stomp on the floor, the boy starting to scream in outrage.
“Thief! Stolen time and memories, never to return! And for what as little as jealousy?!” Agitated he looked up and glared at her, an action that for some reason made her shiver. “No, no! She’ll remember, she’ll remember in time, when what is rightfully hers is returned!”
“Child, I understand that you are troubled, but making a fool of yourself will do nothing for me to help you,” Luna said with a raised tone, growing a little impatient with the colt’s antics.
“Child?” his whispered, Luna lowering herself closer to try and hear what he was mumbling.
“CHILD!?” he shouted into her left ear with a voice that echoed hollow and unearthly, making her turn her head to the side in shock, falling back. He had been right in front of her, but now he had suddenly appeared at her side in an instant, staring at her with the dark intent of a ghost.
“Is that all I am to you?” he asked, looking as if he were on the verge of a total breakdown. Luna became painfully aware that something was wrong, something paranormal.
“Do you not feel my magic familiar?! Don’t you know who I am!?” He moved again, this time looking down at her from a perch up above her chamber door, glaring at her with hurt and rage-filled eyes. Luna was in shock. A foal, an earth pony no less, had just teleported around the room with no hint of magic, all in the blink of an eye. Luna tensed, taking a step away from the child as she met his gaze with her own, feeling a force old and dark, dripping from his form like waves, unnatural and haunting.
“You… you are no child,” Luna said with a startling realization, suddenly feeling uneasy, backing away to take a defensive stance.
“No,” the colt growled with piercing crimson eyes, his voice becoming older and harsher as a silver cloud formed around his body, making its way to take the now defensive princess, “I’m not.”
In another corner of the castle, getting ready to turn in for the night herself, Celestia sat at the foot of her bed, removing her daily attire. The night was growing late, and she had excused herself from the party to retire, exhaustion starting to take her. It felt so good to finally take off her royal gear, a simple pleasure she enjoyed on most nights. Discarding the pieces one by one, she made her way into the bathroom and turned on the faucet, letting the sink fill up while she stared at herself in the mirror.
Celestia sighed aloud and looked down from her reflection, washing her face in the water. Another anniversary passed, but another year she didn’t have to spend alone. This holiday had become rather bitter-sweet for her in recent years, filled with such joy and happiness she hadn’t felt in centuries, yet still held so much regret. She thought about the early days before they had been torn apart, how pride and ambition had driven them for a crusade to rid Equestria of harm or threat. So many campaigns followed, so many battles fought, lashing out at neighbors who did as little as simply being perceived as a threat. But all along, the greatest threat was what lay within, and they had both recognized it too late. One wasting away in isolation, the other condemned to stagnation.
Yet as she dried her cheeks with a towel, she thought on whether or not, given the opportunity, she would change what had happened. It was a thought that she had entertained before, and though she was desperate to believe that she would have, the truth of the matter was that she wouldn’t. As painful as their separation was, it had forced Celestia to reevaluate her rulership of Equestria. Long was Equestrian diplomacy that of aggression and mistrust, preaching friendship when in reality they were suspicious and cruel to others not their own. Celestia had only begun to see it when her own pride was thrown in her face that night, and ever since she sought to correct it. In just a few short years she went from strategist to pacifist, and with most of the major threats locked away, those mended relations helped to pull the country into an age of peace.
Not that that was the only problem. She scoffed, walking to her bed and falling back onto the mattress with an audible poof. Truthfully, Luna’s envy wasn’t just brought on because of her ponies’ neglect, it was a conscious move of coldness. In fact, they had demonized her toward the end, a religion having sprouted under their nose that revered Celestia as a god, and when there’s a god, surely there must be a devil? Taking those orphans hadn’t helped matters, either. Celestia frowned. If only she had had the foresight to choke that weed before it took root, but at the time it seemed so harmless. Yet once she finally recognized the scar it dealt her sister and tried to call it out, her voice was drowned by that of the mob rule. Such is how evil starts, by a harmless seed that is fed by ignorance and pride. Luna’s banishment, however, had been the final straw, and Celestia had made it her mission to stomp out that seed from the earth. A thousand years later, and it was all but forgotten, save for an expression. It almost made the princess laugh, that no matter what she did, Sweet Celestia refused to go away.
Some habits just... stuck.
Celestia let out a deep chuckle, pressing her face into her pillow. These thoughts, painful as they were, were now irrelevant. She had her sister back, and that was all that mattered to her now. Celestia yawned, feeling the tiredness of the night coming over her. She looked at her pillow as if it were her closest friend, smiling calmly as she lowered herself upon it, rubbing her cheeks against its soft surface as she closed her eyes, looking forward to a peaceful night’s rest.
Sister.
Celestia rose from her bed, looking around her room. She listened, searching for that stray thought to come again. The quiet of the room was deafening, yet, she felt something. She couldn’t quite place it, but everything was eerily silent, and the world felt suddenly cold. She lifted herself from the sheets and walked out onto the balcony, surveying the night around her. Something felt wrong, and it made her afraid.
Sister! Help me!
Now she heard it, the desperate calling need. Her sister’s cry, rocking her to the core. Celestia quickly moved past her bed and dressers to the door leading to the hall beyond, traversing her way to Luna’s bedchambers. She felt worried, knowing Luna would not call to her through such methods unless something was truly wrong. She fastened her pace to a jog, galloping faster and faster as she made her way through the halls of the Canterlot palace.
As she turned the corner, she was met with a startling sight. Where she would expect to see the night guard standing watch in service of their Princess of the Moon, they all lay unconscious on the ground, forced into such a state by either a struggle or placed under some spell. Celestia moved to each and every one of them, checking with worry that they might be harmed, thankful and put at ease as she found them to be alive but disposed. The moon cast its light through the windows upon her form, illuminating her path to the chamber door. It was silent and empty, and above all else cold. Celestia shivered. The castle was enchanted to be filled with warmth even in the most dreadful blizzard, yet the whole hall felt as if touched by the finger of death.
In her haste she took a step forward, marching to that door for her sister’s sake, but did not notice the danger there. As she was about to press on its wooden frame, she was suddenly forced back, knocked in the chest with a considerable force that left her stunned and confused. She clutched her chest for the mild pain before looking up, seeing what had blocked her way.
Out of the shadows came two ponies dressed in armor, reflecting like silver in the moonlight. Patterned green clothes hung from their backs and faces, hiding their expressions from her. They were tall, but still standing a good head shorter than herself, staring at her with an almost indifferent gaze. The princess frowned. Saddle Arabians? Why were they here? These questions flooded her mind as she stared at them. The two foreigners stood guard at the door, holding their ground against her, both igniting their horns and procuring metal rods from under their armor, both extending into staffs that they held in their hooves.
She didn’t have to ask them what their intent was, she knew a threat when she saw it. Taking a defensive posture, she slowly approached them, expecting them to panic and run once they realized that she wasn’t fazed by their scare tactics. What they were doing, however, was no mere bluff. They quickly matched her stance with their own, their resolve unwavering as they stood up against a being more powerful than them. This surprised Celestia greatly, but she did not allow it to distract her. She was going to get into her sister’s room no matter what.
She charged a spell, but was knocked in the head immediately by one of the assailants as they charged her, jumping into the air as they came down on her with their staffs. Celestia quickly dodged their blows, having to constantly move to avoid getting hit. She was stunned by how quickly they moved, having to block several strikes to keep from being knocked out. And they were smart, too. They knew that they could interrupt her spells by whacking her horn, and they took every opportunity to do so every time she tried. They were skilled and impossibly well-trained, something the princess was unaccustomed to.
She dodged again, this time putting some distance between herself and her assailants. She glared at them as they used the walls themselves to rush at her, much to her surprise. She backed up just as the first one lunged at her, jamming his staff into the floor, spinning around it in the air for momentum before swinging around and kicking her in the face with his back hooves. She staggered, but quickly brought her wings up as a shield just as the second one slammed his staff down on her, metal and bone colliding with a loud crack!
Her defense held as she pushed him off. She swung her wing low to the ground, knocking him off his hooves. This sudden move had caught the other criminal off guard, giving her enough time to blast him down the hall with her magic as she descended on his falling comrade, pushing her hoof against him. She had him right where she wanted him, only for the stallion to pull a dagger from within his robes and slash at her underbelly, causing her to cry out in surprise.
“Uuuugh!” Celestia yelped in pain, stumbling to the floor as she cradled her wound. The cut wasn’t deep, but it hurt. The red stained the white, and it burned. She looked closely at the dagger that now floated at the stallion’s side, noting the gemstones that adorned it. Enchanted, she was sure of it, sucking in air sharply as she hugged herself tightly. She hadn’t expected them to have been so well-trained, let along go toe to toe with her. Now she was paying for that mistake as she winced, riding the pain as blood dripped to the floor.
CELESTIA!
Celestia’s eyes shot open, an inner fury beginning to swell within her. Slowly she got to her hooves, rising up to stare the guards down with newfound vigor. They prepared to go again, circling her with their weapons raised.
The two rushed forward, but this time Celestia was ready. Just as they lunged for her she jumped into the air and used their heads as platforms, spreading her wings to lighten her landing before wiping around, charging a spell. The two stallions skidded to a halt, spinning on their hooves to face her. Their eyes shot wide as they saw her performing her magic, running forward as fast as they could to try and stop her. But they were too late.
Celestia fired, a wave of intense solar heat blasting towards them in a golden wall. The Arabians braced themselves as the blast washed over them, throwing them back down the hallway into the wall at the end, slamming into the stone and mortar. Neither uttered a cry of pain, but it was clear that she had done some damage as smoke rose from their bodies. Celestia let out a sigh, feeling tired as she stepped forward, holding her spell as the two struggled to get back to their hooves.
The assailants glared at her as they rose, fire blazing in their eyes. Three ponies stood staring each other down as they panted heavily into the night. The two stallions looked at each other with blank expressions, one holding his hoof to his chest against the burn he had received from the blast. Celestia gritted her teeth at them, letting her horn glow bright to intimidate them, ready for them to come at her again at any moment.
They backed off.
Celestia stood up straight, their retreat surprising her. Had she scared them off, convincing them that she wasn’t worth the trouble? Celestia frowned. No, that wasn't it. She hadn’t broken their spirit to fight, she was sure of that. And then it hit her. She couldn’t feel Luna’s presence anymore. Celestia’s blood ran cold as she staggered to the door, pulling on it to open. When it wouldn’t budge, she blasted it off of its hinges and moved inside, prepared to face whatever dared assault her sister.
There before her, the princess of the night hung suspended in air, gasping uncontrollably as she was held by the power of a mysterious silver mist, tendrils ripping into her spirit making her cry out in pain. Pools of black ooze dripped from the tears it had inflicted on her, bubbling dark magic that burned the bed sheets like acid. The tendrils pulsed as the mist drained her, sucking away whatever it desired like a hungry parasite.
“LUNA!” Celestia cried.
The creature disposed of its prey quickly as it turned its attention to the sun princess, screeching at her with an ear-splitting shriek. Celestia cowered as it let out its cry, covering her ringing ears and hissing at the pain. The mist swirled in an angry storm as it rose in the air, its mass expanding as a pair of glowing red eyes formed, glaring down at her, meeting her gaze with its own. Celestia looked upon it terrified, swearing she was looking upon the devil himself.
The mist screamed furiously, descending upon her like a spider upon a fly. Celestia backed away and charged a spell, but it was too late as the mist enveloped her, swallowing her up like a stormy sea. She found herself gasping for air as she was drowned by the fog, pulling her under waves of shadow. She struggled and fought against the beast while her every thought lingered on her sister and her alone, fighting with every ounce of her strength, but failed. It eventually took her, her strength failing her as she succumbed to its embrace, plunging into a dark chasm she had never experienced before.
She fell and fell and fell, for what seemed like forever, but she couldn’t give up. She felt herself restrained by a force more powerful than she had ever faced. She feared what it would do if it defeated her, what it might do to her people. She had to stop it. Celestia called upon the power of the sun itself, using it to struggle against her bindings as she drew more power. She had never done this before, but she had to get to Luna. Her eyes shone like stars, the tendrils holding her limbs breaking as her body gave off the radiance of the sun. The mist screamed madly but continued its assault, until it fell away as Celestia drew the last of her power to vaporize it within the light.
Celestia landed back onto the floor with a thud, yelping at the sudden rush of pain she felt. Yet, it had worked. The mist was gone, purged by her light. She was actually surprised, taken aback at how easy it had actually been. She tried to get up, only to cry out as pain shot up from her leg. Whatever the creature had been, she guessed it had broken her leg in the process of pulling it off her, growling as she tended to it.
“Sister…” Luna mouthed, too weak to form words. Celestia, pressing a hoof to her belly cradling the wound she suffered, shakingly getting to her hooves and limped towards her sister, squinting her eyes from the light coming from the balcony. Why was it so bright? she wondered, climbing onto the bed and reaching for Luna, holding her in her arms.
“Luna, I--” Celestia muttered out, trying to comfort her, only to be met with horrified red eyes.
“What have you done?!” Luna cried out in terror, her eyes darting over to the balcony as she ran to it, shielding her vision from the blinding light that came from the arch. Celestia followed, confused by her sudden panic.
The sun was blazing in the sky above a land consumed by fire. An agonizing wail was carried upon the wind to them from below, where ponies screamed and suffered. The forests were a rising inferno, and the cities melted from the heat. To her horror, there were many who were still alive, barely breathing as their charred bodies reached up to her for some relief, something she could not offer.
“Celestia…” Luna hissed, directing her gaze towards her elder sister, an animalistic fury glowing from her eyes. Celestia was locked in place, unable to move, terrified beyond reason at what she had caused.
“I-I didn’t mean to! I just wanted to protect you!” Celestia cried, despair washing over her as the weight of the consequences begun to fully settle in. Celestia tried to convince her that she was telling the truth, only to be met with a blast from Luna’s horn as she was forced back against the wall with a loud crack, screaming in pain.
“You’ve doomed us all!” Luna screamed, barking like a rabid animal. But as they argued, the earth began to shake from beneath them, marble and soot crumbling down from the ceiling as the brightness of the sun suddenly became softer. Celestia’s eyes shot wide as she ran to the balcony, looking up at the clouds as they parted to reveal a shriveling sun, growing dimmer and dimmer. There, as it became dull as the moon, she could see it pulsating with exhausted energy, flashing red as its core began to collapse.
“NO!” Celestia screamed, trying to pour the magic she had taken back into the celestial sphere. But it was too late. The sun that she loved and gave life to the world she cherished, fell to a dark point in space as all of its mass collided into a single point, and exploded. Her vision was blurred by the sudden burst of magnificent color and light, shining in waves of yellows, oranges, and greens.
Celestia couldn’t help but cry. She had doomed them all, all because of her lack of restraint. Her eyes were drawn up to the sky, just as the first ribbon of energy tore the planet’s atmosphere away, then another ribbon came and pounded the surface flat, sinking the mountains into the earth. Then more came, and within their wake the sphere was torn apart, broken into billions of fragments of a once living world. It was a terrible beauty, given to the universe as a small planet was carried away on a wave of cosmic dust.
“Princess Celestia!”
Celestia was sweating horribly as a guard shook her, desperately trying to awake the fallen princess. To his dismay she remained mostly unresponsive, mumbling to herself in her unconscious state. He had been making his rounds to this section of the castle when he found his fellow soldiers unconscious in the hall and had alerted the castle guard to his position. Now he and four other guards were watching over their princesses, making sure no other threat could reach them.
“Princess, wake up!” the soldier shouted, shaking her violently. He was starting to become worried, ready at any moment to have her rushed to the castle infirmary. But after giving her several moments of attention, she aroused from her slumber, much to his relief and joy.
“There you go, Princess, that’s…!”
“NO!” Celestia let out a scream, jumping up madly as her hooves waved in the air frantically. The guard panicked as he was smacked in the head by one of her hooves, falling back with a yelp as he rubbed his forehead in pain.
“Lieutenant?!” Celestia cried out in a moment of disbelief and concern, conflicted between her need to look after one of her own soldiers and the fact that her surroundings had changed on a dime.
The guard, however, waved her off, unoffended by her strike. “I-I’m fine. What about you, Princess? That is more important,” he asked, his only concern being for her.
Celestia paused for a moment as she fully absorbed the surroundings she was in. She was still in her sister’s bedroom, the moon was still out, and the world was quiet. It had only been a dream. Celestia, seeing the world still intact, let out a heavy sigh of relief. “I am alright, Lieutenant. Only a little shaken, that is all.” Celestia then began scanning the room, becoming rather uneasy, “Is Luna…?”
“Princess Luna is… alright,” the lieutenant hesitated as he contemplated if that was really the correct thing to say, considering the state they had found her in. “If you may, perhaps you should see for yourself.”
The lieutenant motioned to the bed, directing Celestia to follow. There, two guards were tending to the Princess of the Night, who lay motionless upon the bed sheets. She was still wearing her Nightmare Moon makeup.
“Luna!” Celestia exclaimed, picking herself off the ground with a groan as a dull pain shot up her leg and stomach. Seeing her sister was more important to her than the pain she suffered, limping her way over to the bed, where Luna lay shaking horribly while mumbling to herself. “Oh Luna, what has it done?” she asked, bringing a hoof to brush through her sister’s mane.
“T-Tia?” Luna answered with a quivering voice, looking up to her sister’s warm comforting smile. Luna stared for a long moment, tears welling in her eyes as she started to break down, crying hysterically. Celestia immediately pulled her into an embrace, hushing her and telling her that everything was alright. She could feel the pain her sister was dealing with, realizing with a broken heart that whatever the specter had done to her went beyond just psychical, but also emotionally traumatic.
Luna, on the other hand, felt torn apart by what had been done, rocking her to her very soul. She had never felt such pain in her life, but it was more than that. She felt… violated. It was a horrible feeling that left her wanting to run and hide. Yet feeling Celestia holding her so close helped to put her at ease.
Celestia and Luna remained in that position for several minutes, the elder giving her all the time she needed to let her emotions run free. Luna had long since dried her eyes, content in allowing herself to be rocked in her sister’s embrace. But Celestia knew this couldn’t last forever. An attack had just been committed, and questions needed to be answered.
“Luna, I know it’s hard, but please, you must tell me what it did,” Celestia encouraged, hoping her sister would be able to enlighten her on what had happened. Luna quivered at her memory, remaining silent for many moments before answering.
“I-It forced its way into my core… I could do nothing to stop it.” Luna tried to compose herself, staring at her shaking hooves. “My… my magic... ”
“Your magic?” Celestia asked, looking down at her.
“It… it took it. It took...” Luna growled, outraged by the fact yet holding herself back, keeping calm to convey what she needed to say. “It was not just any magic.”
Celestia raised an eyebrow at her, not understanding what she was saying. “What do you mean?”
“The magic it took, it was the magic I took from Nyx,” Luna said, staring into her sister’s eyes.
“Nyx?” Celestia questioned, now taking a longer look at Luna and gasped. Only now did she truly notice the physical impact of what it had done. The magic Luna took from Nyx had returned her to the radiance she once had before her banishment. She had grown to match Celestia, and her mane had become a true embodiment of the night, a swirl of constellations and nebulae. But now it was gone, her form returning to as it had been on a Nightmare Night several years before.
Celestia frowned, looking at her with sympathy as she questioned her again, although she guessed that she already knew the answer. “How much did it take?”
“All of it, every last ounce within me.”
Celestia pursed her lips and breathed, trying to process everything. She thought of what significance Nyx’s magic might have, what use the being could possibly want with it. A thought popped into her mind, something that made her extremely uneasy.
“Sister, you don’t think...?” Celestia began to ask, only for Luna to shake her head.
“No. I know what you would ask, but it wasn’t the Nightmare. It was something different, something just as old.” Luna was thoughtful and meticulous, starting to piece every word it had spoken to her trying to make sense of everything, looking over to the colt being tended to by a few guards. “It used the child to trick me into lowering my guard. I did not realize the danger until it was too late.”
Celestia glanced at the foal, the little colt being looked at by the doctor who spoke compassionately to him, the boy looking rather confused by what was going on.
“Celestia,” Luna whispered, gaining her attention again, “whatever it was, it knew exactly what it was looking for.”
Celestia frowned, seeing the seriousness in her eyes. “How?”
“I do not know, but knowing this troubles me deeply.” Luna sighed, rising from the bed as she stumbled onto the floor. Celestia immediately rushed to her side for support, a gesture Luna was grateful for. “Thank you.”
The two walked outside, taking in the coolness of the midnight air. Outside the festival went on peacefully, the commoners and aristocracy blissfully unaware of what had happened. They were both at least thankful for that. Whatever it had been, it had gotten what it wanted and left, and it was apparent that it didn’t seem interested in harming their subjects. All in all, it was a peaceful night, yet one that concealed darker dealings.
Luna rubbed her forehead, gazing at the moon. “I am concerned, sister. Stealing magic I extracted from the girl can only mean trouble.” She leaned into Celestia, allowing herself to become personal.
Celestia gazed at her, questioning what she was saying. “You’re not suggesting--”
“Do not misunderstand me, sister. I do not believe Nyx was involved in this attack.” Luna looked out on her kingdom, her eyes locked on the lights of the village she had in mind. “I merely suggest that our watch on Ponyville becomes more… focused.”
Celestia cast her eyes away but agreed. Whatever it was up to, it wasn’t over, and it was only a matter of time before it would make its next move. They needed to be alert. Celestia didn't want to admit it, but this was a game now, and the enemy had made the first move.
He had it. He couldn’t believe he had it.
The Phantom had returned to the body of his original host, him and his guards shrouded in the dark of a Canterlot alleyway. The child had been useful but he had served his purpose, there was no reason to hold onto him any longer. Out in the street, ponies celebrated and danced to the festival of Nightmare Night, oblivious to the attack just committed on their beloved princesses. But he paid them little mind, his focus centered on the sphere he now held in his hooves.
He felt guilt for what he had done, but now, looking at the light of the orb as it reflected in his eyes, it was well worth his sin. To him, the light was beautiful, a symbol of lost hope. She meant nothing to him, her counterpart was all that mattered now.
Feeling his strength giving out, he placed the orb into a sack he was carrying and gave control back to his host, her eyes flashing from red to green. The mare sighed as she looked up to the castle, whispering a silent prayer in the hope that the night princess may forgive her for what she had done, and turned away, throwing the hood over her head. She would have to return to their realm soon; her master was too weak now to continue existing on this plane. She knew this would stall their plans, but patience was more important now. They would bide their time, watching for the opportunity to arise for them to take her.
All they had to do was wait.