//------------------------------// // The Princess of the Night // Story: Hereafter Ponies & the Mare in the Moon // by Julian San Miguel //------------------------------// By the light of the mare in the moon, Midnight Errant, Featherdew, and Clover Quartz traveled along a dirt road on the outskirts of Ponyville. “Let me get this straight:” Midnight said, ”we’re inside a cartoon where a group of ponies — using the power of friendship — defeated a ancient, dark alicorn. And they did all this in one day.” “Hey!” Clover said. “Anythin’ can sound stupid when you say it like that.” “Yeah!” Featherdew said, hovering overhead. “But still — that’s why we need the Elements of Harmony! How else are we going to stop Nightmare Moon from bringing about eternal night?” Midnight rolled his eyes. “Princess Luna isn’t possessed by some manner of dark magic. That was just something added later on to make the story more interesting. Besides, that kind of dream magic doesn’t even last a day, much less a millennium.” “And the Elements of Harmony?” “As far as I know, they don’t exist.” “Well,” Clover said, “maybe things are different in this Equestria, but you sure know what’s goin’ on, don’t you Midnight?” The Queen’s protégé sighed. “Legend has it that on the longest day of the thousandth year, a prince, born with a shooting star, shall free the princess of the night from her dreadful slumber.” Clover frowned. “Bein’ born with a shootin’ star makes sense since you got that cutie mark and all, but are you really a—?” “I am not a prince, but I am the Queen’s protégé and that’s good enough. Even so, these sort of things aren’t meant to be taken literally. We’re way past the thousandth year of Luna’s slumber, after all.” The trio reached the edge of the Everfree Forest. Upon entering this vast, dark, and untamed wilderness, the gemstone on Featherdew’s necklace began to glow, as did Midnight‘s horn. Feather flew closer to the group. “Uh, Midnight? What’s this thing for?” “It’s an amulet of lucidity. It will allow you to safely travel through dreamscapes in the Everfree Forest.” Clover laughed. “Are you scared, Featherdew?” “I’m cautious! There are monsters in here!” Clover turned to Midnight, eyes wide. “Hey, wait! Why does she get the fancy necklace and not me?” “Pegasi culture strongly encourages their ponies to take some form of basic training, especially if they’re considering a career in weather control. However, Guard training is much more vigorous. So, since I only have one amulet, I’d rather maintain a lucid dream spell on a guardspony than have to worry about a weatherpony flying around.” “Is that why your horn’s glowin’?” Clover said. “But how’s that supposed to help?” “Haven’t you two ever been here before?” Featherdew shuddered. “Heavens, no! Just look at it — it’s dreadful!” “It isn’t natural either,” Clover said. “Well, natural for this universe, I guess. Folks just say it doesn’t work the same as other places in Equestria.” The path stopped at a cliff and then curved down into a deep crevice below. Midnight nodded. “That makes sense. This place is covered in dream magic. Some of the things here aren’t even real. They‘re just nightmares.” “Isn’t that bad?” Featherdew said. “You two are trained ponies under a lucid dream spell. If you come across a nightmare, just give it a good hard buck and it’ll disappear. Just don’t wander off afterwards.” “What about you?” Clover said. “I am the Queen’s most faithful student. I’ll be fine.” The path collapsed, taking the stallions with it. The pegasus dived down and grabbed the earth pony, but could only watch as the unicorn continued his descent. “Featherdew! Stay with—!” Midnight fell over the edge. “Hold on! We’re comin’!” Wiggling out of her grasp, Clover dropped down onto even ground. “Go, Feather. I’ll catch up.” “B-but Midnight said—” “Now you listen here! I can take care of myself. Just go, and I promise I’ll catch up.” As Feather flew off, Clover climbed down the cliff, leaping from one protruding ledge to another. Darker and darker it became until finally he reached pitch blackness at the bottom. “Featherdew! Did you find Midnight?! Hello?! Where’ you ponies at?!” The shadows crept closer. “This way…” it said. Clover’s eyes widened. “Who’ that?” From the darkness came a mighty roar that trembled the earth. “Run, pony…” the whisper said. “It’s gonna eat you…” Standing still, Clover shook his head. “Nope! Y’all can go to Tartarus. I ain’t movin’. Besides, Y’all aren’t real. My magic pony friend said so.” “CLOVER! StayThereDon’tMove!” A light pierced the darkness. The shadows fled as it came closer, revealing Featherdew and her glowing amulet. Clover exhaled. “Oh, thank the Mare… I thought I was gonna get eaten by a—” Midnight Errant stood in front of a huge, hissing feline with a pair of membranous wings on its back and a segmented tail, curved over its back and ending with a venomous stinger. Growling, the beast lunged, swiping at the pony’s head. On contact with the unicorn’s shield spell, its paw unraveled, the manticore turning back into smoke and shadow. Feather and Clover hurried over. “Midnight! Are you alright?!” He gasped for breath. “Come closer… Huddle up… Hurry, come on…!” Once close enough, the glow on Midnight’s horn dissipated — and the darkness moved in. Only the light of Feather’s amulet kept the shadows at bay. She wrapped her wings around the other ponies, squeezing them all together. “What in the name of Celestia is happening?” Midnight sighed, catching his breath. “Lucidity is an area-of-effect spell. I cast it when we arrived, and I’ve been maintaining it at full power ever since. It’s actually a pretty exhausting piece of magic to multicast with, which is why I had to dispel it after I fought off that manticore. I’ll be fine in a bit, don’t worry.” Feather‘s eyes narrowed. “Hold on… You were planning on bringing Spike here with you!” Midnight nodded. “That’s what the amulet was for.” “He’s just a baby! What is wrong with you!?” “Uh, Feather?” Clover said. “Y’know Spike can breathe fire, right?” “And I can use draconic pyrokinesis,” Midnight said. “With him and the amulet on my back, we’re practically untouchable in this place.” Clover’s ears fell. “Eh, maybe me and Feather here should’ve stayed home. I mean, we’re no bother, are we?” “Well, I sort of roped you two into this. I knew you were going to ask, and I’m sorry if I was a bit rude, but I didn’t have any time to waste. Either way, I appreciate your help. Even if Spike had wanted to come with me, I would’ve sent him back seeing how late it was.” Reapplying the lucid dream spell, Midnight drove the shadows away. “Alright, if we come across another nightmare, Featherdew will distract it while Clover focuses on attack. I’ll help out where I can. If I can’t maintain Lucidity, stay close together and buy me some time.” Continuing down the path, The trio reached a boggy area of the Everfree Forest, the muck sticking to the hooves of the stallions. Flying overhead, Feather kept a watchful eye on the foreboding forest. “I don’t like this place…” “Why is that?” Clover said. “It dreams! What kind of place has dreams?!” He laughed. “The kind of place that wants to be free, duh! This forest is goin’ places, I tell you what—!” As Clover’s tail began to twitch, a rancid scent of rotten wood washed over the trio. “Ugh!” Featherdew said. “What is that?” Clover gasped. “Timberwolves!” Midnight’s eyes widened. “Everyone! Run!” Just as the trio fled, there was a pouncing crash followed by heavy treading that began to chase the ponies. As they all ducked and weaved through bushes and branches, the glow on Featherdew’s pendant and on Midnight’s horn began to fade. “The necklace! What’s happening!?” “We’re heading to the end of the dreamscape! Don’t panic!” Breaking through the forest edge, the trio reached the bank of a raging river. Clover turned back. “Fly over! I’ll buy y’all some time!” Before the two took off, Midnight grabbed the amulet from Feather’s neck. “Clover!” Catching it with his teeth, the guardspony stood his ground as a large pack of growling beasts with glowing green eyes burst out of the forest, their bodies composed of twigs, logs, and leaves. “Come and get me, you big goons!” Clover began tossing rocks into the air and then bucking each one, the stone missiles smashing some of the wolves to timber. Above the river, the glow on Midnight’s horn dissipated. “Drop me! I’ll float down!” Performing a barrel roll, the weatherpony tossed him and then turned back around. Casting spells, the Queen’s protégé launched Clover into the air before shielding himself from a hard landing. Featherdew caught a chocking Clover and then flew away from the timberwolves, touching down on the other side of the river. Coughing, Clover spit out the amulet, the pendant already dark. “Eh… H-here Feather—” Midnight snatched the filthy thing from his grasp. He then washed off the dirt and the drivel with a dollop of river water before giving it back to Featherdew. She looked back, the beasts long gone. “Were those things a kind of nightmare, too?” “No,” Midnight said. “No, they were not.” He turned to the woods on their side of the river. “Come out, you coward! Stop hiding behind your toys and face me!” Emerging from the trees, a golden-brown deer with a white underbelly gave the unicorn a glare. The young buck wore a collar with a small keg attached to the front, and he wore a wreath of leaves wrapped around his modest antlers. “Well, well…” Midnight said, going forth. “Prince Bramble, I presume. To what do we owe the honor of your presence?” “You and yours are not welcome here, Errant! The Hart of the Forest does not—!” “I highly doubt your father is even aware of this little nighttime excursion. Or do you usually go about assaulting innocent travelers like some common—” “Innocent?” Bramble huffed. “I am simply defending my homeland from unwanted intruders. You have no right trespassing on—” “I have every right to travel through Thicket territory,” Midnight said. “Now, since you’re so eager to see us gone, would you kindly escort us to the Castle of the Two Sisters?” “Why would I?” His eyes narrowed. “And what business do you have at that ancient ruin?” “Would you prefer that I summon Sir Blackthorn?” “You wouldn’t.” “Wouldn’t I?” Featherdew and Clover Quartz stood there, fidgeting as the other two tried staring salt into each other’s eyes. Bramble turned back. “Fine. But don’t blame me if you can’t keep up.” After traveling in dead silence for a while; Bramble, Midnight Errant, Featherdew, and Clover Quartz left the forest and spotted the Ancient Castle of the Two Sisters: a crumbling, old ruin beyond a misty abyss. “There it is! We made it!” Midnight turned around. “Thank you—!” Bramble had disappeared. Midnight frowned. “Oh, whatever…” The trio continued on through some fog. “How do you know Bramble?” Featherdew said. “I sometimes have to attend official functions, like diplomatic events and such.” Clover chuckled. “With the way you two went at it, I’m surprised you didn’t conjure up a dictionary to throw at him.” Midnight sighed. “Yeah, sorry about that. That tends to happen whenever we meet.” “What? All that fancy talk?” “You don’t speak casually to a prince. Although, if he takes offense to my tone of voice, that’s hardly my fault.” “I’m surprised he even exists,” Featherdew said. “He’s only shown up in the comics, and they aren’t even considered canon to the show.” “Oh,” Clover said. “I never did get around to readin’ those.” Midnight sighed. “One of these days, we’re going to have a long talk about what happened in that show. If this is anything like those ‘alternative universe’ stories I’ve read, certain events are going to start repeating themselves, and I don’t want to be taken by—” Midnight yelped as he fell halfway over the edge of a chasm, his hooves scrabbling at the broken bridge that hung from stone posts. Featherdew caught him by the tail and dragged him back. “Oh, for heaven’s sake… What’s with you and falling off cliffs today?” Clover eyed the broad gap. “Now what?” The weatherpony wiggled her wings. “Um, hello?” He chuckled. “Oh yeah…” Featherdew dived down into the foggy void, grabbed the other end of the rope bridge, and pulled it up onto the other side of the chasm where she proceeded to tie it down. Clover laughed. “Don’t listen to them, Featherdew! You’re not the best flier in all Equestria! It’s all lies, I tell you!” “Oh, shut up and cross already!” The trio carried on and reached the front entrance of the ancient castle, its walls ruined by time and magic. Eyes glowing, Midnight scanned the door. “Stand behind me. I need to break the seal.” Once the two were in position, he fired a beam of golden mana at the front door. Dark tendrils burst out of the entrance and latched on to a bubble shield around the ponies. While Featherdew’s pendant flickered and died, Midnight’s spell cracked under the pressure. “Too… much…!” Gritting his teeth, the unicorn blasted the other ponies out of the way. Those two watched as the shadows smashed through the shield and wrapped around his body. “MIDNIGHT!” “Stay back! And don’t follow me! I’ll handle this!” The Queen’s protégé was then dragged inside, the doors closing behind him. Midnight Errant woke up. He looked around and found himself in an empty space devoid of all light. “Hello? Princess?” “Oh, you poor little foal…” A set of torches lit up with pale-blue flames, illuminating an imperial chamber. It was decorated, from the stained-glass windows to the hanging tapestries, in a lunar motif. At the end of the room stood a metal throne with wings on either side. And there, on that throne, sat a tall, black alicorn donning a silver armor adorned with a single crescent moon, a swirling cloud of deep blue vapor serving as her mane and tail. Nightmare Moon grinned, her fangs glowing in the moonlight. “Did you really just waltz in here, like some sort of pompous Prince Charming, expecting to see a little damsel in distress? Ha! Pathetic.” Midnight stood there, looking her over. The alicorn got up and walked toward him. “Oh? Speechless, are we? Or are you so stricken with terror that I’ve left you mute?” He shook his head. “This isn’t Nightmare Moon.” She blinked. “What.” “I mean it is the popular depiction of the infamous Mare in the Moon, but you and Celestia were the only witnesses to the events leading up to The Eclipse, and she’s not the type of pony who would defame her own sister like that. So, obviously, the depictions are incorrect. And yet, here you are.” Nightmare Moon stared at the stallion. Then, she laughed. “I commend you, little pony. Out of the many who managed to get here, you are the first who could stand in front of this visage and avoid fleeing for their lives.” “That’s because I understand the nature of nightmares. I can’t be hurt by something that‘s not real.” “Perhaps, but I am quite real. And despite your attempts to ignore it, the fear is real as well. Now, let us see how much you can bear…” As the room dissolved, Nightmare Moon began to grow. Her features melted, turning into a huge, amorphous creature of blue starry smoke in the shape of an alicorn. The lids of its eyes split open, revealing glowing white orbs. Midnight struggled to stay standing as waves of dread and terror washed over him. “Leave, pony,” the tantabus said, its voice coming from all sides, “and never come back.” “Make me.” Its horrid eyes widened. “What did you say?” “I said make me. But you can’t, can you? Not without hurting me.” A cascade of despair crashed into him, knocking him down. “AND THOU THINK’ST WE WOULDN’T.” “No,” he said, gritting his teeth. “because you are a very caring pony.” “THOU PRESUME TO KNOW US? DARE THEE, FOAL?” Midnight sat up despite the pressure. “I know you used to spend your days playing pranks with Princess Velvet before relations with the reindeer turned cold. I know you tried to save Queen Amoré’s daughter from King Sombra, but she disappeared along with the city. I know you encouraged Celestia to become queen even though she wanted to rule with you together. And I know that dreambinding spells don’t last forever, and that the only thing keeping you here is yourself.” The dreamscape shuddered and grew still. “Why are you here, little pony? What gives you the strength to withstand my nightmare?” Midnight stood up. “I’ve been preparing for this day my whole life.” “Why?” “Because I can’t stand to see my family in pain — neither you, Celestia, nor my mother.” “Your mother?” she said. “Who are you?” “I am Midnight Errant: the faithful student of Queen Celestia and the only son of Princess Mi Amoré Cadenza. Your adoptive nephew. I love you, Luna. Please, come home.” “Midnight? Midnight!?” Shaken, Midnight Errant woke up. Blinking, he found himself in a dilapidated throne room, the light of dawn streaming in through a cracked window. “Oh, thank heavens…” Featherdew said. “You’re alright.” Crawling in from downstairs, Clover Quartz gasped for breath. “Oh, good… You’re okay…” He looked behind them. “Whoa!” Turning around, the ponies saw two thrones at the end of the room. The one with a lunar motif was empty. The other was not. Here sat a sleeping, grayish-blue alicorn in obsidian regalia. The royal mare had a light azure mane and a cutie mark of a crescent moon on a dark backdrop. “It’s Woona!” Feather squealed. “She’s so cute~!” “Wow, Midnight,” Clover said. “When you were grabbed like that, I thought Nightmare Moon had done you in. But I reckon you really are the prince of legend.” “Indeed he is.” A ray of dawn’s light blazed into the room and settled onto the floor. With one last flare, it vanished, leaving in its place a tall, white alicorn in golden regalia. The royal mare with a cutie mark of a radiant sun had a mane of many colors that flowed in its own wind. Clover and Featherdew bowed before her. Midnight hurried over. “Queen Celestia!” The two gave each other a hug. “Midnight Errant, my faithful student.” She smiled. “I knew you could do it.” “What? But you told me that—” His eyes widened. “Ah! You tricked me! Because of you, I had to make friends and go on a daring adventure! How dare you! You and your clever wordplay~!” Celestia chuckled. “I saw the signs of Luna’s return, and I knew you had enough love in your heart to bring her back. But, I also saw an opportunity to bring true friendship into your life. Now if only another will as well…” She looked away. “Princess Luna.” The Princess of the Night awoke with a gasp. Sitting up, Luna watched as the Queen of the Sun walked toward her. “It has been a thousand years since I have seen you like this. Time to put our differences behind us. We were meant to rule together, little sister. Will you accept my friendship?” “It’s happening…” Midnight sealed his friend’s mouth shut. Bursting to tears, Luna ran up and embraced Celestia. “I’m so sorry! I missed you so much, big sister…” Tearing up, Celestia almost laughed as she nuzzled her little sister. “I’ve missed you too…” At sound of sobbing, everyone turned to the only earth pony in the room. “S-sorry!” Clover said, sniffling. “It’s just that… You two are together again after bein’ apart for so long and, and…” Midnight conjured up a small kerchief out of mana and proceeded to wipe the snot off his friend’s nose. “Uh, Your Majesty?” Featherdew said. “What about the sunrise?” Wiping tears away, Celestia looked at her sister. “Shall we?” Luna nodded, smiling. “Alright, everypony. Gather around…” Inside Ponyville’s fully decorated town hall, Pinkie Pie and all the other ponies waited in hushed anticipation for their queen to arrive. Spike, however, waited for someone else. Pinkie turned to her mopey passenger. “Isn’t this exciting? Are you excited? ’Cause I’m excited; I’ve never been so excited—! Well, except for the time that I saw you and your brother walking into town and I went—” she gasped, “but I mean, really, what can top that?” Spike grumbled. “Watching the sunrise with my brother, for one…” After a short fanfare performed by Fluttershy and the birds, a spotlight shined on Diamond Tiara as she stepped onstage, her mane tied to a bun. “Fillies and gentlecolts!” she said. “As Mayor of Ponyville, it is my great pleasure to announce the beginning of the Summer Sun Celebration!” Everyone, except Spike, cheered. “In just a few moments, our town will witness the magic of the sunrise and celebrate this, the longest day of the year!” The little dragon looked up and spotted a shooting star as it crossed over the moon. Eyes widening, he watched as the mare in the moon disappeared. “And now, it is my great honor to introduce to you the ruler of our land. The very pony who gives us the sun and the moon each and every day. The good, the wise, the bringer of harmony to all of Equestria… Princess Celestia!” The spotlight ascended to a grand balcony atop the stage. After much fanfare, its curtains parted. No one was there. A sense of unease seized the ponies as the confused murmurs of the crowd rose in volume. Spike jumped off Pinkie Pie’s back. “It’s happening…” He laughed. “It’s really happening!” “Remain calm, everypony,” the mayor said. “There must be a reasonable explanation.” Pinkie began jumping in place. “Ooh, ooh! I love guessing games! Is she hiding?” Sweetie Belle appeared in the balcony. “She’s gone!” All of the ponies gasped. “Ooh,” Pinkie said, “she’s good.” “Wait!” Sweetie Belle grabbed a piece of paper off the floor. “I think I found a letter!” “Well?!” Diamond Tiara said. “Don’t just stand there! What does it say?” Sweetie Belle read the letter aloud: My dear ponies, I’m off to pick up my sister who has just woken up from a thousand year sleep. Be back in a jiffy. — Queen Celestia With this latest development, the ponies spoke among themselves: “Her sister?” “I didn’t even know the Queen had a sister.” Spike flailed his arms around, drawing the crowd’s attention. “It’s Princess Luna! She’s back!” He pointed at the sky. “See?” The ponies gasped as they beheld an unblemished moon. “The Mare in the Moon! It’s gone!” “So the legend was true…” “I thought that was just an old ponies’ tale.” “Hold on,” Diamond Tiara said. “If today is the longest day of the thousandth year, then who’s the prince?” “Look!” In a flash of dawn’s light, Celestia, Luna, and the trio appeared in the grand balcony. “Citizens of Equestria,” Queen Celestia said. “It is no longer with a heavy heart, but with great joy that I raise the summer sun. For this celebration now represents — not the defeat of Nightmare Moon — but the return of my sister, Princess Luna!” As the crowd cheered, the two sisters took to the air. Circling each other, Luna lowered the twilight moon while Celestia raised the morning sun. Ooh-ing and aah-ing with the crowd, Spike soon found himself floating up to his big brother. “Good morning, Spike,” Midnight said. His little brother smirked. “Good morning, your highness~!” The son of a princess frowned as he placed the baby dragon on his back. “Quiet, you.” Midnight then walked up to the alicorns as they landed. “Good morning, Princess Luna. I’m glad to finally meet you.” She smiled. “Good morning to you too, Prince Midnight.” Spike rolled his eyes. “Here we go…” “Ah, yeah, about that…” Midnight said. “Technically, I’m not a prince. See, there was this whole rule change a few hundred years ago, and—” “G-good morning!” He turned to the blushing young mare behind him. “Oh, good morning. Sweetie Belle, was it?” She cleared her throat. “Uh, Yes. Yes it is. It’s nice meeting you again.” He smiled. “Likewise— Whoa!” The two ponies ducked down as Featherdew flew overhead. “We did it! I can’t believe it!” “Hey, Cousin Pinkie!” Clover said from the balcony. “Princess Luna hasn’t had a party in over a thousand years! Y’know what that means~?” The pink party pony gave the biggest gasp of them all. Then, with a small pop, she disappeared. Everybody laughed, except for one pony. “How did she do that?” Midnight looked around. “Wait, are we just going to ignore that? Anyone? Hello?”