//------------------------------// // Chapter 6 // Story: Changing moons // by Jeweled Pen //------------------------------// Below a sky made of rubberbands, above an ocean in a tea bag, and beyond the mountains smaller than a bunny but higher than any pegasi could ever hope to fly, Luna ran for her life. Behind her white bouncy balls were following, each one the size of a small house. The world was dark with the moon hanging high over head in an empty sky, devoid of even the smallest cloud or star. The fields she ran through had the strangest flowers, each one shaped like a bat that flapped when she ran past. Ahead she could see a yellow glow from an open doorway so she lowered her head and charged at full speed. Bursting through the doorway the princess heard it slam shut behind her and as she looked around the alicorn realized she was in the hallway of her dreams, again. Each window and doorway was barricaded tightly and when she looked behind her she saw the door she had come through was covered as well. With an annoyed sigh she began to walk through the hallways again. "What a naughty princess you are. I leave you alone for a few seconds and you leave our home." A voice said behind the alicorn of the night. Luna turned to see Nightmare Moon standing behind her, the terror of the nights wings extended out fully so they touched each wall of the hallway. "N-no. Stay back." The princess squeaked pitifully as she backed away. "The elements destroyed you. You're not real." "Destroyed me? Oh Luna..." The wicked creature shook her head. "You and I are one. And soon we will be together. All you need to do..." The ponies eyes glowed with green fire. "Is wake up." Luna's eyes opened as she felt cold stone under her body. Looking around she could see what she could only guess was the entirety of the castle's staff, staring at her in shock. A loud buzzing filled her ears as she glanced up. The air was thick with changelings, hovering above the amassed ponies like predators watching for a pony to seperate itself from the herd. Fortunately none had tried. Yet. "Ahem." A voice said from behind the alicorn as she turned. She gasped as she saw the tall alicorn creature behind her. Backing up a step, she gulped weakly. "Night.... Nightmare Moon?" A snear formed on the creatures face as she advanced. "No princess. I'm afraid we have not met face to face. Atleast not with me in this form. For you see princess. I am Queen Chrysalis, ruler of the changelings and bringer of eternal night!" Clouds formed above her as lightning crackled ominously. It took a few moments for her to remember the name, but soon Luna let out a soft gasp. "You're... You're the creature that took Cadence's form and... I will not allow you to hurt any more ponies, I will stop you here!" She raised her horn in warning. "Oh please princess. If I wanted to fight you I would have beaten you while you slept. No. I've come to offer you what you've always wanted." The queen held out a hoof to the startled and confused alicorn. "Join me. Become my second in command. Your sister is dethroned and the elements have been defeated. Nopony will stand in our way as we bring about the eternal night." The changeling pulled her hoof back and began to walk towards the princess. Slowly she circled the alicorn, the mist spilling from her body encircling the confused mare. "Imagine it. An eternal night. All ponies everywhere would have no choice but to admire your skies." "My sister? My subjects?" "You sister would live. You could still even talk to her. The ponies would survive. The sky would be yours to do with as you wish." Queen Chrysalis touched her horn to the princess's, making her blush. "Join me." Luna gulped as she pulled away from the changeling. She gazed up at the sky, it would be what she always wanted. All ponies would see her skies, and without the sun to steal her glory she could already feel inspiration. She could make a sky a hundred times more beautiful than even the most radiant sunrise and all would look in awe, forgetting her sister. And yet... Her mind wandered back to her brief visit to ponyville, the way those ponies had been frightened of her. Even if it had all been a game she had seen what her one time selfishness had caused. Slowly she shook her head and slammed a hoof down. "No." She glared at the changeling as her horn began to glow. "The night is beautiful. I will no longer allow it to be a instrument of fear." She thrust her horn forward... As it fizzled out. "Oh what is wrong with you princesses?" The queen grumbled as she advanced on the surprised alicorn. "If you had just struck me when I was talking, rather than announcing your attack, you might have won by using surprise. Instead you give your little speech and give me ample time to prepare. I guess it means nothing now. You'll join me eventually." "Attacking while somepony is talking is weak and dishonorable." Luna growled at the changeling. "Well I suppose thats the difference between us. I would do anything to protect my subjects." Chrysalis's horn began to glow as it felt like fire was shooting through Luna's forehead, white hot pain so strong it brought her to her knees and temporarily blinded her. After a few moments the pain ended as her vision slowly cleared. She became aware of the gathered ponies gasping and muttering to themselves and she couldn't help but feel strange. Her entire body was drained and she felt as if she had just ran a 30 mile marathon while hauling a fully grown dragon. Instead she contented herself to momentarily listen to the gathered ponies, struggling to keep her eyes open. "Oh Celestia help us..." "What happened? Is she... Is she going to die?" "That's... That's impossible." "Her horn... Oh Celestia her horn." That last one caught her attention as her eyes slowly went up to her horn. Nothing seemed odd about it, in fact she... Couldn't see it. Both her hoofs reached out to her forehead, but there was nothing there. Not even a bump where her once powerful horn had stood firm. "What have you done? Where is my horn?!" She struggled to get to her hoofs but her body was to drained to raise her more than an inch before collapsing. "I have drained you of every last ounce of magic. It is mine now. I may allow you to have some of it back one day. When you decide to join me... But for now." The queens head was raised high as her wings spread out, voice booming across the masses. "Hear me ponies! This is my power! Your princess's have fallen and your elements scattered. There is nothing else for you to turn to. You may now join me. Or you may join the elements in prison. Now who will be the first to kneel before your new queen?" The changelings flying in the air landed behind the crowds, caging them in. Silence reigned in the courtyard for many minutes before a white unicorn with a golden mane stepped forward. He was wearing a white tuxedo with a blue bowtie. "Your highness, my name is Prince Blueblood." He politely bowed his head. "Prince? I was not aware there was a prince." Her horn began to glow. "Do you wish to challenge me as well?" "NO! Ofcourse not your highness! I only wish to offer my assistance." He smiled at the changeling, greed flashing in his eyes. "I have many resources I'm sure that could be useful to you. Connections that could help your control over the throne. I know how to get things done. And for the right incentives I could ahhh... Make your take over much smoother." The prince ignored the glares and hatred the other ponies sent at him. Bunch of fools. Both princesses had been beaten, this was an opportunity! Taking the side of the victor while she was still new in her position and it would be easiest to make himself useful. And indispensible. "If you will allow me to, ofcourse." He lowered his head slightly in what he imagined was a perfect bow. "Interesting. I do not sense any deceit from you. Perhaps you will be useful." "You... You can sense deceit?" The prince asked as his head shot up. "Ofcourse. I am the queen of the changelings after all. I can sense all emotions." A hoof reached out, touching his cheek. It felt like ice. "But rejoice. You seem to be the only one wise enough to join the winning side. So perhaps you can be useful to me. Children!" She grinned as her gaze turned upwards to the flying changelings. "Escort all who wish to fight me to the dungeon." Her horn glowed for a moment as the ponies around them began to drop to the ground in sleep. Soon only Luna, Blueblood, and the changelings remained awake. "General Fang." She turned to the fake Twilight Sparkle. "Take Luna to her chambers. Four changelings are to guard her at all times. She is not to leave until she agrees to stand by my side." "Ofcourse your highness." The Twilight said as her fake form disintegrated. He soon looked like every other changeling as him and four others moved to take Luna away. "Stop..." She mumbled though she was to tired to put up a true fight. She felt nauseous and off balance, she couldn't even make her wings fold properly to her side. And the lights hurt her eyes. And her hoofs felt numb. And changelings looked sc-NO! She was a princess! She was the princess of the night, even if she lacked her horn. Pushing the changelings away from her she slowly got to her hoofs. "I will walk myself." She growled through gritted teeth. Even if she had to be a prisoner she would be one on her terms. She made it a full three steps before she face planted from exaustion and the changelings were forced to carry her the rest of the way. The changelings entered the castle three holding the princess up between them, two under her wings and one holding her torso. The hallways leading to the princess's room were dark and empty, the doors leading down it closed. Fang didn't mind though, they had won. The changelings had won. He was so happy he almost missed the flutter of wings above. His wings spread out as he dashed to the left, narrowly avoiding the strange pegasus as it landed where he had been a moment ago. His fellow changelings were not so lucky, dropping to the ground in a chittering mess as more of the strange pegasi landed on them. Luna's eyes opened as something landed on her. Lots of somethings, bumping into her as they dropped the changelings. Bat ponies, her own personal guards. Five of them. "How did..." But the words died in her mouth as they slowly helped her to her feet. "Your highness, we need to get you out of here. We have secured you an exit and we will buy you as much time as needed." One of the bat ponies said as he propped her up under her left wing, another bat pony taking the other side. The remaining three bat ponies turned to the changeling as one was zapped from the creatures horn, encasing it in green slime. Luna was quickly led from the fight as the other two bat ponies moved her. Her strength began to return as they walked, creeping along the shadows through the halls. While they did encounter the occasional group of passing changelings the bat ponies were experts in stealth, able to easily hide themselves along with their weakened leader, especially in the castle they knew inside and out as opposed to the changelings. Soon they arrived at the library, though they could hear books being tossed aside within. "Your highness. Can you move on your own?" The pony on her left asked. "I think so. What are your names?" Luna asked as the two slowly removed themselves from under her wings. "My name is Nightfeather. This is my brother Nightfang." He bowed his head to her. "Why are you and the others doing this? I have no magic left." "You are the princess of the night. The true princess. Our kind will always follow you into the gates of Tartarus if need be." "Thank you." She looked to the library. She knew where the secret passage was. Hidden under a statue of her sister, opened by twisting the horn, was a staircase leading under the castle and out. It had been designed to allow any servants in the library to escape in the event of an attack and led to a small protected safety tree in the everfree forest. However it hadn't been maintained in ages so she had no idea if it would still work. "But it's to dangerous. We don't know what's in there. If we barge in, we-" Nightfeather pushed the door open and charged inside, taking to the air. Four changelings resided in the room, three on the ground and one in the air. He slammed into the flying one, tackling it to the ground and pinning it. "GO GO GO!" He yelled as he rammed into another changeling. Nightfang shoved the princess, "Sorry." But it got her moving. The two ran through the library as Nightfeather fought the changelings, one even being thrown through the library window. The two came to the statue within a few minutes as a buzzing filled the air. "Activate the escape route! You need to get out of here your highness." The statue was rather mundane with her sister standing tall with her horn straight up, if anypony didn't know better they would assume it was just a normal statue of the princess of the night. Luna stared at the horn and willed it to move. And stared at it. And willed. And then she face hoofed so hard an imprint of her hoof formed on her forehead. "I... I can't. No magic. The horn. It needs to be turned clockwise to open." Nightfang flew up, turning the horn. Dust fell from the horn but nothing happened. The statue remained still as the buzzing got closer and the windows began to shatter. Changelings burst into the library in green bursts of flame, slamming through bookcases and destroying tables where they landed. "I've... I've failed you your highness." The bat pony said as he hung his head. From below he could hear his brother let out a scream as he fell to the onslaught. "No. You tried your best. But there is nothing I can do. Even if-" A high pitched screaching sound filled the air as the statue slowly pulled back from the ground, gears long abandoned slowly springing to life as a staircase was revealed, going deep into the ground shrouded in darkness. "Your highness, go!" The bat pony yelled as the changelings heads swiveled to the source of the noise. "Go go!" Not allowing the mare a chance to speak or object he flew behind her, and shoved. She let out a shriek as she flew down the stairs with all the grace of an overweight duck. He couldn't help but cringe, he was so going to suffer for that later he just knew it. But there was no time for worry now as he darted up to the statue's horn and gripped it. Swiveling it back counter clockwise he grinned to the changelings. "So long you- Ack!" The statue lunged forward as the gears reacted much faster this time, making the statue lumber forward to close the entrance behind his princess. The statue's sudden movement slammed into him, knocking him back across one of the library's many bookshelves and dropping stacks of books onto him, temporarily pinning him. "No!" Within moments he was surrounded by changelings, as was the statue. As they grabbed onto him he dugs his hoofs firmly into the ground. "NO!" He roared as he ran forward, slipping from the changeling's grasps and tossing the heavy books aside. He ran at the statue and turned on his front hoofs before bucking out with all his strength. With a loud crunch his hoofs shattered stone and irreversibly damaged gears. As the changelings descended on him he allowed himself a smile. His princess was now safe. ******* Luna poked the wall that trapped her in the tunnel. Yep. She was going to die down here. After it had closed behind her she had waited. She didn't know how long, the darkness made time difficult to judge. No stars, no moon, no magic. She was alone. She had no choice but to walk through the tunnels after she rested a moment to allow her body to recover from the previous running. The air was stale and dusty and every few steps she could feel spider webs brushing against her body, and what she hoped were spiders falling off her body. The tunnels had been made ages ago, when the castle was first made. However actual threats to the palace were few and far between, the last time they had been checked was when Discord had escaped, and when they were checked it was usually just a quick spell scan to make sure they were clear and hadn't collapsed, which most had. Ofcourse all ponies living in the castle were shown the working escape tunnels. But why oh why would they ever need it? She thought to herself with a weak burst of laughter. She'd be protected atleast. The safe trees had been designed for that. With a natural food supply to last a large group of ponies a life time, hidden within the dangerous woods, in a place that magic was resisted so heavily even Discord couldn't change it. She could live there for centuries. As her kingdom was turned to rubble and her subjects used as food for the changeling horde. Tears fell from her eyes as she walked down the tunnel, ignoring the scrapes of occasional snag on her skin from broken pieces of wood scratching at her body. She had failed. Failed even beyond when she had become Nightmare Moon. Atleast then the ponies would have been safe. If trapped in the night. Her head hung as she walked through the dark dusty tunnel, every failure playing through her mind. She was so lost in self pity that she forgot to pay attention ahead of her. With a bang she walked headfirst into an old rotting doorway, sending it scattering to the ground in small chunks as the long overdo wood finally gave in. She glanced up at her new home and muttered a few rather unprincesslike curses. The tree that the tunnel was supposed to open into was long gone, instead all that remained was a almost fully decayed tree that had fallen over centuries ago. "Ofcourse." She growled as her wings flared out. "Nothing can ever work out. Can it? I just-" She then turned around as she felt weight on her back. A large black spider had rested on her back, drawn from its home. "Oh that is it. BEGONE!" She yelled, her royal canterlot speaking voice sending the spider flying through the air back into its tunnely home. For a moment she considered following it but she quickly cast the thought away. She began to walk through the woods, each step slamming into the ground with rage. Why did this have to happen? Had she not suffered enough? One-thousand years on the moon. A kingdom filled with ponies that had either forgotten her or feared her. A life time of living in her sisters shadow. But no, that wasn't enough. The fates or whatever decided the way of the world decided she had to lose her kingdom a second time. She was sorry! She had made a mistake and given into rage. All she wanted was a chance. One small chance to show she could do right. Be the kind of pony she was supposed to be. The princess of equestria. She gazed to the sky as she waited for the stars to give her some sign. But she knew it was futile, she wasn't some normal pony. Wishing on the stars would be like a unicorn wishing on their doll, a wasted effort that might alert her enemy. Slowly she fell to the ground and wept. All she wanted was one chance. Just one. A pair of hungry eyes watched her from the shadows, a long tongue sliding out to lick across the creatures scaley lips.