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// Chapter One: An Old Ponies’ Tale...Or Is It? 
// Story: Radiant Hope and The Nightmare 
// by EmmyRosie5 
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Years have passed and Radiant Hope was getting better. She no longer had those nightmares about King Sombra and can focus on her studies. Throughout the years, Hope began to recover.

But one day, Hope found out that Princess Luna had disappeared. When she asked Princess Celestia about Luna’s disappearance, she didn’t feel like talking to her about it. But Hope would always hope that Princess Luna would return safe.

Now during her studies, Radiant Hope would learn about magical gems known as The Elements of Harmony and how they sealed Nightmare Moon into the moon for a thousand years. This event turned into a legend and an old ponies’ tale known as the Mare in the Moon.

Hope would always ask Princess Celestia about the Mare in the Moon, but Celestia would always tell her that it’s just an old ponies’ tale. But Hope thought it could be more than that.

But one day, Hope starting thinking about the Mare in the Moon and wondered if Nightmare Moon would return to Equestria to bring eternal night. The more she thought about it, the more interested she would be about that fact.

So Radiant Hope always read books about legends and myths to find more information about Nightmare Moon and how she would return to bring eternal night and about the Elements of Harmony, but she didn’t seem to find anything regarding them.

But Hope found out that there’s one book that she didn’t read to find information, and that book was called “Predictions and Prophecies”. And she knew that the book was located in her reading room. So that is where she had to go.

Radiant Hope ran through the streets of Canterlot until she finally made it to her reading room. She opened up the door to find Spike waiting for her.

“Hey there, Hope!” Spike said cheerfully. “Hi Spike. I don’t have time to chat though. Can you go and find me the Predictions and Prophecies book please?” Hope asked Spike.

Spike became confused. “Why do you need that?” He asked Hope. Hope sighed. “Spike, I need it to find information.” She said. Spike didn’t know why she needed information on a book, but he decided not to ask why.

“Alright, I’ll see if I can find it.” Spike told Hope. He then scanned the bookshelves until he found the book Radiant Hope was looking for. “Found it!” He told Hope.

Hope used her magic to levitate the book to her. “Thank you, Spike.” She said. Hope than opened the book and began searching.

“Elements, Elements, E, E, E…” Hope muttered while finding the page she was looking for. Soon enough, she found it. “Aha! Elements of Harmony, see: Mare in the Moon?” Hope was confused. Why would she need to find information on another page?

Spike was confused as well. But it’s not what Hope was thinking. “Mare in the Moon? But that's just an old ponies' tale.” He said.

Nonetheless, Hope kept on searching. “Mare, mare…” Hope muttered again. “Aha!” Hope soon enough found the page she was looking for. She then began to read it.

“The Mare in the Moon, myth from olden pony times. A powerful pony who wanted to rule Equestria, defeated by the Elements of Harmony and imprisoned in the moon. Legend has it that on the longest day of the thousandth year, the stars will aid in her escape, and she will bring about nighttime eternal.”

Radiant Hope was shocked. She knew what was going on and has to warn the princess immediately. “Spike, take a letter.” She told Spike.

“Really? Right after you read a book, you want to take a letter?” Spike asked Hope. “Look Spike, something bad is going to happen and I must warn the princess before it happens.” Hope told Spike.

“Well, alright then.” Spike then took out a quill and scroll. “Alright, whenever you’re ready, Hope.” He said. Radiant Hope then told Spike what to write, and Spike wrote down her words on the scroll.

“My dear princess, my continuing studies of pony magic have led me to discover that we are on the precipice of disaster!” Hope said. However, during the word ‘precipice’, Spike had a lot of trouble.

“Hold on. Preci... preci…” Hope knew that Spike would never understand that word, so she had to think of a new one. “How about, Threshold.” She suggested.

“Threh…” Hope knew Spike wouldn’t understand that word either. “Uh, maybe brink?” Hope suggested. Spike just gave her a look that said ‘I won’t understand that word’.

“Okay, how about ‘that something really bad is about to happen’.” Hope said. Spike understood that word and wrote it down on the scroll. Hope then continued.

“For you see, the mythical Mare in the Moon is in fact Nightmare Moon, and she's about to return to Equestria, and bring with her eternal night! Something must be done to make sure this terrible prophecy does not come true. I await your quick response. From, Radiant Hope.”

After Hope was done speaking, Spike was able to finish the letter. “Done!” He told her. “Good. You can send it now.” Hope told Spike.

“Wait, now?” Spike asked. “Yup.” Hope replied. Spike didn’t know if it was a good idea. “Are you sure about this Hope? I know you want to send it, but Princess Celestia's a little busy getting ready for the Summer Sun Celebration. And it's like, the day after tomorrow.” Spike told Hope.

“But that’s the point! The day after tomorrow is the thousandth year of the Summer Sun Celebration! It's imperative that the Princess is told right away!” Hope exclaimed.

“Impera... impera…” Hope knew again that he wouldn’t understand the word. “IMPORTANT!” Hope yelled.

“Alright, alright.” Spike said. Then with his dragon breath, he sent the letter to Princess Celestia. “Okay, the letter’s on it’s way. But I wouldn’t hold your breath.” Spike told Hope. “Spike, I’m not worried at all. The princess trusts me completely. In my years of studying under her, she never once doubted me.” Hope said.

A few seconds later, Spike burped out a response from Princess Celestia. “See Spike, I told you she would take action immediately.” Hope told Spike. He only just gave an eye-roll.

Spike unwrapped the scroll, cleared his throat, and began to read.

“My dearest Radiant Hope, You know that I value your diligence and that I trust you completely…”

Radiant Hope smiled. Thanks to her, she knew what was going on and would do something about it.

“...but you simply must stop reading those dusty old books!”

“What?!” Hope said in shock.