//------------------------------//
// Nightmare 
// Story: Luna Rising 
// by AstonMartinLover 
//------------------------------//

Luna Rising

Chapter 1: Nightmare

"Seeking to forget makes exile all the longer; the secret of redemption lies in rememberance"
-Richard Von Weizsaecker

On the surface, Canterlot looked like the idyllic city to live in. Beautiful structures, cobbled streets, and only the highest of society. But every city has dark patches. Places that only the hard workers, who toiled in the factories, called home.

Pony after pony trotted into a tavern in one of the more poverty stricken boroughs of Canterlot. It was a town meeting of the borough's key figures.

The room was filled with boisterous laughter and joyful banter as a grey, scruffy looking earth pony took his place at the front of the room. Another couple of ponies set up a projector next him.

The earth pony stomped his hooves. After a few moments, the crowd went silent and came to attention.

"First off, I'd like to thank you for taking time from your friday night plans to come to this forum. I promise I'll try to make it worth your while."

The crowd grumbled somewhat irritably. It was indeed a friday night. For most ponies, the first free period after a long work week.

The projector fluttered to life, shooting an image onto the back wall of the tavern. A crescent moon.

The appearance of it caused more grumbling.

"Comrades, if you grew up as I did, you know full well what this symbol represents." He paused to take a drink. "It represents a creature that we were warned about as foals, through bed time stories and playground gossip."

He looked around at the sea of work ponies. "Until two months ago, I thought this creature was just that. A bed time story. Some idle gossip. But Nightmare Moon is all too real my friends."

The other ponies nodded in agreement, while others seemed shocked at the news.

"One thousand years ago, this creature tried to plunge our world into darkness. She was thwarted by our leader, Princess Celestia. She was imprisoned." He paused to take another drink.

"Two months ago, this creature returned to finish the job. But then, all of the sudden, she was "cured." And given back her title as Princess. She is currently residing in the same palace as our grand leader."

This brought some outraged shouts from members of the gathered ponies.

"Celestia tells us that six mystical ponies freed her from some kind of curse. But I ask you this. How can we be sure?"

"We sure as bloody hell can't!" A pegasus shouted.

"Storm the palace!" Another hotheaded member of the throng shouted.

"Now settle down everypony." The grey earth pony said calmly. "Now let's get something straight right now. We are not vigilantes. We are not going to storm the palace. Nor will we assassinate Princess Luna."

"We should at least consider it! She's too powerful! She could destroy the sun on a whim!"

The level headed pony at the front of the room put up his hoof patiently. The crowd went silent again.

"I'm sure a more barbaric society would sink to the level of lynching a figure such as this. But we are Equestrians, fillies and gentlecolts. There will be no vigilante justice. Instead, I have here a petition." He held up a piece of paper.

"I wish to get well over a thousand signatures on this paper. I will hoof deliver it to Princess Celestia tomorrow. It demands that Nightmare Moon, or Princess Luna, or however you wish to call her, will be tried in a court of law on charges of treason and terrorism."

The crowd roared in approval, though some began voicing their displeasure, believing it not harsh enough.

The grey earth pony cleared his throat again. "Now I am a believer in change. And as small a chance as it is, there is a possibility that Princess Luna has indeed been cured of her evil. But I am not willing to take that chance. She will answer for her crimes! I see no fairness in a society where the royal can hide behind their sisters, as they commit the most unspeakable acts. Join me brothers! We will have justice!"

The room erupted in raucous cheers and chants. As they made their way forward to sign the petition, one figure stayed in place. She wore a hooded, black cloak, and stood near the back of the tavern. As the signing began, she backed away and trotted out the door, and into the streets. As she did, her cloak flew up for only a moment, revealing a flank adorned with a crescent moon. She hurried back towards the palace.


The royal ballroom was packed today. Royalty from all around Equestria had gathered for this grand event. Along with ponies of the highest wealth status.

And it was not the prettiest scene. This same ballroom had been used for the Grand Galloping Gala the night before. And that had been a glorious disaster.

That was the term that sprung to Princess Celestia's mind. A glorious disaster.

She looked out upon the faces of the wealthy Canterlot ponies that filled her main hall.

She thought of the night before. Many of these same, stuffy faces got a dose of fun from Ponyville's finest. Twilight Sparkle, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Applejack. They had made quite a mess of the function.

And it had made Princess Celestia feel, for the first time in a long time, young. Like a mischievous young mare again. Of course, that had been thousands of years ago. 'Fun' was an idea lost to these stuffy, wealthy, wax figurines that now filled the hall.

And she knew she'd spend a lot of tonight defending those six ponies from any kind of wrongdoing.

As she strode out to the podium in front of the many ponies, she received some warm applause.

The entire room bowed before her. Then, with her nod, they returned to their upright positions.

"Hello everypony. I thank you all for making the trip here." The words were empty. Most of these ponies had been staying in local hotels, recovering from the gala, the night before.

"I want to start with my...sincerest apologies for last nights occurrences. Those six ponies acted outside of my best interests..." That was a blatant lie. She had absolutely loved the way those six had livened up the evening. But there was no reason to start a firefight by siding with them. Not yet anyway.

A pony raised his hoof. Celestia pointed to him.

"Are the six ponies in custody?" The stuffy looking pony asked.

Celestia had to try hard not to roll her eyes at the question. "Um...no. We do not see disrupting a party as grounds for making such an arrest."

"You don't? Are you sure? They made a mockery of a royal function..."

"Recall fillies and gentlecolts, this was meant to be a PARTY. It was their first time attending the gala. I'm sure they simply weren't aware of the proper etiquette."

A stuffy old mare raised her hoof. Celestia pointed to her.

"Well, perhaps you can educate them? Perhaps...in your dungeons?"

Princess Celestia snorted. The room seemed to stare at her as though she was having convulsions. Each one looked as alarmed as the next.

"Ponies please. Do you know who those six are?"

"Does it matter?"

Celestia sighed. She had developed a lasting patience for some of the less intelligent members of her race. But even this felt ridiculous.

"They represent the elements of harmony. Without which, frankly, our national security would be greatly compromised. I think they've earned themselves a little leeway. Besides, why punish ponies for having fun, huh?"

She managed a smile. A smile that was not returned by the ponies in the room.

Her smile turned to a scowl. "Oh, okay. Well...this assembly is going just great." Her words dripped with sarcasm. 

"There will be no punishing the six. My word is final. My word is law."

There were some whispers in the room. The terms 'favoritism' and 'gone soft' carried up to the front of the room.

As she prepared to continue speaking, there was a creaking sound. A purple alicorn trotted in through the side door, pulling off her cloak and handing it to an attendant.

Celestia turned to her. Her sister, Luna looked up and saw her. She managed a pleasant smile, then noticed the large crowd of ponies seated around tables before her.

She stopped dead in her tracks. Her ears went back. Her eyes widened. She turned to leave.

"Luna."

She froze again. She turned to face her older sister.

"Come forth Princess Luna. Say hello to our subjects."

Luna tried to make herself as small as possible. Which was easy, because she was already rather small for an alicorn. Celestia looked worriedly upon her. She gestured with her hoof.

"I apologize. My beloved sister is a little shy."

Luna shakily edged towards the podium. Everypony in the room was watching her now. Most looked scared, as if expecting her to turn into the dark villainess of only a few months ago, right before their eyes.

"My subjects, I would like to introduce to you my sister, Luna."

Luna smiled weakly at them. Her cheeks turned red.

Her legs wobbled a bit. Celestia lay a wing over her back, trying to calm her down. She whispered into her ear.

"Go on. Just say hello. They won't bite, I promise."

Luna took a deep breath. "Um...greetings everypony." She continued smiling.

There was a seemingly endless, agonizingly awkward silence from the crowd. Their expressions ranged from blank to wide eyed in fear.

A wealthy fat unicorn from the front row piped up.

"Princess Celestia, I would just like to say, my solar fields have accounted for a good twenty five percent of our nation's agriculture." He locked suspicious eyes with Princess Luna. "Needless to say, the fields are powered by the rays of the sun. And I think the continued existence of said sun would be in your best interest."

Luna's ears went back. Her face blanked. She turned and swiftly trotted from the grand dance hall. She slammed the door behind her.

Celestia glared at the solar farmer, wishing for the courage to speak so many words unbecoming of royalty. Instead, she gave the crowd an uncomfortable smile. "Okay. I must depart. The chef's will be out with your dinner momentarily. Have a pleasant evening."

She turned and rushed deeper into the palace.

"Luna!" Celestia called out, striding through the halls. One of her guards approached.

"Something troubling you my princess?"

"Yes. I can't find my sister."

"I saw her heading for the observatory. She seemed in a cross mood if I may say so myself."

Celestia grimaced. "I shouldn't have pushed her."


Sparks shot of off the night princess's horn as she powered the moon into the sky. It's glow made her purple coat shimmer. She laid herself down on the balcony floor and stared up at it.

"Oh moon. Thou seemst to be our only friend these days." She felt the wave of sadness and frustration wash over her. 

After being freed from Nightmare Moon, she had initially been ecstatic to be reunited with her sister, and to return to her beloved home of Equestria. But since then, the pain of adjustment had led to more than a little depression. 

Incidents involving her subjects had successfully beaten any enthusiasm out of her. She had become a recluse in the palace. She often wandered through the castle gardens, or outdoors in the royal maze. She shied away from public life, even finding her guard's presence a little unnerving.

Everypony looked at her the same way. Every servant, every guard, every soldier. They looked ready. Ready to fight should she decide to return to her previous form. So, she simply stopped interacting with them.

She had not known about the assembly or the dinner tonight. She had stayed as far away from the grand galloping gala as possible the night before.

And to come across so many ponies at once, it unnerved her. And she had tried to greet them. As she had a thousand years ago. And they still looked upon her with fear and distrust. And the one. The fat one. He might as well have suggested she be thrown in the dungeon.

"It's all I deserve I guess." Luna said, dropping the royal 'we' as she continued talking to her moon. "I...try. I try to try. To interact. To reach out to them. But even when I do, they still fear me. They still talk about me in hushed tones. Why bother returning to a land that distrusts me so?"

She sniffled. "And here I am. Talking to a giant spacial rock." She buried her head in her hooves. "What is wrong with me?"

"Nothing." A voice replied soothingly. Luna looked up. Her sister slowly trotted over. "Nothing is wrong with you dear sister."

Luna looked up at her, her eyebrow furrowing in anger. "Why did you make me talk to them?"

Celestia shook her head. "I don't know. I was not...doing a good job of speaking to them. And then you walked in. I thought you could distract them...it was very selfish of me. I apologize."

Luna turned and looked back at the moon. "What was the point of returning here sister?"

Celestia frowned. "Well...I wished for you to rule Equestria with me. I certainly did not expect you to isolate yourself from it..."

"I do not have a choice." Luna replied. "The world sees me for what I was. I can't change that..."

"You could try." Celestia interrupted. "You could make...some kind of attempt to patch things up."

Luna turned to her angrily. "What's the point? They'll always love you. And trust you. And hate me. That's how it's always been. Even before I became that demon."

Celestia sighed. "There was a reason for that. I always visited my subjects. I always made appearances. I made friends. Built up trust. You...you just stayed in the shadows. It was your own choice."

"Do you see the looks I get from the guards? From the servants? That fear?"

Celestia gently patted her sister on the back. "It is not you they fear. It is Nightmare Moon."

"I am Nightmare Moon!" Luna shouted. "The day I die, that name will be etched on my gravestone! Whether I want it there or not! I can't fix it! And you certainly can't either."

Celestia leaned down to eye level with the small alicorn. "Really? You don't think I could fix it? All I need is for you to ask me. I'll launch a campaign. I'll make another speech about it. I'll scream it from the palace roof if I have to."

There was a silence between them. Celestia frowned. "But you're not going to ask me are you?"

"I do not need your help." Luna replied. She continued looking at the moon.

This had always been Luna's way. She had always been wary of how others saw her as being dependent upon her older sister. And as such she never wanted help, even in her early years. But there was something else to this as well.

"You don't trust me, do you?" Celestia asked. She looked hurt.

"Why should I? You certainly don't trust me." Luna hissed.

Celestia took a deep breath. Seeing her sister like this hurt her deeply.

"Luna, I can't trust you. Not yet. You haven't proven to me that you've changed."

"I am your sister Celestia. What can I possibly do to prove it to you?"

Celestia closed her eyes and thought. "You need to make an effort Luna. You have to try and change your image. Otherwise that monster will consume you again."

"The monster tis dead Celestia. Maybe one day you'll realize that. Along with everypony else. Good night."

Luna turned and stormed out of the room. Celestia ran up behind her.

"Luna, wait."

Luna turned around slowly. "Yes?"

Celestia hesitated, then gave her sister a hug. "Sleep well, okay?"

Luna looked up at her, surprised at the gesture. She managed a smile.

"I shall try sister. Thank you."


Luna arrived at her small, spartan bedroom on the other side of the palace. It had always been this way. 

Celestia had made it almost identical to her bedroom in the palace that was now the Everfree Forest. A giant crescent moon adorned a stain glass window at one end of the grand room. But the room contained little other than a bed and a desk.

Luna liked it better this way. She curled up into bed. The agony of another day had passed. Now it was time for sleep.

But she couldn't sleep. Her conversation with Celestia had her too angry to sleep.

"Why do I have to treat her like this? She gave me a second chance. She could have killed me, or thrown me in the dungeon after I was freed. But she gave me a second chance."

She pummeled her pillow with her hooves. "She tries. She tries to bring out the best in me. Why can't I just trust her? Why can't it be just like it was a thousands years ago? I trusted her completely. And it's not like she betrayed ME." She dug her head into the pillow. "I betrayed everypony. I betrayed Tia. I betrayed my subjects. I betrayed mother and father."'

She lay her head down on her pillow and let the day's exhaustion overtake her. She slept.


"Come along Luna. We'll be late."

"Late for what?" The groggy filly asked.

"We were gonna have a picnic remember? You promised you'd come along!"

Luna looked up. The young, pink maned alicorn stood at her door. Celestia.

Luna groaned, then rubbed her sleep weary eyes. The sun shone in through her stain glass window.

She hopped up out of bed. The sun hit her painfully. The filly was so accustomed to night, this especially bright morning was a shock to the senses.

As she came down the palace stairs, the Princess was waiting for her, beaming. She gave the filly a warm hug.

"Good morning sister. Are you ready?"

Luna blinked her eyes again, still adjusting to the brightness of the palace. "Did I ever agree to this?"

Her sister's smile faded a little. Luna had never been a morning pony. "Oh come on little Woona! It'll be fun!"

Luna's ears went back. She scowled at her sister, who giggled excitedly in response.

"Oh, you look so adorable when you're mad Woona!" She picked her sister up and rubbed her mane lovingly.

Luna struggled until her sister put her down again. She brushed herself off.

"I'm not a baby anymore."

Celestia chuckled. "Oh don't be such a grouch. You'll always be my baby sister."

Celestia levitated her picnic basket. "How much candy should I put in here?"

Luna's eyes lit up like a spark. "Candy you say? As much as can fit!"

Celestia smirked at her sister's attitude change. She levitated some lollipops into the basket. "Come. Royalty must never arrive late little one."

"Well...do we have to walk?"

"Of course. It is not too far from here sister. Why? Art thou afraid of a little exercise?"

Luna grimaced. "I would much rather get a ride..." She looked up at Celestia, making her eyes as big and adorable as possible.

Celestia rolled her eyes. She lowered herself to the ground. "Hop on up."

Luna silently congratulated herself, and hopped onto the larger alicorn's back.

"Now this is the very last time." Celestia said firmly. Luna nodded. Celestia had warned of this the last twenty two times, to be exact.

They left the old palace and arrived in the sun bathed, grassy meadows of Equestria. In another five hundred years, this would be the Everfree Forest. But for now, it was a beauty to behold.

Ponies from all across Equestria had gathered here to enjoy a nice, hot summer day. This was an unusual sight for Luna. In the years since their parent's departure, Celestia had been extremely protective of her younger sister. But this year, she had wanted her to get out and enjoy the world as much as possible.

All around them, ponies bowed. Celestia nodded courteously to each and every one of them as she passed.

"Who are these ponies, Tia?" Luna asked.

"Our subjects Luna. They are our subjects."

Luna nodded slowly. They arrived at an unclaimed spot, and Celestia levitated a blanket with her magic. She lay it on the grass, and placed her basket in the center.

Luna hopped off her back and began digging through the basket. She found the lollipops, and finding one, quickly popped it in her mouth.

"Look, Luna." Celestia said.

Luna paused. "Huh?"

"Come. Look at all this."

Luna trotted up next to her big sister. The older alicorn made a sweeping gesture across the land. The grassy plains, and rising valleys, the distant mountains, as Luna fidgeted with her lollipop.

"This will all be yours one day."

The lollipop fell out of Luna's mouth and onto the grass. She scrambled to grab it and pop it back in.

"Don't you dare put that back in your mouth."

Luna looked up at her sister. She scowled. Celestia responded with a stern glare.

"I wasn't gonna." Luna harrumphed, chucking the lollipop towards another family of ponies. They didn't seem to notice. If they did, they were certainly not willing to complain about royalty throwing food at them.

"What did you say sis?" Luna asked.

"This will all be yours."

Luna looked across the land, and found her little heart overwhelmed. "But...this is too much."

Celestia let out a hearty chuckle. "Well I mean, you'll have help."

"I will?" Luna asked, looking up at her.

"Well yeah. I'm a princess too."

Luna smiled. "You think I'll be a good Princess, Tia?"

Celestia looked down at the glowing filly. "You already are. Except good Princesses don't throw lollipops at their subjects. Please go retrieve it."

Luna let out an exasperated moan, then lurched over towards the pony family.

They were all earth ponies. A mother, a father, a filly, and two colts.

Luna leaned down and picked up the ruined lollipop.

She looked up. The filly was staring at her with eyes the size of dinner plates.

Luna stared right back. The two fillies stared awkwardly at each other for a moment.

"Hi there! I'm Princess Luna!" The purple filly said cheerfully, extending her hoof.

The filly recoiled as the hoof came up. Luna pulled her hoof back. The mother saw her, and immediately grabbed her, pulling her away from the bewildered alicorn.

"Um...okay. I'll just..." Luna turned and headed back towards Celestia.

Celestia immediately levitated the lollipop and deposited it in a bag.

"My little sis making friends?" She asked.

Luna shook her head. "No. They...they were afraid of me."

Celestia frowned. "Afraid of you? Why?"

Luna shrugged. "I don't know. I didn't do anything." Her head slumped down.

Celestia gestured for the filly to come to her. She nuzzled her affectionately, brightening the little purple alicorn's spirits.

"You want me to talk to them for you?" She asked gently.

Luna sighed. "No...just...it's okay."

Suddenly, there was an explosion from above. Gasps rose from the attendees of the picnic.

Luna looked up in time to see a horrifying sight. A burning sky.

The sky had become orange. Flame shot out in all directions. It was as if the entire universe was coming apart.

It had originated from the sun.

A shockwave surrounded the sun as it let out it's last, violent breath.

Then it was dead. And the world was plunged into darkness.

Luna grabbed her big sister in fear. "Tia? What's going on?"

"I...I don't know sweetheart. Stay close to me, okay?"

Luna nodded, panicked tears coming to her eyes.

Suddenly, the moon began to rise. The entire landscape came back into visibility, illuminated by the soft white light in the sky.

A hideous cackling filled the air. A blue looking cloud streaked down from the moon, towards the citizens.

It became the form of a pony. A horn. Wings. A black coat. Blue armor. Slits for eyes.

Luna looked at it, her eyes wide with terror.

She felt herself being pushed away from Celestia. She looked up at her.

This expression she had never seen. Not the look of gentle understanding. Not the look of encouragement, nor the look to make the filly's fears go to rest.

A look of unbridled hatred. From her own sister.

"You little monster." She hissed.

Luna backed away. "W-What?"

"What would mother and father think? They tasked me with training you to rule this kingdom." Celestia snarled through gritted teeth.

"What's going on Tia?" Luna asked, backing farther away.

"You were meant to rule Equestria! Not destroy it!" She shouted. "You...despicable little...freak!"

The little alicorn filly shrunk herself down into a quivering ball now. She looked up at her big sister, sheer terror written across her face.

"I didn't...please sister..."

"I guess I can't kill you." Celestia said coldly. "I can't kill my own sister. I don't have it in me. But I can send you far, far away. Someplace I don't have to look at you. Forever."

Her horn began to glow. Luna began shaking. "No Tia! No..."

Before she could finish, a green flame had consumed her. Before she could cry out, she was being propelled into the sky. The velocity of the wind tore at her coat.

She let out a scream as she found the courage to open her eyes. The moon was becoming bigger and bigger as she approached it. She cried out in terror as she landed upon it.

She got up and dusted herself off. She looked around. There was nothing here. Nothing but rocks, and space.

Suddenly, the figure from before landed next to her. Her blue armor bore the same cutie mark as Luna. A crescent moon. The creature grinned deviously. The little purple filly cowered as the creature towered over her.

"Welcome to our new home." It hissed.


Luna snapped awake. She was screaming in terror. She looked around. She was in her room. In the new palace, in Canterlot. She let out a sigh of relief.

Not but a dream. A nightmare.

She got up out of bed, sweat pouring from her brow. She considered briefly, going to Celestia's room. Seeking comfort after the dream. But that was the reaction of a child. And too many things had changed between them since her fillyhood.

She trotted into her bathroom and began running water over her face. Her hooves shook as she operated the faucet. It took her three attempts to turn the water off.

She could vaguely remember the first part of the dream. Her picnic on the plains. She remembered it being a great day of bonding with her sister. A shame dreams didn't have to follow the rules of reality.

She got up and looked into the mirror. She took a deep breath.

It was over. She turned to return to her bedroom. Something thumped down in front of her door, blocking her exit. She gasped.

Before her stood the alicorn from her dream. The alicorn that she had been intimately acquainted with for the past thousands years.

Nightmare Moon. The treacherous demon smirked.

"Good evening Luna. Did thou miss me?"