//------------------------------// // The True Princess of the Night // Story: Equestria's chain of conflicts // by Dranz_89 //------------------------------// "Are you sure the dragon went to Canterlot?" Scootaloo was so bored that it seemed her yawn would last forever as she stood beside the border of the ship, watching the fields they were passing over, "didn't Applejack said he escaped to the southeast?" "Yes, I'm sure!" Applebloom, who was piloting the ship, answered furiously at the pegasus, her face turned red and heat started coming out from her ears, she had lost her patience, "I was sure the first sixty-seven times you asked!" The other ponies and the young dragon were playing some kind of cards game, when they turned their sight at the angry pilot, when she suddenly looked back at them, they quickly put their attention back to their game. The mood of Applebloom changed as soon as she put her eyes on the city of Canterlot, she was shocked to see that part of the glorious Canterlot Palace was reduced to crumbled walls, along with some of the buildings in the city. Scootaloo joined the shock just before the rest of the group. "W-What... What happened?" Diamond Tiara couldn't help but rub her eyes with her hooves for a second look, the appearance of the city was the most horrific view she had ever seen. As the Sky Wanderer landed on the outskirts of the city, the wind produced by the helix of the Sky Wanderer blew the present ponies' manes and tales. Everypony was amazed, contemplating the enormous machine wich was able to defy gravity without any kind of magic, but with the strength of some kind of giant fan below the ship. In the end, Applebloom and her friends came out of the Sky Wanderer, everypony in town saw them as if they were from another planet, then after a few seconds, the shock was over, and everypony remembered they had something more important things to do. The group walked in the city and watched royal guards around the streets, some ponies were hiding in their houses, and the ones on the streets were scared or injured. The crying of colts and fillies sounded from far away, pegasi were flying all over the city and some of the unicorns and the earth ponies were helping rebuilding the city. "I can't believe a single dragon could do all of this" Spike was amazed of how devastated the city was. "It wasn't a single dragon, Spike" a white unicorn showed up in front of the group, she had a crimson mane with a violet stripe, and she seemed to know Spike somehow, "six huge dragons came to attack the palace, and with them, a large horde of smaller dragons to attack the city." "S-Six huge dragons?!" The traveling group gasped. "And what about the princessess? And who are you, anyway?" Diamond Tiara questioned the unicorn. "Sorry... I don't know the details" the unicorn frowned and her voice softened a little as she tried to explain, "I am Moondancer, I'm Twilight Sparkle's... classmate. I was ordered to lead the crew of that flying machine to the palace, that would be you, right?" "Right! It's the Sky Wanderer and my pride" Applebloom jumped in front of the unicorn, closed her eyes, and began to endlessly explain the details about the Sky Wanderer, as the rest of the group just stared at her trying to understand Applebloom's words in vain. "That's great!" Moondancer giggled, interrupting the excited pony, "maybe you'd like to explain all that to the princesses. Shall we go, then?" The mare unicorn led the group to the palace while she had a friendly conversation with his old friend Spike until they finally reached the palace. "Please wait here while I inform the princess you are here" said Moondancer before she left the group in one of the palace's big halls. After a few seconds of silence, Sweetie Belle noticed a dark room, "I wonder what is in that room..." her curiosity led her to investigate, shortly followed by her friends. The echo of their steps filled the hall as they got closer to the door, they could feel the dark aura of the room running through their bodies. Slowly opening the door, the alicorn inside the room noticed she had visitors. "Who's there?" "A-Are you ok, Princess Luna?" Scootaloo asked in a very concerned tone, "you don't look so good." "It's nothing, I was just..." The depressed princess tried to hide the sadness of her face, "just thinking." "Please, your highness. Forgive our intrusion." Diamond Tiara bowed to the princess, "but I think you should talk to somepony if something is bothering you." Princess Luna stared at their sincere eyes for a while, until a few tears droped her face. "I tried to help her, to be like my sister. But I only humiliated myself in front of my subjects. I failed as a Princess, and as a sister." "Well of course!" Sweetie Belle talked to the princess, making her see her mistake, "you tried to be like your sister, but you obviously aren't your sister." "Yeah! Imitating the older sister is a common mistake among younger sisters" added Applebloom. "You have to start being like yourself, stop thinking what Princess Celestia would do, and start doing things your own way. Because Princess Celestia has skills that you don't, but you also have skills that Princess Celestia will never be able to imitate" said Sweetie Belle, she smiled at Princess Luna. "Spike? Girls? Where are you?" Moondancer's voice sounded from outside. "It's Moondancer. I think we should leave now, girls" said Spike, and they proceeded to make their way out of the room to reunite with the unicorn while Princess Luna stayed, thinking of what the young ponies have said. Doing things my own way. Soon after the short conversation with Princess Luna, Moondancer led the group to the throne room where Twilight and her friends were already waiting for Princess Cadance. "Goodness! Sweetie Belle! What are you doing here?" Rarity jumped to greet her sister, smiling even more than Pinkie Pie, "you were just little filly when I left Ponyville! And now look at you. You have become a beautiful young mare. I can't believe it's only been thirty years!" But unlike Rarity, Applejack wasn't happy to see her sister at all, "Applebloom! What in tarnation are you doing here?" "Please, Applejack" Rarity stopped Applejack, "I know you are her older sister, but Applebloom is not a filly anymore." "But aren't you worried about your sister with all those dragons hangin' round Equestria?" "Of course I am, darling. But they are totally conscious of their actions and we must respect them" said Rarity, then calmly turned to her sister and asked, "now, Sweetie. Could you tell us what brings you to Canterlot, please?" "Ummm, we came here looking for the dragon that burned Sweet Apple Acres" answered Sweetie Belle, very nervously, not knowing how her sister would react. "WHAT?! Are you out of your mind?!" Rarity gasped, and after a few seconds, she regained her cool, "Sweetie, my dear, you may want to reconsider." "No!" Applebloom interrupted with a serious face, "Applejack, a huge dragon attacked our home, and you're expecting me to sit and do nothing?" Suddenly, Applebloom stopped herself and widened her eyes as she watched Princess Cadance come along with General Shining Armor and Captain Rainbow Dash. "Are you the ones who brought that flying vessel, girls?" Princess Cadance was surprised to see Applebloom and her friends. "Yes, we are, your highness" Diamond Tiara politely bowed down to the princess, "Applebloom built it, and we were planning to use it to attack a dragon." "We are at war with the dragons, young mare. You can't just go and attack the dragons by yourself" explained Princess Cadance, "I honestly expected somepony more... mature, to bring such a fascinating machine. Applejack, your sister is quite a smart and talented pony. And how fast can fly?" said the princess as the earth pony sister's face blushed as red as apples. "Wait, Cadance! I mean... your highness," Shining Armor questioned the princess, "what are you thinking?" Princess Cadance let go a long sigh and continued to explain her idea, "I'm sorry to inform that my aunt, Princess Celestia, has been kidnapped by the dragons, and Princess Luna has been injured." The younger group of ponies along with Spike and Moondancer gasped in shock after hearing the bad news. Princess Cadance then watched at the Sky Wanderer from the window and made a serious face, "so... like you, Applebloom. I also have a grudge against dragons. But I know I'm powerless to just go and attack them, that would be unwise from me. But we can help each other out... I was thinking, maybe we could use your machine to rescue Princess Celestia." Shining Armor was the first to protest "Princess Cadance! We can't send civilians to war! Remember what Princess Celestia said..." "I know what the princess said, brother!" Twilight said, "but we must take action! And that machine could be of great help, and besides if there's something I can do to help the princess, then I'll do it without hesitation!" Her friends nodded and supported her as they all gathered around the general, making him give up on his protest. "Fine... But we'll need a strategy..." Shining Armor explained his plan, summoning a holographic map of the battlefield with his magic, the rest of the ponies listened carefully to his instructions as he made a small simulation of the battle. "Any doubts?" asked Shining Armor, very proud of his clear and bright strategy. "Well, yes... what exactly are we supposed to do again?" Pinkie Pie asked with the most confused face anypony has ever made. Rainbow Dash rolled her eyes and explaied to Pinkie Pie the plan in a way she could understand. "Basically, we're going to rescue the princess on that flying thing, while the troops kick some dragons' tails. You just follow me, ok?" "Very well. General, Captain, gather your troops and prepare for battle, We're going to rescue Princess Celestia and finish this once and for all. Everypony else, rest well, but be ready" after giving the last orders, General Shining Armor and Captain Rainbow Dash saluted the princess and left the the throne. The rest of the ponies headed to the guests tower, Twilight got closer to Moondancer as they walked, and after trying to get the courage to talk to her, she finally spoke, "Moondancer... I wanted to say... I'm so sorry for my past behavior." "Why are you apologizing, Twilight?" asked the confused unicorn. "I... I was so... so mean to you. You were always talking to me, and sitting next to me, always trying to be kind, but I just ignored you, and rejected your friendship." "It's ok, Twilight. You were right all along. If I had focused more on my studies instead of making friends and throwing parties, maybe I'd be as good with my magic as you are." "No, Moondancer. It was YOU who was right all along. We could have helped each other, but I was selfish. I didn't understand back then, but now I do. You were my friend... from the very beginning... we are still friends... right?" "Yes... yes, we are" a couple of tears dropped from Moondancer's eyes. The time passed by, but however, there was no princess able to lift the moon, the night never covered the skies. Using this daylight, ponies prepared their attack. The formation of the royal troops were already marching to the Badlands, where the dragons have made their hideout. Civilians watched from the windows countless unicorns and earth ponies, wearing armors and wielding spears and shields, while the pegasi royal guards escorted them from the air and the Royal Elite soared the skies. The team was preparing to board the Sky Wanderer from the throne room's balcony. When the sky suddenly began to turn dark, Princess Cadance smiled, she knew it could only be Princess Luna's doing. "Look everypony!" Princess Cadance stated, "it's getting dark! Night is coming!" "It's Princess Luna! This is great! Now we will save Princess Celestia under Princess Luna's direction!" Pinkie Pie began to hop all over the balcony. "Twilight. Princess Luna seems to trust as a friend. Will you please go see if she's alright?" Princess Cadance asked Twilight who just nodded and headed to Princess Luna's room. In front of the same dark room that the Cutie Mark Crusaders had visited earlier, Twilight opened the door and found the princess looking at herself in the mirror among the darkness. "Princess Luna? Are you ok?" "I'm sorry, Twilight Sparkle, but I've been thinking... I'm not half the princess I once was." "What are you talking about? You are a great princess!" "No, Twilight Sparkle. That dragon was right. My sister was the only threat to them. I was no match at all" Princess Luna's eyes began to glow and the window opened by the force of the wind. Princess Luna smiled, turned around, and walked a few of steps toward Twilight. "I'm sorry, but I gave up to her" said Princess Luna as she kept getting closer, Twilight recognized the armor Princess Luna was wearing. "No, Princess Luna! You must fight! Don't let her beat you!" Twilight desperately tried to stop the princess, while she began to put the violet helmet on. "Don't you see, Twilight Sparkle? My true power is awakening. I can't keep denying my true self. Without me, she is a mere shadow, an old pony tale to scare little colts. And without her, I'm just a powerless princess, just an alicorn with a noble title always in need of her big sister. But together, we are the mighty Nightmare Moon! The True Princess of the Night!" "Princess, please stop this. Or else..." Twilight prepared to try and stop Princess Luna, but she was already consumed by Nightmare Moon's powers. "Or else what, Twilight Sparkle?" Nightmare Moon defied Twilight as her horn began to glow, "are you going to fight me? I don't suppose you're kidding this time, right?" The magic of Nightmare Moon overwhelmed Twilight's, who was knocked out to the hallway. "Do you realise we have tried this before, Twilight Sparkle? Without the Elements of Harmony, your efforts will be in vain. I'd like to play with you, but I have better things to do. From now on, no more nice Princess Luna! It's time I started doing things my own way!" As Twilight tried her best to stand up, she watched Nightmare Moon using the window to flee. As soon as Twilight was on her hooves again, she rushed to the throne room's balcony as fast as she could. "Twilight! What happened? Who did this to you?" Shining Armor rushed to help his panting sister . "It was... It was Nightmare Moon. She has returned!" Twilight closed her eyes, and told her friends what she had witnessed, while the Sky Wanderer lifted the flight alongside an escort of Royal Elite troops. After some time, Shining Armor approached his sister to show his concern, with Rainbow Dash on his side, "Twilight... I know you want to do this" said the General, "but after what happened to you, I can't let you risk your life without protection." "Are you on this too, Rainbow?" Twilight turned to her friend suspiciously. "Well... as your friend, I know you can pull your own weight. But as a soldier, It's my duty to protect civilians, and that includes you too." "Captain Rainbow Dash and I, have choosen personally a bodyguard to protect you from any danger." "Me? But what about the others?" Twilight gasped. "I'll take care of the rest, I said I can protect all of you, but General Shining Armor insisted and... well, he is my general after all" explained Rainbow Dash. "Guardian Sword, you may come now" after giving the order, a white pegasus wearing a Royal Elite armor landed on the Sky Wanderer's deck, his cutie mark was a golden shield crossed by two swords and his crimson eyes pierced through everypony's soul while his serious face gazed at Twilight. He then took off his helmet, showing his wavy black mane with a single red stripe and stepped in front of Twilight. "Who is this?" Twilight asked very angrily. Rainbow Dash jumped to answer very proudly of the stallion, "he is a promise! One of the best from the best among the best of the Royal Elite! He is probably the best of them all, if I say so myself. Soldier! Introduce yourself." "My name is Guardian Sword, It's a honor to protect the general's sister" Guardian Sword bowed to Twilight. Everypony, especially Rarity, were shocked watching how gallant he was. "Umm... I am, I mean..." Twilight blushed and walked a step backwards. "Oh please excuse her, sir" Rarity interrupted stepping beside Twilight, "What she means is that she is very glad to meet you." Don't worry, darling. I got you covered, She whispered to Twilight's ear. The Badlands seemed closer and closer each moment. Everypony was determined to rescue the princess, even Pinkie Pie, though she looked very distracted. But Twilight's mind was concerned as she gazed at the night sky, What is Nightmare Moon up to? Eternal Night? And where is Fluttershy? She was hoping that rescuing Princess Celestia will make things get better, before they get worse.