//------------------------------// // One Thousand Years Ago, there was a war that changed the world... // Story: ATC's Scrapbox // by AdmiralTigerclaw //------------------------------// What really happened between Celestia and Luna a thousand years ago? Did the younger sister spontaneously just SNAP one day and decide to bring about eternal night? Or was something more sinister at work? Word of God had suggested that Luna had been transformed into the nightmare with a spell that could not be reversed. But, who cast that spell? Were they equipping her for battle? Here is what 'really' happened all those years ago... "Oh her?" "Yes. I know her..." "She's my sister after all... It happened long ago." ... "Did you know, there are three kinds of ponies?" "Those who have strength." "Those who live to fly." "And those who can read the flow of magic." "Those are the three." "But her?" PROJECT EQUINE [PRINCESS, WE CAN NOT AUTHORIZE A RETREAT! INTERCEPT THEM!] We figured you'd say that! THIS will cost thou extra! "A thousand years ago, there was a war that engulfed the world." [THERE'S A LARGE SCALE BATTLE TAKING PLACE NEAR EVERFREE CASTLE!] - THE SKY IS PACKED WITH PONIES! [PRINCESS! GET OVER THERE AND PROVIDE COVER!] Hey Sister, this kind of thing is why they need us! "She was a pony they called Midnight Wing Luna." "This mare was her sister." [GRIFFON FIGHTERS APPROACHING! TAKE THEM DOWN AND SECURE OUR AIR SUPERIORITY!] They've come to greet us with the dawn! "SHE is the Mare I seek." [THEY'RE FASTER THAN ANYTHING WE'VE COME ACROSS!] These are Everfree Fighters! Stay sharp! - A horn AND a wing, I've heard of this pony... - It's a great place for you filthy mares to be buried! [WARNING! UNKNOWN PONY APPROACHING!] This is Everfree! Discord's words hold no meaning! "And so... With the words of Midnight Wing..." "The curtain rises." "It was a Cold and Snowy Day." ACE COMBAT LUNAR: THE MIDNIGHT WAR We WILL survive Celestia! The sun peaked out from behind the moon, free from the darkness for the first time in twelve hours. Celestia breathed a sigh of releif as he guard flew up to join her. "We did it!" he announced. "Now the war is finally over!" The guard's worn armor clanged slightly as he pushed himself up and over the princess, leveling off on her right. "I've got a mare back at the castle," he continued. "I'm going to propose to her when we get back. I even got her flowers." "WARNING!" a telepathic shout ripped though their minds. "Unknown pony approaching at high speed! BREAK! BREAK!" There was a flash of light as the guard tried to jump in front of his princess, and suddenly, from a cloud, a vicious bolt of lightning lashed out. There was barely even time to think, let alone react before it struck the hapless pegasus head on. He didn't even manage to scream before he was knocked clean out of the sky. Celestia's pupils shrank to prinpricks in horror and shock as she helplessly watched her most loyal guard plummet lifelessly towards the canopy of the Everfree Forest. After several long moments of disbelief, her eyes drifted back to the clouds ahead where the bolt had come from. There was somepony out there... It was a mare, midnight black, clad in armor. The most shocking part was that it had both wings and a horn... "So..." the telepathic voice caught her attention. "Have you found a reason to fight yet..." "Sister?" !!!? "LUNA" Operation: .... 1510 hours. 31 December Everfree Forest Eagle Eye: Confirmed continued partial eclipse of the sun! Celestia, continue your mission! Engage! EE: Stand by, we're analyzing the situation. LUNA: Here comes the night... EE: Keep your sister busy. I'll run a magic analysis and fill you in A.S.A.P. LUNA: Those who recieve the most praise start to feel they can do no wrong. LUNA: I bet you do too sister... EE: Phase one analysis complete... Magical power from your sister detected. She's controlling the eclipse! LUNA: Do you see any friends up here? What have friends given us? LUNA: We're going to start over from scratch. That's what Eternal Night is for. LUNA: There's only one way sister. You've got to fight for what you believe in! LUNA: They don't actually care about us. They just want us to run the cycle. That's all there is to it. LUNA: It's time... EE: DANGIT! Confirm total eclipse of the sun! LUNA: Too bad sister... LUNA: This twisted game needs to be reset. LUNA: We'll start over from zero with Eternal Night. And trust the future generations to appreciate it. EE: This is Haywax! Listen up Celestia! EE: We've completed analysis of your sister's transformation. EE: Codename: Nightmare Moon. EE: This mare is protected by a magical defense barrier. Her only weakness is the tip of her horn. You'll have to attack her head-on with the Elements of Harmony. EE: Go, take down Nightmare. You're the only one who can stop her... EE: Friendship Element of Magic, I pray for your success... Nightmare Moon: You and I are opposite sides of the same coin. NMM: When we face each other, we will finally see our true selves. NMM: There may be a ressemblance. But we never face the same direction. EE: Celestia! Go for the tip of her horn! Use the Elements! NMM: Now we find out who is the better ruler! NMM: Looks like we both have a lot of power left... EE: Use the elements from head on! NMM: Go on! NMM: Fire your magic COWARD! NMM: Get ready... NMM: COME ON!!!! Celestia blinked as the magic from the Elements struck home. The two princesses were still jousting head on with each other. Nightmare Moon spun one way, prompting the elder sister to twist the other, another burst of Elemental Magic lashing out as she raced past. She could feel the tremendous power she had to stop. It was now or never... The two passed, less than a wing's length from each other. Celestia could hear her heart beating as the Elements worked their magic. Then they were past each other. Celestia glanced over her shoulder just in time to see the flash of light. Then after a few seconds, a beam of light shot away from the surface, high into the sky above. Then, with a brilliant flash, the moon changed, an image of a unicorn's head imprinting on it. It began to move at this time, the sun emerging once more from behind the lunar body, it's warming rays cast a glow upon the princess. She continued to fly, shocked at what had just happened. Her own sister, perpatrator of this entire fiasco? It couldn't be. But there was no doubt about it. She knew that magic anywhere. And now she'd... "Mission accomplished Celestia!" the telepathic voice interrupted her thoughts. "Come on, let's go back to Canterlot. We wouldn't want to keep anypony waiting." Celestia let herself frown at the elated tone in his voice, but quickly buried it. It couldn't be helped if he was happy. It wasn't his sister that she'd just banished. It was her sister. And his job was simply to help her win. As she glanced up, a single tear rolled down her face. "I'll see you again, sister. I will save you." "Somehow..."