//------------------------------// // Prologue: The Final Day's Dawning // Story: Sunset's Last Glow // by Note Worthy //------------------------------// Sunset’s Last Glow Prologue: The Final Day’s Dawning The moon slipped past the horizon point as Princess Luna slowly lowered her celestial object, sneering at her sister upon completion of the task. The tenuous movement between the alicorns was beginning to show signs of further instability--something that had been brewing for quite some time between them and was slowly reaching a boiling point. As the moonlight faded, the slow transition phase of daylight began to make itself prevalent with the appearance of various shades of ribbony blues, greens and yellows of the pre-dawn sun. “There. Now you may raise your sun, Sister. We will take our leave of you, as we have other business to attend to.” The tones were angry, radiating from her mouth like a slap with one of her hooves to Celestia’s jaw. Her coat was a little darker than it had normally been as she made her way toward the inside of the castle, looking to return to her solitude. “Luna, stop.” Celestia’s head swirled about, attempting to fix Luna where she stood. The attempt failed as the younger alicorn's eyes were not facing her sister's. The Night alicorn’s hooves continues to land on the floor softly, ignoring her sister’s command. “No. You will not make us stop, nor will anypony else, sister. We are not going to pay witness to the rising of your sun this morning. We have other concerns that are occupying our time, and it does not include validating your importance to the rest of Equestria. Now, we are heading to bed.” “We are your older sister, and you will remain when we are talking to you.” The sky behind the two of them on the balcony glowed with a harmony that did not exist at the moment where they stood. Luna turned to face her sister, a fiery stare only shrouded by the exhaustion that her eyes contained. “In case you are not aware, sister, we are quite tired of sharing the night with you. Far too much attention is given to your sun and none to our moon. Or was that something else you have allowed yourself to be blissfully unaware of?” The venomous poison hung in the air for a while, another moment of contentious conflict between the pair of rulers. “There is little we are not aware of, Luna. What we are unaware of is that anger that has become rooted in your heart. Why? We have maintained this balance for years now, after sealing away Discord. What causes this... anger?” “We would not expect you to understand, Celestia. Now, we are leaving. We have a meeting with the Shadowbolts before we retire for the day. Good-bye, sister.” The younger alicorn focused her attention on the door that led to the balcony, opening it as she strode forward without the permission of her elder sister, and disappeared into the hallway. Celestia sighed as her sister departed. As she fell further away, the space between them thickened. Before long, it simply dissolved with a whoosh of the passing breeze. No words seemed to help the moment, Celestia turning to her task. As Luna continued to walk forward, the air became heavier again--the same familiar feeling that had become part of her daily routine. Little sparks of electric-like energy pulsed around her hooves as her hoofsteps echoed through the hallways of the castle, casting a shadow from the faint glow of candles that lined the corridor. This pulse was strong, taking her quite by surprise to which she alluded her dour mood about her sister and the lack of adulation that she had become all too familiar with as the cause. Her coat shifted hue, from the moderate blue of her normal form into the ghastly, eerie black--dark as the night itself. Trotting angrily, her eyes cast about the wide open hallway that lead from the balcony. Entering the commons room, her frown deepened and twisted into a snarl on her face. There had been an imperceptible level of tension when night came to a close. During the last three weeks, Luna had developed severe mood swings that were getting increasingly unpredictable and volatile. As she stomped forward to where she was headed, the rotation of the guards was taking place with four of Celestia’s servants making their way to their assigned positions. Luna reached out and grabbed one of the unicorns trotting by, shouting loudly at him “What are you looking at?!” Tossing him roughly back, she stormed away, leaving the poor unicorn shaken and confused. Luna took a left turn that led to a corridor that she had forbade anypony but members of the Court and the Shadowbolts to enter and proceeded down. Reaching her destination, she encountered the exchange of the morning guard to replace the night watch. Eyes narrowed and no longer loving, she used her magic to throw the doors to her private conference room open enough to allow her inside. Laughter filled the conversation between the fourteen pegasi seated around the oval table made with the finest cedar that Celestia could find. There were various items littering the table, none more prominent than a set of plans of the city of Canterlot and various points in the castle, all marked up with ink and pencil blots. As she strode in with authority, grace, and a bit of an eerie chuckle about her, the group assembled at the table all rose to greet her. “Your Highness,“ each of the pegasi that had been sitting down said in concordance. Princess Luna nodded gently as she gave them permission to sit down. “My Shadowbolts... the time is at hoof. You have all seen our transformations into this... darkened entity that is slowly taking possession of us. We do not care, as our sister seems to feel that her sun is far more worthwhile than our moon and stars. We have grown tired of sharing the day, and we will make it no more once we have felled her and taken the crown from her. Have all of you been given your assignments for the strike tonight?” Luna’s words were icy. The finality of her control over this entity was reaching the point where the kindness and gentle manners of the Night Princess were beginning to fade from the view of all that did know her. Her change to her guards was slightly alarming at first. In the week that had preceded her initial changes, Luna had asked for many doctors and trained unicorns to try and figure out what was happening to her. The mood swings were only one of the signs of the depression that had been drawn over her like a heavy coat. It is from watching those who claim to love me say they will be around when I bring night… then are gone when they state they will be present, presumably away to sleep. She had attempted to tell her sister, but every time the subject was raised, Celestia would find herself called away or occupied by other more important business for the kingdom, leaving Luna wishing for somepony to offer her the help that she desperately needed. As time passed on, however, Luna was no longer as bothered by the changes she was feeling. The new entity, whom she had nicknamed “Night” because it was always near the beginning and the end of her night that its prominence made itself known, seemed to help cope with the feeling of being ignored and disregarded by her older sister. It whispered to her about how she understood how it was to be forgotten about and left to oneself. The silent influence continued to root itself deeper and deeper into her head. Now the completion of the possession was almost full. The one nagging thought that did plague her mind from time to time was who was in control--she or the entity that had entered her mind and was showing her things that would help for her to be as powerful as her sister was. “Yes, Princess, although we did have some questions. This plan that you are suggesting is very, very detailed and requires high levels of accuracy and execution. You are also presuming that Celestia is going to willingly and voluntarily go along with every aspect of it.” Iron Dive said, looking over the schematics that Luna had drawn up. “Our sister has become something of a creature of almost predictable habit. Her method of living could be charted to second by second accuracy.” Princess Luna walked over to her seat at the head of the table, keeping her eyes on Iron Dive the whole while. "Too predictable, Your Highness," came a voice from the far end of the table. All eyes slowly gravitated toward the direction of the sound; a cloak-covered stallion sitting firmly in a chair. "Far too predictable. This predictable nature is a problem, not only for you but for all of Equestria." The hood came flying up with a unfurling of feathers attached to wings, revealing the head Shadowbolt, General Phoenix Ember. He rose to look at the remainder of the pegasi seated there, all acknowledging his position. Luna chuckled. "This is why we have no doubts, Iron Dive. We have had our most trusted servant keep observations on our dear sister, and understanding any plans she would have of a defense. Canterlot will fall from the inside, caught off guard by those it trusted the most to guard our night." Iron Dive chuckled. "You're joking me, Princess. You're going to trust the raid lead to Phoenix?" The dark purple pegasus sat up further in his chair around the table. "Might I remind you of my opinion of your lead officer, ma'am? I feel that he is reckless, takes unnecessary steps of preparation and slows down operations due to his intent of being perfect in every way. I believe that Lieutenant General Defiance be the mission lead, as he is much cooler-headed and will not burden the process with meticulous detail to every aspect of the plan." This brought a glare from the Lieutenant General, who met Iron Dive's visage with an equal one. His blue eyes locked in on the other Shadowbolt from across the table. "And lest I remind you, Iron Dive, that it is the same reason why you are still on the lower tier of the command structure in the organization. I know where I serve best in the organization, and squadron leader is not always that place." Iron Dive paused. "So you're going to pass up an opportunity for glory yet again, Defiance, instead of taking the reins of the troops and leading us on more than just standard patrols? How can you be so short-sighted?" A pair of dark blue hooves brought the argument to a quick stop before Defiance could speak up again. "Enough, Iron Dive. Princess Luna made her decisions on who will lead the strike before you were even in the room. Sit back down and let me finish my briefing, if you would be ever so kind." The Shadowbolt visibly shrank back down as Phoenix's golden eyes flashed slightly with the tiniest intent of some measure of discipline if he were to continue. "Shadowbolts, let us not waste more time than is necessary. We grow quite tired... and Night is irritated with your inability to follow simple instructions." Luna took her seat at the front of the table, her eyes slowly changing from their normal state to the dragon-like piercing irises, which had started to trouble some of the other members of the Command Staff since it began occurring. "Continue, Phoenix Ember." "Thank you, Princess." He walked up to a map that he had tacked to the wall far before the Shadowbolts had assembled. It was clearly labeled with various positions in Canterlot and squadrons of Shadowbolts that would take certain tasks. There were various colored markings, either done with unicorn magic or ink, indicating which of the various pegasi on the squadron would be going and what they would be doing. Phoenix Ember spread his wings as he spoke, pointing to each individual area. "Myself, Stealth Light and Defiance will be aiding you with securing Celestia, including three unicorns. Iron Dive and Piercing Thunder, you will gather up the Wonderbolts and make sure they are captured but not harmed. The remainder of you will maintain watch in the city, ensuring that nopony gets out until Princess Luna has defeated Princess Celestia. Are there any specific questions from you?" No wings rose from the table, as the group of about 14 studied the map from a distance, seeing the plan begin to take form. There were confident faces all around the wooden structure, with Luna being the most convinced. And if there was any more convincing that needed to be done, it took the form in a rapid rush of wind as Night took a bit more control of Luna. She spoke sharply, with more emphasis than she had before. "Well, well, subjects... I can see that we're ready to proceed. We will extinguish the day, and bring forth an eternal blackness that will be a perfection unforeseen in any night before. Even my dear sister, if I allow her to live, will enjoy its awe and clarity. And all of you will be duly rewarded when I am seated on the throne, no longer the lesser of the two alicorns. I will surpass Celestia, and take all of her powers... becoming the Night itself. I shall make a new name and set the history of Equestria afire with the magic and control I will possess, as bright as the Moon itself!" She stood to her hooves, looking at all of them as her mane turned from a dark blue to black. "Luna shall be no more! I will be known as Nightmare! Nightmare Moon!" The gathering of pegasi erupted into cheers, muffled by the closed doors and brick that lined the meeting room. The remainder of the day went on with little circumstance. Phoenix Ember was confident of the plan and its components. He stifled a yawn as he remained in the secure position chosen before the strike with Defiance and Stealth Light. The watch tower on the outside perimeter of Canterlot's commons provided a quiet shelter to communicate before leaping into action. "The first of Celestia's Wonderbolts that will get my special attention is going to be Fire Dancer, " Defiance said, grinding his hoof into the grit of the brick beneath him. "That damned show-off of a mare could never stop proving she was better than me." "She is better than you, Defiance..." Stealth Light groaned, watching as the sun began to descend to the west horizon, keeping his wings limber and taking a sip of water. "Remember that she wa--" "Shut it, Shadow Puppet. I don't need to be reminded again what she is and who didn't get chosen." Phoenix merely rolled his eyes as he looked off to spot the beginning of the guard rotation, a key sign for the implementation of the operation. The other two generals had been getting on his nerves--moreso in the last half-hour than for all the time they'd planned for this. Sun is at ten degrees of horizon threshold. Won't be very long now. "Still, she is a pretty capable flier. Maybe we should try to steal her to our side." Phoenix finally spoke up. "Don't think I haven't tried. I've had a chance to interview each one of the Wonderbolts, more of a test of their loyalty to Celestia than anything else. The only pony we have a chance to put some pressure on is Klutzy Slip, and he's not precisely what I could call Shadowbolt material." The three of them looked at each other for a couple of seconds, the palpable sense of what was going to happen in the next few minutes growing more intense as the sun drooped away in the sky. "It's time, my friends. Time for us to walk into Luna's glory, aiding her in overthrowing the Sun Bringer, Celestia. We fight for the night, and we fight as one." Suiting up, placing their flight goggles over their eyes, Phoenix gave the final instructions. "Remember: we are not to kill Celestia or wound her severely in any form. Our job is to contain her and wait for Luna's arrival. Are we clear?" They both nodded as they saw the morning guards exchange with the hoof-picked replacement night guards. As soon as they finished their swap, all of the evening guards began to act "ill." Now... "Take wing, Shadowbolts, action is at hoof!" Phoenix slapped his wing on the wall, jumping out the open sky and soaring toward the Castle. A moment later, Stealth Light and Defiance followed suit and followed their leader in his rapid descent to assume their position in the conquest of the castle. As the three began their downward glide, chaos broke out at the guard posts as the ailed ponies dropped the ruse of illness and began to assault their counterparts. The switcheroo of the scheduled guards provided the opportunity for the plan to be enacted. Quick, rough sounds of hooves knocking ponies to the ground filled the air as pegasi wearing the colors of the Night Princess took flight. Holding in tight formation and gliding on the air currents, the three members of Phoenix Ember's team descended and bypassed the ensuing chaos of unicorns, earth ponies and pegasi engaged in battle, with those who worked the night rotation having a unfair advantage over those that worked the day. It did not mean that Celestia's guards were completely unprepared for such an ambush. From side guard towers, nets were being launched from cannons to snare and tie up pegasi that were flying toward the castle. Many missed their marks through evasive action: others ran into armored pegasi who simply cut the ropes with armor they were wearing. A few unlucky and unobservant fliers were snared and went crashing toward the earth. "Their countermeasures are occurring right on schedule. Break formation on my mark, Shadowbolts. Three. Two. One. Mark!" Phoenix Ember shouted among the screaming of the wind around them as he, Stealth Light and Defiance split from the close knit glide vector to individual strafing flight, each set on reaching the throne room as quickly as was possible. Lining up one behind the other, Phoenix led the second aspect of their assault run, aiming for one of the various stained glass windows that would lead into the throne room. The castle was awash in the glow of torches and feathers as the battle for control raged on. Between the remnant of the night's bringing and Celestia's sun now holding position as the castle went on to full alert, the entire western face of the castle's grounds appeared as if it was on fire. Phoenix picked up speed, his eyes fixed on a rather spectacular mural depicting the unity that the two sisters once shared. After tonight, there will be only one alicorn that will be the embodiment of that unity. Allowing his momentum to carry him in, Phoenix wrapped his wings protectively in front of his face as he came into contact with the window. It shattered spectacularly, tinkling of glass and iron accenting the struggle that Celestia was enduring with Luna and three unicorns that were trying to pin the Sun Princess down. Through grunts and panicked gasps, Celestia said "What is the meaning of this? Dusk Waltz, Alabaster, High Star, stop this at once!" "They won't listen to you, now, Sister. They have sworn their loyalty to us." Nightmare Moon--no longer Princess Luna--trotted in and stared right into her sister's frightened eyes as Stealth Light and Defiance landed beside Phoenix Ember, dusting off the shards of colored glass. Phoenix was smiling. Things were going precisely as planned. "Luna! Please, we beg thee, stop this madness! We are sorry for what has happ--" "SILENCE! We care little now what you are 'sorry' for, Celestia!" Looking at her Shadowbolts, they began to carry out the final aspect of the plan. Manacles appeared from saddlebags on their sides, being lifted by Nightmare's magic. The three of them trotted over to Celestia, now being pinned by magic alone as the unicorn had stepped back. Phoenix cackled. "You have no idea how long I've wanted to do this, Princess." He approached the alicorn's face, chains still levitating around him. With an indignant sound, the general spat at Celestia. "No more will you enjoy flight, nor shall you know any fashion of freedom." He then took to securing her wings with chains, wrapping them around her center as tightly as he was instructed. Celestia cried out from the treatment, wrestling and trying to kick out. The unicorns keeping her held increased their magic with layers of overglow. "Pathetic. Struggle more, Celestia! We are amused to see you where you belong." "My place is to rule with you together sister, and for there to be nothing separating us." "It's too late for that, Celestia! The time you had you SQUANDERED on your own selfish desires and relegating us very little care when it was needed the most. Did you not see the signs of our descent into darkness?" Spectrums of Celestia's mane wove in its prismatic fashion as she struggled against her magical bindings. She pondered, looking at Luna--at least what she remembered as Luna--and scoured her thoughts to conceptualize what her younger sister was talking about. "I...oh, Luna, please, I'm..." "SPARE YOUR APOLOGIES, WHELP! It is as we suspected! You were OBLIVIOUS to our torment and suffering. We no longer care anymore. That WEAKLING you knew as Luna is gone. All that remains is us, NIGHTMARE MOON!!" The room practically shuddered with every fierce word off of the dark alicorn's tongue. Celestia looked again and could no longer see any of the sister she loved. That did not change her affirmation that inside of there somewhere was Luna, now trapped inside her own body and unable to exercise any control over these impulses. Something inside Celestia turned. She looked back to Nightmare Moon, eyes filled with a combination of fear and understanding. "I. Am. Not. A. Whelp!" Using her inner reserves of strength and a blast of magic, she threw the unicorns' spells asunder and off to the side. The chains that restricted her wings from moving held fast. Rising to stand to her hooves, she quickly assessed the situation and didn't like what she saw. "Guards!" "You waste your time. They have all been rendered unconscious. Celestia, you will kneel before me, or I shall rend you in two." Nightmare Moon opened her mouth to reveal sharpened teeth. Phoenix Ember motioned to Defiance and Stealth Light to prepare to corner the elder alicorn. "On your command, Your Highness." Words at the moment made no sense. Turning to find an open doorway, Celestia ran from the four figures still standing, and the three Lunar unicorns that were collecting themselves from the ground. Nightmare Moon regarded the fallen unicorns. "What stays your hooves? Pursue her!" The unicorns gave chase. As soon as they had departed, Nightmare Moon turned to address the three pegasi. "Keep to your tasks and victory will be ours tonight. Fly, Shadowbolts, and prepare for the end of the light!" Needing no other commands, the three pegasi grouped into formation, exiting through the window in which they entered, and disappearing into the night. The galloped chase led from one chamber to another, the unicorns keeping pace just a few seconds behind Celestia. Phoenix Ember and the other two Shadowbolts were already in position, the plan working near flawlessly. Filling the alicorn's mind was a mixture of various memories, thoughts and adrenaline. None of this made sense. She had attributed Luna's moods to sleep deprivation and an unfortunate lack of time to interact with her during their transition states between night and day. So what did I miss? Where did I slip up and... not notice something that significant in her until just this moment? Her thought was interrupted by an azure beam of magic barely missing her flank, and giving her further encouragement to keep running. A coup? WHY, though? Couldn't she just bring her concerns to me and we'd work something out? What kind of a sister have I turned into? More blasts of magic propelled her further into another room. Four of her Earth Pony guards lay unconscious in a heap on the floor, giving her the impression that Nightmare Moon was telling the truth: she was alone and nopony was going to come to her rescue. That concern was broken by the sound of a loud groan coming from the pile of ponies. A moderate sized Earth Pony rose to his hooves, looking at Celestia. Her haggard state almost caused the poor buck to faint. "No, no, I pray thee stay alert. I need your assistance, my sister has lost her senses and has sent her guards to capture me. Protect me, please!" The buck was in the middle of nodding and beginning to respond when he began writhing in painful electrical convulsions, before dropping to the floor, dead. "Nowhere to run and nowhere to hide, Princess!" One of the three unicorns that had pinned her down said. Celestia was near tears now. This entire evening had been the culmination of her worst nightmares boiled all into one. And she refers to herself as Nightmare Moon. This truly is a nightmare... She ran. Turning on her hooves, the chains that bound her dug into her wings seeming to have an added effect of being spell-proof. Try as she might, they wouldn’t loosen nor simply pop off her body. Effectively an Earth Pony, Celestia found herself on the stargazing balcony, a return to where she had been less than 12 hours prior. Come full circle. Night to day and back to night again. "Stay where you are, Princess. Her Highness will be here directly, and she does not wish to physically harm her own flesh and blood." Defiance said, hovering between his brothers in wing. Phoenix laughed from above, staring down onto the alicorn with eyes full of malice. Stealth Light merely watched Celestia with guarded eyes. "You act surprised, Celestia. I'd go so far as to say shocked." Phoenix intoned as he fluttered in the air, a chill from the hallway announcing the pending arrival of Nightmare Moon. "Shocked. Why would you betray me like this? I trusted you as well, Phoenix." Pausing a minute to wipe her face, she turned to look at the other two. "I trusted all of you, my little ponies. To protect and guard both the day and the night. What have I done to deserve this?" "YOU KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT ALREADY!" Nightmare Moon trotted forth, razor sharp teeth glistening in the twilight that encompassed the castle, neither moon nor sun reigning in the skies. Fierce anger radiated from her very presence, all directed at her sister. As the Shadowbolts hovered, the two drew close to each other, mere feet separating them. The three unicorns that held Celestia in place earlier trotted up from behind, making a physical shield at the exit. "The ANSWER to that QUESTION, CELESTIA, is that you IGNORED US! DISMISSED ALL OF OUR CONCERNS AS TRIVIAL! NEVER MADE TIME TO COMFORT SHE WHO DESPERATELY NEEDED IT. And the ponies of the day and night... we will no longer be faceless masses for you to cherry-pick from. NOW, KNEEL." "S-si-sister..." "I said KNEEL, whelp!" With a shot of dark, crackling magic, Nightmare Moon near flung Celestia to the ground. The white alicorn cried out in pain: more emotional than physical as she found herself bowing before her younger sibling. "WE ARE PREPARED TO ACCEPT THY SURRENDER." "No." Celestia said. The next movement was fast, nearly impossible to track as hoof collided with jaw, Nightmare Moon striking her sibling. Celestia yelped as she instinctively brought her hoof to her mouth, to guard herself and defend from another blow. A small trickle of crimson fluid dribbled from her cheek. "I WILL NOT ASK AGAIN. I DO NOT DESIRE TO KILL YOU, BUT IF YOU CONTINUE, I WILL HAVE LITTLE CHOICE BUT TO STRIKE YOU DOWN." "We do not doubt that, Sister. However, I cannot let that happen. Please, forgive me for what I am about to do." Kneeling further to the ground, her entire body began to glow a bright pinkish white. "WE WILL OFFER NO FORGIVENESS FOR YOUR FOALISH ACTIONS! SHADOWBOLTS, SEIZE HER!!" The light began to expand, further and further. Very soon, Nightmare Moon was shielding her gaze as it drew to a near blinding level. Doing as they were told, the Shadowbolts descended to grab the Day Princess. Six colors were added to the mix as hooves from all three of the pegasi reached to stop Celestia from whatever it was she was doing. Far too late to intervene at this point, Nightmare Moon screamed at Celestia. "COWARD! YOU SHOULD HAVE SURRENDERED! NOW I WILL NEED TO KILL YOU, SISTER!" No. I will allow no death today, not mine nor anypony else's. What I am about to do, Luna... is worse than being killed or you passing away. Goodbye... The light that Celestia had become exploded, enveloping the entire area they were standing in with blinding luminescent beams. The cries of Nightmare Moon and the Shadowbolts vanished from perception. As the light faded, the Shadowbolts and Nightmare Moon were nowhere to be found. "As... as I said, Luna... forgive me for what I about to do." Still in chains, Celestia looked to the sky and up to the Moon that had just been raised. An image of her sister now lay visible in the sky. The tears came slowly, and then in a flood as Princess Celestia collapsed into a sobbing fit.