//------------------------------// // Chapter 5: Night of Fate // Story: The Key to Friendship // by ImperfectXIII //------------------------------// ‘How bad could it possibly be?’ Never did Twilight so strongly regret having such a thought. It had started out so well. Hers and Spike’s tour across Ponyville had taken them a small ways onto the town’s outskirts, into a little grassy clearing. There they were treated to the exquisite sound of a choir of birds, led in song by a Pegasus mare with a golden coat and flowing pink mane. Her voice was enchanting and complemented well by the birds’ song. Twilight felt both at peace and relieved to know that this would no doubt go smoothly. Well, maybe not that smoothly, Twilight mused. She had promised Spike to reach her hoof out in friendship to whomever they met next. When she finally worked up the courage to say hello… “That sounded beautiful.” The Pegasus pony jumped in surprise, watching as her bird friends flew off in various directions, before turning to see Twilight. Twilight was hit instantly by a twinge of guilt. “Oh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to frighten you. Or your birds. That song just now – it…really was lovely.” “…Th-Thank you,” the Pegasus replied as she shuffled her hooves. A brief pause followed before Twilight glanced back at Spike, who only prodded her on. She sighed. “My name’s Twilight Sparkle. I’m the official overseer for this year’s Celebration. And you are?” A barely audible mumble. “I’m sorry?” Twilight leaned in. The Pegasus looked away. “…F…Flutter…shy…” “‘Fluttershy’?” she sounded out. A swift nod in response. “Oooookay…‘Fluttershy’. Well, it looks like your birds are back. And if what I just heard is any indication, I guess music for the Celebration is well taken care of. I’ll just…be on my way then.” Twilight turned to leave, almost disappointed. Well, that was pointless, she thought. “…Um…” The unicorn pony stopped when she heard the timid Pegasus beckon her. “Yes?” Fluttershy gestured toward the birds. “W-Would you, um…like to meet them?” Twilight’s heart seemed to leap. The first time she ever reached out to somepony, somepony reached back. A thin smile crept its way onto her muzzle. “Uh, sure, I’d love to,” she finally answered, making her way back over. Looking up at the tree’s thin branches, Twilight met the gaze of a little blue jay. Fluttershy smiled as well. “Careful now,” she softly advised. “Nice and slow.” Twilight extended a hoof out to the bird – a little overeagerly…and was met with a shrill squawk. The color drained from Fluttershy’s face. “…Oh, no.” My Little Pony: The Key to Friendship ~ Chapter 5: Night of Fate ~ Indeed, it had started out so well. And now… “AAAHHH! Get away from me!” Twilight galloped up and down the meadow as Fluttershy’s flock of songbirds flapped around her, squawking and occasionally pecking at the panicky unicorn. With each peck, a small ‘ow!’ escaped Twilight’s lips. Fluttershy was beside herself with stress trying to ease the situation. “Oh, gosh! Oh, goodness! Um…excuse me? Little birdies? P-Please stop pecking— Oh, dear!” At the Pegasus’ side stood Spike, who just shook his head at the spectacle. “Yup. Twilight’s terrible with animals.” When the flying nuisances refused to leave Twilight be, she involuntarily summoned the Keyblade. She had no intention of going on the attack; she just wanted something to fend them their constant pecking off with. At the sight of the weapon, the birds backed away. “No, stop!” Twilight’s eyes widened a little at the outburst from nowhere, and she was suddenly tackled to the ground when something barreled into her. A spiraling tumble followed, and Twilight ended up on her back with her forelegs pinned. On top of her was the shy Pegasus. “F-Fluttershy?! What are you doing?!” “I’m so sorry! But I couldn’t let you hurt them!” “I-I wasn’t going to—” “You just frightened them, that’s all!” By this time, the birds had retreated to the dense cover of leaves in a nearby tree. Fluttershy left Twilight and hovered over to the tree in question, looking up into it from the grass below. “It’s okay,” she called out to the birds softly, “there’s nothing to be afraid of. Nopony’s gonna hurt you.” Spike joined Twilight at her side as she picked herself up off the ground. The two watched Fluttershy intently…watched as her tiny bird friends inched their way out of the tree branches and into the open. They flapped, fluttered, and buzzed about the Pegasus’ head before coming to a rest – some on the grass at Fluttershy’s hooves, others perched atop her head and outstretched forelegs. Spike let out a drawn out “Whoa…” at the sight. “See?” Fluttershy started again as she nuzzled the very same blue jay Twilight tried to pet. “All it takes is a warm and gentle hoof.” Twilight snorted. Not that the winged pony’s natural talent for communing with birds wasn’t something to behold, but she was still quite annoyed by her less-than-pleasant avian encounter, it seemed. At any rate, music: check. “…And did you see the way she harmonized with all those birds? It was like something from the Canterlot Philharmonic!” “Yes, Spike,” Twilight retorted, “I was there.” A short while later, Twilight and Spike were on final approach to the library – though ‘tree-brary’ felt more apropos given its outward appearance – that Princess Celestia arranged for her to stay in during her time in Ponyville. But not before Spike and Fluttershy had a chance to chat. The little dragon was amazed by the Pegasus’ ability to connect not just with birds but with almost all forms of animal life, and she was likewise fascinated with him simply by dint of being a dragon. For a while there, Twilight was unsure their conversation would ever end. Ironic. Spike wanted the Keyblade-wielding unicorn to make a friend and ended up making one himself. Well, good for him, she thought. “At least you enjoyed yourself,” Twilight pressed. “Fluttershy didn’t seem to want to leave you alone until she heard your entire life story.” “Yeah, well, I am pretty awesome. Hehehe.” Twilight rolled her eyes. “Okay, don’t go turning into Rainbow Dash on me, alright? Besides, we have more important things on our plate.” “Let me guess: Nightmare Moon again?” As the two reached the library’s front door, Twilight rested a hoof on it and looked back to her dragon assistant. “Sorry, Spike. Maybe you don’t buy into the legends, but it’s nearly sundown. I have only a few hours to convince Princess Celestia that Nightmare Moon is coming, and I can’t afford any more distractions.” She pushed the door open and… “SURPRISE!!!” Twilight shrieked in utter shock as several hooves reached out from inside the library and dragged her in. Her heart rate practically tripled as she was treated to the sight of dozens of ponies – Earth, unicorn, and Pegasus – surrounding her in her Ponyville home. Had they been Heartless, Twilight would’ve brought out the Academia, but she restrained herself (just barely). But the freak show hadn’t ended there. An orchestra of horns heralded the abrupt arrival of Pinkie Pie, who’d placed a cone-shaped party hat on Twilight’s head and led some of the ponies around her in joyful song. Welcome, welcome, welcome A fine welcome to you Welcome, welcome, welcome We say how do you do? A trumpet blared deafeningly in Twilight’s ears before the drums kicked in. Welcome, welcome, welcome We say hip-hip-hooray Welcome, welcome, welcome To Ponyville today! A party horn in her face brought Twilight out of her stupor, and she found Pinkie Pie standing mere inches away. “P-Pinkie Pie?!” she eventually squeaked in her half-daze. “That’s my name!” the pink Earth pony squeaked back. “So what do you think of your ‘Welcome to Ponyville’ party? Were you surprised? Were you? Huh-huh-huh?” “…Very surprised, actually.” As Twilight thought back, she recalled Pinkie mentioning a welcome party during their first meeting. By all rights, she shouldn’t have been as surprised as she was. She supposed that went to show how unpredictable this ‘Pinkie Pie’ truly was. “Um, Pinkie? Do we have to have this party right this second?” “Well, of course we have to, silly! You said it was your first day in Ponyville! And if it’s your first day in Ponyville, that means you haven’t met anyone yet! And if you haven’t met anyone yet, you must not have any friends! And what better way to make friends than to throw a great big super-duper fantabulous welcome party where everypony is invited?!” Twilight felt her IQ drop a couple of points by that massive rationalization. She pressed a hoof to her head and groaned, “I’m getting a headache…” Pinkie zipped away into the crowd of ponies before returning just seconds later with four other mares in tow – the very same mares Twilight had met over the course of the afternoon: Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Fluttershy – all of whom seemed happy to see her. “See?” continued Pinkie, “I even invited the new friends you made today.” Twilight’s headache worsened as she tried to fathom how the party pony could have known she met the other four. Was she stalking her across town? Was she somehow omniscient? Applejack tipped her hat to the pony with the mulberry coat. “Howdy again, ‘sugarcube’.” Not to seem rude, Twilight acknowledged her with a halfhearted smile. “…Listen, Pinkie Pie, I appreciate this, but I’d really just like to get some studying done.” She moved for the stairs as she spoke. “So if you’ll excuse me—” Unfortunately, the pony who seemed to simultaneously everywhere and nowhere had appeared to the unicorn’s front, slowly nudging her back toward the center of the room. “Oh, Twilight, don’t be such a party pooper! You’re Ponyville’s guest of honor! …Although I guess the princess is the ‘guest-ier’ guest of honor since it’s the Summer Sun Celebration. But you’re still the ‘guest-iest’ guest of honor at this party!” “But I—” Pinkie then took Twilight by the hooves, nudging her further in the others’ direction. “C’mon, Twilight! Dance with us!” Naturally, Twilight resisted. “I don’t—” “Cut a rug!” “Pinkie, I—” “Shake your hoof-thang!” She snatched her hooves away. “CUT IT OUT, PINKIE!” The ponies in Twilight’s immediate vicinity fell silent. Pinkie Pie’s mane lost some of its bounce and drooped a little. The others stared at Twilight blankly, taken aback by her sudden fit of temper. She stared back at them, surprised even herself. She’d never seen anyone look at her that way before. But then she’d never before snapped at another pony like she just did. Twilight strained to find her voice. “I… I’m sorry!” she offered before turning her back to them and bolting up the stairs. Spike finally found his way through the crowd and walked over, clawing half a cupcake. “Where’d Twilight go?” he asked with his mouth full. Rarity opted to answer. “I suppose the dear isn’t much for soirees.” …Twilight’s further research into the Elements of Harmony yielded no results. Not that she could concentrate on a single subject for very long though, what with the party going strong beneath her hooves. She felt as though the universe was intentionally stonewalling her at every turn. When several hours of research and study did nothing to get her mind off impending doom, she attempted to go to sleep. Especially now that the sun had gone down. Same problem: too much noise coming from downstairs. She felt every thump of the bass-heavy music. She almost felt like going after some Heartless and taking her frustrations out on them. Twilight moaned as she brought her head out from under a pillow. “UGH! I said it before, and I’ll say it again: all the ponies in this town are crazy! I can’t get a single minute to myself around here! It’s all ‘friends’ this and ‘parties’ that! Am I the only one who cares that Equestria’s about to be plunged into eternal night?!” She rolled over in her bed, determined to get a few minutes of peace, and her gaze fell upon the window. Through it, the light of the full moon brightly shone. And upon that the surface of that moon was the silhouetted façade of a unicorn: the façade of the fabled ‘Mare in the Moon’. Twilight spoke silently in her solitude. “‘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.’” She then remembered the reassuring words of her beloved princess. “Oh, Twilight, you simply must stop reading those dusty old books! The Mare in the Moon is nothing more than an old ponies’ tale, the stuff of folklore. …Trust me when I say you have nothing to worry yourself over.” Twilight closed her violet eyes to block out the moonlight. “Princess,” she whispered, “I hope so much that you’re right…” She reopened her eyes to look at the clock. It was almost time for the sun to be raised. The night was nearly over. She wanted desperately to believe in Celestia’s words. But her steadily growing anxieties and the esteem she held for history and myth wouldn’t allow it. Sure enough, everypony in Ponyville had begun gathering in the town hall pavilion. Earth ponies and unicorns filled the floor and balconies, while Pegasi hung in midair. Twilight stood to the side of the platform with Mayor Mare. As she glanced around the room, she noticed the presence of a number of royal guards but saw no sign of her brother among them. “What’s wrong, ‘Twi’?” asked Spike by her side. “I don’t see Shining Armor anywhere, Spike. Do you?” “Hmm… Nope. Maybe he’s with Princess Celestia.” “Maybe…” Twilight shook her head. Now she really was being paranoid. Luckily, the twittering fanfare of Fluttershy’s bird choir was a helpful diversion. After the short musical flourish, Mayor Mare moved to the center of the platform. “Fillies and gentlecolts”, she began to the crowd, “as mayor of Ponyville, it is my great pleasure to announce the beginning of the Summer Sun Celebration!” The crowd momentarily erupted in cheers before Mayor Mare motioned for them to quiet down. “I couldn’t be prouder to be a resident of Ponyville than I am today, and I’m sure I’m not the only one, for our dearly beloved Princess Celestia has chosen our little town to host not just the Celebration, but one that commemorates a thousand years of sun-filled peace. In just a few moments, our town will witness the magic of the sunrise and celebrate this, the longest day of the year! And now, here to introduce the princess, I give you her personal student and protégé, and official Celebration overseer, without whom this momentous occasion would not be possible… Please join me in welcoming Miss Twilight Sparkle of Canterlot!” Mayor Mare stepped to the side to allow Twilight to enter, and the audience of ponies welcomed her to the stage with a round of hoof-stomping applause. “Thank you, Miss Mayor,” Twilight opened with, “and thank you, everypony. Your mayor is right: it’s indeed a historic day. Today we celebrate a millennium of peace and harmony in Equestria. And for that we have Princess Celestia to thank. I consider it both an honor and a delight to call her my teacher, and to call myself her faithful student…” …Meanwhile, far from town hall – far from Ponyville, in fact – a tall, alabaster-coated alicorn, with a mane and tail that twinkled sky-blue, turquoise, azure, and heliotrope, stood in a wide open field of grass. Her body was still, and her eyes were fixed on the moon’s surface. At the alicorn’s side was an armored unicorn stallion with a pearly-white coat. He too was silent. Before long, the alicorn spoke. “…Your sister’s begun her introductory speech, Shining Armor.” “Oh, yeah?” Shining Armor returned with. “Bet she’s going on and on about how great it is to be your student. Am I right?” Celestia blushed a little. “She can be quite…complimentary at times. You can be there with her, you know. You don’t have to—” “Yes,” he interrupted. “I do. I told you: as long as I am able, I’ll do whatever it takes to protect you and this kingdom. But I still don’t know why you chose to keep this from Twily in the first place. Not causing her ‘undue stress’ can’t have been the only reason.” Princess Celestia was silent as she watched the stars move into position. “…You’re right. It wasn’t.” The stars faded behind the moon, and the Mare in the Moon’s façade vanished. Celestia’s wings flared out. “It’s begun.” The wind suddenly picked up, and the temperature took a sharp nosedive, to the point at which Shining Armor could see his breath. As he looked ahead, he observed as something black, something sinister, materialized into existence before him. The ethereal effect was not unlike that of a Key bearer summoning his or her Keyblade. It was both mesmerizing and frightening. Just a few feet away from Princess Celestia and Shining Armor appeared a second alicorn. But where Celestia’s coat was a soft pinkish-white, this alicorn’s coat was as black as Heartless flesh. Where Celestia’s mane sparkled several bright colors, the black alicorn’s was midnight blue and indigo. Her mane less resembled hair and more resembled starry vapor, and she was clad in a helmet and breastplate of azure steel. Having appeared before them kneeling, the black-coated alicorn slowly rose to her hooves. With her legs fully outstretched, she stood at least a foot taller than Princess Celestia (not counting her horn). The legend made real. Nightmare Moon. She opened her eyelids and regarded the princess and her captain with turquoise eyes. The second she saw her, Nightmare Moon grinned. “Hello, Celestia.” The Equestrian princess’s eyes narrowed. “It’s been a long time…‘Nightmare’.” “‘Nightmare’?” Nightmare Moon seemed almost offended by the label. “I seem to recall, prior of my imprisonment in the moon, you so keenly addressed me as ‘Luna’.” “I refuse to address you as that which you are obviously not. You aren’t Luna. You’re nothing but a shadow, a phantom that calls another’s body its own.” Nightmare Moon chuckled. Her laugh was chilling to Shining Armor’s ears. “I suppose your being here,” the black alicorn continued, “means you intend to try and banish me a second time?” “Not simply try,” said Celestia. She closed her eyes for a moment. A shift in the air, and from her sun-shaped cutie mark appeared little flickers of magical energy. From those flickers emerged Celestia’s mighty weapon: The most powerful Keyblade in Equestria: Heaven’s Light. “I imprisoned you once before,” Celestia stated as she brandished the glowing sword in her aura. “I can do it again.” “Without your precious Elements?” Nightmare Moon scoffed with an arrogant ‘ha!’ “That I would very much like to see.” “Shining Armor!” “Yes, your Majesty!” The stallion quickly cast his fears aside and summoned his own Keyblade, the Oathbrand. Nightmare Moon was surprised by a presence of another chosen one, as evidenced by her raised brow, but was otherwise unaffected. With Keyblade at the ready, Shining Armor pointed his weapon at the evil mare and projected his magic toward her, entrapping her within his sturdiest barrier. With that done, Celestia took aim at Nightmare Moon with her own weapon. “Oh-ho. So that’s your game, is it?” Nightmare Moon’s voice echoed from inside the force field. Dots of golden light appeared around the Heaven’s Light and coiled around its tip in a spherical formation. “NIGHTMARE MOON!” Celestia cried in her rarely-used royal Canterlot voice. “I WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO HARM MY LITTLE PONIES OR BLANKET EQUESTRIA IN ETERNAL DARKNESS! BY THE UNDYING LIGHT OF THE KEYBLADE…I BANISH YOU BACK TO THE MOON!” The sphere of light that coiled around the Heaven’s Light’s tip condensed and exploded outward, taking the form of a ray beam. Nightmare Moon bared her teeth in wicked glee. She expected this. In a swift, fluid motion, she sliced clean through Shining Armor’s barrier and deflected Celestia’s beam away. Celestia and Shining Armor gasped. It had been so effortless. “I-Impossible!” Celestia cried. The only way Nightmare Moon could’ve done that was with a… She looked closely at Nightmare Moon’s mane; there was something in it. Something long and misshapen. When she finally determined what it was…her pupils shrank to the size of pinpricks. “No… It can’t be…!” Nightmare Moon grinned even wider. “The darkness…is truly something, Celestia. It holds many, many secrets…and a thousand years is a long time for those secrets to be laid bare. …I found it, Celestia. As I drifted perpetually between awareness and slumber, I found the door. The door…to the other side…!” Her vaporous mane held in its grasp…a Keyblade.