Chapter Three:Remembrance
July 7th
Year:1809 ADB
Perspective: Pinkie Pie
My head was pounding as I lifted my lifeless body up off the cold, hard ground, all I remember is- think Pinkie think! All I can remember is...Twi...no Twilight never existed, I remember Shadow Moon grasping us in her magic and threw us against the wall. Finally my eyes had adjusted to the darkness, I found myself asleep in a dark and dank jail cell, the rest of my friends were all around me in different cells. We must have been transported here when Shadow hit us with that ray of magic!
Suddenly the bars of a nearby cell began to violently shake, “Let me out! Let me out! I’m going to go mad if I stay cooped up for too long, please let me out.” The shaking slowly began to die down until it was stopped entirely, a loud thump hit the ground causing the dungeon to fall into silence again.
“RD? Is that you?” I spoke out into the darkness anticipating a reply.
“Yeh Pinks, it’s me, are the rest of you gals here?” Rainbow called out to the rest of the shadowy figures.
“Y-yeah R-Rainbow we’re all h-here.” Fluttershy stammered out towards Rainbow Dash, suddenly multiple sobs could be heard coming from one of the cells.
“This is the, WORST, THING, POSSIBLE!” Rarity screamed out into the dark dungeon. “Look at my beautiful coat! Its ruined!” The over dramatic fashionista put a forehoof to her face and fainted.
Suddenly my hair and facial expression dropped, depression claimed my body as I realized what had happened, “Girls. We failed Equestria, the night will last forever and Shadow and Nightmare Moon will take over. We failed girls big time.”
The mood of all the mares dropped, everypony in the room ear’s dropped back and their heads drooped, failure... it was such a bitter word, it had only dawned upon them that the entire fate of Equestria had been rested on their shoulders.
“Come on girls we need to fight back! We can’t let Nightmare Moon and Shadow win.” Rainbow shouted to the group in hopes of rekindling their fighting spirits, the rainbow maned pegasus stood up onto her hind legs and draped her hands through the jail bars, “Rare, could you imagine a world where Sweetbell would never see the sun? Applejack, your trees will die without the sun! Fluttershy... err some of your animals need the sun? Right?, not all of them are nocturnal and Pinkie Pie won’t you miss all the fun times you had during the day?”
The entire group nodded and agreed with her, until I spoke up. “What use is there for laughter in times like these?!” I almost screamed, it seemed my entire personality had changed, hated sorrow and sadness, that in my spirit I only wanted pony’s to be happy, “Laughter is dead, there is no need for it...” My voice was weak and dry.
“But Pinkie Pie, a sophisticated lady like myself understands the power of laughter, it brings pony’s closer together and is the start of friendship, just like honesty, kindness, generosity and loyalty, these are all the traits of a good friendship and I believe we all have a most wondrous friendship!” Rarity beamed a large pearly white smile at me, my head only drooped further, my hair losing its air like quality and quickly became straight.
“C’mon gal’ Rarity is right, we all need ta stick tagether ya hear?” Applejack confidently spoke to the rest of us, “We’ve been through’ thick n’ thin, and so far nuthin has stopped us.” I closed my eyes and began to cry, the false hope had become too much... ‘Why could none of us admit that we had lost? There is no hope left in this world, at least there is no laughter that is for sure...’
“Pinkie ya need to cheer up! We’re gonna get out of here and whoop Nightmare Moon’s and Shadows flanks!” Rainbow again tried to cheer me up but it still didn’t work.
“I’m sorry Rainbow but can you please jus-” I was suddenly silenced as a bright white light emitted from the center of the room, I was blinded for a couple of seconds, waiting for my vision to adjust back to the dimly lit room.
“Wha’ in tarnation was that!” Applejack shouted blindly in her cell.
My vision finally adjusted, and in the centre of the dungeon was Shadow Moon, her coal coloured hair blew in the non-existent wind, she easily stood a head or two taller than the rest of us, she slowly bent down to our level and sadistically grinned at us all.
“My my, how are you doing my little pony’s?” I felt like calling out towards her and telling her the truth, about how alone I felt and useless I was. But fortunately for me Rainbow, like the bull headed mare she is beat me to it.
“How am I doing? I want to bucking strangle you! And never talk like the real princess ever!” Rainbow snorted, “You’re just an evil, old, sadistic, hag!” Shadow just chuckled at Rainbow’s remarks.
“Why aren't you the feisty one aren't you?” Her draconic eyes pierced my gaze at her, I could see all her anger, hate and loneliness emit from her pupils. Shadow Moon quickly sat down onto her haunches, “Well my little pony’s I thought that I should drop in and tell a little story! It starts about thirty minutes ago, but don’t worry this tale shall go back a thousand years.” Her eyes again gleamed with lunacy, hate and loneliness. “Like I said it starts thirty minutes ago just after I imprisoned you...”
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Thirty minutes ago
Perspective: Shadow Moon
I moved away from my mother and looked back into her joyful eyes, “Lets go mother. It is time to take back white is rightfully ours.” I smiled at my mother, basking in joy and love for the first time in a thousand years.
“I am rather surprised Shadow.” I raised my brow at my mother. “I thought you would have ‘disposed’ of those mares right on the spot.” I chuckled lightly.
“Well mother, they are the elements of harmony; if we could change them, feed them hate, anger and despair. Then they may be worthy to our cause.” I looked around myself, taking in the deteriorated furniture, broken windows and the millennia old throne.
A tear came to my eyes as I thought of better times. Then I took on a look of absolute hate as I remembered who took those times away from me. “So mum...shall we be off?”
My mother smiled at me. “We shall” mother said as she sauntered over to the broken window and spread her wings, and jumped up into the night sky flapping her wings gracefully. I soon followed after as we sped off towards Canterlot.
Finally, after a thousand years I can feel the wind rush through my feathers, and the weightlessness of flight. Of course I would stretch or flap my wings when no-one was looking, but nothing beat actually flying.
In a matter of seconds we were flying above Ponyville at almost twice the speed of sound; just having a rare moment with my mother made the thousand year less painful. In a blink of an eye we sped across Manehattan, Trottingham and Appleloosa.
Finally we arrived above Canterlot, as I looked down below I could see ponies filling the streets; looking up at the sky, probably wondering where their “beloved” sun is right now. I thought to myself as we passed over the city towards the castle.
We came to a full stop and hovered a couple meters away from the castle. “Mother, I think it would be best if I kept up the disguise of Twilight Sparkle, I’m sure Celestia would be much less suspicious if Twilight ran in, claiming to have seen you and that you are coming to take the throne.”
My mother smiled at me, her sharp canine teeth glinting in the moonlight, “You always surprise me Shadow, you are not the little foal I was ripped away from that I remember a thousand years ago. It will be strange getting to know my little filly once again.” I returned the smile, the past hour has been euphoric.
With a flash of my horn, a sudden wave of purple flames engulfed my body. As the flames faded away, my vision returned. I was standing next to my mother, about a head or two smaller than her. I craned my neck upwards, “Mother, you should disappear for the time being, follow me and keep out of sight. I will signal you when to attack.” My mother nodded and dissipated into a small purple cloud of mist.
I stood there, staring at the large golden door, ‘This is the last time Shadow, you will never have to pretend after this. You and your mother will be happy once again, eternal night will last for ever.’ I breathed in a large gulp of air and charge into the golden door; knocking two royal guards over. They called out for me to stop, but I paid no attention to them and just kept running towards the throne room.
I passed dozens of worried servants, that the sun will never rise again. Finally I reached the doors to the throne room, a single golden door, decorated with jewels and ivory. I swiveled round and bucked the heavy door; inside the throne room were numerous nobles and scribes, as well as a few petitioners.
Celestia sat on the golden throne, casting a neutral look upon the ponies in front of her, but slowly her eyes locked with mine, a small smile crept up on Celestia’s face. She seemed happy to see me, her face lighting up with joy from seeing her ‘faithful’ student.
“Hello Twilight Sparkle, my faithful student. What brings you back from Ponyville? I am sure the Summer Sun Celebration was a success, I hope the populace of Ponyville were understanding that I could not attend.”
“No, Nightmare Moon has returned! She marches to the castle now to take the throne!” I shouted, trying my best to make it seem believable.
Celestia frowned, her eyes blank, staring into nothingness. “So my sister has broke free from her imprisonment?” Celestia rose from her throne, everypony in the room bowed deeply. “Nay my little ponies, do not bow. Court is closed, can everypony please leave the throne room as I need to speak to Twilight Sparkle alone.” Quickly everypony in the room gathered there items and left the room in a rush.
“Twilight as you know Nightmare Moon is back, she wishes to rule Equestria under eternal night.” I nodded dumbly, trying to keep up my desigues and ignorance. “Well I believe it is time to tell you the truth. You and five other ponies, all from Ponyville are the bearers of the Elements of Harmony, magic, kindness, loyalty, honesty, generosity and laughter.” I had known I was the element of magic for six hundred years, but I again nodded and looked upon her in fake awe. “The Elements draw the bearers together so that they can harness the power of friendship and purge all evil in Equestria. Twilight you must go back to Ponyville and gather the five ponies you met and stop Nightmare Moon.”
I recoiled in light shock, ‘How did she know I met five mares?’. I looked back in her eyes, just as I was about to speak, loud, booming laughter filled the room. Out of the dark shadows my mother came into view. “Hello Celestia.” my mother spat the words out, filled with malice and hate. “It seems you have found a new student? Tell me, student of Celestia, are you willing to die for your precious princess?” Mother winked at me, luckily Celestia did not notice the gesture.
“Sister please, do not repeat your past sins. I know you are there Luna, this darkness has clouded your mind!” Celestia shouted at my mother, causing another round of sadistic laughter.
“Do you really think that I took over Luna? No. She invited me in, she wanted me to end your pitiful reign!” Nightmare Moon shouted at Celestia, the former starting to lose her composure.
“Luna! Listen to me, I know you’re in there! Fight this monster and gain control!” She screamed, almost bursting into tears; suddenly Celestia lowered her horn and fired a large white bolt of pure energy at Nightmare Moon.
Nightmare Moon graciously blocked the ray of magic with a swipe of her dark blue magic and quickly retaliated with her own blast of magic.
“Twilight GO I will hold Nightmare Moon off, you just go find those five mares.” Celestia said as she blocked a volley of dark magic.
“No” I said as I looked to her with a scowl on my face “I’m not going anywhere.” Celestia looked at me shocked with horror at my show of defiance. “I’m not going anywhere Celestia! I’m not losing her again!”
“Twilight....wh-what are you talking about?” Celestia asked me still with a look of shock on her face.
I lowered my horn down, aiming at Celestia’s horn. “I am not losing my mother again. You took her away from me once, I was alone for a thousand years! ” I built up magic in my horn and charged at Celestia.
Her eyes grew wide as the realization came crashing down on her. Celestia swiped her horn at me, creating large golden barriers slowing me down.