(TC 00:00:00:00)
OPENING FADE
EXT. NIGHT SKY
PAN LEFT over a starry vista as the moon comes into view.
TWILIGHT (VO)
What was it like, up there?
CUT TO
EXT. GRASSLAND DAY
A pony in a cloak is galloping across a rolling plain. As we pan up we see CANTERLOT on the horizon, glowing in the bright morning light.
TWILIGHT (VO)
Looking down on the world.
CUT TO
EXT. CLOUDSDALE EVENING
A group of pegasi drift lazily toward the city, a vast sprawling metropolis in the clouds.
TWILIGHT (VO)
Isolated for a thousand years.
CUT TO
EXT. CANTERLOT DAY
An airship closes on an enormous tower.
TWILIGHT (VO)
Never given the chance to explain your acts.
(TC 00:00:16:00)
Banished by your own sister.
CUT TO
EXT. PONYVILLE DAY
(TC 00:00:18:00)
Ponies are going about their everyday business when something causes them to look toward the horizon behind camera.
TWILIGHT (VO)
Turned into a monster to scare children.
CUT TO
EXT. CANTERLOT STREET DAY
A troop of guards push their way through a yelling crowd.
TWILIGHT (VO)
Hated by everyone.
CUT TO
INT. GREAT HALL
Various dignitaries are milling around PRINCESS CELESTIA and TWILIGHT SPARKLE. They look toward the windows as darkness begins to fall.
CUT TO
EXT. SWEET APPLE ACRES
APPLEJACK watches a pegasus fly across the sky as the light begins to fade unnaturally fast. She turns to the horizon, wide-eyed, terrified.
TWILIGHT (VO)
Completely and utterly alone.
CUT TO
EXT. CANTERLOT
Above the city, the moon moves inexorably across the face of the sun.
CUT TO
EXT. CANTERLOT BALCONY
TWILIGHT SPARKLE watches the moon as it hides the sun. The hint of a smile touches her lips.
TWILIGHT (VO)
What would you do to avoid going back?
CUT TO
EXT. PALACE GARDENS DAY
TWILIGHT SPARKLE and PRINCESS LUNA are seated in a small grassy area. LUNA refuses to meet TWILIGHT'S gaze as she walks away.
CELESTIA (VO)
I'm worried about Luna.
CUT TO
INT. THRONE ROOM
It is dark. PRINCESS LUNA looks up at the throne with a tear in her eye and turns away.
CELESTIA (VO)
She's isolating herself again.
CUT TO
EXT. MOUNTAIN TOP EVENING
TWILIGHT SPARKLE and PRINCESS LUNA are staring down at the lights of Canterlot as the wind whips around their faces. Luna's coat is noticeably darker.
CELESTIA (VO)
You're the only pony she'll even speak to.
CUT TO
EXT. BALCONY
CELESTIA and TWILIGHT SPARKLE are watching a sunrise together.
CELESTIA
I don't want to lose her again, Twilight.
CLOSE IN TWILIGHT SPARKLE
CELESTIA (VO)
I trust you to do what's right.
The young mage nods slowly, showing little emotion.
FADE TO BLACK
(TC 00:00:50:00)
SMASH CUT
INT. THRONE ROOM
The doors are blown off their hinges and a cloud of blue-black smoke pours through.
CUT TO THRONE
GUARDS surround CELESTIA.
CUT TO
EXT. CANTERLOT NIGHT
Airships storm through the skies, disgorging thousands of pegasi in black armour.
CUT TO
INT. THRONE ROOM
A hoof crunches on the debris from the door
CUT TO
EXT. CANTERLOT NIGHT
CLOSE UP of pegasi dropping toward the city with their weapons aloft.
CUT TO
INT. THRONE ROOM
CELESTIA watches in shock as a figure emerges from the doorway. It is NIGHTMARE MOON.
(TC 00:01:04:00)
CUT TO EXT. CANTERLOT WALLS
Unicorns release a hail of glowing projectiles up toward the invading pegasi.
CUT TO
EXT. CANTERLOT STREET
SHINING ARMOUR leads a small group of guards against the black-armoured pegasi.
CUT TO
EXT. PONYVILLE TOWN HALL EVENING
Celestia's guard prepare to execute LYRA until NIGHTMARE MOON swoops in and snatches her away.
CUT TO
EXT. SWEET APPLE ACRES ORCHARD
APPLEJACK and TWILIGHT SPARKLE face off against one another. TWILIGHT unleashes a bolt of energy that shatters the tree behind APPLEJACK.
(TC 00:01:16:00)
EXT. TOWN SQUARE EVENING
A troop of guards in black armour march into the town square as the ponies watch.
CUT TO
EXT. FIELD DAWN
(TC 00:01:21:00)
FLUTTERSHY looks up at the sky with a determined expression before launching herself skyward.
CUT TO
EXT. FIELD DAY
A cavalry charge smashes head-on into the massed ranks of a much larger army.
CUT TO
EXT. CANTERLOT DAY
Explosions rock the city. A tower begins to collapse.
EXT. SKY DAY
A great airship battle takes place. One of the airships collides with another, both still firing their canon.
CUT TO
INT. THRONE ROOM EVENING
CELESTIA and NIGHTMARE MOON clash, Celestia's magic blasting a shockwave that flings back furniture and masonry all around her.
CUT TO
EXT. CANTERLOT DAY
TWILIGHT SPARKLE stares up at the bulk of Canterlot Castle as we pan up toward the towers.
CUT TO
EXT. CLOUDSDALE NIGHT
Fire falls from the sky amidst the collapsing towers of the cloud city. Pegasi flee in horror.
CUT TO
EXT. CLOUDSDALE NIGHT
RAINBOW DASH and DERPY fly through the chaos. Both are sporting intricate pegasus armour.
CUT TO
EXT. CANTERLOT BALCONY
NIGHTMARE MOON watches the chaos of the city below. Her face is obviously distressed.
CUT TO
EXT. FIELD
RARITY and APPLEJACK run through tall grass with pegasi in pursuit.
CUT TO
EXT. CLIFF
RAINBOW DASH leaps from the cliff-top moments before a blast of magic destroys the ground she was standing on, her forelegs stretching out to catch APPLE BLOOM as she falls.
CUT TO
EXT. THRONE ROOM NIGHT
(TC 00:01:49:00)
PRINCESS CELESTIA stands before NIGHTMARE MOON. The NIGHTMARE is ensconced on her throne, her mane billowing ominously around her like a black cloud that reaches out toward CELESTIA.
CELESTIA
What have you done to my student, Luna?
NIGHTMARE MOON laughs.
NIGHTMARE MOON
You think I corrupted her? You should know
by now, Sister.
FADE TO
INT. SPOTLIGHT ROOM NIGHT
TWILIGHT SPARKLE sits facing away from the camera. She turns her head slowly with her eyes closed.
NIGHTMARE MOON (VO)
Darkness is born in Twilight.
TWILIGHT SPARKLE opens her eyes, revealing a demonic green glow.
CUT TO BLACK.