//------------------------------// // Chapter One, Rising Moon // Story: Nocturne // by Pony Boy //------------------------------// Nocturne Chapter 1, Rising Moon A quiet Sunday afternoon. Mild temperature, the birds are singing, not a cloud in the sky; a perfect day for the spa. The six are idly sitting around the spa waiting for Rarity to finish her treatment. “Ugh, could you take any longer Rarity? We’ve been waiting for you for half an hour!” Rainbow Dash cried out in bored frustration. “This is the price you pay for beauty Rainbow,” Rarity said slumping into a mud bath with cucumbers on her eyes. “Time, time, and more time.” “Too much time if you ask me” The cyan colored Pegasus said flying idly in a circle. “Maybe it wouldn’t be so long for you if you would join us Dashie!” Pinkie Pie said enthusiastically while backstroking in the small swimming pool sized hot tub. “Do you even know me Pinkie? Spas are not my thing.” Rainbow Dash said reminding Pinkie. Twilight, levitating a copy of Magical Ailments: A Reference Guide spoke up, “You could at least sit in the tub to help you relax.” “You could use it Rainbow Dash, you are always so tense, and not to offend, but you don’t exactly smell like a rose right now.” Rarity antagonized her. Releasing a disgruntled sigh, “Fine!” Rainbow Dash slunk slowly into the hot tub. “Twilight, Twilight!” A familiar voice yelled from outside the building as Rainbow Dash sunk into the tub. Spike burst into the spa, panting. After he caught his breathe, he belched out emerald flames and out of the flames, a letter tied up with Celestia's seal. The letter read: “Dear my Faithful Student Twilight, There is a matter of utmost importance and I need you to meet me in Canterlot as soon as possible. Your dearest teacher, Princess Celestia” “This sounds important girls, if she doesn’t even say what the matter is.” Twilight said in a concerned tone. “Could it at least wait half an hour? I’m almost done!” Rarity cried out in mild despair, bathing in the same kind of mud she once told Apple Jack to wash off. “I think it best if we high tail it to Canterlot, that letter sounded urgent.” Apple Jack said with a sort of firmness that Rarity had to agree with. “Oh, all right, I can always continue it when we get back.” As she climbed out, Rainbow Dash let out a sigh of relief, “Finally…” Herself climbing out of the hot tub, she shook the water off of her and onto the newly dried Rarity. “Ugh! Rainbow! Be more careful!” “Relax Rarity, it’s raining outside anyway.” Rainbow Dash said with casual indifference. Rarity ,letting out a shriek, “I just got my mane done!” “We know; it took two hours.” said Apple Jack with a sort of smugness. The friends set off by train to the largely glamorous town of high society, and sometimes snooty, that Canterlot was. “What do you think it could be Twilight?” said Apple Jack. “I’m not sure, but if it’s so urgent that she can’t tell us what, it has to be bad.” “Maybe it’s Discord!” said Pinkie Pie. “Or Trixie!” cried quietly out by Fluttershy, being unusually quiet even for her. “No, Discord and Trixie both have changed, I think it’s something even worse.” Twilight said in reply to the accusations as she saw Canterlot approaching in the distance. The train came to a stop. As Twilight and the subsequent ponies walked out of the train, a guard said “Celestia has been waiting, follow me.” Though the guard was one of Celestias Royal Guards, even he kept a sort of cold detachment from every pony but the Royal Sisters. “She will be here shortly.” The guard said curtly as he walked out the same way they came in. Standing in a familiar statue garden, they decided to look around to kill some time. Twilight inspecting the platform that once held Discord, Fluttershy conversing with some birds, Apple Jack lying under a tree, Pinkie Pie skipping around, humming a nameless tune, Rarity admiring the flowers that went around the garden and Rainbow Dash flying in lazy circles not too unlike earlier in the day. “Ugh... I hate waiting. Can’t Princess Celestia get here faster?” “Rainbow, I’m sure she’s on her way, it’s a big castle.” Said Apple Jack from under her hat. Not too long after, the pearl white Alicorn with a multi colored mane and tail that flowed endlessly in wave-like splendor. The six bowed in respect to the ancient Princess. No matter how time goes by, Twilight has noticed that Celestia has not changed a bit since the day she first saw her at the Summer Solstice Celebration when she was a young foal. “Hello, my little ponies.” The Princess said solemnly, bowing her head herself in respect to the young heroes who saved not only Canterlot, Pony Ville, the Crystal Empire and Celestia herself, but the entire world once before. “What is the problem Princess?” said Twilight very concerned. Celestia simply responded “Come with me.” Every pony was wordless until they have reached their destination: the stained glass room. Every pony in Equestria knew about this room; how that it shows major events in the history. Nightmare Moon being banished, the Elements restoring her to Luna, the wedding of Cadence and Shining Armor, returning Discord to stone, and those that predate even Luna, who herself is still quite old despite being the younger of the Sisters. “You all remember the day that Nightmare Moon returned, determined to shroud the entire world in eternal darkness.” Celestia said with an assurance. How could they forget? It was the day that all of them became the best of friends. “We have a similar problem.” Growing a grave tone, “Nightmare Moon has returned.” Every pony gasped, Pinkie a little longer than she probably should have. Fluttershy squealing quietly, “How? I thought Luna had changed back!” “Well, we beat her before, we can do it again! Just give us the Elements and we’ll blast Luna back to the way she is again!” Said Rainbow Dash proudly and surely, and confidently as ever. With her grave tone growing even graver, “I’m afraid it isn’t that simple.” “How?” Said Twilight, befuddled. “I agree with Rainbow Dash.” Said Rarity “Though that’s not the way I would have put it.” “Yeah, I agree with Rainbow and Rare, why can’t we just do that?” Said Apple Jack in a puzzled tone. “Because,” Celestia started, “Because Luna is here and the Elements aren’t.” She replied, almost ashamed. “How? I thought Nightmare Moon and Princess Luna was the same mare, just you know, eviler!” Pinkie spat out. “I don’t know how Nightmare Moon is back, or how she took the Elements, all I know is that you are the only ponies I trust with a task this large. You have searched out and found the Elements twice already, I’m sure you six can do it again.” The tone was somewhat lifted. Twilight looked up proudly and said “Don’t worry Celestia, you can count on us!” “I’m sure I can, my Faithful Student.” Frozen with pride, she walked to her teacher and hugged her shortly. “Don’t worry Princess, you can count on us!” Rainbow Dash said rising into the air with pride. “Yeah, don’t you worry ‘bout nothing, Princess.” Apple Jack said agreeing with the cyan Pegasus. With a glimmer of hope, Twilight asked “Do you at least know where the Elements are?” “I’m afraid not. All I know is that many places have been shrouded in everlasting night. There may be a correlation.” Said Celestia in a sort of sorry tone. “How are we going to find the Elements if we don’t even know where to look?” Said Fluttershy almost characteristically pessimistically. “Don’t worry Fluttershy; I’m sure we’ll find them!” Said Pinkie, attracted to the pessimism, hoping to lift her spirits. “Go. Too much of the world is already covered in the everlasting night. You must find the Elements before all of Equestria is covered in eternal midnight!” Nodding surely, Twilight and the others ran off towards the train back to Pony Ville, sure to defeat their re-born adversary.