Dusk's Dangerous Game

by Airstream


Black Queen Rising

“Are you ready?” Night Light whispered to Sweetie Belle, whose horn was no longer able to penetrate the clinging black of the tunnel. She had long since given up maintaining the hornlight, and now all of her energy went into the earrings she wore.

“Yes. Take off the necklace, use the gems. Three should do it.” she replied before pushing more magic through herself. She had encountered strain on her magical capabilities before, but not like this. It was as if there was no magic down here at all, and she felt herself not only growing tired, but also drained, as if the effort was expending some essential part of herself.

Night Light gently removed her pendant, breaking off three of the gems and laying them along the hinge side of the door in front of them. They stuck to the door easily, and Night Light set his hoof against one of them before glancing around to make sure that there was nothing flammable, a useless gesture in the dark. He hesitated. “How are we going to ensure the blast goes in, and not towards us?”

Sweetie Belle thought a moment, and with a titanic effort, pushed her horn as hard as she ever had. A light showed, faint and hardly enough to see by, like a flickering candle visible through thick fog. She began to feel nauseous. “Your watch. Use my strangling garrote to bind it to the doorframe, and then tap all three of the charges. Your shield should catch the blast, and I’ll focus on it to make sure the charge is expended in a wide, strong shield for one moment instead of a sustained and small shield. It could work.”

“What about maintaining the spells on the earrings?”

“At that point, it won’t matter if Celestia knows we’re here or not. We’ll be able to free her before she’s back. But we don’t have much time. We need to get her out and down into the caves in the next ten minutes.”

Night Light nodded, and took the offered wire from Sweetie Belle, stretching it across the doorframe. One quick knot later, and the watch hung suspended from the extremely strong wire, ready for action. The two ponies looked at one another as Sweetie let her light go out. It was time.


Celestia stood over the still form of Silver Lily, who had bolted for the nearest window when she saw her monarch standing in the doorway of her chambers with her Guards. The Pegasus was bound, bruised and burned, but alive. Not conscious, Celestia had seen to that. She grimaced at the itching in her neck where the Pegasus had planted an adamantium dagger, a one in a million shot that would not have landed were the Solar Alicorn not distracted. It had shattered, the pieces flying apart and melting as they hit the ground.

“Take her away, and store her in a dungeon. One of the deep cells. She’ll hang in the morning.”

The Guards standing by nodded as they lifted and carried the Pegasus out of the room. The remainder stood by her. One, a young Lieutenant, stepped forward. “Highness, are you sure you wish for us to fall back? We can be of some assistance in subduing the rebels, surely.”

She smiled sadly, before gently teleporting them away, far away, back to the Rounds where they truly could do some good. She should have done the same on the way to the castle, of course, but she wasn’t thinking clearly. Even now, she thrummed with fear as she cracked open the passageway. It had been a distraction, of course it had. The Rounds meant nothing to Twilight, though they were certainly a bonus. She had been so foolish to allow strange ponies in the castle on tonight of all nights, especially with Cadance lying dormant on the mountain.

The door swung open, and the fear she had felt before as a thrumming escalated into an all-consuming panic, a fear so all-consuming and powerful that she reacted without thinking. Her wings snapped, the echo going on for far longer than it should have, and the Sun Goddess rocketed down the passageway through the all-too-familiar darkness that choked the way in front of her.

As she sped downwards, she heard the strangest of noises.

Tap, tap, tap…tap.


The two ponies huddled at the bottom of the stairs, watching as the flashing lights of the crystals found one another and flared in harmony before continuing their countdown, their hues darkening from diamond to ruby as they prepared for the blast. There was the faintest sound from on top of the stairs, and as the stones at last reached their full potential, the tunnel filled with a curious snapping noise and the rushing of air.

With a roar, the stones detonated, the shield spell in front of them expended in a moment as it channeled all of their destructive power inwards, shredding the bolts on the door easily and denting the metal of the chamber. Before either pony could react, the air was filled with a gentle heat, and the view of the tunnel was obscured by white feathers, as Celestia bent in close, her wings shining as they formed a protective barrier around Night Light and Sweetie Belle. It was the wings of Celestia that saved them both.

The door in front of them ceased to be, melting into shadow as tendrils of roiling black rippled out of the dark, driving against the protective glow of Celestia’s wings with the force to shatter stone and bend steel. Celestia rocked back, her wings folding underneath her as she was assailed by this tide of abyssal shadow.

Another blow broke her concentration, another knocked one wing away, and the tendril that exploited this opening cratered the bedrock of the stairway with ease. Then one final tendril, of a thicker and deeper black than its brethren, impacted Celestia squarely in the chest, driving her into the stone, and through it into the stone behind it. Still it pressed forward, and suddenly, Celestia could resist no more, and the darkness pulsed, ramming her all the way through the mountain, and driving her into the plains below Canterlot. And the Solar Princess lay horribly still.


The thing that stepped through the shattered door was at once familiar and terribly, horribly alien. Its frame was slight, its stature imposing and slender, and it appeared ever so slightly stretched, as if the creature had been seized and gently pulled upwards and downwards to lend it extra height. For all of its slender traits, it was also terrifyingly beautiful, possessing a dark majesty and vast, cosmic power. It was Luna. It was a Nightmare. It was Shadow.

The abomination that had been Luna was all in black, save for the gleaming silver of its eyes, flecked in grey with two slits of black that fairly burned with a sadistic rage. Its horn smoldered with sullen flame, resembling nearly extinguished embers, and as it bent down to examine the ponies in front of it, a smile split its face. The teeth that were revealed did not in any way resemble that of a pony. They were needle sharp, pointed and thin, and there appeared to be far more of them than should fit in that mouth, three rows of sharp teeth against which a mottled red and black tongue worked feverishly, forked like that of a snake. When it spoke, its voice was sibilant and cold, hungry and mocking.

“My two rescuers. You have my thanks, children of the clay. You have served the night, and done so well and faithfully. Long I have waited to be free and take my revenge, and you have afforded me the opportunity to do so. I would reward you, but…I require one thing more from you.”

Sweetie Belle could not speak, not when confronted by this…thing. Her mind had gone blank, replaced by an abyss from which she could not escape, or even raise a hoof in defiance to this Alicorn of shadow. Its wings flared behind it, and the skeletal bat’s wings it possessed also glowed with somber, greasy flame. It leaned in close, tongue flickering obscenely over Sweetie Belle’s chest.

“I require…sustenance. And you possess more life in you than most. An excellent first meal.”

Something struck it in the head, causing it to hiss in anger before looking away from her to see what had dared to strike it. Night Light stood on two hooves, wingblades held in front of him in a protective stance as his lips curled in a defiant snarl.
“Let. Her. Go.”

The creature laughed, a high keening sound that rattled the bones in Sweetie Belle’s body. “Such a brave little fool. I do believe the Moon knew you, before she was sealed away. The one who watches in darkness, one who cannot stand in the light as his family did. You are Night Light, are you not?”

The Pegasus shifted as the weight of the Shadow’s gaze fell upon him. “You know that, Princess Luna. We’re here to get you back to Twilight Sparkle.”

The thing that had been Luna stalked forward, pressing him against the wall as it loomed over him. “Night Light, he who strayed. Betrayer, kinslayer, black coat among white. I can see the shadow in you, Night Light. So much of it, your soul stained by it. A better servant I could not ask for.” Its horn flared. “But what haste lies in you, what disobedience. Surely you know better than to strike me with…”

It broke off its speech at the sight of what he had hurled at it. The single diamond in the center of Sweetie Belle’s necklace gleamed palely despite the utter lack of light surrounding it, and not with the bloody red of the Shadow’s flame. It shimmered with a faint silver, almost like…

“Moonlight.” the creature said, and that single word contained far more hunger than it had expressed when examining Sweetie Belle. The dark Alicorn stalked closer to it, tongue flickering and tasting the air in anticipation. It inhaled, and as the duo watched, the diamond pulsed, and then dimmed. A coil of silver rose into the air, sinking into the creature’s horn. It shuddered in ecstasy, closing its eyes briefly. “You have brought me much. Enough to earn back your miserable lives. Go, flee. My sister and I have unfinished business to attend to.” It gestured negligently with one hoof, and a doorway opened in the rock, one that had not been there moments ago. “That will lead you into the heart of the mountain. There you will find passages to the outside.” It closed its eyes, and the light it had provided vanished. Luna, or whatever she had become, was gone.

“Come on.” Night Light said, roughly hauling Sweetie Belle to her hooves. “We’ve got to make the airship.”

“What about Luna?” Sweetie Belle asked as they began to sprint down the steps, her horn providing just enough light to see by.

“She’s a damn Alicorn, she’ll be able to take care of herself. It’s more Celestia I’m worried for at this point anyway. Come on!” he cried, and the two of them clattered down the stairs into the heart of the mountain.


Celestia had always hated winter, and it was precisely for this reason. She was cut off from her source of power more often than not, and when the sun did shine it was weak and without passion. While Luna had been exiled on the moon, Celestia had not been idle, however. She stockpiled energy the same way those with plentiful food would begin to develop a layer of fat. And now, she had her reason to burn it.

Light began to pour from her coat, filling the air around her with warmth. Her mane began to change colors, fading from its usual pastel tones to a soft golden color. Her eyes began to glow white with barely constrained power, and she grimaced in pain as a thousand years of unused power was seized and brought forth in order to help her stand against the monster that her sister had become. And she did so not a moment too soon.

The night sky above her warped and twisted, stars shimmering with cold white light as the moon began to burn brighter and brighter. The space between the stars deepened, until even the most oblivious of watchers could sense the true depth of the void between them. The air temperature dropped, and the grass around Celestia frosted over with ice.

The Monarch of the Dawn rose slowly, painfully to her hooves, flaring her wings until they met over her head in defiance of what was coming. She did not have to wait long. The night around her coalesced suddenly, and a bolt of shadow shot down from the sky, breaking against her wings like water against a mountain. Though the force should have killed a regular pony, Celestia bore it calmly, flexing her wings and legs to avoid damage. She knew what was next.

“Impressive, sister mine. It is apparent that you have been preparing for this day for quite some time. I sense much of the sun in you. That must burn.”

Celestia turned and regarded the darkness behind her. “Of course it does. But I bear that pain gladly to protect my subjects from nightmares like you.”

The dark split to reveal a pair of slitted eyes, glowing in the same shade as the moon above. The darkness lashed out again. It was toying with her, Celestia knew it. And she also knew that she had very little hope of winning an offensive fight with her sister when the sun was down, especially on this night. “I’m sure. Such the martyr, you are, Celestia. Do you know the difference between martyrs and fools?”

Celestia shook her head. She could feel her sister building up to something big. She could feel the sun pulse in answer to her desperate pleas for assistance, and though it was out of her reach, a bit more warmth managed to find its way into her.

“The difference between a fool and a martyr is that the fool’s side lost.”

The air around Celestia crystalized, trapping her completely in a block of ice feet thick on every side. Bands of cold iron manifested themselves around it, sealing the block to the earth. As Celestia struggled, the block began to sink. She knew that if she sank beneath the earth, she would be completely trapped in the blackness her sister was using as her power. It would all be over.

Focusing herself, she reached for the Sun’s magic, and with a minor effort of will, managed to melt the ice, the steel bands, and some of the ground around her for good measure.

“If that’s all you are capable of, Luna, then I’m afraid you’ll not be carrying the day today.”

The molten rock around her feet bubbled and hissed before leaping up her sides, and spreading along her back. Celestia drew in more fire and more heat, reaching deep into the very bowels of the world for as much energy as she could muster. Clad in fire, she set her hooves and waited. Her magic ran to the defensive, and she would play to that strength.

Then, for the very first time that evening, Luna revealed herself to Celestia. Her form was hideous and beautiful all at once, the beauty of shattered glass and jagged rock. It hurt to look at the Alicorn of the Night, but at the same time she was so marvelous to look at that it was impossible not to. There were creatures in Equestria possessing such beauty as to drive mortals mad. Luna’s beauty was crueler still. To take refuge in insanity was simply not possible around her. All that could be done was to watch.

“Oh, Luna…” Celestia whispered. “What have you done to yourself?”

Luna’s smile broke the darkness like a dagger. “I’m restoring the Balance, Celestia. We’ve sealed Discord in stone, but you’ve been left unchecked for far too long. I’m taking what is, and turning it to what should be.” She rose into the air, her wings trailing smoke. “Starting with Canterlot.”

Lightning crackled from her horn, and the stars began to burn with an unnatural light as she gathered the force of an entire storm along its length, turning towards the mountain. Celestia shot into the air, transposing a barrier between her sister and the city. The air roared with the sound of the magical energies colliding, and the flash of impact was visible for miles. Again, Luna built up energy, and Celestia was ready for her. The impact forced Celestia back towards the city, and Luna pressed in close, seeking an advantage.

Celestia’s horn blazed with golden fire, and a lance of heat and light pierced the night sky, aiming straight for her sister’s heart. Luna swept one wing in front of herself, and the bolt vanished into the swirling shadow as if it had never been. Luna retaliated by seizing a massive piece of ground, wide enough to support a farm, and hurling it through the air towards her sister with no more effort than a belligerent child throwing a toy. Celestia blasted the mass of rock and stone to smithereens, not even wincing as the jagged pieces stung at her coat.

“Enough games.” Luna growled. “Let us not show restraint, sister mine.”

Celestia did not speak, instead climbing to match her sister’s height. She reached deep inside of herself, tapping into the primal forces of Creation she had been tasked with managing. The vast reservoir of Binding magic, like an ocean of fire, lay before her. With such energy at her disposal, she chose to merely conduct it through herself, lending it structure and form. In moments, she was surrounded in bright golden flame.

Luna did likewise, lowering her head and pointing her horn directly at Celestia. With her emotions running so high, it was a simple matter to reach deep into the blackness that was Breaking magic, and seize control of it, forcing it roughly through her horn. Cold silver and icy blue energy crackled through the air around her horn before spreading to the rest of her, surrounding this being of shadow and flame in a bright grey aura.

With twin shouts of fury, the two Alicorns unleashed their full might upon one another. Were it against any other target, the sheer amount of energy expended would have ended worlds, caused stars to explode, brought ruin to entire facets of existence with ease. However, because of the nature of this magic, almost all of the energy was neutralized immediately. Almost.


Twilight gasped, staggering to one side as she clutched at her chest. Her horn, which had been engaged in carrying a tray of drinks from one table to another, winked out suddenly. She grabbed at a nearby table to steady herself, succeeding only in tipping it over as the glasses of wine she had been carrying shattered on the floor. She landed squarely on some of the shards of glass, but didn’t notice. She was far past pain, at this point.

Tarantella was at her side in moments, followed closely by Applejack and Pinkie. “Twilight! What happened, what is the matter?”

Twilight focused, concentrating on the meditative lessons she had learned with the unicorns here, some of whom being quite conversant in Breaking magic. Gradually, she managed to put herself back together enough to grit out “Get…Radiant…Zenith. Now.”

Tarantella shot off without another word, barking commands to the guards outside of her chambers to fetch a medic. Twilight turned to Applejack and Pinkie. “Can you feel that?”

The two Earth ponies shook their heads. Twilight looked them both in the eyes. “Feel with your Elements. My Breaking magic…is burning. Check and see if Celestia is…doing something different.”

No sooner had the duo closed their eyes than they shrieked in pain and opened them again. “What in tarnation?” Applejack asked, confused. “It was like everything was on fire, includin’ me!”

There was a rush of air, and Radiant Zenith appeared, grinding her teeth in pain. “Luna and Celestia are fighting. It’s the only explanation. Golden Radiance just shut herself off entirely, and the rest of our sensitives are completely catatonic. Something’s gone wrong with the operation.”

Twilight stood up shakily. “Or something went too well. We never considered that Luna’s time in isolation might have awoken her…darker side.”

Applejack blanched. “You mean to tell me she may have become Nightmare Moon?”

The unicorn shook her head. “Something worse. I pushed too hard, and tipped the order Celestia had installed too far out of balance. Luna’s entire existence revolves around maintaining balance. Namely between Discord and Celestia. With Discord gone, Celestia is able to rule unchecked. Until now Luna has allowed it, because she was largely beneficial. Considering what’s happened recently, however…”

“She might have decided Celestia’s too great of a threat to continued ruling.” Pinkie Pie finished.

Twilight nodded. “What we are feeling right now is Order and Balance fighting over the scraps Chaos left behind. We can’t let this continue. We need to bring Luna to heel, and get her back into the Everfree Forest so that we can figure out how to restore some kind of reasonable Balance.”

Radiant Zenith nodded. “You’re suggesting we throw ourselves into the ring? It might not go too well.”

“Do we have a choice?” Twilight asked. There was a rumble of distant thunder, and a brilliant flash lit the horizon. “Between the two of them, they’ll destroy Equestria. It almost happened the last time around, and that was when things were more or less in harmony with one another.”

Applejack held up one hoof. “What are you suggesting we do?”

Twilight sighed. “We need to get you, Pinkie, and Fluttershy ready to go. If Luna and Celestia are allowed to continue like this, they’ll rip a hole in Equestria large enough to do some real damage. I know you don’t have much experience with using the Power of Harmony yet, but it’s our only real hope of burning some of Luna and Celestia’s excess power off.”

“Define ‘real damage’.” Applejack said.

“They wield the primal forces of Creation. Comparable to the powers of Discord, though they have never extended themselves in such a way, at least not since the Celestial Wars.” Radiant Zenith said. “And when they last met on the field of battle, their blows reduced an entire empire to rubble and ruin.”

Twilight nodded. “I’m going to get Golden Radiance and inform Tarantella of where we’re going. Meet us in my study, and get that circle ready. Radiant Zenith, make the necessary adjustments, and tell it to send us to the site of the battle.” With a flash of light and a small pop, she vanished.

“How do you know where that is?” Pinkie asked.

“Because they are acting like a magical beacon. It will be hard to miss them.” Radiant Zenith said, gathering up a bundle of chalk and some candles. “Applejack, find a guard, tell them to bring three suits of adamantium plate up by order of the Steward. Are you familiar with armor?”

The farmer shook her head. “I have no idea how to wear armor.”

“Well, you had best learn. Pinkie Pie, go and retrieve Fluttershy, and inform her of the situation. Hurry, speed is of the essence. I’ll need to fit you three into armor.”


It was a scant ten minutes later that the circle in Twilight’s study flashed brightly, sending the three Wielders, Twilight Sparkle, the newly reconstituted Golden Radiance, and Radiant Zenith towards the battle of gods taking place near Canterlot. Tarantella and Silent Shield were acting commanders of the military forces around the Regia, tasked with defending the castle if possible in the event of their failure, or evacuating as many as possible if the castle became indefensible.

The two of them stood together, side by side in the tower room where they had received their last instructions. Tarantella bowed her head and sighed, aware that even now, many miles away, her lover was likely engaged in a battle she could do nothing to win. She was a great warrior, of that she was certain, but when compared to Twilight Sparkle’s magical prowess she unfortunately fell far short.

“It’s not that she doesn’t think you can help, you know.”

Tarantella turned to Silent Shield, who had been appraising her with his one eye. “Pardon?”

“Lady Sparkle. You are every bit as valuable an asset to her as Radiant Zenith and Golden Radiance. Even more so, truth be told. We unicorns rely too heavily on our magic as a whole. It’s one of the reasons my Lunar Guards train with inhibitor rings. But you…you have faced some of the most powerful magical forces in the world, combated Windigos every winter, dueled with unicorns of all skillsets, even braved the walls of Canterlot to save her in her hour of need. In fact, she sees you as her most powerful warrior, which is why you have stayed behind. Who else to watch over her domain?”

Tarantella laughed at that. “She wishes me to stay here because she believes I cannot take care of myself. That I am weak.”

The Commander of the Lunar Guards tilted his head. “Then why did she not leave her two most trusted spellcasters here with you to watch you? Or lock you in your room so that you were not injured? She cares for you, yes. And she loves you more than she does herself. If she could leave all of this and live somewhere far away with you quietly for the rest of her days, she would jump at the chance. But she cannot, and she realizes that she cannot hope to tie you down. You are an excellent fighter, Consort. I have watched you. You would not have been placed in command with me otherwise.”

Tarantella thought on that. There was a part of her that burned whenever Twilight hurt herself using magic, or was forced to lay her life on the line because of some arcane threat. She wished that there was some way to help her, to make sure that her lover would not have to face so many foes at once. Why, even now, with this in front of her, Twilight Sparkle still had another threat currently being treated in her castle.

Suddenly, what she had to do was all too clear.

“Silent Shield, I am going to take a brief walk and think about that. Can I meet you back here in an hour or so? I’d like to discuss our backup plans and evacuation routes.”

The unicorn’s yellow eye locked on to her. “Going to visit the Pegasus, are you?”

Tarantella’s hoof slowly moved to her hip. “Is that a problem?”

Silent Shield shook his head. “She’s a threat and poses a clear danger to everypony in this castle. I’ve read her file. She’s hotheaded, impulsive, and brash. An absolute nightmare to handle. If she is flipped to our side, I wouldn’t mind. But if she were killed while trying to escape, I’d not shed a tear for her. Go, talk to her. See if you can figure her out while she’s still weak. If she gets loose and tries to kill us, I’d like to know how to put her down.”


The guards on duty outside of the prisoner’s room were experiencing a unique mix of fear and boredom. On one hoof, it was Rainbow Dash they were guarding, the ruthless fighter who had annihilated entire platoons of Lunar Guards and Reservists on her own. On the other hoof, she was close to death, clinging by the thinnest of threads to her continued existence. She might not make it through the evening, the rumor went. She had been absolutely quiet since she had been placed in the room to heal. The nurses had left only two hours ago, and she was being quietly isolated in order to allow her the opportunity to rest.

“Evening, gentlecolts.”

They both jumped at the sound, seeing a completely empty hallway. They did not have to wait long. The Consort to Lady Sparkle, Tarantella Allegretta, was walking down the hallway towards them, out of the dark like some strange phantom. She smiled at their expressions.

“Apologies, I left my lantern. I did not realize that hallway was so dark.”

“Good Evening, Consort.” the senior guard replied, coming to attention. “Can we be of assistance?”

She nodded. “I would like to speak to the Bearer of Loyalty. I am trying to ascertain the nature of her Element so that we may find a way to neutralize its ties to Celestia.”

“Is that what’s been happening?” the junior guard asked. “we heard the Elements were being turned but we didn’t know how.”

Tarantella winked at him. “Don’t spread the word, but yes. And the process can get a bit violent, which is why I am performing a preliminary checkup for Lady Twilight.”

The Guards looked at one another. The senior one mulled her request over. “Technically, we are not to let anyone through without the permission of the doctors.”

Tarantella’s wings sagged a bit. “Are you sure you could not let me through? All I would like to do is have a brief conversation with the Bearer. That is all. I merely wish to make sure she will not be a threat to the Lady.”

The pair looked at one another uncertainly. “Well, a quick talk wouldn’t do any harm to her. And if you are acting in the interests of Lady Twilight, then I suppose we can’t oppose you.” the senior guard said.

The junior guard held open the door for her. “Be careful, Consort. She might still be dangerous.”

Tarantella smiled at the pair of them. “Thank you, Guards. Please, ensure that nopony bothers us. I will only be here a short while.”

The door closed behind her, and Tara turned to the Pegasus on the bed, who was stirring from sleep. Rainbow Dash’s chest was heavily bandaged over her scabs, an IV hung from one foreleg, and a stasis crystal shone brightly over her head, ensuring that any changes to her body happened slowly and smoothly with plenty of time to react from her caretakers.

The Bearer turned to see the unsmiling face of Tarantella Allegretta watching her from the doorway, clad in armor and appraising her in the same way a predator does to particularly slow prey. She tried to speak, but her lungs could not expel enough air to form words. She tried to raise a hoof, but her strength had fled, leaving her as helpless as a newborn.
Her eyes widened as Tarantella stepped closer to the bed, drawing a dagger from her side as she approached.

“Hello, Rainbow Dash. I believe you and I have much to talk about.”