//------------------------------//
// Tonight the Stars Revolt! Part 2 
// Story: My Average Sized Human 
// by The Sage of Toads 
//------------------------------//

Disclaimer: And this is where everything goes all SHOUNEN.

My Average-Sized Human
Tonight the Stars Revolt! Part 2


Totally Eclipsed


[2.]


The beam of light that rose from Sunnyville reached up past the clouds, into space itself. It could be seen from nearby Cloudsdale, the city of Winged Folk, all the way to distant Camelot. For ten seconds the light shone brightly, before it narrowed and dimmed, then vanished completely. In both towns, the stunned observers pointed in disbelief at the light’s effect, the moon above sported a new, dark crater right in its center.

It was the Moon, and its new feature, that Twilight first saw when her vision was restored. Rubbing her eyes, she sat up and looked around. The Town Hall was still intact, well except for its now missing roof, and everyone appeared to be alright, though all the Winged Folk had been forced to the floor by the light. But what happened? Why were they all still alive?

She looked back towards Nightmare Moon, and saw why. “Princess Celestia!”

Standing horn to horn to her tainted, dark sister, Princess Celestia panted from the exertion of deflecting the powerful attack Nightmare Moon had unleashed, while protecting Sunnyville and its citizens at the same time from indirect harm. 

Surprised at first, Nightmare Moon sneered to her sister. “You would show up late to my welcome home party? You truly are low, sister.”

There was immeasurable fury brewing within Equestria’s Goddess of the Sun for what Nightmare Moon had just attempted, but it was the unyielding love for her sister that held it perfectly in check. She looked sad as she spoke. “Hello Luna.”

“That’s not my name anymore.” Nightmare Moon replied, as she turned away from Celestia and circled around her before floating over to the stage. 

She set her foot down, and then moved at speeds Rainbow Dash could only envy to thrust a perfectly straight, black-bladed long sword with a chain hanging off the end of its hilt, straight for Celestia’s heart. The blade fell just short of Celestia as she swiftly backed away from it.

Vanishing again, Nightmare Moon appeared behind her sister and swung for her wings to slice them off, but Celestia evaded again, this time flying aloft to where the town hall’s roof used to be.

“So fast…” Rainbow Dash said in awe.

“Don’t stare like a fool; we gotta get out of here!” Applejack chastised as she and Big Macintosh quickly began directing folk towards the emergency exits. 

“What about Twilight?” Pinkie Pie called out as Nightmare Moon hung menacingly near her, after missing Celestia.

Luckily, Nightmare Moon wasn’t even interested in the trembling purple-haired Horned-Folk trying to maintain bladder control below her. With a flap of her wings, she raced up to Celestia, and stopped directly in front of her.

“Look at you, soft as you were a thousand years ago…no, even softer.” She mocked as she raised her blade and poked Celestia’s breast with the top of the tip. When she suddenly thrust the blade to stab her, however, Celestia was suddenly at her side, looking forlorn.

“I never wanted to fight you, not then, not now.” Celestia admitted.

Nightmare Moon let out a throaty laugh. “No…why fight, when you can just make all your problems go away?”

Celestia and Nightmare Moon separated from one another, and began to circle around as Twilight and the others below who weren’t evacuating watched the confrontation.

“For one thousand years, you left me, alone, imprisoned in the very darkness your Equestria despised.” Nightmare Moon’s tone changed from amused to cold as she spoke. 

She looked away from Celestia. “You denied me a chance to let them appreciate my night. And the moment I refused to bend to you, you tossed me away and erased me–rendered me a legend that none of these pathetic little insects can even care to remember was supposed to return today and ruin their fun in the sun.”

Nightmare Moon pointed her sword at Celestia, as they circled closer towards one another. “One thousand years, how many lifetimes is that to these folks, dear sister? Did they stop believing I existed at all on their own? Did you just get lazy and occupied yourself with more important things? Or did you believe that I would stay locked in my own eternal little night forever, watching our Equestria bask in your day and YOUR NIGHT?!”

She screamed as she rushed Celestia, and swung her sword, but with Godly control, stopped the blade on contact with her neck, the edge resting on it without cutting the skin. “Why aren’t you defending yourself?”

Her voice was whisper soft, but unstable when she asked Celestia, who closed her eyes and continued to try the route of peace.

“You are my sister, Luna, that’s why and that’s all. I do not want to fight you.” 

“That’s not my name.” Nightmare Moon grinned, the corner of her mouth twitching. “And you’re lying. The reason you won’t fight me, is because you know you can’t win. You couldn’t beat me before, not without using the Elements, and now they’re useless to you, aren’t they?”

She lightly patted Celestia’s cheek with the flat of the blade. “Your silence is a resounding yes.”

Leaning close, Nightmare Moon whispered as their horns crossed. “But I know…that you know…they can be used again. Not by you, but by a certain person, with the power to harness them.”

Celestia’s eyes went wide. Nightmare Moon backed away and looked down, directly at Twilight Sparkle. She looked back up at her older sister and her unnerving smile grew.

“She’s your only little hope to save your Equestria from my glorious night, isn’t she?” Rather than wait for Celestia to answer, Nightmare Moon dropped down, again like an untraceable blur, with intent to slice Twilight to ribbons before the helpless horned girl would realize she was in danger.

A loud clash of metal sounded, and Twilight fell back, pushed by Celestia’s magic as Nightmare’s black blade was blocked by a flaming broadsword forged of a material that looked like gold but was clearly far stronger. The light from the blade burned at Nightmare Moon, but not enough to push her from its wielder.

“I see you’ve changed your mind.” Nightmare Moon said.

Celestia swung the blade with both hands, and launched Nightmare Moon from the town hall through its newly installed skylight. 

Twilight stood up, in awe. Never had she seen Celestia’s sword drawn. “Princess…?”

Celestia looked back to Twilight. “The Castle of the Two Sisters in the Everfree Forest, go there and retrieve the Elements of Harmony. They are the only thing that can stop her.” 

With that, there were questions Twilight wanted to ask Celestia, important ones, but they would have to wait. Twilight nodded without hesitation and picked up the still unconscious Spike. “Yes, Princess!”

She turned and ran for the exit of the town hall. Overhead, Nightmare Moon’s horn began to glow. “You’re going nowhere–!”

She was suddenly on the defensive, blocking a strike from Celestia’s massive sword that pitched her through the air in the direction of Camelot. Celestia would not be able to defeat her sister, but she would most certainly buy Twilight some time to get to the ancient castle and retrieve the elements.

“I only hope you made some friends, Twilight.” She spoke to herself, before a screaming Nightmare Moon reengaged her. Tightening her grip on the blade with both hands, she swung her sword in to Nightmare Moon’s, creating a large explosion of darkness and light in the sky above Sunnyville.


After dropping Spike off at the Library, Twilight was running as fast as she could for the Everfree Forest. The questions she had were already being answered in her head. Celestia knew Nightmare Moon was coming, so she sent her here to this seemingly unimportant little town right next to the very place they were last known to be in order to be able to retrieve them! How could she have been so wrong in doubting her mentor?

She just had to get a hold of the Elements, and make it back in time for Celestia to be able to use them to defeat Nightmare Moon. Sadly, by the time she actually reached the edge of the forest, Twilight was already on the verge of passing out from overexertion.

“…Why…did…I…skip…gym…?” She gasped as she doubled over and rested her hands on her knees.

She looked from her feet to the long path that went down into the dark woods, and then back towards the battle between Goddesses that was heading towards Camelot. This was what it was like to be between a rock and a hard place? She’d never be able to make it on her own into the forest. 

Catching her breath, Twilight steeled her resolve and began walking again. She only made it a few steps when a voice called out. “Now hold on there a minute, Twilight. You’re not planning on going in there alone, are you?”

It was Applejack. Turning around, Twilight found Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy were with her too. And they all looked ready for a hike into the woods; Pinkie Pie carried a large bag over her shoulder, and Rarity even had a saber on her hip. “Huh? Why are you all here? You should be getting to safety!”

“What about you? Like hay we’re going to let you walk off into that forest alone, especially at night.” Rainbow Dash replied.

Twilight wouldn’t have it. “I appreciate the concern, but I’d rather do this on my own.”

Applejack crossed her arms. “Alright, and what do you plan on doing if you get in trouble? Do you know how to fight?”

Twilight pointed at her horn. “I don’t need to, I have my magic.”

Rarity then spoke up. “Well, what if you get into a situation where you need help, and there’s no one there to help you?”

Twilight frowned, she had a point there.

Taking her silence as acquiescence, Applejack marched past her. “It’s settled then, sugar cube. We sure ain't lettin' any friend of ours go into that creepy place alone. We're stickin' to you like caramel on a candy apple.”

The other girls followed, with Pinkie Pie bringing up the rear with Twilight. “Especially if there are candy apples in there!”

Twilight stared at Pinkie Pie, who only shrugged her shoulders. “What? They’re good!”

These were the people helping her save the world?

Deep into the forest they went, following a path that became increasingly narrow and winding, lit only by the stars and the scarred moon above. It looked intimidating enough during the day, how could she have thought she could go into this forest by herself, Twilight wondered.

“So…have any of you been in the forest before? Fluttershy?” She asked.

“Oh no, the forest is far too scary, I could never go in alone.” Fluttershy replied.

Applejack shook her head. “None of us have been in here, and ah don’t blame any folk for avoidin’ it. These woods ain’t natural, the weather changes, the animals take care of themselves, and the trees grow all on their own.”

“It’s pure chaos.” Rarity said with a shiver of revulsion.

The group kept walking, and entered a thick mist. Applejack gestured around. “See what ah mean? It ain’t natural!”

Still at the back of the group, Pinkie Pie stopped when she heard movement behind her. Looking back, she saw only mist and trees, and shrugged her shoulders before jogging to catch up with her friends. As she left, three shadowy figures looked to each other with smiles before vanishing into the trees.


“I see something up ahead, it looks like a ravine.” Rainbow Dash called back as she reconnoitered the path ahead of the group. Sure enough, there was a broad and deep chasm crossable only by an ancient-looking draw bridge.

“What in tarnation is this?” Applejack asked, before she noticed that the path was hard and rocky leading up to the bridge, like it had once been paved.

Twilight examined the bridge. “We’re getting close to the castle. According to what I’ve learned about the forest from Princess Celestia, there used to be a city here. But it was abandoned after Celestia banished Nightmare Moon, and the forest was allowed to devour it. She founded Camelot afterwards.”

Fluttershy hummed. “Really? I always thought Camelot was the first city of Celestia.”

“And none of us ever heard of Nightmare Moon until she came and blew the roof off the house, literally.” Rainbow Dash chimed.

“Well, one of us did.” Applejack looked to Twilight at that.

Twilight grimaced slightly, and looked at the bridge. “It’s old, but it still might work. Rainbow Dash, can you get over there to the other side and lower it for us?”

Rainbow Dash smirked. “Time me.”

She suddenly vanished, crossing the wide chasm in an instant and descending towards the bridge’s control house. The moment she set her feet down, however, her keen eyes caught sight of a fast moving figure approaching her and ready to strike.

The first punch carried a lot of momentum behind it, but Rainbow Dash quickly deflected the blow with a raised arm before she spun and kicked her attacker in the side. Struck by the powerful kick, the black and purple-suited male winged folk tumbled along the ground, before a second suddenly struck from the mist.

Rainbow Dash was much faster than her new attacker, leaping over him and grabbing his shoulders before throwing him hard into a tree with enough force to shake leaves from it. Her first attacker was up again, closing in rapidly and attacking with quick, knife like strikes that could barely be seen.

“Please…I spar with Applejack, you’re way too slow!” Rainbow Dash went in low and struck him in the solar plexus with a disabling punch.

As he fell to the ground, coughing, Rainbow Dash got up and looked around. “You guys are going to have to do better than that if you want to beat this flyer.”

“Forgive us, we were only testing you.” A third male’s voice, effeminate, called out.

Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes as a third winged folk came drifting down, dressed the same as the other two jokers in a skin-tight flying suit oddly reminiscent of the Wonderbolts’ costumes. She had to admit, the costume was rather cool–though it’d look better on her.

Across the ravine, Twilight peered into the mist, and saw what was happening. “Oh no…”

The other looked to Twilight. Applejack spoke. “What is it?”

Rainbow Dash remained on her guard as the winged young man walked up to her. “You’re fast, strong, and skilled. We’re suitably impressed.” 

“Who are you guys?” Rainbow Dash asked.

“We are the Shadowbolts, the finest fliers in the world. Well…until we saw you.” The young man said.

Rainbow Dash cocked an eyebrow. “So you’re like, what, evil Wonderbolts?”

Okay, this had to be a trap or something. That sounded kind of lame.

“Consider us more of a dark reflection.” The young man clarified. “While the Wonderbolts wow and dazzle the crowd during the day, we perform a far more vital mission for the safety of Equestria.”

Oh? Now they had her attention. “So wait, you’re Special Ops?”

“You catch on very quickly. We Shadowbolts perform duties that require the fastest, bravest, and most skilled fliers in the world. Not even the best of the Wonderbolts could hope to fly with us, but you, Rainbow Dash…”

If their words were food, they would be delicious cake that Rainbow Dash could not stop eating. “Yeah, but me?”

The Shadowbolt leader smiled. “You have the making of a Captain of our squad, and we need you right now to defend Equestria.”

Rainbow Dash folded her arms, and feigned humbleness. “Well, if you need me so badly. Sure, sign me up. I just have to lower this bridge…”

The Shadowbolt leader took her by the arm. “There’s no time. We have to get you suited up and over to Camelot now, there’s a battle to fight.”

“Rainbow Dash, don’t listen to them!” Twilight’s voice called from across the ravine. When Rainbow Dash looked back towards her, however, the mist grew thicker; muffling anything else Twilight could say.

Turning back to the Shadowbolt, she found that the other two Shadowbolts had gotten back up, one holding a flying suit that was just her size. Their leader spoke. “So forget those girls and let’s go.”

Rainbow Dash stared at the Shadowbolts, and then glanced back towards the bridge. She then huffed through her nose. “Let’s go for a spin.”

She promptly introduced the Shadowbolts to her patented Rain-Blow Dry, spinning the leader into his subordinates and catching all three in a tornado that she sent blowing off into the trees, before jumping out and flying over to the bridge house. With a kick to the emergency release lever, she sent the bridge swinging down into place, and flew to the mists to the others, who greeted her with cheers.

“What was all that about?” Rarity asked.

Rainbow Dash shrugged her shoulders. “Some phony Wonderbolt wannabes tried to get me to ditch you. But I was like ‘no way!’ I’d never leave you guys hanging.”

Twilight smiled, and then looked across the bridge. “Well then, let’s keep going.”

And so the group marched forward, deeper into the forest.


Fire trailing behind her, Celestia raced through the night sky straight for Camelot, now wreathed in dense, dark clouds. Scanning the sky around her, she sought out Nightmare Moon, who she lost contact with after several blows back near Sunnyville.

Celestia stopped and looked around. “Luna, where are you?”

She then looked up to see Nightmare Moon’s silhouette framed neatly against her Moon and growing larger. “I told you not to call me that!”

Swinging her sword, Celestia blocked Nightmare Moon’s strike and both sisters sped up, exchanging blows at high speed as they passed one another, leaving explosions of normal and black fire behind whenever their blades struck.

Her horn glowing, Nightmare Moon stopped and pointed her sword at Celestia. In the air around the corrupted princess, numerous spears in the shape of her horn appeared. “Come now, sister. Surely you’re not going to just swing that inelegant sword at me with your burly arms all night, are you?”

The spears shot for and converged upon Celestia, creating a large explosion. Celestia, however, appeared above Nightmare Moon, and unleashed a blast of magic that sent her crashing into the ground far below. 

“I’m sorry, Luna.” Celestia said as her horn began to glow. The same invisible force flattened the ground in a rectangle shape around her sister, crushing trees and rocks flat. Yet another burst of power created a pit a mile deep with Nightmare Moon at the very bottom.

Holding her sword in her mouth, Celestia then held out her hands and clapped them together, closing the walls of the crater together, with a tremendous roar. 

Nightmare Moon’s voice then bellowed from the ground.

“STOP CALLING ME THAT!”

A giant hand composed of dirt and rock shot into the sky for Celestia, grabbing her as a stone giant in the shape of Nightmare Moon in the nude rose out of the ground. Closing the hand around Celestia into a fist the giant narrowed its eyes and its horn began to glow, applying immense pressure to the fist.

It exploded, however, revealing Celestia unharmed and raising her flaming sword, which grew and expanded into a blade many times her size. With a single swing of the blade, she cut the titan in half, before extending the flame into a tremendously long blade of fire that she swept across the land, incinerating the remains into glassy rocks.

The sword returned to its normal size, and Celestia swung it again to block another slash from Nightmare Moon, but it was the younger sister who had the upper hand, launching Celestia into the ground below at the base of Camelot’s hill.

The smoke cleared from the impact, revealing Celestia kneeling, and leaning against her sword. Nightmare Moon chuckled, before she looked at the cloud-wreathed city on the hill, and the castle perched near its top.

“Ah, how I’ve longed for this day.” She declared. “Should I destroy everything you worked so hard to build or just leave it all to rot away, forgotten, like all of your other sins?”

Celestia looked off to the side. “Stop twisting things, Luna…”

Nightmare Moon tensed. “You keep calling me that like you actually care about me. Why are you such a LIAR?!”

The moment Nightmare Moon raised her sword to attack, however, continuous streams of fire, ice, lightning, wind, and water surged from the clouds, smashed into her, and plowed her into the ground.

The clouds began clearing, revealing numerous winged Dreadnought-style airships with all of their guns trained on Nightmare Moon. On the hills surrounding Camelot, numerous tanks and artillery pieces also took aim. With these weapons were numerous Equestrian Military Soldiers, all scared witless at the prospect of fighting a Goddess, but nevertheless willing to do so.

“I’m sorry I was late for your arrival, Luna.” Celestia got up, her horn glowing brightly.

Nightmare Moon looked at all of the magically imbued weapons aimed at her. When she tried to move, she realized Celestia was holding her in place, and glared hatefully at her sister as she finished speaking.

“But I had to prepare a proper welcome.”

The many guns of the Equestrian Military opened fire, every round, missile, and element converging upon Nightmare Moon. 


“Who do you reckon those guys really were, Twilight?” Applejack asked as they entered what appeared to be an old, commercial district, overgrown with trees. Rainbow Dash had again gone scouting ahead to keep an eye out for trouble.

“I don’t know, but they were definitely up to no good.” Twilight said.

“Ooh! Maybe they’re Nightmare Moon’s evil team of evil dark ninja!” Pinkie Pie declared as she performed several odd poses.

“What’s a ninja?” Fluttershy asked.

Pinkie Pie shrugged her shoulders. “I don’t know; I just made it up! Sounds cool though, huh?” 

She began to jump around and pose. “Ninja! Ninja! Ninja…! NINJA!”

Rarity let out a sigh and rolled her eyes. “She’s going to be like this all day…night…oh you know what I mean.”

Twilight nodded in understanding, but personally did not find it bothersome at all. That Pinkie Pie could remain so cheerful during such a tense time actually relaxed her.

As they passed an old jewelry store, Rarity stopped and peered through the cracked glass windows still protecting the collection that was inside. “Oh my…”

Twilight and the others were continuing ahead, when the sound of glass shattering made them all jump. Looking back, they found Rarity trying on the highly expensive and ancient jewelry.

“Rarity, what are you doing?” Applejack asked.

Fluttershy looked around, nervously. “You can’t do that…that’s looting!”

“Darlings, it’s not looting them, I’m rescuing them.” Rarity replied as she gathered up a few more rings and necklaces.

Applejack let out a groan. “Makin’ all that racket’s gonna attract attention! Who knows what kinds of critters are lurkin’ around here!”

Even as she said that, a shadowy figure snuck up on Twilight, and grabbed her from behind, causing her to scream in terror. This prompted the rest of the group to jump back get ready for anything. The shadowy figure, however, turned out to be just Rainbow Dash, who began laughing.

“Oh, good one!” Pinkie Pie congratulated.

“Why thank you!” Rainbow Dash giggled.

Twilight whirled around on Rainbow Dash. “Come on! We’re on a mission; this isn’t the time for pranks!”

“I’m sorry, I couldn’t help it.” Rainbow Dash laughed again. “You all had your guard down and so I thought I’d keep you on your toes. Besides, you should’ve seen the looks on your faces, you were all…”

She stopped and stared past Twilight. 

Twilight rolled her eyes. “Yes, I know, ha-ha, now can we get going?”

Rainbow Dash was still staring. “Uh, Rainbow Dash?”

Rainbow Dash was now trembling as she raised a hand to point behind her. Twilight stopped, and slowly turned around… 

…And saw nothing.

Rainbow Dash then tickled Twilight’s sides, making her jump. “Eek!”

“Two for two!” Rainbow Dash called out.

“Bravo!” Pinkie Pie cheered, as the other girls tried to resist laughing.

Twilight shook her head. “Oh I bet you think you’re a barrel of laughs–.”

One of the buildings at the end of the street exploded, and a roaring, furious Manticore charged out of it straight for them.

From the moment Twilight saw the Manticore she remembered three things about them: Manticores were carnivores, Manticores were extremely durable and strong, and Manticores were immune to magic.

It took less than a second for Twilight to come up with a battle plan.

“RUN!”

And run screaming they did, straight down the street and away from the snarling animal running for them. Well, everyone else ran, Fluttershy just stood there to meet the beast’s charge. Looking back, Rarity gasped.

“Applejack! Rainbow Dash!” Rarity called out as she turned right back around and ran straight for the Manticore, grasping the hilt of her saber as she did. 

Applejack and Rainbow Dash also double-backed, leaving Twilight and Pinkie Pie at the rear as the three charged back to save Fluttershy. 

Rarity began to draw her saber, Applejack prepared to perform a flying kick, and Rainbow Dash sped up to tackle the Manticore, when Fluttershy suddenly opened her wings and spread her arms, stopping them. 

The Manticore stopped too, and stared at Fluttershy, who walked over and rested her hand on the beast’s face. “There, there…that’s quite alright. No one here is going to hurt you.”

Rarity, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash stared. “What.”

Twilight immediately recalled the Dire Badger incident, and began to relax. Though, this was different, Fluttershy didn’t seem to be using what she had on the badger here.

Kneeling down, Fluttershy lifted up the Manticore’s paw, revealing what appeared to be a knife jammed into it. “Oh my, who did this to you?”

She placed her hand on the hilt of the blade, and the Manticore growled. Fluttershy looked up at him. “This will only hurt for a second, and then it will be better.”

Carefully, Fluttershy pulled out the knife and then reached into her bag to begin cleaning and dressing the wound. The other girls gathered around, with Rainbow Dash and Applejack still ready to jump in at any moment to help her. It was unnecessary, however, as soon the wound was bandaged up, a very grateful manticore was licking Fluttershy’s face.

Fluttershy giggled as the manticore licked her. “You’re just a baby kitty aren’t you? You didn’t want to hurt anyone; you were just hurt and scared.”

“I. What.” Applejack looked to Rainbow Dash, who was just as dumbstruck.

“Man, Fluttershy, I knew you were good with animals but…wow.” Rainbow Dash said.

Hugging the Manticore and giving it some treats she’d also packed, Fluttershy waved as it walked back off into the shadows of the buildings. Twilight walked over to Fluttershy’s side, and then watched it go. “How’d you do that? I mean, how did you know it was hurt and not trying to eat us?”

“If the manticore was hungry, we wouldn’t have heard it coming.” The simple way Fluttershy explained it unnerved Twilight more than anything Rainbow Dash could ever do.

Fluttershy knelt down and picked up the knife she pulled from its paw. “An injured animal only wants help, if you show it some kindness, it won’t ever harm you.”

Looking at the knife, Fluttershy realized it was a black blade, similar to Nightmare Moon’s sword. She tightened her grip on the weapon, and for a brief moment became furious. Twilight caught this, and was even more unnerved.

“We should keep going.” Fluttershy said as she placed the knife in her bag.

And on, they went.


Staring at the cloud of smoke that rose from where Nightmare Moon had stood, Celestia tensed and felt her hold on her sister weaken before it failed altogether. She could see her, her blue eyes shining malevolently through the smoke as it began to clear around her.

Up on the hills, a female Earth Folk Major General observed the result of the barrage through binoculars and frowned. Of course the barrage would be ineffective, all they could do was hope to hold Nightmare Moon here. She turned to her subordinates and issued an order.

“Continue exactly as planned! Send the Fast Tanks and the Land Cruisers down and flank Nightmare Moon!” She ordered.

Engines roaring loudly, numerous small yet heavily armed medium tanks spilled down the hill, followed by much, much larger tanks sporting twin cannons in their turrets. Using the hill to gain momentum, the tanks sped up and charged straight for Nightmare Moon when they reached the base, passing Celestia on both sides and opening fire with their main guns on Nightmare Moon. 

Nightmare Moon watched the shells hurl towards her, and swung her sword, sending a midnight blue wave out that intercepted the shells in mid-flight. “What are those peculiar metal boxes?”

Celestia charged her next, clashing blades with Nightmare Moon and forcing her back. As they broke off, two of the Fast Tanks opened fire, and Celestia’s magic guided the shells directly into Nightmare Moon, sending her tumbling along the ground. 

With a flap of her wings, Nightmare Moon launched herself into the air, and dodged over and under streams of elemental magic, before Celestia attacked her again, forcing her to defend. Blades locked, Celestia and Nightmare Moon glared at each other before Celestia spun Nightmare Moon around, pointing her back to the pursuing tanks and their shells. 

The repeated impacts forced both Princesses into the ground, before Celestia launched Nightmare Moon over the tops of the Fast Tanks and into the sights of the larger guns of the Land Cruisers. Their guns were like thunder, and the explosive shells they lobbed were even louder than that when they struck where Nightmare Moon had landed.

The explosions hadn’t even cleared, when Celestia attacked again, and again, hammering her sister with frequent blows. 

Celestia pinned Nightmare Moon down against a rock, and braced herself as more shells rained down on both. The numerous impacts and explosions shattered the boulder and kicked up another cloud of smoke.

The Fast Tanks began to circle the point of impact, keeping a wide berth in case more artillery came raining down. Inside, the crews could see the flashes of Celestia and Nightmare Moon’s blades striking over and over against one another, before both shot from the smoke in different directions.

As she skimmed the ground, Nightmare Moon looked left and right, to see a pair of Fast Tanks racing to keep up with her. The one at her right suddenly dropped back as the one at her left shot her in the back. 

Nightmare Moon, of course, was unhurt. “Cowards! Fools! I’m going to take away your metal boxes!”

She raised her sword and swung the blade, a black wave of energy coming off it and enveloping the tank, when it passed, much of the tank was destroyed, but its bewildered two man crew was unharmed as they tried to figure out why.

Turning from the wreckage, Nightmare Moon suddenly moved at incredible speed, passing the other tank and flying off to seek out Celestia. The tank rolled to a stop, and fell in half, its two man crew also unhurt by the perfect strike.

“Stop wasting my time…and fight me one on one!” Nightmare Moon screamed as she charged Celestia, who was waiting for her on the other end of the battlefield. 

Spinning her sword, Celestia drove it into the ground. The moment Nightmare Moon reached her, Celestia grabbed her by the face and slammed her down.

“You…you…” Nightmare Moon stopped, when she saw one of the Airships plummeting towards them, at increasing velocity. Behind it, its crew sat on flying lifeboats, their hands raised in tearful salute of their ship.

“Using a battleship is cheating.” Nightmare Moon said.

The ship smashed into both Celestia and Nightmare Moon, before Celestia erected a large barrier over it and them. Inside the ship, a time bomb set in the ship’s magazines promptly reached zero, and a loud muffled explosion created a large earthquake felt all the way up the hill in Camelot.


“You know…this city, old as it is, looks a lot more…I don’t know…advanced than Camelot.” Twilight noted as they entered what they presumed to be the remains of a residential neighborhood. 

Rarity looked over. “What makes you say?”

“Well, look. Concrete and composites instead of bricks or wood…it’s so unnatural.” Twilight observed. “The roads are all paved, and even with the forest growing through them, a lot of the structures are intact, even structurally sound.”

“So you’re saying that whoever built this city a thousand years ago…was a lot more advanced then than we are now?” Rainbow Dash asked.

Rarity examined her “rescued” jewelry. “I must admit, whoever did build this city had excellent taste in aesthetic. I must remember to recreate this design when I get home.”

Applejack looked around; it had gotten a lot darker than it already was to begin with. A light shining suddenly caught her off guard, and she shielded her eyes to identify the source. It was Pinkie Pie wearing a safety helmet with an extremely bright lamp on it.

“Pinkie Pie would you stop pointing that thing in my face!” She protested, before another helmet was handed to her, produced from the large colorful bag Pinkie Pie had brought with her. “Uh, no thanks, I’m good.”

Fluttershy took it and put it on. “It’s awfully dark now though, don’t you think?”

Twilight and Rarity’s horns began glowing, providing their own light, while Rainbow Dash scoffed at the dark.

Pinkie Pie looked up, the canopy of the trees had completely blocked out the moon, and the trees and buildings were blocking out any other ambient light. “Ooh, spooky.”

“Everyone get behind me and stay close…” Applejack said as she took the lead. “There’s no telling what could be out here.”

She took a step and heard and felt something go squish beneath her foot. “Ah really hope that’s mud ah just stepped in.”

It wasn’t. The squishy thing she stepped in wrapped around her ankle and yanked her into the air, as she let out a scream. 

“Applejack-!” Twilight was cut off as tentacles grabbed her legs and waist, and dragged away. 

Rainbow Dash quickly charged in, but more tentacles shot from the trees and caught her wings and arms, holding them flat against her body. “Hey let go of me!”

Rarity quickly stood back to back with Fluttershy, and quickly went to draw her saber, but it was knocked from her hand she was brought down to the ground, while Fluttershy was similarly snatched up.

Struggling against the tentacles, Rarity, reached out for her sword, before something large landed in front of her. It was a hideous, black, blob-like beast on two stubby legs with huge ugly red eyes and a mouth full of gnarled teeth. Staring at her, it let out a horrifying sound, like children screaming in terror.

Understandably, Rarity freaked out.

Overhead, Applejack and Rainbow Dash faced against their own attackers, but the shrieks and their terrifying appearance even robbed them of the will to fight. Fluttershy was completely paralyzed, while Twilight was doing everything she could to still break free.

She knew about these creatures, and that made things worse. They were carnivorous, attacked in groups, and used fear to immobilize their prey before slowly consuming them. Death was assuredly going to be a long and drawn out affair.

However, she knew if you stood your ground, it’d dramatically increase your chances for survival. “I mustn’t run away, I mustn’t run away, I mustn’t run away, I mustn’t run…huh?”

The monsters and their victims all gave pause, when they heard Pinkie Pie’s laughter. She had been caught too, but rather than panicking, she was in hysterics, pointing a finger at the monster that held her.

“This one has buck teeth! Like a beaver!” She rested an arm over her forehead as she pointed at the unfortunate-looking critter.

The creature, either repulsed by Pinkie’s laughter of humiliated by its deformity being brought to attention, dropped her and backed away. It then let out its terrifying sound again, but Pinkie Pie laughed even harder.

“I don’t believe it.” Twilight said.

“HOW ARE YOU NOT FREAKING OUT RIGHT NOW?!” Rarity screamed as she continued to try kicking free of the monster that snared her.

“Oh girls, don’t you see?” Pinkie Pie asked, as she pulled a boom box out of her bag and hit the play button. Music began to play from it, causing the monsters to suddenly freeze up, like it was the most hideous sound in the world to them. 

Pinkie started singing. “When I was a little girl and the sun was going down.”

Twilight stared. “What.”

“The darkness and the shadows, they would always make me frown.” She sang as she skipped past Rarity and Fluttershy.

“Wonderful story, Pinkie, now SAVE US.” Rarity demanded.

“I'd hide under my pillow from what I thought I saw, but Granny Pie said that wasn't the way to deal with fears at all.” She waved to Applejack and Rainbow Dash.

“At least I get to hear a catchy tune before I die.” Rainbow Dash muttered.

“She said: Pinkie, you gotta stand up tall, learn to face your fears. You'll see that they can't hurt you, just laugh to make them disappear~.” She stopped at the monster holding Twilight, and got in its face.

“HA! HA! HA!”

The creature screamed, and dropped Twilight before skittering back from her. The other girls gasped in surprise, and then realizing that it was effective, turned very malicious grins onto their attackers. If the monsters could sweat, they’d be doing so by the bucket.

“So, giggle at the ghostly!” 

Fluttershy laughed at the monster holding her, and it promptly released her.

“Guffaw at the grossly!” 

Rainbow Dash did as instructed, causing the beast to flee her.

“Crack up at the creepy.” 

Rarity gave the tentacle monster holding her a sloe-eyed look and let out a derisive laugh, causing its tentacles to go limp before it slunk away.

“Whoop it up with the weepy.” 

Applejack was dropped after laughing at her monster, and she landed in a perfect three point crouch.

“Chortle at the kooky.” 

The monster that released Pinkie Pie rallied with the others and all roared at the girls.

“Snortle at the spooky.” 

The girls all responded by laughing and pointing at the monsters, causing them to lose their confidence and self-worth. Pinkie Pie then stepped up to the front of the huddled, terrified monsters and reached into her bag.

“And tell that big dumb scary face to take a hike and leave you alone and if he thinks he can scare you then he's got another thing coming and the very idea of such a thing just makes you wanna…!”

Reaching into her bag up to her shoulder, Pinkie Pie laughed unstably as she found what she was looking for, and pulled out a magazine-fed bazooka.

“LAUGH!” She called out before she fired the weapon, and blew the monsters up.

As bits of monster rained down on the group, everyone stared at Pinkie Pie, who lowered the recoilless rifle and turned to the others.

“What?” Pinkie Pie asked.

Twilight stared. For a moment, she was silent, before she snickered, and burst into laughter again. How could she not, after witnessing something so absurd? The other girls joined in, even Fluttershy, despite the fact that Pinkie Pie had just blasted a bunch of living creatures to bits.

“Well, the Elements of Harmony aren’t going to retrieve themselves, aren’t they?” Pinkie Pie asked as she turned her helmet light on and pointed it down the path. “Let’s go!”

The girls quickly followed, leaving the tentacle monsters to start pulling themselves back together. 


Out on the battlefield of the Goddesses, the barrier containing the exploding battleship faded, and the demolished wreck toppled over with a crash. Smoke rising from her body, Nightmare Moon slowly stood up, parts of her armor cracked, and her dress torn, as she tried to recover from the force of the blast that had been focused on her and Celestia.

“You…insane…” She held out her hand, and summoned her sword to it.

Celestia, parts of her own dress scorched and torn, leaned on her sword for a moment, before she pulled it out of the ground. Their wings opening, the two sisters threw themselves at each other and locked blades.

“…Impudent…” Nightmare Moon growled as both became wrapped in their respective auras of light and dark. “…Stubborn…goody-goody…”

The Fast Tanks that circled the two sisters quickly turned and retreated as the immense increase of power caused chunks rocks and debris to be lifted into the air like in a big updraft. 

Nightmare Moon pushed against Celestia, who pushed back with equal strength, their stalemate unbroken despite everything else around them coming apart. “…Why are you even bothering…? You can’t beat me…you’re not going to be able to…without…the…!”

All at once, Nightmare Moon realized what was really going on, and stared at her sister. “That apprentice of yours, I forgot all about her, didn’t I?”

Celestia drew her sword back. “Yes.”

She smacked Nightmare Moon with the flat of her sword, sending her into an unoccupied hill with enough force that it collapsed. 

Rays of midnight blue began to shine from the cracks and the rubble, before the hill and the dust that it created were all consumed by a growing flame the color of the starry sky.  At the center of the flames, Nightmare Moon was completely silent in her fury.

“That’s it dear sister…I’m not playing your game anymore.” She said coldly to Celestia. 

Holding out her free hand, she opened it, and then closed it. The starry flames became a tornado that spiraled into the sky, before it scattered into streams that fell upon the Equestrian Military’s ships, engulfing them and sending them crashing to the ground, losing their wings in the process. 

Striking the ground, the flame struck tanks and artillery pieces, the magic forcibly twisting the barrels of the weapons. Not even the speedy Fast Tanks could escape the streams of fire, which shredded their treads and bent their barrels in wild angles.

The streams struck against Celestia, but were scattered by her power as she rushed straight for Nightmare Moon. Her horn and eyes glowing brightly, she tackled Nightmare Moon, digging a long trench across the ground before both came to a stop. Pinned underneath her older sister, Nightmare Moon stared up at Celestia.

Celestia was shocked to sense that not a single folk had been killed by Nightmare Moon’s attack. Why had she spared them when she was well within her power to destroy them? Was…was the little sister she knew and loved still in there, beneath that twisted bitterness?

“Luna…” She then felt a burning pain in her chest, as Nightmare Moon’s blade was thrust through it.

Shoving Celestia off her with the sword still in her chest, Nightmare Moon’s horn began to glow, and she stood up. “I told you to stop calling me that.”

The chain at the end of the sword extended and shot into the ground. Seconds later, numerous chains from different directions shot out of it, and lashed around Celestia’s body, securing her in place on her knees in front of Nightmare Moon.

Kneeling down in front of Celestia, Nightmare Moon reached up and caressed her face. “Dear older sister, you really thought you could bide your little apprentice time?”

Celestia was visibly struggling against the chains, but the sword and the injury it had caused had sapped her strength. Nightmare Moon smiled, and summoned another sword, before taking Celestia’s blade and tossing it aside. “I’m going to go kill your only hope, Celestia. I’ll bring her body back for you to grieve over.”

Opening her wings, she lifted off and flew fast for the Everfree Forest, leaving Celestia to bow her head,

“Please save my little sister, Twilight.” She whispered.


“It got really quiet over there.” Rainbow Dash noticed. Indeed, the entire group could hear now were the ambient sounds of the forest. Distant creatures, the rustling of leaves, the hysterical cries of a sea dragon in the river up ahead…wait a second.

“Hey, do you guys hear…that…” Twilight stopped when they reached the clearing and saw the broad river separating them from the ruins of the castle. 

Pinkie Pie put her hands on her hips. “How are we gonna cross this?”

Rainbow Dash looked up and down the river. There was a bridge, but it appeared to have been destroyed. Before she could offer to try flying everyone over, the hysterical crying Twilight had noticed started up again.

“Guys, I’m not the only one who notices that, am I?” Twilight asked, before Rarity pointed.

“Look!”

And look they did, at a long haired, purple, and fabulous looking sea serpent crying his eyes out and thrashing about in the river, creating the unsafe conditions. It didn’t appear hurt, but one of its long orange whiskers was missing.

“What a world, what a world!” The sobbing serpent shouted in his sadness.

Twilight looked amongst her companions and shrugged her shoulders before calling out. “Excuse me, sir? Can you tell us why you’re crying?”

The serpent looked down at the six lady folk staring curiously at him, and turned away melodramatically. “Don’t look at me, I’m hideous!”

“No kidding.” Rainbow Dash muttered, and Applejack elbowed her in the gut. “Oof!”

“Could you tell us what happened? Maybe we can help you.” Twilight called.

The serpent let out a sigh. “It was terrible! I was just sitting here, minding my own business, when this horrid, effeminate little winged folk boy in a tacky skintight suit flew up and sliced off part of my moustache!”

“Effeminate…?” Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes. “The Shadowbolts.”

Applejack rolled her eyes. “Well, could you stop thrashing around! We have places to go and you’re in our way!”

Rarity let out a gasp. “Applejack! How can you be so insensitive? Just look at him, he’s simply divine!”

Everyone stared at Rarity, in shock. The sea serpent actually blushed.

Pinkie Pie then spoke up. “Uh, Rarity? I know you’re hard up for a guy, but…”

Rarity held her hand in Pinkie’s face, silencing her. She looked to the serpent. “Look at his magnificent scales, his excellently styled hair, and his most expertly done manicure! Why, he must spend hours at the salon.”

Applejack tilted her head to one side, baffled at the idea. “A salon. For sea serpents.” 

“Oh, it’s true! You have no idea how much work has to be done, it’s very expensive.” The sea serpent replied.

Applejack pulled her hat down over her face, refusing to try making sense of this anymore.

“And to think, all of that hard work, the grooming, the money…all of it is gone because someone defaced your moustache!” Rarity shook her head.

The Sea Serpent swooned melodramatically once more. “Oh, the shame, my life is forfeit!”

Rarity quickly drew her saber, her blue eyes narrowing. “Then I will just have to do something about that.”

Twilight recoiled. “Rarity, what are you doing?”

When she raised her sword, the girls gasped, and when she made the devastating cut, Fluttershy actually fainted.

The sea serpent was shocked. “Young madam…but…why…?”

Her hair cut neatly just above the shoulders, Rarity reached into Pinkie Pie’s bag and pulled out some hair care products. She then proceeded to dye the long section of her hair she removed orange, and used her magic to swiftly attach it to the cut section of the serpent’s mustache.

The serpent quickly calmed the waters, and looked at his reflection in the moonlit surface. “Oh my, it…it’s marvelous!”

He looked to Rarity. “Oh thank you, young madam. How could I ever replay you for your generosity! This…oh this is just the greatest!”

“Oh, think nothing of it. As a connoisseur of fashion and as a Lady, it is my noble duty to tend to the needs of others, and you are truly a serpent in need”

Twilight was in disbelief, before Rarity’s words rang in her memory and she smiled. Rarity definitely wasn’t like the girls back in Camelot, not at all.

Rarity stepped up to the shore. “It’s going to be a swim, but at least we can cross now.”

It was then that the sea serpent raised his body from the river. “Please, allow me to see you across, it’s the least I can do!”

Smiling to each other, the girls climbed upon the serpent’s back, and he began for the other side, of course sharing fashion tips with Rarity along the way.


At the palace of the two sisters, the Elements of Harmony sat atop their pedestal, encased in stone and inert as they had been for one thousand years. Even as they were, Nightmare Moon was hesitant to go anywhere near them. She remembered their power, even waning they had been enough to throw her to and lock her upon the Moon.

But, she had made it here before the apprentice could. She had nothing to fear.

“Our Princess, Nightmare Moon.” She turned and stared in surprise at the Shadowbolts, all six of them, knelt before her in two rows of three.

“What…what are you doing here?” The last time Nightmare Moon had seen them was a thousand years ago!

The not as young as he looked leader looked up to his ruler. “We sealed ourselves away, to be awakened to serve you once more when you were freed. We wanted to make our presence known in that town, Sunnyville, but then Princess Celestia arrived. We have, however, been tracking and delaying her apprentice and the companions she’s chosen.”

Nightmare Moon smiled at that, and nodded her approval. “Well done, my servants. When she arrives, allow the apprentice to enter the palace, and do as you please with her companions.” 

The Shadowbolts all bowed their heads again. “We obey, O Sovereign of the Night.”

All six vanished in a cloud of expanding mist, which poured from the dilapidated castle’s doors and windows and spread to enshroud all of it.

The rolling mist greeted the girls, as they passed the walls of the castle. Everyone was on their guard, Rarity’s saber was drawn, Rainbow Dash was flying above the group, with keen eyes piercing the mist, Pinkie Pie had her bazooka pointed at anything she thought was moving, while Applejack brought up the rear with Fluttershy, who held the knife she got from the manticore in both hands, close to her chest.

At the front of the group, Twilight’s horn glowed as she tried to see further into the mist herself, but was having no luck. “I can barely see my hand in front of me…Rainbow Dash, what about you?”

“I got nothing, I’m gonna try to get ahead.” Rainbow Dash flew forward.

And a loud splat was heard as she smacked into a wall. “Ow.”

Everyone winced, and Fluttershy looked from Applejack to the direction of Rainbow Dash’s voice. “Oh no, Rainbow Dash are you alright?”

As she flew off into the mist, a pair of hands reached from behind Applejack and yanked her into the mist with one hand over her mouth, and the other around her waist. 

Her muffled cry alerted the others, who turned around. “Applejack!”

“Get your hands off me, varmint!” Applejack called out, before she kicked her attacker and quickly reunited with the groups. “Guys, someone tried to grab me just now!”

Pinkie Pie aimed her bazooka. “I got it!”

She fired a rocket straight towards where Applejack came from, only for the rocket to be kicked off its mark before it could explode. “Pinkie Pie ya dern fool!”

The rocket exploded, revealing…Applejack?!

“Wait, what’s going on?” Rarity asked as she looked from the second Applejack to the first.

Pinkie Pie aimed her bazooka at the second, and then at the first, who quickly put her hands up. “Don’t point that at me, she’s an imposter!”

Applejack Number 2 pointed at Applejack Number 1. “That one’s one of them there Shadowbolts, he grabbed me an’ took my appearance!”

Applejack Number 1 pointed at Applejack Number 2. “What in tarnation are you thinkin’ calling me an imposter? You’re the one who took my form after ah kicked ya in the head!”

“Ah ain’t no fake, you are!” Number 2 argued.

Number 1 bristled. “You callin’ me a liar?”

Twilight looked back and forth between the two Applejacks, her horn glowing. Whoever was the fake was using a very strong magic, she couldn’t tell the difference between the two at all. 

Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy emerged from the mist at Twilight’s side, and were stopped by the strange scene. Twilight looked to the two Winged Folk. “Any ideas?”

Fluttershy shook her head, while Rainbow Dash bit her lower lip. “Two Applejacks, unf.”

Both Applejacks glared at Rainbow Dash. “HEY!”

Rainbow Dash snapped her fingers. “Darn, hoped the fake would go for it.”

It was Rarity, however, who had an idea. “Oh Applejack, I heard from sources that wished to remain undisclosed that you were a big fan of Eventide.”

A long silence fell over the group and the two Applejacks, before Rainbow Dash burst out laughing. “You…you of all folk read that mushy, badly written Vampire Love Story trash?”

Pinkie Pie snickered, and then began laughing as well, while Rarity looked smug. Applejack Number 1 blushed, and hiked her shoulders, before she puffed out her chest. “So what if ah like it? Ah enjoy it and ah’ll stand by it, so laugh all you want!”

Applejack Number 2 opened her mouth to accuse Number 1 of being the fake, but Pinkie Pie had already shot her in the chest, sending her crashing into and through the wall behind her before the rocket exploded.

Twilight, surprised, stared at the blasted Applejack, and then went wide-eyed when she saw that Number 2 had indeed been the fake! She looked to the real Applejack, still blushing, but smiling big to her friends.

“Y’all hit way below the belt, you know.” She said in mock indignation.

Rainbow Dash chuckled. “Applejack, you’re stubborn, ill-tempered, and the worst tease, but you’re at least honest about what you like, even if it’s garbage.”

Applejack snorted smugly, before she stopped and stared at Rainbow Dash. “What do you mean, ‘the worst tease’?”

“You tell me, Daisy Dukes.” Rainbow Dash replied, prompting a glare from Applejack, before the fake Applejack, in fact a Shadowbolt, got back up.

Rainbow Dash narrowed her eyes, when the five other Shadowbolts joined him; all posed menacingly in front of or atop the wall. “Shadowbolts…” 

“Our Princess, Nightmare Moon, shall not be defeated by you fetid female folk.” Their effeminate leader taunted.

“Who are you calling Fetid?” Pinky Pie yelled at the Shadowbolt Leader, before she looked to Rarity. “What does fetid mean?”

“It means smelly and unpleasant.” Rarity replied.

That just made Pinkie Pie even madder. “Rude!”

Twilight looked from the Shadowbolts to the Castle. “I’m going to go get the elements and activate them; can you guys handle them here?”

“N-no, not really.” Fluttershy admitted.

Rainbow Dash smirked. “I’ll kick enough butts for the three of us.

Applejack cracked her knuckles. “Go do what you have to do, Twilight. We’ll take care of these varmints.”

Rarity readied her sword as Pinkie Pie reloaded her bazooka. The former spoke. “Just don’t take too long, Twilight, lest we become bored out here waiting.”

One of the Shadowbolts, his suit numbered 3, pulled out two curved long swords similar to Nightmare Moon’s, as the Shadowbolt next to him, Number 5, pulled out what looked like a long-barreled musket, challenging Rarity and Pinkie Pie respectively.

A Shadowbolt twirling a knife between his fingers, Number 4 spoke to their leader. “I got dibs on the weak one.” 

The leader shrugged his shoulders as he sized up Rainbow Dash. “Whatever.”

Applejack huffed when Shadowbolts 2 and 6 sized her up, and adopted fighting stances. The former had been the one who had attempted to impersonate her. Making sure her hat was on tight, she crouched and sprang forward, crossing the distance towards the two winged folk before leaping and coming down with a punch that shattered the wall and kicked up a cloud of dust.

That was the cue to begin the fight, as Twilight turned and ran for the castle. Emerging from the dust first, Shadowbolt 5 aimed at the fleeing Horned Folk’s back before Pinkie Pie entered his iron sight, aiming her bazooka at him.

Shadowbolt 5 went straight up and over the missile, which curved off into the sky overhead, and fired at Pinkie Pie, who had taken cover behind a large block. The shot destroyed most of the stone, before Pinkie Pie popped her head up and pulled down her lower eyelid to taunt him.

“Your aim sucks!” She taunted before she dove out of the way from another shot that destroyed the rest of her cover. 

Shadowbolt 3 emerged from the cloud slowly, approaching Rarity with his two swords ready for any attack the horned woman could attempt. Rarity looked a little intimidated. “Now that I think about it, I think I’ve overestimated my abilities. You have two swords, and I only have one…”

“Don’t worry; I won’t hit any of your vitals, but it will hurt.” Shadowbolt 3 said before he attacked with unbelievable speed and ferocity. 

When Rarity raised her sword to block, both blades struck and she was sent tumbling backwards towards the stairs of the palace. He lowered his weapons and let out a sigh. “So weak.”

Overhead, Shadowbolt Leader and Rainbow Dash narrowly passed one another, faster and faster, each trying to throw their opponent off with their high speed and G maneuvers to create an opening for an attack.

“You’re as good as I suspected.” Shadowbolt Leader complimented as they spiraled around each other in a climb.

“What did you just say? I can’t hear you over how fast I am!” Rainbow Dash replied before she changed direction at a right angle and shot past one of the castle’s towers.

On the other side, however, Shadowbolt Leader kicked her in the chin, sending her into and through the tower. Leaving a purple, yellow, and black streak behind him, raced over the top of the tower to attack Rainbow Dash again, but only passed through her Technicolor streak.

“Huh?” He asked before Rainbow Dash smacked him atop the back of his head.

“Tag, you’re it.” She said before she suddenly shot straight up.

Smirking, Shadowbolt Leader raced after her into the night sky. 

Down below, Fluttershy had taken cover behind some rubble from the collapsed wall, and peering over it at Applejack as she skillfully held off two of the Shadowbolts at once with her martial arts skill alone.

Parrying the rapid strikes from Shadowbolt 2, Applejack spun and backhanded her attacker and continued the spin to block Shadowbolt 6’s palm strike for her neck. Grabbing Shadowbolt 6’s arm, she threw him to the ground and then kicked Shadowbolt 2 in the chest as he lunged at her from behind.

“Y’all had better work harder if yer gonna beat this lady!” She yelled as she then punted Shadowbolt 6 over the wall.

She turned and slapped away two more punches from Shadowbolt 2, before leveling him with a hard right to the jaw. As he fell, however, Shadowbolt 6 grabbed her from behind, his arms looping under her shoulders and clasping his hands behind her neck.

“Dang it, y’all quit grabbin’ me!” Applejack yelled as Shadowbolt 6 leaped into the sky, his partner coughing before he too opened his wings and took to the sky.

“Oh no, Applejack!” Fluttershy gasped, before Shadowbolt 4 grabbed her by her hair and yanked her backward; causing her to drop the knife she had equipped herself with. “Ow!”

Thrown onto her back, she let out a squeak of fear and rolled out of the way of a knife being driven into the ground where her head had been. Getting up, she crawled backward from Shadowbolt 4, who raised his knife  and twirled it in his hand as he walked after her.

“N-now hold on…” Fluttershy squeaked. “…Y-you don’t want to hurt me…I’m weak, and helpless, and I don’t know how to f-fight…I’m no challenge for you at all.”

The Shadowbolt smiled and pointed his black painted knife at Fluttershy. “Silly girl, that is exactly why I picked you.”

Fluttershy stared at the knife, before she recognized it as identical to the knife she pulled from the Manticore’s paw.


As the battle waged outside, Twilight had made it into the palace and rushed to the Elements of Harmony. They are all there, all she had to do was activate them and this would all be over. Hopefully Princess Celestia was still keeping Nightmare Moon at bay so she could work without any further interruption.

Those hopes were swiftly dashed by the appearance of Nightmare Moon in a dramatic swirl of starry night sky. The dark princess was standing directly between Twilight and the Elements, her sword ready and gleaming despite its black color.

Twilight felt a flash of fear. “Oh crap.” 

“Realizing now that I’ve defeated your Princess and there is nothing on this planet that can save you, apprentice?” Nightmare Moon asked.

That fear flared up, but was quickly squashed down. No, now wasn’t the time to be afraid, the Elements were right there, and Nightmare Moon or High Water, she was going to end this eternal night! For Celestia, for Equestria, and for all the folk who were counting on her!

“You know what? I don’t really care.” Twilight replied as her horn began to glow brightly and she charged straight for Nightmare Moon.

Nightmare Moon stared at her, surprised that she was attacking. “You’re kidding. You’re kidding, right?”

Twilight yelled. “No!”

Nightmare Moon sighed. “I wanted to make more of a show of this, but, whatever.”

Moving faster than any other folk could hope to follow; Nightmare Moon swung her sword to cut Twilight in half, only to come to a stop when she didn’t feel the familiar weight of her blade cutting through its target. She turned and looked around.

“Wait, what?” She asked, before Twilight reappeared in a flash of light atop the pedestal of the Elements of Harmony. “That frail little girl can use that spell?”

Disoriented by her teleportation only briefly, Twilight quickly caught herself and balanced upon the center of the pedestal as she challenged all of her magical might into the elements. Seeing this, Nightmare Moon’s eyes grew wide.

“No…no…!” She quickly attacked again, swinging her sword to strike down Twilight, only to be stopped by a powerful barrier created by the Elements as they began to react. “NO!”

Twilight looked up at the barrier, and Nightmare Moon’s panic, and grinned. “That’s right, Nightmare Moon! This is the light you fear, the power of the Elements of Harmony! And with these, I will–!”

There was a loud sound, like electricity arcing between Tesla coils, and suddenly Twilight Sparkle was flung off the Elements and over Nightmare Moon’s head. Tumbling on the floor, she slowly got up and turned to stare at the still glowing elements and Nightmare Moon standing over them as their glow grew brighter.

“No! No! No…?” Nightmare Moon stared at the Elements as the glow suddenly disappeared. It appeared that Twilight’s efforts didn’t make a bit of difference. The elements were inert.

Twilight was stupefied. “But…how? They’re all here, I gave them a spark, where’s the sixth element?” 

Nudging one of the elements with her foot, Nightmare Moon’s eyes widened, before she began laughing. Raising her free hand up, she closed it, and her dark magic shattered the pedestal and the elements, sending the pieces spraying in every direction, and raining down upon a completely devastated Twilight.

“But…how…?” Twilight asked, before she was impaled through her chest by Nightmare Moon, who went on to slam her into the wall of the castle, cracking it. 

Twilight tried to make a sound, but couldn’t from the air being forced from her lungs and the intense pain from the wound. 

Staring down at Twilight, Nightmare Moon laughed. “Thinking you could defeat me, when your beloved Princess couldn’t? I’ve destroyed your elements, I’ve sealed away your Princess, and I’ve taken your worthless little life.”

Twilight tried to gasp, but it came out as a bloody cough. Nightmare Moon reached up and caressed her face. “But it won’t be all bad. You won’t die alone here…I’ll send your friends along to join you soon enough…” 

Those words resonated with Twilight, and even mortally wounded her mind quickly began to work.

“Make some friends? She wants me to make preparations for the party and make some friends? How does doing that even begin to prepare us for the doom that is coming to Equestria?”

“Well it’s a pleasure making your acquaintance, Miss Twilight!”

“You’re pretty okay, Twilight, I can’t wait to hang out some more.”

“Oh Twilight, I do hope we become the best of friends!”

“See? Now you will have lots, and lots of friends!”

“I really wanted to get to know you better, and I was afraid that gave you a bad impression.”

Twilight’s eyes went wide. “…That’s it.”

Nightmare Moon blinked. “What’s it?”

There was then a blinding flash, and Nightmare Moon was flung away from Twilight and it was her turn to take a tumble across the ancient floor of the castle. Stopping herself with her sword, it took Nightmare Moon a moment to realize that the blade was no longer run through Twilight, who pushed herself off the wall, light beaming from her horn and from the hole in her chest. 

“What is this…?” Nightmare Moon asked in a trembling voice.

Twilight closed her eyes and smiled. “You thought you can destroy the Elements of Harmony just like that? Well you’re wrong, because the spirits of the Elements of Harmony are still here!”

As she spoke, the shattered elements began to shake and glow, before they levitated into the air around Nightmare Moon. 


Outside, Shadowbolt 4 lunged to stab Fluttershy and stopped, paralyzed. She was staring at him; her green eyes narrowed in anger as she got up and took the knife from his hand. Throwing it aside, she got directly into Shadowbolt 4’s face. “You…you’re the one who hurt that poor baby Manticore, aren’t you!”

Shadowbolt 4 was overcome with terror, so much so that he could not control his actions or his words. “Y-yes!”

Fluttershy grabbed him by the collar of his flight suit, and then yanked him down…right over her knee. She then commenced spanking him. “You are a very bad person and you should be ashamed! Picking on a defenseless manticore, what do you have to say for yourself?!”

“Ah! Ow! Ow! Ow! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m sorry! I’m so sorry!” Shadowbolt 4 cried in shame and fear as he was punished. 

Back inside the castle, Twilight spoke. “Fluttershy, who can show nothing but compassion to anyone, represents the Spirit of Kindness!”

The shattered Element of Harmony then reformed itself, becoming a butterfly shaped pink opal.

Shadowbolt 3, stepping up to Rarity, offered her the opportunity to get onto her feet, which she did. He was a good sport, and seeing that he was so much better than her, he decided he’d give her a chance, and gestured for her to come at him. “Come now, don’t hold back at all. Give me all that you have, and if I’m impressed I may let you live.”

Rarity, holding her saber, nodded slowly. “If you say so…”

Everything happened in an instant, Shadowbolt 3’s swords were knocked from his hands, which were quickly lacerated, and Rarity had the end of her saber rested against his throat.

“H-how…?” The disarmed Shadowbolt asked.

“I apologize for being deceptive, but you’re just not worth my time.” Rarity said smoothly.

“Rarity, who soothed a sobbing serpent by giving up her lovely hair, represents the Spirit of Generosity!” Twilight declared, and that broken element reformed, becoming a diamond shaped amethyst.

High over the castle, Shadowbolt 6 held tightly onto Applejack as Shadowbolt 2 cracked his knuckles. “I’m going to enjoy this too much.”

He raced at Applejack to punch her in the face, but at the very last moment, she turned her head to the side, causing his fist to graze the side of it before plowing into Shadowbolt 6’s jaw, knocking him out cold and causing him to release her. “No!”

“Oh, yes!” Applejack kicked off Shadowbolt 6’s body and grabbed Shadowbolt 2 around the neck with a lariat. She swung him around, going into a spin as they fell. 

At the last minute she let go, throwing Shadowbolt 2 into Shadowbolt 6, both causing a loud thud and kicking up dust and bits of rock as they impacted the ground. She landed in front of the rising cloud of dust perfectly. “An Apple a day keeps the bandits away!”

“Applejack, whose wasn’t afraid to admit what she liked, represents the spirit of Honesty!” Twilight declared. Subsequently, the corresponding element repaired itself into an apple-shaped citrine.

Back outside, Pinkie Pie ran from explosions as Shadowbolt 3 continued firing his rifle at her, and finally dove behind cover, a large block, the last shot chipping part of it off. As he lowered the weapon, Pinkie Pie jumped up onto the block and aimed her bazooka at him.

“I’ve got you now!” She called out as she fired off several more rockets at him. Shadowbolt 3 easily avoided the rockets, moving from side to side, and the rockets immediately began curving off into the sky in random directions.

“Who do you have?” He asked as he dodged a fourth rocket with ease. Undeterred, Pinkie Pie pulled out a compressed air gun and fired a suction cup-tipped dart with a flashing red end that harmlessly stuck to Shadowbolt 3’s forehead. “Huh?”

Pinkie Pie then turned her back to him, and set the end of her bazooka on the ground, posing. Seeing this, Shadowbolt 3 removed the dart and stared at it before looking to her. “What’s the big idea, fatso? Giving up?”

“No!” Pinkie Pie declared. “It’s just that cool dudes don’t look at explosions!”

Shadowbolt 3 lowered his rifle. “What–?”

The four rockets that Pinkie Pie fired hit the Shadowbolt, having homed in on the tracer dart, and created a very large explosion above and behind her. As the unconscious Shadowbolt hit the ground, Pinkie Pie laughed.

Nightmare Moon watched as yet another Element reformed, becoming a balloon-shaped blue topaz. “Pinkie Pie, who laughed at fear itself, represents the Spirit of Laughter!” Twilight declared. “And finally…!”

Whipping and spiraling through the air higher and faster, Rainbow Dash and Shadowbolt Leader ascended high above the clouds over the Everfree Forest, rings of vapor forming around them as they went transonic. Glancing to her side, Rainbow Dash smirked to her opponent, who returned the smirk.

Then, turning at right angles, both charged each other at supersonic closing speeds, before Rainbow Dash twisted her body to slam a kick into Shadowbolt Leader’s face, which he blocked with both arms raised. The impact sounded like a crack of thunder, and both winged folk were sent flying back.

Her wings fluttering as she stabilized herself, Rainbow Dash watched as her opponent did the same.  Shadowbolt Leader smiled and spoke. “You may be fast, but you don’t hit hard quite enough. You should really reconsider joining us; we could get all that extra speed out of you.”

Rainbow Dash grinned. “You don’t get how fast I am, do you? I could beat you in ten seconds flat!”

She paused, and then added. “In fact, I will.”

To Shadowbolt Leader’s surprise, she suddenly vanished. “Where did she-AHHH!”

Rainbow Dash had tackled him, and gone into a dive, a Mach Cone rapidly forming around her as she aimed for the forest outside of the castle. Seconds later, there was a loud explosion from the trees that knocked some down, before Rainbow Dash shot out from them and slid to a halt through the at the steps of the castle, joining the other girls.

Running her fingers through her hair, Rainbow Dash looked back towards where she left Shadowbolt Leader in a crater, and then laughed. “I guess I was faster than I thought.”

She looked up at the lights coming from inside the castle, and then looked to the others. “Come on, Twilight needs our help!”

The last crystal reformed, becoming a lightning bolt-shaped lightning bolt as Twilight Sparkle finished. “Rainbow Dash’s refusal to go off with your flunkies, even when offered personal glory, represents the Spirit of Loyalty!”

The five Spirits of Harmony entered at that moment, and saw the light show going on. The Elements themselves, reacting to their arrival, quickly shot to them, golden necklaces forming around the crystals that quickly affixed themselves around the necks of each girl. 

“Because of the spirits they represent, these girls got through every obstacle thrown at them to get here.” Twilight declared.

Nightmare Moon got up, and began to glow from the tip of her horn to her feet. “You still don't have the sixth Element! The spark didn't work!”

“Oh, but it did!” Twilight said as she put her hand over the glowing wound, the light seeping from under her fingers. “A different kind of spark was what was needed! When you threatened to hurt them after you stabbed me, I could only think of them, and it hit me! I realized how happy I was to have met them, and how much I cared about them!”

She looked back to her friends. “The spark ignited inside me when I realized that you all are my friends!”

Closing her eyes, Twilight faced Nightmare Moon. “You see, Nightmare Moon, when those Elements are ignited by the spark that resides in the heart of us all, it creates the sixth element: the element of... magic.”

She opened her eyes, now glowing brightly, as the sixth crystal appeared in the form of a six point star set in a golden crown. Her clothes immediately transformed, becoming a regal white dress not unlike Princess Celestia’s. The other elements reacted accordingly, transforming Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy’s clothes into the ethereal white dresses.

Nightmare Moon pointed her hand at the six girls, to incinerate them all before they could attack her. “I WON’T LET YOU!”

Twilight Sparkle grinned. “I already did, three-point-five seconds ago.”

The Elements all shining as one, they produced an incredible ray of light that shot up, and arched over in all the colors of the rainbow before slamming down upon Nightmare Moon. On impact, the rainbow colored light blasted out of every opening of the castle, and spread across the sky, turning night into day as the sun rose triumphantly into the sky on the wave of power.


When the light faded, Twilight opened her eyes and sighed when she felt the warm rays of the morning sun on her face. “Oh…is everyone okay?”

Rainbow Dash sat up. “Oh my head…my…clothes?”

She stopped and looked down at herself. Halter-neck top that bared her midriff, flowing white skirt, crazy awesome necklace, and she didn’t even feel like she’d spent the last few hours trudging through a murky forest.

“Oh, thank goodness!” Rarity exclaimed suddenly, and everyone looked to find that her shorn hair had grown back. Generous as she had been, she was not looking forward to growing it all back out again.

Fluttershy was more mesmerized by Rarity’s attire, and the necklace that was around her neck too. “Why Rarity, it’s so lovely.”

“I know! I’ll never part with it again!” Rarity declared as she combed her fingers through it.

“I mean your necklace; it looks like your cutie mark.” Fluttershy clarified, pointing at the side of Rarity’s waist and the trio of diamonds etched there.

Rarity examined the necklace and the diamond-shaped amethyst locked into it. “So it is! Yours is too, dear.”

Fluttershy compared the butterfly-shaped pink opal with her cutie mark, and giggled. “It’s cute.”

“Look at mine, look at mine!” Pinkie Pie said to Rainbow Dash as she held up her balloon-shaped blue topaz.

Rainbow Dash held up her necklace’s lightning-shaped ruby and nodded. “Yours is cool, but mine is like…twenty percent cooler.”

“Oh yeah!” Pinkie Pie agreed.

Twilight adjusted the crown upon her head, and removed it to look at the six-point star that resembled her cutie mark, which Applejack quickly noticed was missing from her side.

“Hey, sugar cube, where’s your cutie mark?” Applejack said as she walked over to Twilight.

Twilight flushed a little and smiled. “Uh well…mine’s is in a weird place.”

She turned around, displaying her six-point star cutie mark at the small of her back. Applejack raised an eyebrow at this. That certainly was an odd spot. 

Still, it wasn’t a big deal. “You know Twilight, you pulled one heck of a win.”

“No, we all did.” Twilight replied as she gave Applejack a friendly hug.

“That’s correct!”

The six girls quickly turned and looked in surprise as Princess Celestia, her body and dress mended by the light of her sun, descended through one of the palace’s large windows and came to a landing in front of them. The other girls immediately bowed, while an overjoyed Twilight all but leapt to embrace her mentor.

“Princess Celestia!” She cried happily as she hugged her Princess, who returned the hug.

“Twilight Sparkle, my faithful student, I knew I could count on you.” Celestia said as she touched her horn to Twilight’s.

Twilight then looked up. “You knew that Nightmare Moon was coming back, and you knew that the Elements were the only things that could stop her! That’s why you sent me to Sunnyville, to make friends so we could defeat Nightmare Moon, right?”

Princess Celestia nodded. “Yes, it is as you say.” She then looked to the other girls. “I knew that you had the power to use the elements, Twilight, but you wouldn’t be able to unless you made some genuine friends and accepted them into your heart.”

Twilight looked from Celestia to her friends, who all smiled back to her. When she turned to look back to her mentor, the Princess was walking over to where Nightmare Moon lay defeated. She looked different now, no longer statuesque like Celestia. She was a shorter girl around Twilight’s height, with a much simpler black gown and crown, the midnight blue armor lay shattered around her.

“Princess Luna.” Celestia called to her, and Luna sat up, looking as though she had woken up from a terrible nightmare.

“S-Sister…I…!” Luna stopped when Celestia knelt beside her.

Celestia stopped Luna with a finger on Luna’s lips. “I know that it wasn’t you who I locked away on the Moon. It was the bitterness and anger that consumed you. Still, what I did to you was terrible Luna, and for it I’m so sorry.”

Luna was stunned. “You…you’re apologizing to me…after what I did? What I almost did?”

Tears welled up in Luna’s eyes, as she hugged Celestia. “Celestia! I forgive you! I missed you so much!”

Celestia hugged Luna back, allowing her tears to fall as well. “I missed you too, Luna.”

“It just warms your heart, doesn’t it?” Rarity asked Twilight, who nodded assent.

“You’re darn tootin’.” Applejack agreed.

Pinkie Pie let out a hum. A few things were bothering her, namely what happened to her bazooka after all the magical swirly stuff happened, but there were more important issues than even that. “This is all good and all, but there’s something missing.”

Everyone, even Celestia and Luna, looked to Pinkie Pie, who snapped her fingers. “A gigantic party! We gotta get back to Sunnyville, quick!”

Princess Celestial let out a small laugh. “You’re absolutely right. I’ve already arranged for your transport back.”

She looked up, as did the others, as her royal yacht came into view over the old palace. At the railing, a relieved Spike waved down at the group, before he tossed down a ladder.


After figuring out how to transform back to normal, Twilight and her friends were embarked for home aboard the Royal Yacht, Pinkie Pie was already discussing her plans for Luna’s Welcome Home party with Celestia and Luna, while the other girls were telling Spike about the adventure.

As Twilight watched the forest pass beneath them, she looked at her newfound friends and then towards distant Sunnyville and Camelot. She let out a sad sigh.

“Why so glum, my faithful apprentice?” Celestia asked as she rested an arm across Twilight’s shoulders.

Twilight looked over at Celestia and then shook her head. “I’m not glum, it’s just that…I just made these wonderful friends, but once all the celebrating and partying is over, I’ll be going back to Camelot. I’d really like to stay in Sunnyville, and get to know them all better.”

Smiling, Celestia touched her horn to Twilight’s as she hugged her close. “Is that all, Twilight Sparkle?”

She then looked over to Spike, who was in the middle of hearing Rainbow Dash brag about the sick maneuvers she pulled while fighting at the castle. “Spike? Take a note.”

The other girls looked over, as Celestia turned to address them. “I, Princess Celestia of Equestria, hereby decree that my apprentice, the Horned Folk Twilight Sparkle, shall take on a new mission for Equestria.”

Twilight stared in surprise at Celestia as she detailed the mission. “She is to continue to expeditiously study the magic of friendship, and she shall report her findings to me from her new home in Sunnyville.”

Gasping, Twilight hugged Celestia tightly. “Oh thank you, Princess Celestia! I’ll study harder than ever before!”

The other girls quickly joined in the group hug around Twilight, before Spike spoke up.

“Expeditious…expe…?”

Celestia gave him a pointed look. “Diligently.”

“Diligent…?”

“Carefully.”

At Spike’s clueless stare, Celestia raised an eyebrow. “You’re just messing with me, aren’t you?”

Spike laughed. “Yeah, pretty much.”

At this, everyone on the royal yacht joined in laughing, as the boat sailed on for its destination, and the new home of Twilight Sparkle.