A black moon hung above Canterlot, the darkness of night cut only by bright fires that streaked across the sky, over one thousand of them flying above the rooftops like angry, burning stars.
“Citizens of Canterlot! Rejoice! For the Long Night has finally come to an end.”
One of the lights let out a furious screech as it slammed into a tower, setting the opulent building ablaze. Eyes brighter than the blinding light of day watched with detached interest as a pair of pegasi night guards abandoned their burning post, the fiery form of an enchanted griffon bursting from the flames in heated pursuit.
“The Usurper’s light has been smothered, her power shattered, her reign broken by the coming of a new dawn.”
“The invasion goes well,” observed Corona, the Tyrant Sun dryly as she leisurely trotted through the city’s gates, the once strong magically enhanced doors reduced to melting splinters in preparation for her army’s arrival.
“The Sun has risen anew. Your Queen has returned.”
“The city burns,” added Terrorwing, his pinion feathers made of living flames spread wide with excitement as he gleefully watched his numerous clones lay siege to the strongest, most heavily warded city in Equestria. The half-phoenix, half-griffon dug his claws into streets with every step, his claws leaving jagged, glowing scars in the stone as he fought the rising urge to leave his queen’s side and join the fray.
“Today is the beginning of a new chapter in Equestria’s history, a return to our days of glory and prosperity. A new morning awaits us all, so that we may smile at the dawn.”
As the battled raged in the skies above them them, the fiery pair moved through the abandoned streets of the city’s heart, the Corona’s radiance illuminating the moonless night as though she were the sun itself, casting light on broken windows, empty shops and overturned carts. Some of the city’s lanterns had been left on in the panic, casting small rings of pale light that illuminated tiny, winged pastel orbs that hummed with a voice that echoed through the streets.
“I know that there are some who fear the light, but do not be afraid.
As the alicorn and her fiery bodyguard passed onto Canterlot’s main street, they were approached by two cloaked figures. The two pairs met underneath the glow of a streetlamp, and the ones with cloaks each throwing back their hoods to reveal muzzles striped with black.
“Bonjou, mon soleil,” greeted Galeb as he took his black top hat out from underneath his cloak and set it atop his head. “How are you on this fine day?”
“My Queen, welcome to Canterlot,” said Zecora with a deep bow. “Though some of Luna’s guards remain, their resistance matters not.”
“Those who have been faithful shall be rewarded. Those who repent shall be graced with Celestia’s endless mercy. But those who cling to whatever corruption lingers shall be purged along with it.
“Canterlot’s wards were ancient and formidable; for you to have removed them so easily pleases me greatly,” said Corona magnanimously. “Your service will be rewarded once I have regained my throne.”
“Merite, mon soleil, but in truth their spells were a joke,” said Galeb with a dismissive wave of his hoof and a snort. “And not funny ones, either.”
“We have helped the Voice as well, his messages fill the street,” added Zecora. “Once their city and resolve fails, our enemy will know defeat.”
“To those brave ponies who continued their misguided efforts to defend this doomed regime of darkness and deceit, I beseech you: lay down your weapons, surrender and you will be spared. You have my word.”
Corona eyed one of the floating parasprites as Kindling Wind’s smoothly seditious voice poured from the creature likes waves of warm honey. “I take it these…things were you work, Galeb?” asked Corona as the pink orb danced around a corner.
“Your loyalty is commendable, but your duty is to a false throne built on treachery and lies.”
““Qui, mon soleil,a little blend of zebra and unicorn magic I picked up in the Quarter,” said the zebrony with a pleased grin. “Our dear friend the preacher is inside the music academy spreading his good news, and his little filly Smoke is working on sending it out through the telegraph lines. With a little luck and magic, we should be able to spread the broadcast to every major city in Equestria.”
“Good,” said Corona with a satisfied smirk. “Go then, assist her with the ritual. I wish for news of my re-ascension to be heard throughout the realm.”
“Qui, qui, mon soleil,” said Galeb with a bow and a sweep of his hat.
“Zecora: see to Kindle’s protection,” ordered Corona. “You have already opened up my city to me; leave the conquest to our more disposable forces.” As if to emphasize her statement, one of the griffons circling in the sky let out of shriek of pain as it dissolved into burning soot and ash as a crossbow bolt from a nearby tower struck it in the chest, shattering the magic maintaining its unnatural existence.
“Open your eyes to the light, turn your love and devotion to our true Queen, and your valor shall never again be wasted like it has been tonight.”
“As you wish it, my Queen, so shall it be done,” said Zecora obediently. “May I see you again, with the rise of the Sun.” Corona nodded at her striped minions once more before they set off across the abandoned streets towards the academies.
“Come, Terrorwing,” said Corona as she fixed her gaze towards the towering castle that loomed over the rest of the city. “My palace awaits me.”
“Citizens of Canterlot! Rejoice! For the Long Night has finally come to an end.”
Corona met no resistance as she ascended the steps to the royal palace, the guard posts having been either abandoned in the fighting or reduced to scorched rubble. Broken spears, shattered armor and piles of still smoldering soot littered the approach to the keep. The entry doors, as well as the ante-chamber beyond them, had been blown apart in the fighting, and what was once a beautiful hallway meant to impress visitors with the splendor and magnificence of Equestria’s seat of power was now a long stretch of rubble beneath a blackened moon.
“The Usurper’s light has been smothered, her power shattered, her reign broken by the coming of a new dawn.”
Corona scoffed at the impeding wreckage as she flapped her wings and lifted herself gracefully into the air, followed closely behind by Terrorwing. With a casual flash from her horn, Corona melted a window on the castle’s fourth floor, and the two floated through the still dripping hole of molten glass to land atop a plush, purple carpet, their hooves and paws leaving charred prints in their wake.
They found the throne room as abandoned as the rest of the castle, the flickering glow of firelight dancing on the silver ornamentation like sunlight on a still pond. With long, slow, triumphant strides, Corona approached the regal chair, her wings spread in divine anticipation of reclaiming what was rightfully hers.
“The Sun has risen anew. Your Queen has returned.”
“Hail to the Sun!” shouted Terrorwing proudly as he stopped halfway across the room to allow his Queen to continue her victorious march as Corona drew ever closer to her goal, only to have her moment of joyously renewed glory interrupted by a loud, slow, sarcastic clap.
“Yes indeed! Hail to the Sunbutt, Queen of all she sits upon!” echoed a cackling voice through the chamber as a long and disfiguringly mismatched creature drifted down from the rafters to land between the two fiery invaders with a soft thump.
“Discord,” said Corona with revulsion, the name spoiling the taste in her mouth. “Why have you come here? I did not summon you.”
“What? You mean I can’t be there to watch an old friend on the most important day of her life?” said Discord in a wounded voice. “Really, I thought we were closer than that.”
“I have released you from your prison and bound you to my will out of necessity,” said Corona with an angry stare. “Do not mistake it for anything more, monster.”
“Where is Solrath?” asked Terrorwing, his glowing eyes narrowing in spiteful suspicion. “He was supposed to be watching you.”
“Oh, you mean that blind little lizard? I believe he got distracted by some flying foal in tacky blue suits or something,” said Discord with a shrug. “Honestly I wasn’t paying him that much attention. I was having far too much fun chatting with that deviously adorable Element of Magic that Luna found. She is quite delightful, wouldn’t you say? So confident in her own ability, yet with so little to show to back it up. Reminds you of another certain mare we both know, hmm?”
“Do not test me, draconequus,” warned Corona, her mane flaring in irritation. “Remember who commands you.”
“Actually, that was precisely what I wanted to talk with you about,” said Discord with an ever-widening grin. “You see, what that magical little filly lacked in perspective and fashion sense, she more than made up for with cleverness and guillibility. Or at least enough of both to help break me out of your control, at least, for which I was grateful enough to leave her and her friends only mildly twisted in the mind.” With a jolt of unregal panic, Corona quickly checked the spell she had used to maintain control of the mad creature of chaos, only to find her intricate layering of arcane bindings replaced with what appeared to her magical senses to be a shattered, broken window.
“But enough about them,” continued Discord, one eye narrowing while the other dilated, both with sadistic glee. “I believe we were talking about us, weren’t we? Specifically about how I could reward you for all you’ve done for, and to, me.” But as the chimeric being raised a clawed hand, a roar of burning fury shook the castled, and Discord’s eye rolled onto the back of his head just quickly enough to see an enraged mass of fur, feathers and flames hurtling towards him.
“BURN, MONSTER!” bellowed Terrorwing furiously as he leapt at Discord, his talons glowing white hot as curling flames erupted from his outstretched wings. The fiery griffon was nearly atop his prey before Discord drew a red cape from behind his back, sweeping it across his assailant with a flourish.
“¡Olé!,” shouted Discord as Terrorwing emerged from the other side of the cape striped of his phoenix boon and enchanted strength, reduced to a runty griffon that skid across the tiles until he slammed against a far wall, finally landing in an unconscious heap of ruffled feathers. “That one had more brawn than brains, didn’t he?” observed Discord with a tsk of his forked tongue. “Although I suppose now he has neither. Oh well, easy come, easy go. Now, where were we?” He turned back to find that Corona had become a seething firestorm of seething rage.
“HOW DARE YOU STRIKE DOWN ONE OF MY LEITENANTS!” bellowed Corona with indignant fury. “YOU ARE AN ARROGANT FOOL IF YOU THINK YOU CAN BEST ME IN A FIGHT, DRACQUINOUS! AND I GAURANTEE THAT YOU SHALL NOT LEAVE HERE BEFORE I HAVE AVENGED MY SUBJECT!”
“Why, you misunderstand me, my Queen,” said Discord with feigned innocence. “I didn’t come here to fight you. To the contrary, I came to give you a gift.”
“LIES!” shouted Corona as a pillar of fire erupted beneath Discord’s feet, engulfing a large circle of the room in roaring flames.
“Now, now, my dear,” said Discord suddenly from behind Corona’s ear. “Don’t be so modest.” The blazing white alicorn turned her head as a torrent of golden flames burst from her mouth, only for the spirit of chaos to reappear lounging on her back.
“Because what I have to give you is the greatest gift of all,” he continued as if nothing had happened.
“BE PURGED, FOUL CREATU—” But the threat died in Corona’s throat as Discord pressed a finger against her forehead, between her eyes.
“For I give you the gift of sanity,” said Discord with a delightfully cruel smirk as the blinding light in Corona’s eyes faded, revealing pupils swirling with centuries of cascading memories. "Now, let me ask you..."