//------------------------------// // Chapter 9 // Story: Come Little Children // by BlueEyedMelloon //------------------------------// "Come Little Children" By: Blue Eyed Melloon Chapter Nine ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ One fateful day, the younger unicorn refused to lower the moon to make way for the dawn. The elder sister tried to reason with her, but the bitterness in the young one's heart had transformed her into a wicked mare of darkness.. Not another word was said about the argument by Celestia for the remainder of the evening. The staff however, was all abuzz with the gossip that had been thrown to them like a ripe carrot. Soon the news that it had been Luna who had foal-napped the foals was being debated and chewed over by almost everypony in the castle when they weren’t within earshot of Celestia or the door that opened into Luna’s room. “Princess Luna was the foal-napper? What was she thinking?” “Do you think the little ones are alright?” “Where did she take them?” Questions wizzed and buzzed through the vast hallways until it seemed that the very cobblestones were vibrating with rumors. Celestia ignored this, intent on figuring out just why her sister had committed such crimes. The idea that Luna thought the kingdom preferred Celestia confounded her. Why, didn’t Luna realize what happened at night? The plants recuperated, ponies dreamt of their futures, lovers sought each other. Why didn’t her sister understand? Celestia sighed and rose from her couch. She must talk to Luna today. She walked slowly to her sister’s room in the opposite tower, dreading the moment that was to come. When she knocked on the door however, there was no response. Celestia nudged it open to find the room dark and completely empty. Where was Luna? Her heart dropped a bit. What if she ran away? Celestia began to search the castle room by room, but found no evidence that her younger sister had been there. The more room she searched, the more worried she became. Luna was nowhere to be found. Finally all that was left was the throne room. As Celestia entered, it lit up with magical lights that turned on automatically once she was inside. The windows were flush with sunlight; multi-hued facets of light painted the ground in a broken rainbow. She was halfway to the throne when a voice rang out. “Not another step.” Celestia started, and looked up at the center of the room. From behind the regal chair came a familiar face set in an unfamiliar scowl. “Luna! There thee are! we have been looking-“ Luna cut her off with an outstretched hoof. There was malice in her eyes, and something that the elder one had never seen before. Something that wasn’t right. “Did you really expect me to sit idly by while they all basked in your precious light?” Her voice dripped sarcasm and threat. Her hair billowed out from her head in a mass of dark mane that sparkled with pseudo starlight. Celestia took a step backwards, saying “Luna? What is the matter with thee?” Her sister spoke differently, walked with more purpose. There was dread growing in her the longer she was in Luna’s presence. Luna came to the pedestal used for announcements. Her eyes flashed with power, and she could feel the voice inside her preparing, gathering its strength. Do it Luna. Do it now. “There can only be one Princess in Equestria.” She reared up on her back legs, waving her front hooves threateningly. ”And that Princess will be ME!” The pedestal shattered into a thousand wooden fragments, sending shards every which way and throwing the gems that were inset into it across the room. Celestia jumped, dodging a large piece of wood. She stared at her sister with horror, eyes widening as the beast inside Luna roared out. Cracks snaked their way along the wall behind the throne. They shattered mortar and sent pieces raining down in a cloud of debris. Then it reached the window. The window that showed the two sisters ruling as yin and yang; one for the sun and one for the moon. The window exploded into a rain of rainbow glass, coating the ground with twinkling shards. In the shell of the window, the moon began to rise. It slipped upwards even as its ruler rose into the air, wings outstretched while new power coursed through her veins, filling her body with darkness. Luna panicked when the power pushed her conscious, wanting to take control of her body. Darkness began to twist itself around her, forming a ball. What are thee doing? You want to rule Equestria yes? There can only be one Princess? I can make this happen. But this is our body! We are the masters of it! Not since you let me in. Celestia watched as Luna’s face lost its anger for a moment. “Luna!” She shouted, and galloped forward. But the moon reached its peak, covering the sun and releasing rays of darkness that pressed Celestia back like a barrier. “Luna NO!” Luna cradled her head in her hooves. Fighting with the voice was giving her a splitting headache. But she felt her power waning, and the voice pressed the advantage, filling her with more anger and hatred. Luna began to retreat, concentrating her being into a solid sphere with a protection spell. The voice pressed until it felt nothing more could be done, and left her tiny bit of true self to wallow in pity and guilt. What did she release? The voice fully in control, it let the dark rays take hold of her, wrapping her body in tendrils until she was completely engulfed in a sphere of darkness. As the sphere rose, Celestia pushed against the barrier, tears beginning to form in her eyes. Thundering hooves behind her announced the arrival of the castle guards, who bashed into the room only to be frozen with a shout of “STOP!” by their leader. Many of them didn’t need to be told twice. The scene before them elicited no response from them other to stand, mouths agape. Swirling clouds of magic joined the darkness, twisting and whirling in a sickening view. They began to fade, and a curled body was seen inside the sphere. “Luna!” Celestia shouted, attacking the barrier with magic. It held, then began to crumble. She pushed her way through as the magic broke, and her sister was released. But it was not her sister that floated downward. Round eyes became cat-like slits, teeth were ground to points that created a sinister grin. The pony that stood before Celestia was midnight black, and her mane and tail flowed outward threateningly like smoke. Upon her head and chest was armor of silver blue, the only hint of the true owner of the body trapped inside. Her laughter was devious; it clanged like metal pots and pans. Celestia froze in shock. “Well Celestia, how do you like me now?” the creature asked, unfurling her darkened wings. Her voice was silky smooth and dangerous. “Luna, what have thee done?” Celestia said pitifully, lost in shock and sadness. “I am Luna no longer!” She crowed, throwing her head back to point her horn at the eclipse. “I am Nightmare Moon, and with this new power, I shall create an everlasting night!” Celestia watched as Nightmare Moon’s horned glowed, and her smoky mane wrapped around her body. In the next blink of an eye, she was gone, flying into the sky with another bout of maniacal laughter. Once the laughter had faded, the shocked guards shook their heads, running to their princess. “Celestia, what do we do?” “Was that Princess Luna?” “Give us orders!” Celestia fell to her knees in the center of the crowd. She lowered her head as the tears began to fall. How could she not see the jealousy eating away at Luna? How could she let this happen? What could she do? “Luna…..dear Luna.” She whispered, letting her horn touch the ground as she mourned the loss of her sister.