//------------------------------//
// Chapter 10 
// Story: Come Little Children 
// by BlueEyedMelloon 
//------------------------------//


"Come Little Children"
By: Blue Eyed Melloon
Chapter Ten

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She vowed that she would shroud the land in eternal night. Reluctantly, the elder sister harnessed the most powerful magic known to ponydom: The Elements of Harmony.







The first pony to notice the eclipse was the mailmare, who pointed up at the sky and shouted “What’s going on!?” This sentiment was echoed by more and more ponies as all eyes turned to the sky and the phenomenon taking place above them. Mothers held their children closer, ushering them inside when they were close enough to home. After the sun was completely blocked, the stars could be seen overhead, twinkling innocently in the suddenly dark sky. Those who were inside come out of their houses, curious. Was this supposed to happen?

The answer came in laughter. Laughter that started out quiet, but quickly rose in decibels as its origin flew through the already broken window of the castle. Ponies began to shout. “Princess Luna! It’s Princess Luna!” But the alicorn that rose above them, flapping black wings and laughing madly was not their night princess. She was a mare of darkness, and she was out for revenge.

“I am Luna no longer!” She shouted, using a spell to amplify her voice. “Luna has been shut away. I am your new ruler. And with my reign, the night will last forever!” Lightning flashes as citizens screamed, cowering before the evil princess. Nightmare Moon smirked; this was how it should be.

“I am Nightmare Moon, and you will bow to me and me only. Love my night as you once loved the day!” She pointed her horn to the eclipse and laughed again, flapping her wings and rising higher into the sky. There was much of Equestria that needed to be visited, enlightened to the recent change of power. As she flew away, Nightmare Moon hazarded a look back on her ponies. They had gotten past the frozen fear and were now running around blindly in panic, shouting and raising the alarm. The night ruler chuckled; yes, all was going well so far.

Celestia stared from her window, wings lifeless at her side. The guards had been dismissed, confusing questions of action and protocol silenced with a gaze look from their Princess. Celestia focused on the eclipse. How had that, that monster taken over her sister? She thought back to what was not yet an hour ago. Was her jealousy that deep? Did the river of hatred within Luna run that swiftly? Celestia sighed, a tear falling onto her cheek and freezing among the others that had already dried. 

She must take action. Her heart ached to do so, but as a Princess of Equestria, it was her duty to save her subjects.

Even if it meant fighting someone she held dear.

The restless guards were startled when the throne room doors flew open, and Celestia galloped from the room, pink mane streaming behind her as she raced up the spiral staircase to the next floor. They followed her, trying to keep up with the alicorn mare. But her legs were longer and despite their training, she reached her destination a full minute before they came staggering up the staircase. When they found her, all shouted questions were silenced at what they beheld.

This was a room none of them had been in, but many had stood watch over. It was a room of magical artifacts gathered from all over the world. A necklace was encased in glass on a shelf next to a mirror shaped like a horseshoe. Many suits of armor, dusty books and things wrapped in burlap scattered the room. But Celestia was ignoring all of these. Her focus was on a door at the end of the room. Encrusted in gems and standing higher than even the Princess, it showed a stylized image of the sun and moon, and the alicorns that were fated to protect them. The side depicting the moon and Luna of old was devoid of color; grey replaced royal blues and the shimmering silver was dulled. Even the white stars were somehow subdued, each gem withdrawing its shimmer.

Celestia cast her magic upon the door, and the side with the sun began to glow. There was a series of ticking sounds, and the door slid open. The Sun Princess stepped inside, revealing a box that was equally encrusted in jewels. As the guards looked on in awe, she opened the box to reveal what was inside.

Two crowns, one larger and golden, the other, smaller one in silver sat in the velvet lined container. Each crown was intricately designed and held three gems. Celestia’s breath caught as her eyes found the silver crown. Luna’s crown. But Luna was no more.

She lifted both crowns from the box, casting it aside as if it were nothing more than yesterday’s newspaper. It clattered across the ground and skidded to a halt at the commander’s feet, who opened his mouth as if to speak. One look from his ruler shut his mouth quite firmly, and convinced that she would not be interrupted again, went back to her work. Her heart swelled with anger as she used her magic to tear the gems from the silver crown. Why must she do this? To her sister no less! Her only family...

The gems resisted, bound by magic, but her own magic pressed harder and, one by one, they released. Once all three were freed from their setting, she stared at the twisted silver in her magical aura, and another tear traced its way through her white fur. She gritted her teeth, shutting her eyes and throwing the crown away like the box.

The three gems were woven into the golden crown, pressed into the metal until all six gems sparkled in unison. The Elements of Harmony would be wielded by her, and her alone. Celestia placed her finished piece upon her head. It hummed with magical energy, and she felt its power reverberate through her body. When she turned to her guards, she was emotionless, cold.

“Commander Dustwing.” She said flatly, and Dustwing came forward.

“Y-yes Princess?”

“Take your troops into town. Calm our subjects as much as possible. Get them indoors.”

“Yes Princess.”

“Go to it.” She said, walking past her guards without so much as a glance their way. The guards remained where they were, looking at the discarded items with wonder and a little bit of fear. Slowly they filed out and ran into town to calm the fears of the ponies that were running rampant.

Celestia went to her balcony, and once again gazed upon the eclipse. She didn’t move for a minute or two, letting the power of The Elements wash over her. She was her sister no longer.

And now.. Celestia thought as she spread her great white wings and took flight. She must be stopped.