The sun had set on the horse city, and the moonless night helped to hide Noble Six as she continued to make her way away from the castle.
It was surprisingly harder than she thought, to escape, but the city was built without an engineer, it seemed, and was much larger than she previously thought.
Noble Six had spent the better half of the evening creeping through the back alleys of the city and waiting for the streets to clear before she darted across into the next alley, only to follow it around back where she started.
The Spartan silently cursed whatever architectural "genius" had designed the city, and eventually found herself at what she could only hope was an exit. Unfortunately, for her, there was a distinct lack of buildings between her and the large wall with thick wooden gates, and an abundance of small horses all gathered around several... Floats?
Noble Six could barely see the horses, thanks to one of her many augmentations, but... Yes, they were definitely standing around several parade floats and talking excitedly with one another in their language of neighs and whinny's.
Several torches were lit and mounted into the floats so that other horses could see them as they roamed the streets, and Noble Six realized she would have to wait for the parade to begin before she would have a chance at escape.
So, annoyed, the Spartan slumped against one of the walls in the alley and watched.
And waited.
"The city is under lock down, with guards posted at every exit imaginable, from the sewers, to the sky." Captain Shining Armor reported, with a salute.
"Thank you, Captain." Princess Celestia replied. "You'll have to hurry if you want to be at the head of the parade."
"Your majesty?" Shining Armor asked, confusedly.
"We must continue to act as though nothing is wrong, Captain. The guards are there to watch the parade, and if you are not there to lead it as you said you would, then the public would grow suspicious." Princess Celestia explained.
"I understand, your majesty."
With a quick salute of farewell, Shining Armor left the throne room and hurried off to catch the start of the parade.
"Oh, Luna..." Celestia whispered, with a sigh. "I hope you remember the parade, and how important it is for you to be there..."
Princess Celestia slowly trotted out of the throne room, her royal duties done, for the day, before slipping into her room and onto the balcony. "It's the beginning of The Harvest, and if you're not there to celebrate it..."
Princess Celestia lowered her head in shame and turned back into her room.
"I'm so sorry I wasn't there for you when you needed me the most, from when Mother and Father passed, to Nightmare Moon... And now..."
While ponies outside, all around the country, were celebrating the beginning of a new season, deep within the confines of Canterlot castle, their Princess was crying...
Only the gentle knocking of a purple alicorn roused the sorrowful alicorn from her tears.
"Twilight?" Princess Celestia began, in confusion. "What are you doing in the castle?"
"I thought you might need somepony to talk to, Princess..." Twilight Sparkle replied as she stepped into the room. "I mean, I know you're old and wise, but that doesn't mean it isn't hard..."
Giving a sad little smile, Princess Celestia shook her head, gently. "I will be fine, Twilight. I've been through it all, before, and survived. Luna will come back, eventually. As for you, what are you still doing in the castle?"
"What do you mean, Princess?"
"I mean, it's a celebration, Twilight. Go to Ponyville, be with your friends. Be happy." Princess Celestia suggested.
Twilight Sparkle only gave a small, sad frown for her mentor before nodding and turning to depart.
Shining Armor closed his eyes and took in the scent of the sweet, crisp, night air.
He wasn't incredibly fond of parades, especially since he was the Captain of the Guard, and that meant most of the attention would be on him.
The only good thing he felt that came from it was the disciplined nature of it all. It was all so concrete, so uniform. It was beautiful to him.
At last, the time had begun. Ponies lined the streets, fillies and colts munching down treats as their wide eyes turned to watch the beginnings of the parade, while mares and stallions laughed and chatted with each other.
A last second adjustment to his helmet, and the fireworks behind him tore up through the sky before exploding into flames.
Ponies cheered and hollered as the parade marched forward, with Shining Armor leading a company of eighty Night Guards, followed by the parade floats, jesters, and performers.
He didn't have time to inspect the show, before or during the act, but he assumed whatever was on the floats, and whatever the performers were doing, thoroughly pleased the crowd; evident by their cheers and laughter.
Another burst of the fireworks cannon sounded, and the sky lit up once more as the street filled with the sounds of foals awing.
Shining Armor felt a little bad for the pegasi he had stationed up above, who must be having quite the fright.
Eventually, after the parade had snaked its way through the city, it came to a halt outside Canterlot Gardens, where Princess Luna was to raise the moon to signal the beginning of the new season.
As the company of Night Guards took their position around the central platform, Shining Armor began to wonder where exactly was the Princess of the Night...
And then, everything exploded into chaos.
The moon slowly began to rise from the edge of the sky, climbing hurriedly into the center.
Cheers that erupted from the gathered crowd soon turned to screams of terror as the entire company of Night Guards burst into Changelings in flashes of green.
Queen Chrysalis, herself, appeared on the central platform in a flash and let out a menacing laugh as Changelings began to appear all over the city.
Shining Armor stood there, dumbstruck, with a look of terror on his face as the Queen of the Changelings slowly approached him.
Noble Six quietly counted off the seconds as the last float began its journey through the town, leaving the main gate as more fireworks filled the sky.
A few guards took up position beside the gate, and Noble Six counted four in watch towers on either side of the gate.
It would be difficult, but Noble Six could get it done.
Double checking her surroundings, and finding them pleasingly barren, the Spartan snuck out of the alley and quickly pressed herself up against the stone wall, digging her fingers into the rock and beginning to climb her way to freedom.
She was nearly to the top when screams rang in her ears, and images of melting Marines flashed through her mind. Noble Six reeled back in shock, losing her grip on the wall and falling to the cobblestone with a noisy thud.
Noble Six soon learned, however, that the screams were real. Another sounded off, nearby, and convinced a patrolling guard that that was more important than whatever had thudded below him.
Shaking her head clear and climbing the wall once more, Noble Six soon reached the top of the wall and stared out into the beautiful countryside of the strange planet.
Turning back to give a mocking farewell to the city, Noble Six saw that the moon had suddenly risen, green flashes appeared throughout the city, and the screams of terrified horses filled her ears.
Noble Six shook slightly, nearly falling off of the wall.
Jericho Seven... Noble Six remembered, in horror.
She remembered the screams of her family, of her friends, of her neighbors.
She remembered the tears pouring down her cheeks as she screamed in anger and fear.
She remembered feeling nothing but... Calmness, as she sat on a pelican that brought her to a fleeing freighter.
She remembered everything when she volunteered for the Spartan-III program.
Noble Six turned and hurriedly climbed down the other side of the wall, leaving the city and its terrified citizens behind.
She had no obligation to help them.
Princess Celestia stared out into the city of Canterlot in pure horror and disbelief.
Just a few moments ago, the moon had risen, and Celestia felt so happy that her younger sister had done so; taking it as a sign of forgiveness and that she would soon be home, safe and sound.
But, instead, as the moon settled in the middle of the sky, familiar green flashes erupted all around the city, and the sound of terrified, fleeing ponies filled the night.
Celestia could not believe it.
"Beautiful, is it not?" A mocking, dark voice sounded from behind the white alicorn.
"Luna." Princess Celestia whispered as she turned to face her sister.
But the sister she knew did not stand behind her. Rather, it was the monster within that had festered during all of those years of neglect.
Nightmare Moon locked eyes with Celestia and offered a slight smile. "I think it's beautiful, at least. The moon, of course; right where it belongs."
"What have you done with Luna?" Princess Celestia demanded to know.
"I AM Luna!" Nightmare Moon barked, her smile fading, only to be replaced with a menacing, teethy frown. "I am the part of her that you ignored until it consumed her very being, Celestia. I am the bitter jealousy and anger that should not exist, so powerful that I have earned a physical form in this world!"
"No." Princess Celestia stated, firmly. "The Elements of Harmony banished you!"
"Foal!" Nightmare Moon spat as she began to circle around the white alicorn. "I do not die, I only sleep! Luna and I are one and the same! Without both of us, now, neither of us can exist. You have brought this curse upon yourself and, now, you must face the consequences!"
Princess Celestia's eyes lit up in shock as Nightmare Moon attacked, lunging forward to stab at her with her horn.
Celestia quickly jumped backwards, now taking a defensive stance before the dark alicorn. "What do you plan to do? You and I both know that neither of us can hurt each other."
"Is that what you think?" Nightmare Moon questioned with a mocking chuckle as she slowly pulled a green crystal blade from a sheathe at her side, studying it carefully in admiration. "One has to wonder, exactly, why you never harvested those gems in the Canterlot Caverns..."
Celestia's eyes lit up in fear as Nightmare Moon lunged forwards, once more.
Twilight Sparkle snorted in laughter, sending her drink out through her nose as Pinkie Pie continued on with the story.
"And then I said 'Oatmeal? Are you crazy?!"
Laughter erupted from each of the ponies within Sugarcube Corner which, at the time, only included Twilight's five best friends.
"Pinkie, you're a riot!" Rainbow Dash comment as she continued to chuckle.
After everypony had regained their bearings, and the room fell silent, Twilight Sparkle gave a happy sigh. "You girls are the best thing that's ever happened to me."
"Even better than being Princess Celestia's student?" Fluttershy asked.
"Especially better than being Princess Celestia's student." Twilight confirmed, happily, before giving a sad look to each of her confused friends. "I just hate that I almost never going to see you all, again..."
"Oh, darling, nonsense!" Rarity began. "I go to Canterlot quite frequently; you're bound to see me!"
"Yeah, and when I'm a Wonderbolt, you'll see me in the skies, every day!" Rainbow Dash added.
"Heck, an' Ah attend e'ry Gala." Applejack said.
"Oh, oh!" Pinkie Pie joined in. "Me too, me too!"
The group gave a giggle at Pinkie's antics before Twilight turned her gaze towards Fluttershy, who was trying her hardest to hide behind her milkshake glass.
"I-I don't really have a reason to be in Canterlot..." she admitted. "But I'll try my hardest to visit, every now and then..."
Content with their responses, Twilight pulled all of her friends into a group hug. "I just wish I didn't have to go back, in the morning."
"Speaking of which, dear, how long is the celebration supposed to last?" Rarity inquired. "I don't remember nearly as many fireworks last year as they're shooting off, now."
A confused look out the window revealed several bolts and bursts of light erupt above Canterlot - some going further than fireworks should, and some not going very far, at all, before bursting.
"Those aren't fireworks, Rarity..." Twilight began, quietly. "Those are spells..."