//------------------------------// // Chapter 1 // Story: Darkness Eternal // by RosaryOmen //------------------------------// Night Mare Moon's malicious laugh filled the hall, dark clouds billowing around above her; bolts of lightning flashing over head. “Seize her!” Cried the Mayor. “Only she knows where the Princess is!” Three guards flew towards the dark pony quickly, but were knocked back by a blast of lightning cast by the dark mare. “Stand back, you foals!” Another cruel laugh echoed through the room. Night Mare Moon vanished into a thick stream of dark cloud, filled with stars which flew out of the hall. Rainbow Dash tried to follow but was stopped by Applejack gripping her tail with her teeth. The blue pegasus was too strong and ripped free of AJ's grip, sending the orange pony back to fall on her rump. “Come back here!” Rainbow dashed out after Night Mare Moon, but was too slow. She stopped and hovered in mid air, panting. “Nighttime? Forever?” ~ They had failed. The Elements of Harmony had been found, but Night Mare Moon was too strong; even after her thousand years of banishment. The six ponies lay exhausted on the ground, panting for breath as the dark pony's wicked laughter echoed in their ears. “The night will last forever!” The dark mare reared on her hind legs, her form a silhouette against the full moon that was visible through the window behind her. “No!” Twilight cried, raising her head from the ground slowly. “No this can't be!” “You foals! You tried to defeat me, and you failed!” Magic swirled around Night Mare Moon, the colours from the elements of harmony becoming darker and darker. Beams of light cut through the darkness, Night Mare Moon shielded herself with a wing as Princess Celestia teleported in between her, and the exhausted fillies. “Sister!” She cried out. “Stop this!” “They're sisters?” Rarity gasped softly as the group struggled to their hooves. Night Mare Moon looked at Celestia and laughed again. “You've had your time, sister.” A wicked grin twisted her face. “Now it's my time!” The dark magic shot out towards Celestia, who tried to fight them off; her own bright magic shining from her horn. The two steams of power slammed together, the 6 fillies looking away from the brightness. Magic exploded, knocking everypony to the floor; the echoing sound of a desperate neigh filling their ears, which then faded away. “She did it!” Rainbow Dash exclaimed, her eyes bright and wide as the bright magic dulled. Neither the Princess, nor Night Mare Moon were anywhere to be seen. The six ponies searched the room for any sight, but none was to be found. “Where are they?” Fluttershy asked, worry written all over her face. “I... I don't know.” Twilight Sparkle shook her head. “Princess Celestia? Are you here?” There was no answer. “Where in tarnation could she be?” Applejack wandered over to the window and looked out of it. “An' why is the moon still up?” “Shouldn't the sun be up by now?” Fluttershy asked as she joined Applejack at the window. “Oh no...” Rarity gasped. “You don't think...” “That Night Mare Moon won?” Rainbow Dash finished Rarity's sentence, the six fillies now looking out at the moon. “We have to get back to Ponyville!” Twilight exclaimed. “I'll get Spike to write to the Princess, then we'll know for sure.” ~ “Spike! SPIKE!” Twilight burst through the door to the library in a flurry, followed by her friends. The young dragon looked up from the meal of gems he'd set himself. “Twilight! Did you win? Is Night Mare Moon gone forever?” “Spike, I need you to write a letter to the Princess! Now!” The purple unicorn replied. “Now!” “Okay, okay!” Spike jumped to his feet and grabbed a pen and a scroll. Twilight quickly recited a short note, asking Celestia where she was. Spike sent the message, which vanished in a puff of green smoke. “Now we wait.” They waited, and waited, and waited. Twilight paced back and forth, watching Spike and waiting for a return letter. “Come on, come on...” Spike's cheeks puffed up, and he belched out a scroll which Twilight quickly grabbed with her magic. She opened it and read the contents, her eyes widening. “This is... the note -we- sent.” The scroll fell to the ground, and everypony gathered around. “So does that mean...” Rarity started slowly. “That she's gone?” “An' it'll be night-time forever?” Applejack added, her brow furrowing. “We can't let Night Mare Moon win!” Pinkie Pie exclaimed. “She's a meanie mean head!” “What are we meant to do, Twilight? I-I mean, the Elements of Harmony failed...” Fluttershy asked softly. “I don't know. I need some time to research this, see if there are any books that can help us.” ~ Over a month had passed, and Equestria remained in permanent darkness for the whole time. Flowers never opened, and everypony's sleep pattern was ruined. Staying awake was near impossible with the constant darkness, and they all looked exhausted. Their coats were dulled as they trudged about Ponyville, attempting to do their chores. Ponies fell asleep at work, or in the streets; exhausted from the constant night time they were forced to endure. Twilight was buried up to her flank in books, both her and Spike had been researching since the Summer Sun Celebration to no avail. So far, no books could help them. “There has to be something.” Twilight yawned for the thousandth time, rubbing her eyes. “It can't end like this...” Spike's response was a soft snore, the baby dragon had fallen asleep again. Twilight Sparkle decided to leave him be; all this research was taking a toll on everyone. “Twi!” Applejack knocked at her door. “Twi, you awake?!” Twilight shook off the books before trotting to the door and opening it. “What's the problem AJ?” The orange pony flailed. “The trees, Twi! The apple trees are all dyin'!” “Most of the plants will die, AJ.” Twilight sighed sadly. “They need the sun to survive.” “Sleep don't seem ta' be workin' either. I sleep, but I wake up an' it's dark still.” The orange earth pony frowned, yawning softly. “Everypony is feeling the same way, Applejack. We need sleep, but we need the day time as well.” The unicorn replied. “Things are going to only get worse unless we can stop Night Mare Moon.” “But how?” “I don't know, AJ. We don't even know where she is. Go and get the others, we need to stop her before it's too late.” Twilight said. ~ “All the critters...” Fluttershy whimpered. “This darkness is making them sick.” “The constant night is affecting us all, the plants, the animals. Everything.” Twilight hung her head and sighed. “We need to figure out where Night Mare Moon is hiding, and we must stop her.” “Well, if I was a big meanie pony like her, I'd take over the castle!” Pinkie burst out. “Because she wants to be in charge and stuff!” “Pinkie, you're right.” Twilight exclaimed. “Although, we still need to figure out how to defeat her.” “Could we try the Elements again?” Rarity asked, raising a hoof off the floor for a moment. “It does seem the only way we can beat 'er.” AJ nodded in agreement with the seamstress. “They didn't work last time!” Rainbow Dash argued. “So, how are they going to work next time?” “I don't know, Dash. We can't give up though, we have to try! If we give up, Equestria will die.” Twilight replied. “To Canterlot!” Pinkie pointed towards the door with a cheer.