//------------------------------// // Episode 21: Reborn in RAGE! // Story: My Little Pony: The Entities of Emotion // by Michael_Ravencroft //------------------------------//  Luna was flying through the Astral Plains. As was her duty every night, the midnight blue alicorn would traverse this wondrous vastness, watching over the dreams of the ponies of Equestria. This was one of the things she missed during her imprisonment on the moon, being cut off from the realm of dreams and possibilities. Celestia had told Luna that she had on one or more occasions tried to become a protector of dreams, but every time Celestia entered and tried to be the Astral Plains’ warden, it would often force the solar mare back. But the Astral Plains were happy again now that their caretaker had returned. Another thing that she was happy about, something that gave her even more joy was that the foals of Equestria had welcomed her back with open forelegs. Though they knew of the tales of Nightmare Moon and Luna’s connection with her that still didn’t stop the children of Equestria from seeing her as their “Dream Guardian” and their “Light in the Night”, Luna giggled whenever she first heard of those titles. The Princess of the Night was just about done with her rounds of patrolling the Plains for any abnormalities or signs of nightmares plaguing a child. She even dispensed some advice here and there, although, whether or not the pony she gave it to would follow through with it was up to them. This night, Luna had been watching over the dreams of three particular Equestrian citizens. The midnight blue mare hovered over the first orb of the night, it was a familiar one, but she also noticed that another orb hovered very close by. Luna used her magic to tap into both dreamscapes, sensing Scootaloo’s and Adara’s dreamscapes hovering next to each other. Proximity in the Physical World did not always equal closeness in the Astral Plains, but, when one feels deeply enough for another, they can connect through dreams, even from far distances. Luna smiled as she saw both fillies having a joint dream, apparently one of them being older and living together in a house of their own in the skies. In this dream, Scootaloo was an accomplished Wonderbolt Ace, while Adara was also part of the team, and the medic of Scootaloo, Rainbow Dash, and other team members. Satisfied that they were alright, Luna moved on to the next. The next dreamscape belonged to the Element of Generosity’s little sister, Sweetie Belle. In this dream she apparently seemed to be in a music hall, and Sweetie herself seemed to be a young mare. Sweetie was nervous, about to perform in front of a large audience, possibly going to sing. She backed up a few steps, rethinking the notion of going on and performing in front of so many. But Sweetie Belle stopped the moment she bumped into somepony. When she turned around, she gasped, and so did Luna. Proselyte?! Indeed it was, the one that Luna knew as the Entity of Compassion, was now standing behind Sweetie Belle, smiling kindly and reassuringly at the young mare. They exchanged a few words, Sweetie Belle smiled, and then they…Oh my…The two ponies kissed, it was a short, yet tender moment for the two of them. Sweetie Belle blushed when they separated, but it quickly diminished now that she was filled with new found confidence. The young mare then strode onto the stage where a crowd of hundreds was waiting, cheering for the star to appear. Luna stayed for a time to listen to the beautiful music young mare made. It lasted for a few minutes and Luna stayed to listen to the concert. The Princess of the Night moved on, sensing her time within the Astral Plains was almost up, she needed to make one more stop. And it was one that she didn’t like. Luna flew back to where she began her jaunt, her own dreamscape. It was like a giant blue jewel in the endless expanse of the Astral Plains, but there one part that was kept segregated from her sphere. It was a black mass, with heavy chains wrapped around it. They were more symbolic than an actual means of restraint. Luna flew up to the mass and stopped a few feet from its surface. The part she was staring at began to churn, swirling as it formed and grew out. Soon a face appeared, equine in appearance, with a singular long horn on its forehead. The eyes of this head opened, showing portals of turquoise that immediately contracted into slits. The head smiled at Luna, which only made her furrow her brow in anger. “Well, well, well, nice to see you again, Luna.” “I can’t say the same for you, Nightmare.” “I’ve been meaning to ask you, why do you keep me here? You claim to never want to see again, and yet you keep me here. Why?” “As much as I wish you gone from my mind…whether out of some misguided notion that you might be able to become something more than what you are…or just because I fear what might happen if you were to actually leave me…” Nightmare chuckled upon hearing this. “Oh my, you really think you can make me be like you!? Weak, willing to do anything our ‘big sister’ tells us?! Luna, after all this time, you still take orders from her.” “I do not ‘take orders’ from Tia. Everything has changed, Nightmare, I know you know this to be true. You’ve seen the world through my eyes, ponies appreciate the night, and even the foals see us as their protector.” Nightmare Moon scoffed. “Hooray, the little snot nosed brats of Equestria love us, and it only took our banishment and a thousand years of loneliness upon the moon to make everypony see it! Face it Luna, you still resent Celestia, otherwise I wouldn’t have been able to latch onto your psyche for this long!” Luna turned her back to Nightmare and snorted a little in frustration. “Perhaps, one day soon, you will learn that anger is not worth holding onto.” (The Next Morning) Luna didn’t like the fact that she had to hide Nightmare Moon away in her mind, especially from her dear older sister, Celestia. After how the elder alicorn welcomed her back with open forelegs, it was a jarring experience to say the least, seeing how much Equestria had changed since her banishment, and how the castle they once called home was now in ruins, and that a new one was erected on a mountainside. On that same day, away from the prying eyes and ears of all ponies, within the privacy of Celestia’s private chambers, the confident elder sister broke down and cried, apologizing and begging Luna for forgiveness when she was sent to the moon. The Princess of the Moon had never seen her sister so heartbroken, so distraught, and knowing that it was her selfish actions that made her harbor these feelings for a thousand years, it tore her heart in two. The two sisters had spent a long time crying and holding each other, not wanting to be separated for a good long time, Luna’s presence brought Celestia peace and happiness, and it was the same for Luna. The long lonely millennia spent on the moon, with nopony to talk to but her own dark persona and she only fed her more and more reasons why Luna should not forgive Celestia, how they were the rightful rulers. But that didn’t matter; none of it did, Luna was happy to be back with Celestia, to be held by her loving and caring older sister. Luna remembered that Celestia had canceled many of her meetings for the next couple of weeks, wanting nothing more than to be with her and her alone. It was in that comforting embrace that made Luna wish she had never become Nightmare Moon, thinking that her big sister didn’t care about her, how could she have thought such things back then? The rage, the sadness, it all blocked out the good memories of her life, and anchored onto the bad, letting them occupy her mind, festering like an open wound. That’s the past, Luna thought. Focus on the now, and what’s ahead of you. Luna was currently heading to the dining hall. Some nights she ran the Night Court, and didn’t bother to get up in the morning, if at all. While on others, Luna did as she had last night, traverse the Astral Plain and see into the dreams of her subjects, setting aside certain nights for her duties as Princess and her duties as a Dream Walker. It was during those times when her body rested and she could move about during the day and interact with her big sister and other ponies. She tried to fit these dream jaunts with any important meetings that took place during the day, so that she could be alert and be of better use to Celestia. “Even though you don’t really do anything other than sit there and look pretty next to Tia.” Nightmare spoke within her mind. My presence assures those attending such meetings that we take the matter seriously, Luna thought. Luna heard Nightmare scoff. “Don’t give me that same placating drivel that she feeds Twilight Sparkle! Her only excuse is that she just became an alicorn, so her limited role is to be expected! But you – we – have lived just as long as Celestia, and know just as much.” Maybe a thousand years ago, but things have changed, you know this. They’ve changed a lot… “And whose fault do you think that is?!” And who do you think was responsible for that happening in the first place? Luna countered, resulting in silence from her counterpart. Tia is just weaning us into the political system that was established long ago, so that we do not overstep our boundaries. “Bureaucrats and Nobles, a thousand years ago the so called ‘nobility’ didn’t so much as breathe without our say so, and now they constantly come to Celestia and to you, whining and demanding this and that, trivial things that no one gives a rat’s ass about!” ……In that I will agree with you, but this is the way things are, now hush so that I may enjoy my breakfast with my sister. “Hmm, wonder how she’d react if she knew you were still harboring me within your mind?” Do not speak of things that will never be. Breakfast was one of the few times that Luna could speak freely with her big sister. The dining room itself was a private one, not overtly enormous like some of the others in the castle, this was their designated place, shielded with spells to prevent eavesdropping and only allowing the cooks to come in and bring their meal for that morning. It was here, as well as in their private chambers, that the sisters could speak openly and freely, forgetting for that period of time that they were Princesses and just ponies. “Why don’t you tell her Luna, I’m sure ‘Tia’ would be happy to hear that I’m still kicking around up here in your mind?” You really need to be silent now. Despite her annoying dark persona, Luna did notice that Celestia’s features seemed droopy, as if troubled by something. “Sister, what is wrong?” “Huh – What?” Celestia was snapped out of her deep thinking and blushed a little for her rudeness of ignoring Luna. “I’m sorry Lulu, did you say something?” “I merely asked if there was something the matter, but seeing as how you reacted, I would assume there was.” Celestia sighed a little, “I’ve been combing over the reports from the various Royal Guard stations around Equestria, looking for any signs that the Negative Entities have tried to cause harm to our subjects. But so far there is nothing. No mass paranoia onset by fear, no looting and rioting from sheer greed, and, thankfully, no loss of life, at least, ones that weren’t of natural causes and accidents,” she amended. “Maybe the Negative Entities are just as the others, curious about our world, and maybe wanting to find a place in it.” Luna thought to her own dark entity, Nightmare Moon. She was born from the anger and jealousy that Luna felt long ago, her alter ego was born from darkness, but, like Discord, there was still maybe a chance that the Nightmare could be reformed if given a reason to. Luna mentally chastised herself, keeping Nightmare Moon contained. She knew it was better to destroy the dark one and be rid of it forever. But…Luna couldn’t help but feel that it was not her fault for being what she was, born of negativity and not given a chance to live. And then, there was the nagging feeling that if she did get rid of Nightmare Moon, that some part of her would be going along with her. “Quite the conundrum, isn’t it Luna?” Silence! Suddenly there was flash of light and a scroll appeared. Hovering a couple of feet above the table they sat at. “I thought this dining room was warded against interruptions?” “It is, but look closer.” Celestia took the scroll in her magical grasp, bringing it closer for Luna to inspect. “Three red ribbons, the only time when these are put on a scroll is when –” “When there is a matter of great urgency,” finished Luna. Celestia nodded and quickly opened it. Her magenta eyes scanned over the message, let out a few gasps here and there, and would scrunch her face in contemplation at other points. It was starting to make Luna anxious, not knowing what she was reading. Three ribbons could have meant anything, a natural disaster, a potential war, the death of some pony important or close to them. Luna silently prayed it wasn’t the third possibility. After a minute and a half of reading the letter, Celestia looked to her younger sister with a troubled expression. “What does it say?!” “There has been an incident in Stalliongrad, Windigos appeared in the city and caused mayhem…” Luna immediately rose from her sitting position, adopting a stern and determined expression. “Then we must away, assemble Twilight and her friends dear sister and we’ll –!” “There’s no need Luna,” she assured, “From the looks of it, the incident was resolved…By one of the Negative Entities no less.” The Princess of the Night raised a curious eyebrow at this news. “One of the Negatives, which one?!” Celestia reread the letter to make sure she was right before answering, “From what it says, there was an abundance of ‘red light’, from a minotaur. If I remember correctly from what the others told us, red is the color of the light of Rage, the Butcher!” “So, what is it that needs to be done?” asked Luna. “From what it says, their asking for help to identify a creature that they believe was fighting the Windigos, it’s apparently trapped in a giant, ruby red glacier.” Celestia went silent for a moment, her gaze narrowed as her mind went to work. “Uh-oh, you know that look, she’s already thinking of the best way to handle the situation. No doubt she will ask you to take care of things here in Canterlot, while she goes off to do something important, leaving you to do all the busy work, not trusting you to handle such a serious situation.” “Sister,” said Luna quickly, “I shall investigate whether or not the creature is the Butcher or not.” Celestia looked to her younger sister with trepidation, “I-I don’t know Lulu, perhaps we should ask one of the other four to accompany you to Stalliongrad, just in case this is a trap.” “And now she doubts your power, typical Tia.” “I assure you that I will be fine, Entity of Rage or not, I do not fall easily. Trust me Tia, let me do this, besides, it is not as if I have much to do in the day.” Celestia felt a pang of guilt; it was true that Luna’s duties during the day were far less than those of hers. Even during the Night Court, although she did get some ponies in to see her, Luna didn’t have the same amount of nobles and petitioners come to see her as they did during the day, and many of those who did were from earlier in the day, thinking that they might get a different answer from Luna. After thinking it over for a minute, Celestia came to a decision. (Stalliongrad, 24 Hours Later) Luna had made the long journey to the border city of Stalliongrad, and when she arrived, her heart sank. The hospitals were filled with many victims from the Windigos hate influence. Some had died, lost limbs, were crippled, severely injured, or had a psychotic break from the knowledge that they had harmed their fellow pony or griffon, most of these types came from when they found out they had killed or harmed their best friend, lover, or family member. What made it worse was that adults weren’t the only ones involved in the frenzy, all ponies and griffons, of many varying ages, were engaged in the brawl. No doubt she’d have to visit these ponies in their dreams, knowing full well that they will need a lot of counseling, and a little aid within their dreams to help cope and heal from this tragedy. But, as tragic as this was, this was not her main worry. The Royal Guards and the Border Patrol Officers had guided the Princess of the Night to the frozen wasteland that had served as the battlefield for the Windigos and the mysterious red minotaur. Once there, Luna gasped at the sight. A giant glacier stood before her, blood red like a ruby. Luna unfurled her wings and flew up to the glacier, climbing higher and higher until she could see the face of the creature that dwelled within. It was just as Ion and Adara had described him, the Butcher, Entity of Rage. Luna landed on the ground, where several unicorn scientist busy trying to figure out what the ice was made of and what the creature was inside, of course Luna knew, but the Entities identities were to be kept secret from the public at large. A large perimeter had been set up to prevent anypony or griffon from coming near the glacier, both because this fight still took place on Equestrian soil, and because Luna didn’t want anything setting off the Butcher. “What have you discovered thus far?” asked Luna. “It’s…uncanny, this ice is unlike anything I’ve ever seen! It’s energized with a unknown power, the crazy thing is, the power seems to be emanating from within the glacier, charging the ice, and making it stronger, but the source doesn’t seem to be weakening!” Luna looked back to the red glacier and scrunched her face in contemplation. So, the Butcher’s infinite light of Rage keeps the ice from breaking. The Windigos must’ve not been able to defeat him, so they instead froze him, he’ll trapped in there so long as he continues to emit rage energy, the ice will keep him captive. “You’re highness, what do you suppose we do with it then? The locals on both sides of the border are, understandably, restless at having this thing here any longer,” said the BP Officer. Luna pondered the question; obviously they couldn’t keep the thing near the border of Griffonia and Equestria, not with all that had happened here. And there was too great a risk that some radicals might find a way to release the Butcher. There was only one other option. Tia’s not going to like this… (Two days and one airship ride later) Thankfully, Luna was able to move the giant glacier into an underground section of Canterlot Castle. Since the mines were, mysteriously, stripped of all their crystals, the inside was reinforced to prevent a cave in, and now serves as a temporary prison for the Entity of Rage. Luna looked upon the icy prison of the red bull from the platform, the Butcher frozen in a moment of fierce expression. She had moved the giant thing closer to where the other Positive Entities were, considering that three out of the four lived in Ponyville, if something were to happen, they could easily rush to Canterlot and subdue the beast. Just as they told us, this ice will not melt so long as he continues to feed it rage, but this thing…It is unsettling. “In a good way Luna, it is power, pure, unbridled power! Could you imagine the kind of might we’d wield if we united our strength with its!?” I’d rather not. Luna continued to stare at the glacier, her eyes drifting to that of the Butcher’s eyes. For a moment they were locked, a stirring began to happen within Luna. Old memories started to resurface, ones she had moved passed and was willing to forget, but for some reason they started to gnaw at her mind. “Luna?” “WHAT!?” she snapped. Luna turned her head and saw that it was Celestia, who was now looking at her with concern. “I…I was looking for you, the Guards said that you were down here, checking the on the glacier. Is…Is everything alright?” The midnight blue alicorn shook her head, feeling her face contort into a scowl. She centered herself, taking in a deep breath before saying anything to her sister. “I’m fine, Tia. Just a little edgy from this thing being here, but, rather somewhere we can keep an eye on it than far away where we can’t.” Celestia approached her little sister, and stood beside Luna. She too gazed upon the solid block of ice that housed the Butcher, and it made her shiver knowing that the only thing that kept the a creature with such enormous power from wreaking havoc on the city and everypony in it was a few hundred yards of blood red ice. “We’ll inform the other Entities tomorrow, maybe they might be able to figure out where the remaining two are through the Butcher.” Celestia said. “Tia…I was, during my time in Stallinongrad, I was told that the Butcher assumed the form a minotaur, and that he was the one responsible for stopping the Windigos. This was corroborated by at least two griffonesses, and one pegasus mare who claimed to have been saved by him during an altercation the day before the incident.” Celestia looked to Luna curiously. “Where are you going with this?” “I was simply wondering, do you think that he might be able to change his ways?” The Princess of the Day pondered her little sister’s query, looking down at the floor as her mind came to a conclusion. “In truth, Luna, I do not.” Luna’s expression became surprised the moment she heard this. “How could you say that Tia, if Discord could be reformed just by taking on a friend, is it not possible for this creature to do the same, he has already showed that he is willing to protect others!” “Lulu…Discord is…was…something else. He wasn’t always the Spirit of Chaos…In my folly, I failed to stop what he was to become…” “You did not tell me this,” said Luna, “You told me that Discord rose up from the disharmony that still resided in the hearts of the three pony tribes, and that disharmony was given form in Discord.” Celestia wore a look of shame on her face, and it only confirmed Luna’s suspicions that her sister had lied to her about something important as Discord. “In truth, he was a unicorn, a gifted one. A young colt I mentored from a young age…He grew up to be Spell Binder, but little did I know that the colt, now a stallion, had not just grown to see me as a mentor, but did also grow attached to me.” “Attached…?” Celestia’s expression of shame grew. “He was…infatuated with me. Spell Binder was an orphan foal, but I saw in him the potential for greatness. Do you remember him?” Luna thought back to long ago, about a unicorn colt whom her older sister took in and taught the art of magic to. She also remembered talking to Spell Binder, watching him grow into a handsome stallion, and, if she was being honest with herself, Luna had developed a little crush on him as well. She even tried to make advances on him, subtle ones, since it was considered un-princess like conduct to openly pursue a colt back then. Especially when said colt was her sister’s pupil, some would consider it a scandal. The young mare at the time didn’t get farther than an honest friendship with the unicorn mage, but she thought in time he might grow to like her. But now Luna learns that Spell Binder didn’t take notice because she wasn’t being forward, he only had eyes for Celestia. “Seems Celestia still doesn’t trust you with some of her dark secrets, how unfortunate, but then again, how did he become that mishmash of chaos?” “How did he become Discord, Tia!?” Celestia sighed heavily, “He…Spell Binder, he tried to become like us. He knew that, even if I were to return his affections, there was no way to escape his mortality. That I would live on and he would eventually pass away, he found a way to become like us, immortal, through the power of chaos, but he did not realize what it would do to him…I –” Luna stamped her hoof on the floor, causing Celestia to flinch. “You kept something like this from me!? Why!? Did you not think I could handle the truth!?” “No, because I was afraid how much it would hurt you to know of this. Especially when you heard of the passing of Snowdrop…” Luna’s eyes went wide when she heard the name of her friend and she scowled at Celestia for mentioning her dear friend’s name. “Don’t you dare speak her name in front of me!” Celestia could hear the harshness in her little sister’s voice, she then extended a wing to hug her, but her downy white wing was slapped away by Luna’s, causing Celestia to back away in shock. “Don’t you touch me! Even after all this time, you still treat me like a child Tia!” Luna then turned around and stormed out of the cavern, leaving Celestia behind to wallow in her shame and sadness for not being straight and honest with her sister from the beginning. Luna found herself back in her old Castle, the palace looked the same, but there was something wrong, something ominous about the place she was once called home. Luna found that things were bigger than she once remembered as she walked the halls, it wasn’t until she passed by a suit of armor and looked at herself in its shield did she notice why things were bigger. Luna was a filly, at least twelve years of age. Her coat was cobalt blue, and her mane had not the ethereal starry flow it used to, instead it was a light shade of blue, the same as her tail. Of course it didn’t startle her that much, this was the form Tia and herself had before they had become more attuned to their new alicorn powers. It made Luna think how Cadance and Twilight would look once they had aged and got more attuned to their alicorn magic. But those thoughts could wait, Luna needed to find Celestia, she didn’t know why, but she felt an overwhelming urge to go to her big sister. The alicorn filly made her way into the throne room, seeing her big sister sitting upon her personal throne. She was different as well, her mane wasn’t flowing and multicolored, it was normal like hers, but a vibrant pink color. She looked to be fourteen years of age, but somehow she always managed to look older than she really appeared, it wasn’t a spell or some illusion, it was just the way she was, much like how Luna looked younger than her real age. Celestia was busy looking over some documents when Luna trotted up to her older sister, “Tia…?” The white alicorn mare stopped her perusing of her papers and lowered them to look at her little sister. “What’s the matter Lulu, you should be in bed, it’s late.” “I…I know, I just had a bad dream is all…” Celestia smiled comfortingly, she then scooted over in her throne and patted the empty space. Luna walked up to the throne and sat in the empty space next to her big sister, she then felt as Celestia draped her wing over her shoulders, bringing the young alicorn close to her. Luna nuzzled Celestia’s foreleg, humming contently as she did so. “Now, tell me what happened, what was your bad dream about?” Luna hesitated, but confided in her big sister. “It…It was about us…when we’re older. I…I get really angry with you, because you thought I was weak, useless, and that nopony likes me, and I become something, a monster. And then you use some kind of magic to send me to the moon for a thousand years…” Celestia tightened her embrace upon hearing this, “Luna, I would never do that to you! And you would never become a monster, not so long as I am here!” “I know…But it felt so real…And you were lonely, and the only thing I could think about while on the moon was how I was going to hurt you, all I could see and think were bad things, really bad things!” Luna shook, remembering all the tortures and degrading acts her bad dream had shown her that she would do to her sister. Tears started to stream down her face, thinking herself an awful little sister, and a bad pony for even having such a dream. The little alicorn filly felt her sister’s hoof touch her chin, gently raising it to meet her loving gaze. “Luna, I love you, and would never ever make you feel that way, nor allow anypony to make you think that you that you are. You know that.” The cobalt blue alicorn smiled and nuzzled closer to her big sister. “Thank you, Tia, I love you.” “I know you do…In fact, I think it’s time I showed you just how much I love you.” Luna looked up at Celestia curiously, “I don’t understand, how?” “Luna, you know that you and I will live for a long time, longer than anypony. I think it’s time we strengthen our bond and take it further than just that of sisters…” “Tia, what are you sa –!” The alicorn filly was silenced when her sister’s lips crashed onto hers. Luna’s eyes went wide with shock, Celestia was kissing her! And not just some harmless peck, she was kissing her as if she were her lover. Luna tried to move away, but the limited space of the throne made it hard for her to get away. Celestia continued to kiss her passionately, pushing her against the throne. She separated, and looked down lustfully at her younger sister. “Only you and I can be together forever, nopony else can love you the way I do, Lulu.” Luna stared at Celestia, her mouth agape with shock and disgust at what Celestia had just done. Luna slipped away and fell off the throne, tumbling down the steps until she landed on the floor in a heap. She then looked back up at the throne, to her sister, and continued to back away, crawling on the ground. “No…Tia no! We’re sisters, this is incest! You can’t do this even if we are immortal! I love you but…I don’t love you that way!” “Luna,” Celestia started walking down from her throne, stalking towards Luna like a predator, “I know it will be difficult, but you’ll see, once you accept these feelings, that it’s natural, no one will look down on us, we’re stronger than them, and we’re royalty.” “No…No…NO!!!” Luna ran through the throne room doors and kept on running through the halls, hearing the voice of her sister from behind her. “You can’t run from this Lulu, I’ll always be here waiting for you…” Luna continued to gallop through the halls, the scenery started to change along with her body, she grew taller and older. Soon the entire area changed and the castle had become that of the one she and Celestia occupied, the Castle of the Two Sisters. Luna found herself in a laboratory, filled with beakers and test tubes, and books of the arcane arts. She saw Spell Binder in the distance and ran faster to him, she needed to feel safe, and right now, even knowing that he had no romantic affection for her, she needed a friend. “Spell Binder, thank goodness, I need your help! Tia – I mean – Celestia, she…she…she kissed me! She said she wanted to be more than sisters! I don’t know what to do! Spell Binder, I know this may sound disturbing, but swear I am not making this up!” There was no response from the unicorn. “Okay, I have everything I need to become more than a simple unicorn! Finally I’ll be able to become an immortal being, one that can stand side by side with you!” Luna looked to the shadows in the corner of the room and watched as Celestia walked towards Spell Binder. “Of course, we’ll be together forever.” “NO SPELL BINDER, DON’T DO IT!!!” But it was too late; the unicorn stallion cast the spell and was quickly engulfed in the light of chaos magic. The power twisted his form and changed him into the Spirit of Chaos, Discord. Celestia moved around the draconequus and looked directly at Luna. “Luna, I don’t do this because I like it, you have to realize that only you and I can be together.” “NO!!! GET AWAY FROM ME YOU SICK MARE!!!” Luna ran, but once again the scenery changed, she was no longer in the castle, but instead she was standing on the moon, staring out into the darkness and the blue orb that is planet Equus. Luna was now in her older form, with a flowing mane and midnight blue coat. “No, how am I on the moon!?” “It’s where I sent you, remember?” Luna turned around and watched as Celestia slowly walked towards her, taking her time. The Princess of the Night entered a combative stance, lowering her horn and scowling at Celestia. “Enough Tia, this obsession ends now!” “‘Obsession’? This is love, if you’d only accept my feelings than this would all be needless. Luna, the further you push, the more I’m afraid I’m going to have to resort to drastic measures to make you understand.” “What ‘drastic measures’!?” Celestia’s horn lit up and in a flash of light, Snowdrop appeared on the lunar surface. Luna’s heard filled with joy upon seeing her beloved friend, but it was not to last. Snowdrop immediately started to gasp for air, Luna remembered that they were on the moon; she and Celestia may be able to exist in this void, but not Snowdrop. Luna readied to cast a spell to save the pegasus mare, but was stopped by Celestia, casting a spell of restriction around her horn. She even bound her legs in glowing gold mana chains, keeping her rooted to the spot where she stood. The solar mare trotted around Snowdrop and right to Luna’s side. With a spark of her horn she forced her younger sister to the ground as she lay beside her, gently stroking her mane as she made Luna watch her friend slowly suffocate. “Tia please save her! Please, I’ll do anything!” “I’m sorry Lulu,” Celestia nuzzled Luna’s neck affectionately, sniffing her to take in her scent, “but you have to learn your lesson.” The powder blue pegasus mare reached out to Luna, and Luna struggled to do the same. But it was too late; Snowdrop stopped her gasping breaths and went still. Luna’s eyes filled with tears at seeing the only friend she had left die before her eyes. Despite this, Celestia continued to show her affection for her younger sister, and Luna felt no need to fight it. “That’s right Lulu. I am the only one who can make you happy. Be mine, body and soul, and let us deepen our bond as eternal sisters…” “…I…I will make you pay for this…!” (That Morning) Celestia was resting in her chambers, her night had been anything but peaceful as thoughts of Luna and her subsequent anger from the revelation of Spell Binder was made known. The solar mare got out from her bed and made her way to the balcony from which she oversaw the raising of the sun. Although, for some reason, the moon hadn’t been lowered at all, which made Celestia worry, perhaps Luna was still angry about the other day, but she supposed she could lower the moon this time. Setting her horn aglow, Celestia tapped into the magic she hadn’t used for a long time. It was always a little more draining to lower the moon, since it was against her alignment, that, and she hadn’t done it for a while since Luna returned. Celestia grasped the moon, it was a little resistant to her call, but the moon eventually yielded to her and allowed itself to sink below the horizon. Celestia took a moment to compose herself, she then began to raise the sun, making it peak over the horizon. Once it had reached that point, Celestia let it go and allowed the sun to move under its own power. With that done, Celestia returned to her earlier thoughts. Honestly she had meant to tell Luna about Discord’s origins and the reason behind his reform, but she didn’t know how best to break it to her, knowing that she had feelings for the young spell caster. The look of betrayal and hurt in Luna’s eyes, it almost reminded her of… “No,” she spoke, “things have changed, Luna is more understanding now, she knows…I’m lying to myself, I need to be more open with her, I need –” Suddenly Celestia’s bedroom wall was blasted open, sending the mare sprawling to the floor from the shockwave. Celestia tried to regain her senses but was stopped from the looming over her, and staring down with hate filled eyes. Her appearance was disheveled as if she hadn’t gotten a good night sleep, her regalia wasn’t even on, much like herself, either she had discarded it or Luna just got out of bed the same as her. “L-Luna what are you –!?” “SILENCE!” Luna slammed her hoof onto her chest, knocking the wind out of Celestia’s lungs. “Do you enjoy this Tia!?” “W-What…do you…mean!?” “Do you enjoy tormenting me!? Taking away all those who mean anything to me! You steal Spell Binder’s heart and drive him to turn himself into that monstrosity! And then…you send me to the moon, and prevent me even saying goodbye to Snowdrop!” Celestia watched as her younger sister stared at her, tears welling up in her eyes. “Luna…I’m sorry I did not tell you…And I’m sorry you did not get to see Snowdrop before her passing…” “You love this don’t you!? Because we’re immortal, we only have each other, but you don’t want to see me happy do you!? You want me totally dependent on you! To do anything and everything you say without question! Is this just some kind of sick game to you!? Or do you have some sick wish to bed me once I’ve completely submitted to you!?” Celestia couldn’t let that one go. “THAT IS ABSURD! I WOULD NEVER DO ANY OF THAT TO YOU!” “Maybe it’s time for our subjects to see the real you! Even if…if…!” Suddenly, something snapped inside of Luna, she felt it, something had broken deep, deep down inside of her. “Well done Luna, now it’s my time to shine again!” Luna jumped back from Celestia, screaming in agony as the transformation started. Darkness swirled around her, obscuring her from view. Celestia watched in horror as the silhouette of her younger sister was being changed into something else, a sense of déjà vu was quickly washing over her and Celestia knew what this meant. The silhouette grew taller, her horn longer and sharper, and glowing turquoise eyes that turned into menacing slits. The sphere broke apart, sending shards of dark energy splintering off and piercing through the walls, shredding everything in their path. Celestia opened her eyes and saw the mare that she had hoped was gone forever. Bearing her dagger like fangs, a coat as black as night, and a starry, ethereal mane that undulated unbidden of the wind, the dreaded Mare in the Moon, the dark persona of her little sister, Nightmare Moon. Celestia rose up, staring at the dark mare before her in disbelief and resentment. “How are you here?! The Elements of Harmony destroyed you and set Luna free!” “Humph, yes, but I survived. My physical form was gone, yes, but my mind and spirit lived. Luna, unfortunately, found out about my presence and contained me within the deepest parts of her mind. But enough about me, time to focus on you!” Nightmare Moon charged her horn and fired a beam of black and blue energy at Celestia. The Princess of the Day quickly erected a golden barrier around herself just as the beam smashed against her shield. The beam pushed her further and further back, edging her closer to the balcony. Nightmare Moon released a second burst, bolstering the beam’s might and pushing Celestia right out of her room and into the open air. A large scorching hole was left where the balcony once was, the stone hissing from the intense heat of the attack. Celestia floated in midair, her shield still holding, barely. She had lowered the moon and raised the sun earlier and her magic wasn’t at its full strength, the alabaster mare thought to teleport to Ponyville and call upon the aid of Twilight and her friends. But before she could contemplate such a thing, Nightmare Moon flew out of the scorching hole and right at Celestia, her entire body glowing with her dark magical energy. The Mare in the Moon hurled herself at the barrier; the force of her charge combined with her magical energy shattered the barrier. Celestia quickly folded her wings and dropped out the sky, evading the piercing horn of the dark mare. Celestia unfurled her wings and hovered in midair, looking up at the creature that was once her sister. “Luna, listen to me! You mustn’t allow Nightmare Moon to take control! You’re stronger than her, fight it!” Nightmare Moon turned to look down at Celestia, laughing mockingly loud. “She wanted this dear big sister! She wanted me to come back, because of you! Always looking down on us,” Nightmare Moon’s horn was aglow, and suddenly Celestia was wrapped in her telekinetic aura, “never treating us as real equals,” she then hoisted Celestia up to her level, and with a burst of telekinesis, shot the alicorn mare through the air. Celestia smashed through several walls before stopping in the throne room. Royal Guards all scrambled to her side upon seeing the spectacle, but before Celestia could warn them to leave her another explosion was heard further down the hall. The explosions got closer, and closer. “Form a defensive line around the Princess, now!” Royal Guard unicorns all assembled before Celestia, horns blazing with mana as they formed a barrier wall with their united magical power. Nightmare Moon eventually destroyed the next wall, entering the throne room and seeing the barrier that had been created to stop her. She chuckled at the sight. You’d think they would’ve learned their lesson. Nightmare Moon’s ethereal mane rose up above her and joined at the center. A sphere of energy formed, growing in mass with each passing second. With a great cry, Nightmare Moon hurled the sphere right at the barrier, destroying it and sending the Royal Guards flying to all corners of the room. The Mare in the Moon grinned at seeing the alabaster mare on the floor, bare without her regalia, she felt as if she had stripped her of her dignity and was relishing the thought of parading her around like this. Beaten, weak, and helpless, oh how she would love to see the faces of her soon-to-be subjects once they beheld the sight. The dark mare approached Celestia, listening as she heard soft whimpers coming from the regal Princess. “Oh don’t worry, Tia. It will only hurt for a little while longer, I’ll put you out of your pathetic misery soon enough. Who knows, I may even keep you around for entertainment purposes.” Suddenly, a flash of light appeared from under Celestia, and that same moment, the flash of light zoomed forth past Nightmare Moon’s left cheek. The Mare in the Moon felt searing pain as she quickly jumped back. Her slit turquoise eyes looked at the damage and saw a scar on her cheek, bleeding and hissing. Nightmare gazed angrily at her opposite and scowled upon what she saw. Celestia stood to her full height, horn glowing, wings flared, and eyes narrowed as she stared down Nightmare Moon. Beside her was the instrument from which caused her injury. It was a halberd, with a polished white oak shaft at least eight feet in length. At the butt of the shaft was a golden cap, with three blades shooting off to the right, left, and down. Further up the shaft the Crest of the Sun was at the center connecting it to a long golden ax blade, a three foot spike, and a five foot long blade at the top, perfect for stabbing or slashing. This was Celestia’s prized weapon, her greatest tool in combating evil, Daylight Glare. “I was hesitant to use this when we first met, Nightmare. Because I was hoping beyond hope, that I could reach my little sister, but now I see that I cannot hold back against you! I made that mistake once, it will not happen again! You will not prevail, Nightmare! Elements of Harmony or no Elements, I will set my sister free from you once and for all!!!” Nightmare Moon fired yet another powerful mana beam at the infuriating Princess, but Celestia was ready. She brought Daylight Glare up and slashed the beam in half, parting it down the middle as the two halves shot through the wall behind her. Nightmare Moon stopped her beam attack and launched a volley of energy blasts at Celestia. The solar mare took a defensive stance, swatting the blasts away with her halberd one after the other. Celestia decided to take this opportunity; it may be her one shot. With a flap of her wings, Celestia zoomed towards Nightmare Moon. The Mare in the Moon continued to lob one blast after the other, but Celestia continued to deflect them or cut them in half as she drew closer. Celestia took careful aim and, with a fierce and teary eyed glare, pierced the blade of her halberd into Nightmare Moon’s chest, resulting in a thunderous boom that echoed through the palace. The two alicorns were still as statues. Nightmare Moon’s mouth was gaping open in shock, her pupils reduced to thin slits. Surprisingly, there was no blood dripping from the point where the blade pierced her chest, only a faint light glowed from the wound. ~~~ Celestia was in an abyss, the darkness that was Nightmare Moon. She searched through this seemingly endless ocean of nothingness until she found something glimmering in the shadows. Celestia flew towards this light and gasped happily upon what she saw. It was a sphere of shimmering blue and silver light, and within it was Luna, curled up into a ball, unchanged by the power of Nightmare Moon. She could hear faint crying coming from the orb, and it made her heart ache. “Lulu, can you hear me?!” Luna stopped crying for a moment and uncurled herself. Her eyes went wide at the sight of her older sister, but just as quickly, she looked away in shame. “Leave me Tia…” “I will not! Not this time, never again!” “I cause you nothing but pain and heartache…” “That is not true Lulu!” Celestia shouted. “Even when you try to do the right thing, to try and make me understand, and yet I still act like a damn child…selfish and willing to believe the worst of you…” Celestia couldn’t help but feel even more guilt forming within her. “In truth…Luna, you are not the one who is selfish…I am…” Luna looked back to Celestia curiously. “Maybe it was just my protective instincts as your big sister, but everything we went through, all the trials and tribulations, all the pain and sorrow, and then having the responsibility of ruling Equestria on the day we ascended. It all got to me, I knew things would be different, that there would be those who would want to gain power through us, or take our lives in search of it. I tried to keep all that focus on me, the responsibility, and the burden, that you may focus on having a happy foalhood…” Luna wiped her eyes and allowed herself a small smile. “It was a happy foalhood, Tia. Despite some things, but other than those few things, the good always outweighed the bad.” “But I kept you too close to me! I kept you from spreading your wings fully, even when you asked me for more responsibility, all I could think about was the fear of what may come. In so doing, I allowed Spell Binder to become Discord…And I only wanted you closer after that…I was foolish…” The midnight blue alicorn stood up and faced her sister with a stern look. “No, Tia, the blame is equally mine! I should’ve seen what you were doing, but all I did was focus on the negatives of your actions, and never the reasons behind them…” Celestia ventured a smile, “I know I said once that we wouldn’t make any more mistakes like those of the past, but this time I’m willing to make that promise again, and for it to be truer now than it was before!” The solar mare reached out her right hoof. “Please Luna, let me take you away from this cold isolation, from this darkness!?” Luna, eyes filled with tears, tentatively she reached out with her own hoof, but stopped and retracted it. “I…I’m afraid, Tia…What will happen if I separate myself from Nightmare…? She was born from me and I feel a connection, I thought she could be changed like Discord, but now I see that she is a nothing more than darkness, but it is my darkness…” Celestia wanted to say that she wouldn’t let anything happen to her, but that’s what got her and Luna into this mess in the first place, and so, she had to say the words that she knew a big sister would say to her little sister. “What do you think you should do, Lulu? Will you allow the Nightmare to be stronger than you, or will you, Princess Luna, rise above it. This choice is yours dear little sister.” Luna was surprised by that response, but it also filled her with confidence, Celestia was trusting Luna’s judgment in this situation. In this, she was given the burden; her decision would either set her free or trap here in the hate, sorrow, and darkness. Luna looked to the confident expression on Celestia’s face, and her decision was made clear. The midnight blue alicorn’s horn shined with the light of her mana, blazing forth like a star. Celestia closed her eyes for a moment, but quickly opened them, smiling at what she saw. Floating beside Luna was a scimitar, with a powder blue hilt, a golden crescent guard, and a five foot long, curved blade, sparkling like silver starlight. This was Luna’s mighty weapon. That which cut down the dark creatures that dared haunt her night, Midnight Crescent. Luna raised the sword over her head, and with a loud battle cry, slashed the sphere open. Celestia sidestepped to the left, allowing the power radiated by the sword to continue cutting through the darkness. The wave of silver-blue light continued to expand farther and farther until it smashed against something in the abyss, creating cracks of light. “Let’s go, Tia.” ~~~ Celestia removed her halberd quickly and jumped back several feet. Nightmare Moon’s body began to writhe, glowing with conflicting auras of blue, silver, and black light. Something strange began to occur, Midnight Crescent’s blade started to pierce through Nightmare Moon’s body, letting loose a bright light. In the next moment an explosion of light flooded the room and Celestia heard the distinct “oomph’s” of two separate ponies. When the light died down, Celestia saw that Luna was laying against the wall to her right; she immediately rushed to her little sister’s side and began to nuzzle her, rousing her to wake. Luna moaned and groaned, feeling the strain of whatever it was she did. Her eyes opened as she gazed on the blurry sight of something white. Once her vision came back into focus, Luna smiled happily to see Celestia, returning the affectionate nuzzle. “Welcome back, Lulu,” said Celestia with a slight tremble in her voice. “I missed you, Tia.” Luna responded in kind. But the celebration was not to last, the sound of approaching hoofsteps caught the two sisters’ attention. “It…It can’t be…!” “How is this possible!?” Nightmare Moon stood before them, panting and glaring daggers at the two sisters. “You thought you could be rid of me that easily Luna!? I knew that one day you might try and end our bond, so I sought to keep enough of your magic left over to make sure I could create a new body! And now you shall feel my wrath, both of you!” Nightmare Moon fired a torrential beam of black and blue mana at the two alicorns. Celestia immediately created a barrier to block the attack, preparing for the powerful force that was soon to impact her shield. But once it did, the impact itself felt light, barely anything at all. Celestia looked in confusion at Nightmare Moon and indeed saw that she was pouring a good amount of magic into the attack. Celestia didn’t know if this was just to psych her out, but she was going to act fast before the dark mare had a chance. Celestia raised Daylight Glare and slashed the air, dispersing the beam and cancelling it out completely. Nightmare Moon recoiled from forced cancellation of her attack, nearly sending her mind reeling from the mental impact, it surprised her. “What…How did you do that!?” “I’ve felt gusts of wind that carried more punch than that Nightmare!” Celestia gazed over Nightmare’s form, her eyes locking onto something that made the solar diarch smirk. “And now I know why.” “WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!!?” Nightmare Moon looked in the direction that Celestia was and gasped in horror at the sight. “My…My cutie mark…! WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY CUTIE MARK!!?” Luna rose from the floor and gave Nightmare Moon a stern look. “You mean my cutie mark, Nightmare. You are a product of myself, everything that I was, everything that you were, is and always was me. Without me at your center, you are a nothing, a phantom, a shadow. Even the greatest of your magic came from me. You may’ve taken a good portion of my power, but on my way out I severed many of the coils that anchor you to the physical world.” Nightmare Moon’s eyes went wide; she didn’t realize that Luna had done so much to her before being expelled from her body. “You…how could you do this to me!!?” “You brought this on yourself,” began Luna. “And now we’ll finish it,” said Celestia. Midnight Crescent and Daylight Glare crossed before Luna and Celestia, forming an X shape. The two alicorn mares rose up into the air, their bodies glowing with the joint magical power of Day and Night. “TOGETHER!!!” Gold and white light, mixed with blue and silver light, united together, forming the crest of the united sun and moon before releasing a giant blast of energy upon Nightmare Moon. The Mare in the Moon had no energy to teleport, nor did she feel she had the strength to fly away fast enough, so she did the only thing she could do. Nightmare Moon brought up a barrier, knowing that it might not be able to take the full force, but maybe it would hold long enough to take the majority of the damage. The beam washed over Nightmare’s barrier, forcing her down. The floor buckled under the strain of the conflicting powers and eventually broke open. The beam continued to throw Nightmare further down through the palace into the mountain itself. Nightmare Moon was in a cavern, her vision was filled with shades of glittering red. She cracked open one of her eyes and saw the giant glacier that housed the Butcher; she realized now how far Celestia’s and Luna’s attack had taken her. Groggily she rose up, feeling all the cuts and scratches upon her body. Her turquoise eyes stung with tears, she hated this, this whole situation. Even now that she had finally obtained a body once again it would not last. She could already feel the magic that was sustaining her start to leave her body, and soon she’d become nothing. Just then, Luna and Celestia flew through the tunnel their beam had created and landed on the platform a few feet from where Nightmare Moon was. Their ancient weapons floated beside them, ready to strike down the maleficent mare. “Nightmare, it’s over,” said Celestia, “but it doesn’t have to be.” “There may still be hope for you yet, as you are now a living being. Surrender now, and we can help you, you may still be able to turn away from the path of darkness and hate,” said Luna, genuinely taking pity upon her dark persona. Nightmare Moon gritted her teeth as her anger seethed within her eyes. “I hate you…both of you!” BA-DUM… “I was born from both of you, do you realize that!?” Nightmare looked to Celestia. “You! The source of Luna’s anger and jealousy, if it weren’t for your overprotectiveness, I would not be formed at all! And you!” She now turned her gaze to Luna. “You gave birth to me, from day one I was nothing more than what you made me to be!” BA-DUM…! “I am your bastard child, Celestia, Luna! I am what you have created me from! I will never change! I will never stop hating you or those who worship and kiss the very ground upon which you two tread!” BA-DUM! BA-DUM! BA-DUM! Behind Nightmare Moon the glacier began to rumble. Tearing sounds echoed within the cavern, and large fissures started to open up on the glacier’s surface. Red light poured from the cracks, increasing in intensity with each passing second. “I WILL NEVER BE A MEMORY, I WILL NEVER FADE AWAY! EVEN IF I MUST USE EVERY LAST DROP OF ENERGY IN THIS BODY, I WILL KILL YOU!!!!!!” At that moment the glacier burst apart, the fragments evaporating into puffs of steam. A great roar bellowed within the cavern, causing Luna and Celestia to flatten their ears to spare their eardrums the force of the roar. Nightmare Moon turned around and saw the wild and fierce red eyes of the Butcher gazing at her, piercing her very core as it snarled. “Nightmare Moon of Equestria, you have great rage in your heart!” Before Nightmare could realize it, her entire body was wrapped in burning red light. It swirled around her like a raging inferno, filling her with the raw power of the light of Rage. Something built up in Nightmare’s throat, forcing her to vomit out large amounts of her blood. Seeing this made her panic, but the loss of blood was soon replaced with the burning surge of power, replacing the blood with pure, unbridled rage energy. Cries of pain and fury could be heard from within the spiraling red light. Luna and Celestia could only watch as the transformation took hold. After a minute, the light imploded, returning to its origin. What stood before the two sisters was not Nightmare Moon. Her ethereal mane and tail were no longer starry and sparkling; it was transformed into blazing red fire that singed whatever it touched. Her regalia was twisted, no longer the shade of the night, but now blood red. Three spikes jutted out from the bracers on her forelegs, while three others shot out from the sides of the greaves on her hind legs. Her collar was now a chest plate, with the burning glow of the Butcher’s insignia. Nightmare Moon’s fangs were more feral, sharper, and longer. The helmet sported boney white tusks on the sides, while two horns extended from her skull, forming a triangle with her own black horn. Nightmare Moon’s flank was no longer bare, but instead, bore the symbol of a crimson full moon. “What…Did the Butcher just…possesses Nightmare Moon!?” Luna shouted incredulously. The black mare turned to Luna, her eyes still the same shade of turquoise, but her slits were red. “I am no longer Nightmare Moon! I am the NIGHTMARE BUTCHER!!!” Celestia and Luna entered into attack stances, bringing their weapons close to prepare for het coming assault. Nightmare Butcher saw this and summoned forth the signature weapon of the Entity of Rage, his crimson battle ax. Luna dashed towards Nightmare, slashing with Midnight Crescent. The blow was swiftly blocked by Nightmare’s ax, causing Luna to stare wide eyed in shock at the speed. Nightmare’s tri horns glowed with red light, wrapping Luna in a vice like grip and hurling the Princess of the Night into the cavern wall several feet away. “LUNA!!!” “Worry about yourself, ‘dear’ sister!!!” Nightmare sped towards Celestia. The solar mare flared her golden aura and brought her halberd before her. The two weapons struck with a powerful concussive wave, shaking the cave and causing stalactites to fall from the ceiling. But neither mare paid the falling stones no mind. Nightmare and Celestia clashed blades again and again, sparks of gold and red light shooting out from the points of contact. Luna, painfully, peeled herself off the cave wall and looked to see her sister was engaged in combat with Nightmare Butcher. She flared her magical aura and zoomed towards them. Nightmare sensed the young alicorn’s movement and lit up her three horns. Behind her formed a red construct of an Ursa Major, but this one was more feral than a normal one, with longer claws, and jagged teeth. Luna stopped as the construct beast swiped at her with its claws, barely missing her. Celestia locked blades with Nightmare; both mares’ auras were pushing against each other, fighting for dominance. The raging mare released her power in a burst, ending the blade lock. Nightmare Butcher then swatted Celestia’s halberd away, making the solar mare stumble. This was her chance. Nightmare drew back, feeling a burning sensation in the back of her throat. All at once Nightmare Butcher opened her mouth and unleashed a torrent of glowing, fiery blood. Celestia saw the attack coming, thinking quickly, she brought Daylight Glare up and fired a beam from the weapon, forcing her to move far from the attack, but not far enough. The red liquid splashed onto Celestia’s right wing, making the alabaster mare scream in agonizing pain. Celestia flopped onto the ground, her grip on the Daylight Glare was lost and the weapon disappeared completely. She looked to her wing and stared in wide eyed horror as the wing was completely melted away, she quickly rolled over to prevent the acidic liquid from getting anymore of her body. The solar mare howled in pain again when she felt the remainder of her wing fall off. She heaved and whimpered from the excruciating pain roaring through her from lost limb, the nerves and tendons nearest the wing joints were blazing with pain. Nightmare Moon slowly crept towards Celestia, relishing the screams of pain and the sight of the once regal mare writhing on the dirty cave floor. “Now, Tia, I think I’ll remove your head and mount it on a pike for all to see!” Luna saw what was about to happen and a fire was lit within her. She rushed towards the Ursa Major construct, dodging its swipe and running along the length of its arm. Luna then plunged her sword into its arm as she ran, dragging it through the bear’s arm. Once she reached the shoulder Luna dashed, bringing Midnight Crescent with her, the blade glowed with the light of her mana as she slashed through the Ursa Major’s neck, lopping off its head completely and shattering the construct. The night alicorn wasn’t stopping there; she gave another slash of her scimitar and let loose an arc of light that sailed towards Nightmare Butcher. Nightmare turned just in time to see the light blade coming at her. She swiftly cut the beam in half with her ax, letting the fragments of light sail off and impact in the distance. Luna then teleported herself between Nightmare and Celestia, staring at the dark mare through narrowed eyes, floating Midnight Crescent close to her, ready to defend her beloved sister to the death. Nightmare Butcher looked down upon the two alicorn sisters, her fury filled eyes betraying a bit of mirth from seeing the sight of her two most hated enemies so weak and helpless, so powerless before her might. “This is the end for both of you. Any last words, Luna, Celestia?” “Three actually.” All three alicorns looked about, hearing an unknown voice echo in the cavern. In a flash of light, a being appeared next to Luna and Celestia, the Spirit of Chaos, Discord, making all three look at him in confusion. With a snap of his eagles claw an orb of chaotic energy wrapped around Celestia and Luna, along with Discord himself. “So long sucker!” Discord mocked. With another snap of his claw, Discord, Luna, and Celestia disappeared in a flash of light, with Discord’s mocking laughter ringing out within the caverns. Nightmare Butcher’s body blazed with the light of Rage as she unleashed a powerful roar that shook the entire cave and Canterlot above. “THIS ISN’T OVER!!!” (Fluttershy’s Cottage) Fluttershy, Proselyte, and Angel were staring in confusion at the empty seat where Discord sat. They draconequus had dropped by to have lunch with the shy pegasus mare and her roommate, and to just mess with Proselyte. But not too long into their meal, Discord’s body began to wiggle and shake, proclaiming he, “Sensed a disturbance in the force.” After that, he snapped his claw and disappeared, leaving the three of them to wonder where he went. “Do you think he’s alright?” asked Fluttershy with a worried tone. “It’s Discord, watch, I bet he’ll come back with some strange, mortifying thing that’ll either blow up the house or make us run for the hills,” said Angel. “Ahem, Angel, did we forget our agreement?” asked Proselyte, raising an eyebrow. The white rabbit choked a bit on his lettuce before catching that the eight month politeness agreement from Proselyte winning the bet about Fluttershy’s affection towards Derpy was still in effect. “Sorry…” “All is forgiven.” Just then a bright flash illuminated the den. Fluttershy, Lyte, and Angel all looked in the direction of the sound and gasped when they saw that Discord had teleported back with Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, and both didn’t exactly look all that good, especially Celestia. “OH MY GOODNESS!” Fluttershy shouted upon seeing Celestia’s missing wing. The light-yellow mare rushed to the Princess’s side. Luna still seemed on edge from the sudden teleportation, but her features relaxed slightly upon seeing where she and her sister had arrived. The Princess of the Night looked up to the draconequus in confusion and surprise. “Discord…You…You saved us?” “I felt that there was something wrong, didn’t know what it was exactly, but there was definitely something very wrong going on with the two of you. So I hurried to you,” Discord then looked to Celestia, seeing her missing wing and the painful expression upon her face, “I only wished I could’ve gotten to you sooner.” Luna trotted up to Discord and placed a hoof on his lions paw; she then whispered in a low tone of voice, “……Thank you, Spell Binder.” Discord’s eyes went wide from hearing his former pony name, but didn’t say anything; nevertheless it didn’t stop him from smiling hearing it spoke from the alicorn whom he once considered a friend. Meanwhile, Proselyte had used his light to levitate Celestia in the air while Fluttershy hurriedly cleared the couch and made it as comfortable as possible for the injured alicorn. The Entity of Compassion gently lowered Celestia onto the couch, making sure her head rested upon the pillows. Fluttershy quickly went to work, checking on the alicorn mare’s injury. Luna hurried to her sister’s side, gently rubbing her right foreleg soothingly. Fluttershy walked back and lowered her head, some tears starting to flow down her cheeks as she looked at the two Princesses. “I…I’m sorry, Princess Celestia, the muscles…and all the nerves, their burned badly, corroded.” “What caused this?” asked Proselyte as he ventured closer to examine the wound. “Nightmare Moon…” Luna spoke with venom. Fluttershy’s eyes went wide upon hearing that name, but it didn’t make sense, how could Nightmare Moon have done this when Luna was sitting right here? For that matter, how was she back at all!? “There’s more to this isn’t there,” above Lyte’s forehead shined the red symbol of Rage, “This wasn’t done by magic alone, there is strong Rage energy here.” Celestia, strained to maneuver her neck so she could face Proselyte and Fluttershy. “It…It’s the Butcher…He was on ice and we thought the Entity of Rage was contained…but…” “It was my fault,” Luna intervened, “but please, we must act quickly! Proselyte, can you heal my sister’s wing!?” Lyte looked upon the wound and scowled, “This is bad, it is possible, but I am afraid it might be more than my light can manage.” The pegasus colt summoned a little of his light of Compassion to his hoof and gently touched it against Celestia’s raw wound. The alicorn mare winced from the contact, but it only lasted for a moment before the pain evaporated. “My light can heal, but as far as re-growing lost limbs, Adara’s light of Hope is better suited for that.” “We still have one problem,” said Discord, “We have an alicorn with breathtaking anger management issues, empowered by a force of pure rage, and is still loose back at Canterlot.” “I will contact the others, and we shall –!” At that moment a great roar erupted throughout the air, shaking the cottage and startling all the little critters that were inside. Luna and Celestia, along with Discord and Fluttershy all seemed confused as to what the sound was, but whatever it was the sound was definitely not equine. “Okay, what in the name of my lucky foot was that?!” Angel exclaimed. Above Proselyte’s forehead a new symbol appeared, orange in color. The colt looked in the direction the feeling was emanating from and narrowed his gaze as he flared his wings. “Trouble, big trouble.”