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// Three words: Twilight, Hooves, C... 
// Story: Second Post Gets A Story - Anthology 
// by Duplex Fields 
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Princess Solaria dripped with sweat, panting.  Nightmare Moon, the abomination who had chosen dissonance over harmony, was gone.

The sudden silence made the night more terrible.  Through the ruined roof of their castle, she could now see a shadow on the full moon, a horned silhouette.

Around her, the bodies - she didn't dare to think of them as corpses, not yet - of her five closest friends lay still, midst the rubble.

Barley Fields, Element of Beneficence.  Canary Spinel, Element of Verity.  They had been betrothed.  The sudden shock of realizing their wedding would never occur struck her like a thunderbolt.

Solaria collapsed, weeping freely.  Her hooves made clacking noises on the marble floor as she shook with rage and sadness.  Even the Element of Mirth in her heart could not warm her enough to bear what had been done this night.

Minutes passed, and the world remained in twilight as Solaria mourned.  She had never felt so alone - she had never been so alone before.

These mortal ponies, they dealt with Death, they passed to the Light Beyond where her Sire welcomed them to everlasting fields.  She and her sister always remained here, and prepared them for the glory to come.

But she never thought she would face separation from Princess Selena.  She had taken for granted her sister's friendship, put her off one to many times perhaps.  Disregarded her needs.  Partied in the afternoons, leaving Selena to her lonely nights.  And now she was alone.

This friendship thing was wonderful to have, and terrible to lose.

Her sobs shortened, and at long last she rose to her hooves, tears still running down her face.  Grim determination animated her limbs as she walked to the South Balcony.  There, in the courtyard, stood the populace, looking on in anticipation.

Without a word, she turned to her right and lowered her head.  The moon followed suit.  The crowd moaned and chattered.  What had become of Princess Selena? they asked each other.  Why is the moon still up?

Drawing upon her heritage, Princess Solaria flew upward, urging the summer Sun to do the same.  Like a faithful pet, it heeded her call.

The cocks crowed.  The crowd rejoiced.  Solaria smiled, the Element of Mirth once again claiming her heart for a time.

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She returned to the scene of battle.  Her friends lay there, dusty in the morning sunlight.  Closing her eyes, she envisioned a memorial, and ignited her horn.

When she opened her eyes, five grey stone spheres were all that remained of her four best friends, and of the laughter that had died in her heart when her sister, bearer of Mysticism, had been corrupted by jealousy.

Eternal night had fallen.