//------------------------------// // Preface // Story: Bloody Hearts // by The_Prench_King //------------------------------// Once upon a time... In the magical land of Equestria. There were two regal sisters who ruled together and created harmony for all the land. To do this, the eldest used her unicorn powers to raise the sun at dawn. The younger brought out the moon to begin the night. Thus, the two sisters maintained balance for their kingdom and their subjects, all the different types of ponies. But as time went on, the younger sister became resentful. The ponies relished and played in the day her elder sister brought forth. But they shunned and slept through her beautiful night. So one day, the younger unicorn refused to lower the moon to make way for the dawn. The elder sister tried to reason with her, but the bitterness in the young one's heart had transformed her into a wicked mare of darkness, Nightmare Moon. 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! Using the magic of the Elements of Harmony, she defeated her younger sister and banished her permanently in the moon. The elder sister then took on responsibility for both sun and moon, and harmony has been maintained in Equestria for generations since- "All Lies!!!" screamed Luna, in her royal Canterlot voice. "nothing but propaganda filth! how can sister lie to her own subjects and blood?!". Just then the door to the Royal Canterlot Archives slammed open, and in rushed Spike; a look of concern on his face. "Luna, I heard shouting. Whats wrong!?" asked Spike, but the dragon stopped dead in his tracks when he gazed upon his new wife. Luna, looked beyond pissed; so much that her eyes and coat turned darker and her body began to transform into what resembled that of Nightmare Moon. "Luna! calm down!" cried Spike, as the drake rushed over to his mare he pulled her into a tight, yet loving hug. After a moment, Luna began to clam down; and she soon returned to her normal form. Rubbing her head Luna looked back to the book on the table, Spike also noticed her gaze. Slowly Luna get go of her husband and trotted over to the table; Spike followed. The Night Goddess looked down at the book that caused all this fuss; she then looked back to her drake with a cold expression, that sent chills up his spine. "Dear husband, what do you know about this book?" she asked, without any emotion. "W-well, that's the story of the two sisters" said Spike, he pointed the cover picture; that showed both Luna and Celesta standing together. "and the story of how you became-" Spike couldn't bring himself to continue. "Please, Spike do continue". "-Nightmare Moon". Luna nodded. "Yes, and who wrote this piece of propaganda dear husband?". "Propaganda?-". "Just! answer my question, Spike" said Luna, harsh at first; but then smiled warmly. "Why, your sister wrote it hundreds of years ago of course" said Spike, very confused. "why do you ask?". Luna transferred her gaze to the book. "Because its all lies..." a signal tear fell down her cheek. "yes we were resentful of my sister, that much is true; but she never tried to reason with us. Maybe the war could have been avoided if she just gave it a try, but NO she declared me an enemy of the state; and even now a thousand years latter she is still making herself look fully Innocent!" she screamed, Spike took a step back. Luna turned to Spike and grinned like a mad-mare. "But! has she forgotten the war crimes that she commented as well? the innocent ponies that she killed to get to me!? dose that ever come up in your history books, Spike?!". "No..." Spike squeaked out, clearly fearful for his life. Luna saw the scared look on her husbands face, so shaking her head Luna calmed down. She reached over and pulled the larger dragon into a deep kiss, that Spike happy returned. After a moment of pure bliss Luna pulled away. "I am sorry my dear Spike, we are just very upset with our sister right now" she turned to the book. "we thought that now after we had returned sister would show us love once again, but apparently her love is only a mask. We can NOT stand for this hypocrisy to go on any-longer!". "Luna.. I don't understand". "Sister has lied to her my little ponies for too long, and made her own image that of perfection. We will not let this hidden tyranny continue, sister must tell the truth and face up to her war crimes, just like I have!". Spike raised an eyebrow. "And what If she refuses?". Luna smirked and looked to the moon outside the window. "Then it shall be war...". The very next day Luna demanded her sister to make a public announcement, telling her subjects about the truth of the First Equestrian Civil War and her crimes that she commented. Celestia however refused.... A week later Luna and Spike broadcasted on public radio the truth of the war, and of Celestia's tyranny and war crimes. Most ponies did not believe them, however many also did. By this time in his life, Spike had become a well known and well respected ambassador and politician; so many of his friends in high places believed him. Those ponies included: Fancy Pants, Hoity Toity and many other Canterlot elites. With there support and funding the revolution took off in full swing. Ponies all over Equestria took sides, including the Elements of Harmony; who were all torn between their friendship with Spike and their loyalty to the very Princess who made them who they are today. Sadly for Spike most of his friends and family stayed with Celesta, except for surprisingly Rainbow Dash. Spike asked Dash why she wanted to join, because why would she want to in the first place? all her friends were on the other side, and even her own marefriend Twilight stayed with the Solar Empire. "Why join the rebellion?" Dash replied to his question with this: "Twilight's a tough mare, I'm sure she'll be fine without me for a little while" said Dash, laughing. "A little while?" Spike looked confused. "Dash, I don't think that you understand. This isn't going to be a one year thing, this is war Dash. Lives will be lost, family's torn apart, and if you join us then you'll be fighting against Twilight. So I'll ask you again: are you absolutely sure?". Dash took a moment to absorb the reality of the situation. Her eyes went wide, with mouth agape; but then she thought for a moment about how all of her other friends just abandoned Spike, even his own sister. She didn't want to be like them, she wanted to be loyal to Spike as a friend. She wanted to be loyal to Twilight too, but she knew that Twilight could handle herself in the long run. Spike on the other hand would probably get depressed with fighting all his friends. Dash had to stay with Spike, for his own good. But that didn't mean she wasn't going to miss Twilight a less, she was just looking out for a friend. 'Also, it dose sounds pretty bad ass being called a rebel soldier' Thought Dash, smiling weakly. "I'm sure" said Dash, proudly with a salute. Spike studied his friend closely and he could tell that she was lying to herself, that she really didn't know if this is what she wanted. Spike didn't want his friend to make a dumb choice and ruin her love life forever, but the New Lunar Republic couldn't afford to have all the Elements of Harmony fighting against them; because if so, the war would be over in days. So for now Spike took her lie as the truth. "Well then..." Spike saluted back. "welcome to the revolution".