//------------------------------//
// Chapter 8 
// Story: The Pony Version's Better: Maiden in the Moon 
// by Sunset Reed 
//------------------------------//


Chapter 8


Tania had wrestled with whether she trusted leaving an eleven year boy at a crazy party with women three or four times his age. But there appeared to be sounds of younger kids down there, and there sure weren’t any drink drinks. She was still not pleased to see him appear through in the doorway wearing a lampshade.
“Hey Twilight! Pinkie Pie is starting Pin the Tail on the Pony. Wanna play?”
“No! All the people in this town are crazy! Do you know what time it is?”
“It's the eve of the Summer Sun Celebration. Everyone has to stay up or they'll miss the sunrise. You really should lighten up Twilight. It's a party.”
“Twilight!?”
“Well, that’s what everyone is calli-“
“NO! This is a time of seriousness. I don’t have time for chummy nicknames.” 
Tania threw back her arm and a book thudded onto the floor. Spike stared at for a second.
“Hey, T? Why didn’t you, I mean all day you didn’t…”
“There wasn’t really a moment for it.” Tania dropped her head. “I didn’t really need another reason to stand out anyway.”
Tania let the light from the stairway reflect off the window. She didn’t say a word.
“Alright, I’m heading down again. You know, you should really have some fun now and then huh?” Spike shut the door on his way down.
“You should really have some fun now and then.” repeated Tania mockingly. “Here I thought I'd have time to learn more about the Elements of Harmony, but, silly me, all this ridiculous friend-making has kept me from it!” She sat up and stared out the window into the full moon.
She recited the phrase which had been playing through her mind all day. “Legend has it that in the longest day of the thousandth year, the stars will aid in her escape and she will bring about everlasting night.” Tania shrugged to herself. “I hope the Princess was right. I hope it really is just an old fairytale.”
Spike poked his hatted head through the doorway. “Come on, Tania! It's time to watch the sun rise!”


*	*	*


A combination of fatigue and excitement brought the energy levels to a high as the townspeople walked by moonlight to the convention hall. The noise level hushed as they entered the grand hall. Tania recognized many of the people. The three florists stood happily at the back, gossiping amongst themselves. To the left was the mailwoman talking to the carrot seller. Behind her, above the door, a DJ with purple sunglasses and blue streaks in her hair was winding a cable around her arm and clicking switches to get the sound system going. Rarity was giggling quietly with a little girl on a large balcony above the stage. The mailwoman was talking to a young girl and buttering a muffin. A string section, with Lyra as a member, was quietly tuning their instruments near the stage. Applejack stood proudly at the buffet table near them. The mailwoman was popping bubbles by the entrance, each eye independently following two different bubbles. On a balcony, the mailwoman was…wait? Tania looked back to the entrance, then back to the balcony, but the woman had disappeared. Whatever. It looked like things were about to start.
Pinkie Pie appeared at Tania’s shoulder and began breaking the silence.
“Isn't this exciting? Are you excited, 'cause I'm excited, I've never been so excited, well, except for that time that I saw you walking into town and I went ‘GHAAAAAAAAAAAAASSSSSSSSSSSSP!’ but I mean really, who can top that?”
Tania was afraid to find out. 
The strings began to play, and the birds took off, putting on a fantastic show. Everyone clapped loudly after the show was done and the birds perched on various balconies. Fluttershy blushed.
The strings grew silent. An older woman stepped onto the stage.
“Ladies, gentleman, and half-asleep children…” the crowd chortled, and any kids present snapped to attention. 
“Tired adults too!” said a voice, sending the crowd laughing again.
The woman on stage laughed too. “Yes, but now it is time to shake that off and greet the morning. As mayor of Ponyville, it is my great pleasure to announce the beginning of the Summer Sun Celebration!”
The crowd cheered. Tania had trouble joining in.
“In just a few moments, our town will witness the magic of the sunrise, and celebrate this, the longest day of the year.”
Tania looked up through the glass ceiling and glimpsed the moon. 
“And now,” the mayor continued “it is my great honour to introduce to you the ruler of our land, the very woman who provides our countries with peace to enjoy each sunrise; the good, the wise, the bringer of harmony to all of Queston-”
Fluttershy and the string musicians poised their arms. Rarity held a rope on a large balcony above the mayor. 
“Princess Solace!”
The strings played a chord. The birds took flight and flew in before the balcony. Rarity pulled her rope and the curtains swept open.
The space behind them was empty.
There was a collective gasp.
“This can’t be good.” Tania thought.
The mayor tried to calm the audience’s nervous chatter.
“Remain calm, everyone. There must be a reasonable explanation.”
Rarity returned appeared from behind the curtain
“She’s gone!”
One of the florists shrieked and fainted. Pinkie hadn’t quite understood yet that something had gone wrong. She had been chattering delightedly in Tania’s ear, but now she stopped midsentence and cried out. Several other gasps and shouts echoed in the room while a dark mist formed at the balcony. The mist was heavy and gathered on the ground. It spilled between the railing supports and cascaded to the floor, dissipating before it hit the onlookers. 
“Oh no.” Tania whimpered. A tall lady clad in black robes and metal accents flashed into existence within the mist. She smiled evilly.
“Nightmare Moon!” said Tania with gritted teeth. Spike held Tania’s hand and gripped it tightly. The room grew silent. The women stood tall and parted her lips. She spoke delicately but proudly to her captive audience.
“Oh, my beloved subjects. It's been so long since I've seen your precious little sun-loving faces.” She blinked heavily made-up eyelashes. The woman was putting on a great show. Her clothing was extravagant, complete with a drapery of dark sparkling cloth that flowed from her helmet to the floor. Everything in Tania’s head cried ‘distraction!’ While this knockoff gave her speech, someone was out there with the Princess doing who-knew-what. And yet, Tania stood frozen in her spot, terrified and unsure of what to do.
“What did you do with our Princess!?” shouted Rainbow Dash from the center of the crowd. Enraged, she started determinately for the stairs, but Applejack quickly grabbed onto her hoodie. Tania took a step to the side to avoid the struggle.
Nightmare Moon was clearly amused by the small track athlete below her. She chuckled.
“Why? Am I not royal enough for you? Don't you know who I am?”
Applejack had to use her remaining hand to shove an apple in Pinkie’s mouth before the pink girl could try answering.
Nightmare’s voice grew progressively louder. “Does my crown no longer count, now that I have been imprisoned for a thousand years? Did you not recall the legend? Did you not see the signs?”
Rarity retreated as far as she could to the edge of the balcony. Nightmare reached to her and playfully stroked her under the chin. Rarity leaned so far out she almost fell backwards. 
Tania took a quick breath and tried to be brave. “I did, and I know who you are.” Nightmare snapped her head around to face Tania, her teeth glowed bright in the moonlight.
“You're The Maiden in the Moon... Nightmare Moon.”
The remaining florists fainted.
Nightmare straightened and seemed pleased.
“Well well well, somebody who remembers me. Then you also know why I'm here.”
“You’re…” Tania had trouble saying it. “You’re here…to…to” She squeaked almost as shrilly as Fluttershy.
Nightmare dropped the smile and addressed the entire room. “Remember this day, wretched townspeople, for it was your last. From this moment forth, THE NIGHT WILL LAST FOREVER!” And then she was gone, her laughter echoing against the walls.


Epilogue


Twilight’s ears drooped. She stared miserably at the scroll on her desk. The night was silent. Not even a cricket chirp or a tiny breeze braved to pass through the open window. The room was burnt amber from the light of a sputtering candle. Fluttershy trotted slowly up the stairs. On the first floor, the two ponies’ friends slept fitfully.
“Um…maybe. Maybe you should get some sleep.” Fluttershy said meekly.
“No. I did this. I can’t spare a second”
“Maybe…um. Um, perhaps there is nothing to do. Maybe they’re…happy.”
“I can’t chance that, not until I know…know…for…” Twilight’s head dropped onto the desk. 
Fluttershy blew out the light.