//------------------------------// // Sub-chapter: The Sun Vs the Moon // Story: Discovering Friendship // by Saro0fdemonz //------------------------------// "The time will soon be upon us. You know what you must do." she said softly. "But Princess! Why can't I tell her?!" the guard demanded, hidden in the shadows of the magical mirror Celestia stood before. "She must discover it for herself my friend. You must keep your place in the shadows until the time is right. I will do what I can to stall for time, keep them safe." she offered him a small smile. "I'll do my best Princess...I promise, she won't win." the guard swore moments before a spear of dark energy smashed into the mirror. Celestia closed her eyes for a moment, gathering what courage she had left as she turned to face her sister. "Its been far too long sister. How many years? A few hundred? No...It seems more like a thousand. It must have been quite lonely on the throne for all those years. Any pointers? I'll be sitting there for quite awhile you know." Nightmare taunted as she strode into the room, her dark purple armor gleaming in the moonlight that flooded into the throne room. The runes etched into her very being matched the glow of her beloved nightsky, along with the fiercely burning magical aura that surrounded her entire being. The final icing on the cake, her incredibly large pitch black wings, stars etched into the ethereal fabric. This was the creature that had stolen her sister from her. A being of jealousy and hate. A being she had created in her negligence. "Sister, this doesn't have to end this way." "Oh? Is that your plan Celestia? Put me in time out and talk me down from my high horse? No, thats not how things are going to work. While you have sat here watching our subjects and putting on a few pounds..." she fell silent for a moment, letting the insult sink in, "I have grown stronger with each and every day. And now the day shall come to an end!" she threw out her arm, a fresh bolt of magic launching towards Celestia, only for a lone knight to fling himself in the way, a barrier sending the bolt through the ceiling. "Princess! You must get to safety!" his voice echoed with the sheer amount of mana being poured into the barrier. Celestia smiled, placing a hand on his shoulder. "You are very brave Shining Armor. But this is my fight. Get as many people out of Celamont as you can." she ordered. He blinked in shock, glancing over his shoulder. "I won't abandon you Princess." "How very touching, are you willing to die for your Princess little soldier?" Nightmare sneered. "I would proudly lay down my life to defend her!" he roared, drawing his sword from the shield that adorned his left arm. "SO BE IT!" Nightmare clapped her hands together, forming a simple spear from her magic. Shining Armor charged, leaping over the spear and raising his shield to parry away a strike, gasping as Nightmare's magic snared his ankle and quietly muttering a charm under his breath, freeing himself from her grip and sliding across the ground. He moved to rush once more, Celestia blocking his path. "That is enough Shining. There is more at stake here than my life or your honor. Think of your parents, your sister, your fiance." Celestia hissed. Shining Armor fell silent, gritting his teeth as a magical blast hit them, Celestia flinging it away. "Move now!" she ordered. The knight swore under his breath as he slid past Celestia, roaring and flinging a weak bolt at Nightmare, waiting for the right moment. The mistress of the night easily deflected his spell, but it was only a distraction. With his opening clear he spun, slicing through one of her wings and sliding down into the hallway, making his escape. "I will return Princess!" he called out as he ran. Figures grew from the shadows, blocking his path. He refused to be deterred, charging straight into the fray, sword ablaze with magical power, his shield raised to defend against the guns they drew. No doubt they were loaded with witches bane. He grinned to himself as they fired, roaring as he flung his shield at the first of the three, sliding to the side with the movement to avoid the first few shots, his shield meeting its target and knocking the first goon out cold. Shining leapt for the wall, kicking off as hard as he could and rolling in the air, gunfire sounding around him and a bullet pinging off of his blade. The young soldier landed on his hands and toes, sliding forward on his left hand and smashing his armored feet into the second goons ankle with a sickening crack, his blade coming up as he pushed to his feet, one arm hooking around the falling goons midsection, the other resting his blade at their throat as he turned to the last figure. "Its true what they say about you. Truly the best Celestia has to offer. I'm sure she would be proud of you." "Gale, shut the fuck up and get him off me!" the wounded figure in his hold spat. "I dunno Strike, you look good in red." Gale taunted. Shining gritted his teeth, realizing Gale didn't give two shits about his comrades. He could use this time to catch his breath though. It wasn't easy maintaining so much magical power at once, but it was his only hope of making it past the Knights of Nightmare. There was no telling how many were already in the castle, stories claimed they could hide within any shadow or even in direct moonlight. For all he knew, he was surrounded and these three were toying with him. "But really, one guard so easily taking two of us down, its quite a shame. You know our queen wouldn't let you live if she knew this brat took you out so easily." "I'll save you the trouble!" Shining roared as he slit Strikes throat, gritting his teeth as Gale fired, the bullets almost piercing his barrier. Gale stared in shock. "Witches Bane cuts through any magic. A Celestian would struggle against it!" "You learn something new everyday." Shining shrugged, jamming his sword into the knights stomach, kicking Gale off of his blade before rushing down the hallway. It was a long way out of the castle and there were more shadows than he remembered. Nightmare swore under her breath as Shining sliced through her wing, turning her back to Celestia as she chanted. She refused to let some arrogant knight leave a mark upon her and live to tell the tale. At least thats what she thought until she heard the sound of a blade being removed from its sheath. She turned back around in time to shift to shadow, Celestia's blade leaving a burning sensation as it neared her. The nightmare shifted away, returning to normal form and glaring at her sister. Celestia had cast aside her formal robes, standing in gleaming pure white armor. A sun-crest emblazoned across her bosom, rapier in hand and hand upon hip. "You think my skills lacking, you think my form pudgy. You are sorely mistaken sister and if need be I will cast you away for another thousand years!" Celestia yelled, her wings flaring to life. Nightmare scoffed, twirling her spear of darkness between her fingers. "Perhaps you should spend a thousand years in exile, it does wonders for you." Nightmare chuckled, vanishing and appearing in front of her. Celestia raised her blade, knocking back the spear and stepping back slightly, though Nightmare remained on the offense, vanishing instantly only to reappear with a different angle of attack. Celestia knew she was fighting a losing battle. She hadn't held a sword in years nor practiced any useful combat magic. She had never planned to win this fight, nor did she want to. It had been all too painful to seal away her sister. She wouldn't dare attempt to kill her, no matter the cost to herself. She gasped as the spear split into daggers, catching one with her blade, the other slicing through her armor and knocking her back into the wall. Nightmare instantly took advantage of the position, resting the edge of a dagger against her rib, the other pinned to her throat. Celestia closed her eyes, dropping her sword. "Will you hear my words sister? Will you allow me a final moment?" Celestia asked. "Of course dear sister. You allowed me the same before my entrapment. Turnabout is fair play as they say." Nightmare chuckled. "I am sorry...those words mean nothing to you I am sure. But every day they have haunted me. For a thousand years I was left to remember that it was I who made you like this. I who ruined our friendship. I, who must now do what I swore to never do." Celestia roared as she pushed forward, the dagger biting into her throat and the runes across her body glowing, the armor around her shattered as she grabbed Nightmare. With the power of the Titans coursing through her veins she spun, flinging the Nightmare clean through several walls. She stood there for a moment, panting heavily and dressed only in her small clothes. She needed to buy more time. If only a few more precious minutes. Twilight was already on the trail of the elements, that much was clear in her earlier letter. She only hoped Twilight remained as determined as she always had been. Nightmare Moon slowly made her way back into the throne room, chuckling softly. "Impressive sister. You finally show that little deceptive side Discord was so proud of." "How dare you speak his name in this place!?" Celestia cried. "Does it still sting sister?! The mark he left upon us!? I know you still feel it!" Nightmare poked and prodded. Celestia marched towards her, runes ablaze upon her skin. Nightmare smiled, catching the punch the angered elder sister threw, sliding forward and grabbing her arm, her own runes glowing as she hefted her sister up by her arm and spun around and around, letting her soar into the air. Celestia rolled, flinging out her wings to catch herself, light surrounding her as she called to her magic. Nightmare smiled, kicking off the ground as hard as she could, the two sisters flying straight for one another, magical weapons in hand and roaring to the heavens. In a flash it was over. Celestia fell to her knees, Nightmare standing over her, armor badly damaged and blood leaking from her side. "You are holding back sister. You fight bravely, but poorly. Why?" Nightmare demanded. Celestia gripped the rubble beneath her as she hung her head. "Because you are my sister and I love you! I cannot bring myself to harm you anymore than I have..." "You are a fool sister. Such notions are what cost me our first fight. Perhaps in a thousand years you will prove yourself a challenge to me." Nightmare spat. She held up her arms over the elder sister as she began to chant. It was a spell Celestia recognized, but it had required the power of the Elements for her to use it. Of course, she didn't have the powers of Chaos at her control then. "Goodbye sister." "Farewell...Luna."