YEAR 2: THE REUNITED SISTER’S REIGN
It was close to sunrise in the land of Equestria. Princess Celestia, the Princess of the Sun and the guardian of the day, was only a short hour away from waking up and bringing forth the sun to start yet another beautiful day, like she had always done since the founding of her kingdom alongside her younger sister Luna, the Princess of the Night.
Not long ago, Celestia was for the first time in a thousand years reunited with her beloved sister, after having returned from banishment by Celestia herself.
The reason for her banishment?
After years of ruling the night, Princess Luna slowly fell into a state of depression and jealousy, caused by her eldest sister being more loved and adored by their subjects. Because she ruled the night, ponies slept instead of admiring its beauty. And at times they feared her and ran away, leaving her feeling alone and unappreciated.
One day, it turned from bad to worse. Having had enough, Luna finally fell into darkness and became a creature of fear and dread to everypony young and old; Nightmare Moon.
She revolted against her sister and threatened to plunge Equestria into an eternal night of fear and horror. Unable to reason with her sister, Celestia made the hardest choice she ever had to make. Using the legendary Elements of Harmony, she confronted Nightmare Moon, defeated her and banished her to the moon for a thousand years.
Without Luna to rule the night, Celestia was forced to take over the role as guardian of both day and night, waiting patiently for the day her sister would finally return to her…
History became legend and legend became myth as the stories of Luna’s fall and Nightmare Moon slowly faded into nothing more than a pony tale to tell around camp fires or frighten unruly foals.
2 years ago, on the eve of the one thousandth years of the Summer Sun Celebration, Luna returned to Equestria, still under the dark sway of Nightmare Moon and once again threatened to bring the land into eternal darkness. Only this time, she was stopped by six brave ponies who not only defeated her, but removed the hatred and jealousy that ruled inside Luna’s heart, restoring her to her rightful form and saving all Equestria.
Once freed from her darkness, Luna tearfully rejoined her sister’s side and promised to never again fall into that dark abyss.
Of course, that was ancient history now. Luna had once again resumed her role as Princess of the Night, raising the moon and dazzling ponies with her beautiful night skies while protecting their dreams against nightmares.
In every bed in every house, little ponies young and old slept soundly, dreaming their peaceful dreams while waiting for their clocks and roosters to wake them at the start of a new day.
One little pony however, was not asleep that early morning.
As lunar guards retired from their nightshifts to be relieved by the day guard, a mysterious cloaked unicorn lurking in the shadows saw her chance and made a quick dash towards one the nearby windows leading in to the most secure section of the Canterlot Archives, the Star Swirl the Bearded wing.
Placing herself beneath one of the many windows, she used her magic to open one of them from the inside and quietly pulled herself in, right before suddenly losing her footing and dropping to the floor.
“Oof!”
She quickly pulled herself up and adjusted her cloak while looked frantically around for any guards nearby.
“Hey! Did you hear that? It came from down here.”
She heard the voices and hoof steps of two stallion guards fast approaching. She quickly searched for a place to hide as they were only seconds away from rounding the corner.
“Stop right there you-!”
The two guards quickly cantered around the corner to seize the would-be intruder, only to find there was nopony in the seemingly empty corridor.
“Huh?” The one unicorn guard scratched his head. “I could’ve sworn I heard…” They then heard a banging sound and discovered that one of the windows was open and blowing in the morning wind.
“They really should remember to lock these more tight…” said the other unicorn stallion as he closed the window. “Still, it doesn’t seem to be anypony here. It was probably just your imagination.”
“Maybe…” the one guard didn’t seem quite sure.
“Well? Are you coming? If we don’t hurry we’re going to miss watching Princess Celestia raise the sun.”
“She does that every morning.”
“True, but I never get tired of it.” said the second guard with a smile.
“Me neither…”
The two guards trotted down the corridor and disappeared around the next corner, not noticing the cloaked mare as she peered out from behind one of the window drapes. Once the coast was clear, she proceeded onward with her quest to find the Star Swirl the Bearded wing and whatever it was she was looking for. She searched quietly through every corridor and every room, carefully following the mental blueprints she had memorized.
Following her exact calculations to the letter, she deduced that she had finally arrived at her destination… which happened to be the exact same spot she got in…
“Grr! Where is it!?” she groaned in frustration. She then turned her head and looked across from where she was standing. “Oh..!”
She noticed a room blocked by a large metal door. Through the bars, she could see the fabled Star Swirl Archives, with shelves upon shelves of various books and scrolls containing all manner of spells and incantations, all stored and perfectly preserved after many so generations. In the middle of the room, there was even a giant hour glass.
Using her horn, she magically unlocked the door after several failed tries and quickly snuck inside. Once in, she immediately went to work. She knew the guards would be temporarily occupied with watching Celestia’s sun rise before they went back to their duties, so she had to move fast.
She searched high and low, reading scroll upon scroll and book upon book while looking for the one thing she desired. She knew it had to be there. She had only heard rumors about it and those rumors were later confirmed once she had heard the stories that circulated Ponyville that one time.
With Celestia’s sun only 10 minutes away from rising, she had but nearly given up her search when she finally found what she was looking for.
“At last!” she exclaimed as she removed her hood. “The Great and Powerful TRIXIE has finally found it! Star Swirl’s legendary Time Spell!”
Trixie looked out the window towards the horizon and the morning sky as the sun was now just minutes away from rising. She then looked out across the city of Canterlot.
“Soon… Soon the sun will rise on a new page in history!” she said to herself with glee. “Soon the Great and Powerful Trixie shall become what she was destined to be all this time!” She held the scroll high while she worked up a cheer. “A Princess of Equestria!”
She unrolled the scroll and silently read it to confirm her findings. “Excellent! The last piece I need to fulfill my dream and nothing and nopony is going to stop me! Not even…” she narrowed her eyes and scowled. “…Twilight Sparkle!”
Trixie looked out the window again and sighed.
“Twilight Sparkle… Princess Twilight Sparkle.” she spat. “Did you really think you changed Trixie that fateful day in Ponyville? Did you truly believe that by taking away Trixie’s Alicorn Amulet Trixie would see the error of her ways? No Twilight… Instead it showed Trixie that she could’ve been destined for something much greater...”
She paused and her lips suddenly trembled.
“She remembers that day…” She gritted her teeth as she bitterly remembered back to Twilight’s coronation. “She remembers that day when Trixie saw you here in Canterlot…”
“You didn’t see Trixie, but Trixie was there. Trixie saw you in that royal chariot… with that crown… and those WINGS! Trixie should’ve been happy for you! Trixie should’ve been proud of you! Instead Trixie cried! She cried because she wasn’t great anymore! She cried because a simple upstart had achieved more than Trixie could ever accomplish in her life time!”
She stomped her hoof on the floor in anger. “Trixie was jealous! Trixie wanted that chariot! Trixie wanted that crown! Trixie wanted those WINGS!!!” Tears streamed down her cheeks as her eyes welled up. “Trixie is supposed to be the greatest and most powerful unicorn in all of Equestria! Why is Twilight better than Trixie? WHY?!? Ponies should praise and admire Trixie! Instead Trixie is nothing more but a traveling showmare with a bag of cheap parlor tricks and tall tales to show for her power and greatness…”
She dried her eyes and held up the scroll. “But not anymore! With this spell, Trixie will finally get what she rightfully deserves… ”
She unfurled the scroll on the floor and smirked. “With this Time Spell, Trixie will change it all. And Trixie knows exactly where to start…” She eyes drifted towards a map of Equestria that hung on the wall and narrowed in on a spot somewhere in the Everfree Forest.
“The ancient castle of the Royal Sisters! On the night of Nightmare Moon’s return! That’s where it all started! The night you, Twilight Sparkle, became famous! The night your destiny was written and the road to royalty was paved before you. Once I cast this spell, all that will change. This time, Trixie shall be the one who vanquishes Nightmare Moon and saves Equestria! This time Trixie is the one who shall be the Element of Magic! This time Trixie is the one who Celestia shall embrace! This time…”
She reared herself just as the sun’s rays pierced over the horizon and through the window, showering her in a golden light.
“…ALL OF EQUESTRIA SHALL REMEMBER THE NAME OF THE GREAT AND POWERFUL PRINCESS TRIXIE!!!”
Once she was done with her rant and boasting, Trixie removed her cloak and quickly made her preparations. She had to work fast and it was only a matter of time now before the guards returned to their duties.
She opened her saddlebag and pulled out a red gem. “This gem cost Trixie all her savings, but it was worth it. That curio shopkeeper told Trixie this gem is imbued with a magical surge that gives even the most inexperienced unicorn the power boost needed to cast any spell, no matter how complicated. Once Trixie absorbs the power of this gem, she will have enough magic to send her back in time and fulfill her destiny.”
She then pulled out a notebook and looked through her notes. “Let’s see. Gem? Check! Time Spell? Check! Destination? Check! Now Trixie shall begin!” Trixie carefully placed the gem beneath her hoof with the spell splayed visibly in front of her. “This spell only works once and lasts only about a few minutes. Trixie only needs to take your spot at right the precise moment. Once she does this, it’ll be TRIXIE, and not Twilight Sparkle, who gets those WINGS!!!”
Trixie then crushed the gem and absorbed its power as she began to read the spell out loud. She felt the strong surge of magical energy travel up her leg, coursing through her body before finally reaching the tip of her horn and causing her eyes to glow. A gust of wind suddenly blew throughout the room, blowing paper and scrolls of their shelves.
As Trixie cited the final phrase of the spell, her horn glowed bright as she focused hard on her destination.
FLASH!
In a brilliant flash of light, Trixie vanished without a trace.
*****
Two years ago…
YEAR 1000: CELESTIA’S REIGN
Somewhere in the foreboding darkness of the Everfree Forest, in the ruins of what was once the home of the Royal Sisters, Twilight Sparkle faced what was undoubtedly her first and greatest challenge as she confronted the legendary Mare in the Moon, Nightmare Moon.
On the eve of the one thousandth Summer Sun Celebration the dark queen of the night had seized control of the sun and plunged the land into an eternal night. To make things worse, Princess Celestia was missing, leaving the land entirely at her mercy.
In hopes of defeating Nightmare Moon and restore order and sun to the land, Twilight and her friends entered the Everfree Forest to find the one castle said to hold the legendary Elements of Harmony, the only thing that could possibly save Equestria from the eternal darkness.
Having overcome dangerous obstacles on their perilous journey, Twilight and her friends eventually found the ruined castle of the Sisters and the Elements, shortly before they all, along with Twilight, was suddenly whisked away by Nightmare Moon.
Trapped and alone in one of the castle’s towers, Twilight had tried in desperation to confront Nightmare Moon and ignite the Elements with the spark of her magic, only to have nothing happen. Confused and completely out of ideas, she watched helplessly as Nightmare Moon shattered the Elements right in front of her.
“You little foal! Thinking you could defeat me?” bellowed Nightmare Moon at the now trembling Twilight. “Now you will never see your princess or your sun. The night… will last… FOREVER!” her maniacal laughter echoed throughout the ruins as lightning showered behind her.
Utterly defeated, Twilight was about to lose all hope until a familiar sound caught her ears.
“TWILIGHT!”
“COME ON EVERYPONY!”
“WE’LL BE RIGHT THERE!”
“HURRY!”
It was her friends. The very first friends she had made during her first arrival in Ponyville, rushing up the winding stairs to her aid. Twilight gasped and her eyes sparkled as she suddenly felt it.
‘The spark!’
“You think you can destroy the Elements of Harmony just like that?” With renewed courage, Twilight faced Nightmare Moon again. “Well, YOU’RE WRONG! Because the Spirits of the Elements of Harmony, are right HERE!” She was soon joined by her friends who now valiantly took stance beside her, glaring down at Nightmare Moon.
“W-what?”
“Applejack, who reassured me when I was doubt, represents the Spirit of… HONESTY!” The broken shards of one of the Elements suddenly floated up from the floor towards Applejack and circled around her. As it did, it ignited a spark of magic that became one with her.
As Twilight continued, more shards floated up from the floor and circled around each of her friends.
“Fluttershy, who tamed the manticore with her compassion, represents the Spirit of… KINDNESS! Pinkie Pie, who banished fear by giggling in the face of danger, represents the Spirit of… LAUGHTER! Rarity, who calmed a sorrowful serpent with a meaningful gift, represents the Spirit of… GENEROSITY! And Rainbow Dash, who could not abandon her friends for her own heart’s desire, represents the Spirit of… LOYALTY!”
Nightmare Moon’s jaw dropped as all five ponies’ Elements were revealed to her. She couldn’t understand how she never realized it.
“The Spirits of these five ponies got us through every challenge you threw at us!” boasted Twilight.
“You still don’t have the sixth Element!” Nightmare Moon suddenly gloated. “The spark didn’t work!”
“But it did! A different kind of spark!” Twilight turned around and faced her friends. “I felt it the very moment I realized how happy I was to hear you. To see you. How much I cared about you…”
As Twilight continued on with her speech, nopony noticed the sudden bright flash of light that appeared from behind one of the many ruined columns in the room. Trixie, slightly groggy from the magical surge, rubbed her eyes and quickly discovered where she was. As she peered out from behind the column, she grinned with delight as she realized she had arrived at the exact time and place.
‘Lucky~!’ she mentally sang.
“…The spark ignited inside me. When I realized you all, are MY FRIENDS!” As Twilight finished her speech and turned to face Nightmare Moon again, something began to happen. There was a bright glow and Trixie’s eyes grew wide as the Element of Magic suddenly appeared above them.
Trixie anxiously licked her lips. She had to time it just right…
“You see Nightmare Moon, when those Elements are ignited by… the spark, that resides in the hearts of us all, it creates the sixth Element. The Element of… MAGIC!”
One by one, the broken Elements around Twilight’s friends began to take shape. Each one received golden regalia, with an emerald shaped like their cutiemarks. Twilight smiled as her Element took the shape of a crown and was slowly descending down on her head…
“NOW!”
Suddenly, Trixie burst forth from behind the column and pushed Twilight away, knocking her hard against a corner and taking her spot just before the crown could rest on her head.
“OOF!”
“YES!!! TRIXIE HAS CLAIMED WHAT IS RIGHTFULLY HERS!” Trixie suddenly felt an incredible surge of magical energy as the crown touched her head. "THE ELEMENT OF MAGIC IS MINE!!!"
Recovering from that unexpected assault, Twilight painfully rubbed her head and saw this strange unknown pony in the room. “Huh!?! Who are you? What are you-?” Twilight gasped. “NO! Give me that crown!”
“Foolish Twilight! For too long Trixie has lived in the shadow of your magic, but not anymore! Now Trixie shall be the princess!”
“Wha..? But… I don’t-”
“Now watch and behold as the GREAT AND POWERFUL TRIXIE saves us all!”
Trixie was then magically lifted off the floor and Twilight watched with silent horror as she joined up along with her friends and their Elements. As the Elements were activated, a beautiful and bright rainbow was formed. It shot straight up from the elements towards the ceiling before diving down toward the now terrified Nightmare Moon.
“NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”
KA-BOOM!!!
Everything went completely white as the Elements of Harmony hit their mark. It then went eerily silent before the magic of the Elements finally subsided.
“What happened..?” Rainbow Dash moaned as she hovered in the air and rubbed her eyes as her sight returned. She then spotted the new unicorn wearing Twilight’s Element. “Huh? Who are you? Where’s-?” She spotted Twilight lying in the corner, looking utterly terrified. “Twilight! What gives? What happened and who’s this?”
“Uh oh…” Applejack gulped. “Ah don’t know what jus’ happened, but tis here don’t look good…”
Everypony looked and gasped as the clouds of dust and debris finally receded and revealed the figure in front of them.
Nightmare Moon, still frozen in fear, was completely unscathed. Trembling slightly, she slowly turned her head and saw a massive hole in the wall behind her. She couldn’t believe it… The Elements had missed her completely!
“That… That wasn’t supposed to happen…” Trixie stammered in utter disbelief. “Trixie’s plan was perfect… How could Trixie..?” She then noticed that Nightmare Moon had heard her and was looking at her, her face changing from utter confusion to a vicious glare.
Trixie gulped. Even the Mane Six became nervous now.
“Ehehe…Don’t’ worry everypony! It’s okay…” Trixie weakly giggled, taking a nervous step back as Nightmare Moon menacingly took one step towards her. “Trixie will fix this! She’ll-”
FLASH!
There was a bright flash and everypony gasped as Trixie was suddenly gone, along with the Element of Magic.
Utterly confused by this unexpected turn of events, Nightmare Moon soon eyed the Mane Six and they all gulped in unison as she devilishly grinned at them. They quickly huddled around Twilight, trembling in fear as the terrifying dark alicorn spread her wings and covered them in her great shadow.
Twilight whimpered and her tears welled up. She couldn’t believe or understand how this could’ve happened. “This isn’t right… This isn’t RIGHT!”
The ponies all cried and whimpered as lightning showered around them and outside the ruined castle, with Nightmare Moon’s triumphant cackle echoing throughout the forest and all across Equestria…
*****
FLASH!
“-correct this! She'll..?” Trixie blinked as she suddenly found herself back in the Star Swirl Archives, realizing the Time Spell had sent her back to the present.
“NO!” she cried. “NO! NO! NO! Trixie was SO close!” She kicked away books and piles of scrolls in anger. “And that spell only works once! Trixie will never get this chance again! NEVER!” While snorting in anger, she felt something on her head and took off the crown she was still wearing. She glared at it.
“Element of Magic? Bah! What a joke! It couldn’t even hit the target! Useless junk…” In an angry fit, she tossed the crown out the window and right into a riverbed below. She watched as it was washed away by the current and down the waterfall by the mountainside. “Good riddance to bad garbage…”
Taking a short moment to breathe, Trixie finally calmed down, recollected her thoughts and took a moment to rethink her actions. “Oh well…” she sighed. “All things considered, this was but a minor setback. There are other ways for Trixie to earn her wings.” She looked out the window and into the horizon. “I swear, everypony in all Equestria shall one day remember and recognize the Great and Powerful…” She paused. “T- Trixie..?” she stuttered.
While looking out the window, she suddenly realized something wasn’t quite right.
“Hm… That’s funny… It was dawn when Trixie left. Why is it suddenly night..?”
YEAR 2: THE AGE OF NIGHTMARE