//------------------------------// // “Reigns: Genesis” - Part 1 // Story: Nightmare Rarity "Reigns" // by UltraCrow //------------------------------// “Reigns: Genesis” - Part 1 Story Author & Concept by Ernest “Ultra” Zamora, Jr Original MLP:FiM Comic: “Nightmare Rarity” Story Arc by Heather Nuhfer Where we lay our scene: The Nightmare Forces have began their attack on the Equestrian world, first making landfall upon the small town of Ponyville leaving only death in its wake. Celestia, Luna, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, & Scootaloo retreated when the Royal guards found themselves defenseless against the oncoming attack. Meanwhile, the rest of the lands around the world have began to fall into chaos, as the Nightmare Forces continued their march of death; however some legions have decided to make alliances with the Nightmare Forces. In the Everfree forest. The forest was nearly pitch black, but with the light from Tia’s horn and other unicorn guards it helped lead the way, he trees rushing pass them being only but a blur. The three fillies who had accompanied Tia now rode on her back, too young to keep up with the galloping pace they were traveling as two other guards carried Luna on their backs. “Were are we going?” said Scootaloo holding on to Tia’s lower neck as the other two held on to her. “To the old Castle of the Two Sisters.” said a guard beside them. “Its the only place at this moment that the Nightmare Forces won't attack. Its been abandoned for years.” Tia explained. They continued galloping at full speed until they reached the clearing for the bridge and the ruins on the other side. However they did not cross the bridge, instead they went to the right and down a flight of stairs. At the base of the stairs stood several guards who have already arrived ahead of them as they reached the bottom. “Princess!” a guard saluted. “Yes?” “We have already made the proper arrangements, the tunnel entrance is now opened, we must quickly enter; their are reports of the forces outside the forest.” “Very well.” Tia agreed as the three fillies hopped off her back. Quickly the guards escorted them into a entrance of large cave. “This way.” the guard said. Tia entered the cave passing a large stone at the base of the entrance, as the rest followed, they continued inside the cave, the unicorn guards still lighting the way with their horns as the earth and pegasi used torches. As they continued till they saw clearing up ahead. Sweetie Belle could slowly see something shimmering in the reflective lighting as they approached the clearing clearing. “W-what's that?” Sweetie Belle asked as they reached the clearing. A large crystallized formation stood in the middle of the clearing, the light from the guards torches reflecting and moving throughout it. “Woah... thats huge!” said Apple Bloom as she gazed upon the large crystallized structure. “It looks like a big... Tree?” Scootaloo questionably answered “You are right, Scootaloo” Tia acknowledging as they moved closer to it. The three young fillies following behind Tia, but their eyes seemed to fixed on the crystallized tree. “This is the Tree of Harmony.” Tia continued as she walked beside it, the guards carrying Luna passing behind her as they continued further down the long cave. “Each branch represents an Element of Harmony the girls have. Normally, it would be gleaming with life and lighting this room, but sadly with the recent event unfolding, its life seemed to have dimmed into darkness.” Tia explained. Sweetie Belle sat down as she looked up into the branches of the tree. One of branches seemed withered, deformed and seemingly dead, but most noticeably she recognized the symbol the branch was attached to. “Rarity’s cutie mark...” Sweetie Belle softly said folding her ears back, as she thought about the meaning why it looked the way it did. Tia looked back as she saw Sweetie Belle lay her head low. “Sweetie Belle?” Tia asked as she moved and sat beside the young one. A soft whimper escaped Sweetie Belle. Tia softly placed her wing over the small one, knowing the young one was facing an awful truth of her big sister. “Sweetie Belle...” Tia softly spoke “Princess... what’s happened to my sister?” Sweetie Belle asked as she looked up to Celestia, her eyes filling with tears. Heartbroken, Tia gathered her courage on what to say. “I’m afraid...” Tia trying her hardest to speak the words. “I’m afraid... she’s no longer with us Sweetie Belle.” Tia forcing herself to speak the words. Apple Bloom and Scootaloo gasped as a look of shock over came them. Sweetie Belle couldn't hold out as she fell onto Celestia’s leg and cried. Tia comforted Sweetie Belle with her wing as Apple Bloom and Scootaloo moved closer to help comfort her as well. “Forgive me for intruding Princess.” softly said a guard walking up. “Yes?” Tia said turning her attention to the guard while still keeping a wing over the broken filly. “There seems to be a civilian pony at the entrance of the cave, she goes by the name of Zecora” “Zecora?!” Apple Bloom said surprisingly. “You know this pony?” asked Tia looking down at Apple Bloom “Yes, she’s a dear friend of ours.” said Scootaloo “Very well, let her in.” Tia commanded. “At once.” the guard saluted and made his way back to the entrance of the cave. Sweetie Belle’s crying had slowly subsided as Tia, Apple Bloom and Scootaloo kept her close in comfort. A few moments later the heard a soft clap of hoofs came up beside them. “To whom I give my gratitude for this safe haven?” All four turned and looked at the direction of the voice. “Zecora!” Scootaloo spoke out “Scootaloo, Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle... and you highness!” Zecora bowing her head. “Please, no need for formalities, you may simply call me Celestia.” “How did you find out where we were?” asked Apple Bloom “After a loud thunder in the sky awoke me, I saw streaks fly across the sky; knowing something was wrong I gathered my things to head into town.” she sat down beside them. “But soon, I look to see these dark clouds of doom fall from the moon; moments later I heard a loud roar of hoofs running through the forest. It was at that time I decided to follow.” Zecora explained. “Those dark clouds were actually Nightmare Forces.” explained Tia “My goodness, has Nightmare Moon returned?” “No, my sister is fine for now. The image you saw on the moon was...” Tia remembered that Sweetie Belle was still mourning the loss of her sister, she couldn't come to terms at the moment to explain the true details. “Come, we must keep going. There will be time to explain later.” Tia slowly stood up. Sweetie Bell still reeling, stood up but kept her head low. Tia and the others made their way around the tree and continued on into the long cave. It wasn't before long they reached another clearing, this however seemed much different as the cave slowly transitioned into what looked like the halls and chambers of the castle. Several guards had already removed some of their armor as others rested against the walls of the hallway. “Where are we?” asked Apple Bloom “We are deep beneath the castle ruins.” Tia said. “It was built as a sanctuary and a hiding place when Nightmare Moon came to be. We have enough space and supplies that will last for quite a while.” A guard came up to Celestia nearly out of breath. “Your highness, we have several matters that require your attention.” the guard huffed Tia nodded and replied “I’m sorry that I must leave you this quickly. Please, make yourself’s at home.” The three young fillies came to Celestia and gave her a hug. “Thank you” all three of them said in unison. Tia smiled and hugged them back as she walked off with the guard. “What do we do now?” asked Sweetie Belle “Do as she says.” said Zecora “Come, lets find a place so we may rest.” Zecora leading the three young ones. Celestia followed the guard until they reached a large room with several other guards seemly frustrated and un-easy as they fiddled with communication documents. “Whats going on?” Celestia asked the guard. “We are slowly receiving reports from the outside on the magnitude of the situation.” said the guard. “We’ve lost all communication to the Crystal Empire and we have very vague reports from Canterlot.” “What of those from Canterlot?” Tia hesitantly asked. “The last report from Canterlot was... ‘Canterlot a blaze’, your highness.” he said disheartedly. Tia winced in an emotional pain, the place where she and her subjects have called home for so many years. She could only imagine the terror that they facing at this very moment. Hesitantly the guard continued “We’ve sent to all defending forces a full retreat, but we are not sure how many received that message.” “How does our forces look at this time?” she asked “We were at eighty percent reported before the attack...” the guard seemed to choke “...we are now looking at ten percent of available guards.” Celestia gasped. “Ten percent??” she asked in disbelief “Yes your highness, we had absolute no way in defending the Forces attack.” Tia was in total dismay, her eyes slowly began to tear up thinking of so many lives lost in just a few hours. “My goodness..” She uttered. She shook her head, keeping appearances for the guards she quickly took a commanding stance. “All of you have done a marvelous job in such a short amount of time.” she said with a straight voice. “If you feel the need to rest, please do not hesitate to do so.” She looked back at the commanding guard. “If you have anything else to report, please let me know, I will be my sister Luna.” “Yes your highness.” The commanding guard saluting as Tia made her way out of the room. One of the communication guards slowly walked up to the commanding guard. “She almost seemed... broken for a minute.” the communication guard said. “Even though she’s our sun god, she can still feel like everypony else.” the commanding guard replied. Both of them looked on to see Tia walking down the hall. Tia, knowing where the clinic was, she made her way there and quietly entered the clinic room, a nurse could be seen taking caring over Luna. She walked to the edge of Luna’s bed, surprising the nurse. “Your highness!” the surprised nurse exclaimed. “Forgive me, didn't see you come in.” bowing her head. “It’s alright.” Tia forcing a smile. “How is she doing?” “She’s quite alright, sound asleep it seems.” the nurse answering back “May I ask you a favor?” Tia asked. “Why sure, anything.” “Could you leave us for a while?” “Of course your highness.” the nurse smiling as she gathered her things and made her way out. Tia waited till the nurse was gone before she made her way to Luna’s bedside. She slowly kneeled down beside her, it wasn't before long that her mind began to reminisce on the events that occurred, her heart ached at the heaviness of it all. She wrapped her forearms around her dear sister holding her closely her head laying on Luna’s shoulder. It wasn't long until her emotions took over as she softly began to sob. Later… A guard slowly lead a Zebra and three fillies down a chamber and into a room. “Here ya’ go miss, you and the three young ones can stay here.” The guard opening the door to a mid sized room lit with several candles, they could see two beds and a work space. “Thank you.” she gratefully accepted. The guard nodded as he made is way back out of the room. “Wow this place is pretty neat, isn't Zecora?” “Of course, but be grateful child. Not many will be so fortunate to have their own room Apple Bloom.” Zecora answering back. “Ohh...” Apple Bloom said as she hopped onto one of the beds and sat down The other two followed suit as they too hopped onto the bed and sat down as well. Zecora walked to the workspace and unloaded her bags that she’d carried, onto the table. “Zecora?” asked Sweetie Belle Zecora turned and answered. “Yes child?” “What's going to happen to the ponies on the outside?” Zecora took a deep breath as she walked to the edge of the bed and sat down, but before she could say a word another voice spoke out. “Without the guards to protect the civilians... I fear the ponies on the outside will have to fend for themselves now. Consider ourselves very fortunate.” All four of them gasped in surprised to see Celestia at the door. “So, what do we do now?” asked Apple Bloom. “For now, survive.” Tia answered as she walked in and sat next to all four of them. “What about my sister Apple Jack? Twi and the others? We can't just leave them out there!” “There is no way to know where they at, Apple Bloom. If they are in the same condition as my sister Luna, they are vulnerable to the forces, or anything in the wilderness for that matter.” “I thought you said Luna was fine?” said Zecora “I’m afraid I have mislead you, while indeed my sister is fine, she is currently under some sort of hibernation spell, she hasn't woken since she landed back at Ponyville.” Tia explained “If Luna arrived back in that condition I can only imagine that the rest of the girls have landed in the same state as well. I have no way in telling how long the hibernation spell will last or even if will be lifted at all. A emotion of concern showed in all of them. “I saw six streaks in the sky, if one of them was your sister Luna. It would mean that one of the six is missing?” Zecora asked. Sweetie Belle lowered her head. “You are correct Zecora, the Nightmare Forces had kidnapped Rarity and took her to Nightmare Dreamscape. Luna and the others tried to rescue her but...” Tia couldn't help but to look at Sweetie Belle having her head low, Apple Bloom has since put a hoof over her shoulder trying to comfort her. Tia hesitantly continued. “But... they were unsuccessful.” “So that image on the moon. Since we know Luna is here, it couldn't be Nightmare Moon. Then who is it?” asked Scootaloo. “It’s that of Rarity.” she softly spoke “Rarity?!” Sweetie Belle spoke out as it caught her attention. “But... you said my sister was dead! How could that thing be my sister?” Sweetie Belle demanded “What I said is the truth Sweetie Belle, the Rarity we all know and knew is now gone. What you see in the moon... is that of Nightmare Rarity.” A sorrowful disbelief came over Sweetie Belle. “Thats not true, thats no way it could be Rarity!” Sweetie Belle replied near tears “I’m sorry, but it is true.” Tia said disheartedly. “No! I don't want to believe it! She wouldn’t do this to all of us!” Sweetie Belle quickly got up and ran off tears flowing down her cheeks “Sweetie Belle!” cried out Apple Bloom as she quickly followed. Scootaloo hopped off the bed and looked as both Tia and Zecora. “No need to worry, We’ll make sure she doesn't go far.” she said reassuringly as she made her way out of the room. Tia felt a sense of guilt as she nodded back at Scootaloo just before she left. An eerie silence came over the room for a moment until Zecora spoke. “Celestia... May I ask something?” “Of course.” “If the world is now under endless moonlight and darkness. How shall we know when day’s go by?” “The moon still has to cycle in the sky just like every other night, However since I am no longer able to raise the sun. When the moon descends, darkness will follow instead of the sun.” “My goodness.” Zecora responded. Tia nodded as she continued. “The moon will be the only source of light that the land will ever see. So in a sense, the moonlit sky could be considered day and when darkness comes it will be truly an essential night.” “So what was the day, is now night, and the night, is now day.... but without the sun in the sky, this will also mean any vegetation will wither?” “Correct, all plants need the sun to live and grow. With it gone, the plants will only have the moon for any kind of light, they will eventually wither or die altogether.” “Those poor ponies on the outside... they will starve.” Zecora said sadly. “Indeed, and my heart aches for them.” Meanwhile at Dreamscape Castle... Through the curtain of the bedchamber, a silhouette of a tall mare could be seen on top of another tall figure below it. “Spike... please dear, I need you to take care of some matters for me.” She spoke nearly out of breath. “Of course Rarity, anything.” Moving closer to him she nuzzled his cheek. “I need you to go back to the Equestrian world darling, Shadowfright will be waiting for you at the village of Alfalfa in the land of Camelu.” She continued to nuzzle down to his neck, Spike let out a soft gasp and moan as she did so. She continued. “Their you will meet with the State of Camelu, a large army who has gratuitously decided to make an alliance with us.” He let out another soft moan as her nose ran his chest. “Mmmh, my handsome Spike.” She said continuing to speak. “Once you are done there, the Hooviet Union has also made an alliance with us. So I will need you go and meet with them once you are done with the Camelu.” She slowly made her way off him. “But, what about you?” he asked. She looked back at him with a smile, kissing him. “I will be missing you, so hurry back.” her voice in his mind. A passionate chill ran up his back, as she slowly broke the kiss and made her way off the bed, walking toward the closet near by. She couldn't help but to look back and admire his new physique as he sat up on the bed. “I have some new attire for you my dear Spike, and of course it will be fitting for a King as yourself.” she said as she turned back to the closet using her magic to rummage through outfits. He made his way to the edge of the bed, stood up then made his way to her. Rarity had her attention to the closest as she gathered his clothes, it wasn't till she felt his hand on her flank when she looked back at the dragon who was just as tall as her, she couldn't help but bite her lower lip as she turned around to face him. Using her magic, she tossed his clothes onto the bed as she gently placed her hoof on his chest. “Perhaps... j-just one more time before you leave?” She softly said to him with a grin as she pulled him close for a passionate kiss, both of them slowly making their way back onto the bed. Back at the Equestrian world... “What's taking so bloody long? The moon nearly set.” Asked a Camel bull. “He will arrive shortly, you have my word.” Shadowfright explained. “You said that hours ago my friend.” the Camel bull replied. It was at that very moment thick and dark elements began swirl and form beside them, it wasn't before long that the elements dissolved and there stood the tall dragon in soft body armor. “My lord!” Shadowfright bowed “He has certainly, grown...” Shadowfright thought in his mind. “Greetings Shadowfright. So who looks to make an alliance with us?” Spike asked. “Sire, this is Abisali, leader of the State of Camelu army.” Abisali bowed “Greetings, my King.” “Greetings Abisali, tell me, why do you seek these lands?” “Sire, for generations the land of Camelu used to belong to the State of the Camelu. It wasn't till a long battle between our race and the ponies of Democratic Camelu State had banished us to the Emberbrace mountains. Democratic Camelu State had been greatly influenced by the democratic land of Cervidas. We want our land back, and we wish to put the land of Cervidas in the same hardships that they bestowed upon us.” “And why should my Queen and I make any such alliance?” “Sire, not only will be loyal and humble subjects but we will worship unto you and our Queen.” Spike grind as he looked at Shadowfright then back at the Camel bull. “Very well then.” Spike responded. “We will accept your alliance, we’ll see to it that you get the lands you want.” “We are thankful, sire” Abisali replying as he bowed. End of Part 1.