Prologue: A Past Long Forgotten
The darkness was unusually thick this night, and a chill bitter wind whipped through the Canterlot Palace courtyard. It was a foreboding wind that told of the silent conflict taking place, of the struggle that had already begun, whose outcome would decide of the fate of Equestria. Magical energies crackled and flowed through this wind, cast down by the moon that shone brightly across the land. The moon that had taken the place of the sun.
“Sister!” Princess Celestia shouted into the darkness as she strode down the pathway through the Canterlot garden. “I know what thou has done! Show thyself!”
“Come into the light?” Her sister’s voice taunted from the blackness. “I was not made for the light, dear sister, thou knowest this! Thou mock me with this command!”
“I do no such thing!” Celestia exclaimed in surprise. “I would never do such a thing, thou knowest this as well! I wish nothing but the best for my dear sister!”
“The best? Thou believe the best for me is sitting in the dark alone for the rest of time while thou enjoys the company of our subjects!? Thou believes this is the best for me!?” The wind howled even louder, sparks of magic arcing just inches from Celestia’s ear. “I am a fairy tale among our people, an unseen monster to be spoken of in stories! All because they shun the darkness,and seek thine light instead!”
“Thou are not a monster, Luna! Simply a mystery! They know not who thou truly are!” Celestia exclaimed.
“My name is not Luna! I have become more than helpless lonely little Luna! I am Nightmare Moon, and our subjects shall know me! Once I banish the sun forever!” Black mist surged through the darkness, forming slowly into the shape of a horrifying face, followed by a sleek black body. This was not the body of Princess Luna, Celestia realized. This was an abomination! More snake than pony. What could have possibly corrupted her so?
“I am sorry sister… but I cannot allow thine ambition to come to pass!” Celestia whirled quickly, her horn flaring with a piercing white light as her power met the dark mist coalescing around her younger sibling.
The magical energies swirling through the air clashed in a vicious whirlwind of dueling powers, ripping and tearing at one another in a vicious onslaught. The two princesses’ horns were only inches apart, the power radiating from them struggling to pass even that short distance to get at one-another, and end this conflict. The forces at work were enough to set the wind around them howling in a rapid cyclone, powerful bursts of magic roaring through the trees like bolts of lightning.
The battle was over quickly, as the light pulsed and grew in only a couple of seconds to engulf the dark pony, for several moments completely blotting out the Canterlot courtyard before the light swirled once again into the darkness, the energy spinning itself into nothingness to reveal Nightmare Moon lying on her side, writhing in pain and shock.
“C-Celestia…” Nightmare Moon growled deep in her throat. “How… dare…”
“I know not what has happened to you, sister… but I cannot allow our subjects to suffer from your rule.” Celestia marched up to stand over her fallen sibling. “Please… show some sign that thou are still Princess Luna.”
“I shall not…” Nightmare Moon grunted and struggled to stand up on the cold concrete pathway, but her legs could not lift her. “I shall not give up… I shall see my beautiful night last forever…” Celestia’s attacker growled in anger even as she sobbed in sadness. “My beautiful, glorious night shall be loved… I shall be loved.”
“Thou are loved now, sister.” Celestia told her softly.
“Thine love means nothing! Empty words spoken by a heartless wretch of a princess! Aaaugh!” Nightmare Moon gasped in surprise as Celestia’s horn began to glow with a powerful white light, lifting her from the pavement. “What shall thou do to me? Slay me? Would thou prove me right?”
“I had hoped it would not come to this, sister… but thou leave me no choice.” Celestia stared up at her captive with a sharp gaze. “Thou are sentenced to imprisonment for crimes against Equestria and its people, to be carried out in the place of thy power… the moon.”
“Wh-what? No!” Nightmare Moon struggled against her sister’s power, but to no avail. “Thou cannot hold me there forever! Even thy power has its limits!”
“One thousand years, sister.” Celestia warned her. “Thy sentence is for one thousand years.”
“Then in one thousand years I shall try again!” Nightmare Moon hissed.
“I will not stop you.” Celestia announced. This made Nightmare Moon pause, fixing a pair of wide eyes on her. “It is my hope that someday a lesson will be learned… if not, I shall allow thine ambition to become a reality. With no resistance.”
“Thou are a fool…” Nightmare Moon told her.
“I believe in my sister’s ability to love and see reason.” Celestia countered.
“One thousand years, then. In one thousand years, the day shall end and the reign of the night will be eternal!” Nightmare Moon cracked a grin and let out a boisterous laugh as the light around her body shone even brighter, completely engulfing her.
Moments later the light was gone, and so was Nightmare Moon. One thousand years, Celestia thought. She had one thousand years to figure out how to make her sister see reason… or Equestria was doomed.