Twilight ran through the Everfree Forest as fast as she could, ignoring the excruciating pain from her horn and wing. She didn't have time for pain, for she could already hear explosions coming from the castle as her mother and aunt engaged in on final battle, a battle that Twilight wouldn't let finish, no matter what.
Celestia stood in the throne room of the Castle of The Two Sister. She could remember all of the wonderful times they had experienced within these walls. She could remember how she and Luna had installed all sorts of secret passageways, some were designed for quick access or to hide things, others were created to simply mess with the nobility. She could also remember the birth of her niece, how Luna had screamed and cursed for her sister and then at the end of it all looking down on a small bundle containing an adorable lavender alicorn filly. They had been so happy then, Celestia had always hoped for a child of her own some day, but since what happened a thousand years ago those dreams slid away, there had been suitors, but she had turned them all away. She didn't want to establish any close relations, she couldn't... not while her sister remained on the moon.
And now that sister rapidly approached the castle with one goal in mind, Celestia's destruction.
On top of all that her niece was revealed to be alive, and her own student no less. he had spent so many years with Twilight 'Twinkle', she had loved her as her own daughter, she was the first pony she became that emotionally attached to in a thousand years, maybe a part of her realised the truth? The thing is Twilight had seemed to return those affections, was that all just an act, or was it real? Celestia had to hope that somewhere in her niece's heart a light shined, and no matter if she dies this day perhaps that light would emerge through the shadow, and even spread to her mother.
She hoped that for both their sakes, and for the sake of Equestria and her little ponies.
"CELESTIA!" a loud voice boomed across the castle, destroying a few fragile pieces of the ancient structure.
Nightmare Moon descended through the open roof, landing at the other end of the room.
"Luna," Celestia greeted.
"Celestia, you run and hide for over two weeks and then just... stop? It's almost as if you welcome your death!" Nightmare Moon smirked.
"Oh dear sister, I would try and talk you out of this action, but I know that it would fail once more."
"Indeed," Nightmare deadpanned.
"Just one thing, should I fall... could you raise the sun?"
"Raise the sun? You're kidding right?"
"Your daughter's twilight may keep the world from freezing, but there is still too little sunlight reaching Equestria, it may not be the end of the world but there will still be chaos, death."
"So there shall, but we will move on from it. In the end all of your legacy will vanish just as we did a thousand years ago... only unlike us it will never return. The day shall never come about again!"
"Then I pray that you or your daughter see the error of your way one day should I die here, not that I will make that easy."
"Naturally, farewell... SISTER!"
Nightmare Moon lunged at Celestia seeking to impale her on her razor sharp horn. Celestia spread her wings and took to the sky to avoid the strike. Seeing this Nightmare skidded to a halt and instead launched a devastating beam of magic at Celestia, which she also avoided. Celestia dove down and struck Nightmare in the jaw, she went around for another hit but her hoof was met with Nightmare Moon's magic stopping it mid air, Nightmare levitated Celestia up and slammed her into a far wall.
Regaining her senses from the impact Celestia just managed to avoid another beam of magic coming at her by rolling to the side. The two traded spell after spell each avoiding them for the most part.
Neither was relenting, somepony would die this day.
Twilight finally reached the castle, flashes and bangs still emanated from the throne room as the fight carried on. Rushing through the hallways, Twilight began to take the most direct route to the throne room, suddenly the entire castle shook and the hallway ahead of Twilight collapsed.
"Oh you've got to be kidding me..."
Twilight turned around heading back the way she came having to take a detour around the collapsed hallway.
Suddenly the fighting stopped and silence filled the castle. Panic began to fill Twilight but she didn't stop, ten a massive explosion began to sound throughout the castle, the fight had escalated further and was reaching the end. The explosion continued to sound as two spells met and clashed for dominance.
Shortly behind Twilight five mares struggled to navigate the crumbling ruin of a castle, not having as much experience with the structure as Twilight.
"Great, the halls collapsed, what do we do now?" Rainbow groaned in frustration.
"There must be a way around, come on girls the Princess is countin' on us!".
"I just hope Twilight can make it in time..." Rarity sighed.
In the throne room the fight dragged on as spell after spell, punch after punch and kick after kick was exchanged.
The two sister locked horn and began to struggle, Nightmare Moon kicked Celestia and then blasted her backwards with a spell to the chest.
With a grunt she landed in a heap at the very end of the throne room, where she first started. Slowly a battered and bruised Celestia got to her hooves and viewed her opponent, Nightmare Moon had also received several injuries, but to a lesser extent.
The two mares stared at each other for a few moments, one had hatred in her eyes, the others held sadness. Silence emanated throughout the halls of the castle.
That silence was broken when the two alicorns charged their horns with ungodly amounts of magical energy and fired them into each other, the spells meeting at the centre of the throne room.
Sun and Moon, Light and Dark clashed violently, each vying for dominance over the other. Neither could gain any ground, when one faltered it would quickly push harder and regain ground.
But neither was giving in.
The stars above twinkled, a vast audience watching as two sister fought with all their strengths, their anticipation building to see who would ultimately reign victorious.
Sparks crackled and flew up into the air, fires also broke out as the intensity of each spell continued to rise and rise further still; should have the sun been in the sky Celestia may have began to encroach on her fallen sister, but the sun wasn't in the sky... but the moon was.
The stars watched as this moment echoed throughout time and space, they watched as Nightmare Moon began to slowly gain ground. No matter how hard Celestia tried she couldn't regain her spell's former momentum, the dark blue quickly swallowed her golden aura...
And then it swallowed her.
...
...
...
Silence.
There was no more fighting.
Twilight slowed her speed as she came across the throne room. Her stars had informed her of what had transpired, so she already knew what awaited her.
Entering the throne room she stood directly behind her mother who was breathing heavily as all the gathered adrenaline was slowly released from her system.
At the other end a bloodied alabaster alicorn lay on the floor breathing shallowly, her eyes barely open. Death was close at hand for Princess Celestia.
Nightmare Moon heard her daughter's arrival and turned to greet her.
"Twilight, good of you... to..."
Nightmare Moon's eyes widened as she saw her daughter, or more specifically her broken horn and wing. Hurriedly she ran up to her daughter to inspect her injuries.
"Twilight! My little star what has befallen you?!"
"This is the result of my own actions mother, a mistake, like the one you yourself are about to make".
Nightmare Moon backed away from Twilight. "Mistake? Celestia needs to die!".
"No, she doesn't!"
Celestia heard Twilight's words, slowly and painfully she looked up at her niece, a smile formed onto her face.
"Why do you say such things, my daughter? Do you not recall the pain we went through, how she neglected us? How she had believed she murdered you and locked me onto my own moon?!" Nightmare Moon shouted out.
At this point the element bearers finally showed up, standing their ground just by the entrance way.
"Of course I remember! But that was a thousand years ago! Those ponies who harmed us are long dead! Here they appreciate our night, both the moon and stars. Celestia herself is repentant of her neglect, I know this to be true after having spent so many years at her side as her ever so faithful student... but my desire for vengeance blinded me, I couldn't see it..."
Twilight looked back at the mares behind her. "But then I learned the truth, I have been doubting myself for a while but it took the actions of five wonderful mares to show it to me. They taught to me the magic of friendship, they saved my life from my own folly despite my actions against them, they forgave me! Just as I plead to you mother, forgive Celestia, let us be a family again..."
The Element Bearers and Celestia all gave happy smiles at Twilight's heartfelt words, Nightmare Moon however had a look of shock etched onto her face, for a minute Twilight thought her speech had worked.
But then the look of shock on Nightmare's face was replaced with one of pure anger. "So I see Celestia's little soldiers have managed to manipulate you, to warp your mind..."
"Warp my mind? No Mother, that's-"
Nightmare Moon turned around to face Celestia once more. "YOU ARE A MANIPULATIVE TYRANT CELESTIA, YOU SHALL NOT TAKE MY DAUGHTER FROM ME AGAIN!" Nightmare Moon roared in anger as her Royal Canterlot Voice echoed for miles.
Nightmare's horn quickly charged up with all sorts of magical energy, dark magic seeped through her very being as in her pure fury she charged up one spell, a spell stronger than any she had ever cast before and would most certainly kill Celestia, very violently at that.
Celestia closed her eyes excepting her fate, she was too battered to place up a shield or even dodge out the way, this was it.
Nightmare released her spell and it angrily hurtled towards Celestia coming to bring her end.
"STOP!"
Celestia opened her eyes with a jolt in time to witness her niece jump between herself and Nightmare Moon, Twilight closed her eyes in concentration as she tried desperately to direct enough magic through her damaged horn to place up a shield spell.
She failed.
It was too late for Nightmare to cancel the spell and it continued to speed forwards, Twilight's eyes jolted open at the last second as she realised what was about to happen.
Twilight screamed in agony as the spell hit her full force in the chest, dust and smoke picked up obscuring everypony's vision.
"Twilight!" The element bearers called out in panic.
...
A blue aura swept through the room as a horrified Nightmare Moon quickly cleared away the dust and smoke trying to find her beloved daughter. Once it was all gone they all got a clear view of the room and the resulting devastation.
Twilight was standing right where she had been, her eyes were wide as blood seeped down from a massive injury in her chest, she was hurt, very hurt.
Twilight's legs buckled from the strain and she collapsed to the floor in heap, her mother rushed forwards and collapsed onto the floor next to her, sobs echoing throughout the throne room. She picked Twilight up placing her between her forelegs. The element bearers slowly approached the pair in utter despair. Celestia tried to get up, desperate to help her niece but was too weak.
Twilight coughed violently, blood flying out of her mouth. Nightmare's horn began to glow a very bright blue as she placed all of her strength into one healing spell, trying with all her will to save the pony which she cares for the most in the world. But the dark magic infecting the wound refused to let it heal in the slightest way.
"Mother, stop..." Twilight croaked.
"I'm not letting you die!"
"I'm beyond even your power now..." Twilight said, beginning to cry.
"I've killed you... I've killed you... I just wanted to create a world where you could be safe my little star, where nopony would dare harm you ever again..."
"I know..."
Applejack broke off from the group hat held to her chest and went to Twilight's side. "Sugarcube ah... ah jus' want you to know that in the end you were our friend and that we...", Applejack choked. She couldn't bear to see Twilight like this, and unable to finish the sentence.
"I know," Twilight smiled at the five grieving mares. "And I'm glad I found true friends... thank you..."
Twilight's breathing suddenly became wheezy as she held on to the last scraps of life in her broken body.
"Twilight! Please... please don't leave me!" Luna begged.
"Mother, please forgive Celestia, forgive Equestria and most of all... forgive yourself, for me?" Twilight looked at her distraught mother with pleading eyes.
"I... yes... I will..." Luna broke down even more and held Twilight in a close embrace, gently nuzzling her daughters head.
"I love you..." Twilight managed in between her sobs.
"And I you my little star... goodnight..."
With that the last vestiges of life in Twilight ebbed away, she went limp in her mothers hooves as her eyes gently closed as if drifting off into a peaceful sleep.
Throughout the entire planet from Equestria to Yakyakastan and beyond the people of Equus witnessed the stars in the sky flicker, and then fade. They didn't disappear mind you, they continued to burn and support whatever planets that orbit them, but they faded as if something important was lost.
Very few knew what this meant.
Princess Cadance was one of those few.
"No!" Cadance shouted falling to the floor in a fit of sobs.
"What is it?" Shining asked in a slight panic, worried by Cadance's reaction.
Cadance, Shining Armor and the rest of the ponies they were with in the jailbreak stood just outside of the old pub that contained the hidden passage to the castle.
"Shining... Twilight's dead."
The stars had faded, and the universe mourned the passing of one Twilight Sparkle...
There was silence in the throne room aside from the sobs coming from the ponies it contained. Luna cradled her daughter terrified to let go, Celestia lay where she fell blank faced with her mind unable to process how things could have gone this wrong, it wasn't suppose to happen like this.
The Element Bearers were spread out surrounding their fallen friend, together they were all united in their grief for a true friend named Twilight.
...
...
...
...
A spark...
...
All that was needed was one spark to unite six friends, and in those last moments of Twilight life it had ignited, now the remaining five remained united in their grief, and their friendship with Twilight.
The spark remained strong, and the elements finally chose after a thousand years of dormancy who would bear them once more.
In the element's chamber several stone shards began to glow, they levitated into the air and began to form together.
In a flash they all disappeared and in the throne room five Elements of Harmony came into existence, each hovering over one of the Element Bearers. They descended down onto the bewildered mares, each element changed shape and formed into a necklace, each one bearing the symbol of what defined their individual bearers. Each necklace continued to glow, and then each shot out a different coloured light onto the still corpse of Twilight Sparkle.
Luna looked around at the beams confused as to what was taking place, Celestia on the other hand knew perfectly well, all of her grief was washed away as a she warmly smiled.
A new beam of energy emerged from Twilight shooting out to just above her, there that energy formed into the shape of a star. The element of magic descended down onto Twilight morphing into a crown as it did so. The element's beams all increased their power as they met with the element of magic which began to glow brighter than any of the rest.
Then from the element of magic a giant rainbow coloured explosion rocketed throughout the room consuming all of those within.
...
The rainbow coloured blast faded.
Celestia looked around the room, seeing that Princess Luna had been reverted to her original form. She didn't even seem to have her usual ethereal mane which suggested all of her magic had been temporarily drained away. But that wasn't all.
Celestia realised all of her own injuries were healed, slowly she got up and approached her trembling sister.
In her hooves Luna held a much smaller alicorn, it would seem Twilight had also been reverted back to her original form, not only that the wound that once sat on her chest had completely vanished.
A few tense moments passed as all eyes rested on Twilight' still body.
Suddenly Twilight began to splutter as she tried to get air into her starved lungs. She was alive!
The element bearers cheered as Twilight looked into her mother's bewildered eyes.
"Hey..." Twilight weakly said, smiling all the time.
"Twilight..." Luna scooped Twilight into a warm hug, tears of joy rolling down her face. "I thought I had lost you."
"Welcome to my world," Celestia remarked approaching the pair.
Both Luna and Twilight seemed to recoil slightly as Celestia approached them, apparently fearing what may happen next.
Celestia knelt down to look her sister and niece in the eyes. "I want you to know that... I forgive you. I think our feud has gone on long enough, could you ever find it in your hearts to forgive me for my neglect a thousand years ago? To let us be a family again?"
Twilight and Luna looked at each other, before both nodding and leaping into Celestia giving her a strong embrace.
"We can sister!" Luna shouted. "I'm so sorry, I love you so much Tia!"
"And I you my dearest sister, and you my niece... my most faithful student..."
"Come on girls, I think we should leave them to it, we can make a fuss later," Applejack motioned to the door.
"Partyyyy!" Pinkie Pie shouted out her man poofing up to unbelievable extents.
The three alicorns sat there enjoying each others company for the first time in a thousand years. The stars rejoiced, and soon after Equestria too rejoiced as the sun finally was raised high into the sky once more.