Twilight Sparkle awoke. She didn't know quite where she expected to be, but she found herself in her own bed, and in her own house. So, Nightmare Moon really hadn't hurt her? Perhaps it had all just been a bad dream.
She peered out of the window, wishing for the sun and daylight, but there were only shadows. Nope, this was no dream. Celestia was gone, and Nightmare Moon was now in charge.
Twilight tried opening her windows and her doors, but it didn't come as much for a surprise to her that they were locked. She guessed she would just have to sit and wait for something to happen. And something sure did.
Soon, all of Ponyville was crowded outside of the library. Twilight tried to hide her relief as she saw Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, Applejack and Pinkie Pie amongst them. Why did she feel so much fear for those five? Suddenly, Twilight heard a voice. "Urgh... Twilight! You're back!"
"Spike!" Twilight exclaimed delightedly, rushing over to the baby dragon and giving him a huge hug. "I thought Nightmare Moon had taken you!"
"Nope," Spike grinned. "I've been asleep the whole time. So? Were you able to stop her?" Twilight took a deep breath.
"No. No, I couldn't." She explained to the dragon what had happened. Spike watched gobsmacked all the while, then said.
"And now you don't trust the others? Are you crazy? They saved your life!"
"Yeah, so that Nightmare Moon could use her magic for her own evil deeds," Twilight grunted. "I would have rather have died."
"Stop with the negativity, Twilight. Trust me at least. See how things go today. I'll be here for you."
"Thanks, Spike." Twilight whispered, giving him another hug. Suddenly, she heard the door open. Of course it was Nightmare Moon. She heard the alicorn call. "This way, little pony! We're about to have a very important meeting."
Twilight approached the dark princess, trembling all the while. Spike crept after her. "Now, why don't we go outside, and enjoy my beautiful night?"
Within minutes all of Ponyville was gathered in the plaza. Twilight was at the centre, next to Nightmare Moon. On Nightmare Moon's other side was a panic stricken Spike. "Citizens of Ponyville, please stay quiet. You and you," she pointed her hoof at Applejack and Fluttershy. "Please check that every pony is here."
There was a long, frightened silence as the two ponies took down names. Then they trotted back over to Nightmare Moon. "So?" her eyes glinted evilly. "Is anyone absent?"
"N-n." Fluttershy began, rapidly shaking her head. Applejack nudged her gently. There were tears in the yellow pegasus's eyes, and she stepped back. "Scootaloo isn't here." Applejack told the princess. Nightmare Moon narrowed her eyes.
"Oh really, isn't she? You there," she glared at Rainbow. "Do you know where Scootaloo's home is?"
Rainbow remained silent.
"I said, do you know where her home is?" Rainbow's ears were flattened to her head. Twilight knew the answer. Of course she knew. Applejack made her way over to the pegasus and whispered something to her. Tears beginning to well up in Rainbow's eyes, she replied, "Yes."
"Very good," Nightmare Moon smirked. "Go with Soarin. Bring her here. By force, if necessary."
Rainbow Dash showed no happiness at being paired up with another pegasus. She nodded briefly to Soarin, and they flew off. Twilight feel a twinge of sympathy, but tried to brush it away quickly.
"Anyways," Nightmare Moon boomed. "I have found a unicorn with unusually strong magic. Her name is Twilight Sparkle, and she is the star of the show that I have brought for you. And this is her dragon, Spike. We're hoping to toughen it up a bit, so that he can help viciously defend our borders. Applause, please."
There was unenthusiastic clapping from the crowd. Twilight's gaze locked with Fluttershy's. The shy pony gave a slight shake of her head, before looking away. "Until I am aware of her capabilities, Twilight, along with Spike, will stay in the same library they have been in already for the past day or two. You two seem to find it rather comfortable, anyways."
Twilight and Spike both stayed quiet. What was there to say?
Suddenly, all attention directed to Rainbow and Soarin, who were flying towards them with a limp, screaming pony with them. She was very young, and orange coloured, with small wings. She remembered briefly seeing the filly at the Summer Sun Celebration, hiding alongside Apple Bloom and a young unicorn foal.
They began to fly downwards, and Nightmare Moon growled. "Keep hold of her," Rainbow and Soarin obeyed, but Twilight could see how distressed they both were. Nightmare Moon strode towards the pegasus, head held high. "Would you like to tell me why you were dragged to the meeting?"
"I-I, I didn't know when I was meant to come!" Scootaloo blurted out. "Please forgive m-" She was interrupted when Nightmare Moon kicked her sharply. "Silly filly. I don't believe in forgiveness. Do you remember what happens to those who are late, or don't attend?"
Scootaloo didn't reply. She simply began to wail.
"Hmph, why don't I show you, then?" Nightmare Moon readied herself. Aura began to glow from her horn. She shot a black beam at the filly's stomach. It slightly missed the centre, but Scootaloo still screamed in agony, blood spurting from the wound and wetting the ground. Twilight heard numerous gasps from the audience, and saw that Rainbow was looking away. "How wonderful. Avoiding a quick and easy death? Well, I do prefer seeing as much pain as possible. What a fine show this will be! Don't you agree, Rainbow Dash?" She fixed the pegasus with a deadly gaze.
"Y-yes," Rainbow whispered. She raised her voice. "Yes. Scootaloo was merely an embarrassment. A bad mark on my name. She was like a terrible stain. I won't be missing her."
"Just as I thought," Nightmare Moon grinned. "My faithful subject, I'll let you do the honours of killing this filly painfully and slowly."
The horror was right there in Rainbow's eyes. Nightmare Moon knew that Rainbow Dash didn't want anything bad to happen to the little pegasus. This was probably just to torture Rainbow too, maybe as a punishment for not answering the princess earlier.
Pinkie Pie padded up to Rainbow and gave her a hug. "I'm so, so sorry." She whispered, a single tear trickling down her cheek.
"None of this is your fault, Pinkie." Rainbow Dash replied, embracing her friend back. Fluttershy let out a small sob. Rainbow turned to Nightmare Moon. "Very well."
All the while, Scootaloo had been losing more and more blood. She was screaming and screeching. Rainbow charged at her with great force and rammed into her. Scootaloo landed at Nightmare Moon's hooves. "You always wanted to fly?" Rainbow panted. "Well, you're flying through the air now!" She charged again, and blood spilt out of Scootaloo's stomach. "Impressive." Twilight heard Nightmare Moon murmur. The purple unicorn backed away, horrified.
Rainbow made a very strange noise as she looked down at the filly's body, then narrowed her eyes. The rainbow maned pegasus shot high into the air, before coming straight down at insane speed. She began to shine a rainbow colour, and then it splashed all around her. A Sonic Rainboom? She heard Applejack and Rarity slowly clapping.
Rainbow Dash slammed into Scootaloo, ripping her entire body apart. The filly never struggled. She had accepted her fate. And Rainbow Dash had killed her. Blood and organs splattered onto Rainbow, but she shook them off. She bowed before Nightmare Moon. Nightmare Moon sighed. "Too quick. Too painless. But that was quite the Rainboom," she raised her voice even more. "Let this be an example to you all. Now, dismissed!"