//------------------------------//
// The Start of an Era 
// Story: Nightfall 
// by Hoodwinked MCShelster 
//------------------------------//

	Celestia nervously paced the floor as she waited for her cue. The clopping of her horseshoes on the wooden floor luckily was not audible over the amount of murmurs and talking just outside the room she was occupying. Her guards were waiting outside as well, carefully watching the crowd and the external area around the ponyville town hall. She looked out the window the small room possessed to gaze at the bright Moon, now free of its usual craters. Drops of sweat began to form as she hoped that all her preparations would be enough to protect her subjects and kingdom. The nobles of Canterlot had grown uneasy through these past years as she quickly increased the power of Equestria’s military to prepare for this night. She also did not like the idea of collecting a giant army but after her failure to find any means of a peaceful solution, she no longer felt comfortable with leaving her citizens exposed to the approaching threat.
Her troubled thoughts were interrupted when the feathers of her wings ruffled as the air in the room grew cold. The quiet flapping of wings and little clicks of metal against wood made her ears perk and made her aware of the new occupant of the room. Celestia didn’t need to turn around to know who the intruder was.
“Sister…” the pearly white alicorn’s voice said under her breath.
“That is a title I have long since heard of...” a dark voice said flatly, “I am also surprised that you do not choose a more befitting title, like one of the many your precious ponies call me…”
Celestia’s eyes shut closed and she sighed.
“Monster…Beast...Demon...” the voice continued.
“I would never call you anything like that…” Celestia murmured.
“Oh? Really?” the voice coily asked.
Celestia clenched her teeth.
“Oh that's right… You decided to insult me in other ways…” the voice snorted and sneered. “With neglect…”
Celestia felt the coldness in the visitor’s voice, making her fur stand on end, the fluffier portions of fur on her chest to puff up in a quite undignified manner. The slow tapping of horseshoes on the floor made her body tense.
“I know Celestia… I know what you’ve said, I know what you’ve done…” the voice deepened.
Celestia sensed the body of sin next to her now, no warmth or kindness filled this pony. Only cold darkness and patient rath made up this pony, anger and sadness flowing through her veins, making the dark muscles tense up. This masked rage cause Celestia to shudder, her heart to beat quickly, and the oh so familiar feelings that made her stomach ache even after many centuries, pity and regret. Celestia had never wanted to feel the warm light of her Sun so much in her life, but all she had was the cold stare of the Moon and it’s master.
“But with all the precautions you’ve made…” it said, it’s breath rolling across her fur.
Celestia closed her eyes tighter, tears squeezing out from the strained eyelids. It was several quiet moments before she opened them, focusing them solely on the Moon, not daring to look at her guest.
“You can’t stop me.” it hissed in her ear.
Celestia didn’t have time to do anything before she heard the flaring of magic and she was suddenly sent flying through the air.
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The crowd cheered as the mayor spoke. “In just a few moments, our town will witnessed the magic of the Sunrise and celebrate this, the longest day of the year. And now, it is my great honor to introduce to you the ruler of our land. The very pony who gives us the Sun and Moon each and every day. The good, the wise, the bringer of harmony to all of Equestria… Princess CelestiAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!”
As the mayor finished her introduction a bright flash flared throughout the building and a large white figure flew through the air, colliding with the far wall. The crowd screamed and shrieked as they realised the mass that now laid on the floor was their ruler herself. Celestia’s coat was singed in many areas and numerous feathers still smoldered from the magical assault. Her regal body was limp and sprawled about in a febile manner. They looked on horrified at the diminished goddess. One little filly dared to approach the mess of mare, extending her hoof to touch the alicorn’s. When they touched, Celestia recoiled and breathed in sharply through her teeth. A dead silence filled the room. 
The quiet was broken by a shrill scream coming from one of the local seamstresses. The crowd turned and released a fresh set of screams at the sight of the large, armored, dark mare of sin standing where Celestia should have been moments ago.
Many guards shook themselves from their daze and charged the mare. She only laughed and struck them down with bolts of lightning.
“Citizens of Equestria, behold! Your Sun struck down by my hoof!” she bellowed, “Now watch as I, Nightmare Moon, take your precious light and replace it with my beautiful darkness!”
The mare’s eyes glowed pure white and her horn flared with the intense light of magic. Celestia quickly struggled to her hooves and flared her own horn, shooting magic at what remained of her sister. However, before the beam of light could reach the dark mare, she shot her own, much more powerful beam, quickly overtaking the first beam and engulfing Celestia. The alicorn screamed in pain and agony before a white flash blinded everypony in the room. When their vision returned, their princess was gone and the brightening Moon now had a light rainbow tint and a new set a craters.
Many screamed and demanded to know what happened to the befallen princess, their panic making Nightmare Moon smirk in amusement.
“Silence!” she shouted and stomped her hoof, immediately hushing the ponies.
She looked over the terrified faces and her smile widened, her pearly white fangs glimmering like her plasmatic flowing mane.
“I only did what she did to me…” she began, “After a thousand years of worshiping the blinding Sun and it’s mistress, I bring you the salvation of my glorious night and a new era for Equestria!”
The ponies all looked in horror as the dark alicorn laughed wickedly and feared the unknown everlasting darkness that laid before them. Outside ponyville, ponies around Equestria grew more and more concerned as the Moon continually failed to fall and the Sun stayed far beneath the horizon. The cold grip of panic begun to take hold of the country. If only somepony had been there to stop this.