The six ponies and two alicorns moved through what was supposedly Whitetail Wood, their hooffalls muffled by a dense layer of dead leaves. Fluttershy's head darted around, not stopping for an instant. Her ears stood straight up, twitching at any sound made. Her breathing increased slightly as they made their way past leafless trees and the occasional log.
Dash glanced to her from her left. “Fluttershy, I know how stupid this will sound, but are you all right?”
Rarity looked over from the right. “Indeed, darling. You're shaking worse than Carousel Boutique did last time the Crusaders were there for their weekly sleepover.” She closed her eyes, shuddering herself.
Fluttershy reached up with a hoof, pushing her hood back. “No, Dash. I'm not all right, but Whitetail Wood is even worse off!” Her eyes darted from Dash to Rarity. “Well, can't you hear it?”
Rarity blinked. “Hear what, exactly?”
Fluttershy trotted ahead a few paces before turning and facing her friends. “Exactly!” She waved a foreleg in the air. “I've barely heard any insects while walking through here, to say nothing of birds, squirrels or any other animals! Whitetail Wood is dying!”
There was a pause for several seconds before Luna cleared her throat, gaining everyone's attention. She waited for them all to turn back to face her and Twilight at the back before speaking. “I'm afraid I can confirm Fluttershy's assessment of Whitetail Woods is correct, as well as Applejack's earlier statement about the grass.” She turned her head to the side and craned her head up, focusing on a branch and an abandoned nest nestled in a crook. “This land is sick and malnourished. The food chain has been broken.”
Nightmare Moon snorted, drawing everyone to the front of the group. “The Tyrant Filly's blundering, no doubt. Her mismanagement of the sun and inability to rule has no doubt wounded Equestria. When she is removed and I am on the throne, then it can be made right.”
Fluttershy suddenly hopped up and flew right to Nightmare Moon, hovering a couple of feet from her muzzle. “It's not this version of Twilight, well it is, but it's the sun under her control. Well, n-not under her control.” The pegasus shook her head, her pink mane swinging wildly. “I mean without the sun, photosynthesis won't occur. The plants die, the herbivores eating them starve, the carnivores eating them starve and the scavengers and carrion eaters eventually run out of food as well! Then they all die off and...” Her voice trailed off and she dropped back to the ground as Nightmare Moon's gaze drilled into her. “And you... get t-the idea, N-Nightmare Moon.”
Nightmare Moon stood there for a moment before lowering her head to Fluttershy's level. She cocked her head to the side and her eyes dimmed back to normal levels. “So where are the ponies to help out the animals and plants?” she asked, her voice tinged with mild curiosity. “Before I was betrayed-” A grunt from Applejack brought her head whipping to her side. “What?” she asked, staring at the earth pony.
Applejack swallowed and drew herself up as tall as she could before speaking. “Beggin your pardon, yer majesty, but that's not the case. You see, without the sun, there's only so much we ponies can do.” She held up a foreleg and pointed up at the dark, starless sky. “Pegasi can make it rain, or clear away clouds. Earth ponies can help plants grow and unicorns can aid with their magic, but without the sun...” Her voice trailed off and she merely shrugged, letting the wind whipping through the bare branches speak for her.
The alicorn's slitted eyes shifted from side to side before she wheeled about, digging a furrow in the ground with her armored hoof. “Then it is best we finish this trip to Ponyville as soon as possible!” she declared. She glanced back, her starlit mane whipping about. “Come, little ponies. Time is short in my land!”
Applejack hung her head, but followed Nightmare Moon, the others trailing behind as they made their way through the woods.
Twilight, still near the back with Luna, looked up to the Lunar Diarch. “Pardon me for asking, Princess, but-” She suddenly looked to the fore of the group and Nightmare Moon marching straight ahead, her ears twitching slightly.
Luna's horn shone for a moment. “She cannot hear you,” she said, looking down at the unicorn by her side. “So, you were about to ask if I was as delusional as she is?”
Twilight's eyes widened and she seemed to shrink into herself. “I well it's just...” Her cheeks turned a dark red and her mouth clamped shut. “I'm sorry,” she finally mumbled, hanging her head.
A slight chuckle came from Luna. “She is deep in the throes of denial,” she finally said. “Just as I was. The similarities are unnerving, to say the least.” She glanced back at her cutie mark. “I have learned of what happens when a pony is unable to perform their special talent, the thing they love doing the most. The research is in its barest stages, but it describes what happened to me precisely.” Her gaze drifted to the sky. “I am not sure, but I believe back then I suffered through a rather extreme case of such a disorder. It was somewhat magnified by being the Bearer of the Elements of Honesty, Loyalty and Generosity.”
A small gasp escaped Twilight's mouth. “Oh, my gosh.” She reached up with a hoof and patted Luna's upper arm and shoulder. “I'm so sorry.”
Luna's eyes slid down to gaze at the smaller one next to her. “I appreciate it, but I do not deserve it.” She looked ahead at Nightmare Moon. “What I did back then was wrong, no matter what excuses I might give myself.”
Dash suddenly hopped into the air and held a foreleg up to her forehead. “Hey, is it just me, or is lighter ahead?”
Applejack craned her head forward and squinted. “Why, I reckon you're right, Dash.” She looked back to the rest of the group. “Ah, Fluttershy, is it just me, or isn't the boundary o' Whitetail Wood supposed to be a lot further away? It shouldn't be thinning out so early...” Her eyes widened and she suddenly shot forward, breaking into a gallop within seconds.
Fluttershy's entire body trembled before she too took off, flying past a startled Nightmare Moon and leaving a yellow and pink contrail in her wake. “No, no no no no!” she shouted, tears streaming from her eyes.
Rainbow Dash followed her oldest friend a half-second later. “Hey, wait up!” she cried out. “You don't know what's ahead!”
Nightmare Moon's wings flapped as the three shot off. “Wait, come back!” she cried out. Her horn lit up, but she ceased as Luna and Twilight trotted up to her side. “We must stop them!”
“Why?” Luna asked. She turned and looked ahead down the path. “We're going that way anyway.” She looked back to Rarity and Pinkie Pie as they trotted past. “It looks like you'd better hurry,” she said before she and Twilight followed along.
Nightmare Moon's lips curled back, but she set her gaze straight ahead and followed suit, moving quickly and catching up with the rest of the group, now standing in a cluster at the side of an elm. She stopped next to Applejack and looked down at the earth pony. Her brow furrowed at her slack-jawed expression. “Well? What is it?”
Applejack's head slowly tilted up and she looked up at Nightmare Moon. She slowly looked back down and wordlessly motioned to where she was staring.
Nightmare Moon slowly looked up, her eyes widening as she stared out. “What...”
A slow wind tossed a few leaves around tree stumps, the dominant feature of the land as far as anyone could see. Hundreds-perhaps thousands-of them sprouted from the ground, the remnants of the trees once standing proud and tall.
Applejack slid her stetson off her head and placed it over her chest as she looked out at the devastated forest. “This... this is bad.” She looked up to her left at Dash as she hovered by her side opposite Nightmare Moon. “Dash, how fast can you fly around Whitetail Woods' borders and scope out the situation?”
The pegasus' eyes narrowed and her wings buzzed. “I'm on it!” she shouted, shooting off and leaving a rainbow-streaked contrail behind close to the ground.
Nightmare Moon reared back. “Come back here!” she shouted, mane flaring out after Dash. “I DID NOT GIVE-”
Luna was suddenly by her side, her own mane reaching out and blocking Nightmare Moon's reach. Her expression was neutral, save piercing eyes that almost caused Nightmare Moon to flinch. “Let her be,” she stated. “This is important.”
The dark alicorn snorted and her eyes glowed. “What, some tree stumps?” She stepped over to Applejack and leaned her neck down, bringing her visage a scant few inches from Applejack's face. “Do not tell me that in your Equestria, trees aren't cut down!” she shouted, sending the earth pony sliding back.
Applejack flinched, but planted her hooves wide apart and squared her shoulders. “It's not just that.” She backed up to a stump, keeping her eyes on Nightmare Moon the entire time. “There's no saplings nor new growth. They've all been clear cut and none o' them replaced.” She sucked in a breath. “They're killin' Whitetail Wood, and this can't be the only place it's happening.”
Fluttershy let out a strangled sob and her entire body shook. “W-without the t-trees, the soil will be eroded away,” she stuttered out. She trotted over to Nightmare Moon and looked up at her with wide, watery eyes. “And n-no new growth or plantings will m-mean W-Whitetail Woods will c-continue to shrink with every tree cut down.” She swallowed. “All the animals, no homes for them. No homes...”
Rarity and Pinkie Pie were by her sides in an instant. “There, there,” Rarity said, wrapping her forelegs around Fluttershy in a hug.
Nightmare Moon's body trembled slightly. “All right, so what does this change, precisely? The Tyrant Filly must still be stopped.” She turned her gaze to the general direction of Canterlot. “We should not be wasting our time going to Ponyville!”
Luna, still standing by Nightmare Moon's side, shook her head. “And you know we won't go there until we see how this Equestria's Ponyville is doing. It's not only for our benefit, remember?” She cantered right up to Nightmare Moon's flank and waved a wing in Ponyville's direction. “It has been a millennium, after all.”
Nightmare Moon's teeth ground together. “Very well, but I will brook no further delays!” she shouted, her mane and tail flapping about. Her gaze shifted slightly to the right as Rainbow Dash flew back to the group. “Well?”
Dash landed in front of everyone there, panting slightly. “About half of Whitetail Wood's gone,” she reported, the hood of her cloak casting her face in shadow. “I saw a few animals here and there, but not many.” She focused on Fluttershy, her eyes sympathetic. “Sorry, Fluttershy.”
Fluttershy's right eye twitched. “I-it's all right, Rainbow Dash.” She suddenly hunched down and covered her head with her wings, sobs coming from underneath. She barely reacted as Dash, Pinkie Pie, Applejack and Rarity huddled around her, patting her on the back or gently rubbing her wings.
Twilight walked up to Dash's side. “Did you manage to see Ponyville?”
The pegasus focused on her. “Yeah, and I hate to sound like I'm in a Daring Do novel, but I think you're gonna have to see for yourself what's happened there.”
Twilight nodded. “All right.” Her head suddenly shot up as Nightmare Moon was there, by her side. “Eep!” she shouted, hopping into the air.
Nightmare Moon's slitted eyes flashed for a moment. “Then perhaps we should find out, correct?” And with that, she turned her gaze to Dash. “The direction of Ponyville?”
Dash kept her gaze low and hood covering her eyes as she jabbed a hoof in the general direction opposite of where they came from. Nightmare Moon nodded to her before turning and trotting off.
Luna's lips turned up as she watched her counterpart walking off. “Excellent,” she said.
Applejack blinked. “Excellent?!” Her head shot up and her voice rose in pitch. “Half the forest is gone? How's that 'excellent'?”
Luna swallowed and her cheeks turned red. “My apologies, Applejack,” she said, glancing over her shoulder. “I did not mean Whitetail Wood. I meant that I believe Nightmare Moon's eyes might be opening. Slowly, but they are opening.” She unfurled a wing and motioned to Nightmare Moon as she slowly receded in the distance. “Come, my little ponies.” And with that, she walked off, following Nightmare Moon.
Rarity gently reached out and lifted Fluttershy's right wing. “Fluttershy, darling, are you fit to continue?”
Fluttershy's eyes darted about. “N-no, I'm not. It's dark here, and scary. The land and animals are dying...” She lifted her wings from her head and folded them back against her body. “B-but t-things won't get better w-while I'm sitting here shivering!” She stood up on all fours and stared straight ahead at Nightmare Moon and Luna. “Now let's go!” she shouted, her head suddenly ducking low. “Before I change my mind!”
Twenty minutes later
The first thing they noticed about Ponyville was the wall.
It was solid, wrapping around the entire town, with metal bands reinforcing the timbers. Gemstones of various colors, shapes and sizes were embedded in the wood. A haze hung over parts of the town, supplied by several chimneys burning nonstop. A massive gate stood in front of the main path, with a smaller pony-sized door built into it. Near a bend in the wall, a small culvert of stone could be seen, built into the bottom for drainage. And finally, guard towers were evenly spaced right behind the wall, each one with at least two ponies staffing it.
Twilight cantered back and forth as she beheld the wall. She and the rest were standing about a dozen meters away, near a lone tree and a group of stumps. “Oh, my gosh,” she repeated, her head swishing back and forth and bits of her mane springing up, pushing her hood around.
Nightmare Moon rolled her eyes. “I assume there's no wall around Ponyville either.”
Dash flew around right up to her muzzle. “Well, duh!” she said, rolling her eyes.
Rarity eyed the gems and rubbed her chin. “Oh, my,” she muttered. “It's brilliant, but so sad that they have to do such a thing.”
Everyone turned to the pearl-white unicorn. “What do you mean?” Applejack asked.
Rarity shrugged. “Well, if a magical current is run through those gems, a force field will be created, strengthening the barrier. It's a neigh-perfect arrangement.” Her eyes lit up for a moment. “Oh, to be able to get a few of those...”
Twilight's eyes lit up. “Rarity, that's amazing!” Her expression darkened. “Wait, I've never read anything like that.” She looked to her. “When did you learn that?”
Rarity snorted and waved Twilight off. “Oh, please, darling! I taught you everything you know about gems, but not everything I know.” Her expression turned grim. “Oh, this is most unsettling!”
Pinkie Pie blinked. “Why, the gems clash with the wood color?”
Rarity's jaw cracked to the right before she shrugged “Well, all right, there's that.” She pointed a hoof at the wall. “But think about it, girls. Ponyville is less than a half day's travel from Canterlot. If they feel this threatened in the shadow of the capital itself, how's the rest of Equestria doing?”
Twilight suddenly gasped. “Shining Armor, Cadance!” she cried out, rearing back and kicking the air. She dropped back down and trotted over to Nightmare Moon. “Ah, did you happen to see either a white-coated unicorn stallion or a pink-coated alicorn mare before coming to our Equestria?” she asked, hopping from hoof to hoof.
Applejack was by her side in an instant, foreleg draped around her withers and back. “Easy, sugarcube.”
Dash dropped down on the opposite side and extended a wing. “Yeah. Remember, they're not the Shining Armor or Cadance you know.”
Twilight's head whipped back and forth between the two. “I know I know, but it's still 'a' Shining Armor and Cadance, my big brother best friend forever and the best foalsitter ever.” She slowly leaned back onto her haunches. “My brain says the ones I know are safe back home, but my heart...”
Nightmare Moon slowly reached out and placed an armored hoof on Twilight's shoulder. “I was not here long,” she said. “I have no information one way or the other.” She drew her head back slightly. “I am... sorry.”
Twilight looked up, eyes shining. “No, it's all right,” she whispered. “Thank you for your concern.”
Nightmare Moon opened her mouth, but her head shot up and her horn flashed. “Down, foals!” she shouted as a violet shield sprung up around the group a half-second before an arrow would have embedded itself in the back of Twilight's head. The arrow shaft flexed for a moment before snapping, the two halves dropping to the bare dirt.
Nightmare Moon strode forward, shield expanding into a full dome even as the smaller ponies scrambled back, either of their own accord or for one particular pegasus pony, Nightmare Moon's telekinesis. Her lips drew back into a sneer. “Do they not know who they're dealing with?!”
Luna rolled her eyes. “No, they don't,” she said, walking up beside Nightmare Moon. She looked to her, suppressing a shudder. “These are obviously difficult times for them, and we are strangers huddled near their gate.”
A shout from one of the guard towers drew everyone's attention. “Who goes there?” a mint-green unicorn mare shouted, two crossbows floating by her head. “And who are the alicorns?”
Rainbow Dash, still caught in Nightmare Moon's grip, twisted around at the voice, her eyes wide. “No, way! Is that... Lyra Heartstrings?”
Pinkie Pie bounced up and down. “Ooh, it is!” She waved a foreleg in the air. “Hi, alternate universe Lyra! Have you and Bonbon married here?”
The Lyra at the guard tower leaned forward over a rail. “Who are you?” she shouted, golden eyes narrowing.
Pinkie Pie blew out a breath. “It's me, Pinkie Pie!”
Lyra's eyes darted back and forth. “Who?”
Rainbow Dash suddenly gasped. “Oh, horse feathers. Pinkie Pie, I don't think this Lyra knows you!”
Pinkie Pie scratched her head. “Wait, why not? Am I going by...” She swallowed. “Am I going by Pinkamena here?”
Twilight slowly looked to her. “Or... in this reality, you never left the rock farm to begin with!” She looked around at Rarity, Fluttershy, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash. “All of your lives could be completely different!”
“I could still be at Manehattan!” Applejack exclaimed.
“And I could have never left Cloudsdale,” Rainbow Dash added.
Fluttershy sucked in a breath. “Both of us could still be there!”
Rarity swooned from side to side. “And I could be still in that Celestia-forsaken wasteland I was in after finding that geode!”
Nightmare Moon rolled her eyes. “Well, the alternate versions of you might not be here, but you six are.” She locked eyes with Luna. “So, what do you suggest we do?”
Luna glanced at the guard tower and Lyra. “Announce who you are and your intentions. But don't threaten anyone.” Her own eyes glowed for a moment. “I'll be watching, after all.”
Nightmare Moon walked forward. She spread her wings out, lit her horn up from root to tip and opened her mouth wide. “Tell me, Lyra Heartstrings. Have you heard of Nightmare Moon, locked away in the moon for a thousand years?”
Luna leaned down next to Twilight. “Was I this bad?”
Twilight shrugged. “Give or take, yeah.”
Other ponies from other guard towers were staring down at Nightmare Moon. Lyra finally spoke up. “N-no, I've never heard of Nightmare Moon. Is that-”
“Yes, I am Nightmare Moon!” the alicorn cried out, mane flaring out and drinking in the surrounding light. She reared up before dropping both forehooves to the ground, cracking the dirt. “For a thousand years I waited to return and claim my rightful place on the throne, but I see that a usurper has stolen what is mine!” She slowly rose into the air, finally coming level with Lyra. “Twilight Sparkle, correct?”
Lyra nodded, eyes wide and crossbows clattering to the floor. “Yes.” She looked away from Nightmare Moon. “She stole the sun from Celestia, and now the land freezes.” She suddenly gasped. “There are rumors of a battle at Canterlot involving her. Was that you?”
A low chuckle came from Nightmare Moon. “I faced her in battle, yes. She is powerful, but a mere foal. I fled and gathered allies from across the veil of reality.” She turned her head. “Come forth, Elements of Harmony and my other self!”
Rarity snorted. “Well, she's gotten into the role, hasn't she.”
Applejack snickered. “Yeah, but I think we'd better mosey on forward.” She adjusted her hat and motioned to Nightmare Moon's general location. “After you, darlin'.”
Luna and the others left the general vicinity of the lone tree and trotted forth, heads held high. “I greet you from across space and time!” Luna shouted. “We are here to aid our fellow ponies in restoring balance and order to this land!” she continued, staring straight up at Nightmare Moon.
“Will you bring back the sun?” another guardpony shouted.
Nightmare Moon kicked at the air. “I will defeat the Tyrant Filly, yes. I merely ask that my allies and I be allowed to met the ponies inside and reassure them that their time of salvation is at hand!”
Lyra turned and ran to a set of stairs in the back of the tower, disappearing down them as Nightmare Moon floated back down to the ground. She looked to Luna and nickered. “Well, how was that?”
Luna's eyes shifted as the giant gate slowly opened. “You got the point across. Now. Let us see how you can deal with the common ponies and their problems.”
A bark of laughter escaped Nightmare Moon. “Foal's play,” she said as she trotted forward.
Luna kept her gaze on her. “She'll be in for a harsh lesson very quickly,” she said as Twilight and the others walked up to her side.
Twilight let loose a sigh. “I figured that, Princess. But it's one she's got to learn, right?”
Luna nodded. “Right.” A small smile crossed her muzzle. “Now, let's go. We shouldn't keep Ponyville or her royal highness waiting, now should we.”
And with that, the seven followed Nightmare Moon into Ponyville.
FINALLY, UPDATE
by the way, nice update and thanks
Excellent! And your wish for a trope page for this story has apparently been realized. Behold.
Holy shit it's alive
Ha abupout time this updated! So.... Another month for the next chapter? Give or take?
Very nice chapter, MOAR!
we might get to see Pinkamina
Rarity is in Ponyville, Pinkie is in Rock Farm Land, Fluttershy is in the Everfree hermitting it up, and Rainbow Dash died taking her entire class with her when she did that Rainboom because the pony body would not be able to survive the shockwave.
Rarity designed the walls, no doubt, given the gems. Not sure where Dash and Shy are, but I'd guess not Ponyville. Same with Pinkie. Glad to see this story update.
And in Canterlot, Supreme Evil Overlord Twilight Darkspawn feeds ponies to giant monster Spike, giggling fiendishly at their screams as they are ground into bloody paste in his cruel jaws.
I MUST EXECUTE HER NOW!!!
Okay, so we're seeing some of the implications of this For Want of a Nail version of Equestria, and it's not looking good. Whitetail Woods is basically already dead, with the food chain broken, and Ponyville has been turned into a fortress to protect it from the Tyrant Filly.
On the other hoof, seeing all this is making Nightmare Moon start to have doubts. She seems to be realizing that her eternal night would have similar effects to what her universe's Twilight Sparkle has caused with the land in perpetual twilight, and she probably doesn't want to rule a dead world. In other words, in Princess Luna's eye's, her goal of giving her alternate self a Green Aesop and making sure it sticks is progressing smoothly.
And poor Fluttershy...when animals are your special talent, this sort of thing must be extraordinarily painful. It really says something about her that she was willing to press on, even though it hurt.
And since the other Applejack's in Ponyville, that means the Sonic Rainboom led her there, just like in canon, but she's probably become so bitter, her name might as well be changed to Sour Apple. Who knows what will happen if she meets her counterpart.
And Nightmare Moon, your Pride is about to be smashed as you find that you're a Fish Out of Temporal Water! I'd give anything to be able to see how flustered she gets next chapter!
You know, with all of the chaos, I'm surprised Discord hasn't escaped!
Here, have some badges!
fc08.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2011/282/e/5/twilight_sparkle_approved_by_ambris-d4c255h.png
fc02.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2011/282/4/e/rarity_approved_by_ambris-d4cdq6y.png
fc05.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2011/277/e/a/pinkie_pie_approved_by_ambris-d4brtm4.png
fc00.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2011/345/0/9/fluttershy_approved_by_ambris-d4ivleb.png
fc05.deviantart.net/fs70/f/2011/282/7/5/rainbow_dash_approved_by_ambris-d4bdn33.png
fc04.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2011/345/9/d/applejack_approved_by_ambris-d4ivlan.png
fc05.deviantart.net/fs71/f/2012/057/f/a/princess_luna_approved_by_ambris-d4r3ibw.png
*gets out popcorn and sits back to watch Nightmare Moon find out that catching up with the times will be as difficult for her as controlling the sun and moon is for the Tyrant Filly*
2654216 Then how did her canon counterpart survive?
2654135 Not much of a trope page. It doesn't even mention how this is a case of For Want of a Nail.
2654300
Magic.
2654310 And what kept magic from protecting this version of her?
2654320
Non-canoncity
Also, it was meant to be a joke.
2654324 Well, it failed horribly. I didn't laugh at all.
Rarity is definitely within Ponyville, however I cannot tell about t he others
Hmmmm, well I'd say Rarity is in Ponyville - her family lives there afterall.
Fluttershy probably isn't, this version of Ponyville has no need for an animal caretaker.
Pinkie Pie is probably working for the Cakes in Ponyville, I doubt perpetual twilight would affect rock farming one way or another.
Rainbow Dash is a mystery, since we have no clue why she lives in Ponyville in the first place. But if she's here because of Fluttershy then she wouldn't have any reason to stick around this version of Ponyville. So I'll go with no Dash.
2654308
It was just created today, after all.
Add tropes as you see fit.
Nice! Also, why wouldn't Rarity be in ponyville? She grew up there, didn't she?
RK, grats on the tvtropes page. I know you've wanted one for awhile now. And excellent chapter. Nightmare Moon's cutie mark should be ham. Just sayin'.
Way to jump straight into the personal questions Pinkie.
Even if AJ is still in Manehatten, Sweet Apple Acres should still be around, right?
...Actually don't answer that. Judging from what we've seen of this world so far I'm not sure I want to know...
Still going with my theory that Celestia's power was multiplied by Twilight's own, and not simply added to Twilight's own, and that's why Luna and Nightmare Moon can't face her directly yet.
Hmm...Equestria's gonna have a lot of pieces to pick up after this is all done, one way or another.
Where is Cadance?
2654746
To be honest, I'd actually assume the opposite - a caretaker is vitally important here
Another great chapter. You know i'm surprised that Discord isn't free considering the state Equestria is in.
YES one of my most anticipated fanfics updated! Oh man, this is so awesome. Congrats on the tropes page and the longer chapters are also cool.
Ok, so I wanna say Rarity's in Ponyville for sure, possibly as the main defense coordinator, since the wall had gems in it. (Man, I am gonna look so dumb if that turns out to be wrong!)
I also sort of want Fluttershy there as the last hope for any of the remaining animals in the area but Dash probably stayed in Cloudsdale thanks to her loyalty. Pinkie's on the rock farm.
2655262
Tyrant Filly Twilight beat him. With a stick.
Rarity- either Canterlot or in Ponyville, after all she still found her love dressmaking and gem power through Rainboom
Dash- Cloudsdale, we dont know why Dash moved from Cloudhome A to ponyville home B so its either that or she is on the road with Gilda.
Flutters- Lost it and is insane while living in the Everfree forest (my apologies to Fluttershy.)
Pinkie: Ponyville, dont know why she picked ponyville as a home so a change is not nessecary.
I love Luna dealig with her nightmare self. it is freaking hilarious
Well the Rainboom still happened so each pony should still be where they want.
Flutters is probably an eco-terrorist
Rainbow wouldn't have a reason to leave Cloudsdale. It's probably a fort now.
Rarity still got her gems and went back to Ponyville. We've seen her parents living there so we can assume she was born and raised there.
Since Lyra didn't know Pinkie, probably Pinkie didn't go to Ponyville.
Applejack probably followed the rainbow home to the Acres.
Not being able to follow your Cutie Mark... Yeah, this world's AJ and FS are going to be messed up.
2655606
I'll give you most of those, but I think you're underestimating Rainbow Dash and how far she is willing to go in the name of something she thinks is a good idea. I wouldn't be surprised if Cloudsdale has been transformed into a floating battle station, and the weather factory weaponized, all under her rule as she leads the Pegasus race back to it's roots as the ultimate warriors of Equestria, proudly wearing Commander Hurricane's armor itself, looted from a Cloudsdale museum to give them a symbol to rally behind.
Nightmare Moon is finally beginning to understand the reality of her 'Eternal Night' plan. And, gee...things are definitely not looking well for that Equestria, if they decided to build a wall around Ponyville. Can't wait to see what inside...
C&Cs:
“when did you learn that?”
> Capitalize ‘when’.
Rainbow Dash, still caught in Nightmare moon's grip...
> Capitalize “moon’s”.
“Am I going by Pinkamina here?”
> Unless you did it intentionally, it should be ‘Pinkamena’.
= Yes
= No
= Likely
= Unlikely
That's my two cents.
If they don't recognize Pinkie, in either of her iterations, then it's not likely she's there. The Gemstone defense array screams a desperate Rarity, and Fluttershy simply fell to the ground and stayed there. It's most likely that she settled in the nearest settlement, which could be Ponyville. As for Rainbow... She's really a wild card. She could have pirsued wonderboltdom, been hired by Twilight, or followed Flutters. But she really has a two to one chance that she isn't in town.
That's my two nickels.
Things are really bad in Pony World.
I mean, scratch that wall! The first thing Ponyville's defenders did was freaking shoot in the back of the head of an unknown pony walking near their wall. Only after failure they considered asking questions which quickly turned into orders and threats! That is some serious paranoia going on there. How many did they kill like that before?
This is dark right now... let's see where it goes!
Keep up the good work!
I'll agree that Rarity, being a Ponyville native, is still there. (That and the whole gem thing.) In fact, when you think about it, the only actual Ponyville natives are Rarity and Applejack. And there's no telling if this one got the same message, especially with the sun and therefore farming itself broken.
I can see Rainbow trying to be part of Cloudsdale's efforts to cope with things, assuming it's survived; there's no real guarantee, given how horribly wrecked the ecosystem is at the moment.
And remember, alternate Discord is a non-factor; Nightmare Moon checked on him first thing, figuring him as the most likely reason for the world to be this way. He was right where the princesses had left him.
2658381 Actually, she got the message in canon because of the Sonic Rainboom, which also happened here.
Add that the authors note for this chapter says that Applejack is in Ponyville...yeah, she's there, and is probably so bitter, you might as well change her name to Sour Apple.
Given the interdependencies, I'm not going to hazard any guesses just yet. I look forward to finding out who's where, doing what.
I don't see why any of them would not be in Ponyville. They were there before Twilight and she did not affect whether or not they were in Ponyville. So, while I believe they should all be there, I believe most certainly that Rarity should be there also.
I think is still at her rock farm but has traded with the Ponyvillian's in the past but with a straight mane.
Is still on her farm with her whole family (parents included in this case) but barely keeping 1 orchard producing.
is likely in Ponyville as a military structure & uniform designer due to her expertise with gems
is either a nurse in Ponyville or a hermit in the Everfree who desperately tries to care for the dwindling number of animals
knows of Ponyville through visits with Fluttershy but has continued to live in Cloudsdale
Huh. Well, that's problematic. My guess is that all the wood was chopped down in order to keep warm, as equestria is still a long ways from their industrial revolution. As for everyone, I'm actually proposing theories.
In Ponyville. As the sun never returned during the cataclysm, the trees are wrecked, and apple acres withered. She also has a different cutie mark, since her returning was rendered useless by Twilight's actions. Either that, or she's still a blank. Although, her aunt and uncle orange support her family since they're the only ones still eaking out a living in this desolate land (barely)
She still got her butterfly cutie mark, and became the solitary voice trying to help the animals, but necessity pushed her out. She now lives as a hermit, bemoaning the destruction of the ecosystem, tending for whatever animals are left.
She still went all poofy, and got her balloons, but she now lives as a traveling minstrel. She spends her time trying to bring some joy to this dying land no matter what, and she sometimes gets help from her family. One of the few people not affected by the catastrophe, their rock business ended up being relatively sustaining, so she gets some support from them.
She helped build the wall, and serves as Ponyville's resident general, under mayor mare, determined to protect her home even if she has to give up her own life. Also, her parents are much more responsible, as the lack of a vacation spot meant they had to grow up to actually raise their daughters.
RD, rebel leader. Her lightning bold is now a symbol of breaking throuhg the darkness around her, and she works with the wonderbolts seeking to find a way to end the reign of the tyrant filly. Also, she eventually reconciled with leaving Fluttershy to fall, and is thus her only contact to the outside world bringing in whatever food she can to help her survive.
Also, on another note: Grew up much faster. Now have cutie marks one and all.
Oh and I think Cadence and shining armor are reluctant collaborators or banished. Both were close to her in canterlot, so they began being distressed that their little sister/foal to sit for suddenly became an evil goddess. They tried to reason and help her, but it was to no avail, and they payed the price for it. BANISHMENT AND IMPRISONMENT WHERE BANISHED!
I found this story from a link in Georg's "The Monster in the Twilight," another fine take on Twilight's entrance exam going terribly wrong and what became of it.
Enjoying this one very much, and looking forward to more. As several others have pointed out, this version of Nightmare Moon with hints of a sympathetic character inside is fascinating, and I can't wait to see more of Terrible Twilight herself.
Ohhh.. Hey, idea.. Two sets of EoH, two PAIN-BOWS
Ahh, nice, an update. Thought this story was dead.
Hmmm, NMM is in for some harsh realities.
I'm guessing this reality's Rarity is in Ponyville 'cuz of the wall; only she could've come up with that, methinks.
Yipee!
I wonder if randomly posting a comment will get this to update.
Ooh, Nightmare, nicely done. You answered their question with a tangentially related statement. You are under no pressure to return the sun when/if you win.
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No, not really, because it's what everyone else is saying, and therefore you'll only look as dumb as everyone else.
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Author, did you revise this, or did I just read it and then forget where it was? Because I could swear I've read this before...
Dude...
This is awesome.
Here, have a
penguin(edit) 500th upvote.the Para-Flutters might be somewhere in White Tail: living the Yoda Hermit Lifestyle!
I am VERY interested to see not only the differences between realities, but also the way Nightmare Moon handles the situation. Since she will likely be heralded as a hero for
conqueringsaving Equestria fromTwilightThe Tyrant Filly. This story interests me a lot not just because of those reasons but also because it's like we're seeing how Nightmare Moon could have been reformed if she wasn't rainbow blasted. I can't wait to read more!Trixie couldn't have done it better herself.
First things first.
I think in the race she broke her wing and is stuck in clouds dale
I must say it is that that she though the party and all but her parents and sisters didn't like it so she is still at the farm.
when she got to the forest part her wing got hurt so now she lives in a dried up forest while she is partly delirious
maybe just MAYBE she got her cutie mark ( in a different way of course) but, insede of staying in ponyville her parents wanted what was best so now she is 1. a spoil brat in ponyville or 2. they are in a carven van so insede of making dresses she digs up jewels to help them. ( sorry rares)
on Second
I must say [stokes fake moustache] one of the best stories I read hope it goes on and on
3575647 Nah, Rarity wouldn't be spoiled, I don't think its possible to spoil someone there, there isn't enough stuff to spoil them with! My theory is that she got kidnapped by the diamond dogs.