Interlude IV: Fear Princess
Three days passed.
According to the timepieces in the Hall of Time, it was six in the morning.
Cadance stood on the tower balcony with Shining Armor at her side and Zecora at a respectful distance. Her eyes were closed, her magic searching the horizon, feeling the warmth of the sun.
Her horn lit up with a pale blue aura. She slowly rose into the air, spreading her wings wide.
A hot, bright presence, full of warmth and life, entered her mind.
Thou art not the Sun Princess. Wherefore touchest thou my light with thine?
I am Princess Mi Amore Cadenza. The Sun Princess has disappeared. Equestria cannot survive without your warmth. I am the only alicorn remaining. Please, allow me to bring your light to the world.
An eternity of silence stretched across a span of seconds.
It is not thine destiny to deliver my light upon this land. Thine destiny has yet to reveal itself to thee.
That is true, perhaps, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Please. I beg of you. Let me be your steward.
Thy heart is pure and kind and just. It will be permitted. Summon me forth, that I may warm and light thine world.
Thank you.
And slowly, the sun rose.
Shining Armor gasped in awe as the red lip of the sun kissed the horizon, bathing the sky in a paintbrush of morning hues. Slowly, the red disc rose, becoming a shimmering orange ball of light and warmth.
Cadance dropped to the stone floor, her legs folding under her and her wings wilting. Shining Armor rushed to her side, stroking her back with his hoof.
"Well done, young princess," Zecora said softly. "One more to go, and we are out of this mess."
"I think...I'm going to sleep until dusk," Cadance said woozily. "That...that took a lot of out of me."
* * * * *
The remainder of the day was chaotic at the castle, as Kibitz, Raven, and the guards struggled to herd nobles away at the gates. "Princess Celestia is tired, she does not wish to hold court!" "The Princess is recovering from an illness, she needs her rest!" "Nobody cares about your ridiculous plan for a hoof-rating system, Zesty! Now GO!" And so on.
Cadance slept through it all.
Night came, and Cadance once again ascended the tallest tower, with Shining Armor and Zecora at her side. She gently lowered the sun below the horizon; it acknowledged her respectfully.
Once the sun had set, Cadance took a deep breath. "Okay. I raised the sun, raising the moon should be easy. Right?"
"As you say," Zecora said, nodding. "You know the way."
"Right." Cadance closed her eyes, her horn glowing as she searched for the moon.
Sister?
Cadance's brow furrowed.
Sister...? ...Neigh, thou art not Sister. Who art thou? Where is Sister?
Cadance gasped. What?
I am lonely. I am cold. I do not like it here. Where is Sister? I am sorry. I am so sorry. Please...please do not leave me here with It. It torments me. It will not let me rest. It is angry. So angry. So cold. Please—
The voice, plaintive and soft, was broken by a harsh, blood-curdling laugh that hammered at the sides of Cadance's skull.
BUT WHAT IS THIS? WHO IS SO FOOLISH AS TO DISTURB OUR PRISON?
Cadance gasped, dropping to the floor and bracing her knees. "No," she whimpered.
"Cadance? Cadance, what...something's wrong!" She barely heard Shining Armor over the roaring of wind and laughter tearing through her mind like a tornado. "Zecora! What's going on?"
"I have no idea, unless..." Zecora gasped. "NO! It cannot be! Bind her magic, she is in distress!"
"I...I don't know how to...should I put a shield around—?"
Shining Armor was blown back as a malevolent shell of black wind engulfed Cadance.
"N-no! Don't...! STAY AWAY! NO!!" Cadance screamed.
The laughter in her head escaped into the cold night. Shining Armor steeled himself, horn at the ready. Zecora backed up to the tower door, pawing the floor nervously.
The moon shot into the sky like a cannonball. The dark shadow across its surface, the Mare in the Moon, glowed black, then melted away like dripping ink.
All across Equestria, ponies looked up in astonishment, pointing and whispering.
"I did not foresee such a catastrophe!" Zecora yelled over the wind and laughter.
"What's going on?" Shining Armor yelled.
"I don't know how, it is far too soon," Zecora yelled back. "But this appears to be the return of—!"
A jet black alicorn with pale, slit-pupiled eyes dropped onto the floor between the three equines, landing hard enough to crack the ancient marble. The wind and the laughter died down all at once.
She fixed them all with a cold, triumphant smile.
"NIGHTMARE MOON," she finished for Zecora.
Cadance stood, turning to face Nightmare Moon, her eyes full of fear and sadness. "No," she whispered. "What have I done?"
Nightmare Moon threw back her head and laughed. "I should thank you, child! I should thank you for freeing me from my prison. I believe I shall! Yes! I shall thank you by bestowing upon you the gift of eternal night!"
"Who. ARE. You?" Shining Armor growled, aiming his horn at Nightmare Moon.
Nightmare Moon snorted. "Such an ignorant foal. Do you know nothing of my legend? Of the history of Equestria?"
"Shining Armor, you know who this is," Cadance said shakily. "The Mare in the Moon. Nightmare Moon!"
"But...no!" Shining Armor protested. "That's...that's just an old mares' tale!"
"It is no tale, it is all too true," Zecora said grimly. "It is Nightmare Moon herself who stands before you."
"Indeed it is! And now, if you will kindly direct me to wherever that COWARD CELESTIA is hiding herself, we have unfinished business..."
Cadance flew around to stand directly in front of Nightmare Moon, interposing herself between her and Zecora. She bowed her head respectfully. "Please, Princess Luna, listen to me."
"I am NO LONGER Princess Luna! I am NIGH—"
"You ARE Princess Luna," Cadance interrupted firmly. "The good, kind, gentle mare you once were is still inside you. I heard her crying out. I know you're still in there, inside that demon! I know your heart is aching, longing for your sister. I know you want to see her again. Not to destroy her, not to continue your jealous grudge, but..." Cadance looked at Shining Armor, then back at Zecora, then to Nightmare Moon again. "But to make her understand. To hear her reassure you, like she always did."
Nightmare Moon scoffed. "FOOL! What do you know of such things?"
"I know what I've seen, what I've read," Cadance said. "I have taken the vision potion. I have seen the past. I have heard Celestia speak of you. I have seen the pain and regret in her eyes."
"Pain?! PAIN?! LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT PAIN!" Nightmare Moon roared. "Pain is watching Celestia take EVERYTHING! All the glory, all the worship, all the love! I created beautiful night skies! I protected ponies from the beasts of the night! I patrolled their dreams, watching over them in their slumber! WHERE WAS MY GRATITUDE? WHERE WAS MY WORSHIP? Neigh, they shunned my beautiful night! They hid in their homes and slumbered while the moon and stars danced in the sky! They barely knew I existed!"
"Celestia knew," Cadance said, tears dripping from her eyes. "And she loved you. Always. Even now, a thousand years later, she loves you. She misses you. She has never forgiven herself for...for that horrible day..."
"Pretty words from a pretty but empty-headed child," Nightmare Moon scoffed. "You are ignorant, your mind shaped by the lies my sis—" She trailed off, her muzzle crinkling, her eyes narrowing. "Child," she said slowly. "Why were you trying to raise the moon?"
Cadance hesitated, drawing up a hoof. She looked to Shining Armor, who shook his head frantically. She looked to Zecora, who gave her a long, measuring gaze, then closed her eyes and nodded once.
Bracing herself, Cadance met Nightmare Moon's gaze squarely, tilting her chin up. "Princess Celestia is missing," she admitted. "She disappeared through a portal to another world four nights ago. The portal is sealed. We can't get her back."
"Missing?" Nightmare Moon echoed in an amused tone. "Celestia is missing. How interesting..." She chuckled darkly. "How poetic."
Cadance took a deep breath. "Princess Luna," she said firmly. "Without a ruler, Equestria is lost. I've just learned to raise and lower the sun and moon, but my magic is not strong. I cannot handle the task of moving the heavens and take Celestia's place on the throne. I'm not ready. Equestria needs a real leader." She hesitated. "If...if you truly want the adulation and love of your little ponies, the love you felt cheated out of all those years ago..."
"Cadance, what are you—" Shining Armor interrupted. Zecora raised a hoof to silence him.
"Princess Luna, if you will allow the sun to rise and set as it is meant to be, if you will not force Equestria into an eternal night, then..." Cadance steeled herself. "The throne is yours. Equestria, your kingdom to rule, alone."
Nightmare Moon blinked. She tilted her head, raising an eyebrow. "An interesting offer," she said. "Of course, I must ask: How do you intend to stop me from simply taking Equestria as my own without agreeing to your terms?"
"I don't," Cadance said. "I'm not strong enough. Nopony is. But I know that inside you is a good mare who loves and misses her sister dearly, and...and will not make her little ponies suffer while we try to bring her back."
"And what is to stop me from ensuring you can NEVER bring Celestia back?"
A flask of white potion floated from Cadance's saddlebag to Nightmare Moon.
Nightmare Moon snorted. "Do you think me a fool?"
"I have nothing to gain from deceiving you," Cadance said. "I need you. I can't do this without you. I'm not ready." She paused, then added, "This is what Celestia would want. She would want her beloved sister, Princess Luna, to look after her little ponies."
Nightmare Moon hesitated. Then, cautiously, she took the potion in her own magic and drank it. Her eyes shone a brilliant white, and her wings flared wide.
A long, tense silence fell.
A lone tear trickled down Nightmare Moon's cheek.
Her eyes stopped glowing as the flask dropped to the floor and shattered.
Nightmare Moon scuffed the floor with a hoof. "I will rule Equestria," she said softly. "Both the night...AND the day. I will not stop you from searching for my sister. I will do nothing to prevent you from bringing her back." She raised her head, and her voice became harsh again. "But make no mistake. I wish for her return only because she and I have unfinished business!"
Cadance let out a sigh of relief. "Thank you," she said. She bowed; after giving Shining Armor a sharp glance, he bowed as well, as did Zecora.
"Well then," Nightmare Moon said, licking her lips. "I suppose it's time I see firsthoof just what sort of empire my sister has built while I was away..."
Stats
Page generated in 0.03 seconds
Total duration
1,081 users online
1,877,284 hits today, 2,814,898 yesterday
FIMFiction
My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Fanfiction
Designed and coded by knighty & Xaquseg - © 2011-2024
Follow & Support Us
Support us
SubStar
Chat!
Discord
Follow us
Twitter
MLP: Friendship is Magic® - © 2024 Hasbro Inc.®
Fimfiction is in no way affiliated with or endorsed by Hasbro Inc.®
First comment wow
Genius use of the potion, and wonder how long it will take Luna Moon or Cadence to broach the conversation of the topic 'Aunty'.
Ooohhhh....
Well, wasn't expecting that...
Can i get some opinions on this? Im hesitant to read because it might not be my thing...
Fear Princess is an amazing title
Huh. Interesting. Is it bad that I might just abandon this story and just read that one? It sounds more interesting...sorry if that sounds mean.
8144383
So do I.
Nonetheless great final chapter and a new story to come.
Wow, what a turn of events! I didn't see this coming but I completely welcome it!
They're farked. The Nightmare is not to be trusted
... Is it wrong of me to say that I felt this was a little rushed?
...this is quite the plot twist. I like it.
Honestly, I always saw Nightmare Moon as being Luna's first tantabus, made unintentionally. While Luna thought making a second one under guidance and control would be alright.
But, that's just my opinion.
8144409 I get what you mean, the human side has been slow to start since it jumps between 2 characters then get interrupted by Cadance's story which wound up feeling more focused since it told it's own story that operated pretty independently of what was happening on the human side. Hopefully with the 2 stories separated the human side can start moving forward a bit better without the interruption.
8144490 Well, not only that, the Cadance side feels more...I don't know, focused? Balanced? Not sure. If you rewrote this where Celestia just disappears and you don't know why, it wouldn't change anything on the Cadance side of things. I think that's why its more interesting.
Hmm... that is rather interesting~
Nicely done man.
This is going an interesting route.
8144472 Yes, because you obviously missed the part where this was the prologue for a sidestory to come later.
8144490
8144500 And that's why Cadance's story is branching off into its own thing, separate from Cheer Princess.
Okay, Nightmare Moon being freed prematurely is not what I expected. We'll see how Equestria fares under her rulership.
8144512 (sigh) I figured you'd react this way. I saw the notice that it would turn into its own spin off. What I'm saying is that the conflict with her in THIS story just came off as easily handled and not really warranted of NM escaping earlier than the original timeline. No fights, no magical outbursts. It just came and was seemingly resolved.
Is this one of the timelines that Twilight and Spike encountered at the end of Season 5?
Will definitely be reading "Fear Princess" in addition to this story. Really curious as to whether Twilight will end up as Cadance's student on Luna/NMM's. On one hand Cadance would be the more gentle touch, on the other this could be an opportunity for Luna to actually make a connection with another pony.
huh two interludes in a row. lol I was hoping for a Celestia chapter. oh well, *slips off to read the new chapter*
*returns from chapter* "that was awesome!"
8144572 It's not exactly "resolved". Cadance surrendered to Nightmare Moon, but asked her to heed certain conditions of that surrender. There was no possible way to fight Nightmare Moon and she knew it, so she took the option that would be least detrimental to Equestria and is left to hope for the best.
8144616 No, it isn't. Because Twilight and her friends getting their Cutie Marks hasn't even happened yet. This is a completely different AU happening here.
8144664 There were a couple of blog posts addressing this.
8144672 I must have missed said blogs then lol. Still it was a great chapter and I enjoyed it a lot.
8144672 The finale was all one big AU anyway.
Well now, I never saw that coming!
8144730
8144672 Just how it came across to me. My own opinion, like you have yours about things.
Love it!!
Just when I think I've seen it all, Moth proves me wrong. Good job, Moth.
8145463 There's no evidence that anypony other than Luna EVER spoke that dialect, and Luna is demonstrably eccentric and dramatic.
Well, so far I have been much more interested in the human side of things, but this chapter brought a premise that seems pretty interesting, I will definitely be checking out "Fear princess" but I'm also glad that this story will now focus solely on the human side.
Well, things just keep getting more interesting don't they. Looking forward to seeing more and reading the new story.
Interesting.... I really thought this is going to spiral into a sort of war between the two... impressive use of the potion I must say. Can't wait for Fear Princess to see how things go!
Your way with words makes me envious.
Merde.
Did, it work?
I'll take what I can get.
Well now. This is most definitely an interesting development. Especially since "pure and kind and just" likely don't describe Nightmare Moon's heart... though if she tries to keep the bargain anyway, she may come to return to those qualities in time.
Eagerly looking forward to seeing how this pans out. You've thrown one heck of a stone into the lake. The ripples should be quite spectacular.
Interesting! I look forward to the next chapter along with the soon to come Fear Princess story! I'll be following both this and that for sure!
Keep it up!
Ah, so this is your solution. Split the stories.
Crafty, getting more traffic for your profile too, probably.
When Celestia finally gets back:
http://gifrific.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/leaving-now-grandpa-simpsons.gif
ok I am now up to date with this grate story and I can say I am vary impressed every thing flows super good and this hole story has a vary strong back story or story line if you will.
Ponies! I, Celestia, have decided to turn into an edgy princess. I have another ruling the sun because the sun sucks.
Call me... NIGHTMARE MOON!
Emo court is now in session. Leave a blood sample by the door so that we may grow a New Moon monolith.
8172998
Nah, with all the spikes and bats and lightning, I'm pretty sure she's Metal Princess.
Interesting direction to take this. I look forward to seeing Princess Nightmare Moon's rule.
Although, I do dislike making Nightmare Moon a separate personality rather than crazy Luna (just look at that Chariot, I could see her calling herself Nightmare Moon on her own).
8174612 tl;dr I hate the Mandela Effect. And we were right.
I think the title of that video is mistaken. What I heard was:
"No try! Do or do not; there is no try."
If showing that there was two words before the quote we were right about then I guess you didn't really debunk us. If you were right then we should've heard:
"Try or try not." As well as what follows.
There's no such thing as the Mandela effect; we're just mistaken or unaware of marketing changes. If we're done here; may the force live long and prosper. Or something.
8174612 OK, so, I recognized your name and look back at your previous comment. We were both right. And I have poop for brains over a majority of my last comment; except I still don't like the Mandela Effect.
8174733 Have you read "By the Ax of Nightmare Moon" by any chance?
8175221
No, but I now shall.
I did read A Friend In Need, though, where Luna gets nicknamed Death Metal Pony after she shows up and thrashes an invincible monster by using the moon as an orbital weapons platform and dodging attacks by turning into a cloud of bats.
8176196 This one is Vice Principal Luna being a retired metal singer and guitarist Nightmare Moon. The Rainbooms accidentally let out the spirit of her evil rival SOMBRA. Can they get Luna out of retirement for one last performance to defeat this monster?!
8176214
That sounds pretty good. I love high concept work when it's well-executed.
8176505 Something about thinking about reading it. I forgot.
well thats was early.