The Night has Claws

by Certifiable Insanity

The Liberation Night Festival

Author's Note:

So a few months of procrastination and a while of staring at the screen thinking of how to finish this chapter I decided to stop slacking and move on.
So sorry for the delay, here is the next chapter.
There was more to it but it was all pretty much useless clutter.
Hopefully I can pick up the pace now and get to the actual story instead of using my characters for exposition. I have left a lot of unknowns which will need to be filled over this story.
Also I may make a bonus story to go more in depth with the Celebration and what goes on.

Twilight had been to a few of Canterlot own celebrations over her life. She could see the similarities between the Liberation day festival and many of the festivals she had participated in. There was music, stalls with various goods being sold at low prices, and a lot of cheerful faces. She found herself and Nightmare Moon being greeted by almost every Griffon she had met face to face. She received smiles and sometimes even a small gift. Nightmare Moon however received a different reception. Citizens bowed to her and guards saluted her as she passed, she acknowledged them back with either a nod and a kind smile or a salute in return. This didn't surprise Twilight in the slightest considering she was the daughter of their Empress. Spike had decided to stay behind and wander the Castle instead leaving Twilight and Nightmare Moon to their own devices.

"Quite lively isn't it." Nightmare said.

"Very, and friendly too." Twilight replied. "Reminds me a lot of the many celebrations and festivals they have in Canterlot."

"You go to them often?" Nightmare asked.

Twilight looked away.

"Um...no I usually.....study." Twilight hesitantly replied. "I mean i have been to a few with Celestia but."

"Oooohh so you're a bookworm." Nightmare teased.

Twilight looked away and frowned.

"Yeah I guess I am."

Nightmare giggled and.

"Nice to find someone else in my general age group who shares a love for Literacy." She replied. "Not that Griffons don't love reading its just that so few want to remember the history before Empress Luna. Lots of greed, unrest and violence then Luna began ushering in this era of prosperity."

"Did Luna really do it all herself?" Twilight asked skeptically.

"No." Nightmare responded. "She just lead by example and the Griffon's followed shortly afterward."

"Yet they view her as a god." Twilight stated.

"As Ponies do Celestia." Nightmare replied. "Besides we Alicorn are Immortal, so that kind of contributes to such an image."

Twilight looked away for a moment while they both continued down the road.

"Does Luna talk a lot about Celestia?" Twilight asked as she looked back towards Nightmare.

Nightmare nodded.

"She had a country to run and was unsure of what reaction the return of the Griffons would have garnered, she wanted to make sure that we would be able to withstand invasion in case it came to that." Nightmare explained. "Glad it did not, War is something we do not need, no matter how strong our military is."

Twilight just shook her head.

"This is too depressing lets go join in on some of the more lively festivities." Nightmare chimed as she rushed ahead using Telekinesis Magic to pull Twilight along.

---

Celestia found herself amidst a group of Griffons dancing to a small and merry band of Minstrel Griffons. Luna had bounded off and was now dancing with some of her citizens,leaving Celestia to stand in awe at how open her little sister was being. In their youth Luna was quite the Social pariah and now she was dancing carelessly among a group of Griffons. How times have changed.

"May I have this dance?"

Celestia turned to see a Griffon giving her a bow. The Griffon in question wore the trappings of one of Luna's soldiers but he had politely taken off his helmet and was now politely gazing at her with his green eyes.

"i'm not sure if..." Celestia began.

"Nervous being in our presence?" The Griffon asked.

Celestia nodded.

"That's understandable after all Pony-Griffon relations have never been good." The Griffon stated. "Always tense and suspicious, never could meet in either species capital."

"So I guess that makes today a milestone." Celestia stated.

"More than that, I hope, I want to see a peacefully relationship blossom between our species." The Griffon replied. "I would rather not have to march off to war."

Celestia looked around before staring at the Griffon intently.

"I will ensure with all the power I have that war will never arise between our nations." Celestia stated. "We have lived too long in peace to throw it away due too some lingering feelings of doubt."

"Well as they say princess, The best way to destroy your enemy is to make them your friend." The Griffon replied.

Celestia nodded and turned once more towards the active celebration going on nearby. Luna had stopped dancing and was now now drinking some sort of beverage with a small group of assorted Griffons. Luna used her magic to hold one tankard while she grabbed another and proceeded over towards her big sister.

"Care for a drink sister." Luna chimed.

As much as Celestia wanted to decline the Griffon beverage (It certainly would not be a Canterlot wine.) She tentatively grabbed the mug that was closer to her with her own magic and examined the golden liquid inside.

"What is this drink Luna?" Celestia asked.

"Griffon Whiskey!" Luna cheered. "Hope you can hold your liquor, this stuff is strong."

Celestia carefully brought the mug up to her muzzle and took a swig, the drink tasted good even if she did feel a slight burning sensation in her throat.

"Bet you're glad to be an Alicorn." Luna chimed. "Increased alcohol tolerance."

Celestia nodded.

"What happens now sister?" Celestia asked.

"Grab a partner and dance." Luna replied as she trotted off into the crowd that were dancing to the music.

Celestia turned to the Griffon that was still sitting beside her.

"So I guess...." Celestia began hesitantly.

"Never danced before?" The Griffon asked.

"My job at any royal affair is to stand there and look pretty." Celestia answered.

The Griffon laughed before holding out his talon.

"Worry not Princess I will help you learn." The Griffon offered.

Celestia nodded graciously taking up the offer and walked with the griffon into the crowd.

---

While music and merriment were common during festivals there were also aspiring merchants hoping to sell their goods. At the base of the mountain of Griffonstone lay the Economic district, probably the largest district as well considering it surrounded the base of the mountain. Twilight Sparkle and Nightmare Moon navigated these crowded streets hoping to perhaps find a business that catered to their interests.

"So what are we looking for?" Twilight asked.

"The greatest Bookstore in Moon Heart." Nightmare Moon answered. "The Spire."

Nightmare moon pointed to a building that stood taller than many of the others, a large stone tower that was about four stories tall and only outshone by a 5 story building with a dome shaped roof in the distance.

"Used to be the tallest building in old Griffonstone until the Economics guild went up." Nightmare explained.

"That's great and all but I don't have any bits." Twilight stated.

"I'll pay, besides bits will not be accepted till trade begins and we have to create a fair currency conversion." Nightmare replied. "That will take months."

The two had entered the spire through it's simple wooden door and now stood among thousand of books.

"Woah." Twilight murmured in awe. "This place is almost as big as the Canterlot library."

"You will have to show me some time." Nightmare replied.

The two of them began to search through the massive library of books. Twilight found herself amazed by the fact that the Library was organised by talon as far as she had seen with ladders that reached the tops of bookshelves. (which confused her because Griffons have wings.)

"Looking for anything in particular?" Twilight turned to see she was being addressed by a Griffoness wearing a pair of spectacles.

"Do you have anything on the history of Griffonstone in the last thousand years?" Twilight asked.

"You would have to go to the Grand Archives to find any information on our recent history." The Griffoness stated. "Don't worry though the Archives are open to the public."

"So you have nothing?" Twilight asked.

"Well we do have a large report written from some Journalist who infiltrated the Cult of the Moon Goddess." The Griffoness answered.

"Cult of the Moon Goddess?" Twilight asked.

"A group of Griffons who passionately believed the Luna came to Griffonia to banish the day forever." The Griffoness replied. "Ever hear the term Lunatic before."

Twilight shook her head.

"It is a derogatory term used as an insult towards those who believe in such fantasies." The Griffoness stated. "The Lunar Guards were the first to use the term during the Cult's attack on the castle."

"Can I find any information on this at the Archives?" Twilight asked.

"Depends on what you are looking for, Some of the information such as the Cults belief have been sealed in the Castle's Royal Archives in the belief that it may cause a second uprising of the Cult." The Griffoness answered. "Although Luna has threatened to execute any cultists should they ever make a reappearance."

“What about the journal then?” Twilight asked.

The Griffoness flew off leaving Twilight alone for a moment before returning with the book in talon.

“Gideon Guildcrest’s Journal.” Twilight read.

“What are you looking at?” Nightmare asked as she approached.

She noticed the book and frowned.

“Gideon’s account suffered a lot of inaccuracies.” Nightmare stated.

Twilight gazed questioningly at Nightmare Moon.

“Why add it to the library then?” Twilight asked.

“Cause it was still truth, just the truth he found.” Nightmare answered. “He saw things from the Cults perspective, What they wanted their members to see, he uncovered the lie that the cult leaders wanted their followers to believe.”

Nightmare sighed.

"If you are really interested in the story of the cult lets go find mother as she can tell you the true story from the most accurate perspective." Nightmare stated as she used magic to hand the book back to the Griffoness.

Nightmare then turned to leave and motioned for Twilight to follow her as she did. The two of them made their way through the streets towards town square.

---

Luna smiled as she watched her sister dancing with one of the many Griffon's taking part in the merry little dance going on in the town square. The music had gone from its semi romantic tone and slow pace to something a kin to a cheery folk melody. Celestia seemed quite carefree at the moment which was exactly what Luna wanted, after all diplomacy could wait the night. A small break in the crowd allowed Luna to see Nightmare Moon and Twilight Sparkle approaching her, both with serious looks on their faces.

"Been to the Spire I'm guessing?" Luna asked.

"She stumbled upon a certain book." Nightmare answered. "She wants to know my Origins."

Twilight turned to Nightmare in surprise. Luna tapped her hoof on the ground and a Griffon wearing a black cloak materialized from Luna's shadow.

"Milady." The Griffon whispered as he bowed.

"Xan please go get my sister, she should here this as well." Luna ordered.

Xan bowed and moved swiftly through the crowd before returning with a very surprised Celestia.

"Sister?" Celestia asked.

"Tia, Twilight I will tell you of my darkest night." Luna began. "This is a story I keep close too my heart so we shall convene in my chambers."

In a flash the group (minus Xan) were teleported into a lavishly decorated and quite massive bedroom. Luna trotted over too her large bed (it was big enough to support all four of them) and sat on it motioning for the others to gather around her. They found spots nearby with Nightmare taking position beside her mother while Celestia and Twilight lay in front of Luna.

"About Twenty years ago a group of night worshiping griffons decided to form a small cult devoted to the night." Luna began. "They began gathering followers, spreading their ideals, among many other things that at the time seemed harmless, so I let them have their little cult and let them be."

Luna's careless demeanor quickly changed to a serious one.

"Then they began to speak of about a prophecy." Luna began. "They referred to banishing the Tyranny of the Sun forever, They believed that I would one day remove my sister and cover the world in eternal night, or at least that's what the peons believed, their leaders real objectives were much more sinister, but i can talk about those later, Nightmare Moons story begins when I was captured by the cultist's who stated that I was tainted by my sister's way and must be purified of her corruption."

---

"Greetings Mistress Luna." A voice called.

Luna looked up towards a griffon wearing a midnight blue cloak held together by a clasp that had a crescent moon on it. He stood outside the energy field that encircled her.

"By what right do you detain me." Luna growled. "I already have you pinned for kidnapping me."

"I do not fear the charges for they will be dropped once our master purifies you of the tyrant sun goddesses taint." the griffon stated.

"The tyrant su...." Luna paused and her confused gaze hardened into one of rage. "You have no right to insult my beloved sister!"

The griffon turned to her, his eyes showed anger.

"Your sister has tai..."

"Acolyte silence!" another voice shouted and the cloak wearing griffon bowed his head and stepped back.

A different griffon stepped into Luna's view. This one had had a cloak as well but this one had silver trimmings and no hood showing the standard white feathers on the most standard Griffon breeds.

"Away with you go rally the other acolytes for the ritual then wait for my call." The griffon ordered.

"Yes Chanter." The Acolyte murmured as he turned and left the room.

"So." The Chanter began in a bored voice. "He monologued and you know our plans."

The Chanter rolled his eyes. "To take back our right from the sun tyrant and her servants."

"You can stop right there fiend." Luna growled. "It does not take a genius to know that you have a stake in this or you would not be messing with somepony of my stature."

"Yes I do have a stake in this." The Chanter replied. "I get to see the Ponies brought to the knees by their better."

The Chanter turned away from her.

"Those wretched ponies sit there in their lush farm lands while we struggle in these mountains." The chanter growled while Luna rolled her eyes.

"Struggle, what struggle we thrive in this land?" Luna asked before she realized what his intentions were. "So this is nothing more then xenophobia, you wish to use this as an excuse to hopefully gain some power for yourself by convincing me to become evil."

"We are passed the pint of convincing." The Chanter stated as he pulled out an amulet with a red gem in a upside triangle with an alicorn above it.

"The Alicorn amulet?" Luna cried. "That cursed thing was created by one of the greatest evils of the land, you have no idea what you are messing with?"

The Chanter turned away and placed it on a nearby pedestal.

"Whether I have or have not, I have sacrificed too much already to stop now." The Chanter stated. "Besides, the ritual will destroy the amulet so you can take some solace in that."

"So that's what your counting on." Luna whispered. "Destroy the amulet and ensure the vile magics inside it are absorbed by me."

"Indeed."

Luna laughed much to the confusion of The Chanter.

"Dark magic is wild and unpredictable, It will not react the way you planned." Luna stated with a smirk. "Especially when it comes from an Artifact designed by the malignant King Sombra, It will either possess me or perhaps even kill me."

"I am willing to gamble with that, after all if you die we can frame the ponies for your death." The Chanter replied. "Now if you excuse me I must rally the others for our final sermon."

The Chanter left the room leaving Luna alone behind the shield. A few moments later he returned with a large gathering of cloaked Griffons.

---

"Can you skip the long winded chant they did." Nightmare Moon asked.

Luna nodded.

"They went on this long winded and mindless chant which made the amulet glow and direct dark energy towards me from the altar where is sat." Luna stated. "At that point thanks to an turncoat, a legion of my soldier's stormed the lair, they reached me at the perfect time."

---

A few of the cultists near the back of the room turned towards the door. This stopped the ceremony as The Chanter felt the ritual weaken.

"ACOLYTES!" The Chanter shouted in rage. "Why have you stopped?"

"I think there is something going on outside the hall master." one of the Cultists answered.

The Chanter turned towards Luna who was struggling to resist the dark energy that was surrounding her.

"It seems you are weakening." The Chanter stated.

Luna said nothing in return and opted to give him a quick glare. At that moment the doors at the back of the room burst open and a Griffon in a black cloak followed by dozens of Luna's loyal soldiers, who promptly rushed into the large group of cultist and began subduing them by any means.

"Looks like you lost, cultist." The Cloaked griffon stated as he walked up to the altar.

"XAN!" Luna cried. "Destroy the amulet or the Altar, I can fight this but only if the connection weakens!"

The Chanter quickly got into the way but Xan mearly bypassed him by diving into his own shadow before moving past him. The Amulet flew across the room as Xan knocked it off the altar. In that moment time seemed to slow as Luna gathered the dark energy possessing her and shifted it into an orb before tossing it at The Chanter. The Orb hit the cultist leader and rebounded off him before colliding with a wall on the far side of the room and settling on the floor. By this time the guards had either killed or pacified the cultists in the room allowing them to tend to their monarch.

"My lady are you injured?" One Griffon asked as he helped Luna stand up from her position on the ground.

"I am physically unharmed." Luna answered.

"Well take it easy milady we have the situation under control now." The griffon replied.

Luna nodded and made her way slowly towards the door before being stopped.

"Milady the dark force has not dissipated and it seems to be reacting to something!" A griffon yelled.

Sure enough something in the room was causing the once glowing ball of energy to change shape. In fact to Luna the blob of intangible darkness had taken the shape of a pony foal. Luna carefully moved closer as the shadow's became tangible and began refining their shape and and colour. Soon a midnight black alicorn filly with a starry mane lay in front of Luna.

"My queen, what are we to..." Luna cut off the Griffon soldier by using her magic to lift the little filly and place her comfortably between her wings.

"We will see what she becomes." Luna answered. "She has committed no crimes and holds no malice, I will take her as my own daughter and she will learn from me."

The other guard nodded and fell in formation around her while Xan appeared at Luna's side.

"Xan?" Luna asked.

"Yes my queen?" Xan replied.

"Please alert the castle staff to have a small bed set in my chambers for my little Nightmare Moon." Luna ordered.

Xan bowed and sunk into Luna's shadow disappearing from the group.

---

"So." Twilight began. "Nightmare was the byproduct of darkness from this amulet that had used you to take shape once it had been separated."

Luna nodded.

"I understand by that logic, I should be evil." Nightmare Moon stated. "But mother influenced me a lot as I grew, she shaped me, both mentally and physically I guess."

"Well." Twilight replied. "They say that experiences are what shape a Foal as they grow."

Celestia nodded before yawning and turning to her sister.

"How long will this celebration continue?" Celestia asked.

Luna turned to the Sun Princess.

"Till dawn." She answered. "I understand being the Mare of sunlight means you should be sleeping right now I shall escort you to your quarters and awaken you when its time to raise the sun."

Celestia and Luna left leaving Twilight and Nightmare Moon alone.

"You know maybe going to bed is a good idea." Twilight began. "I need to get Spi...."

Realization crashed down on the lavender mare.

"Where is Spike?" She shouted.