There is an unknown fact that Luna had been hiding about herself : She has been killing ponies in their sleep. What could the reasons be that drives the Princess of the Moon to do this? What will happen when her dark secret comes to light?
Luna, sister to Princess Celestia, and Princess of the Moon, has been hiding a secret that she has kept from everypony, even long before she had been transformed into Nightmare Moon...
She has been killing ponies while they slept, taking their souls to who knows where...
What thoughts in her mind have clouded her sanity, and driven her to do what all ponies consider to be the most heinous and unforgivable crime in all of Equestria? What happens when she takes a loved one far too soon before their time, and her horrible secret is brought to light?
Why must it be this way under my reign of the night?
Your sister stole all of their love...
Why must they only be joyous under the light of my sister's sun, whilst they suffer so much under my beautiful moon?
You can change this...
Worry not, my little ponies...I will take your pain away...
You have the power to change the way they feel about you...
No longer will you suffer from your pent-up despair. I cannot control the horror you endure in your nightmares...
Let them see you for how great you are...
But I can have a huge influence in your dreams.
I...can help you...
Yes...your dreams. I will make sure you can have the most beautiful and sweetest dreams for all of eternity...I will take you to my hidden kingdom, where you will no longer suffer from loss, betrayal, and the horrors of the waking and world.
I can help you build the thing you've always wanted...
I will make you my children, and will forever let you play in the garden of the dreams that you create. Close your eyes...sleep...breathe slow and deep, and prepare to be taken to somewhere wonderful and amazing...
Applejack’s eyes snapped open before she shot up into a defensive stance. Her eyes studied her surroundings, realizing that she was in the middle of an open field. The moon reflected the sun as it bathed the other side of the world, but it seemed…off. As if Applejack could reach up and brush her hoof across the celestial rock. She took a couple tentative steps before a hoof touched warm fur. She looked down and gasped,
“Dash!”
The cyan Pegasus was sprawled out, her wings shielding an slumbering Fluttershy. She gently tapped them with her hoof.
“Dash, Shy…wake up sugarcubes…”
Dash let out a sleep-laden yawn as she rubbed the sleep from her eyes. She slowly rose to her hooves and instinctively reached out to help her fellow Pegasus, who thanked her with a kind smile. They both looked around in confusion at their surroundings.
“Where the hell are we?” Dash questioned. “And…how did we end up outside?
“Ah don’t really know…” Applejack replied as she continued to look around. “It don’t look like anywhere near Ponyville…”
“Its not the Everfree Forest either…” Fluttershy added.
“That’s because its not a place that you dear ponies would not know…” a slightly distorted mare’s voice softly replied from behind them.
The three mares spun around to find a towering cloaked figure looking at them. They jumped back, Applejack immediately returning to a defensive posture, and Dash following as she splayed a wing out protectively in front of Fluttershy.
“Who are ya, and what do ya want with us?!” Applejack snarled.
“Fear not, my little ponies…I come to bring peace to you…”
Dash took another step to completely block Fluttershy from any attack, “We don’t need anything from you!”
“You are right. I have nothing to give you that you need. But…I wish to offer you something that I know you want.
The trio briefly looked at one another in confusion, as if any of them could provide the others with an answer to this situation. Applejack took a step forward,
“Before ya uh…tell us what we ‘want’, can ya tell us where we are?”
The hooded mare focused her gaze on her, “You are in the realm where you neither live, nor die. Where the soul has time to rest…”
“P-Purgatory?!” Dash asked in a panicked tone. “Are we dead?!”
“Wait…” Fluttershy started. “A dream…”
The figure nodded, “Quite perceptive of you, my dear Fluttershy…”
“Now wait, how do you know her name?” The protective tone quickly replaced Dash’s previous one.
“Your parents speak highly of you…all of you, every time I have the pleasure of talking to them.” The figure calmly replied.
“How dare ya…” Applejack whispered as her body angrily trembled. “Ya got some fuckin’ nerve tah speak about our dead parents!”
Fluttershy felt tears pricking the edges of her eyes. Dash wrapped a wing around her and leered up at the figure,
“Who the hell do you think you are?!”
“I only speak the truth…” the figure took a step closer to them, “I only have but one question to ask of you all…”
“What could you possibly want to ask us?!” Dash snarled.
The mare turned away from them and took a couple steps away, “I have the ability to let you see your parents again…do you accept this gift?”
The ponies’ eyes widened. Dash’s anger flared once more,
“WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS TO-”
Applejack placed a hoof on the Wonderbolt’s shoulder, silencing her. Dash looked over at her, noticing Applejack’s emerald orb’s flashing with a bolt of lime green light.
“She…she ain’t lyin’.” Applejack started. “Ah…Ah don’t know how she’s gonna do it, but she’s speakin’ truth…” she took a couple steps closer to the figured, “Just who are ya?”
“I am the Guider of the Lost and the Wandering. A bringer of peace to all who seek it after being beaten and broken by what comes from walking amongst the Sands of Time.” The figure replied. “I can sense a great and deep sorrow from you three, something that you dare not show to your other friends. How could you? They simply cannot understand what suffering you three endure from your situation. For only you three…amongst your group could find solace and understanding in each other’s pain…I wish to end that for you.”
“So…you can take us to your parents?” Dash questioned again. This was an offer that was too good to be true.
Guider only nodded in response. She glanced over her shoulder, gazing off at something in the distance. The trio followed her gaze.
There were six silhouettes of ponies standing near the horizon. The six ponies turned and began to gallop towards them. Four took off into the sky and zoomed towards the trio. They landed near Guider. Dash and Fluttershy gasped in synchrony.
A pink Pegasus mare trotted towards Dash, her striking blue mane and tail billowing in a gentle breeze. As she got closer, Dash could make out the blue lightning bolt on her thighs. There was no mistaking it.
The legendary Firefly…Rainbow Dash’s mother.
A purple stallion with a brilliant prismatic mane and tail stood proudly beside her mother. Dash beamed at him, who mirrored gesture in kind.
Rainbow Burst…Rainbow Dash’s father.
Dash squealed as her inner filly came to the surface, and tackled her father into the grass. He chuckled as he ruffled her mane,
“Hey there Squirt!” Burst shouted with a rasped voice that Dash missed all too much. “It’s been so long since we’ve seen you!”
Dash nuzzled into her father’s chest, “Dad…” was all she could get out with the boulder of her lump in her throat. Burst didn’t need her to finish.
“I missed you too…”
Firefly giggled, “My two favorite ponies in all of Equestria are finally back together. Dashie…” she looked lovingly into her daughter’s eyes, “You’ve gotten so big, and so strong…”
Dash grinned, “I also became a Wonderbolt, just like Dad!”
“I knew you could do it! That’s my girl!” Burst cheered with the same mannerisms that her daughter inherited from him. Firefly got closer and embraced her daughter and husband.
Fluttershy looked on at the happy reunion with tears in her eyes. She turned away and got ready to wipe her tears, only to feel a hoof gently remove them for her.
“My gentle girl…heart still as big as it ever was…” a mare’s voice whispered.
She opened her eyes. A white Pegasus with a pink mane and tail that matched Fluttershy’s in their brilliance, was smiling softly at her. Kind teal eyes that mirrored her own looked lovingly at her. The equally loving voice brought forth pure joy.
Gentle Wind…Fluttershy’s mother.
“Mom?” a cracked whisper escaped Fluttershy’s throat. Fresh tears sprung from her eyes. Gentle nodded, solidifying that this wasn’t her imagination. Fluttershy broke down, clinging to her mother like nothing else mattered.
“Hey! What about your dear old Dad?!” a voice boomed behind her.
Fluttershy didn’t flinch. This was the one loud thing in the world that she not only did not fear, but welcomed with an infinite love. His voice. A voice that, though she hadn’t heard in many years, made her near split her face with a smile. She looked over her shoulder. A bold yellow Pegasus stallion stood behind her. Much larger than the average stallion, his stature almost rivaled that of Bulk Biceps. He sported an equally firey mane and tale, and pearly whites appeared in a smile from his thick beard and mustache. He kissed her forehead, the thick tufts of her tickling her and making her giggle. She looked at him and smiled, “Daddy…”
There was no doubt. ‘Daddy’, was Thunder Soar’, another legendary Wonderbolt, and Fluttershy’s father.
“I swear, you’re the loudest thing to exist!” Burst stated annoyingly. The two older mares giggled as Thunder stomped a heavy hoof,
“YUP! THE LOUDEST, AND THE FASTEST WONDERBOLT WHO EVER LIVED!”
Burst rolled his eyes and looked at Fluttershy, “He’s just saying that because he won a single race against me…”
“That STILL makes me the fastest Wonderbolt!”
“Now now boys…” Gentle laughed as she held up a hoof. “There will be plenty of time for that later.” She looked over at Dash, stretching out a wing to touch her shoulder with a love as she were her own daughter, “Let’s just enjoy being with our little ones…”
“They ain’t so lil’ anymore, Gentle.” A stallion’s voice drawled out, catching Applejack’s undivided attention.
A strong looking dark-yellow Earth Pony slowly made his way towards her. His dusted red mane was in a short ponytail, with an equally short red tuft of a tail flicked side to side. Applejack took off her Stetson hat and tears started to flow. The stallion stopped in front of her. She looked at his cutie mark. She had to be sure.
No doubting it. This was Earligold, Applejack’s father.
She started to hand the hat to him. Earligold shook his head.
“Ah gave it to ya, knowin’ it would be in good hooves.”
“Ah…Ah remember, Pa.” Applejack choked out.
“Then why in tarnation are ya tryna give it back?” he briefly studied the hat, “Do ya not like it? Ah know it’s a lil’ worse fer wear, but-”
“No!” Applejack blurted. “Ah LOVE this thing!”
“Now ya leave that girl alone, ya hear Earl? She’s happy ta see ya, so don’t be worryin’ about that damn hat!” a strong mare’s voice shouted out. Applejack looked beyond Earl’s shoulder to see a beautiful and toned dark red mare strutting over to them. Her golden mane and tail were tied up in thick braided cord. Her amber colored eyes focused on Applejack, and she gave her a motherly smile.
“My my…my lil’ sugarcube has really grown into a powerful lookin’ Earth Pony…”
Her voice was like the sweetest apple that could’ve ever been grown in their orchard. Applejack smiled at it’s familiarity.
Ambrosia, Applejack’s mother.
The orange farmpony broke down with happy tears as Ambrosia and Earl wrapped their forelegs around her shuddering form.
Guider looked on, letting the three mares reunite with their parents. The moon seemed even closer to the group, signaling the passage the time as they conversed on missed events, ranging from their world saving actions, to the tiniest details of their daily lives. Guider eventually called out to them,
“Come, my children. It is time for us to return home…”
“Aw shoot…an’ Ah was just gettin’ ta hear how amazin’ my lil’ one had become…” Earl got up, “C’mon Am, time ta head on outta here…”
Ambrosia nodded, kissed Applejack’s forehead, and rose to follow Earl.
Firefly nuzzled Dash’s muzzle, “My little one, continue to adhere to your morals. The Element of Loyalty chose you for a reason…never forget to always be the real you…”
Dash nodded as her parents began to pull away from her.
“Hey Dash!” Thunder boomed out. Dash turned to him,
“I couldn’t have thought of a better partner for my daughter…” his voice softened, more than it ever had in his life, “You keep her safe, okay?”
Dash smiled and eagerly nodded. Gentle walked up to her and leaned in close,
“Don’t just protect her, Rainbow Dash.” Gentle whispered. “Love her with the same intensity that I can clearly see she has for you.” The alabaster mare lightly shook her head, “Oh, what am I saying…I know you will…”
She walked past the Wonderbolt, being the last to join the parental group. Guider backed away from the trio,
“I cannot wait to call you my children as well…”
With that, she turned and started to gallop. The parents followed as well. Guider’s cloak briefly flew up as she splayed her wings to take flight. The younger ponies squinted to try and see who she was, but it was as if a deep blackness coated her body, obscuring any chance of identifying her. The four Pegasi snapped open their wings and took flight as well. The two Earth Ponies started to glow and started floating with the group. Applejack started to slightly shake her head,
“No…”
Her parents were getting further.
“Ah can’t lose ‘em again…”
She started trotting towards the flying group, ignoring Dash’s question as to where she was going.
“AH CAN’T LOSE ‘EM AGAIN!!”
She broke into a furious gallop. Dash and Fluttershy screamed for her to stop, but she pressed on. Guider turned to her and stopped,
“If you wish to join me…” she opened her forelegs, welcoming Applejack to her, “Then come…”
A light started to surround her body. She felt like she was as light as a feather.
“Come with me, my child…”
She smiled. She was almost with her Ma and Pa again. Guider reached out to her.
“APPLEJACK, NOOO!!”
Applejack felt something hit her with the force of being struck by a dragon. A jolt tore through her body and the air was sucked from her lungs, as her world faded into blackness.
Applejack’s face scrunched, and her eyes flicked at the sound of a steady beep and faint buzzing of fluorescent lights. Her eyes fluttered opened and adjusted to the light, her vision quickly going pink as she heard a squeal from the party pony. Rarity and Twilight quickly came into her view.
“You’re awake!!” Pinkie let out another squeal, proceeding to do a choke hold (but she swore was a hug) on Applejack. The orange pony wheezed, her lungs recognizing the strength of her fellow Earth Pony. Pinkie let go.
“Sorry!” Pinkie quickly apologized. “We were just so worried about you…”
“Worried about me?” Applejack repeated. “What fer? All I had was just a crazy dream…”
Twilight’s eyes furrowed, “You suffered from a myocardial infarction…”
Applejack rubbed her temple, “Dang it, Twi…what have Ah told ya time an’ time again? Ah don’t understand when ya start speakin’ that scientific lingo ta me. What the hell is a ‘mayo in a fart’?”
Rarity looked at her sympathetic, “Darling…you had a heart attack…”
The farm pony’s eyes went wide, “Ah had a what?! B-but that’s impossible! Ah’m one of the healthiest ponies in Ponyville! Hell, probably in Equestria! Our family is the reason ‘An Apple a day keeps the doc away’ even exists! How could this happen?”
“That’s just it…” Twilight started. “The doctors don’t know what’s going on with you. Or with Rainbow and Fluttershy. Its just-”
“Hold up.” Applejack interrupted. “Whaddya mean ‘Dash an’ Shy’? What happened to ‘em?”
Pinkie, Rarity, and Twilight worriedly glanced at one another.
“They suffered from heart attacks too.” Pinkie stated sadly.
“Are they okay?! Ah gotta go see fer mahself-”
Rarity placed a firm hoof on Applejack’s chest, “You’ll do no such thing! I give you my word, that Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy are in the utmost care, and are being monitored by some of the best doctors in Equestria.” Her tone softened a bit, “Besides darling…everyone, including them, are far more worried about you…”
Applejack arched a brow, “Why? Ah’m clearly fine now.”
“You weren’t though, and we still aren’t sure.” Twilight replied. “You went into cardiac arrest not too long ago…”
Applejack blankly stared at her.
“It means you almost died, Jackie!” Pinkie exclaimed. “Died! Dead! Croaked! Passed away! Kicked the bucket! Bit the dust!” she finished her rant with a slicing motion across her neck.
“But…if Ah died, how am Ah here now?”
“From what the doctors said…your heart started shutting down…” Rarity began. “It was barely beating…but they managed to kind of ‘restart’ it with a defibrillator, thank the gods…” her eyes welled up a bit, “If it had been someone not as strong as you…”
“That explains that weird ‘jolt’ I felt…” Applejack mumbled.
“Applejack…”
Applejack focused on Twilight, “Sup girl?”
“In this dream, was there a hooded pony named ‘Guider’?”
Applejack nodded.
“Did she let you see her parents?”
Another nod.
“And…” Twilight hesitated for a moment. “Did you try to leave with your parents?”
Emerald eyes guiltily averted her gaze, before slowly nodding.
“Oh Applejack…” Twilight started with a pitying tone that rubbed Applejack the wrong way.
“Definitely doesn’t seem like some weird cowinky-dink.” Pinkie stated, “Something big is happening here.”
“And it has something to do with that dreadful dream.” Rarity agreed.
“It wasn’t ‘dreadful’!” Applejack snapped. “Ah got ta see mah Ma an’ Pa again! Why can’t ya’ll just leave it at that?!”
“Applejack, all three of you had the same dream.” Twilight started. “A dream that you all had be-…because of your…circumstances.”
“So, you’re sayin’ we all had this dream because we’re orphans?”
Twilight nodded. “Its safe to say that’s where the link is.” A thoughtful look appeared on her face, “And for some unknown reason, this ‘dream’ had dangerous, possibly fatal side effects…”
The orange Earth Pony sighed, “But it ain’t like she wanted ta kill any of us. She really did let us see ‘em. She didn’t try ta bait us or any crazy stuff like that. An’ when she left…an’ they left with her…” she faltered with finishing her sentence. “Ah just wanted ta be with ‘em…”
Rarity wrapped her forelegs around her, “I’m so sorry for what I said…I can only imagine how you feel…”
“Solace and understanding in each other’s pain…” Guider’s words echoed in the back of her mind.
Applejack slowly pushed Rarity away, “No…ya can’t even imagine how Ah feel. Ya’ll can’t imagine how any of us feel!” she ripped the covers off her body. “Ya’ll have both of yer parents! The three of us…we couldn’t even have on of ‘em….”
“Applej-”
“Ah’m gonna go check on RD an’ Shy.” She shot Rarity a look that made sure she’d get to finish her sentence, “An’ there ain’t nothin’ ya can say ta stop me.”
She placed her hind hooves on the ground, and immediately started to buckle under her own weight. Twilight and Pinkie immediately rushed to her side, keeping her from collapsing to the ground. They gently escorted her to Dash and Fluttershy’s room. They were delighted to see she was okay, being in far better condition than she was. They took custody of the Earth Pony and led her to what going to be the most comfortable chair into the room. Twilight and Pinkie left wordlessly as Fluttershy and Dash hugged their weakened companion.
“We’re so glad you’re okay!” Fluttershy stated in a soft, but excited tone. “We heard you had a heart attack, and-” her eyes watered, the thought of losing her friend stopping her from finishing her sentence.
“Why did Pinks and Twi look so upset?” Dash questioned, placing a comforting wing on Fluttershy while she focused on Applejack. Applejack’s gaze dropped to the floor.
“Ah might’ve gotten a tad defensive when Rarity tried to…understand how Ah feel…”
Dash and Fluttershy put a hoof on her shoulders, a small act of understanding. She looked up at their faces, and the trio shared their understanding in the silence of the hospital room. She gave them a small smile before pulling them into a hug. No matter what came their way when it came to this…‘dream’, they would face it together…
It had been a few months since the trio’s departure from the hospital. They were finally enjoying the humdrum of their daily lives. Flutershy and Dash were ecstatic to come back and picked up their daughter, Shimmer Blitz, from Scootaloo’s home. The young Wonderbolt had done them a huge favor of caring for her while they were away. Even though Shimmer was growing into a young mare, she was still far too young to stay home alone for an extended period of time. They were proud and happy to be the young mare’s parents. But, like all parents dealing with teenagers, they were constantly butting heads with her while she was in the ‘parents suck’ stated. Unfortunately, the fact remained that they were both mares, and even though same-sex parental households were not an uncommon thing, their daughter for some reason threw the fact in their face as some sort of ammunition. Whether it was from some deep seated self-hate, they were unsure.
“Why did you guys make me?!” Shimmer shouted fiercely as she stomped an angry milky-blue hoof.
Dash and Fluttershy stared back at her briefly, before Fluttershy took a couple tentative steps towards her, “We didn’t make you baby…you were born, just like anyone else…” Fluttershy replied in a motherly tone.
“Yeah right…its not like Princess Twilight didn’t use a gender swap spell to give you a dick!” Shimmer shouted as she pointed at Dash.
Dash snorted and narrowed her eyes, “Tone that language in front of your mother, Shimmer Blitz!”
“What, because I said ‘dick’?” Shimmer retorted. “It’s not like I’m a little filly anymore. Gets used alllll the time in school.” She leered at her parents, brushing her rainbow dipped pink mane from her eyes, “You know what else I learned in school? In ‘Sex Ed’ specifically?”
Dash mirrored the leer, attempting to silence her daughter, though it went ignored.
“I learned that a mare and stallion make foals. Not two stallions, and damn sure not two mares!”
Fluttershy started to raise a hoof, “Shimm-”
“I’m a freak of nature! I’m an abomination, and I didn’t choose to be!” Shimmer raged on. “I didn’t choose to be made like this! A FREAK, MADE BY OTHER FREAKS!!”
The crack of hoof to skin contact echoed in the room. It took Shimmer a few moments to register the stinging sensation in her cheek. Dash looked on in shock at the sudden ferocity of her wife. Fluttershy looked down at her daughter, silent fury bubbling behind her eyes.
“You will not disrespect us like that while you live under our roof.” Fluttershy started, all traces of her Element gone from her voice. “We raised you to be far better than that.” She stook another step forward towards her shrinking daughter, “We have loved and cared for you, and treated you as well as any heterosexual couple would.”
“Shy-” Dash started.
“And sometimes, I think even better. At least, that’s what I thought until you started acting this way.”
“Flutters, babe-”
“You’ve been completely horrible to us, your own parents, just because of some little idiots you go to school with! You should’ve been defending us!”
“Flutt-”
“For years, we’ve dealt with the hate and ridicule by the very creatures we’ve protected with our very lives. And never in my years, did I think I would receive this same hatred by my own daughter!”
“Fluttershy!-”
“Well maybe, you should stop being such an ungrateful, selfish, disrespectful little monster, and just leave! GO AND MOVE OUT, IF IT BOTHERS YOU SO FUCKING MUCH TO HAVE US AS YOUR PARENTS!”
Dash clamped down onto one of Fluttershy’s shoulders, “Fluttershy, that’s ENOUGH!!”
But it was too late.
The rage seeped from Fluttershy’s frame as she took in the absolute hurt in Shimmer’s eyes. The light blue teenager blinked back tears and turned away. She galloped up the stairs and towards her bedroom, the door slamming shut behind her. Fluttershy put a hoof to her lips as the door’s locked clicked. She looked at Dash in abject horror, who gave her a look of angered disappointment before trotting up the stairs. What had she done? Why had she snapped ed her the only pony she more love for, than her own wife? Her vision began to blur with unshed tears. She had hurt Shimmer, and it would be a long time, if ever, before her daughter forgave her. She quickly made her way up the stairs and was about to knock on Shimmer’s door, only for her hoof to be locked into a grip by one of Dash’s. Her wrist writhed in the cyan Pegasus’ grip. While she had the muscular strength to snap a bear’s bones back into proper alignment, she was simply not as strong as the Captain of the Wonderbolts, who had been at the peak of physical performance nearly all of her life.
“Leave Shimmer be.” Dash ordered in the same way she ordered the Wonderbolts under her leadership. “She’s not going to hear anything that comes out of our mouths right now…”
“But…I did a terrible thing…I need to apologize-”
“No!” Dash hissed. “Just wait…okay?” her eyes softened. “You hurt her, and I know you feel bad…but I’m telling you, she’s not going to believe you. Not right now.
Fluttershy’s form deflated in defeat. “Alright…”
Dash rubbed her back in a soothing motion, “She may be pissed at us right now, but you’re still her mother. Despite all of ‘this’, she still loves you. She’s just going to through that ‘angry teen’ phase.”
Fluttershy gave a small nod, a tiny smile on her face blooming as Dash placed a soft kiss on her forehead. The two drifted away from their daughter’s bedroom, and made their way to their own.
-MLP-
“Why’s it my fault? Why do I have to leave, when they made me like this?” Shimmer bitterly mumbled to herself. “I want to be normal…just like everyone else. I can’t even make a lot of friends with other mares…cuz’ they think ‘filly fooling’ is in my blood or something…” she smacked her hoof in frustration. “It’s not fair! I’m not a filly fooler! I just want to be normal!”
The moonlight began to shine brightly in her room as she felt a presence enter her room through the window,
“Why do you weep, little one?” a ghost of a voice whispered.
Shimmer sniffled and turned as the Guider looked on quizzically. Shivers rumbled up Shimmer’s spine at the power that radiated from the mare.
“Its just…” the milky blue pony rubbed her eyes, “I just wished I was normal.”
Guider gracefully sat on her haunches and looked at her intently, silently inviting her to continue.
“Well, I mean, I look like a normal pony. And I feel like a normal pony…but I know I’m not.”
“And why do you believe that to be so, little one?”
“Because I’m a freak of nature!” Shimmer shouted, as if she expected the mare to know. “The adults think its cool that I’m ‘the daughter of Rainbow Dash And Fluttershy’, a ‘child of the Elements of Harmony’, the ‘Wonderbolt Captain’s Kid’! You’d think that that’d be cool…but even if I had a regular ‘Mom and Dad’ like everyone else, that’d suck too, because then I’d have to try to live up to their expectations, and I’ll never make it out of their shadow!” she shook her head, “Doesn’t matter. I’m not normal, and all the kids in school know that. They call me a ‘monster’!” she put her face into her hooves, “Why? Why couldn’t I just be normal…”
She felt a hoof gently place itself on her shoulder and looked up. Though she cooking see Guider’s face, she could feel the smile that was being given to her.
“My little one…I think you’re normal…I don’t think anything is wrong with you.” Guider got closer and sat on the bed next to her, “You look like a normal pony, act like a normal pony, and you do things normal ponies do. And yes…while you’re definitely special…it doesn’t mean you’re different. At least, not in the negative way you’re speaking of.”
Shimmer gave her a small smile, “Thanks…” she stared into the glowing orbs looking back at her, “Who are you anyway?”
“The Guider of the Lost and the Wandering…” Guider introduced herself. “Your tears of suffering drew me to you. Now, I’m here to wipe those tears away, and to calm the storm in your soul…”
“The storm in my soul?” the young mare repeated.
Guider nodded, “I can see it now…for years, you have dealt with this inner turmoil. You wish for a different life. Unfortunately…the thing you wish to change, cannot be done in this realm…”
Her cerise orbs darkened, “I know…”
“But…this is not a weight you need to continue to endure.”
The teen blinked in confusion, “What do you mean?”
Guider slunk away from her and stood by the window, “I wish to offer you something…a chance to start over. A normal life, that you can have for…forever…”
Shimmer beamed, “Really?! I can be normal?!”
Guider nodded, “Yes…the most amazing things your mind can conjure up, can be at the tip at your hooves, if you wish it.”
The moon started to glow bright, and yet another pony entered the room. A brown Unicorn colt that Shimmer had considered one of her closest friends until a sickness brought an end to his life.
“Big Idea?” she asked tearfully, “Is that you?!”
Big Idea nodded, his thick orange mane bouncing with each head movement. “I knew that feeling too…having two stallions as my parents. They were shunned even more than your parents. Seems like two stallions is worse than two mares…” she looked over at the Guider, “But she gave me the chance to start again, and now, I’m having the best time I’ve ever had. Ever would’ve had!” he stated excitedly.
Shimmer smiled, the prospect of starting fresh simply delighting her. Granted, deep down, she loved Dash and Fluttershy, but she didn’t feel right. She didn’t feel normal. And like anyone her age, she yearned for acceptance from her peers. She stood up on her mattress and spread her wings.
“I wanna go with you!” she whispered happily. Guider floated out the window, her forelegs open. Big Idea joined her.
“Join me, my child…” she cooed softly.
Without hesitation, Shimmer flung herself into Guider’s forelegs. They wrapped around her as she felt herself get light, her world glowing into a brilliant white…
And for the first time in centuries, the weather team had nothing to do with it.
It was as if Equestria itself was weeping over the loss of Shimmer Blitz.
Pinkie slowly trotted up to the onyx colored coffin, her mane deflated from the rain and her own sorrow. She delicately placed a rainbow dyed rose onto the coffin. Dash looked on with dead eyes, as she mechanically unfurled a wing to wrap it around the broken composure of Fluttershy, who hadn’t said a word since the priest had given his speech earlier. Pinkie walked away, making fleeting eye contact with Dash. She plopped down in front of her nuzzled her muzzle against her friend’s cheek.
“I’m so…so sorry Dashie.” Pinkie started, in a soft tone that was unnatural to her. “Shimmer’s death wasn’t a loss just for you, but for all of us…”
Dash’s gaze dropped to the grass, “Thank you, Pinkie Pie.” She dryly replied. She swallowed the lump in her throat and made her way to the podium, leaving Fluttershy in the care of Pinkie and Applejack. She cleared her throat a feeble attempt to rid the lump as all eyes fell on her.
“Thank you all for coming today.” Dash started in a voice far raspier than normal. “It’s great to know that so many of you are here with us in this time of sadness. And I know that Shimmer Blitz would be honored right now.” Her eyes started to focus on the gradient textures in the podium, “For those that knew my daughter, she was quite an interesting character.” A tiny smile made its way to her lips, “I mean, come on, she was a combo of Flutters and I, and we know how weird that is.”
There was a small group of soft chuckles. She continued,
“I remember how Shimmer could fly before she could walk. How…how her favorite toy was a stuffed Wonderbolt version of myself, for when I went on long trips. I told Flutters not to get it, but she insisted that Shimmer have her ‘Daddy’ with her at all times.” Dash lightly shook her head, “She was too young to actually understand that I was a Wonderbolt, and thought that the masked, rainbow maned Pegasus was almost some kind of awesome superhero. When she found out it was me, she nearly lost her mind, to say the least.
Another round of quiet laughter echoed out.
After that, the true flying lessons began.” Her gaze turned to the sky, “When she broke her leg, Flutters wanted to destroy me. I only managed to live because I could get Shimmer to the hospital faster than she could. Shimmer didn’t even cry. She just bit her lip and tried to stay tough for me. She made me proud that day.” Tears started building up behind dark magenta eyes. “My relationship with Fluttershy has never been supported by the entire community. And that’s fine. However, it seemed that the ‘non-supporters’ had a few words with our daughter. Words hat those ponies had no right to say to her. She felt like…she…” sad eyes turned angry, “She felt like she was a monster, because she had two mares for parents!” her hoof slammed the podium, “She felt like she didn’t belong because of that simple little opinion! For those ponies, you had no right to pull my daughter into your close-minded misery!” her voice got quieter, “She felt like she shouldn’t be alive…” she sniffled and suppressed her anger. This was her daughter’s day, and she would not spend it like this, “Shimmer Blitz was, and still is, the best daughter we could’ve ever asked for. She will always hold a place in my wife and I’s hearts…”
Dash stepped down from the podium and thanked Applejack for staying with Fluttershy. Applejack nodded and slid to the side, making room Dash to be by Fluttershy’s side. Everyone rose as four stallions approached the coffin. Heads bowed in respect as the coffin was lowered by the stallions. Attendees began to toss roses into the hole. Fluttershy’s eyes widened as the reality of the situation slammed onto her,
“NOOOOO! SHIMMER BLITZ!!”
It took even Dash a moment to realize that Fluttershy had ripped away from her and leapt to the edge of the hole. The emotional damn that had kept her tears at bay broke open, as she watched her wife dive into the hole.
“MY BABY!!”
Dash followed and wrapped her forelegs around her,
“Fluttershy, stop, please!!”
“NO!!” Fluttershy shrieked as sobs snatched themselves from her throat. “My baby girl is dead!”
Dash started to lift her out of the hole. For once, Fluttershy was proving to be a bit stronger than her. She was mother in mourning, and not much could stop that. Applejack, seeing the struggle, leapt to her hooves and moved in to help. She was soon followed by Pinkie and Rarity. They all wept as they pulled the distraught Pegasus from her daughter’s resting place. they didn’t care if the others wanted to stay, it was time to take Fluttershy back home.
-MLP-
A few days later…
Twilight gently knocked on the front door of Dash and Fluttershy’s home. She had found something out, something big, since the funeral. She would’ve waited under normal circumstances, giving the parents time to grieve. But, this simply couldn’t wait. She almost almost bounced with nervous energy until her heard the door click. Dash peeked her head out, bloodshot and black-rimmed eyes settling on the Princess.
“Come in…” she offered in a drained tone. She stepped aside to let the Alicorn inside. Twilight took in Dash’s form, noting that she would need to bring ready-made meals to the couple, assuming Fluttershy looked probably looked as bad, if not worse. As she stepped towards the living room, she noticed the absolute silence and lack of animals. Even the less sentient creatures knew to leave them be.
“How are you feeling?” Twilight carefully put a hoof on Dash’s shoulder. Dash looked at her with bitter, tired eyes.
“How do you think I feel? Our kid just died…”
Twilight bit her lip, self-chastising herself for asking such a stupid question.
“Not to be a dick, but why are you here? You usually have a ton of shit to do…”
Twilight cleared her throat, “I found out something about Shimmer’s death, and-”
Dash cut her off when she gripped her shoulders, “You can tell us what happened?!” she started to shake her, “Tell me!”
“Rainbow, please!” she grabbed Dash’s wrists, “Calm down!”
Dash blinked herself back to normal and backed away, “I’m sorry…”
“She’s in Shimmer’s bedroom. Been in there since the funeral.” Dash rubbed her temples, “She won’t come out, no matter what I do or say…”
Twilight focused back on her, “Then I’ll tell you. You can pass the information on to her.”
“What information?”
“I made a few discoveries in Shimmer’s bedroom, while the funeral was taking place-”
Dash gave her a hard shove, “Are you fucking kidding me?! Y-you teleported into our fucking house t-to…play detective, when you should’ve been there?!” she swung at her, hitting Twilight on the shoulder, “My gods Twilight, what the actual fuck?!”
“Rainbow, please, let me finish!” she pleaded, blocking the flail of hooves, despite being able to magically dominate her if she wished to do so. “I swear, I wouldn’t have done it if I didn’t believe something was going on! And I didn’t want to barge in here asking to look around, knowing you both with be in such fragile states!”
Dash breathed in hard, ragged gulps of air, her blows slowing down. She knew that Twilight never did anything without some kind of reason behind it. She regained her composure and looked into Twilight’s eyes.
“Fine…but dammit, don’t do some crazy shit like that again. Not in a situation like this.” Dash warned.
“I pray I wont have to…” Twilight replied. “Look, I’ll try to keep this as simple as possible. But please, let me know if it starts getting too complicated.” She slid off the couch and began a slow pace across the living room.
“See, the world around us is full of atoms. And those atoms, have microscopic traces of a matter called ‘Stonus Philosopher’, which allows the atoms around us be molded into whatever is needed when combined with mana.”
“What?” Dash simply asked in mental fatigue.
Everything in the world has something called ‘Philosopher’s Stone’, and is the main component in magic.” She continued, her pace slightly going faster as the scientific part of her mind began to take hold,
“Now, all ponies contain ‘white matter’, and the level that we have access to is what allows us to perform whatever level of magic we’re capable of doing. For example, Alicorns and Unicorns tend to have the highest amounts of mana, and our conduit to use our mana is in our horns. And with different combinations of mana and Philosopher’s Stone, different types of magic can be performed. When you combine them, there is an initial ‘clash’ so to speak. A disturbance in the atmosphere around us. This disturbance is essentially a ‘signature’ for whatever magic is being performed, and each spell has its own signature. For example, using magic to hold a book causes one type of disturbance signature, while creating light will make another.”
“So each time you guys do a spell, you’re changing the atoms around us?” Dash repeated, seeking confirmation that she understood everything so far.
“That’s correct. But this applies to the magic that you, and Earth Ponies do as well.” Twilight focused on the floor for a moment, “When Unicorns go through magic academy, we’re taught how to feel these disturbances, so that we can tell what type of spell is being used. Alicorns however…” she stopped pacing and sat on her haunches. “They can naturally feel these disturbances, and on a greater scale.” She looked up at the staircase, towards Shimmer’s bedroom. “And I felt a disturbance from that night…” her eyes fell back to the ground. “The signature that it gave off, was unlike any spell that I have ever felt. It initially felt like a spell that’s used to alter the mind. But then…it felt like a sleeping spell, but on a far more intense level. As if something was being put under for a surgery, but with no intention to wake them up…”
Dash’s eye twitched, “Are you saying…that our daughter was murdered?”
Twilight only stared deep into her eyes, now too scared to continue. Dash began to hyperventilate, her eyes searching for something unknown in the room. She needed to break something, to kill something. She jumped off the couch and bucked it, sending it flying across the room. She bucked and jumped, desperate to rid her body of this rage. Her eyes settle back on Twilight with a focused fury. She stomped up to her,
“Who killed my daughter.” Dash wasn’t asking. If Twilight knew the answer, she’d better fucking give it to her.
“I believe that it was the pony you saw in your dreams.”
Dash blinked, surprise overpowering rage, if but for a moment. “You mean the Guider?”
Twilight nodded.
Dash shook her head, “That’s impossible. She gave us the opportunity to let us see our parents again. How could someone who gave us something like that kill someone?”
Twilight shook her head, “Think about it, Rainbow. When your parents got mentioned, you were suddenly put in a state of psychological weakness. AJ was the worst out of you three. When she tried to leave with her parents, she almost died. The only thing that saved her was an external force that didn’t involve any magic from us.” She cupped the Pegasus’ cheeks, “By messing with AJ’s head, she started shutting her body down. We almost lost her.”
“So what do we do now?” Dash asked. “None of this brings Shimmer back…”
“You’re right, it doesn’t…” Twilight moved her hooves to Dash’s shoulders. “But we can stop this. We can bring this madmare to justice, and keep this from happening ever again.” She turned away from her, “I didn’t want to tell Celestia until I told you, because she was your daughter. But, now that I have my theory, we can go to her. She may be able to do something to stop this, or at least help us figure it out…”
“Then let’s go and do something!” Dash declared. She started to make her way to the door.
“Wait, what about Fluttershy?”
Dash looked back at her, “She’s not going anywhere. I can’t even get her to come out of Shimmer’s room.”
“I think you should let her know at least. Focus on her, I’ll let the others know.” She started to head for the door, before turning and giving Dash a hug, “I love you both, you know that, don’t you?”
Dash nodded and returned the embrace, “I know you do Twi…”
“I’m sorry I didn’t attend…”
“I know you are.” Dash trotted to the door, “Now show me. Go let Celestia know what’s going on.”
Without another word, Twilight stepped outside and flew off. She needed to get the info out quickly, less they lose another soul to the Guider…
Luna slowly walked through the castle’s royal garden, basking in the moonlight she had created. She loved the way the cool, crisp air flowed through her feathers. She loved looking up at the sky, watching the stars dance through the intricate swirls of deep blues and black, making them glow even brighter.
She loved the night, and she loved that she was its ruler.
Let her sister rule the sun, this was so much better to her. The vastness of it all was far more beautiful to her than that bright ball of light her sister loved so much. She took in a slow inhale of air, catching the wafting scents of the blossoms that opened themselves only under the Moon’s reflected light. While this scenery was amazing in its own right, this was still her sister’s garden. She felt like she was an outsider here, only ruling as retribution for her stunt as Nightmare Moon. She knew that deep down, she would always remain in her sister’s shadow.
But….she was okay with this.
She accepted that fate with the grace that only nobility could immolate. After all, her sister had been ruling this kingdom on her own for a millenium, and she no longer felt the dark urges to snuff out those who only bowed to Celestia. Besides, she had done something even greater.
She had built her own castle. No…her own beautiful world of eternal night and tranquility.
Her trot turned into a gait.
She had come to realize something. Ponies were only beginning to appreciate her constructs because they were seen as objects of comfort. Comfort that could not be given from loving family and bonds made from strong friendships. No…her Moon was an object to weep too, when those who suffered did not wish to be seen. When tears needed to be released and objects needed to be thrown. When frustrated shouts needed to be released, and items needed to be destroyed. No one wants to be seen in such volatile and weakened states. So…when would they do this?
At night…when the majority of the world slept.
She wanted them to seek comfort in a different manner. Something that gave them a reason to smile. Something that made their hearts soar with joy and gave them everything they could ever wish for. So…she gave to them when their minds were in absolute zen, and could be allowed to imagine their greatest, deepest desires.
She gave it to them in their dreams.
This was something she was proud of. While she could not fully control the dreams herself, she could sprinkle inklings of influence in them when the opportunity present itself. All she had to do, was pull the wishes from the deepest crevices of the sleeper’s mind and bring them to the surface. And in her kingdom, she could make sure that all those who resided within it, could have such dreams for all of eternity.
But for such happiness, there was a great cost.
Eternity is of course, a long time. No mortal creature could of course, live forever. She was not even granted that opportunity, despite her vastly different lifespan.
The body could not last…but the soul can.
Of course…those who have such short lifespans, are apprehensive of the thought of it ending. They would try to hold on to these fleeting moments of struggling in the waking world, before they would ever fully embrace her kingdom. So…while she offered these wonderful dreams…she wouldn’t tell them that they’d never wake again.
But why would she? Why put her followers through such emotional and mental turmoil, by revealing that truth? No…let them be happy. She had already watched them suffer much before this, no reason to add to it. This…this secrecy, was for the greater good.
Her pace turned into a fierce gallop.
Let her subjects adore the night, and all it has to offer.
The moon started to take on a reddish hue.
Let her subjects adore HER, and all she has to offer.
She flapped her wings, beginning her slow ascent to the sky.
Let them play forever in their dreams.
A bright light began to envelope her,
Let them…be happy…
Her eyes started to glow white,
“Worry not, my children. I am coming…”
-MLP-
Twilight’s eyes snapped open and she shot upright in her bed. There it was again…that same…fucking disturbance. It was stronger than ever this time. She couldn’t take it anymore. She knew that every time she felt that magical shift in the air, she knew another life was being taken. She was a Princess gods dammit, why wasn’t she able to stop this rogue?! She tore the satin sheets away from her body and leapt from the bed.
No more.
She would not let another one of the citizens die. This had gone on for far too long. A glimpse of Shimmer’s face flashed through her mind. The utter despair on Fluttershy and Dash’s faces followed soon after. She couldn’t begin to comprehend what they felt. What they were still feeling…
How many more had been thrown into emotional turmoil at the loss of one of their loved ones being taken from them?
She made her way to her window. It was frustrating how she was the only one that could literally feel this hidden evil that was snaking its way through Equestria at night. Perhaps it was because she was the Princess of Magic. This only furthered her resolve;
She would be the one to find this ‘Guider’ and destroy her.
She pushed open the windows, and flew to where the disturbance had arisen.
-MLP-
It had come from Sweet Apple Acres.
More specifically, it had come from Apple Bloom’s room.
Twilight landed no the yellow pony’s windowsill. What she saw, shocked and angered her.
There was a cloaked pony looming over Applebloom’s sleeping form. The pony didn’t turn around. Either she didn’t hear Twilight, or didn’t feel threatened by her prescence.
The rage that bubbled within Twilight, would make sure this pony knew she was the fiercest threat she’d ever face.
“Hey!” Twilight snarled. The mare glanced over her shoulder, not giving the slightest indication that she was disturbed by the Alicorn’s presence. Her face was hidden by an unnatural darkness, her piercing white orbs glowing with imbued magic.
“Princess of Magic…I see you’ve come to witness something glorious occur.” She greeted in a calm voice.
“I don’t know what ‘glorious’ thing you’re talking about, but this will stop.” Twilight commanded as her horn glowed and crackled with magic, “Do not think I won’t kill you where you stand.”
Guider shook her head. “Please…I am not here to clash with you, Princess. I am simply here to bring eternal peace to her suffering soul…”
“She’s not suffering, now leave her alone!!”
“I cannot turn a blind eye and a deaf ear to someone in incurable turmoil.” Guider spoke in a firmer tone, splaying her wings. Even under the direct moonlight, her body sucked away the light and kept her under deep shadows. “My kingdom is a place of happiness, and I cannot allow you to keep this mare from enjoying it.”
“YOUR KINGDOM?!” Twilight retaliated. “You’re not a Princess, you’re a murderer!!”
“I am a bringer of peace!” Guider stomped a hoof. A frown appeared on Apple Bloom’s face. Guider turned and nuzzled her muzzle, the frown immediately replacing itself with a soft smile.
“Don’t you dare touch her!” Twilight roared. She leapt at Guider, who dodged her with graceful ease. Twilight stood in between the monster and the sleeping younger mare. She considered the Mane Six and their families like they were her own, and she’d be damned if she was going to lose another one of them. Guider hovered a few inches off the ground,
“Princess, I will not fight you.”
“BUT I WILL!”
Twilight fired a beam of hot magic at Guider. The mare flicked her head at the beam to avert its trajectory, causing her hood to shift in a way for the lavender Princess to make a terrifying discovery.
“Y…you’re an Alicorn…”
Guider ignored her, “Just because I said I wasn’t going to fight you, does not mean I am going to let you bring harm to me.” she flitted past Twilight to the windowsill. “I have no need to fight you anyway…my child has finally joined me.”
Dreadful realization etched itself onto Twilight’s face as she turned to Apple Bloom. She scrambled up to her as the Earth Pony exhaled her last breath.
The moon turned red.
“No…”
It glowed brighter. Twilight felt Guider’s presence leave the bedroom, but she never took her eyes off of Applebloom.
“Gods, no…”
She started to shake the motionless pony.
“NO NO NO NO NO!!!”
The bedroom door swung open.
“The hell is goin’ on? Twilight? What in tarnation are ya-” Applejack’s sleep addled voice went silent as she fully took in the sight.
A sobbing Twilight, gripping a limp and unmoving Apple Bloom.
“Tell me ya stopped her…”
“I-I couldn’t, I tried…”
“Tell me she ain’t dead…”
Twilight remained silent.
“TELL ME SHE AIN’T DEAD!!”
Twilight started to respond, but was shoved aside by the orange mare. Applejack took her younger sister into her forelegs. She buried her face into the strawberry colored mane and wept. Her body was still warm. She wasn’t dead. She was just sleeping…
She was just asleep.
Applejack’s eyes snapped open.
SHE WAS JUST ASLEEP.
“The Guider did this…” Applejack’s voice was low, struggling to keep a cry of rage from tearing itself from her throat. “She took mah sister from me…”
The farm mare released her grip on her sister and looked down at her. She had a peaceful smile on her face. And now…
She would be joining their parents in Applejack’s dreams.
More deaths had occurred before this meeting had taken place. Apple Bloom and Shimmer’s deaths were still hitting home. Things were going to get solved, for their deaths would not be in vain.
“There is a dark evil that is sweeping the land.” Celestia began. “Atrocious acts that have been going unpunished.” She tapped a hoof on the huge marble table. “What’s even more disturbing is that someone is making a mockery of us while committing these acts.”
“Making a mockery out of us?” Rarity repeated, “And what low-browed buffoon would have the sheer audacity to commit such an act? And how so?”
“The Guider…” Twilight started. “I saw her…she was an Alicorn…”
Silence dropped into the room for a moment. Pinkie was the first to break it.
“An Alicorn?” Pinkie chortled at the comment, “No way! The only Alicorns around here are you guys, and there’s NO WAY any of you could do something like that!”
“Then its simple.” Cadence replied. “There’s clearly someone out there that’s using magic to look like us.”
“Not possible.” Twilight stated.
“Why wouldn’t it be?” Cadence questioned. “There’s all sort of creatures out there capable of wielding magic. Surely there is one who would have the ability to make themselves appear to be an Alicorn.”
“I’m telling you, its not possible.”
Cadence rolled her eyes at her sister-in-law, “Alright then…why is it not possible?”
“Any creature that is able to wield magic is going to have a different anatomy that allows them to use it. Even amongst the pony tribes, who are all nearly genetically similar, still have differences in how they use their magic. Unicorns have horns to channel their magic. Pegasi use their wings and the tips of their hooves, while Earth Ponies use the entirety of their hooves to siphon Magic from the ground around them to cycle through their bodies and give them their famous strength.” Twilight started. “With that being said, one creature cannot use magic in a way that is exactly like another, if they don’t have that anatomy to do so. Remember when Rarity couldn’t use magic like a Pegasus? She made gossamer wings, and imbued them with magic to give her the ability of flight. It’s the same concept.” She rose from her chair, “And if Fluttershy and Dash were to lose their wings, it could have a serious side effect on their skeletal system. Pegasi skeletons are lighter by nature due to evolution from their habitat and lifestyle. The only reason it didn’t do anything to them when Discord took their wings, is because his magic already doesn’t follow the laws of well…anything.” She looked at the group, “And sure…there probably is a spell out there that could permanently change a pony into say…a griffin, or a Yak, but the sheer amount of magic to do so would burn the creatures magical conduits permanently.”
“How do you know all of this?” Cadence started angrily. “What sort of experiments have you done to come to these…conclusions?!”
Twilight brayed angrily and slammed her forehooves on the ground, “BECAUSE I’M THE PRINCESS OF FUCKING MAGIC, CADENCE!!”
Celestia raised a hoof, “Twilight, control yourself!-”
“NO!” Twilight screamed, “You’re too damn busy worrying about the image of the Alicorns! That’s not what this meeting is about!” she pointed at Applejack, Fluttershy, and Rainbow Dash,
“LOOK AT THEM!”
Celestia, Luna, and Cadence obeyed. The three mares looked so emotionally worn, so distraught, and clearly robbed of sleep from their devastative events in their lives.
“They’ve lost some of the most important ponies in their lives!” Twilight raged on. “Look at Fluttershy and Rainbow! They’re like most citizens in this kingdom; crying over the loss of their child! And Applejack, for a sister she raised like a daughter, the loss if just as devastating for her! This is about them, and all of the other citizens in Equestria! When this started, they were injured! Applejack almost died!” she slammed her hooves again, “It should’ve been taken care of then and there!” her eyes started to get glassy with angry tears while she pointed at the other three Alicorns, “You three aren’t nearly as connected to magic as I am. You’re not ripped from your sleep because you can feel something killing our citizens EVERY SINGLE NIGHT! HOW LONG?! HOW MANY MORE HAVE TO DIE FOR THIS TO END?!”
Celestia rose from her chair, “Do you think we are letting this continue because we wish for it to?!”
Twilight’s fur bristled. “Continue?! If we had done a better job ruling Equestria, this shouldn’t have ever started to begin with!”
Celestia and Twilight’s eyes locked in on each other. Storm of emotion pooled and swirled behind them as the sheer power of the Sun and the might of Magic stared each other down. Celestia sighed and sat down.
Magic had won.
“So…there is no other way around it?...” Celestia looked back up at her, “There is no doubt that it is an Alicorn?”
Twilight breathed out, calming herself as she returned to her seat. “There is no doubt. Believe me…I have looked into every single magical and logical aspect of this. There’s no way around it.”
“Well…” Fluttershy began, “I know that this may seem…um, a bit farfetched…but is there a possibility that there is another Alicorn out there?”
“Other Alicorns?” Celestia tapped her chin thoughtfully. There could be. While there aren’t recordings in history of previous Alicorns besides the ones here in this room…the tomes only talked of Equestria’s history. Even she had created Cadence and Twilight with her magic. Discord, Chrysalis...even Sombra and Starswirl, were beings who wielded deity-like magic. It was possible there were others in their world, who secretly wielded magic that rivaled their own. Twilight shot that possibility down.
“We are the only Alicorns in existence, at this moment.” Twilight stated as she looked at her friends, “I know you girls think that when I’m not with you all, I’m holed up in my castle with my face buried in a book. In reality, I have taken this role very seriously. I have trained my body for years to strengthen my magic and my bond with my Element. Being the Bearer of Magic, has given me the ability to pick up sources of powerful magic. For example, Discord has the ability to slip in between dimensions. His magic is so…unique, that when he appears in our dimension, I can feel his presence almost immediately.” She started to intently focus on the details of the council table. “After I figured out the Guider was an Alicorn, I began to dedicate as much time as possible teleporting around Equestria, honing in on every single source of remotely powerful magic that existed. It helps that I’m an Alicorn, and have a general idea of how much excess magic we give off. And nowhere in Equestria, did I feel that amount of magic coming from anything that was like an Alicorn. So we are the only ones.”
Dash trembled with barely contained rage, “So…what you’re saying…is that it was one of you…” she slowly stood up, “Royalty or not, one of the Alicorns in this room killed her baby girl.
And as an enraged and hurt parent, she was going to make them pay.
“So?” Dash started, her voice clearly dripping with malice and betrayal. “Which one of you did it?”
The four Princesses looked at one another.
Who had committed countless acts of murder?
Dash’s hoof crackled with powerful lightning magic. She slammed it on the table, the power behind her stomp putting large cracks into it. She was ready to unleash that same power on one of those Alicorns.
“WHICH ONE OF YOU DID IT?!?!”
Twilight looked over at Dash, “You know I wouldn’t do this to you, Rainbow Dash. You have to believe me…”
Dash briefly glanced over at Twilight. She had been in Dash’s life for years now, been exposed to every strength and weakness the Princess of Magic had. Twilight was part of her family. No…she wasn’t the one.
But she didn’t know the other three as well.
She had not gone on adventures with them. Fought battles along side them. Grown up with them.
All she knew was that one controlled the Sun and was Twilight’s former mentor. One controlled the moon, was the sister of the Sun, and had been reformed from the fierce Nightmare Moon. One was the ruler of a vast and distant crystal kingdom, and was Twilight’s sister-in-law.
But that was all she knew. That, and that it had to be one of them.
“Which one of you killed Shimmer Blitz?” Frothing rage began to seep from Dash’s mouth. “Which one of you killed Apple Bloom? Which one of you had the ability to take my kid from me? To take AJ’s sister? To take away other’s loved ones, and not feel a fucking thing?! Which one of you is the Guider?!”
“I couldn’t do such a thing!” Cadence started. “I’m the Princess of Love! Love is all I know. I could never desecrate Love in such a way!”
Celestia turned to her, “Such simple statements will not hold here…”
Cadence raised a brow incredulously, “What are you implying?!”
“You misinterpret the meaning of my words. I’m merely implying that-”
Another crack filled the air as a chunk of the table crumbled off from Dash slamming her hooves on it again.
“Which one of you high and mighty horses KILLED MY DAUGHTER?!” Dash raged on, “Do you not have the guts to take off those pretty little bracelets and tiaras, and face me like a grown mare?!”
Luna rose from her seat with fire behind her eyes. The royal blood that flowed in her veins would not stand for this.
“THOU DARE SPEAK TO US IN SUCH A MANNER?!” Luna’s Royal Canterlot voice boomed. “LEARN THY PLACE, RAINBOW DASH!! THY GRIEF HAS MADE YOU FAR TOO COMFORTABLE IN OUR PRESENCE! THOU ARE A BEARER OF THE ELEMENT OF LOYALTY, AND A GUARDIAN OF EQUESTRIA! BUT WE ARE THINE PRINCESSES, AND AS SUCH, WE COMMAND AND DESERVE THY RESPECT!!”
“Your title doesn’t mean shit to me! A murderer wearing a crown is still a fucking murderer, and one of you is the Guider!!”
Luna’s horn glowed dangerously, “THOUST TEST OUR PATIENCE, PEGASUS!!”
Dash’s eyes narrowed, “AND YOU’RE TESTING MINE!!”
“ENOUGH!!!”
The force of Luna’s voice sent the Mane Six save for Twilight sent them to the floor. Luna left her place at the table as Dash rose to her hooves. She didn’t give a shit that this was Princess. All she knew, was that one of those damned Alicorns had taken Shimmer away from her and Fluttershy. She wanted revenge for their dead daughter. Twilight stepped in between Luna and Dash, her wings splayed to shield her closest friends.
“LEAVE THEM ALONE!” Twilight boomed back in her own Royal Canterlot Voice.
“I am not going to fight thee, fellow Princess.” Luna replied. “I only wish to remind Rainbow Dash of her place.”
Twilight’s ear twitched. Her eyes narrowed at Luna. She snapped her wings shut and her jaw clenched.
“Is something the matter, Twilight?” Celestia questioned.
The former student cleared her throat, “No…I just feel a mild headache coming on…” she returned to her seat. Her friends knew something was up, but remained silent as they returned to their seats as well.
“This is going nowhere.” Cadence started up. “Nopony is going to confess to multiple counts of murder.”
Celestia lightly clacked their hooves together. “All we can do now, is wait…”
Twilight’s eye twitched, “Wait? Wait for what, another attack?” she rose from her seat again, “I’m done. This isn’t going to keep going on while we sit here with our hooves up our asses.” She started to trot out of the room, “Let’s go girls…we’re done here.”
The Mane Six nodded and followed her out the door. The other Princesses said nothing. They knew that once Twilight was done discussing something, that was it. Pinkie tentatively approached her as they walked,
“So…what now?” Pinkie questioned.
Twilight looked over her at her pink friend, “I…I honestly don’t know…but I’m going to do something. Just give me a little bit of time…and I promise, I’ll have something figured out.”
With that, they all left the castle with emotions still running high and problems unresolved. They would just have to have faith in the only Princess that they trusted.
-MLP-
Applejack was still coping with the loss of her sister. She was sitting at the kitchen’s dining table, watching the moon being risen by Luna. She sipped on a mug that was filled with the hardest cider her family had ever made. Suddenly, there was banging at the door that led from the kitchen to the west orchards. She groaned as she slid from the chair and walked over to the door. She sighed as her sugary pink companion giddily bounced in place before her.
“What is it, Pinkie?” Applejack asked in an annoyed and tired tone.
“OMIGOSH, you’re not gonna believe this, but Twilight found a way to figure out who the killer is!” Pinkie squealed out as she wrapped her forelegs around the farmer. Applejack wheezed before slightly pushing herself out of the grasp.
“Whaddya mean she figured it out?”
Pinkie grabbed one of the farmer’s forelegs, “TO THE LIBRARY!”
Before Applejack could object, Pinkie snatched her out the door and dragged her to the library.
-MLP-
The Mane Six were gathered around in the library’s living room, eager to hear what idea Twilight had to share.
“Alright, so I know this is going to sound crazy…but hear me out.” Twilight began. “The idea came to me when Pinkie decided to come over and made me watch this strange movie…” she rubbed her chin thoughtfully, “I believe it was called ‘Dreamception’ or something like th-”
“It’s called ‘Inception’, silly filly!” Pinkie corrected in a playful tone.
Rarity arched a brow, “Really? Well, while I think Leoneighdo De Coltprio is quite the stunning creature to look at, that’s still a move that takes quite a bit of focus and patience to watch.” She eyed Pinkie, “And with our friend here…”
Pinkie giggled, a goofy grin plastered on her face.
“Who has a diet that would kill most creatures within a week or two, surely couldn’t have been able to sit through that movie with all that sugar coursing through her body, much less suggest the movie to someone else.”
Twilight smirked, “Well, our dear Pinkie, ever the pony full of surprises, did just that. And I couldn’t be happier about it.” She stood up, “Seeing as how we know what that movie is about, I’ll get straight to the point. I figured that if its one of us…I could build a machine and go into the brains of the other princesses themselves. We can go into their dreams, and get the information that we need to figure out which one did it.” She teleported, and almost instantly returned with a strange shiny black sphere hovering in her forehooves. “This here, is that machine. Except, its even better than the one in the movie. Without hooks and cables and cerebral connectors of the sort, we can simply transfer our subconsciousness into the orb, which will act as a gateway into the dreams of anyone we wish to get into.”
“Well, what we waitin’ fer, an invitation? Let’s get this show on the road an’ figure out which one of them killed my sister!” Applejack declared angrily.
Rarity held up a hoof, “Wait a minute…while I’m more than happy to oblige in this task, I’m not really feeling tired at the moment. And the more excitable we get, the chance of us sleeping will only get slimmer.”
“Not a problem, I thought of that too.” Twilight’s horn flashed, and a vial with a dark blue liquid appeared in the middle of the group.
“Simply take one sip, and its into dreams you will slip!” she rhymed in the best Zecora impression she could muster, lightly laughing with self-amusement. Applejack snatched up the vial and popped the top,
“See ya’ll on the other side!” she stated before taking a gulp and setting the vial back down. Her eyelids began to fall, and within a matter of moments, she was sprawled out on the floor. The rest each took a swig of the sleeping potion, bringing near instantaneous sleep. They all drifted off to the land of dreams…
Applejack jumped up with a start. she jerked her head around frantically, trying to take in her surrounds. She grimaced as she practically felt her heart drop into her stomach.
She was back in the open field, the moon once again looming over her.
As she stared up though, she noticed a new and eerie detail in her surroundings.
The moon was a shade of dark crimson, bathing the world around them in a deep, red glow.
She suddenly felt calm. Safe. Her friends were nearby, though she didn’t know where yet. As she looked around in the sea of grass that came up to her chest, she felt drawn into a certain direction. She started to trot in that direction, but stopped. She recalled the last time she felt the need to go somewhere.
She almost paid with her life.
There it was again. The feeling of safety, stronger than ever, and beckoning her to come to it. She hesitated for a few moments more before beginning to gallop. From the corner of her eye, she saw a rainbow streak rise from the grass and into the sky.
Rainbow Dash.
She followed the Pegasus, “RD, wait up!!” she shouted, earning the attention of the Wonderbolt. Dash immediately turned around and landed in front of her,
“Do you feel that?” Dash stared up at the Moon, “I was freaking out when I realized where we were. I started to look for Flutters, but then I felt this…‘thing’, calling me. we have to find it!”
Applejack only nodded before breaking out into a gallop, with Dash closed behind. They ran and ran, until they finally came to the source of soothing aura.
Twilight rose up from the grass as the rest of their group bounded up to her. The princess giggled and bounced a little.
“It worked!” Twilight squealed. “It seems that we have a somewhat telepathic connection to each other while we are in this place!” she tapped her chin, “I wonder if we can talk to each other without talking, or is the projection of emotions an effective way of communication.” She clacked her hooves together in geeky excitement, “I mean, just think of all the possibilities! We can use this as a way to-”
Dash slapped her hoof over Twilight’s mouth, “NOPE! No. Don’t start one of your scientific rants right now, we ain’t got the time for it.” She felt an involuntary shudder rack through her. “Let’s wrap this up, please…”
Twilight moved Dash’s hoof, “Is this…where you girls were?”
Fluttershy shrank a bit before nodding.
“I see…well…that definitely solidifies my theory that the Guider is in fact an Alicorn.” She looked around, her eyes squinting as she made out a surreal version of Canterlot Castle, which was somehow creeping towards them at an undetermined speed.
“And all of the answers we’re looking for are going to be in there…”
Fluttershy looked over at her, “How much time do we have? I don’t think a lot because Celestia would have to get up earlier to raise the sun, right?”
Twilight nodded, “We have exactly 5 hours and 36 minutes before the sun will be lifted up.” Dash and Applejack bounded past her and started making their way to the castle.
“Then let’s do this!” They shouted in unison.
-MLP-
Time felt distorted as the group dragged their hooves across the thick luscious red carpet that rolled down yet another long corridor. How long had they been here?
“Twi, don’t ya live here? Why don’t ya now where we are?” Applejack questioned.
Twilight looked around, “The layout keeps changing. We’re in someone else’s dream. Whether they’re changing the layout manually or unknowingly, it’s keeping us from getting where we need to go.”
“We’re never going to find out who it is at this rate!” Rarity whispered in a panicked tone. “Of all the worst things that can happy, this is THE. WORST. POSSIBLE. THING!”
“Rarity, shut up! Yer dramatic blubberin’ is gonna give away our position!” Applejack hissed.
“I don’t think it matters at this point…” Fluttershy spoke softly. They turned to see that she was looking down a corridor that looked different from the others. The carpet started red, but morphed into a deep and dark blue. The air flowing through the hall was cool and crisp. The only light coming down the hall, was from an open door at the end of the hall that was letting in bright moonlight.
Moonlight…
Without hesitation, the mares began making their way to the huge doors. When they got close enough, they positioned themselves to where they could see inside. What they saw, terrified them.
The glittering dark chest piece.
The midnight black fur.
The turquoise irises with slitted pupils.
The gleaming white fangs bared and lips twisted into a wicked sneer.
All of the unmistakable features of the first enemy they had ever faced together.
Nightmare Moon.
Applejack had to tightly clasp a hoof onto Pinkie’s mouth and pull her back as a silenced scream rumbled into it.
“What the hell is this?” Dash whispered. “We destroyed Nightmare Moon…how is it possible she’s back?”
Twilight crept back up to the door. The others followed. They peered deeper inside, only to find another shocking detail,
Luna was standing in front of her.
This time, it was Pinkie who mashed a hoof over Applejack’s mouth to prevent her from letting forth a stream of curses. The pink pony ‘shhhh’d her friend and looked over at Twilight,
“What’s going on? I’m super-duper confused now…”
When Pinkie got no response, the rest of her friends looked at their Alicorn. Twilight never tore her gaze away. They simply followed her gaze when they realized they’d get no response.
“I must say…I’m quite impressed with what you have been doing with yourself.” Nightmare admitted as she slowly circled the Princess of the Moon.
“I don’t know why. I am simply giving ponies a chance to show appreciation for the night.”
“Oooh, but the way you’re doing it is so…dark.” Nightmare flicked her fluid tail under Luna’s chin, earning a quick smack to her hoof,
“Don’t touch me, creature.” Luna hissed.
“Oh, don’t be so cruel…after all, I’m your ‘friend’.” She slid closer to Luna and breathed hotly in her ear. The action was unwanted, and the demon of the moon received a powerful shove.
“Do not test me, Nightmare Moon.” Luna’s horn glowed with a dangerous light, “I will kill thee if thoust continue to make a mockery out of me.” she took a couple steps towards the demon. “I am not the same mare from a millenium ago. Thou will not break me and mold me to fulfill thy dark desires again. So get to thy point, before I end this meeting, and make sure that we are NEVER to meet again.”
Nightmare chuckled, “Relax, I’m not here to fight you, my friend. I really have come to admire the work that you have done.” She proceeded to walk to the windowsill, “You do realize that your followers only follow you when they have nowhere else to turn, correct?”
Luna leered at her, “My children come with me because I give them eternal love and happiness. Not even my sister is capable of such a feat.”
Nightmare nodded, an evil grin on her face, “I see…and at what cost? What is the price for love and happiness? Lies and murder?”
Luna stomped a hoof, “I truly give them happiness!”
Nightmare rolled her eyes, “Yes, but that doesn’t negate the fact that you kill them off in order to do so.” She held a hoof up, “Don’t get me wrong, I find the idea of murder simply…delightful, but my curiosity gets the best of me when it comes to one little detail.” She looked up and sneered at her,
“Do the other Princesses know?”
Luna said nothing. Her face remained cold as she glared at Nightmare, whose smile grew wider with realization.
“They don’t know.” She stated as more of a confirmation than a question.
Luna averted her gaze, “They do not…”
Nightmare teleported herself next to Luna, “You’re terrible!!” she squealed with sheer and dark delight. “How have you been managing to keep this a secret?”
Luna tilted her head away, “What I do is not thine concern.”
“Very well. You don’t have to tell me exactly how you go about doing this. But I am here to…pass on an idea with you.” she leaned in closer to her former host, “As you already know, I am Terror incarnate. I have the ability to instill complete and total fear. I can make nightmares real, bring true tangible horror to them, for we both know my power goes being the sleeping realm.” She rose to her hooves, “When the ponies are trapped in the terrors from both the sleeping and waking worlds, they will flock to your offerings of peaceful dreams for all eternity. Your power of the night and your secret kingdom will FLOURISH!” her smile went wild and wide, her fangs sparkling in the moonlight. She moved to stand in front of the true Princess of the night.
“With my powers, you and I go make a powerful team. We can rise from your sister’s shadow, and overthrow the Sun Kingdom forever!”
Luna rose to her hooves as well, “WE will not be doing anything together.” She stared down Nightmare. “I had ruled over my beautiful kingdom long before we ever met. I do not need thine dark magic to get followers, when I can have them come of their own volition.” Her horn shined brightly and her eyes matched the same intense light, “Thou will never have a say in how my kingdom comes to rise! Thou will never have any type of control over anything that belongs to me, and thoust most certainly will NEVER be given another chance to control me!” she stomped a hoof, causing he world to rumble, “NOW BEGONE, BEFORE I KILL THEE!”
Unfazed, Nightmare slowly walked back to the windowsill, “You won’t do it. I’m the only one who understands you and approves of the dark little kingdom that you created.”
Luna’s horn and eyes lost their shine. Nightmare smiled again,
“Shall we take a trip to the garden?”
Luna leered at her, “Thoust are not to come with me.”
Nightmare gave her a faux pout, “Aw, am I not allowed to see your kingdom?” she put a hoof to her forehead, “Oh help me, Princess! I am wrought with never ending terrors and I seek your beautiful eternal dreams!” she floated out the window. Luna let out a small defeated sigh before following her out. The Mane 6 crept into the room and looked out the window. Luna was standing in between Nightmare and a strange portal. Luna was now wearing something that brought horrified shudders ripple through Applejack, Fluttershy, and Dash.
A brown cloak encircled her body.
Luna was conversing with Nightmare, but they couldn’t make out what she was saying. They could only read their expressions.
Luna’s angry glare.
Nightmare’s gleaming fangs as her mouth was pulled into a sickly delighted smile.
The glare vanished. Nightmare eased closer to Luna and raised her hoof.
Luna stared down at it for a moment, before taking it into one of her own.
The two departing through the portal, which closed upon their passing.
The group sat in Luna’s bedroom, shocked into stunned silence.
Luna was the Guider.
She was murderer. She almost killed Applejack, Fluttershy, and Dash. She killed Applebloom…Shimmer Blitz. Killed them while they’re supposed to be peacefully sleeping.
Fluttershy let out an amalgamation of an angered scream and a sob. Applejack bit her bottom lip to keep her emotions in check, drawing blood from the force of it. Dash stood there, fury rumbling deep from her core. The very air around Dash started to sizzle with electricity from her barely contained wrath. The skies started to brighten as Celestia began to rise the sun in the waking world, forcing the mares out of the room.
Tomorrow was upon them…and it would be the day the Guider fell…
Luna had vanished. Disappeared from the plane of existence that they resided on.
The Guider was in hiding.
Celestia was not sure how to take the news at first. Her sister, the mass murderer? What was she thinking? Why was she doing this?
She had to find her. Had to end this. Make sure this never happened again.
“She didn’t exactly say where this kingdom of hers was, but she left a clue…” Twilight stated.
Pinkie cleared her throat before impersonating Nightmare, “Shall we take a trip to the garden?”
Celestia stared at the living pink recorder for a moment, quickly decoding the meaning of the sentence.
“The gateway must be in the garden.” Celestia easily replied before quickly turning and starting to stride to one of the castle’s gardens. The others quickly fell into step, nearly galloping to keep her pace.
“The moon blossoms grow in the southern most garden. More than likely, that’s where we’ll find the gateway.” Celestia stated as they entered the massive garden.
And then everything shifted so fast.
The moon began to rise on its own, despite it being midday. The blue sky quickly faded into an eerily peaceful darkness. Stars began to dot the sky.
Celestia and the Mane Six started to pack closer together as the Moon Blossoms bloomed in all of their glory. There was a deafening roar as a portal tore apart the fabric of their dimension. An Alicorn stepped out. Her coat was a rich shade of dark blue, that glittered like the night sky above them. Her mane and tail flowed like cosmic star matter. She stared down at them with dark turquoise orbs, her expression unreadable. She was cladded with a silver chest plate and matching garments, and a tattered brown cape billowed in the breeze.
“Nightmare Moon…” Celestia hissed. “What have you done with my sister?!”
The Alicorn slowly shook her head, “I took her powers. Nightmare Moon is no more.”
Celestia’s eyes had a brief glimmer of hope. “Luna?”
The Alicorn once again shook her head. “She no longer exists as you knew her to be.” She looked up at the moon, “I have renounced my old ways as a young and foolish princess of the moon.” she looked deep into her sister’s eyes, “I am Eternal Slumber, Empress of the Night.”
Dash took a step forward, “WHY DID YOU DO IT?!”
Eternal looked down at the Wonderbolt, “I save your daughter from her suffering. From her turmoil and damnation. I’m sorry that you do not grasp the depths of my kindness, but for someone dealing with such mental and emotional suffering, I couldn’t avert my gaze from her no longer.” She focused on Applejack, “Applejack…did you think you were the only one who missed their parents? Apple Bloom never got to truly know the love of her mother and father. They never saw any of the successes in her life. It destroyed her, whether you could see it or not. If she wished to be with her parents…who am I to deny her the chance to be loved by the parents she never had in the waking world?” her eyes settled back on her sister of the sun.
“I have always been in your shadows, Celestia.” Eternal began. “For thousands upon thousands of years, we ruled Equestria. But you and I both know that you were the one that the subjects adored. You were the one that was practically worshipped. You have been loved since the dawn of our kingdom. Dare I even say our kingdom?” she looked down at the ground, “This place…was never really our kingdom, but yours. The Kingdom of the Sun…” she smiled. It was a soft, sweet…and frighteningly genuine smile. “But I don’t mind. I did at first, I’ll admit that. But I was young. Foolish. Yearning for the same affection that was handed to you by so many others. And in that weakness, I was transformed into Nightmare Moon. Respect turned to fear, and of course…the rest is history. And for a thousand years, you moved my prison around the planet.” She looked up at the glowing avatar above her,
“But…I don’t feel bad. Not anymore. I have no ill will towards you, my sister…and I will always love you.” she lowered herself to the ground, a surge of power radiated off of her. Gravity began to shift. “Keep your kingdom. It is beautiful and lively and wonderful, and I will not take that from you.”
Blood red began to bathe the moon.
“However…just because I wont take your kingdom, doesn’t mean that I wouldn’t make my own. Rather than take from you, and rule with an iron hoof, I began to build my own. I love and care and care for my citizens…all of whom appreciate my everlasting night.”
Celestia started to walk towards her sister, but a star slammed into the ground in front of her. A yellow, transparent hoof appeared on the edge of the hole. The hoof was soon followed by a pony matching in color. Applejack’s pupils pinpricked,
“Apple Bloom?”
Her younger sister looked at her, with a gentle smile on her face. She took a couple steps towards the orange mare, “Ah’m so happy, AJ. Ah got ta see Ma an’ Pa again. They’re both…the most amazin’ parents Ah’ve ever met! Ah’m so blessed to call em my own!”
Another star collided with the ground. Another pony rose from the hole. She wordlessly walked over to a stunned Dash and Fluttershy.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry…I’m sorry for the way I treated you both. Deep down, I love you, even when we fought.”
Fluttershy stroked a hoof through the filly’s mane, “And we’ll always love you, no matter what, my beautiful little angel.”
Shimmer smiled, “I really am your angel now, aren’t I?”
Dash squeezed her eyes shut in a pitiful attempt to keep her tears in. She wrapped a wing protectively around her daughter,
“Yeah squirt…you sure are.”
Eternal tilted her head in Shimmer’s direction, “Come, my child.”
Without hesitation, Shimmer removed herself from her parents’ forelegs and walked over to Eternal. Fluttershy and Dash looked on, mortified at the absolute loyalty of their daughter as she stood beside the Alicorn. Dash’s shock morphed into rage.
“Give her back to me!” she started to gallop towards Eternal, but another set of stars slammed into the earth in front of her hoof. From the craters, rose her parents.
“Mom…I have to get my kid.” She pawed at the ground, “Please don’t make me go through you to get to her…”
Firefly gave her a soft smile and clicked her tongue, “You’re like any other parent…trying to do what’s best for their kid.” Her eyes glowed a fierce white, “I’ll do just the same for you…”
Her pink hoof slammed into the side of Dash’s skull with a sickening crunch. Fluttershy screamed in horror as the Pegasus rolled and tumbled across the garden grounds. Firefly was instantly in front of Fluttershy,
“Daughter-in-law…I’ll help you join us in the eternal love of our dearest Mother of Dreams.”
She reached for Fluttershy, but was tackled by Applejack. They rolled in the dirt, pounding away at each other with heavy hooves. Eternal’s horn glowed with ethereal magic before she fired a beam at Applejack. Applejack cried out as it tore into her back, singing her fur and the top layer of skin, revealing the toned muscle that she had earned from decades of farm work. She screamed in agony and was pushed off by the pink Pegasus. Eternal stomped a hoof,
"Firefly, ENOUGH!!"
Firefly flinched and turned to face her, “My apologies, Your Majesty…” she walked back to her and took her place beside her. Eternal surveyed the damage.
“I apologize, dear sister…I did not know she would act this way.”
Rarity and Fluttershy were helping the injured Element Bearers to their hooves, pulling them into the protective circle of their group. Celestia could only look on at her sister with a sorrowful expression etched onto her features. Twilight’s horn glowed dangerously as the lavender Alicorn took on an angry stance. Celestia sadness turned to horror as Twilight bared her teeth,
“You monster…how could you turn their own family members against them?!” her eyes took on a purplish hue, “How could you do this to us? We were your friends! Your family! How could you betray us like this?!”
Celestia suddenly jumped in front of Twilight, earning an amused smirk from Eternal.
“Wait, please, you can’t do this!”
Twilight’s ferocity faltered, “What?”
Tears pricked at Celestia’s eyes, “You can’t do this…” she bit her bottom lip to bite back more tears, “She’s my sister…”
“Celestia, we can’t let her get away with this!”
Celestia gently placed a hoof onto Twilight’s shoulder, “I…I know. I will not burden you with this…I will be the one to end this…”
She turned away from the stunned group, her eyes going cold and a glow emanating from her coat.
“You have turned against me once more, Sister. But if you are truly doing this of your own free will, without the influence of Nightmare Moon…then this is worse…” she slowly walked towards Eternal, “You’ve brought utter chaos and destruction to the kingdom…put its citizens in a state of fear unlike anything I’ve ever seen.” The Moon was slowly being forced down by the Sun, losing its hue. “You have committed the most vile and atrocious crime that can be committed…you have murdered thousands of the very citizens we both swore to protect.”
Eternal did not stare at her sister in fear or rage. She simply looked on at her approaching sister. She did not flee, nor did she attempt to charge at her.
“Your actions are cruel and despicable, and I cannot let you continue this onslaught against Equestria any longer. Eternal Slumber…you leave me no choice. I will take your life in order to save others…”
Eternal’s kindness for Celestia evaporated in an instant, “You’re going to attempt to kill me because your citizens wish to fall under my rule? You wish to kill me…because I can love them better than you ever could?!” Firey stars fell from the heavens, leaving flaming craters around them,
“YOU’RE GOING TO TRY TO KILL ME, BECAUSE I AM FINALLY GETTING MORE RESPECT THAN YOU?!”
She glanced at Firefly and Apple Bloom,
“Return back to the kingdom. Let the citizens know that their Queen will be bringing more citizens, and to make preparations to welcome them into my beautiful dreams!”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” They replied with obedient unison. A bright light surrounded them before they vanished into the nothingness. Eternal’s glare refocused on Celestia, her eyes gleaming with newfound fury,
“Very well then, sister. You wish to make an attempt to attack me and my beautiful kingdom?” she tilted her head towards the Moon. The paleness was once again gone, and replaced with a renewed fierce and angry red. The brightness of Celestia’s slowly approaching day was pushed back into the blackest of nights. Stars continued to shoot across the sky, leaving streaks of light in the skies above.
“Then as its Queen, I shall retaliate with brutal, unrelenting force…”
Eternal charged.
Celestia was shocked at the ferocity and speed of her sister as she dodged a jab of Eternal’s blackened horn. She didn’t even want to use the magic on the Sun Princess…
She wanted to stab her, and physically crush her beneath her hooves.
Angry tears sprung forth as she dodged another jab. She couldn’t believe this was happening. She staggered backwards, dancing lightly on her hooves as she avoided the rapid blows from Eternal. The dark Alicorn delivered a hoof jab with a quickness that tested Celestia’s reflexes. Celestia threw her weight to one side, but still felt the course hoof tear open the side of her neck, leaving a thick gash upon it.
Luna stared at the moon, “Hey, Tia?”
Celestia looked down at her younger sister, “Yes, Lulu?”
Celestia slammed her forelegs forwards towards the ground, causing the earth to crack. Eternal briefly lost her balance. The Night Queen quickly compensated, and snapped her head upward in an attempt to impale her sister through the throat. Realizing this, Celestia tucked her chin in, and their horns clashed with an audible crack and a small flurry of sparking magic. Their foreheads collided, and they both felt the pain of hairline fractures blooming from the impact point.
“You’re the best big sister a filly could ever hope for!”
Celestia chuckled and nuzzled Luna’s head, “And you’re the best little sister a mare could ever dream of having.”
She slammed a hoof into Eternal’s muzzle, earning a pained snarl from her. Deep blackish blue covered her field of vision, before she felt a hoof crack into her jaw. The impact forced her to bite down hard on the inside of her mouth, slicing her inner cheek open and filling her mouth with blood. She spat the lifeblood out, only to let out a pained whinny as she felt her shoulder get sliced opened by Eternal’s horn. She staggered back and lost focus, giving Eternal the opportunity to strike again. The horn pierced her side. It didn’t take long for her barrel to become dotted with holes from the keratin spear atop Eternal’s head.
“Tia?”
“Yes Lulu?”
Celestia snapped a wing out, smacking Eternal in the face and forcing her back. She tackled her, hearing a rib’s loud crack underneath the force. She swung at her cheek, feeling it crumple inward. She pounded at her face, again and again, feeling Eternal’s snout crunch under her hooves before she was shoved off and sent sprawling onto her back.
“Will you…will you leave me like Mommy and Daddy had to?”
Celestia frowned and shook her head, “Of course not Lulu…I’m not going anywhere.”
Eternal pounced on her, her horn slicing the side of Celestia’s face clean open. She lifted a heavy hoof and struck Celestia in the chest. Celestia wheezed as she felt a rib snap and puncture her lung. Eternal slammed her hoof into the same spot, sending the large bone fragment deeper into the fragile open. Celestia managed to raise a hoof and punch her in her already broken snout, sending Eternal reeling back and off of her.
“I’ll never leave you…and I’ll always protect you…”
In an instant, adrenaline forced Celestia back onto her hooves and lunging at her sister. Eternal barely dodged the sudden and continuing onslaught of horn jabs. Her stamina was beginning to run low, and the pain and tears from her broken snout were distracting. She felt the roughness of Celestia’s horn slice away at her. Her neck, her forelegs, her wings, her cheek. She tried to block the blows that were raining down on her, but it was futile.
“And I’m always going to do what’s best for you, because-”
“I WILL ALWAYS LOVE YOU SISTER!” Celestia brayed out in hurt and anguish as she rammed her horn into one of the many gaps in Eternal’s ribcage. Blood dribbled from the wound and down her forehead, mingling with the salted trails on Celestia’s cheeks. Eternal gasped softly as she weakly pushed herself off of Celestia’s horn. She stumbled over and placed a hoof over her spurting wound in a futile attempt to stop the bleeding. In her weakened state, her knees buckled, and Celestia swooped her into her forelegs before she hit the dirt.
“Get your hooves off of me…” Eternal weakly hissed as she flapped her hooves against Celestia’s chest.
“Luna…please…just let me hold you…” Celestia begged.
“I told you…I am no longer Luna…I am…Eternal Slumber…”
Eternal’s hooves dropped to her sides, and Celestia began to stroke her mane, briefly burying her face in it. The Mane Six tentatively surrounded them. A fire seemed to burn behind Eternal’s eyes as her gaze settled on Twilight for a moment. Twilight felt something cold and sickening nestle into the bottom of her heart under the piercing stare. A devilish smirk flashed across her features before she focused on getting her sister’s attention,
“Sister…you are very wrong…the prize that everyone wants…is respect. The war for respect will never end. When a champion rises to the top…there will always be another who wishes to challenge it…” she coughed up a bit of blood, “It seems that another power us already beginning to rise from the depths. Your precious Kingdom of the Sun has been around for a very long time…it is time for a new power to take control of Equestria…” her breathing became extremely labored, “Keep hold of your precious kingdom for as long as you can…someone is going to take that…and so much more from you, before you know it…”
Celestia eyebrows furrowed, “W-what do you mean by that?”
Eternal’s eyes shut for the final time, as the last of her breath left her lungs. Celestia felt the weight of her sister’s body relax. The moon and the sun disappeared for a few minutes, as the sky turned a reddish-purple. The Mane Six looked up in awe. They had never seen what the sky was like without it being controlled by one of the Alicorns. There were still stars in the sky that twinkled…who was controlling them? Celestia bowed her head to pay respect to her sister. Twilight put a hoof on her shoulder,
“I’m..I’m so sorry Celestia…is there anything we can do to help?”
Celestia shook her head, “No…please, just leave me to mourn…I will figure out what shall be done soon…”
Twilight nodded in understanding, before ushering the others to leave Celestia alone. Even in their victory…there would be nothing to celebrate.
It had been eight days since Eternal Slumber had been slain. But to the citizens of Equestria, it had been eight days since Princess Luna had fallen into the terminal stages of an ‘unknown disease’ she had been diagnosed with far before her ascension into Princesshood. Celstia would wait a few more days before announcing that she had passed on.
While it pained her to lie to them, she didn’t want the last image of her sister to be tainted by what she had done. Celestia hadn’t bother to raise the sun or the moon. Their world was stuck in a plane of existence where the sky stayed in the soft shades of purple and red, and the stars continued to glitter like diamonds.
Despite knowing of the reason…Twilight still thought it was beautiful.
The citizens of Equestria did not mind this strange and ethereal sky. While Celestia was taking the time to mourn her sisters death, as well as being the cause of it, Twilight took control of Equestria. She figured that Celestia would reassume control of the moon when she was ready, she would be in charge of this newly found timeframe.
It would be exactly one month, before Celestia emerged from her bedchambers and take over once more. Twilight was bit…dare she say it…displease, with stepping down. But, she knew it was for the best. Celestia had millenia worth of experience when it came to ruling a kingdom. But Twilight, no longer a pony to bite her tongue, had decided to bring her idea to the table.
“Celestia, I’ve been meaning to speak to you for a couple of days now, and I can’t contain my excitement any longer!”
Celestia, who enjoyed listening to Twilight’s ideas ever since she was a young filly, was all (albeit tired) smiles, “What exactly do you have in mind?”
Twilight’s smile faded a bit, “Before I continue, I must say this happened while you were…”
Celestia nodded in understanding, keeping Twilight from continuing that sentence further. Twilight cleared her throat, “Very well then. I’ll get straight to the point. During the battle with Eternal Slumber, and the month after, there was no Sun or Moon.” she looked out the window, “But that doesn’t mean that there was no light shining over Equestria. In fact, what was created in their absence is…incredible, to say the least.”
Celestia arched a brow, “What of it…”
“I want to make the beautiful sky appear everyday.” Twilight replied. “For a few hours, taking just a bit of time from Day and Night to make room for it.”
Celestia got a tiny frown on her face, “And what shall you name this…new idea of yours?”
Twilight’s brows slightly furrowed. Celestia’s displeasure did not go unnoticed. “I plan to call it ‘New Sky’, but that’s bound to change. I haven’t really worked out the details at the moment-why do you seem so upset about it?”
Celestia averted her gaze, “Twilight…I just…I don’t think its such a good idea…”
Twilight stared harder, “Why not?”
“It’s just….it was created from a bloody battle between my sister and I. I did not raise the sun or the moon while I mourned. That sky was…my penance. A harsh reminder of what I had done. That is not something I wish to celebrate nor recreate.”
“But sometimes…wonderful things can come from terrible events. That’s simply how life works.” Twilight placed a hoof onto one of Celestia’s own. “Look, you wont have anything to do with it. You’ll have control of Day and Night…and I’ll rule during New Sky.”
Celestia shook her head, “I’m sorry Twilight…but I cannot allow it.”
Twilight could feel her wings start to ruffle up in irritation, “So…you’ll continue to rule as you did before…and expect me to stand by like a backup plan? Like some royal pet?” Twilight retracted her hoof and stood tall, “Where in your mind do you think that’ll be okay?”
Celestia softly sighed, “There is no right or wrong when it comes to issues like this-”
“Issues? This is not an ‘issue’. This is an idea that you’re shooting down before even giving it a chance!”
“Is this because you wish to have greater responsibilities when it comes to ruling the kingdom? I have no objections in giving you control over the Night if you wish.”
Twilight rubbed her forehead, “I don’t want to be in control of Night. I want to be in control of something that I can make with my own hooves. Something I can nurture until I perfect it…and give it to the citizens.” She looked into Celestia’s eyes, “And as for ‘allowing’ me control…please keep in mind…that I am no longer your student…”
With that, Twilight walked past Celestia, keeping her gaze on her until she passed her. She shut the door behind her, leaving Celestia with her thoughts. Celestia sighed. She needed rest. She took to lying down in her bed, mental fatigue from the battle and returning to rule quickly draining her. It wasn’t long before she drifted off into a dreamless slumber.
-MLP-
It was soft at first, but still enough to rouse Celestia from her sleep. Her ears swiveled on her head, attempting to piece together what she was hearing. Was that screaming? Not quite…the sounds were loud though. Sharp whistles pierced the air. Whistles of…excitement and joy? Had she forgotten a holiday while she was in her slump? She sat up and looked out the window, immediately noticing that something was off.
The sky was neither blue from her Day or dark from her sister’s Night. The sky was streaked with hues of pink and red and purple. Stars flickered and burst in an intricate light show. She jumped up and galloped to her window. She peered down, the streets filled with the colorful masses of her citizens. They were indeed cheering, but for what? She received her answer when she heard a powerful voice boom from a tower on the other side of the castles massive courtyard,
“Thank you all for joining me in my creation of New Sky! Rejoice, as Day and Night are blended into a wonderful display of art, for all of you to enjoy! Please enjoy the festivities as I welcome us into the age of New Sky!”
The citizens cheering reached new peaks as fireworks began to shoot into the sky and joining the stars. Twilight pointed at a stage far below, bellowing out in the ever famous Royal Canterlot Voice,
“Vinyl Scratch, commence to dropping the base!!”
The famous Unicornian DJ obeyed, and the partying began. Celestia looked on in shock and horror as everyone celebrated this unseen betrayal from the librarian Princess. Now, she couldn’t even do anything about it. Disbanding this without an explanation would earn distrust from the citizens, and she didn’t have the mental fortitude at the moment to lie to them again. She looked over at Twilight as the Alicorn looked on at the swathes of the masses that partied below. Even from this distance, she could see the sparkle of excitement shooting back and forth in Twilight’s eyes. However, she would not go without speaking to the other Princess. She teleported into Twilight’s bed chambers, who continued looking on at the citizens. Celestia took a few steps towards her before Twilight’s ears swiveled in her direction,
“Its rude to enter without knocking…” she looked over her shoulder, “Anyway, I wanted to show this earlier, before I gave my speech. However, I was told by one of your maids that they had seen you sleeping, and I didn’t wish to disturb you.” A child-like smile began to plaster onto her face, “Isn’t it beautiful? Just look at it, its been a success! I didn’t realize that they would like it this much, but-”
“Twilight, how could you?!” Celestia snapped. “How could you do this? Go behind my back and disobey a direct order from your Princess-”
Her sentence was cut off by Twilight stomping a hoof. She spun around to face Celestia.
“Excuse me?!” Twilight boomed. “You are blind, Celestia. Blinded by your rage, and your hurt, and your selfishness!” she pointed to the window outside. “They love it, and it’s a chance for me to rule without my hoof being held! And so far, I’ve been doing quite well!”
“Twilight-”
“And another thing….” Twilight continued, her voice suddenly dropping to a dangerously low tone, “You? My Princess?” her eyes glowed with a fierce violet light, “You are not my Princess, you are a fellow Princess.” She took a couple steps forward, closing the distance between them. Celestia slid back slightly. Not because she wanted to…
But because the sheer magical surge that Twilight was generating was forcing her back.
“You cannot, and will not continue to treat me like a child. Like I’m still your student.”
The air around the lavender Alicorn began to sizzle as the magic in the air began to heat it up.”
“I am no longer your student. I would even go far enough to say…that we are not equals…”
The gravity seemed to shift to higher levels. Celestia struggled to keep her knees from buckling under her own weight.
“I have managed to in one month, what you and Luna took hundreds of years to perfect. I have the ability to raise the Sun and the Moon. I can color the skies to match Day and Night, and have created New Sky without any assistance.”
Her eyes glowed brighter as she used her magic to yank Celestia closer, until their noses were nearly touching. The weight of her power was slowing pushing the air out of the Sun Princess’ lungs. Something dark and dangerous roared behind Twilight’s eyes,
“I am you superior now…”
She released Celestia from her grasp, the force of her magic sending Celestia back a few feet. Twilight suppressed her magic and walked back to her balcony. A smile resurfaced on her features, acting as if nothing happened. Celestia slowly rose to her hooves and retreated to her quarters. Twilight looked back at where Celestia had been standing.
‘What right does she have to be the sole ruler? She clearly isn’t in the correct mindset to do the job. Besides…look at how they love New Sky. Look at how they celebrate in its birth and the light it gives. Its so beautiful and so amazing that-'
Twilight’s grin got bigger, “Its something that they should enjoy forever…”
