The real story of what happened when Nightmare Moon comes back after being banished for years...
What happens when you send Luna, the Moon goddess, to the moon? Banished, right? Watch her come back in full Nightmare form, ready to unleash her anger and fury onto every living soul in Equestria.
Luna was asleep in her chambers when she felt a disturbance in her dream. She looked around her dreamscape and saw a shadow slithering through it. “Who is out there?!” Luna called, slight panic in her voice. A hiss pierced through the dark, sending chills down her spine. Luna took a step back and found she couldn't move, she was surrounded by the darkness. The shadow figure moved closer, and she could tell it wasn’t a normal pony or creature. She was thoroughly scared now and tried to get away any way she could. She tried to fly only to find she was completely boxed in by darkness. Luna then tried to use her magic but was stopped by the shadows.
“Where do you think you are going?” A low hiss growled that seemed to come from all angles. She screamed as she felt like she were drowning, clawing for air at her neck. She saw a figure reaching out to grab her, then right when it did, she woke, sweat dripping down her brow. She sat up plank straight and calmed herself. “It’s just a dream” she whispered to herself. Although she did feel, different. She couldn't explain why though. Just then Celestia walked in and said simply “Luna? It’s time for your duties.”. Luna felt an inexplicable surge of hate and loathing toward her sister. She fought back the urge and got up and used her magic to lower the moon. Celestia grunted in un-amusement. She glared down at Luna, then swiftly left the room. Luna looked around and calmed her breathing. She went back to her bed and brushed her main and tail.
“Why did you lower it?” A voice, that voice, the voice from her nightmare hissed. Luna jumped and whirled her head, desperately trying to find the source. She answered through her own fear.
“It-it is my-my d-duties.” She stuttered. It slithered closer, she could feel the dark magic wavering off of the figure that stood before her. She shook in horror as she immediately recognized Discord. “No, NO! no...” She said going from her normal voice to yelling to whispering. Discord slithered closer, she felt him breathing and the dark essence wavering in the air. Luna fell to the floor her legs shaking too much from terror to stand any longer. “NO!” she yelled loud enough for the guards on the other side to hear. “UNLOCK IT!” the guards yelled from the opposite side of the door. The Discord shadow hissed and blocked the door best he could. A second or two went by and Luna could only whimper in fear. The door fell and the guard came running in his horn glowing a brilliant gold. The shadow hissed and disappeared.
Luna sat there trembling in shock and trauma. She couldn’t hear the guards, only the ringing seeming to go on and on. The guards sprinted out, then Celestia rushed in and looked disappointed and shook her head. Luna finally came back to her senses.
“You are so stupid!” Celestia screamed in disbelief after Luna told her story that Discord was back. “I-I..” Luna stared. “It is NOT funny to joke about HIM.” She said his name as if it were poison. “I-I am am sorry..” Luna muttered, trying to contain the hatred she felt. A burning sensation that had a craving for something unknown. A single voice-like hiss was faint in her head, just saying to her she had unbelievable power, stronger than her sister.. Celestia hit Luna across the face to get her out of her phase. “Agh!” Luna cried in pain. “Stupid girl!” Celestia snorted. “Mother would be ashamed.” She remarked then turned, purposely hitting Luna in the face with her back hoof while Luna was still lying there. Her nose started gushing blood, and when the guards came to aid, Celestia waved them off. Luna screamed. As loud as she could. She kept her eyes on Celestia, who had turned to see what the cause of the shout was. Luna charged at Celestia and hit her in the stomach with her horn, which had punctured her chest. The guards ran to hold Luna back from doing anymore damage. They dragged her shaking body to her room, then locked the doors. She cried as they clicked shut. Celestia lay there coughing while the guards carried her to the aid of the palace.
A Luna lay there she thought, “Why?” “Why what?” HIS voice answered “How can you hear me?” “You let me in deary.” “No. I didn't. what are you anyhow? you aren't, you CAN’T be Discord. So what are you?” “I, am darkness, fear, the shadows. I am part of you.” “No. I have no darkness in me, I may be the princess of the night but I’m no monster…” “What about Celestia? I know it felt good to hurt her. You’re so much stronger. You have so much more potential. Are you really going to throw that away?” “. . .” “Answer me Luna.” “No” “You hesitated, you’re lying Luna. I don’t like liars.”
Just then Luna felt a searing, white hot pain all over her body, It felt like she was on fire and being stabbed at the same time. “STOP!! Please… p-please…” Luna shouted growing weaker by the second. I DON’T LIKE LIARS…
As Celestia was getting her wound stitched up, she heard Luna’s scream. She dismissed it. “Let her suffer, after what she did to me she deserves it.” Celestia thought. Although she thought this way Celestia still loved her sister either way.
Back in the room with Luna it was dark again, the shadow was back. just then Luna began to stir. She looked around instantly recognizing IT. “no…” Luna muttered weakly. From the darkness emanated a light chuckle. “Now come Luna dear. I know you want to… And this time I hope you learned not to lie to me…” The shadows said. Luna got up on unsteady hooves and realized, she did. Oh so badly, she wanted her sister to hurt. To hurt more than she had, but most of all, she wanted to do it. “What do I need to do?” Luna said, still unsteady.
The shadow make a low chuckle. “That’s the spirit.” It moved across the room, then spoke again, “You have SO much magic, deary..” He laughed. “I know.. I know I do!” Luna felt powerful, then she grinned a grin only a mad pony could conjure. The shadow disappeared when the court nurse came in “Luna, are you alright?” She saw the grin. Luna felt enraged that the nurse was working with her sister, so she looked over to see a long syringe on the belt of the nurse. She used her magic then it lifted from the skirt, and stabbed the nurse multiple times, blood pouring from the wound. She screamed but Luna silenced her, putting one of her hoofs in her mouth.
Luna used her magic to gag the pony with one of her blankets, then she tied her up with the rest. The sheets turned a blood red as they got stained. Luna grabbed a scalpel and left the room, leaving the nurse to bleed to death. Luna walked down the hall, power surging through her body. Luna saw out of the corner of her eye her mane, it, it was changing. It had gone from her normal small, flowing star speckled mane to a large uncontrollable mane-mess. She saw a guard and before she could throw her scalpel her mane shot out and started to slowly raise the stalon, slowly choking him.
Luna giggled like the madmare she now was. She stabbed the corpse just to feel, to taste the blood. She loved them both, the taste and feel of the still warm blood, the coppery taste it left in her mouth. She moved on now mostly covered in crimson blood. “Yes, doesn't it feel wondrous Luna? And just imagine, you will soon be covered in Celestia’s blood!” The darkness said in Luna’s head. Luna shivered in pleasure at the thought of slowly killing Celestia.
Luna soon made it to Celestia’s door to her chambers. Luna chuckled insanely. Luna used a blast of magic to knock the doors down. “HELLOOOOOO CELESTIA!” Luna said in a more adult voice than she normally had. “LUNA!” Celestia yelled “What the hell are you DOING?! No… You’re not my sister. You’re a monster, a devil, a madmare!” Celestia went on, “BEGONE YOU CREATURE OF DARKNESS!!” Luna simply rolled her eyes and got into a fighting stance. “You know I didn't want this Luna, if you’re still in there… ” Celestia said making the elements of harmony appear around her, like a shield. “BE. GONE. YOU. BITCH.” Celestia said, her teeth clenched. The elements started to revolve around Celestia, making a brilliant glow that physically hurt Luna. Shots of red, orange, yellow, blue, dark purple, and magenta shot out wrapping around Luna sending her to imprisonment in the moon.
It had been years ago since Celestia banished Luna to the moon, and the moonless nights were full of terrifying nightmares for her. Celestia had woken up in the middle of the night almost every time she tried sleep. They were full of screams of her possibly dead sister she had still somewhat loved. Today a mare went crazy in the town so she was called down to see the big fuss. The mare’s name had been Lillian, and she was an indigo mare with a black mane and tail, and her eyes were grey. An interesting pony. She was talking about how Princess Luna would soon rise and rule all. Celestia was bewildered, so she put Lillian to death, only Lillian disappeared before her execution. Celestia didn’t know that the indigo mare was correct…
Luna laughed insanely as she rocketed down from the moon, still in Nightmare form, except her teeth were sharper, and her pupils were even smaller. She landed on her feet in a back alley of the village. She changed her appearance so she looked beautiful and seductive. She pranced out into the center of the city and up the royal palace stairs and into the throne room where Celestia sat. Every guard in the room collapsed after spitting blood onto the shiny floors. “Sister, how long has it been since I have been ‘banished’?” Luna asked. “I didn’t count. I wouldn’t do anything for a worthless bitch like you!” Celestia spat and got up from the throne. She glared with hatred in her eyes. Luna laughed, then the lights flickered, then went out, so shadows crept into every corner. “That’s not nice. My friends are mad..” She laughed again, then the shadow from her mind, the spirit of Discord, lashed out from the shadows. Celestia let out a bloodcurdling scream when he revealed himself. She cried and mumbled under her breath.
“I’ve had time with Discord here. He said that he is so longing to be free. And you better bet that by the time I’m finished with you…” Luna chuckled “I’ll be ruling with Discord as my loyal pet. You never stood a chance, dear sister.” She cackled as Discord lunged at Celestia, lifting her with his jaws, and he threw her to the wall. You could hear her bones snap as she lay like a broken doll, but surely alive. Luna used her magic to move her back on the throne. Celestia’s tears flowed over the teeth wounds from Discord. She cried and pleaded, but Luna laughed as she grabbed the same scalpel she had taken millennia ago. Celestia’s eyes widened as the scalpel went into Luna’s hoof, and Luna moved it to Celestia’s eye, quickly gorging it out and laughed as the blood squirted on her cheek. Luna opened her mouth letting some of her sister’s blood go into her mouth. She smiled as she tasted the warm blood.
Luna made a few nails appear and used her hoof to pound them into Celesta’s hooves. Celestia screamed in agony begging and pleading for Luna to let her go. “Please Luna please! I’m sorry for everything I did to you and everything mum and dad did to us! Please just let me go Lun-” Celestia was cut short for Luna had shoved her hoof into her sister’s mouth, effectively shutting her up. “Discord?” Luna said in a rather bored voice “Please get me a cloth or curtain of some sort. My sister here is being quite rude.” Discord’s shadow slithered away and ripped down a tapestry of the sun looking over Canterlot. Luna thanked Discord and tore off a piece of cloth and gagged her sister with it. “Now sis, I don’t want all this fun to stop yet, so let’s keep you alive so you may endure a painful death.” Luna smiled ever so slightly as she casted a spell to stop the fatal bleeding coming from Celestia’s eye socket. “Luna, please!” Celestia cried as she breathed heavily. Luna stared into her one good eye. “Sister, Mother and father did give us a rough life.. But I respect them for the bravery..” She cackled as Celestia gasped. “Soon sister, I will rule in an army of darkness and night. I WILL KILL ANYPONY STANDING IN MY WAY!” She screamed as thunder rolled and the sun wavered and the moon came up, throwing the sun to set. Celestia kept quiet and cried. Luna turned into her Nightmare form. She laughed and threw a long dagger at Celestia’s chest. It hit her in the stomach, and Celestia gasped as her flesh gave in and her stomach fell out, and she cried then lost consciousness. Luna ran at Celestia and ripped her windpipe right out of her throat, and blood came up through her mouth, and Luna threw the windpipe to Discord’s shadow, and he ate it. She casted metal pliers and plucked out each of her teeth, and throwing them on the blood stained floor. She then ripped her tongue out as hard as she could, and a gurgling mess came out of Celestia’s now mangled and broken mouth. Luna put the pliers between her one eye and also tore it out, letting it roll to the floor. Celestia was dead. Luna rolled Celestia’s body over after unfastening the nails, and cut her spine out. She took the spine, and threw the rest of Celestia’s body to Discord. He ripped her in half and swallowed the two pieced and cackled and snickered…
Luna sat at the throne, Celestia’s spine wrapped around her neck like a necklace, and her castle was now black and indigo, and there was no more day. All night and dark. Discord sat next to her, and he was also a midnight black and a blood red horn. Luna wore a crown made of barbed black obsidian. She had a matching obsidian staff as her weapon, with thorns on the end, like a spear. Her descendant was Lillian, the pony from before. Luna laughed as tons of ponies were brought into the throne room, they were the rebels. They kept talking about some Sunlight Resistance, and Luna was not going to let it be anymore.
Luna came into the room of ponies, they all looked horrified at the sun goddess’ spinal cord delicately around the tyrant’s neck.. “Hello subjects.”Luna said in a semi-loud voice that filled the room. “You wonder what you are doing here in my palace. Well the answer is you all are going to executed in towns of Equestria. Hung in front of the entrance to show everyone will be put to their BEST behavior. Understand?” Luna looked at the ponies. Apple Jack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Twilight Sparkle. “But you my dear Twilight, are going to stay in my palace, along with my other descendant Lillian. Your magic is far too good to waste. Discord? Lead them to the assigned cities. I have to deal with my dear here.” She walked to Twilight’s side. Apple Jack sneered. “There is a resistance! We will not fall to your darkness! It will take you down!” Apple Jack started sobbing then. Rainbow Dash muttered “Rumor’s got it that Celestia’s spirit is helping the resistance.” Discord used his magic to bind them all then he teleported in a flash, taking them all with him.
“Twilight, er, Twi. You can do amazing things with your power. I didn’t believe it either until the right time came.” Luna smiled then walked back to her throne after moving Twilight into the cage next to Lillian’s place by the throne. “Let me out!” Twilight screamed but her magic didn’t affect the cage. “That cage restrains all magic deary.” Luna sighed. The moon fully shone through the windows, casting eerie light. Luna got up from her throne, then went up to the balcony overlooking the city. she took a deep breath of the now cold freezing air that had came. She felt a tear rush down her face, then more until she was sobbing. “Why? Why did I do...THIS?” She screamed then storm clouds rolled in, and lightning flashed. “I am so..such a terrible…” She trailed off and looked down at a young colt, looking up at her from the ground. She sniffed then smiled, taking a deep breath. He looked surprised then a voice called, and he ran to it. Luna sighed then felt automatic anger again. She threw a potted plant across the balcony, watching it break into little shards and pieces. Luna felt Discord’s presence near, so she headed back inside, to see him at the door. “Already done?” She asked unsteadily as she sat in her throne. “Yes. They are hung on either a tree by the entrance or anything else that had worked. Their eyes are also scoped out to strike more fear.” He cackled then slithered towards his spot left to the throne. Luna didn’t respond.
Luna stared off into the distance, at… at a picture of her family, her whole family. Luna shook her head as thoughts shot through them. A tear ran down her face as a thought of her family, happy, caring, whole… Luna heard Discord’s voice in her head “Your tears make you look weak. You don’t want to appear weak, do you?” Luna felt a fracture in her mind a complete shift in her thoughts. Luna started laughing maniacally while Twilight looked up, scared. “What… What do you even want?” Twilight looked at Luna, searching her eyes. All she could see was mirth and a need. A need for something unknown to her. Twilight tried once more to escape her prison, unsuccessfully. Luna rolled her eyes and smiled “Now, now Twilley. I told you it was magic-proof.” “Don’t call me Twilley” Twilight mumbled. “DID I SAY YOU COULD TALK?!” Luna yelled her mood shifting again. The purple unicorn shrunk back in fear.
“TWILIGHT! AGAIN!” Luna screamed as Twilight tried to balance a knife in the air, which was just laying on the ground, still. “I am trying!” Twilight whined. She finally got it up a few inches, then it clattered to the ground. Luna sighed. Twilight was getting better, but not good enough. Soon, it was time for her first kill. Luna walked out of the room they were practicing in and outside. She looked down and felt her thoughts shift once again, and she felt pityful for all the ponies living in the dark void that was now their home. She got lost in her thoughts and she didn’t notice the handsome stallion walking down the cobblestone path. She bumped into him, then he gasped when he saw her, not Nightmare Moon. “Sorry… Your Highness.” He said looking into her eyes. She blushed. “Oh, it’s Luna..” She smiled softly. He could tell there was something… different. She looked away. “You probably think I am a crazy killer.. I get it.. I am..” She trailed off then turned to go back to the palace. “Wait.. I know you can be different. I see it right now. Don’t think we are all against you..” He added before leaving and disappearing into the night.
Luna woke up from a black sleep. She hadn't any dreams, this was odd. Luna, being the princess of the night, always had dreams or went into somepony else’s dream. She kept replaying the stallion’s words in her mind. She looked out to the square and felt sorrow and longed for the sun to come and rise. She turned away, even though her problems were still there. She went to the door that led to the throne room, but stopped when a voice behind her spoke. “You’re changing. YOU FEEL PITY!” Discord’s eyes shone red fury. Luna sighed but didn’t respond. She left Discord seething in anger. Luna sat on the throne, and then felt another shift in her thoughts. “Lillian… Find this resistance… AND BRING THEM TO ME!” Luna gave the tall pony power to capture them, and a cloak with a hood to hide her face, and she was off. Discord appeared in a cloud of shadows upon his seat left of the throne. He looked at her, then spoke to her through thoughts:
“YOU CHANGED….”
“Get out of my head or I will do it for you.”
That was all until Discord left.
* * *
Several hours had passed, and finally the doors opened and Lillian galloped in. “It’s the resistance, Shining Sun! THEY ARE COMING!” Luna flew up, skipping the stairs and saw 2 groups, like an army. coming from the North, and coming from the South. Cloudsdale and Ponyville. Luna glared then swore under her breath. Luna then changed into her full-fledged nightmare form. She flew through the window, breaking it into small shards. She flew above the groups, throwing lightning bolts at the ‘army’. Some screamed and cowered while other kept going, determined. She growled then casted mgic rock golems at the entrance of Canterlot. She flew through another window and into the throne room. “Take cover. Discord, attack!” She flew back outside, and Discord led the golems to attack. She glared at the group coming from Cloudsdale, the bigger army. They had weapons. She landed right in front of them. The lead pony was.. Was.. Rainbow Dash, wearing an eyepatch. “Aren’t you supposed to be DEAD?” Luna screamed. Rainbow Dash laughed. “I got away. And so did some others. We only lost Pinkie.” She laughed again, then aimed a golden sun spear at her. Celestia’s past army’s weapons! Luna growled again, then a pew rebel ponies started choking, then collapsed.
Rainbow Dash dropped her spear in surprise when Twilight Appeared beside Luna. Luna’s thoughts shifted. Her Nightmare form was revoked and she smiled when Twilight said “Don’t hurt Luna. She can’t help it.” Rainbow Dash scoffed “She killed Celestia! Look at that around her neck! She is a murderer!” Luna felt sadness. It was Twilight who kept her together, and that other stallion. A mare interrupted the silence. “Kill her! And Twilight!” Then she threw a sword at Luna, but Luna changed into Nightmare again and threw it back, hitting the mare in the chest. She wheezed then fell, and never got up. Luna growled and grabbed Twilight, then flew off. She put Twilight on the balcony. “You help me stay normal! Friendship and love….” She trailed off, then sobbed. “I killed the great leader of ours. The sun will never rise again!” Twilight looked surprised. “Then tell them..” She walked back inside without a word. Luna agreed. She couldn’t just let them attack either. Luna flew down but then felt a dark presence. She kne wit was Discord. He made her like this. HE DID. She screamed then flew at him with full speed. He turned after the golems started killing the Southern ponies. She commanded them to fall apart. Discord looked bewildered as she hit him, making him fall. He pushed her back. “What do you think you are doing?” He hissed. By now the armies had stopped and were now watching. “This isn’t right! We need Moonlight, AND Sunlight. Nothing is the same! We are all divided and there is no balance! You are the darkness of all this!” Luna screamed…
Discord flew at Luna, swiping his claws at her neck. She dodged then used magic and threw a large stone at him. He slithered away. “Listen Luna.. You have power. You’ve already killed millions throught your reign, and you want to stop? Feel the peace of dark. I hadn’t forgot the feeling you had when killing Celestia!” He smiled delvilishly. “I.. I don’t know!” She stared at the faces of the ponies that wanted Celestia and the sun back. Their facec dirtied from battle. She sighed and looked down. “Discord, be gone!” She threw a flash of magic at him, blowing his body across the paths of Canterlot. He laughed. “Oh deary, the things you must learn!” Then he threw a burst of dark shadow magic at her, causing her body to convulse in pain. She cried out. A hoove reached out to her and helped her out. She saw Twilight helping her stand. She smiled then nodded to Luna, and Luna dove at Discord, bashing a large stone over his head. He yelped in pain, yet didn’t give up. He laughed then threw her at the stone wall, breaking some bones. She struggled and reached for her magic, but it seemed drained. Twilight used healing magic to help her. Twilight prayed to Celestia’s spirit, and the elements of harmony. She felt restored and the power surge. She saw the dark skies get lighter, and the spine around her neck disappeared. The sun rose and in it’s path of sun, stood Celestia. She glared at discord, then he started burning, holes searing through his skin..
Luna ran to Celestia, and it was really her, whole and pure. Celestia smiled. “Celestia! I am so sorry I am surely banished and I will forever be go-” Luna blubbered and sobbed. “Luna.. You overcame the dark and brought out the light. Honorable. I love you and I will always forgive you. You brought me back.” SHe smiled then they both cried of happiness. She heard a voice of a stallion. She smiled then turned to hug the stallion. He nuzzled her with his nose and then nodded to Twilight. Luna turned and hugged her too. The surviving armies cheered. It was balance that had been restored, and peace as well.
