> Stories Retold
>  by Shadowflash237
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Friendship is Magic Part 1
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	The long-legged back Alicorn paced restlessly across the hard, rocky surface of the moon, grimacing. 
"One-thousand years on the moon, and my sister is still a snotty little know-it-all." The Alicorn kicked at a rock, sending it flying, only to end up floating down ten feet away from her. "Stupid non-gravity moon." She turned and walked this way and that, constantly speaking about her sister, Princess Celestia. "I hate her!" Nightmare Moon cried. "I hate her!"
Nightmare Moon whipped around and spotted a deep crater in the ground. Spreading her wings, she was lifted into the air, hovering over the hole. Nightmare Moon flew higher and higher until she was nearly out of the oxygen bubble that Princess Celestia had created for her. The Alicorn's wings snapped back to rest a her sides as she plummeted towards the crater. Her shining helmet tore off her head and landed next to the small rock that she had kicked. Her wavy blue hair, thankful to finally be released, streamed out behind her.
Nightmare Moon's horn came alight with a dark blue aura that illuminated the area around the crater. The edges began to smoke and blacken before coming alight with fire.
As the Alicorn neared the flaming pit, she cried out ravenously. "I HATE HER!" The fire turned a deep purple, sparking with white stars. Nightmare Moon disappeared into the flames with laughter that sounded not unlike the crackling fire. 
Almost as quickly as she was gone, she rose out of the scorching fire with another laugh. The ash left marks on her bare head, but otherwise she was fine. Smiling, in fact. "I...hate...her...so much." Nightmare Moon growled through bared teeth. "So much." The black Alicorn shook her head like an animal, throwing saliva towards the flames. Her hooves stomped the ground underneath her, dousing the purple flames. "I hate you, Celestia!" She screamed at the blue and green planet that made itself home next to the moon that had become her house for one-thousand years. "You hear me? I HATE YOU!"
Nightmare Moon abruptly broke out of her deadly mood and quickly put out the lapping flames. "She'll learn." Using her magic, she retrieved her helmet and placed it on her head. A vicious grin spread across her face. "Soon." Nightmare turned her head to look around her at the large balls flying towards her planet. "Very soon."
She quickly ran over the scorched ground, not caring to place her mane back underneath the metal helmet. Her long legs carried her across the ground seconds before she was airborne. The stars were ever getting nearer, she realized, which gave her speed to fly into the stone structure that stuck out of moon. As she got closer, the stars grew colored. Two blues, a yellow, and what looked like a red to her. Beautiful. She thought.
Nightmare Moon dropped to the ground and ran into the little hut. A small fire sat in the fireplace, which she immediately poured water on. She grabbed what little items she possessed; a saddlebag and a few pastries. She placed the treats in her bags, which she then strapped around her torso. Nightmare Moon turned around in the small room to make sure that she had everything, then raced outside. The stars were almost touching the moon now. Panic spread across her face as she once again flew into the air.
Just as she did so, all four stars touched the moon at the same time. A large blast pushed her backwards across the planet. Nightmare Moon's wings beat harmlessly against the wind, her head stretched out ahead of her. The force of the blast pushed her down as the four stars combined into one, encircling the now weak Alicorn. Her saddlebags tug at her wings painfully. With the rest of her strength, Nightmare Moon ripped off the bags, watching them fly away from her with such speed that not even the talented pegasus Rainbow Dash could match. She knew that from years of watching her fly all across the earth. The moon had a very good view on its twin planet.
Another blast, this one from above her, dug her into the moon. All four stars, now one bright white globe, descended onto the Alicorn. It enveloped her completely. Nightmare screamed in pain as it turned from white to green, and then to red. A deep, bloody red.
And then, just as soon as the pain had started, it ended, and Nightmare Moon found herself crouched on the polished floor of Princess Celestia's castle. Her beautiful sister stood before her, a look of shock on her face.
"My sister!" Celestia cried out happily, flinging herself onto Nightmare Moon. 
Nightmare reacted amazingly fast. She flipped the other Alicorn into the air with suddenly strong magic. Celestia gasped in shock to find herself surrounded by a dark blue aura, her sister not really her sister beneath her.
"I'm back, and now it's your turn to be sent to a planet." Nightmare Moon growled. Her magic was covered with the yellow of the sun now, flashing like a million beams of light. "Your turn for a little game called, "Who can escape the first, because it won't be you." Have fun on the sun!" The flashed grew larger as it covered her whole aura, and Celestia suddenly vanished into thin air.
That was surprisingly easy. Nightmare Moon thought.
A door creaked open behind her. "Princess, are you alri-" The guard cut off as Nightmare Moon spun around and wrapped him in blue magic. His terror was frozen on his face as she turned him into ice that sparkled in the burning sunlight coming through the window. 
Nightmare Moon suddenly realized how hot it was, for she was not used to having warmth other than fire on her skin. Frowning, she pulled the curtains across the window, leaving the room in darkness.
From outside, she heard somebody gasp and say, "She's gone!", which was followed by the gasps and shrieks of other ponies. Grinning manically, she teleported herself into the room. But she hadn't teleported anywhere for such a long time, so it was a rather bumpy ride. She was thrown around in circles of color that looked like her mane before appearing on a ledge, looking down on several ponies. One, a purple unicorn, caught her attention. A young dragon was perched on her back, which amused her after he fell down in a faint. The other ponies gasped once more. That was a cue for Nightmare Moon to greet her missed friends.
"My beloved subjects." She began. "It's been so long since I've seen your precious little sun-loving faces." 
"What did you do with our princess?" A rainbow-maned pegasus yelled from the crowd. Nightmare Moon recognized her as Rainbow Dash, and she seemed quite the flier to her, for she started to dash up to her, but was held back by an orange farm-pony.
Nightmare laughed hysterically. "Why, am I not royal enough for you?" She unfurled her wings angrily, flapping them to show that she meant business. 
A bright, pink party-pony started naming off names that not even she recognized, but all in all, it was great to watch for entertainment. Sadly, the farm-pony stuck an apple into her mouth, causing Nightmare to get even angrier
She flew towards the pegasus attending the bird choir. "Does my crown no longer count now that I have been imprisoned for a thousand years?" The pegasus shrunk away, so Nightmare turned to the white unicorn that seemed to be the source of the voice she had heard from Celestia's quarters. "Did you not recall the legend?" Nightmare flicked her chin with her mane. "Did you not see the signs?"
"I did!" The purple unicorn said from the crowd. "And I know who you are. You're the Mare in the Moon. Nightmare Moon." That brought a chorus of gasps from the ponies behind her, who shrunk back like the yellow pegasus. Nightmare Moon flew back to the ledge, grinning.
"Well, well, well, somepony who remembers me. Then you also know why I'm here."
The purple unicorn looked uncertain, slipping over her words in confusion. Nightmare Moon laughed again, this time louder and more evil. Just the way she liked it. "Remember this day, little ponies, for it was your last. From this moment forth, the night, will last, forever." 
Cue the lightning. Nightmare thought, sending bright flashes of light across the room, her mane swirling into a blue tornado above her head, scaring the ponies half to death, or, to death, whichever worked, below. To add to the effect, she laughed, loud, evil, and frightening. 
Perfect.
> Friendship is Magic Part 2
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

	"Seize her!" A pony that seemed to have some sort of authority called from the crowd. "Only she knows where the princess is!"
Three ponies dressed in rather nice armor flew up to the ledge where the new princess stood. Nightmare Moon tossed her head to glare at them. "Stand back you foals!" She said. Her eyes lit up with a bright blue. Nightmare Moon began laughing again, her magic flowing out towards the guards. It swam around them, suddenly turning into a brilliant flash of lightning that she could have sworn knocked them back to last Tuesday.
Nightmare Moon's teeth shined in the moonlight, the beautiful, beautiful moonlight, as she reformed her body into a dark blue mist and headed out the doors. Sadly, the guards were only dazed, not sent back through all eternity as she had hoped. As Nightmare Moon, now mist, flew out of the building, Rainbow Dash finally broke the farm-pony's grip and literally "dashed" after her, screeching.
"You come back here!" The rainbow pony said angrily, stopping short to realize that nothing was going to stop the queen of the night as she flew off towards the Everfree Forest. Great, she thought. Just the right place for me to wreck havoc on all of Equestria! 
The further Nightmare Moon flew, the more confidence she got. Finally, just as she was passing over the entrance to the forest, she let her body turn from mist into a cluster of deadly-looking ponies. They threw back their heads to let out three ear-piercing shrieks of joy, revenge, and most of all, death.
"Equestria is mine!" They screamed. Their voices echoed into the night, scattering the bats and bugs away from everything that they had thought was safe. "Mine!" Nightmare's voice started to show through while the three other pony's voices faded into a dark undertone.
Just then, Nightmare Moon heard crackling among the leaves and uncertain voices in the distances. Those blasted ponies. She growled to herself. How did they get here so fast?
An idea sprang up in her head and she grinned. Quickly, she turned to mist once again. Nightmare Moon flew in the direction she heard the voices from, and, sure enough, there they were, Rainbow Dash, the purple unicorn, the farm-pony, the party-pony, the white unicorn, and the pegasus who directed the bird choir. They think they're safe in numbers? Nightmare Moon thought in scorn. Hmm, they really are foals.
Nightmare Moon turned her attention to the unstable rock cliff that they were approaching. The idea became a plan, and she hoped that she remembered how to become one with the earth. When she had tried to do so on the moon, she had come back covered in a strange and disgusting blue liquid that she did not want to think about at the moment. Shuddering slightly, the part of the mist where her horn should be lit up, and suddenly she was flung towards the cliff. 
It felt strange, soaking into the earth once more. It was so moist and different, almost pleasing. She hated it.
Above her, the six pony's hoofsteps pounded like a-thousand drums against her poor ears.
"...And it ain't natural." The farm-pony was saying. "Folks say it don't work the same as Equestria."
"What's that supposed to mean?" The purple unicorn asked in a panicked tone.
A pair of hooves was suddenly lifted from the ground just as Rainbow Dash said in a spooky voice, "Noooopony knoooowwsss." Her hooves landed with a thud and started to creep towards the other hooves. Get ready. Nightmare Moon told herself. "You know why?
"Rainbow, quit it!" The farm-pony commanded, but Rainbow Dash didn't seem to hear, or, if she did, she wasn't going to stop scaring her friends. Nightmare Moon was starting to like this Rainbow Dash.
"'Cause every pony who's ever come in..." Rainbow Dash trailed off for only a second. "Has never, come, OUT!" Twelve hooves leaped off the ground as she successfully frightened them. That was, once again, a cue for Nightmare Moon to get started. 
She lit up the mist just as their hooves left the ground. It started to swirl throughout the cliff-side, and before she knew it, the entire chunk of rock was falling down around her. Nightmare Moon stifled a burst of hideous laughter and flew out of the cliff, turning just in time to see the other ponies fall to their doom. Everything was working all too well.
Rainbow Dash commanded the yellow pegasus - apparently her name was Fluttershy - and flew down to where the other ponies were about to slide over the cliff. Fluttershy followed more slowly. 
Rainbow Dash grabbed the party-pony, making Nightmare Moon to growl in anger. What was she doing? She should be leaving them, not helping them! Then Fluttershy bit down on the white unicorn's tail and pulled her up, which was more than bad to Nightmare Moon. No no no! It was all going wrong! They were supposed to leave each-other to defend themselves!
The farm-pony slid past a root sticking out of the ground and bit onto it so she hung there. Nightmare Moon would have gotten angrier, but the purple know-it-all unicorn had just slid to the edge of the cliff, her back legs hanging down over the side. Nightmare Moon would have gone to help her fall, but she decided to not waste her magic when she was already doing the job for her.  
The farm-pony let go of the root and slid down to where the purple unicorn was falling. Nightmare Moon didn't hear what they said, but the name Applejack was mentioned. The purple unicorn's hooves kicked against the stone cliff, and suddenly, her eyes widened, and she let go of Applejack's grip. Nightmare Moon bit back a yell of happiness as she screamed in terror from the drop.
Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were suddenly there, holding the unicorn from falling. Nightmare Moon's anger grew until she had enough of them, and sped into the forest. Her luck was running out, and if she didn't find anything soon, she would- There! Nightmare Moon changed herself into a thorn and stuck herself into the beast's paw, making sure to dig in deep. 
No sooner than she left them, the six ponies were back, Rainbow Dash boasting about how she saved the purple unicorn. The unicorn was starting to lecture her when she spotted the Manticore and gasped.
The Manticore reared up and flung himself at the group, landing next to the white unicorn. She kicked him with what Nightmare Moon would called a bug bite, for it was so feeble. 
"Take that you ruffian!" She said triumphantly, but the angry beast let out a fearsome roar that sent her hair in all directions. "My hair!" She cried. The white unicorn heard the growl from the beast's throat, and quickly ran towards the group. The Manticore started to chase, but was stopped by Applejack, who had somehow ended up on his neck and was now riding him like a bull. She yelled one of those pathetic cowgirl cries.
The Manticore quickly dislodged her by bucking her off, and Rainbow Dash went in for a hit. She started to spin around him with speed that even impressed Nightmare Moon, but not that much. The Manticore was surrounded by a rainbow band. Nightmare Moon commanded him to strike out with his tail. He hit Rainbow Dash with perfect aim, sending her skittering towards her friends. 
The purple unicorn was beyond mad now. She pulled back her hoof and blew out of her nose in anger. All five of them charged at the Manticore. Fluttershy suddenly flew up in front of them and yelled, "Wait!" That stopped the charging ponies. Fluttershy approached the Manticore, and didn't even flinch when he raised his paw, claws extended. "Shh," she soothed. "It's okay." Fluttershy nuzzled his paw lovingly and looked up at him with care in her eyes.
Disgusting, Nightmare Moon thought. 
The Manticore held out his paw with the thorn in it, and Fluttershy looked at the injury with sympathy. "Oh, you poor, poor little baby."
"Little?" Rainbow Dash commented.
"Now, this might hurt for just a second." Fluttershy placed her mouth on the thorn and pulled it out with a strong tug. The Manticore roared in pain, holding her in his paws. Nightmare Moon grinned. Time to feast. But he started licking her hair and purring.
Nightmare Moon fell to the ground still in her thorn form. If she had hooves, she would have beat the ground silly with them. Everything was going wrong. Why were these ponies so loyal to each other?
She turned back into mist once they were gone and flew past them in the forest. She could hear the party-pony singing and the other ponies laughing to the cheesy song. Nightmare Moon rolled her eyes and flew on until she came to a large purple water serpent. What is with purple creatures now a days? She thought.
He was sitting on a shining rock, sleeping the day, or, should she say, night, away. Nothing to do here. Nightmare Moon flew up next to him. Nothing. She passed him by his nostrils, hearing a loud slice. Nightmare Moon was too busy thinking about what to do next to pay much attention to it.
As she flew on, Nightmare Moon came to old ruins. She gasped in amazement. Her old castle! What had happened to it? Once again, everything was due to the rudeness of her sister. 
The bridge, however, was still intact. The ponies were heading this way, she realized. Nightmare Moon flew over to the other side of the bridge and sliced the strings apart. It fell with a satisfying crack. That won't stop them, Nightmare Moon thought. That Rainbow pony will bring it back up. 
Nightmare Moon abruptly remembered that Rainbow Dash was in love with the Wonderbolts. She also remembered the three ponies that she had turned into before all this had happened. The Shadowbolts. 
This was her last chance. Nightmare Moon turned into the three ponies and waited until she could see Rainbow Dash's mane through the thin mist. "Rainbow...." she said in the female's voice.
"Who's there?" Rainbow Dash asked, looking around.
"Rainbow...."
"I ain't scared a you!" She said, punching the air. "Show yourself!" Nightmare Moon was amused. She did like her. 
"We've been eagerly awaiting the arrival of the best flyer in Equestria." Nightmare Moon began.
"Who?" Rainbow Dash asked, confused.
"Why, you! Of course!"
"Really?" Rainbow Dash's voice cracked in happiness. "I mean, oh yeah! Me! Hey, uh, you wouldn't mind telling the Wonderbolts that, would ya? 'Cause, I've been trying to get into that group for like, ever!" Rainbow Dash threw up her head.
"No, Rainbow Dash. We want you to join us," Nightmare Moon sent the three ponies galloping up to the rainbow mare. "The Shadowbolts!" Rainbow Dash looked confused again. "We are the greatest aerial team in the Everfree Forest, and soon we will be the greatest in all Equestria. But first," Rainbow Dash put her head forward. "We need a captain." Rainbow Dash grinned and the female Shadowbolt started to fly around her.
"We need the most magnificent,"
"Yep!"
"Swiftest,"
"Yes."
"Bravest flier in all the land!"
"Yes, it's all true!"
"We need..." she flew up to Rainbow Dash's ear and whispered, "You."
"Yes! Sign me up!" Rainbow Dash trotted over to the broken bridge. "But, first let me tie this bridge up and then we have a deal."
"No!" The female yelled, stopping her short. "It is them or us!" 
The purple unicorn called over to Rainbow Dash, but Nightmare Moon blocked them out with the fog. 
Rainbow Dash looked like she was going to have to decide with either choosing the Wonderbolts or being the head-leader of Cloudsdale.
"Well...?"
"You..." The female Shadowbolt smiled in triumph. "Thank you." Rainbow Dash said. "For the offer, I mean." She stared at her in disbelief. "But, I'm afraid that I have to say no." She tightened the rope to the pole and flew off to her friends. 
Nightmare Moon growled and turned back into mist, heading back into the forest and towards the castle. She no longer liked Rainbow Dash.
As she got to the castle, the rest of the ponies were trotting out but leaving the purple unicorn to lay besides the Elements of Harmony. Nightmare Moon gasped. Yes, this was what she had been waiting for!
She swirled around the stones and brought them off the ground in a spinning torrent of blue fog. Twilight gasped, and the other ponies cried out to her. 
Nightmare Moon teleported herself to the tower next to the house. Twilight leaped in at the last moment and came along with her. Nightmare Moon growled. Will this pony ever let it be?
Twilight appeared in a purple burst before her. Nightmare Moon was standing on the risen podium, laughing. And, another lightning spur.
It illuminated her with white light, making her seem bigger than she already was. Twilight frowned and stomped her hoof on the ground twice.
"You're kidding? You're kidding, right?" Nightmare Moon said scornfully.
Twilight charged at her, her horn alight. Nightmare Moon ran to meet her. But, just as she was about to ram into her full force, Twilight teleported to the podium, rubbing her head.
"Just one spark."
The Elements started to glow light pink, and Twilight was knocked backwards. 
"No!" Nightmare cried. "No!"
Suddenly, the sparks disappeared. Twilight gasped and started to say something, but was blocked out by Nightmare Moon's laughing. She reared up and slammed her hooves to the ground, shattering the Elements into pieces. "You little foal! Thinking you could defeat me! Now, you will never see your princess or your sun!" Nightmare's hair swirled into another tornado. "The night, will last, forever!"
The voices of the other ponies sounded from the hallway. Of course, Nightmare Moon thought. They just had to ruin the fun.    
Nightmare Moon didn't know what happened next, for it went by so quickly, but suddenly, all six ponies were in the air, each wearing a necklace with their cutie mark on it, and Twilight had a crown on her head. Nightmare Moon gasped. She had foreseen this day. On the moon, she had been sleeping, when Twilight had appeared before her, growling with a crown on her head, and blood hanging from her mouth. That was the one thing that had ever frightened Nightmare Moon. And now, it was really happening. The six ponies gathered their Elements together in a rainbow blade and hurled it at Nightmare Moon. 
"Noooooooooooooooooooooo!" Nightmare Moon screeched just as the blade enveloped her, and suddenly, everything was black. Nightmare knew what it was. Death.