> Deadline
>  by UndercoverPanda14
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Deadline
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The moon shone in through the open window as it rested over the bed frame of a young alicorn sprawled under her own covers. Luna awoke, pushing her head up as the cover remained over her head like a shawl. Her eyes gazed on the stars that had been a careful arrangement, only herself to be responsible for the nights beauty. She stood on the wooden floorboards and edged towards the window, last night's dreams still echoed in her mind, they were nightmares.

Luna had been staring at the darkened shadow, she seemed so small. Her vision was blurred, but she could make out her sister lying on the ground whilst a thousand pieces of glass shattered into her body. Along came the cackling laughter and lighting striking in the sky, creating a silhouette around the creature that sourced the shadow.
'Tia!' Luna cantered over to the Princess, her cheeks already stained with tears, unlike her sister's, who's had instead been stained with blood.

The nightmare had been repeating itself throughout the nights. Though ever so slightly different each time. Luna looked over at the mirror, hypnotized by the one who stood in front of her, though not startled, no, this was who she saw every time she looked in the mirror. 
'I am not scared, Nightmare moon.' Luna spoke truthfully, as she stood in front of the mirror tall with bravery. The mirror returned a low and evil laugh.
'I don't expect you to be scared,' With ease, Nightmare moon stepped out of the mirror, keeping focused eye contact with Luna, but Luna looked away, to the floor, 'In fact, I'd have liked you to be more..... bitter to this world.' Whilst speaking these words, Nightmare Moon lowed her neck down to Luna's height, gently and smoothly stroking Luna's chin with her flowing mane, bringing her chin up to look deep into her own eyes.
'I'll never sink to your level, Nightmare Moon, you're the only bitter one.' Her voice was almost spitting the words at Nightmare Moon with no mercy for her.
'Oh, I'm heartbroken,' Nightmare Moon had sarcasm in her voice, with a meaningless pout towards Luna, 'Carry on insulting me and I'll have you banished again.' She paused, an obvious thought on her mind.
Luna stared at her, awaiting to hear this thought.
'Or, you could do me... a little favor...' She stood up tall, towering over Luna.
'I'd never aid you..'
Nightmare Moon brought her head back, becoming impatient and frustrated with Luna's choice of words. Though she ignored them, carrying on with the favor.
'Destroy the elements of Harmony, I know you have the ability to do so,' Luna turned her head away, with no pity to show her rejection to the favor, but Nightmare Moon gripped her flowing mane under her chin again, forcing her to turn her towards her and open her eyes with worry and threat, 'Or watch your precious sister die...' 
Luna gasped, taking a step back and looking over her shoulder at the portrait of her sister. When she looked back at Nightmare Moon, she was no longer in front of the window with the moonlight shining her silhouette, she had gone. Though Luna could vaguely hear her words whisper to her from the nights air, 'Think about it...'
Those last words, echoing around her room, making her feel enclosed and claustrophobic. Those last words, short but threatening, trickled down the walls, leaving her mystery as she slept that night.

Luna awoke, the sunshine beaming over her as she sheltered her eyes. But it wasn't even bright, it was grey outside with the sun peeking through a crack between two clouds, though this was even too bright for her. By the angle of the sun, Luna could tell it wasn't morning, no, it was early in the afternoon and she had been asleep for a while. How had she slept through the morning?
Nevertheless, Luna stood up back onto those wooden floorboards, making her way to the door. She saw her sister coincidentally walk past her bedroom entrance.
'Luna, I'm glad to see you awake.' She said pleased, with a gentle smile on her mother like face.
'Did you notice anything... strange last night?' Luna asked, tilting her head slightly at Celestia.
'No, although it was quite breezy..'
Luna nodded.
'Yeah, my window was open.' 
'Probably just he wind, Luna.'
'Uh, yeah...the wind.'
They both split off in two separate directions, Luna headed towards the castle library. She was in search of a book to tell her about the elements, maybe a way to... destroy them?

There were books and scrolls hanging off every shelf, but, as to have lived in the castle itself, she knew every book from the far side of the library to the other.
Her magic aurora had formed around the book on a high shelf. It was hardback with a light brown to colour it. She opened it, analyzing every word until she found the very middle page.

The elements, strong, powerful. A variety of different elements to aid one pony with the ability to control their magic forces. 

Luna read on, but her eyes stopped at one word, 'Unbreakable.' She was relieved that she would have to destroy the elements, as the book stated it was impossible, but also, quite worried of what may come from this, death of her sister?

'Destroy the elements of Harmony, I know you have the ability to do so.' That was the line that quoted in her head, over and over again. 

She had been scanning through the book for quite some time, and the day was beginning to dawn. Luna looked up, ignoring the book that still lied open on the floor, and walked back through the corridors, into her room. She looked out the window.
The sun was slowly falling beneath the horizon, in fact, now it was beneath the horizon and it's light still added an orange tint to the sky.
'Has the deed been done?' She heard, though unexpectedly, when she turned to look at Nightmare Moon, she wasn't there. She hadn't invited herself in.. yet.
Luna stayed quiet for a while, then told the truth firmly, with a proud emotion in her voice.
'No, Equestria needs the elements, I will not be a part of this favor.' 
'So the elements still remain powerful?' This tone slightly scared Luna, it was that disapproval that hissed the words.
'They do.' 
There was a long silence before that same cackling laughter returned.
'Either way,' Nightmare moon appeared from the sky, diving down with sharp canine teeth awaiting their victims, 'Works for me!'
Luna could barely cry for help, as Nightmare Moon sunk into her without a problem. She had invaded Luna.
Luna was still herself, but with Nightmare Moon within her, she starved for revenge. She turned towards the door, the same silhouette around her.
'Tia.... you've reached your deadline!'