Prologue
"Dear Princess Celestia," Twilight Sparkle began her letter. "I have learned a valuble lesson in friendship today. I learned never to underestimate your friends. There is nothing you cannot accomplish when you are with your friends. Friendship is an unstoppable force and can face any problem." She paused. "How's that for a letter, Spike?"
"Perfect," her dragon assistant replied, scribbling down the rest. "I'll send it right away."
He held out the letter and exhaled a burst of flame, disintigrating the letter into ash.
Twilight turned around and studied her library home. Books were scattered around the floor and dust covered the shelves. "This place is a wreck."
"I know, I know, we need to clean up," Spike grumbled. He grabbed a feather duster and began to wipe the dust off the bookshelves.
"As always, you're on top of everything that needs to be done!" Twilight smiled, oblivious to her assistant's attitude.
Immediately, a letter appeared in the air, surrounded by sparks and traces of smoke.
"The princess replied already?" The unicorn levitated the letter down to her level. She opened it and read the words scrawled inside.
"'My dearest friend,
What you are about to read is extremely secret and only you and your group of friends may be exposed to it. If you were to tell my sister Celestia of this, I, and possibly all of Equestria, may be in grave danger.'" Twilight stopped. "It's from Princess Luna!"
"Keep reading!" Spike urged, anxious to hear more.
"'I fear that the infamous Nightmare Moon is still alive and well. She lives in me, clawing her way out. Already I have noticed myself doing things I never believed I would do, such as snapping at poor Tia, hurting innocent ponies, and, worst of all, craving the Elements of Harmony. It is only a matter of time before the monster comes out. What she may do if she does I do not know. But I do know this; you and your friends must come to the palace immediately and take the Elements of Harmony before Nightmare does. I need you to hide them and keep them safe until further notice. Please enter the palace without stirring suspicion, and especially without Celestia knowing. If she were to find out, she may banish me to the moon once more to protect her kingdom. I believe I may be able to keep Nightmare Moon from coming out, but Celestia would not take any chances. Please, make haste. I do not know how much time I have left. Nightmare is inside of me, and she will do anything to get out. Hurry, before it is too late.
The Night Princess,
Princess Luna.'"
Twilight's mouth was agape. Nightmare Moon? Returning?
"Spike, I need to go to Canterlot right away with the others."
"Can I come?" He asked, excited.
"No!" Twilight almost shouted. "No. I need you to stay here and take care of the library. If I'm not back in a week, tell the Princess." She hugged him. "I love you. Take care of yourself, and don't worry about us. We can handle this."
"All right," Spike said doubtfully.
The unicorn rushed out of the library at top speed. All of this had happened so fast. It was a normal day, and all of a sudden, Luna was telling her Nightmare Moon was coming back and all of Equestria was in danger. Oh, she hoped she would make it to the palace on time. . .
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"Princess Luna?" Twilight Sparkle opened the door to the bedroom slowly.
"Is she in there?" Rarity asked nervously.
"Oh my goodness, what if she already turned into Nightmare Moon?" Fluttershy squeaked.
Rainbow Dash swooped around the hallway. "If she did, I'll fight 'er!"
"Calm down, ya'll," Applejack said. "There's no need to get in a tizzy. She's prob'ly just fine."
"If she's not a super-duper-scary monster pony!" Pinkie Pie chimed in.
Twilight cleared her throat. "Princess, may we come in?"
There was a long pause, and then the six heard a quiet voice say, "Yes. Please come in."
They carefully walked into the huge bedroom and looked around. The curtains were drawn, shrouding the room in darkness. The stars expertly painted on the ceiling seemed to glow dimly, the only light source in the dark room.
"Are you all right, Princes?"
A dark figure in the corner of the room turned and faced them. "No, I am not."
They gasped as they noticed the changes in Luna's appearance. Her coat was much darker, and her mane was stringy and wild, as if it hadn't been brushed for weeks. Rarity stifled a cry when she noticed Luna's beautiful tiara and hoof slippers lying broken and dented on the floor.
"She is coming," the princess said solemnly. "She wants to be free."
"We won't let that happen!" Twilight cried.
"There is nothing we can do. Nightmare won't rest until she is ruler of Equestria and I am dead." She turned to her dresser drawer and pulled out a bejeweled object.
They recognized immediately. "My big crown thingy!" Twilight exclaimed.
"Yes, the Element of Magic. Take it and the others before-" Luna didn't finish her sentence, for a transformation was taking place. Her coat turned from navy blue to jet black, and her pupils changed into dark slits. Fangs crept out from her mouth and her eyes glowed turquoise.
She was Nightmare Moon.
"Run!" Twilight screamed, and the six ponies dashed wildly out of the room, shrieking like maniacs.
They moment they left the room they crashed into something large and white. Twilight was knocked off her feet and landed roughly on the floor.
"Goodness, girls," Celestia raised an eyebrow. "What's your hurry?"
"Nightmare Moon!" they screamed in harmony.
"Wha-" Celestia began to say, when a dark figure appeared in front of them. It snickered, showing its gleaming fangs.
"Oh, Tia, you didn't think you'd see this day, did you?" Nightmare lowered her sharp horn until it was pressed against Celestia's neck.
Magic surged through it, hitting the Sun Princess in the neck like a lightening bolt and knocking her over.
Like her sister, Celestia changed as well, but she grew smaller instead of larger. Her multi-colored hair turned a soft pink, and her slippers and crown fell off, landing with a clang on the marble floor. The princess was now the size of Twilight and more than twice as frightened. She had become a regular pony, with a short horn and regular-looking wings. Her purple eyes grew huge with fright.
"Get the message, Celestia? I am the ruler of Equestria!" Nightmare soared over their heads and fired another beam of light. It incased the seven ponies in a bubble, which slowly expanded and then burst, leaving nothin in its place. The dark alicorn was alone in the hallway, laughing to herself. Enslaving Equestria had started out so much easier than she had expected.