> From Dreams That Passed Us By > by Steve Ott > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- > Prologue > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Prologue From Dreams That Passed Us By by hellvic notion An MLP Fanfiction "The only princess in Equestria shall be ME!", her younger sister screamed, venom laced in her voice. She raised her front hooves up in the air before slamming them back down with such force that it cracked the marble she stood on. Behind her, the moon was blocking the Sun's life giving rays from reaching the surface. Suddenly, by some invisible force, her younger sister was lifted from the ground as she began to be surrounded by black magic. Her pupils expanded as she disappeared inside of her magic bubble. The bubble burst, sending out a wave of dark magic through the throne room. Where Luna had once been, was now a hideous black alicorn that sported snake-like pupils and large fangs. She threw her head back before belting out a disturbing, unhinged laugh. "Luna, you must lower the moon, it is your duty", Celestia, Monarch of the Sun yelled back, awestruck about what had transpired her so far. Her mind raced at a mile a minute. How could she have let this happen to her sister? "Haha, you really think I'm still Luna? Well, no more because I am no longer your sister. I am Nightmare Moon", she replied with a sadistic grin plastered on her pitch black face. "Then I do what I must", Celestia responded cooly. She took a deep breath before her horn began to crackle with pink energy. However, before she was able to properly prepare, she was attacked by her sister. She just managed to dodge out of the way before she fired her own magical blast. Unfortunately, most of the details of the battle between the two sisters has been lost to history. We don't know how long the battle lasted as it could've lasted from a couple minutes to several hours to even several days. What we do know is that Nightmare Moon was defeated by the Elements of Harmony and banished for a thousand years in the moon. Historians have speculated that once the thousand years are up, she would be released from her prison. Optimists claim that she would have learned her lesson and be ready to stand by her sister's side once more. Most believe that when she returns, she will once again try to establish her eternal night. However, we were all misguided because we didn't truly know what happened in that throne room one thousand years ago. The harmonious rainbow had found it's mark, having banished the Nightmare to the moon. Princess Celestia floated down gracefully with her eyes closed. Her mane was multicolored, no longer a solid pink as it once been. She opened her eyes, finally clearly seeing the devastation her battle had wrought on the throne room. Scorch marks were everywhere, pillars were destroyed, and Luna's throne had been broken into a million pieces. Suddenly, a hoarse voice cut through the eerie silence. "Tia" Celestia gasped audibly, her neck swiveled to the origin of the voice. There lied a broken, battered alicorn of the night. Cuts laced her body, blood dribbled from her lips, and she struggled to breathe through her broken ribs. Tears were freely streaming down her face, mixing with the blood that slowly pooled on the marble floor. Celestia quickly raced to her broken sister's side. "Luna, listen to me. You are going to be okay, you are going to be okay." Luna weakly smiled before responding, "Sorry Tia, but I'm . . . dying." Reality hit Celestia like a ton of bricks. Her sister couldn't be dying? This had to be some cruel joke? Her sister was going to be okay, right? "No Lulu, you are going to be alright, you hear? You are going to survive," Celestia cried, tears streaming down her face as well. "I'm so sorry, so so sorry Tia," Luna apologized. "No Luna, I should be the one that's sorry. If it wasn't for me, this would have never happened. I should have known what was going on," Celestia quickly responded. Suddenly, Luna's tip of her horn began to light up. Celestia stepped back as the magic snaked around her near dead sisters body. Almost as soon as it started, it disappeared into nothingness. "It is finished", Luna calmly said. Her tail began to shrivel and turn black before being carried off by some invisible breeze. "Luna, what's happening," Celestia asked, panic rising in her voice. Luna looked up at her sister, now with almost half of her body gone and said, "When the Nightmare comes back, I will be waiting and I will help you defeat her once and for all." Luna then disappeared into the night, leaving only her black tiara. Celestia let out a wail, tears cascading down her muzzle. I WILL END YOU NIGHTMARE FOR TAKING MY SISTER AWAY! > Preparations > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Preparations From Dreams That Passed Us By by hellvic notion An MLP Fanfiction It had been one thousand years since Celestia last saw her sister. One thousand years since her sister had died because of the Nightmare. The same Nightmare that was to be released later on this very same day. Long held anger once again began to bubble up to the surface before she forced it back down into the depths of her mind. She didn't want to lose control of her anger again because the last time she had, her ponies had to fix a gaping hole in one of the castle's walls. Chuckling a little at the memory, she glanced back at the scroll that she had recently received. The scroll was from her faithful student Twilight Sparkle. Typically, her letters were based around something new she discovered either in the fields of magic or science, but this time is was about the story of the Mare in the Moon. She winced as she thought of the tale, knowing that it's contents were fabricated. Granted most of it was true or at least true enough, but it left out something very important, something she did not want the populace to know about. Not even her very own student. Celestia sighed at the thought. The more she thought about it the more she realized that it was inevitable because if she won, Luna wouldn't return, and if she failed then Equestria would be shrouded in eternal night. Celeste shivered at the thought of Nightmare Moon destroying everything that she had built. All of a sudden, she had an idea. Levitating her quill and a random scroll, she began to write. Dear my faithful student, I am pleased that you have messaged me about this threat. However there is no need to worry about it, at least for right now. I have known about this threat for over one thousand years, and I have a plan to prevent it. However, I want you to accompany me on the trip to Ponyville where the Summer Sun Celebration is to take place. You would be in charge of making sure everything is in order in regards with catering, weather, music, and decorations. With your oversight, I hope that you can make this look like a normal celebration. As for Nightmare Moon, we shall discuss my plan in more detail when the time comes. Oh, and be sure to make some friends. From your faithful teacher, Princess Celestia Twilight read and reread the letter she had just received from her teacher. Fear was etched on her face for two reasons. Not only in some ancient demon supposed to return tonight, but Princess Celestia told her to make friends! Why would she need friends? All she needs are books . . . and Spike. Why would the Princess go out of her way to tell her to make friends instead of telling Twilight her plan to stop Nightmare Moon? Exasperated, she groaned in annoyance. "So, what did the Princess say?" asked Spike, Twilight's number 1 assistant. "She told me to accompany her to Ponyville to assist in the celebration. Not only that but she wants me to make friends," Twilight responded irritably. "Isn't that a good thing?" Spike asked sheepishly. "No!" Twilight yelled louder than she wanted to. "Sorry about that Spike, I'm just stressed right now,"Twilight apologized. "It's okay Twilight," Spike responded. After a short pause he asked, "So did she say anything about Nightmare Moon?" Twilight blinked before responding, "Umm no, she said that she was going to explain everything when I get to Ponyville." "Don't you mean when we get to Ponyville," Spike asked innocently. "I'm sorry Spike, but I need you to stay here and look after the observatory for me okay", Twilight replied feeling guilty. She heard the rustling of pegasus wings from her left and saw that two pegs pulling a chariot had landed just outside of her home. "Sorry Spike, but I have to go," she apologized while rushing out to the chariot. Spike grumbled at the fact that he had been left out of something excited again. "Why don't I get to do anything fun? I want to have an adventure, not just look after some observatory. I want to face down monsters and not mop the floor or reorganize some old pointless books," Spike grumbled as he crumbles up Princess Celestia's letter. *** Somewhere in space, there is a moon that orbits the planet known by the locals as Equis. No scholar has been able to figure out how it formed. Some theorize that it was created by Princess Luna thousands if not millions of years ago. Others believe that it was once an asteroid that was captured by their planet's gravity. And still others believe that it formed from an ancient collision that took place even before Princess Celestia was around. It was because of the mystery of the moon and it's shepherd that caused it to become the subject of many scientific debates. Most of this supposed scientists and astronomers however, did not believe in the old ponies tale of Mare in the Moon. They simply dismissed it as a ancient fable. This included one such amateur astronomer from Neigh Jersey that was set to attend the Summer Sun Celebration in the small town of Ponyville. However, she never knew how wrong they all were. The demon's form danced across the surface of the moon. Her eyes looking in every single direction, soaking in all of the information space provided. She saw five stars slowly inch their way to the moon as she had for the last ten centuries. She knew that time was short and that she was about to be set free from her lunar prison. She smirked at the thought of bringing all of Equestria to it's knees and bringing about eternal night. She belted out a horrible, deranged laugh into the vacuum of space. "YOU HER THAT CELESTIA! THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO TO STOP ME NOW! I SHALL BRING ABOUT ETERNAL NIGHT AND I SHALL END YOUR PATHETIC LIFE!" Equestria was about to face the wraith of Nightmare Moon, and nothing could stop her now. > Dreams and Batponies > -------------------------------------------------------------------------- Dreams and Batponies From Dreams That Passed Us By by hellvic notion An MLP Fanfiction "THERE IS NOTHING YOU CAN DO TO STOP ME NOW! I SHALL BRING ABOUT ETERNAL NIGHT AND I SHALL END YOUR PATHETIC LIFE!" Starry Nights woke up panting, eyes wide with fear. After a few moments, she closed her eyes and took three deep breaths. It was just a dream Starry, it was just a dream. Swiveling her head to the window, she saw that it was already morning. With a groan, she quietly got herself out of bed and to the bathroom so to not disturb the other occupant. Once she made her way to the bathroom mirror, she raised her brush in order to tame her jungle that was once her mane. As she brushed her tangled mane, she took a gander at her features. Her coat was a dark blue, and her eyes were a slightly brighter blue. Her wings were fairly larger than the average pegasus which allowed her to fly long distances. Her cutie mark was of a crescent moon against a black backdrop. However, her most notable feature had to be her sparkling blue mane which had inspired her mom to name her Starry Nights in the first place. She was as tall as most stallions which in combination with her striking physical features, intimidated many stallions. Needless to say she was pretty lonely growing up. Then she met Blue Fury. Unlike most stallions, Blue Fury wasn't afraid of her. There were several reasons such as the fact her grew up in one of the roughest areas of Neigh Jersey, or the fact that most mare batponies were of similar stature to many males. Regardless, when they first locked eyes, it was love at first sight. After finishing brushing her mane, she turned around to see Fury yawn obnoxiously loud as he stretched out his bat wings. "Good morning, how was your sleep," Fury asked sleepily as he slowly got onto his hooves, "Not very good unfortunately," Starry responded hoping he wouldn't push the issue any further. Blue Fury sighed before responding,"You had another nightmare, didn't you Starry?". After Starry didn't respond he continued,"It's okay, your going to get through this like you always do." "Thats what you always say Bluey, but this one feels different," Starry replied with a hint of worry laced in her voice. Fury's face adopted a serious expression before asking,"What do you mean it feels different?" "I just have this pang in my stomach. It feels like something bad is going to happen," Starry responded now on the verge of tears. Blue Fury quickly embraced his filly friend, allowing her to cry on his shoulder. "Nothing bad is going to happen. And if something does happen, I'll protect you, it is my job after all." Soon, Starry Nights tears dried up as she pulled from her colt friends embrace. "Sorry, I'm just really emotional this morning," Starry apologized. "There is no need to apologize," Fury responded. After a few moments of thinking, he asked,"Hey, why did you call me Bluey? I thought her agreed on no pet names?" "Hey, I think its a cute nickname," Starry retorted with a chuckle. "You may think its cute, but if the guys hear you call me that, they'll be teasing me until I'm six feet under," Fury retorted back, earning a full fledged laugh from his special somepony. He turned his head to the left, taking a glance at the clock before asking, "Hey Starry, what time does your train leave to Ponyville?" "At 11:35, why?" Starry asked back. With a smug grin etched on his muzzle, he said, "Well, its 11:25 right now." Starry's eyes widened in realization, she was going to be late for the biggest assignment yet. "Oh no oh no oh no," Starry said panicky as she swiftly gathering all of her writing materials. A few days before, she was assigned to cover the 1000th Summer Sun Celebration. Needless to say, it was the biggest story of her young career. And now she was running late. After gathering all of the things she needed, she gave a quick peck to a surprised Blue Fury before rushing out the door. Throwing caution to the wind, she flapped her wings and began to fly to the train station, hoping that she could make it on time. *** Unfortunately for Starry Nights, she did in fact miss her train by about ten minutes. She must've looked like a crazy mare when she arrived all huffing and puffing, babbling about how she was about to screw up the biggest opportunity in her career. Thankfully, there was another train set to go to Ponyville around an hour later. Starry thanked her lucky stars for that one. After an infuriatingly long wait, the train was finally ready to board. When she trotted into the train, she discovered that she had an entire train car to herself. That didn't surprise her, because while it was the Summer Sun Celebration, it was being held in the "backwater" town of Ponyville. She plopped herself down on a random seat, lifting up the middle hoof rest so to maximize her space. Stretching, she felt a satisfying pop originating from her wings, shooting pleasure down to the rest of her body. Once she got comfortable, she had an idea. Sifting through her belongings in her saddlebag, the pulled out a square device and a pair of black headphones. She connected the headphones to the device before she began to search for what she wanted to listen to during the trip. After deciding on the appropriate playlist, she kicked back and began to relax. Just as the twin guitars began to kick in, she felt the train jolt forward, starting her journey to Ponyville. She shut her eyes and began to tap her hooves to the beat of the music.