The MLP: FIM Universe, turned on it's head where villains are heroes and heroes are villains. A new Elements of Harmony, VS the Elements of Disharmony... the Mane Six? Alright, something's very wrong here. Nah, just a negative polarity universe.
You ever wanted to take a look at a world which is quite different then the one you know, yet still the same in some ways. Follow me to a Equus where the villains walk in the light, and the Mane Six walk in the dark. Where things are... shattered. Let's take a quick look into this universe...
Featuring Starlight Glimmer as the Element of Magic, Discord as Laughter, Sombra as Loyalty, Chrysalis as Kindness, Mane-Iac as Generosity, and Iron Will as Honesty with Solar Flare and Nightmare Moon as the Royal Sisters
Additional Tags: Mane-Iac, Iron Will, Queen Chrysalis, Mane Six, King Sombra
Cover Art property of BadDay28
Inspired by a conversation with Mistress Spectrum and TF: Shattered Glass
Broken Glass (Or the part where Starlight is unamused)
"You know, just imagine for a moment all that you know, and how it all could be different. How things could change with even the smallest difference.": Starswirl the Bearded said to a young Celestia
A note from the Author: That quote above is the most appropriate one for this tale. A tale where everything one could ever know about the world of My Little Pony, Friendship is Magic is turned right on it's very head. Oh, don't worry we're not going into one of those grimdark tales of woe and untold horrors to give young fillies and colts nightmares. You know the ones, as I refuse to mention those abominations here. No, things in this tale will just be very different and very, very weird. To be honest, that cover pic I chose should give you a slight hint on what's to come for you. You've already met one Mirror-Verse in the Reflections Arc, now time to meet another. Buckle up, it's about to be one very bumpy ride for you and me...
Ponyville, 1000 ME (Moon Era), Summer Sun Celebration:
"Ladies and Gentlecolts, 1000 years ago, our dearly beloved princesses of the Moon, Nightmare Moon defeated and banished her evil counterpart and her beloved sister's dark half Tyrantess Celestia to the sun and then took up the duty of raising it. Now, each year we tell this tale, not to scare you only to keep you wary of what happened all those years ago should she ever return and we are forced to take up arms against her." Mayor Mare announced to the populace at the town square as she had yearly. She knew how this all went, what to say thanks to lots of practice. As always, young fillies and colts listened with interest just as their parents had when they were told the tale of the great battle between the foursome.
Now, as you can see that is your first clue that things are very different here on this version of Equus as Celestia and Luna switch roles with their evil counterparts here. Trust me, that won't be the last time this'll happen. For example while there is a Golden Oaks library here it is not lived in by Twilight Sparkle, nor is it lived in by Trixie or Sunset Shimmer as you might expect for a mirror universe. Oh no, it's another unicorn who gets that honor here. A unicorn named Starlight Glimmer and her assistant a young drake named Spike...
"Spike, where's that book on Starswirl's lost spells! I need it!" Starlight called and she was swiftly answered by the drake she'd raised since he hatched from his egg.
"Right there where you left it, by your bed side." Spike answered with a sigh, and Starlight flushed red before muttering "Right..."
"Y'know, most ponies read something like Daring Do before bed. But you... You just read dusty old spellbooks." Spike said with a roll of his eyes, and braced himself for the lecture that was sure to come. And come it did.
"I read spellbooks because you never know if any of the spells might come in handy some day. For example, I read a wall and door repair spell a few days ago and for all I know I might need it sometime soon." Starlight sniffed, and right after she gave her lecture there was a loud crashing sound as a certain God of Chaos burst in.
"HELLLLLOOOO Starlight!" Discord called and Starlight groaned as she facehoofed for tempting fate like that.
"Or I might need it right now..."
Starlight's eyebrow twitched at the mess in front of her. Discord hadn't just burst in through the walls and front door, he'd knocked over bookshelves and scattered their contents every which way. She growled and glared her harshest glare at the chaos entity who didn't seem fazed in the slightest.
"Discord, why do you always do this? It's the third time this week this happened to somepony!" Starlight snapped while Spike muttered "And guess who has to help clean it up? Yeah, that's right. Me."
Discord could only grin.
"Because, surprise entrances are funny. Hellooo?" He said sarcastically. Starlight's eyebrow twitched even further before she responded.
"Then why am I not laughing?" She asked flatly.
Discord stuck his tongue out at her.
"You're such a child." Starlight muttered with a look upwards as if to say "Why me?" Starlight was then, with a snap of Discord's fingers made to float like a balloon. Discord snickered and said "Well, I did say you needed to LIGHTEN up." before he frowned struck a thinking pose as he uttered under his breath "Hmm, chaos magic must be on the fritz for some reason. She should have been glowing like a lightbulb instead of floating."
Starlight was not pleased in the slightest. She sputtered several inconsistent and nonsensical words before pointing to the hole and the wall and yelling "OUT!"
Discord rolled his eyes, huffed and muttered "Alright, miss bossy hooves." before snapping his fingers and disappearing in a poof of pink smoke that sent paint flying onto Starlight, probably just to spite her. And she was still floating as she crossed her arms before saying "Uh, Spike? A little help... Please?"
Spike walked off as he said "I'll go get the ladder, and a anvil."
Meanwhile in another part of Ponyville yet not quite Ponyville, a certain Minotaur was teaching a group of Changelings and their Hive Queen along with a bunch of other ponies his "Motivational Tactics".
"Alright, first thing I want to start off with is are you READY TO ROCK!?! Cause if you're not ready to rock, well I'd suggest you get your butt on out of here because I can't teach you anything." Iron Will shouted through his mic as he walked back and forth on the stage that had been set up for him. No one dared say a word to disagree with him and Iron Will nodded before he continued with his usual money back policy.
"You know what?" He asked, and waited for the crowd to ask "No, WHAT?" back in unison before he smirked. "I'll tell you what. Iron Will is so confident that you will be 100% satisfied with Iron Will's assertiveness techniques, that if you are not 100% satisfied, you. Pay. Absolutely. Nothing. Yeah, that's right, absolutely nothing!" He added at the crowd's shocked expression before he continued once more. "But I pity the fool who doubts Iron Will's methods."
And someone did.
"How do we know they'll work?" A random pegasus shouted from the crowd, and Iron Will glared harshly at him making him shrink inwards and take a step back. Queen Chrysalis facehoofed and muttered "Idiot. Of course it'll work, just like it did for me."
You see, before Chrysalis became the confident flirty homemaker she was today she'd been a quiet and shy changeling incapable of leading her hive. But that was before her childhood friend Iron Will stepped in. Now, she was one lean mean house decorating machine as he'd put it so nicely. But anyways, back to the present.
"Are you critiquing my methods mister?" Iron Will roared as he got in the poor stallion's face. "Well, I'll tell you that they WILL work. Just look at Chrysalis here!" He added, before picking her up and holding her out to the crowd, much to her displeasure. "You all know what she was like, now look at her!"
The pegasus from before shut up, well aware of Chrysalis's history.
"I believe my point has been made." Iron Will said with an nod after he'd returned Chrysalis to her position in the crowd. The pegasus then whispered "Sorry." and Iron Will heard him before grinning to himself.
"Which brings me to my first point. Thanks for that by the way... Uh, what was your name again?" He asked, blushingly. The Pegasus then answered "Thunderlane... Thunderlane Mr. Iron Will SIR!" He quickly corrected himself when Iron Will frowned at him.
"Anyway, the point is..." Iron Will began. "Don't be sorry! Be assertive! Never apologize, when you can criticize. You should be calling me Iron Pill or something like that. No, actually don't call me that. That's a terrible idea. If you did, my goat body guards would take that as a attack on my person and throw you out on your hooves."
Again, Chrysalis found herself facehoofing. Honestly, she liked her friend but he was a idiot sometimes.
Meanwhile, inside the sun she sat. She'd waited one thousand years for her chance, and now it was that time. Nightmare would pay for imprisoning her in her chosen celestial body and now she'd pay! Solar Flare was weak, and that's why she had to go and let her dark side take control.
"Soon..." She whispered. "Soon, the Solar princess will return and bring order! But first things first, I need someponies to get me out of here, then I can worry about dear old Lulu..."
She chuckled darkly, before sending out six surges of power across the land to six different mares whose lives were about to change forevermore...
Outside Ponyville there was a forest. A deep and dark forest, evergrowing and wild enough to send chills down anypony who even looked at it for a moment. This forest was known as the Everfree. Everything about it was unnatural. It's weather, controlled by no pegasi and almost impossible to keep in check and the animals inside were untamable by not even the most skilled. It would be mad to even consider stepping one hoof inside. And yet, there was one soul who was brave enough to make a home near this place. That soul was Sombra Ironhoof. You see, despite that rather frightening name of his, he was a kind and gentle soul who loved animals if not a bit antisocial. Specifically, the ones who lived on the edge of the Forest like rabbits and birds. For years he'd made a living off taking care of these creatures as a vet, and he also cared for any creature brought to him as well. He had a innate connection to the natural world, and he knew when things were amiss, just like he did now.
"You feel it too, don't you?" He whispered softly as he looked at some of the creatures who'd took shelter in his home. "Something's wrong, something in the natural world."
Animals had been acting oddly all day, even those like Timberwolves he'd seen fleeing from the forest as if something scared them. But not much scared the creatures which gave other ponies nightmares. Sombra knew not what was wrong, but he did know that whatever was causing this imbalance was powerful.
"Well, I suppose there's only one way to find out. Go inside the forest and see for myself." He muttered, and even with the sun high in the sky that forest would be as dark as ever.
"...Dark enough for it to be perfect for something to hide."
With that, he took one step out the door and began his trek to the Forest...
Ponyville, Lovely Locks Hairdressery...
"Alright darling, might I say you look wonderful. Another grand creation, by yours truly Lovely Locks!" The one and only said flamboyantly with a dramatic air.
No. not just dramatic. That's not quite correct. Arrogantly would be a better term. But not without reason, oh no. For ever since she'd came to Ponyville from Manehatten Lovely Locks had been creating bold and daring new hairstyles for anyone who walked into her hairdressery. Phrases her sung of her grand skill, and she loved it, each and every bit.
"Seriously, you are a stunner. Not much as myself of course but you get the idea. You know, I'll bet you bits that Trenderhoof will put you on the page of his next mag!"
"Y-you really think so?" Caramel asked nervously as he stared at his new slicked back mane in a mirror that was held up to him. Lovely nodded with a smile.
"Darling, if I were interested in stallions I would just be joining the line that's SURE to form up right outside your door." She told him, and Caramel's jaw dropped.
"L-line?" He asked with more then a bit of trepidation.
"Trust me, I know these things." Lovely nodded before continuing. "In fact, I dare say other ponies will want to form a herd with you."
"H-herd?" Caramel asked as he began hyperventilating and Lovely nodded. This was far too much for poor him and he fainted dead away in his chair. Lovely scratched her head in confusion.
"Huh, wonder what I said wrong... Ah well. Okay... Who's next?"
Starlight Glimmer was very worried. No, make that terrified. A few moments ago, she'd discovered something that if not properly prepared for could spell disaster as the Nightmare Kingdom had never seen. This something was Celestia's return which was rapidly approaching if the history books were correct. Heck, for all she knew it could have happened already. So, with that in mind she made a trip to Canterlot Castle.
BANG!
That was the sound made when Starlight kicked the throne room's main doors wide open. On hearing this sound, Nightmare Moon looked up from her book which she had been engrossed in for the past few moments. As she looked up and took off her reading glasses she smiled on seeing her faithful student. She'd first began training Starlight ever since a magical outburst at Magical Kindergarden which had earned Starlight her Talent Mark, as they were called in this world. Sadly, this upbringing had forced Starlight to concentrate only on her studies and she'd become a bit of a shut in as a result.
"Starlight, always a pleasure." Nightmare said gently before her smile faded from her face. She knew her student wouldn't come to her like this if everything was normal.
"What brings you to my kingdom, my little pony? While I'm always happy to see one of my subjects, I can tell just from your expression that something's wrong." Nightmare continued as she got off her throne and went to her student who's response was... Well, read for yourself.
"Disaster! Doom! Destruction! Celestia, returning! We... We might all die!" Starlight spat out far too rapidly for her mentor to even tell what she was saying. She put a hoof on her shoulder and gave Starlight a look. She'd grown used to Starlight's panic attacks and gave her the cure she always used which was a cold glass of water that Starlight eagerly accepted.
"Breathe. Take a few deep breathes before you speak, and then tell me what happened." Nightmare told her student after Starlight was done with the water she'd been given. After a few short calming breathes, Starlight was ready to begin and explained in full detail what happened.
"I... I was going over the history texts and I found something... Well, let's just say it was disturbing. A prophecy, and if it's correct your sister Celestia will return to try and retake her throne."
Nightmare took it all in. She knew this would happen one day, and she was ready. In fact, little did Starlight know it but this was what her training was all for. To try and stop her sister, and reform her if it were possible.
Nightmare chuckled. She knew what her student was thinking.
"Prepared? Who says I haven't? Get back to Ponyville, and don't worry about a thing. Everything's been taken care of, I assure you."
Deep within the Everfree Forest...
The most unnerving bit of the forest right now, Sombra thought to himself, was the sounds of it's animals. Or to be more accurate, the fact that there were no sounds at all. Not even crickets chirping. Even they'd fled from whatever had a grip on this place. As Sombra had predicted, no light reached this deep within the forest forcing him to use his horn to light a path. Suddenly, he heard hoofsteps that were not his own, and they were coming from behind him. Sombra stopped, and whirled around to use his horn's light to hopefully reveal whoever was following him. A blue face with light blue hair as became visible.
"AAAAGGGHHHH!" Sombra screamed, and the newcomer screamed back.
"AAAACCCCK!" The now reveal to be female unicorn screamed before Sombra calmed down with the other unicorn calming down with him once they both realized they each meant the other no harm.
"Okay... Well, this is, uh, rather embarrassing don't you think?" Sombra muttered sheepishly as his new friend blushed red as a tomato.
"Yes, yes it is. The Great and Powerful Trixie feels rather silly to be honest. Can we pretend this never happened?" She asked as Sombra's face showed recognition. He'd heard of her, and who hadn't? Trixie was about the only unicorn brave enough to actually live inside the Forest, not just on it's outskirts as the forest itself provided everything she needed for her healing potions, some of which Sombra ordered for his animal clinic.
"Okay, agreed. But what are you doing out here anyway?" Sombra asked with a arched eyebrow. Trixie replied "Same as you I suspect. Trixie thinks something is rotten in the forest and wants to find out what."
"Well then... I'd say a team up is in order."
Canterlot Castle, a storage room...
All across Nightmare's Kingdom, unknown to Nightmare her sister's plan was progessing nicely. Inside this particular storage room a certain lavender unicorn was stepping out of a certain mirror that led to a certain world. Long ago, she'd been Nightmare's prized student before jealously took her and she led to the human world. But after being defeated by a group of six humans she fled back here with a plan in mind. To find some way to regain power and take back her school and then... the world. Suddenly a bright image of a alicorn with a multicolored mane appeared before her.
"Who... Who are you?" The unicorn asked nervously. Celestia chuckled.
"You want power? You want to take back your school and then rule it like a queen? I think I can help with that, if we just strike a deal."
"Deal." Twilight smirked.
High above Cloudsdale...
FA-WHOOM!
That was the sound made when a rainbow haired Pegasus burst through the clouds. She had no equal, and she knew it. But as everybody knows, with age comes weakness. That was Wonderbolt Rainbow Dash's greatest fear, that some young punk would surpass her as she got older.
"You want to be young forever?" Celestia asked as she appearer much like she had to Twilight. "I can help."
Pie Family Rock Farm...
Pinkie was not happy, and she'd never been. She would never be ale to escape this place, and bring joy and laughter to anyone. But not for long.
"You want to have some fun?" Celestia asked and Pinkie's eyes widened.
Manehatten, Orange Family household...
Applejack was stuck here, and she knew exactly why. She'd made a mistake in leaving her family farm and now she was paying for it. She was stuck in the glitz and glamor of the city far from her simple life and she knew not how to get back to it. And Celestia intended to play on this for her own ends.
"Look at you, you've got more potential then this. You could be so much more..." Celestia smirked and Applejack's head tilted in confusion.
"And how may Ah do that pardner?"
After Celestia had picked up Applejack she went to another part of Manehatten where Rarity Belle was having her own problems. For years, she'd been stuck under the heel of one Sassy Saddles who never let her do her own thing and just forced to her make whatever Sassy wanted.
"Damn mare..." Rarity grumbled as she worked on Sassy's latest creation. "I could do things so much better. She's just afraid of me and my genius."
"As well she should be." Celestia agreed as she appeared. "You want to be the greatest fashion designer the world has ever known? First things first though, you need to get rid of Sassy."
Cloudsdale, (Again)
Back in Cloudsdale Fluttershy hid, as she always had for years from them. The bullies, they always went after her and they always caught her in the end.
"Somepony... Help me. Please..." Fluttershy whispered. And somepony answered.
"Take my power. Use it well."
Everfree Forest, outside the Castle of the Two Sisters...
The castle had set abandoned for years. It was in disrepair and overgrown. And yet, as Trixie and Sombra approached they sensed something dark and evil inside. They only grew evermore worried as six beams of light shot past them and met up over the castle before going right inside it. A horrifying laughter followed them.
"Trixie says we are in deep trouble." Trixie whispered nervously and Sombra nodded in agreement.
"We need to warn Ponyville."
Sombra's Warning/Starlight's Panic AKA Elements Assemble Part 1 of 2
Sombra ran, like he'd never ran before with Trixie close behind. He never thought he'd be so happy to see the town of Ponyville more in his life, but first he had to get there to warn them of what was coming. He didn't know exactly what he saw at the Castle of the Two Sisters but he did know it could spell trouble for just about everypony if he was a betting stallion.
"Got to... Got to warn them! Pick up the pace!" He whispered under his breath as he ran just a bit fast ignoring the pain in his legs which was rapidly starting to grow. Pain would have to be set aside, at least for the moment. He couldn't afford distractions, not right now. Little did he know, that was exactly what Sombra was going to get.
A few moments before...
As Celestia felt her newly powered Elements of Disharmony accept her offers one by one she smirked. Together, with their combined power they would free her from her sun prison and then and only then would she be able to wage war against her accursed sister who put her their in the first place. And gathered they did, right in the middle of the throne room of her old castle. No, not her old castle she corrected herself mentally. Solar Flare's castle, that was more accurate. Her light half, which even now struggled to free itself.
"You can't win... Not by a long shot. My sister will stop you." Solar snarled mentally from the back of her mind. Celestia scoffed.
"Can't win? I'd say I already have. My Elements have been chosen." Celestia retorted arrogantly.
"And what about the other Elements? The true ones?" Solar asked and once again received a scoff.
"Them? Please. My Elements of Disharmony can handle whoever gets chosen. That is, even if the Elements are gained. I don't think they'll even see me coming." Celestia replied smirking as she did so. Her other half in frustration growled to herself. Her dark counterpart was so sure of her abilities and while she did the power to back up her words more often then not Solar still maintained that this arrogance would be Celestia's downfall.
"Don't underestimate my sister. She's dangerous... Or have you forgotten why we're here?" Solar Flare retorted, and for the moment her dark half was silenced. Solar smirked, for the time being at least a minor victory had been achieved.
The Castle of the Two Sisters: Throne Room
With flashes of light, Celestia's chosen six landed in a heap together all groaning in pain and cursing at each other. None of the six knew each other, and had only even the most of minor changes occurred in the timeline they might have been friends for life. But this timeline, as proven time and time again was not the timeline for this to happen.
"Hey, get off me you ground-hogger! You're crushing my wing! I need that wing, it's important!" A raspy voice angrily exclaimed, and a southern voice replied to it in a almost equal tone of annoyance.
"What'd you call me?" Applejack yelled before her eyes widened in recognition. "Hey, ah know you. You're one of those newfangled Wonderbolts aren't you? Y'all know nothing of real importance, what with your fancy high flying stunt tricks and all!"
"Well, I must say. This place is really dirty and needs a good cleaning to make it spick and span." Rarity said, putting in her two cents. She earned a "SHUT UP!" from Applejack and Rainbow in response before Rarity muttered to herself how a lady never shouted.
In the background, almost unheard Fluttershy whispered "We... We shouldn't fight. It's wrong!"
Pinkie began hopping around while saying to herself "A new place, what fun! Anything's better then that dusty old rock farm! Yuck!"
Twilight was the last to speak after everypony had been untangled from each other and frowned. That Celestia mare had never said anything about being teleported to a castle nor had she mentioned other ponies would be included in the deal that they made. Twilight growled to herself, there was always a catch to these sort of things. She really wanted to give Celestia a piece of her mind whenever she showed up again. Twilight's wish was soon granted.
"Hello again My Little Ponies." Celestia laughed as her almost see through form appeared. "I can only hold this form for so long so we need to talk fast."
"You're right about that." Twilight growled. "You never said anything about all of this. Now why should we help you?"
Celestia smirked.
"Because if you don't, your powers won't be yours to keep. Only I can keep recharging them. Now, let's talk business."
Now...
Sombra and Trixie were still running and not even Hell nor high water could stop them. At least, that was what they thought. A long, very eerie howl cut through the forest and Sombra stopped in his tracks. He knew that sound, for it was the sound of Timberwolves. However, Sombra's grinding to a halt was a mistake as he soon found out when a wolf pounced on him from the side with a mad glint in it's eyes. No, not just that it was fear. Something had taken control over this Timberwolf and Sombra knew it, if not what it was that cast the spell. Somra blasted the wolf to splinters with a spell from his horn but five more jumped out of the darkness. Trixie and Sombra shared a look, they knew this was far too many for them to take on alone.
But as they braced for death, it did not come. From out of the trees came a new figure, Iron Will who grabbed a wolf and punched it skywards. He wasn't alone, for Chrysalis joined him and took down two more wolves with a spell of her own. The last two were swiftly taken out by Sombra and Trixie.
"T-thanks. But where'd you guys..." Sombra trailed off before quickly correcting himself as Chrysalis coughed. "That is, I mean guy and gal come from and how'd you know we were in trouble.
"Iron Will's super senses always alert him when others are in trouble that Iron Will needs to save." Iron Will stated proudly before striking a heroic pose.
Chrysalis groaned and facehoofed.
"Actually we were taking a balloon flyover and we heard the howls." She stated while Iron Will mumbled "Couldn't have at least let me have that one could you?"
"We need to get back to Ponyville and warn them of what's coming." Sombra stated. "From what I've seen, this is only the tip of the iceberg."
The foursome quickly rushed back to Ponyville where they found they weren't the only ones aware of the crisis. In the town center, Starlight had swiftly called a meeting and was trying to warn everyone of Celestia's rapidly approaching return. However, she wasn't having much luck on that front.
"I'm telling you, Celestia is coming back and we're all in danger!" Starlight yelled, but only receive laughter and mutterings under the breath of the ponies who were listening.
"She's just a myth! A story to scare little foals from going where they don't belong!" Mr. Cake scoffed but Starlight wasn't willing to give up just yet.
"Haven't you seen the signs?" She yelled.
"What signs?" Somepony yelled. "The ramblings of a crazed pony?"
Then, Chrysalis as she and her group walked up came to Starlight's defense.
"Then if she's crazy I'm crazy as well! We were attacked by Timberwolves inside the Everfree!"
"So what?" Thunderlane shrugged. "Ponies get attacked by Timberwolves if they go into the forest. It's just bad luck."
"Bad luck?" Sombra muttered. "Bad luck my flank. You didn't see these wolves." He added, before noting all eyes were on him and he began trying to make himself as small as he could by hiding behind Chrysalis who could only sigh.
"Trixie barely escaped with her life, she did!" Trixie yelled but still nopony was convinced. Well, almost nopony. Though the creature who spoke couldn't be really called that.
"I've seen the signs alright, what with my chaos magic seemingly going out of control and all but I never really could figure out what they were until now. But this makes some real sense now that I think about it." Discord shrugged before he looked at Starlight. "Sorry for making you float by the way."
"Gee, thanks for the instant apology." Starlight replied dryly. "But if Celestia's going to be stopped we're going to need a bit more help then you bunch. Said help should have armor and pointy spears. Like I don't know, the Royal Guard or something."
"Hey, you take what you get." Discord retorted while everypony watched the two's back and forth like it was a tennis match. Trixie whispered to Chrysalis "Hey, anypony want to lay odds?" who passed her some bits.
It was then somepony else spoke up.
"Well, I'm not quite the Royal Guard but I bet I can help." The pony who in one world was known as the Mane-Iac said. "All powerful goddess taking over the world and possibly burning some ponies to a crisp? Bad for business I say."
"Okay, so it's settled. We'll all go and defeat a madmare who can kill us with solar powers. What fun!" Discord said sarcastically.
"Listen, as much as I'd like to go with you guys, I'm staying here." Trixie said. "I gotta whip up some potions to help beef up the defenses in case everything goes sour."
As the newly formed group marched back towards the Everfree Discord called "Don't worry everypony, I'll send some postcards!" and caused Starlight to groan and facehoof with this remark.
Later, at the edges of the forest...
Once again, Sombra saw the tall and darkened trees looming over him and despite being healed with a spell from Starlight felt a distinct sense of worry. He looked around and saw everypony else, even Discord seemed to share his feelings by their expressions alone.
"Okay, anypony else think this is a real bad idea?" Chrysalis muttered.
Nightmare looked nervous on her balcony even as she began her mighty task of lowering the sun for the day. She was still in preparation for her sister's long awaited return just as the books foretold. The Royal Guard had been placed on high alert, but somehow she knew this wouldn't be enough. The long lost Elements Of Harmony, if the legend was right and it had been so far they would be the only thing that would save her sister and bring Solar Flare back instead of that abomination that currently now existed right now trapped in the sun.
"You alright milady?" A voice laced with a Trottingham accent said from behind Nightmare who turned to face it's owner. The stallion who spoke was a blue earth pony decked head to hoof in golden armor with purple accents making him recognizable as a Captain of the Royal Guard.
"No, I'm not... She's coming back, and you know it. It can be felt." Nightmare said. "I... I don't want to admit it but I'm scared Boltstrike." She admitted fearfully and with a voice tinged with shame.
"A fretful Princess, a burning sun of sin. The Guard stands, and yet they recoil in the light." Boltstrike said in the form of a poem. "We're all scared bloody well scared as we should be, just some of us... We've learned to hide it." He said, his rare use of a curse word letting Nightmare know how frightened he was.
Boltstrike was the Captain of the Guard and he'd been that for 16 years on the dot so to speak bringing with him his love of poetry, puppet shows, opera and fencing. He considered himself the most cultured guard in Nightmare's employ and nopony disagreed.
"Yes, and if the guards aren't at there best we will lose." Nightmare said sadly while shaking her head. "Sadly, I don't think even our best would be good enough."
"Only the Elements can save us now." Boltstrike agreed. "But if we're going to go down, we're going to go down fighting. I for one, intend to show this Celestia mare what for!" He yelled, taking out his rapier sword.
It was then Boltstrike noticed something about the moon, or rather the lack thereof.
"Uh milady, I hate to mention this but... The sun's not going down."
Nightmare's eyes widened when she noticed. She knew what this meant.
"It's starting."
Deep inside the Everfree Forest
"Okay, anyone else creeped out by all of this? Raise your hooves, if it's not just me." Discord said, before raising his paw while Iron Will and Lovely raised their hand/hoof. It was then Lovely Locks thought of something.
"Hey, any of you ever think this is odd or is it just me? Celestia's good half has a name like Solar Flare, and so does Luna's and yet their evil halves have such non-threatning names. Seriously, anypony?" Lovely asked in confusion, and everypony present seemed to have the expression of somepony who hadn't had this occur to them yet.
"...Huh, now that you mention it, that is odd..." Chrysalis trailed off. But as she said this, the whole forest was filled with a thick fog and Starlight and Sombra both thought fast and lit up their horns but to no avail as the fog was still thick as pea soup you might say.
"I don't... I don't understand! It should be working!" Starlight panicked while Sombra muttered "Oh dear, oh dear me." over and over. Starlight quickly took a few calming breathes and thought about her problem. This fog was not normal, by the way it came out of nowhere and how thick it was. A solution was quickly thought up.
"So, magical in nature then..." Starlight muttered. "Everyone, grab your somepony's hooves or hands or whatever! Follow me, we're moving forwards this. No fear!" She called, and soon everypony had formed a chain with each other. Starlight had been grabbed, but it wasn't somewhere she liked.
"Discord! Not my flank!" She yelled, and only got laughter in response. Starlight groaned and muttered "What did I do to deserve this...?"
Meanwhile, Sombra was still terrified out of his mind.
"I don't... I can't see... I don't know where I am!" He panicked before a calming voice came from somewhere behind him. "Do not worry, none of this can hurt you. Nothing can do so as long as you've got friends." Chrysalis reassured, as unknown to her, her Cutie Mark of a sowing machine glowed briefly before the fog suddenly cleared. But the danger was not over as then several Timberwolves jumped out of the gloom. Like the ones before, these were under Celestia's powerful control.
"Run!" Starlight yelled, as she and her newfound friends ran through the forest only to come to a rushing river. The Timberwolves had them cornered.
"Well, if this is it... Nice knowing you all." Starlight said sadly, as agreements joined her. Discord then had a confession to make.
"I... I love you Starlight!" He yelled, and got multiple blank stares even from the Timberwolves. Suddenly, he burst out laughing.
"Sorry, I just wanted one last joke before I go. I'm good." Discord admitted, as his eyes glowed golden briefly.
The Timberwolves closed in snapping and snarling viciously, but as Sombra suddenly saw Chrysalis tremble as the wooden beast's mouths dripped drool and their orbs glow a powerful orange he felt something he hadn't before. Confidence.
"No... I'm not running away. I have friends now, and I don't want to see them die." Sombra growled as his cutie mark of a red cross glowed along with his horn which soon released a powerful blast of magic reducing the wolves to cinders and splinters. This time he was what everyone stared at in shock. Soon, Iron Will found his voice again.
"...So, what kind of vet are you again?"
The group continued on through the forest, eventually finding a bridge over the river. But alas, it was blocked by a figure. The first thing you would notice about him, besides his size was that from the waist down he was a horse but from the waist up he had a heavily muscled torso along with two huge and very deadly looking horns on his head. A giant axe that was Omega shaped was slung across his back. This was Tirek the Bridgemaster.
"None shall pass." Tirek said gruffly, as he crossed his arms. "This is the law of the Bridgemaster and it shall be obeyed."
"Oh great... The big guy. There's always one." Discord complained as he threw his arms up in the air in frustration and I mean them literally being thrown.
"Maybe we should just go around." Sombra wondered aloud, while Chrysalis shook her head.
"We don't have the time to look for another route. Let me handle this." She said and walked up to the centaur and threw on the charm as hard as she could.
"Y'know, I bet you're very... talented with all of those muscles." She said in a flirty manner and for whatever reason Sombra felt angry but pushed his feelings down as he nervously watched. Unsurprisingly, Tirek was not moved by the Changeling's feminine wiles.
"Your flirtations cannot move me from my post."
Chrysalis huffed and walked back to the group. "That always works..." She grumbled and Sombra didn't know why but he felt very relieved. This time Lovely took up the challenge.
"I wonder, is there anything we can give you that would make you look the other way?" She asked curiously. "I'm quite good with haircuts, don't you know?" Lovely added in a arrogant manner while Starlight once again facehoofed and muttered "Oh, give me a break."
Tirek seemed lost in thought for a moment before he finally came to a conclusion.
"Well there is something..." He asked, and Lovely quirked her head in confusion before her eyes widened in horror as Tirek held up a big toothbrush...
Soon, Lovely returned her coat all covered in some sort of horrific gunge.
"So...?" Starlight asked.
Lovely shuddered in horror, and that was all they got out of her for several moments after that even as the bridge was crossed...
The Castle of the Two Sisters, Throne Room
Meanwhile, Celestia was smirking as she looked over her chosen elements. Each had a character flaw or problem in their lives that would make them perfect generals for her army and the perfect ones to finally free her from her thousand year imprisonment. Her elements were in order: Envy, Greed, Depression, Sloth, Pride, and Dishonesty.
"Well well, so you're all ready to receive my power?" Celestia asked her chosen. Half of them looked eager as beavers so to speak but the other half not so much. They looked rather unsure, or just outright didn't want them if getting them meant the catch involved.
"Ah don't know about this. This seems fishier then a rooster that won't crow." Applejack admitted while Pinkie jumped around just happy to be off her farm and Rarity still looked unsure as ever.
"I don't know about this darling. What would you have us do with our powers? They can't just be given to us out of the goodness of your black heart. Oh yes, I know who you are... Celestia." Rarity snarled and everypony's eyes widened as their benefactor's identity was revealed to be THE Celestia.
Celestia cursed to herself, she should have expected this. It was hard to find good and stupid henchmen anymore.
"You want us plain folk to take over your sister's throne? Well, Ah am not doing it. Nightmare's been good to us, and she stays right where she is don't y'all think?" Applejack asked, although not everypony seemed inclined to agree with her. Celestia sighed to herself.
"Well, guess we'll have to do things the old fashioned way. Plain and simple... Brainwashing." She mused before everypony's eyes glazed over and their smiles became evil.
Pinkie in particular changed the most as her hair deflated and she seemed to become depressed and murmured "Laughter? What's good about laughter and joy?"
Entrance Hall
Meanwhile, our heroes had just arrived at last. The entrance hall, like the rest of the place was in ruins from Nightmare and Celestia's battle long ago.
"Geez, what a dump. Iron Will says this place is in need of a fixer-upper." You-Know-Who stated as he shoved some rubble out of the way.
"Oh, I've had places in nasty need of repair but not like this. Mind you, there was this one spot. Black mold up the walls..." Chrysalis trailed off, leaving a rather awkward silence until Starlight coughed to break it up and said "Anyway, let's continue on. Be on your guard everypony."
Suddenly, the doors at the far end of the hall were blown open wood splinters going everywhere. Starlight protected her companions from them with a violet colored bubble shield.
"It's a trap!" Starlight shouted.
"Got that right." Twilight smirked as she and the rest of the Dark Mane Six stepped out of the darkened doorway. Applejack said it best.
With a powerful blast of magic, Twilight shattered Starlight's shield into what resembled little pieces of glass. Starlight quickly retaliated and blasted her backwards into the hallway from where she'd came. Twilight recovered and blasted part of the roof with a spell making it nearly come down on Starlight.
"So, this is who Nightmare chose over me? A no talent hack?" Twilight cackled, with a blank look in her eyes alerting Starlight that something was off. On a hunch, she took a quick look at the other five ponies Twilight had come along with. They too had a blank look in their eyes.
"Twilight, listen to yourself! What happened to you? Celestia told me about you, about your jealousy issues but this isn't just jealousy it's outright insanity!" Starlight pleaded before creating another magic shield to block some incoming purple colored fireballs of magical origin. Each one was soundly deflected off the shield and Twilight growled.
"Is that all you can do? Hide behind shields?" She snorted. "Pathetic."
Twilight then head butted the shield shattering it and charged up a spell which she used on Starlight and it blasted her right out the front doorway of the Castle.
"There is no Twilight, there is only MIDNIGHT SPARKLE!" Twilight yelled in rage, and Starlight facehoofed as she shook her head.
"Great, she gave herself a name..." Starlight mumbled.
Discord VS Pinkie
Meanwhile, a certain spirit of chaos went up against a certain pink Earth Pony. But it was not in a battle of spells or physical prowess. Oh no, it was a battle that could only be waged by these two. You see, Discord was intent on making Pinkie smile at least once, for Celestia's brainwashing had turned the smiling pink pony into a very depressed pink pony.
"Oh come on, you got to admit that last one was a giggle!" Discord whined as he held up a puppet of Nightmare Moon. "Laugh for me, please!"
Pinkie's expression and demeanor never changed. She was still depressed as ever.
"Laughter, what's the point of laughter?" She murmured. "It never helps anyone."
Discord looked understandably offended.
"N-never helped anyone? Au contraire mon Pinkie Pie! Well, I'll have you know that laughter does the exact opposite! It made me into who I am today!" He exclaimed with a proud smile, as multicolored fireworks somehow went off behind him.
"An idiot?" Pinkie deadpanned, and Discord's face fell before a devious grin came to his face. It actually resembled that of the Grinch's to be honest.
"Well... I didn't want to do this but you leave me no choice." Discord began with a dramatic flair in his voice. If the main universe's Twilight or Celestia even heard this tone in his voice they would be understandably nervous and battening down the hatches and making sure everything was nailed down.
"It's time... To debut the ultimate form of chaos, the grandest jest! The best prank I ever pulled, the greatest form of amusement! Ladies and germs, I give you... THIS!" Discord crowed before he pulled out something from a area which I dare not describe. Pinkie blinked and tilted her head at what she saw.
That something Discord pulled out was a banana peel which the chaos being squarely put in front of him before walking towards and tripping up on it. The end result was Discord falling flat on his face. Despite him groaning in pain, his plan succeeded and Pinkie showed the barest trace of a smile before she fell over laughing with tears in her eyes as she rolled around on the ground.
"...Glad you think my pain is so funny." Discord deadpanned. "For the record, that wasn't how things were supposed to go."
Pinkie blinked before she stopped laughing and tilted her head in confusion.
"...It wasn't?"
Iron Will VS Applejack
In another part of the Castle, Iron Will and Applejack waged a battle of strength with each tossing or bucking rubble towards the other. One part of a broken pillar nearly hit Iron Will in the head had he not punched it into many pieces before he ripped up part of the floor and threw it towards Applejack. She reacted fast, and with a powerful kick of her two hind legs she kicked it back towards him and knocked Iron Will to the floor.
"Urgh... That was a kick. You sure you haven't been working out or something?" Iron Will wondered aloud, and Applejack chuckled.
"Nah, Ah naturally have this here strength. Earth Pony and all." She said before something or rather somepony seemed to over take her form and then she spoke but not with her own voice.
"Look at you, a minotaur helping others and motivating them?" Celestia's voice laughed, as it spoke through Applejack's mouth. This made Iron Will furious, you simply didn't violate somepony like that.
"Let her go, she's not part of this." The minotaur snarled and "Applejack" simply laughed.
"Oh, I'll let her go... After you admit the truth. You know the one I'm talking about. About how you wanted to be as different as possible from all the rest of your kind."
"I... I..." Iron Will stammered. "I don't know what you mean!"
Applejack's body rolled it's eyes and Celestia's voice chuckled.
"Oh, don't give me that. You know exactly what I mean. Long ago, your species were conquerors feared by all. But you... You're different. Why is that?"
It was then Iron Will finally admitted his reasons for being the way he was and he admitted them proudly.
"Because... I want to be different, change everypony's perception of the minotaur race. Make us be seen as more then monsters."
Little did he know it, but as he said this his eyes glowed as his Element affirmed itself to it's new bearer. Celestia laughed and released her hold on Applejack but not before leaving this message.
"Only time will tell..."
Applejack groaned in pain and rubbed her head.
"Ugh, can anypony get the number of that there chariot which hit mah?" She murmured, and Iron Will looked a bit sheepish.
"Uh, that may have been me." He admitted with a blush.
Sombra VS Rainbow
At the Castle's observatory Rainbow and Sombra did battle. Sombra was beyond terrified, but he didn't let that stop him as he knew what was at stake. In his mind, a mental version of Chrysalis urged him on as he fired spell after spell intent on bringing the brainwashed Pegasus down to Earth so to speak.
"Look at you, you're just too slow to stop me!" Rainbow laughed in a cocky tone. Even being brainwashed hadn't changed some of her base personality.
"Maybe, but I know something you don't. You see, I know quite a bit about animals or to be more accurate their wings and I know how much they can be used before their muscles get tired..."
Just as Sombra had predicted, right then Rainbow's wings began to feel very sore and she began to lose her speed just in time for Sombra to knock her out with a magic blast.
Chrysalis VS Fluttershy
Once again, our next battle wasn't one of sheer physical power but this time it was one of words. As the twosome flew around in the sky above, they talked. Well, when I say talked Dark Fluttershy just spat out insults while Chrysalis took them in one by one as they came. They didn't affect her as thanks to Iron Will's help she had plenty of confidence in herself.
"Creepy bug!" Fluttershy shouted, and Chrysalis scoffed.
"Is that the best you can do? I've heard worse." She drawled while rolling her eyes. "Fluttershy, we grew up together and we took classes at the same flight school!"
"Yes, we did!" Fluttershy snapped. "You could have protected me, if you had the guts!"
"I knew how bad things were for you, but this isn't the way!" Chrysalis yelled, as she choked back a sob at what had happened to her childhood friend.
"Think about it!" Chrysalis said. "Think about what you've become... I'm sorry, but you're no better then those bullies who tormented us!"
It was then Chrysalis's words finally reached the butter colored pegasus and the memories each and every painful one came flooding back. The insults, and the rhyme of "Fluttercry, can't fly!" that the bullies sang. Fluttershy tried to hold back the tears but the dam broke and she flew into Chrysalis's forearms who embraced her in a comforting hug while whispering "It's okay, I'm here..."
Lovely VS Rarity
"Drama queen!" Lovely snapped.
"Hair lover!" Rarity retorted. For the past few moments, they'd been exchanging insults. Eventually, their insults gave way to something else as they suddenly started kicking and punching other in a huge dust cloud. Discord watched with a eyebrow raised as he turned to the camera only he and Pinkie could see.
"Well... That was disappointing. I was expecting something more from you Bricklayer!" He scoffed.
Outside the Castle, with Starlight and Twilight... (Round 2)
KA-WHOOM! ZAP! KER-POW!
Spells flew right and left, creating a shower of color as the twosome fought each other, with neither side intent on letting the other defeat them.
"Don't you get it yet? You can't defeat me!" Twilight yelled, as she grabbed a tree with her magic and hurled it towards Starlight who created a saw of hardlight and split the tree in two right down the middle.
"Oh? I'm doing pretty well so far." Starlight deadpanned. "I've got friends now, and that's something you'll never understand."
Twilight scoffed.
"Friendship? With those misfits?" She said as she rolled her eyes. Starlight nodded proudly.
"Yes, and that's the greatest magic of all isn't it? You see, I have a theory on what happened to you. You never experienced friendship for yourself and there was no one but Nightmare to stop you when you went over the edge. If you had friends, you might have turned out very different." Starlight said, shaking her head in pity. She really did feel sorry for the unicorn she fought who unlike the others had accepted Celestia's power willingly.
"SHUT UP!" Twilight roared, and fired off a spell but her energy was weak and it barely made it a few feet not even getting close to it's intended target.
"Yeah, I thought so." Starlight smirked. "You're out of power. It's over."
Then Celestia's voice cut through the air.
"Oh, it's far from over. You see, while all you lot fought intent on settling your differences with each other I was preparing myself. And now I am ready."
Then, high in the sky above appeared Celestia herself as her multicolored mane whipped in the howling winds that came out of nowhere. Everypony watched in horror as the mad Princess of the Sun cackled.
"SHHHHHHEEE'SSSS BACK!" Celestia singsonged, before like a rocket she was gone and heading straight towards the direction of Canterlot and her sister... Nightmare Moon. Starlight swallowed as Twilight suddenly looked incredibly guilty. What had she helped unleash and what was the cost?
"Oh boy." Starlight whispered. "May Nightmare save us."
Celestia's Rampage (Chaos in Canterlot Part 1 of 2)
In Canterlot, everything had devolved into a form of chaos that would make a unreformed Discord proud. Buidings burned from Celestia's spell fire as she made her way towards the Castle and her target. There was fighting in the streets, and it was Royal Guardsman against Royal Guardsman. Celestia, as her first act had taken control over half of Nightmare's forces for use as a makeshift army to conquer the rest of her soon-to-be kingdom. That is, if the resistance didn't have anything to say about it.
Canterlot Town Square
"Alright you lot, I don't want to hurt you but you're leaving me no choice." Boltstrike muttered and pulled out his rapier as he was surrounded by some of his own men controlled by Celestia.
"Last warning before I show you what for!" Boltstrike yelled but got no response. No good ones anyway.
"So... That's what it'll be eh?" Boltstrike murmured before reciting a poem. "A commander alone, a sun on the rampage while a city burns and no end in sight." He uttered before his mind controlled men charged towards him. A stallion pinned Boltstrike down and held a knife to his throat but Boltstrike kicked him off his form. A second guard tried to take him from behind but Boltstrike was soon on his feet once more and kicked his attacker into a market stall.
"I should lecture you on your poor form, but what's the point? You probably wouldn't listen anyway would you?" Boltstrike asked sarcastically.
The remaining two guards stared him down and Boltstrike stared back not even blinking. The first came at him sword in mouth but Boltstrike raised his own blade to block it before giving his rapier a twist and his opponent's sword went flying out of his mouth and landed nearby. The now weaponless guard tried to attack only for him to earn a hold from Boltstrike which knocked him out after depriving the guard of his air supply. The final guard attacked and Boltstrike and him fenced for a few moments till Boltstrike kicked a wooden barrel at his foe and knocked him out.
"You forget, I trained you all. I may normally be a pacifist but let's not forget. I'm the Captain of the Royal Guard for a reason!" Boltstrike roared. "Now, if any more of you want me... Come and get me!"
As if to answer his request, several more mindcontrolled guards came across a bridge but suddenly a lightning bolt struck the bridge breaking it in half and sending the guards tumbling into a river. Boltstrike looked up, only to see a blond maned Pegasus guard with odd eyes wave at him and grin sheepishly from atop a cloud.
Castle of the Two Sisters...
"It's... It's over. We've lost. We've all lost." Twilight repeated sorrowfully while shaking her head in guilt. She hadn't meant for it to get this far. Sure, she wanted revenge against Nightmare but not like this, not for a insane Alicorn to go after her. And now the whole world was about to live forever in the daylight and get scorched in it's power.
"No, we haven't lost. Not yet, not while I still breathe." Starlight growled and began to trot towards the direction of Canterlot. Twilight ran after her only for Starlight to glare at her harshly.
"And where do you think you're going?" Starlight snarled in Twilight's face.
"I'm... I'm trying to help." Twilight whispered sadly as a tear rolled her down her face.
"No, you've done enough." Starlight replied but Twilight glared back at her. She wasn't going to give up that easily.
"No, I haven't." Twilight snapped. "Listen, even if you and your friends tried going after Celestia she'd still overpower you. You need help, and you know it. So for Nightmare's sake let me help you. I caused this, and now I'm going to help end it no matter what the Tartarus you say!" She yelled before her expression softened.
"Please..." Twilight whispered. "Please, let me help."
Starlight then made up her mind...
Canterlot Castle, Throne Room
KABOOM!
The wooden doors to the throne room burst open and were rapidly splinters thanks to a powerful blast of magic from the Solar Tyrant. Nightmare jumped off her throne and to the floor which cracked as she landed to meet her sister, whose eyes were ablaze with a horrible blinding light like that of a solar flare gone wild.
"Well now, it has been a long time now hasn't it?" Celestia sneered.
"Not long enough." Nightmare replied simply before firing off a spell at her sister who created a shield to stop it. "You're going back to the sun."
"Not this time sister." Celestia laughed. "You, however are going to the moon just so you know how it'll feel." She snarled before blasting Nightmare into her throne reducing it to rubble.
"The day will last forever. Crops will wilt, streams will turn dry as bones and ponies will embrace the light!" Celestia cackled before Nightmare ripped off a pillar with magic and launched it at her sister but Celestia blasted it into rubble only to be knocked to the floor by another spell from her sister.
"Even if you defeat me, other ponies will rise up to stop you. The Elements will-"
"Damn the Elements!" Celestia snarled. "My own will counteract them. Nothing can stop me now, not even you... Actually, on that subject. What if it was you, what if things were reversed? I'm sure I'd have done a better job then you ever did."
"Well, we'll never know will we?" Nightmare replied sarcastically only to for a spell to make her slide backwards back into what remained of her throne. She tried to get up, but found she didn't have the strength to do so. The battle was over, and she'd lost.
"Yes, that's right... We'll never know." Celestia sneered as she advanced...
Canterlot Marketplace
Elsewhere in Canterlot the battle was not going well with the few non-brainwashed ponies rapidly losing ground against their brainwashed foes. In the Marketplace, a group of Celestia-controlled guards had cornered Aristocrat Fancy Pants and his wife Fleur.
"Please... Don't!" Fancy pleaded but of course there was no answer. Then, there came a shout from somewhere nearby.
"You know, you kill those innocents and you just might make me cranky. And believe you me, you don't want to see that!" Discord called as he leaped down off a rooftop alongside Sombra who was a bit less confident but didn't let that stop him. Their foes turned their swords from Fancy and his wife to them.
"Oh yes, brilliant idea. Now we've got the swords pointed at US!" Sombra said sarcastically but Discord wagged a finger at him.
"Now now, no need to panic and get all sarcastic on moi. I've got a plan, perfect to break the control." Discord laughed as the guards advanced.
"Yeah? Well, you better think of it fast..." Sombra said nervously.
"See, I know Celestia, the old bat, is whispering nasty old things in their pure virgin ears so I intend to replace that voice in their heads with something even worse! That is, the most annoying song EVER put into words!" Discord said confidently before bursting out into a rendition of "It's a Small World" forcing Sombra to cover his ears. But the ploy worked, and the guards were free.
"Now we just have to do that to everypony else! What fun!" Discord crowed. His partner was less pleased.
"Great..." Sombra muttered.
Canterlot Castle, Throne Room
Celestia with a insane smile stood over her defeated sister who was panting hard and bleeding in several areas from the wounds she's sustained.
"Mercy... Please. Listen to me Solar, you've got to be in there somewhere! Fight it!" Nightmare pleaded but it was no use.
"Mercy? Where was mercy when you imprisoned me in the sun!?!" Celestia roared in fury.
"I... I had no choice." Nightmare said sadly. "You had to be stopped."
Her sister laughed bitterly.
"Well, you certainly failed at that didn't you? Oh, what's that phrase the kids use today...?" Celestia wondered aloud before she "remembered" and got in very close to her sister's face and sneered. "Oh yeah, that's right. Sucks to be you. Buh-bye."
Celestia charged up her horn with a spell to finish off her sister at last. But just as Nightmare closed her eyes for what she thought would be the last time and braced for death, a angry voice came from behind them and both Alicorns whirled around to face it.
"HOLD IT RIGHT THERE CELESTIA!" The voice yelled. Suddenly a figure stood in the ruined doorway. There was a widening of eyes from Nightmare and Celestia.
"So my teacher stands alone." Starlight said, and both Nightmare's and Celestia's eyes widened even further at who joined her.
"Not alone, no." Twilight commented, her horn ablaze with magic. "Time to end this."
(To Be Continued...)
The Solar Tyrant Dethroned (Chaos in Canterlot Part 2 of 2)
On seeing Twilight, Celestia chuckled and shook her head in what could only be described as pity.
"You know, I had such high hopes for you. You were the only one to take my power freely. Did little Miss-ever-faithful-to-my-sister extend the hoof of "Friendship"? You wanted to be the best." Celestia told her former servant in a disappointed tone of voice.
"But that was before I knew the cost." Twilight replied sadly while wiping a tear of guilt away from her eye. "The price was too high, and the guilt would have ate away at me eventually." Twilight told her, and Nightmare's eyes widened going unnoticed. In her mind, her thoughts raced. Was it possible that some small part of her student still existed in Twilight?
"You think you can stop me? I'm a goddess, the Solar Queen!" Celestia roared.
"All gods and goddesses fall." Starlight replied as she sent a spell thrown her way back at Celestia who dodged it with ease. "You shall be no different, and soon will be just a bad memory. Nopony is unbeatable."
"You're boasting." Celestia admonished as if she was speaking to a child as she stamped her hoof and sent spiderweb cracks glowing with dark energy towards her attackers. "Very naughty, you shall have to be punished and your ego brought back down to acceptable limits. I think I'll have to spank you."
Twilight scoffed in disbelief as she sent magical balls of light towards Celestia who created a golden shield of magical energy to block them.
"Ha, you're one to talk about ego." Twilight said in a amused tone.
"My power in limitless, infinite! What have you got?" Celestia challenged and Starlight rolled her eyes and muttered "A smaller ego...?" before she glared hard at Celestia.
"Now who's boasting?" Starlight asked sarcastically. "As for what we've got. We've got courage, and we never surrender no matter what." She stated proudly while Celestia chuckled darkly.
"Never surrender huh? We'll see how you feel about that after a round or two with me. Prepare to die!" Celestia yelled as Starlight and Twilight readied themselves for the next attack...
Canterlot Town Square
Using his chaos magic, Discord very quickly set up a stage to carry out his plan to stop the hoard of brainwashed soldiers. Amps were plugged in, and instruments to play the song he'd selected were set up and quickly given musicians to play them.
"ALRIGHT, HELLO CANTERLOT!" Discord yelled into the mic. "READY TO GET YOUR SOCKS KNOCKED OFF AND YOUR BRAIN FREED FROM CONTROL OF THE MAN DRAGGING YOU DOWN?"
Nearby were several female ponies of great beauty and dressed as cheerleaders chanting "Discord, Discord he's our man! If he can't do it, no one can! YAY!"
On seeing this, Lovely couldn't help but to facehoof in disgust while Chrysalis rolled her eyes and Sombra blushed red on seeing the beautiful mares cheering on Discord. Chrysalis saw this and for some reason she didn't know at the time, felt slightly jealous.
Then the first chord was played, and the song began in full force as everyone who was still free of control covered their ears to block it out although that was just futile. I'd give you the song they played, but you'd never get it out of your head so here have this one instead. If it gets in your head, at least it's a good one to have stuck in it.
At last, and to everypony's relief the song was over. Discord blinked at the now back to normal Canterlot Royal Guard who were sharing confused looks and generally wondering what had happened and why the city was so devastated.
"Huh, I didn't actually think that would work on such a large scale." He muttered.
Canterlot Castle, Throne Room
"You think you can take over my home, hurt my friends?" Starlight roared in rage as she got into a fullblown rant of endless fury her emotions that had been building throughout the day finally let loose in a metaphorical tsunami.
"THINK AGAIN WITCH! You started this, so now I'm helping to finish it. The other element bearers have been found, and even now they work to stop your madness. But you know what else? Find the other elements and give them their bearer and you unlock the sixth and final element. And do you know what that is?" Starlight asked.
"No, and I don't care in the slightest!" Celestia snapped before she threw another pillar which Twilight and Starlight jumped out of the way to avoid before they threw up a bubble made of a substance which also happened to be what the final Element was.
"Magic." Starlight stated. Hearing this, Celestia went into a even more powerful fury.
"You will burn in my inferno, you will get reduced to a crisp for me to step on!" Celestia roared in rage as magic blasts flew everywhere either shattering the room's stained glass windows or bouncing off Twilight and Starlight's bubble shield.
"Does she always talk this much?" Starlight asked in disbelief.
"Nah, I think it's a insane villainess thing." Twilight replied sarcastically.
"Whatever." Starlight muttered as she shook her head. "I'm about tired of her, time to end this don't you think?"
Starlight then shared a nod with Twilight before they combined their powers and fired off a huge purple and cyan blast of magic which when it hit Celestia shattered her armor and made her crash into the floor with enough force to crack the tile in spiderweb fashion. Celestia was breathing hard, trying to stay conscious but eventually gave up and her head fell against the floor. Then something truly amazing happened as Celestia became smaller and her mane shifted from one of multi colors to one of pure orange. She was no longer the mad Solar Tyrant Celestia, but was back to normal and Solar Flare once more.
"Is... Is it over?" Starlight asked nervously as Nightmare approached her sister before the Night Princess did a scan of Solar with a special spell before she broke out in one of the first true smiles she had ever done in a long time.
"Yes. It's over, it's finally over." Nightmare said. "And my sister is back and is here to stay."
Later, Nightmare now joined by her sister addressed the populace of Canterlot from a castle balcony, her voice magnified by a spell so everypony could hear her.
"My Little Ponies, today we faced a challenge to our reign. But we overcame it, and in the process gained some new heroes of the realm." Nightmare said, and turned to look at Twilight (Who looked as if she wanted to be anywhere but there) along with the Six Element bearers who now wore medals pinned to their chests. Sombra in particular seemed nervous about being on display for all to see. Discord on the other hand seemed very proud of himself.
"But that's not all, in the process my beloved sister was returned to me and the throne of the Sun is no longer empty and has it's bearer. Solar Flare has returned, and we shall never lose her again!" Nightmare exclaimed joyfully, and all across Canterlot and everywhere else who got the message by radio or by some other means there were cheers to go along with the statement.
Over the Castle, there was a loud whoosh that could be heard all over Canterlot as Rainbow and the Wonderbolts rocketed overhead leaving contrails behind them before Rainbow did her personal stunt and broke the sound barrier in a Sonic Rainboom leaving the sky ablaze in color. Down below in the streets, there was dancing and in some cases even other ponies kissing. A new era in Equestria had begun...
Later that evening, even as the celebrations continued into the night Starlight found Twilight out on a castle balcony gazing up at the sky, where the moon was beginning to rise and the sun was beginning to set, this time of Solar Flare's doing.
"Come on, you really need to join us Twilight." Starlight said. "You're missing out."
"I don't deserve to be down there." Twilight replied bitterly before glancing at the medal she wore. "Tartarus, I don't even deserve this medal. Not after what I did."
Starlight laid a hoof on her fellow unicorn's shoulder before it was brushed off.
"Don't touch me. I'm tainted." Twilight muttered in disgust with herself.
"No you're not. You don't really believe that do you?" Starlight asked kindly.
"Actually, I do." Twilight replied. "I don't deserve to set foot in this castle. I've got a long way to go before I do that." Twilight said as she walked off sadly.
"Don't try and stop me." Twilight said as she looked back at Starlight before teleporting to arts unknown in a flash of purple light. Starlight looked at the spot where Twilight stood a few seconds before and a tear slipped from her eye.
"Be safe Twilight Sparkle..." Starlight whispered before Discord peeked his head from around the doorway with a big grin set on his face.
"Come on, what are you waiting around here for? Me and the Wonderbolts were just about to start a conga line in the Ballroom and annoy old Moonbutt!" Discord laughed, and Starlight allowed a small smile to slip on her face before she ran after Discord in yelling his name and firing off spells in mock anger. Not that she'd ever admit this of course.
END
Bonus Chapter: The Sun may set, but it also rises....
Sunset Shimmer wasn't the kind of mare you would expect to be working in a hospital, not with her prestigious background. She, along with her fellow unicorn Starlight Glimmer and like Twilight Sparkle before her, had aced every exam in Nightmare Moon's very famous Magical Kindergarden (Which had been started up long ago by the Nightmare herself) and had been granted the rare honor of being one of Nightmare's two students alongside Starlight.
But while Starlight had kept her nose (Well, whole muzzle really) in the old and rare tomes of the Canterlot and later the Golden Oaks Library pretty much keeping up with no pony not unless of course they were long dead and had a important piece to play in ages long since past in the pages of history and generally being a shut-in with only her assistant Spike to keep her company and the chaos spirit Discord to annoy her every now and again, Sunset had chosen a different path. She had never regretted choosing medicine as her line of work, in fact she had very good reason to do so. When the yellow and bacon maned unicorn was just a filly, and still in school her mother had come down with a rare strain of the Feather Flu. Now normally, this disease was harmless, but when you combined this particular rare strain with that fact that Sunset's mother had always been a sickly mare, well the result was inevitable really.
Sunset swore not to let anyone else suffer the same pains as she had. To be honest, although Sunset herself would never admit it even in private, she and Starlight weren't so different. They both kept their noses in books, not really having time for friends for the longest time. Sunset had broken the cycle sooner then her fellow student, and had made several friends at the Canterlot Royal Hospital where she worked. Although she had yet to find cures for every dangerous ailment of the world, that didn't mean she couldn't help those who had problems she could fix right now.
And that, was something that currently had Sunset in a frenzy. It had only been a few days since Celestia's return from her thousand year imprisonment and yet all of the Hospital was still packed from victims, dead or very close to that from her rampage. Like pretty much everypony, Sunset had thought Celestia just a story thought up to scare little fillies and colts into doing what they were told. "Do your homework or Celestia will come down from the sun and gobble you up!" they said, but now it was quite obvious that she was more then just a fairy tale.
Sunset snarled at the memory of the firey raged filled Alicorn mare. In fact, although she would never say a word about it, Celestia's rampage was not the first time she had met the mare. It was just a mere few days before the Burning of Canterlot as it was now being called that the two mares had met.
Sunset's office: Canterlot Royal Hospital
It was late that night, and a storm was raging over the city, as if to foreshadow what was to come later that same exact week. Sunset grimaced as she went over the papers. Several victims of animal attacks, all from right inside the city. But that wasn't the odd thing. It wasn't like these were creatures that had escaped from the local Canterlot Zoo. No, these were all house pets, cats, dogs, and birds and the like. But it somehow seemed they'd turned vicious on their owners for no good solid reason. Sunset didn't like it. If she was a superstitious mare or one of those ridiculous hoof readers that often set up tents inside the city to tell your fortune, and she wasn't either of those things, she would have said they were signs of something coming.
Sunset yawned as she continued going over the X-Rays of various ponies, perhaps it was better if she picked this up in the morning. Suddenly, the window flew open all on it's own and a image of a flaming winged and horned pony appeared, eyes blazing bright and it was odd as the rain pouring inside the room didn't seem to dampen her image. Sunset blinked and rubbed her eyes just to make sure she wasn't hallucinating out of sheer exhaustion, but nope. The pony was still there.
"Sunset Shimmer, that's a nice name." The mare commented, and Sunset's eyes narrowed.
"Who are you? Tell me and get out of my office before I call security." Sunset demanded, showing no fear. She wasn't afraid of ghosts, as it was only logical explanation for this occurrence. But the mare chuckled darkly.
"Oh, you know who I am, if you've read those damned fairy tales they've surely put out about me by this point. And as for security, I don't think they would be able to stop me. I'd just burn them to the ground, like I will the rest of this city." The unknown mare snarled, and Sunset's eyes widened considerably. She knew who she was speaking to, but it couldn't be. It just couldn't. But somehow, the mare seemed to know what Sunset was thinking.
"Oh, but it is me. Now Sunset, I know all about you, and your mother. I could provide you the knowledge, and the power to save everypony from sickness... for a price." Celestia replied with another dark laugh. Sunset's eyes widened, she had to fearfully admit she was tempted if only for a moment but then Sunset's eyes narrowed. It simply wasn't worth it, and besides it wouldn't bring her mother back anyway.
"No, no knowledge or power is worth the price I'll have to pay if I listen to you and have to obey your orders like some dog. Now get out." Sunset snarled out, her horn glowing with magic. Another dark series of chuckles came from Celestia.
"Very well, but I did give you the option... Now you'll just burn like the rest." She said, before vanishing back through the window leaving Sunset to shiver and it wasn't from the cold rain coming in. She didn't sleep very well that night.
Now:
Sunset barked orders out to other doctor and nurse ponies to carry the various victims of Celestia's rampage to the various wards where they could be cared for properly. The wounds ranged from simply being burned to having pieces of rubble cover their coats in red and glass shards piercing their sides leaving them open in various sized gashes. And then there were those who'd been hurt by Royal Guard weaponry. Those were the worst, as they showed how terrifying Celestia had been, perverting over half of the Guard and turning it against it's real purpose.
Sunset frowned to herself, the victims as they were found still just kept coming in. She was overworked, and exhausted even with the help of her fellow hospital workers.
"...I can't wait for this day to end, just so I can get a few hours of sleep." Sunset muttered as she write something down on a notepad, hoping that Nightmare would give her good dreams tonight, and fend off the images that came to her brain every night of Celestia razing Sunset's beloved city, and ponies fighting in the streets.
Suddenly, there was the sound of metal horseshoes meeting the hospital's floor from behind her, and Sunset turned to face the sound. It was Celestia, and yet not her. Sunset's eyes widened when she realized this was her good half, Solar Flare. The only difference between them, besides the non glowing eyes was the fact that Solar's mane was one color and one color alone: the color of fire. Somehow this didn't settle Sunset's nerves any.
"Y-You..." Sunset stammered out taking a step back and dropping her notepad out of shock and fear. "W-Why are you here?"
After a brief moment, Celes-No, Sunset reminded herself that this was Solar Flare, answered.
"I came to help, is that so hard to believe?" Solar answered back in reply, but Sunset's eyes narrowed.
"No, I know perfectly well that's not just it... is it?" She questioned, and smirked to herself when Solar Flare looked down in shame. Sunset then felt shame herself, for being angry at the Princess. But then again, this was the same one who had put her in this position in the first place, so she had every right to be angry... didn't she? She experienced a brief flashback to THAT night.
"Very well, but I did give you the option... Now you'll just burn like the rest."
"No, you're right. It's not just that." Solar said in guilt her eyes reflecting her mood. "I... I came to see the extent of my destruction. Now I wish I hadn't." Solar said, a tear coming down from her eyes as she saw a pony lying in a hospital bed, bloody and needing to be fed fresh oxygen to breathe. And at seeing this, Sunset herself felt sad for the once fallen Princess of the Day. She knew she'd caused this, and wanted to help fix it, but she just didn't know how she could do that.
"Faust above, maybe I shouldn't have come here..." Solar murmured to herself as she eyed another patient this one even worse then the last in a sense as he had been one of the Royal Guard's Solar's dark half had twisted and perverted to her own whims in her coup against her sister.
"No, that's not true." Sunset said in reassurance as she put a hoof on Solar's foreleg, as she couldn't quite reach her shoulder because of the taller mare's height.
"How so?" Solar questioned, a eyebrow quirked in confusion.
"Forgive me if this sounds harsh Princess, but I think you needed to see this. Needed it to see what happens if you don't keep yourself restrained, and a reminder of never to let yourself go ever again." Sunset replied, and Solar actually smiled at her. A sad smile, but a smile all the same.
"You really are Nightmare's student aren't you?" Solar complimented as she wiped away her tear with a hoof. "You have her wisdom. Starlight has the talent and she certainly has the intellect, but you I think gained another type of intellect... The kind that shows you know how a pony thinks."
Sunset looked back at her, eyes widened from the compliment given before a idea came to her mind.
"You want to redeem yourself?" Sunset asked, and Solar nodded before Sunset produced a nurse's cap which Solar used to replace her crown.
"Then start by helping me." Sunset said, and Solar nodded once more before she replied with a "Gladly. Now let us get to work."
At this, Sunset smiled the first true one she had all day. The mad mare known as Celestia truly was gone for good, and now there was only Solar Flare in her place, and Sunset suspected that she was going to stay for a very long time to come indeed, perhaps forever. And for Sunset personally, she was relieved as she now no longer saw her nightly tormentor, but Solar Flare in her mind's eyes and for her that was a personal victory.
Twilight Sparkle sighed sorrowfully to herself as she wandered down a path somewhere in Equestria's mountain regions. She didn't know where she was, it had been ages since she actually has given a damn as to where exactly she was, as long as it had no ponies... No ponies she could hurt with the power Celestia, that bitch, had given to her as a "Gift". Twilight scoffed at the thought. Those powers weren't a gift, more like a reminder. She still has them, even though Celestia had been long since defeated and turned back into her good half, Solar Flare.
"Well, I suppose I deserve every bit of crap in my life that's been thrown my way considering what I was once like..." Twilight murmured to herself as she paused in her wanderings, and remembered...
Canterlot, Sixteen Years ago...
Rain poured down over Canterlot, and thunder tumbled and rolled in the night. In one particular alleyway, there lay a cardboard box with it's occupant inside it: A young Twilight Sparkle of five years of age. She flinched at every crack of thunder and flash of lightning. She hoped it would end soon, that the weather pegasi would call off this storm so she could try and get some sleep.
At the next flash of lightning and rumble of thunder, she whimpered and clutched her teddy bear in fear. She didn't think anypony would come to help her, as it seemed nopony ever had as she somehow managed to have slipped through the cracks of the system. It has been this way for years, learning to live off the streets and survive. She didn't know her parents, but Twilight hoped they were burning in the depths of Tartarus for abandoning her without a care, as if she were some old toy you no longer cared for.
Unknowingly to her, a cloak clad figure walked through the downpour and through the soaked streets. That figure was the Princess of the Night, otherwise known as Nightmare Moon. She, believe it or not, loved nights like this. For some reason, she found rain in the night peaceful and calming. She didn't know why. Perhaps it was the pitter-patter of rain on the cobblestone streets.
Then, as she walked she felt her ears move in response to a sound of a soft whimper, that if she weren't an Alicorn she probably would have missed. Following the sound, she went into the alleyway and came across Twilight, curled up in a ball and shivering.
"You shouldn't be out here alone young one." Nightmare said, extending a hoof in a kind manner.
"Does it look like I have a choice?" Twilight laughed bitterly.
"Yes, you do." Nightmare replied, a thought coming to get at once. This filly shouldn't be out here alone, in these conditions. Her sister, if she were here would probably call her crazy, but then again she wasn't was she?
"You can come back to the Castle and stay with me, at least for tonight." Nightmare offered. "I'll get some food in you, get you cleaned up."
Twilight raced forwards and hugged Nightmare's foreleg before she looked up at her and asked "Can we at least skip the bath? I think I've already been washed enough tonight."
Nightmare laughed as she lifted Twilight up on to her back and walked her back to the Castle...
Twilight wiped away her tears, she hadn't even realized she'd been sobbing. That was how it was for years, a mother and daughter relationship between them, and it could have stayed that way, until SHE botched it all up like a damn fool. She'd acted like a child, a spoilt one at that, and look at where it had gotten her now...
Canterlot Castle: Two years ago...
Twilight ran enraged, even as Royal Guards pursued her through the hallways of the magnificent castle which had been her home for many years.
"Halt!" One guard called but Twilight snapped back at him "Go to Tartarus!" before she fired a spell from her horn and froze him in a block of ice before she continued running. It had to be around here somewhere, if the legends were accurate.
Twilight rounded a corner and bound the second guard's legs in rope tripping him up even as she did so and entered a large room full of dusty items indicating they hadn't been touched for who knew how long. But the item she was most interested in was right in front of her.
"There you are..." Twilight breathed at the object in front of her. It was a large, gold framed mirror of untold age. Twilight smirked to herself, so the rumors and legends were true after all!
Suddenly, with a flash of blue light Nightmare Moon appeared in front of her student, who could only snarl at her teacher's appearance. She dared interfere now?
"Out of my way "Princess"." Twilight said, though this last bit was said sarcastically.
"Twilight, please!" Nightmare pleaded, tears running down her face. "Think of what you're doing!"
"Oh, I don't have to think! I know exactly what I'm doing! You never appreciated my talents, never let me reach your own status, so I'm going somewhere where my power WILL be enjoyed for what it is!" Twilight spat.
"Please..." Nightmare pleaded once more, even as memories of her raising Twilight came back to her. One, her first night in the Castle with Nightmare tucking her into bed and reading her a story. Another, Twilight giggling as her adoptive mother tried and failed to cook pancakes for breakfast. A third hit her, of Nightmare smiling while her student played with building blocks. All of the times Twilight had been hurt and needed comfort, she'd been there. All of the times Twilight wanted to learn a new spell, she'd been there.
"Every bird has to leave it's nest when it grows strong enough to fly, and you should consider me doing this to be just exactly that." Twilight stated before she stepped into the mirror and out of Nightmare's life...
For a while, almost two years to be exact Twilight remembered, she'd been happy ruling over Canterlot High with a iron fist/hoof until one day that world's Sunset Shimmer had united the students and made them rise up against her and banish her from that world forevermore. And that was how she'd wound up under Celestia's control, calling herself Midnight Sparkle and reveling in it. That is, until Starlight came along and showed her the magic of friendship. She honestly thanked the mare for that.
"But what do I do with myself now? Keep wandering the world, away from everypony or... Or... No, that's stupid. They'd never accept me back, not after what I tried to do." The lavender unicorn argued with herself. But then, a voice that sounded almost like Celestia, if Twilight didn't know any better spoke mentally to her.
You'll never know unless you try, young one. I didn't, until I did."
The voice was Celestia's, but kinder. At this, Twilight knew who it was. It could only be Solar Flare. It was the only rational explanation. Now Twilight knew what she had to do, she had to face her demons. She had to return to Canterlot.
Canterlot
So it was with great trepidation that the prodigal son returned home, so to speak. Even as Twilight walked through the still being rebuilt streets of the capital city of Equestria, she heard the whispers from other ponies all around her. Sure, she had been hailed as a hero by the Princesses themselves, but that didn't mean others would accept her as such. Ponies, just like any other sentient being, had the ability to hold grudges.
Twilight allowed herself to hear the whispered insults as they came. She deserved them after all.
"Traitorous mare!"
"Celestia's Slut!"
"It's that power hungry unicorn..."
Twilight winced as each comment hit her like a verbal punch to the face. Then a tomato hit her in the side of muzzle as the insults became louder. Twilight smiled sadly to herself, she deserved those too. Then a familiar voice gave a shout of anger, but to Twilight's surprise it wasn't directed at her.
"Hey!" Chrysalis's voice rang out over the rapidly forming crowd. "Have you no shame?"
A few moments before...
Chrysalis sighed in pleasure as she sipped a small amount of her favorite tea from a cup while sitting at a table outside her favorite cafe in Canterlot. Then her ears peeked up at the whispers from all around her, and took a glance towards the street where she saw Twilight. The Changeling Queen's eyes widened in shock. She certainly wasn't expecting her back around here anytime soon, not after what Starlight told her. Chrysalis's eyes widened even further as the tomato hit Twilight and the insults flew. She got up out of her chair, ignoring her tea and paper. She had to put a stop to this.
Chrysalis snarled at the crowd of ponies surrounding the young unicorn mare known as Twilight Sparkle like a hoard. Sure, she'd made some mistakes but she sure as Tartarus didn't deserve THIS! With a another snarl, the Changeling bared her fangs, fury in her normally kind eyes.
"I ask again, have you no shame?" Chrysalis asked, her cold gaze seemingly baring into the mob's souls. "She doesn't deserve this!"
"She's a bastardous traitor of a mare, of course she deserves this!" One pony exclaimed.
Chrysalis scoffed before answering back.
"No, the only "Bastards" I see here are you. Can't you see? No, of course you can't because of how truly blind you are. Twilight's punishing herself already, she sure as Tartarus doesn't need your help! All she came here to do was make amends, though I don't see why she should with you ponies!" Chrysalis ranted, truly furious with the crowd of ponies who seemed to be frozen in place by her gaze. Then, she walked through the crowd to Twilight and looked at her with a kind smile, eyes full of understanding.
"Go to her." She said simply, and Twilight nodded in understanding before she raced off towards the castle...
Canterlot Castle: Throne Room
Nightmare Moon sat on her throne, her sister by her side at last. She smiled, things were back to the way they were supposed to be at last. If only... She were here... Nightmare mused sadly as she looked down. Solar noticed her distress.
"You alright sister?" Solar asked in concern.
"If only all my wishes could ever come true. You returned, but not HER. Not my daughter..." Nightmare whispered. Solar Flare smiled mysteriously.
Don't worry sister dear, you may get your wish... And sooner then you think.
As Twilight ran, she passed Starlight who gaped in shock before she smiled and whispered "Good for you, Twi."
Twilight ran into the throne room, and her old teacher's eyes widened.
"I believe we have things to dis-" Twilight began, but before she could finish she was swept up in a hug by Nightm-No, her mom. Both mother and daughter smiled even as they cried. Now, at last, all was finally well.
Timelines, they can branch out in many different possibilities depending on various actions, some so tiny we may not even suspect they'd have a affect on our own lives. Remember that old theory on chaos, a butterfly flaps it's wings in Paris or wherever and causes a hurricane in Indonesia? That is exactly what I'm talking about and have been trying to make a point about throughout this tale. Our actions change everything, resulting in many different parallel universes. Remember, in the main story I have recounted Starlight and company defeated Celestia and brought her back her back to the side of the light. But what if... They did not?
Canterlot Castle Dungeons
It was over, Starlight knew. How could do many things have gone so wrong so fast? She sat, thinking over how quickly victory could have turned to defeat in a instant. They'd had Celestia (Starlight defiantly resfused to think of in her probably ego driven self given title of "Queen" Celestia) on the ropes, almost defeated and on the brink, but in a instant, a blink of a eye, things all went to Tartarus. She remembered it so well...
Starlight and Twilight stood firm behind their shield with Celestia flinging balls of solar fire at them as Nightmare Moon lay nearly dead on the floor behind them.
"Give up, fools!" The Solar Tyrant roared in fury as her blows against the shield continued to be withstood.
"N-Never..." Starlight groaned out as she devoted her strength to keeping the bubble from breaking and shattering like glass shards, not at all similar to the state the stained glass windows were currently in.
"You're like little baby foals next to me, I have lived for centuries and my power only grows the longer I live. You however..." Celestia darkly chuckled. "Shall not for much longer."
"Our power behind our friendship, something I should have been taught long ago, is stronger then you. You don't have a hold on me any longer!" Twilight yelled in fury, tired of Celestia's madness and manipulations. But the Alicorn mare could only chuckle further, making Starlight very worried indeed.
"What's she up to?" She wondered to herself, and then she found out.
"Don't have any more of a hold on you? Can't manipulate you any more?" Celestia asked sarcastically and Twilight looked horrorstruck as her tormenter smirked. "Yes, I can read your thoughts. I made you what you are MIDNIGHT Sparkle, and I can re-make you!" She roared.
"Can you?" Twilight asked defiantly even though fear showed in her eyes which Celestia continued to smirk when she detected it.
"Let's put on what you would call a little test of that theory, shall we?" Celestia asked before there was a bright flash of light like a flare from a raging sun and next thing Starlight knew she was stabbed in the side by a horn and lost focus due to the pain and because of that her shield broke into a million pieces. Her world became a blur and the very last thing she saw before she slipped under into the world of unconsciousness due to the sharp stabbing pain in her side was Twilight standing over her with a blank look in her eyes and Celestia laughing in triumph. It was over, Starlight had lost and she knew it. And all of Equestria and the lands beyond it was at Celestia's mercy. Harmony, along with her teacher, was doomed...
The present...
The cell door opened, and Celestia entered the small room with two of her brainwashed guards standing outside. The Queen of Equestria turned to them.
"Leave us." She said, and so the guards did leaving Starlight and Celestia alone in the room together.
"What do you want? Come to gloat?" Starlight asked defiantly. She wasn't broken yet, not would she ever allow herself to be.
"I consider myself above that." Celestia replied simply and Starlight allowed herself a roll of the eyes. Getting under the skin of her "ruler" was one of the few simple pleasures she had left.
"Funny, our little spat seemed to disagree with your words. You contridict yourself." Starlight replied flatly and Celestia burst out laughing.
"Alright, you got me. I'm a hypocrite and a liar, so what?" Celestia asked cheerfully, as if this wasn't a bad thing. Starlight narrowed her eyes.
"What do you really want? I really doubt just banter is on your mind." Starlight growled. Celestia patted her on the head, as if Starlight were a simple pet.
"Well, I admit it was it was a thing I was wanting to do. My my, aren't you a smart little thing? My late sister taught you well." She mocked and Starlight tried not to let her tears show in front of the madmare, but show they did and Celestia actually had the nerve to smile at this.
"Good, cry all you like. Nothing you can do to change the past, and you know it." Celestia continued with her mockery.
"Go to Tartarus, you bitch." Starlight snarled and her tormenter smirked before she leaned in close and whispered in Starlight's ear these very words.
"You see, I can't. Know why? It's because we're already there."
She then left, and Starlight sobbed quietly for she knew the words were true.
Twilight's Cell
Meanwhile, another unicorn mare sobbed to herself, not just because of despair and lost hope but because of guilt. She'd been used, twice, by the same mare for her own whims. She'd seen the Element Bearers tortured and killed in various horrific ways that still haunted her dreams, she'd seen her home and all of Equus turned into a living nightmare. The sun scorched the earth, drying up lakes and making it impossible for crops to grow, while towns of ponies starved to death because of this. But the worst was Celestia herself. Every night, she came.
"You know, you still haven't accepted my offer. That's still open, by the way." The Queen of Equestria commented lightly. "I could always use somemare to continue my grand lineage."
"Not happening." Twilight whispered, almost too sofely to hear.
"What was that? Go on, speak up." Celestia replied to her. Twilight's only response was to spit directly in Celestia's face. The alicorn grimaced and wiped said spit away from her muzzle.
"My my, that isn't very dignified at all. Definitely not befitting of a future wife of mine." Celestia remarked and Twilight glared.
"You really are delusional aren't you?" Twilight asked in a dry, sarcastic tone of voice and the room's other occupant's mane blazed like a wildfire as her expression became dark and cold.
"You know I could take control of you and have my way with you right now." Celestia continued with a distinct snarl in her voice before her voice became softer and almost kind and loving. Almost.
"Admit it, you want me." She said, and Twilight shuddered in revulsion at her words. Celestia shrugged before she turned and left the room with a frustrated sigh and a "Oh well, you'll come around eventually. Everypony does."
The next night, as always, Celestia came back ready to try again. And Twilight, as ever was ready to refuse.
"You know, you're a fun little plaything. This game of ours, it's beginning to grow on me." Celestia remarked lightly to herself before she continued with what Twilight termed her "delusions".
"I could have you begging for me, but still you reject me." Celestia remarked as Twilight dryly asked "Is there a point to all this somewhere?"
Celestia ignored her and continued on.
"...So I've decided to try a different tact as they say, or well they used to anyways before I came back 'round." She laughed to herself, and then Twilight's head filled with images, images of Starlight being tortured in various and increasingly horrific ways and then dying right before her eyes, only to be brought back to life again for the whole cycle to start over again, and again and again. And she saw her brother, and then Nightmare Moon go through the exact same thing.
"Those images? The ones you see?" Celestia asked. "I can make them happen, but I can also not do those things if you just accept me."
Twilight felt the tears sting her eyes as she finally, at last, succumbed...
The End...
Bonus Chapter: Of Captain of the Guards and New Recruits
It was a well known fact amongst everypony in Equestria being a member of the esteemed Royal Guard of Canterlot was many a young stallion's and in some occasions, a mare's ultimate dream relating to what they wanted to do with their life. The reasons varied. On most occasions, it was either just to be a part of the Guard and possibly attract a future mare or coltfriend in the process. But on some occasions, it was just to become a part of something great and protect other ponies from what lurked out there in the dark, hiding away from the light of the Royal Sisters. This was the dream of one of the two main ponies we will focus on in this chapter. Now, for the second well known fact about the Royal Guard. Simply put, ever since Captain Boltstrike, originally hailing from the town of Trottingham, getting into the Guard had become VERY difficult indeed. This was just due to the fact that he didn't just accept anypony willy-nilly right off the bat into his personal command. He only wanted those who only fit his high (Some would say a little too high) standards, the best of the best if you will. Now, admittedly, there was solid reasoning behind this, after all you did want good soldiers under your command, but there still was a rather high drop out rate of membership after only a year in the field. Now this hadn't gone unnoticed by either Nightmare Moon nor her sister. So that was why for one full week, Boltstrike found himself stuck with a fresh trainiee named Shining Armor (The aforementioned pony who just wanted to protect others) and learned a small lesson in the process all in the story detailed here...
Canterlot Castle: Throne Room (One year after the "Celestia Incident")
Boltstrike stood slackjawed at what he's just been told by both Princesses of Equestria, too stunned to speak a single word. He couldn't believe it. Perhaps this was a exaggeration of the situation just a tad, but right now in Bolrstrike was thinking that his reality has been fractured into a million itty bitty pieces and smashed completely by one very huge hammer, probably of the sledgehammering variety and wielded by Discord. Like I said, perhaps a exaggeration of things just a tad. Finally he eventually rediscovered the ability of speech, but all that he managed to say was a subdued "I'm... sorry?"
To be honest, being subdued was probably his best option. After all, you didn't just "Fly off the handle" so to speak at the Royal Sisters. All that usually resulted if you did that was a quick trip to the castle dungeons and a hasty fine. Boltstrike would know. More often than not, he was standing by on the sidelines when somepony got extremely furious at either of the two Princesses (Which you really had to question said pony's intelligence when they did get furious. Nopony with a even a ounce of common sense in their body just yelled in anger at Nightmare Moon or Solar Flare. Somehow though, Boltstrike was always surprised when it did happen.) ready to have his guards haul the pony in question off to the dungeons if asked.
"Could you please repeat that?" Boltstrike asked. Both Nightmare Moon and her sister shared a look between them and the Princess of the Night sighed. They figured the Captain of the Royal Guard wouldn't like it.
"I said, would it be possible for you to have one of the fresh trainees just out of boot camp tag along with ypu, just for one week?" Nightmare repeated.
"No offence intended ma'am, but I can't keep a eye on a recruit fresh out of the Academy and babysit them. I have more important things to do." Boltstrike replied, trying to keep as curt as he could.
"Well, I wouldn't call it babysitting as you put it-" Nightmare told him, before soon she was interuppted by a snicker coming from a pony in bright white armor with purple detailing signifying him as a Captain of the Guard, the captain of Solar Flare's own division of the Guard, the Solaris Guard in fact. He had black bat wings, and dark fur signifying him as a Bat-Pony. The irony of a member of a mostly night active species being a captain of the Princess of the Sun's division had been missed by nopony at all.
"Weeeeelll, actually you really should, considering that's what it really is." The pony, Galaxy Swirls laughed and Solar Flare sighed as she gave him a exasperated look. Boltstrike gave him a look as well, a particularly dirty one. He didn't really have any sort of real fondness for Galaxy and generally thought that he didn't take his position seriously enough. Galaxy felt pretty much the exact same way towards him in return and thought of Boltstrike of being just a stick in the mud who needed a better sense of humor. Suffice it to say, the two were almost constantly at odds, unprofessional as it was. However, just bringing this up around either one of them was a quick way to have your pay docked for the week.
"Thank you for your statement in the matter Galaxy." Solar said dryly. He got the hidden message in her words and quickly replied "Shutting up now ma'am." and mimed closing up his mouth via a zipper with a hoof before he allowed Nightmare to continue.
"Anyways..." She said as Boltstrike listened. "Think of it as giving the pony your personal wisdom and advice, not babysitting."
The look she was giving him told him it was best not to argue the point. Boltstrike sighed as he accepted his fate while Galaxy mimed cracking a whip.
"Fine, send him in." Boltstrike replied and Nightmare gestured for Derpy and another guard to open the Throne Room's main doors. With a loud creaking of wood from the giant doors, and the clopping of hoofsteps on the marbled floor, a young stallion with a white coat and a blue mane entered the room looking wise eyed as he was allowed in the presence of the Royal Sisters. Boltstrike on the other hoof, could only sigh and look skywards with a "You got to be kidding me" expression on his muzzle as the stallion waved in a friendly manner.
"...He better at least have a appreciation for Neighponiese opera." Boltstrike muttered.
As it turned out, he didn't. Boltstrike wasn't entirely surprised, most ponies didn't really have any appriecation of culture nowadays. Currently, the twosome were in a routine patrol of Canterlot as Solar Flare's sun shown high in the sky up above them.
"...Seriously, never expected to make it this far in the Guard as I have. Thought no was going to flunk out on my first day." The guard, who Boltstrike learned was called Shining Armor, went on excitedly as Boltstrike listened, trying his hardest to look as if he were actually interested in what the young stallion had to say. "But, that's life huh? Always managing to surprise you every step of the way."
"Yeah, I suppose..." Boltstrike muttered in a disinterested tone of voice which Shining picked up on.
"Hey, something bothering you? You look distracted, something on your mind?" The young stallion asked in concern. Boltstrike had to bite back the temptation to say "Yeah, you." and roll his eyes and instead lied with a "No, nothing at all."
"You sure?" Shining asked, continuing to press him.
"Yes, I'm sure. Very sure indeed." Boltstrike lied again although Shining's expression told him that he didn't entirely believe him as the two Royal Guards walked down the main streets of Canterlot.
"Let's... Let's just step away from the subject okay?" Boltstrike asked and Shining sighed in resignation although he nodded in understanding. If there were some things Boltstrike wanted to keep private, he understood. It wasn't Shining's business to know anyways.
"So, why'd you join the Guard anyways?" Boltstrike asked, quickly changing the turn of the conversation. "The pay, the recognition? A chance to meet new ponies?" He guessed again and again.
"...Actually, no." Shining replied, and his captain raised one eyebrow slowly before he received his answer and he was in for a shock. What Shining had to answer as his reasoning definitely surprised him. As it turned out, it was none of the things Boltstrike had been expecting at all.
"It's none of those things." Shining smiled wistfully. "All I want to do in the Royal Guard is the reason it was founded in the first place. Simply put, I want to protect other ponies from what lies out there."
In his mind, Boltstrike was surprised although he didn't let that shock come to his face and acted like he'd heard this as a reason before. "You remind me of when I was your age, young and idealistic. Innocent of what horrors the job really holds at times. But that was years ago. Life... Among other things, it changed me."
"...Yeah, I know what you mean." Boltstrike whispered, and if Shining ever heard any of that, he certainly didn't show any signs of it.
The rest of the day went on without incident, and eventually it was time for lunch break. At a small cafe Shining had recommended, both guards say down for lunch. Shining are a sandwich while Boltstrike just had his daily tea.
"Sure you don't want anything?" Shining asked as Boltstrike read the newspaper at another table nearby.
"No, I'm just fine with tea." Boltstrike replied. Shining chuckled and Boltstrike gave him a look.
"...Right, suppose anything from a cafe with less then a three hoof rating wouldn't fit your refined tastes." Shining teased and this time Boltstrike did roll his eyes.
"Just because I have a taste for culture and the finer things in life doesn't mean I'm a complete snob like the rest of Canterlot. I'm just not hungry, that's all." He answered.
"You probably should eat something. Might help take your mind off of whatever's bothering you." Shining replied kindly and Boltstrike gave him another look.
"Oh, don't give me that look." Shining said. "I'm not stupid. I can tell something's bothering you."
"Was it really that obvious?" Boltstrike asked in surprise and Shining nodded in return before his captain sighed in resignation. He supposed Shining had a right to know.
"Fine..." Boltstrike eventually began after a few moments of hesitation. "It's you. I didn't want this job of keeping a eye on you. To be honest, I thought I had better things to do then keep a eye on any freshly graduated guards."
"Had?" Shining asked, raising a eyebrow.
"Yeah, had. You know the reason I'm so strict? It was what happened a year ago... With HER." Boltstrike muttered, spitting out the last word as if it were a curse. Shining didn't even need to ask who "Her" was. He already knew, just like everypony else.
"Celestia." Shining nodded and Boltstrike growled.
"Yes. Her. Because of that monster, I saw Canterlot burn and guards get cut down by her, all because they weren't trained well enough by me." He continued and Shining walked over to put a hoof in his shoulder.
"You can't blame yourself, not all the training in the world could prepare anypony for her." He reassured.
"Well, all of my training should have!" Boltstrike roared before he sighed once again. "That's why I'm so hard on everypony and only accept the best, just to prepare them for anything else like her in case it ever happens again."
Before Shining could say anything else, the sound of a loud explosion could be heard all of the way across town.
"What was that?" He asked, momentarily stunned by the sound as Boltstrike got up out if his chair.
"Trouble." He replied in a growl.
As it turned out, said trouble was a set of apartments that had caught on fire a few minutes before. The black cloud of smoke created by the blaze could be seen from any point in the town as it climbed higher and higher into the sky. As Boltstrike and Shining arrived in the scene, they heard the sound of a little filly calling out for help.
"There!" Shining shouted as he spotted a little filly, with a gold mane and matching coat, near the uppermost window in the left with flames directly behind her.
"We've got to get to her. I'm going in." Shining said confidently but Boltstrike stopped him.
"No, you're not trained for-" He began before Shining cut him off.
"This? How will you ever know unless you see me in action? We don't have the time to argue about this!" Shining shouted and Boltstrike could offer no rebuttal as he knew the younger guard has a point.
"Right, you're quite right. Let's get to work." He replied and a few moments later, both ponies were knocking down the apartement building's wooden front door. Pretty soon, Boltstrike had made his way up to the filly's room where she was trapped as well.
"I'm scared." The filly squeaked out in fear even as she clambered up onto his back.
"Don't be. Now let's get you out of here huh?" He reassured kindly before asking for her name.
"N-Noi." The filly whispered and Boltstrike smiled before he rushed out of the room and down some steps before they then gave way and Boltstrike, had it not been for Shining throwing up a magical bubble of energy around him, would have fallen into the flames below.
"Pretty sure this is the part where you thank me." Shining would later joke as he and Boltstrike, along with Noi made it out of the building, where the young filly was handed off to Derpy where she would be taken to the hospital for proper treatment.
"Oh shut up." Boltstrike grumbled while Shining could only laugh.
