Twilight Sparkle sat quietly at her desk rereading the legend of Nightmare Moon and the Elements of Harmony as her teacher and the other students spoke of conflicting philosophies of justice. She wanted to contribute to the subject matter, but it would be rude to speak out of turn and not wait to be called on. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed a book with a golden unicorn head on its cover fall from one of the trees outside her window.
As the final bell to end the day rang out and Twilight packed away her books, another student approached her. “Hey, Twilight! Moondancer is having a little get-together after cleaning time today. You wanna come?”
Twilight blushed. “Oh, sorry, Twinkleshine. I’ve got cram school tonight, and a lot of studying to catch up on…” As soon as she had finally escaped Twinkleshine, Twilight went straight to the school courtyard. There, she found the book in a pile of leaves. Strange, as Fall was still a long way away and the Summer Sun Celebration was just around the corner. She wanted to warn Princess Celestia about Nightmare Moon's return, but right now, her curiosity had gotten the better of her.
Twilight walked home alone that day, as was normal for her. She examined the book she found as she went on her way. "Harmony Note?" She read through the instructions on the first page. "'The twisted soul whose name is written in this note-... shall be brought to justice?'" At first, it sounded like a chain letter prank, but she read on. "'This note will not take effect unless the writer has the target's face in mind when writing his or her name. That way, those of good will sharing the same name will not be affected.' There's no way this thing works. You can't just force somepony to change like that."
But once she got home, curiosity overtook her once again. "'If a specific method of reform is written within 40 seconds of writing the target's name, it will happen. If not, the target will simply lose any ill will. After writing the method of reform, details of said reform should be written within the next 6 minutes and 40 seconds.' So, depending on who you have in mind, you can either change their heart normally or even have them turn themselves in." Looking out her bedroom window, she could see her classmate, Dewdrop Dazzle, picking on a younger Earth pony who had just transferred to the school a few days prior. "Wait. On the off change this works, can I really use it on Nightmare Moon?" Never taking her eyes off the scene from below, she wrote down Dewdrop Dazzle's name. "A completely new pony in 40 seconds? I guess we'll see..."
Dewdrop raised her hoof to hit the poor filly, but mid-swing, she stumbled backward. She clutched her head, trying to regain balance on her other three hooves. When she finally steeled herself, she held out a hoof to help the filly up, a genuine, kind smile on her face. Twilight's expression changed from merely observant to complete and total shock. "It worked!... The Harmony Note, i-it's for real... I have to tell the princess! Spike! Spike!"
Applejack stood from her seat at the bar between Firefly and Snuzzle. "That settles it. I better get going."
"Hey, hold up, where ya goin'?" Firefly called after the orange Shinigami pony.
"Oh, I just dropped my Harmony Note is all."
The two other ponies couldn't help but laugh. "Didn't you already coax Majesty into getting you a second book?" Snuzzle asked. "Don't tell me ya lost both of 'em."
"No, I still have my first, but I need to find that other one."
"Well, we'll help ya look!" Firefly offered. "I mean, ya must have some idea where ya dropped the thing."
"I appreciate the help, but I can find it on my own, because I know exactly where I dropped it. Equestria..."
"WHAT?!"
A pair of black wings sprouted from Applejack's back, and she dove through the Mirror Pool.
Applejack watched the unicorn and her dragon companion silently, flying beside the carriage out of sight of the Note’s new holder. “My dear Twilight,” the dragon read aloud, “there is more to a young pony’s life than just studying, so I’m sending you to supervise the preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration in this year’s location: Ponyville. And, I have an even more essential task for you to complete: make some friends!”
Twilight groaned at the mention of making friends, leading Applejack to laugh. The unicorn mare went on about how “she was right about Nightmare Moon’s return” and that “the fate of Equestria did not rest on her making friends.” She’s not completely wrong, Applejack thought. She did pick up the Harmony Note, after all.
The carriage stopped in Ponyville, and the Shinigami pony hid in the bushes nearby, not wanting to reveal herself just yet. The baby dragon was trying to convince Twilight to make friends, and she wanted to see where this was going. “H-hello…” she managed to say to the pony in front of her.
The pink Earth pony glanced Twilight over, then looked over the latter’s shoulder to lock eyes with Applejack. With a gasp, she shot herself into the air and zipped away. Applejack was surprised the other pony could see her. Did she have a Harmony Note, as well? And then it hit her. Or worse...
Twilight turned around to where the pony had spotted Applejack, and the Shinigami had no choice but to reveal herself. "No need to act so surprised." she sighed, stepping out from behind the bush. "My name is Applejack, and I'm a Shinigami pony. That "Harmony Note" you found? That used to be my notebook."
"A Shinigami... A god of death?..."
"My kind does not control who lives or dies," Applejack replied, "we only guide those who cannot reach salvation or damnation upon their death. I heard you talking about Nightmare Moon. Do you read those kinds of stories often?"
"It isn't just a story!" Twilight fired back. "I'm right about her return! And once I'm done checking on the preparations, I'll go to the library and be able to find some sort of proof!"
"Yes, Nightmare Moon will return, and I can help you stop her, but you didn't answer my question. Let me rephrase it, then. Have you heard any stories about..." Applejack's eyes shifted, and she brought a hoof to cover her lips. "Kira?..."
"N-no, I-... don't believe I have."
"Good..."
Applejack accompanied Twilight and Spike to check on preparations. First was the banquet: Sweet Apple Acres.
"Yeehaw!" came the call of a pale orange mare as she charged head-first into a tree, almost stabbing it with her horn, and sending all of the apples falling into the baskets below.
Twilight seemed to recognize the comparably out-of-place mare. “Trixie?!”
Applejack flapped her wings slowly, hovering at Twilight’s side. “You know this pony, Twilight? Is she an old friend of yours?...”
“F-friends?! Actually, I-”
“Twilight!” Trixie ran over to them and wrapped her arm around Twilight’s shoulder. “Long time, no see! What are you doing all the way out here?”
“Princess Celestia sent me to check on preparations for the Summer Sun Celebration, but, I really should be asking you the same thing.”
“Oh, well, this is where I’ve been staying since, um… Y-y’know… I flunked out- Anyway, you came to check on the food, right? Let me get you some.” Trixie teleported a triangle instrument to her side and rang it a few times. “Soup’s on, everypony!”
Without warning, a large group of Earth ponies came stampeding towards the two unicorns. “Allow me to introduce you.” Trixie began to list off the ponies’ names at super-speed. “This is Apple Fritter. Apple Bumpkin. Red Gala. Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Caramel Apple, Apple Strudel, Apple Tart, Baked Apples, Apple Brioche, Apple Cinnamon Crisp-” She finally stopped to breathe. “Big Macintosh, Apple Bloom, and Granny Smith! Up’n’attem, Granny! We have guests!”
The old pony awoke with a snort and rose groggily from her rocking chair. “Soup’s awn…”
“I know, the accent was a bit much for me, too, growing up.” Trixie giggled.
Aside from her own name, Applejack could only hear the word “apple” so many times before the Shinigami's innate addiction came back to her. “Apples…” she sighed, almost mindlessly floating over to a tree and leaving Twilight to escape the situation on her own.
“Okay, well, I can see the food situation is handled.” Twilight finally spoke. “We’ll be on our way, then."
The little filly Trixie had referred to as Apple Bloom looked up at her with puppy eyes. "Aren't ya gonna stay for brunch?..."
Twilight panicked. "I wish we could, but we have an awful lot to do-” She bumped into the table as she backed away, sending the stash of food tumbling down. And taking a certain book with it. Luckily, it seemed undamaged as she picked it up and ran away.
"Food's all taken care of," Spike declared, marking it off the list. "Next is weather. Says there supposed to be a pegasus pony named Rainbow Dash clearing the clouds."
Twilight looked up to several clouds hanging rather low in the air. "Well, it doesn't look like she's doing a very good job."
A rush of wind flew past them, knocking Twilight into the mud. The cyan pegasus responsible laughed sheepishly. "Uh, 'scuse me? H-here, lemme help." She flew back and brought a rain cloud over the purple unicorn, hopping on it to wring out the water and wash the mud off of Twilight. She then flew in circles around Twilight, drying her off, but royally messing up her hair. Twilight's three companions broke down laughing at the result.
Twilight cleared her throat. "So let me guess, you're Rainbow Dash?"
"The one and only. Why, ya heard of me?"
"I heard you're supposed to be keeping the sky clear for the Summer Sun Celebration!" Twilight sighed. "My name is Twilight Sparkle. Princess Celestia sent me to oversee the preparations."
Rainbow Dash nodded vigorously. "Okay, got it! I'll have it done in a jiffy! Just as soon as I'm done practicing for the Wonderbolts showcase! They're holding signups after their performance at the Celebration tomorrow!"
"The Wonderbolts?"
"Yup!"
"The most talented fliers in all of Equestria?"
"That's them!"
Twilight scoffed. "Please, they'd never accept a pegasus who couldn't even keep the sky clear for one measly day."
Rainbow's brow furrowed. "Just you watch! I can clear the sky right now in ten seconds flat!" She took off, destroying any clouds in her wake. According to Applejack's never-failing internal clock, she was actually done in 9.57 seconds, but the point still stood. Rainbow Dash could do her job and do it fast. "See? I'd never leave Ponyville hangin'." The mare chuckled. "You should see the look on your face. You're a laugh, Twilight Sparkle. We should hang out some more." And with that, she flew off.
Well, that was weather taken care of, next was decorations. "Beautiful..." Spike sighed as they entered Town Hall.
Twilight nodded confidently. "Yes, the decor is coming along nicely. This ought to be quick, we'll be at the library in no time. Beautiful indeed."
"Not the decorations!" Spike protested, pointing to a white-coated unicorn mare at the far end of the room. "Her..."
One look at the pony left Applejack's jaw equally hung. "Glory?!"
"How are my spines? Are they straight?"
"You know her, Applejack?" Twilight asked.
Applejack shook her head. "Hard to say. There's another Shinigami pony I know that looks just like her. Firefly and Snuzzle must've sent her after I told them about your test."
The two hadn't even noticed Spike was gone, already making some sort of advance on the mare. They ran to catch up. "Hello!"
"Just a moment," she replied. "I'm in the zone, as it were." The unicorn held up a red, sparkly ribbon before wrapping it around the pole. "Ah yes, sparkle always does the trick. Why, Rarity, you are a talent! Now, how can I help-" Rarity shrieked upon seeing the result of Twilight's earlier encounter with Rainbow Dash. "Oh my stars, darling! What happened to your hair?!"
"Long story." Twilight sighed. "I'm just here to check on the festival preparations, and I'll be on my way."
"Oh, no, no, no!" Rarity scoffed. "Not like that! You'll have to come home with me so that I can fix it!"
"I'm sorry, WHAT?!"
"Now go on, my dear. Where did you say you were from?"
Twilight coughed at the hairspray in her face. "I've been sent... from Canterlot... to-"
Rarity abruptly dropped the can and brush she had been holding up with her magic. "Canterlot?! Oh, I am so envious! The glamour, the sophistication, I've always dreamed of living there!" As Rarity went on, Applejack discretely arranged some spools of thread on top of the notebook. If this mare really wasn't Glory, she may react in fear upon seeing her after her hoof grazes the book when she picks up the thread. "I can't wait to hear all about it! We're going to be the best of friends, you and I!"
This phrase struck fear into Twilight. She was here on a mission, and not the Summer Sun Celebration. The only friend she needed to defeat Nightmare Moon was Applejack.
The doorbell rang. "Oh! If you'll excuse me." Rarity left to answer the door.
Twilight took off, notebook and Spike in tow. "Let's get outta here before she decides to dye my coat a new color!"
"Wasn't she wonderful?" Spike sighed.
Applejack chuckled. "Focus, Casanova. Music is last on your list, right?"
The trio followed the sound of birdsong fanfare, finding a yellow pegasus mare conducting a flock of robins and blue jays. She lowered her baton, signaling them to stop. "Excuse me, sir," she gestured to a blue jay in the far back row. "Your rhythm is just a teeny-tiny bit off."
"Hello." Twilight greeted the mare, accidentally scaring off her birds. "Oh! I'm sorry. I'm just here to check up on the music, and it's sounding beautiful. My name is Twilight Sparkle. And you are?"
"M-my name's Fluttershy..." the pegasus mumbled.
"I'm sorry, what was that? I didn't quite catch that."
"She said her name's Fluttershy." Applejack replied. "As a Shinigami, I can see a pony's name and end date by looking into their eyes. Makes it easier to use the Notes."
End date? Twilight shook her head. "Well, looks like your birds are back, so I guess everything's in order. Keep up the good work-" She was cut off by the other mare running into her and launching her over Spike's head, the Harmony Note falling out of her bag.
"Y'know, if I had any control over who got this thing, I'd like to have given it to somepony who can actually keep their hooves on it." Applejack sighed and shook her head, smiling. "Now, now, AJ. Two's a coincidence, three's a pattern."
"A baby dragon!" Fluttershy squealed. "I've never seen one before. He's so cute!"
Spike cleared his throat. "Thank you."
"Oh! And he talks! I didn't know dragons could talk. This is just so incredibly wonderful, I don't know what to say!"
Twilight jumped back to her hooves, scooping Spike onto her back. "Well, in that case, we better get going."
"W-wait!" Fluttershy called back, handing the notebook back to Twilight. "You dropped this-" She locked eyes with the orange pony accompanying the unicorn. "Is that a Shinigami?!"
Twilight let out a frustrated groan.
"You've heard of us?" Applejack asked as the three made their way back to town.
"Oh, Mother used to tell me all sorts of scary stories about them! She always said they were the good ones, punishing evil and what have you. B-but aren't they killers? I don't care if it worked out for him, that isn't how you make a change!"
Applejack's eyes went wide. Her wings ceased flapping, dissipating as she slowed to a trot along the ground, then came to a complete stop. "Kira... Oh no!..."
Twilight had made up some excuse about Spike "wosing his widdle bawance" and needing to be put to bed- Applejack couldn't really tell, she was too in shock at Fluttershy's statement- before slamming the door in the poor pegasus mare's face.
"Uh, rude much?" Spike remarked.
Twilight sighed in frustration. "Sorry, Spike, but I have to convince the Princess that Nightmare Moon is coming, and we're running out of time! I just need to be alone so I can study without a bunch of crazy ponies trying to make friends all the time. Now, where's the light?"
As if on cue, the lights flickered on, revealing the pink Earth pony from earlier that day sitting in the center of the room in a crudely drawn pentagram. She sprang up and made a beeline for Twilight. "Hi! Do you have a moment to talk about our lord and savior, Kira?"
"WHAT?!"
"Oh, silly me. My name's Pinkie Pie. I saw you when you first got here, remember? You were like, "hello" and I was like-" she mimicked her own gasp, "remember? Y'see, I've never seen you around before, and that must mean you're new, 'cause I know everypony, and I mean everypony in Ponyville!"
"Twilight," Applejack spoke, her voice shaking. "Get the Harmony Note, now!"
Twilight complied as Pinkie Pie rambled on. "And if you're new, that must mean you don't have any friends, and you must be lonely, and that made me super sad for you. But then I saw that Shinigami pony hiding in the bushes and I had an idea, and that's why I went-" she gasped again. "I set up a little ritual so that we can bond over our fellowship under the great Kira the Savior!"
"Pinkamena." Applejack instructed. "Her name is Pinkamena Diane Pie."
Oblivious, the pink mare continued to saunter. "Y'see, my family's been followers of Kira for generations! When you get your Cutie Mark, there's a special rite of passage where you take an oath on the Death Note, so when I saw the Shinigami pony with you, that must mean you took the oath, too! And..." Pinkie's train of thought went blank as Twilight closed the Harmony Note. "And... What was I talking about again? And what in Tartaros is all this?!" Pinkie Pie rushed to clean up the ritual she no longer had any memory of setting up.
Twilight groaned. "Here I thought I'd have time to learn about the Elements of Harmony but, silly me, all this ridiculous friend-making has kept me from it!"
"Elements of Harmony?" Pinkie perked back up. "Oh! I can help you with that! There should be a book on it around here somewhere. I'll take the right side, you take the left, sound good?"
As begrudging as she was to admit it, Twilight was thankful to have an extra set of hooves on the case. After an hour or so of searching, she finally pulled The Elements of Harmony: A Reference Guide from the shelf and began to read aloud. "'There are seven Elements of Harmony, but only six are known: Kindness, Laughter, Generosity, Honesty, Loyalty, and Empathy. While these six work in tandem on their own, the seventh is a complete mystery. It is said that the last known location of the six Elements was in the ancient castle of the royal pony sisters, which is located in what is now the Everfree Forest.' Perfect! Pinkie, Applejack, Spike, let's get going!"
"But if we leave now, we'll miss the Princess raise the sun!" Pinkie protested.
Twilight lingered on the thought before sighing in defeat. "If you insist... 'Legend has it that on the longest day of the thousandth year, the stars will aid in her escape, and she will bring about everlasting night.' I hope the Princess was right... I hope it really is just an old mare's tale..."
"Fillies and gentlecolts," Mayor Mare began, "as mayor of Ponyville, it is my great pleasure to announce the beginning of the Summer Sun Celebration!"
The crowd cheered, which frustrated Twilight, since she was the only one who knew the true danger everypony was in. She grew even more nervous.
"In just a few moments, our town will witness the magic of the sunrise, and celebrate this, the longest day of the year!"
Twilight watched moon anxiously. Four stars closed in on it, and the image of a pony's face that adorned it vanished. She shifted her eyes to Applejack, sweat dripping from her forehead.
"And now, it is my great honor to introduce to you the ruler of our land, the very pony who gives us the sun and the moon each and every day, the good, the wise, the bringer of harmony to all of Equestria..."
Fluttershy looked over to her birds, raising her baton. "Ready?" The birds nodded.
"Princess Celestia!"
Rarity took the rope in her mouth and pulled the curtains open, but nopony came out. There were gasps and nervous chattering. This can't be good, Twilight thought.
"Remain calm, everypony!" the mayor instructed. "There must be a perfectly reasonable explanation!"
Rarity checked behind the extra set of curtains leading to the next room. "She's gone!"
Suddenly, a dark blue smog appeared on the balcony. Rarity ran back down the stairs, sensing some sort of danger coming from the unannounced lightshow. Twilight crouched down in fearful anticipation. "Oh no..." The dreaded mare manifested from the smoke. Spike fainted and fell from Twilight's back. "Nightmare Moon!"
The wicked mare cackled. "Oh, my beloved subjects. It's been so long since I've seen your precious little sun-loving faces."
"What did you do to our Princess!" Rainbow Dash shouted. Without warning, she dashed towards the stage, only to be stopped by a veil of blue magic around her as Rarity held her back.
"What? Am I not royal enough for you? Does my crown no longer count since I've been imprisoned for a thousand years? Don't you know who I am?"
"I know who you are!" Twilight declared. "You're the Mare in the Moon - Nightmare Moon!"
Nightmare Moon chuckled. "Well, well, looks like somepony still remembers me. Then you must know why I'm here."
"Y-you're here to... to..." Twilight stammered, suppressed fear beginning to well up inside her. Applejack laid a hoof on the unicorn's shoulder.
"Remember this day, little ponies, for it was your last. From this moment forth, the night will last FOREVER!!!" Mist swirled around her as her evil laugh bellowed throughout the venue, and when it faded, she had disappeared.