But Tia...
A tear. That was all the alicorn of the night saw. A tear.
But why?, she thought. Why today? Today was no special, only Nightmare Night. Luna thought Tia would be celebrating this night, the night she, the alicorn who could control both the sun and moon, conquered her. But instead of her usual warm smile, all she saw was a tear. What made her cry?
This wasn’t the first time she had seen a tear today. This morning Celestia acted moody and grumpy whenever somepony got in her way. When Shorthoof only wanted to give her the announcements, Celestia drove her off with her spontaneous cry. When Blueblood arrived to ask her aunty for more money, Celestia barked at him without even hearing his plan. Her royal guards, the guards who were known to be fearless in any dangerous situation, only shook in their place. But when Luna arrived, all Celestia could do was avoid making eye contact.
“But Tia, we think you should come with us to the Nightmare Night Festival. We will see Sparkle and her friends. Oh, and you can see who the adorable Pipsqueak is and-” Luna looked up to her elder sister only to find her look sepulchral. Luna stopped speaking and only stared at her sister in bewilderment. This was the first time in thousands of year that she had ever seen her sister this dismal.
Celestia, without making eye contact, said, “Oh... no, Lulu. This... This is your night. I-I need to r-rest bec-” and like a dam that has been broken, she cried.
This event confused and baffled Luna, and panged her in the chest. Never had she seen Celestia, the regal and majestic sun goddess, cry. The guards looked to each other in confusion, and in their eyes they silently asked Princess Luna for help. Instead, Celestia rushed out in the hallway, only to confront Shorthoof.
“Oh, your majesty-”
“Shorthoof, please announce the Royal Courts are closed today.”
Shorthoof gasped, “Oh I- BAWAHH!? Y-your majesty, you have an appointment with the agriculture department and-”
“No! Postpone it!”
“But-”
“Now! Shorthoof”, Celestia shouted in her Canterlot voice.
Shorthoof fell on her rump, confused at what had just happened. She tried to get up, but her shakiness only made her fall again.
Celestia sighed and ran through her, crying loudly for the whole staff to hear. Silence was in the atmosphere; a loud bang on the door echoed through the corridors of the castle.
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And now, here she was. The alicorn of the night had snuck in Celestia’s bedroom like a thief in the night. The fireplace burned, and small crackling noise came from the burning wood. As usual, Celestia slept on her side with the large pillow supporting her back. This was not the first time Luna sneaked in her room. Luna crept deftly near the large alicorn. She watched every step she made, making sure nothing would cause her to fall.
There she was. Luna sat right next to her, in front of the fire pit. She nudged a little in order for the fire to give her and her sister warmth. Celestia’s rainbow silky hair floated and partly covered her face, all except for her right side. And on that side of the face was the same thing that made Luna question. A tear.
Aside from the tear, Luna noticed her horn glowing. According to the unicorn anatomy, many unicorns who dreamed emit a small color on the tip of their horn. When the horn emitted a yellow color, the unicorn was having a normal dream. When the horn emitted a lime color, the unicorn was having a pleasant dream, or wet dream. When the horn emitted an azure color, the unicorn was having a bad dream, or nightmare.
Luna continued to stare at her sister. Instinctively, Luna’s horn touched Celestia’s azure emitting horn. Her vision all of a sudden turned black.
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Luna felt as if she was flying through a space with no boundaries. Darkness surrounded the alicorn of the night.
Around her, she began to see walls forming. Underneath her, the hard stone floor slowly appeared. Two figures in the shape of guards formed and between them was a large wooden door. In front of them was a small blue-gray pony.
This is Canterlot long time ago, Luna thought to herself. Why would Tia be dreaming a memory?
In front of her was the blue-gray pony, no, an alicorn. It was Luna before Nightmare Moon.
It’s okay, you can do this, thought the small alicorn. Being the infiltrator, Luna could hear the other subject’s thoughts and feelings. This was an impressive feat.
I just gotta confront Tia, and-
You know she will say no.
Nightmare Moon. Luna remembered her voice, so sinister, but influential.
But she’s gotta. Tia’s my older sister, the young alicorn said to herself.
And how many times has she said no? She doesn’t want to listen to us!
The young alicorn shook her head and proceeded to the throne room. The guards saluted and then pushed the door opened.
Luna walked behind the small alicorn. The castle interior had not changed much. The same boring red carpet was still underneath and the pink walls still shone. The windows were the same back in present Canterlot.
Luna looked up and saw her older sister. She was much smaller than the present and her coat was much whiter. Her hair was bright pink and as always, flowing majestically.
The young alicorn continued to walk, praying that her sister would listen to her this time. As she walked, her hooves trembled. She gulped hard after she saw the expression on Celestia’s face; the smug and arrogant expression as always.
Celestia groaned, “Ughh, what is it now, sister? Don’t you know I have an important meeting right now?”
Before the small alicorn was about to speak, the voice passed through her head, I told you so.
“W-we came here to ask of you-”
“Ughh, gosh, stop with the we’s! What we? There is nopony except you! Gosh, don’t you ever listen to mother?”
“We came to ask you about the night.” She waited for her response.
“...Well, go on. I don’t have all day.”
“We want you to extend the night longer.”
There was a long pause, and then it broke when Tia laughed, “HAHAHA! Extend the night longer! HAHA! Phew! You really pulled my leg, little sister.” Celestia continued to laugh.
“But the day is longer than the night. It’s not fair! Can’t we make the night last a little bit longer? I ask for nothing much, just an hour or two more!” she pleaded.
Celestia closed her eyes, shook her head, and sighed, “Ughh, haven’t we been through this? If we allow the moon too much time when then our subjects will not be able to harvest their food properly. Gosh, how many times have we been through this?”
“But Tia-”
Celestia stomped her hoof, which shook the ground. “NO! N-o, no! I will not have my little ponies suffer from this harvest! They have worked too hard for this harvest, and I will NOT jeopardize this moment for them! And besides, what good is the night anyways?”
This stung the young alicorn in the chest. “Well, you can...”
“Exactly! Nopony cares about the night! Nopony centuries later will ever care about the night! You are just as useless as the night is” Celestia said with much force.
The young alicorn backed away slightly, her mouth opened in shock. Her nose began to stuff up, and her sniffles could be heard. As soon as she was about to cry, Celestia interrupted her, “Awww, is little Woona gonna cry?” She taunted her with a droopy face. “Awww, don’t worry little sister, not everypony gets what she wants.”
Inside her, the young alicorn’s chest started to tighten, and she yelled, “You’re a bully, big sis! You’re never there for me when I need help! You always mock me when you need to entertain some other pony! You-you never came to my birthday, you never taught me how to rule a kingdom, you pink-haired fat bully!” The young alicorn regretted saying the last sentence.
Celestia flew from her throne and in front of her. “What did you just say, you little brat?!” Celestia’s eyes glowed white and her hair stood up. Around her thunder boomed and a lightning flashed behind her.
“Listen to yourself,” Celestia growled as she slowly confronted the young alicorn. “You think you’re that special and entitled.”
Scared for her life, the young alicorn scurried backwards, but Celestia kept her pace.
“You think just because you’re my sister means you can do whatever YOU want. Pshh, you don’t even know how to handle a kingdom. You’re just too weak,” she said with force.
She was not only scared, but the word weak echoed inside her head.
“Father never loved you,” Celestia said as she confronted the young alicorn, “Mother tolerated with you, but she never thought you were strong enough.”
The young alicorn continued to scoot away until her back bumped the wall near the entrance. Celestia lowered her head until her eyes were level with hers.
“You’re just a burden to us all. And when I mean all, I mean the entire Equestria.”
The cold shock ran through her spine as she trembled. She wanted all of this stop, she wanted to just wake up in her bed and think all of this wasn’t real.
Celestia’s eyes burned into the little alicorn’s eyes. “Look at you. Trembling like a little filly. Awww, what’s wrong, are you gonna cry, Woona? Where are your friends? Oop, you don’t have any. Just that little voice inside your head you say. No wonder nopony wants to interact with you, you-”
The door opened and the guard stepped inside, “Your majesty?”
Immediately, Celestia regained her composure and turned her back towards the small alicorn.
“Yes?”
“The minister of agriculture is here to speak with you.” Behind the guard was a light brown pony who had perfectly round-shaped glasses and a parchment for a cutie mark.
“Your majesty,” the minister said, “if right now is not the appropriate time, we may-”
“No, it’s perfectly fine, minister. My sister and I were just TALKING about TRIVIAL subjects. Go on sister, you may,” and she pointed her hoof towards the door, “LEAVE. He and I must discuss actual matters that are IMPORTANT.”
The minister, confused by this, walked right past the young alicorn without making eye contact or even greeting her. As the young alicorn dismally walked out, her ear caught something.
“Sisters these days. Always selfish and immature.”
“I cannot imagine what you must be going through with her, your majesty.” The doors closed, cutting off the conversation.
Selfish and immature. These two words rang through the alicorn’s head like a bell in church. Luna followed behind the young alicorn, empathizing with her silently. The young alicorn walked in the corridors without destination. She didn’t know where to go. A soft wind flew by her and inside her, she felt an empty void.
I told you so.
The dam fell, and tears flowed on her cheeks. She wept and wept like a filly who lost her only mother; she had no hint of happiness or hope. The only feeling she had was dark and vile. Dark smoke began to form around her.
Oh, my little pony. I pity you. Didn’t I already tell you this before?
“Go away!” the teary alicorn shouted.
The voice chuckled, Your sister was right. You are a burden. And will continue to be one.
“Why won’t you leave me alone?!” she screamed.
“Get out of my head! You never were on my side! All you do is taunt me and call... me...” And the young alicorn sobbed, feeling a heavy weight inside of her.
The dark clouds embraced her and a small cloud wiped away one tear.
My little pony, I would never abandon you. No, I would never side with Tia, ever. But she was right about one thing, though.
“And that would be?” the alicorn barked.
The voice hissed like a snake, You are weak. And will continue to be so.
Just as the young alicorn was about to cry, the voice intervened, But I can help you.
The young alicorn looked up and demanded, “How?”
A figure began to form in front of her, in the shape of another alicorn with a soft blue helmet. The figure had teeth like a lion and a tongue like a serpent.
Embrace me. Accept me, and together, we can conquer Tia. Too long she has bullied you. Too long she has mocked you for her amusement. And too long has she grown more powerful than you. Embrace me, child, and we will rule Equestria without your sister in the way.
The figure disappeared and the young alicorn levitated down slowly.
But the choice is yours. You may join with me and conquer your sister, or you can stay as a weak tiny filly. Remember, the choice is yours.
The young alicorn blinked and the dark clouds were gone. There was a deathly silence.
Luna, who watched the entire time, walked slowly next to the young alicorn, waiting what she would do. The young alicorn closed her eyes. Time slowed, the soft wind came again.
What the voice said still echoed inside of the young alicorn; “The choice is yours.”
The young alicorn opened her eyes, and her coat started to flow with black. The blackness started from her eyes and flowed throughout her body like a swarm. She rose to the air, her arms stretched outwards and her head held up high.
The voice chuckled once more, I knew you would make the right decision, my little pony.
The young alicorn’s body began to grow into the size of an adult alicorn, her horn erected higher than before. A helmet floated on top and rested on her head.
The dark alicorn asked, “Before we move, tell me, what is your name?”
… I go by many names. Some call me the Monster. Some call me the Serpent, Some call me a Nightmare. You may call me- actually, us- The dark alicorn descended down on the floor and looked at Luna with their haunting glare
NIGHTMARE MOON.
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“Don’t do this, Luna!” Celestia cried out.
Around them was Canterlot Castle, or what was left of it. Surrounding them were bodies, dead and wounded bodies. Blood was splattered everywhere, spears were broken.
Luna, or Nightmare Moon, walked slowly to a crimson injured stallion. She stomped on his broken hoof, and he screamed in pain.
“Please, stop this!”
Nightmare Moon chuckled, “Opulence is sinful.” She pressed harder onto the crimson staliion’s hoof.
“And we all pay for it. You all thought I wanted to take over Equestria.” She turned around to see all of the injured soldiers.
“I could have done this many times, easily. No, I came here to make her,” she glared at Celestia, “suffer, for what she has done. The blood of everypony is on your hooves, big sister!”
“Luna, please, don’t kill him! Don’t kill Immanuel! Luna, please!” Celestia begged.
Nightmare Moon’s horn glowed with dark blue as she said, “Our name isn’t Luna anymore. Our name is Nightmare Moon!”
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Luna sat in front of the fireplace, staring at her sister. Her older sister still shook in fear and tears still kept rolling down her cheeks.
Luna rose and wiped away her tears with her hooves.
“Oh Tia, it has been so long since that time.” She stroked her mane gently, not wanting to wake her up.
“I have already forgiven you. So please, forgive yourself.” Luna rested her head against her sister’s body. The fire continued to crackle and cinders danced in the air.
Luna’s eyes began to droop, and all of a sudden, she heard a small whisper, thinking it was from Celestia.
“Thank you.”