The return of Nightmare Twilight

by Sombra63

Rating: everyone
Tags: Octavia, Braeburn, Comedy, Adventure, Princess Celestia, Cheerilee, Lightning Dust, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Alternate Universe
Length: 9065

Celestia is Twilight in the first episode while the rest of the mane 6 are background ponies and side characters.

It is the eve of the Summer Sun Celebration and Sunlight Shimmer, Prince Shinings faithful student, comes across an ancient prophecy telling of the return of the terrible Nightmare Twilight. Can she save Equastria in time? Will she be able to discover the Elements of Harmony? Will ponies stop trying to be friends with her so she can figure out what they are?

A story in which Celestia is everyone's favorite egghead.

Published 2013-04-27 08:50:01 UTC
Last updated 2013-06-23 02:49:29 UTC

The prophecy

Once upon a time in the magical land of Equastria…

There were two regal siblings who ruled together and created harmony for all the land…

To do this the elder used his unicorn powers to raise the sun at dawn…

The younger, brought out the moon to begin the night.

Thus the two siblings maintained balance for their kingdom and their subjects. But, as time went on the younger sibling became resentful, the ponies relished and played in the day her brother brought forth, but shunned and slept through her beautiful night. One fateful day the younger unicorn refused to lower the moon to make way for the dawn. The elder sibling tried to reason with her, but the bitterness in the younger one's heart had transformed her into a wicked mare of darkness, Nightmare Twilight! She vowed that she would shroud the land in eternal twilight! Reluctantly, the elder sibling harnessed the most powerful magic known to pony-kind, the Elements of Harmony. Using the magic of the elements of harmony he defeated his younger sister and banished her permanently to the moon. The elder sibling took up responsibility for both sun and moon…

And harmony has been maintained for generations since.

On a grassy field on the outskirts of Cantorlot a pearly white unicorn, her cotton candy pink mane cut ruler straight, lay comfortably on the soft grass. As she finished reading she brought a hoof to her chin.
“Elements of harmony, I’ve heard that before, but where?”

“Yadda yadda yadda theme song”

Walking down the pristine streets of Cantorlot, Sunlight Shimmer, hoofs clip-clopping on a cleanly paved path, walked briskly to her book filled haven, when her walk was interrupted by three excited mares.

The middle mare grinned cheerily before saying “Moon Dancer is having a little get together in the castle courtyard!” At this she flicked her similar pink mane with a hoof “You wanna come?”

The three leaned in expectantly so much that Sunlight half expected them to topple right over.
“Oh sorry girls I gotta a lot of reading to do.” She said, an apologetic smile on her face.

And then she was off in a blur of pink and white leaving the disappointed mares in her dust.
“Ugh, does that pony do anything except read?”
“I think she’s more interested in books than friends.”

Galloping at much faster speeds then before to escape the horror of social interaction Sunlight spoke to herself.
“I know I’ve heard of the Elements of Harmony!”

As she ran she failed to notice (or simply ignored) a friendly wave from her fellow student, Lyra, whose happy grin turned into a frown when the white mare's lavender eyes didn’t even look her way.

After running up several flights of stairs she at last arrived at her destination and flung open the doorway causing an unsuspecting reptile to go flying.

“Phila! PHIILA!”
She called; confused as to where her dragon assistant could have gone.
Until she looked down at the poor orange dragon who opened her eyes and revealed shimmering-golden irises who seemed to have decided that today they were going to do a incredibly realistic impersonation of derpy’s.

“Ah, there you are”
Sunlight said, seemingly ignorant to the trauma she had just caused the baby dragon.

“Could you please get me a copy of "Predictions and Prophecies.”
Philomena trudged up the purple stairs, a once perfectly wrapped gift now speared on her pudgy ,triangle-tipped tail.

Looking over at her disgruntled dragon companion Sunlight asked, looking at the gift that Phila somehow got stuck on her tail. “What’s that thing for?"

The dragon, noticing that her gift was now a crumpled and speared mess, pulled it off her tail, yanking extra hard to get it unstuck from the red spikes that ran all the way down her spine.

“Well it was gift for Moon Dancer but-”

As soon as he said it the smashed remains of a teddy bear came falling out a large tail-shaped hole at the bottom of the destroyed gift.

“Oh Phila, you know we don’t have time for that sort of thing"

At that she began throwing books aside, with seemingly little to no care for their safety as they came tumbling to the ground.

“But we’re on a break!” protested the young dragon.

Ignoring the annoyed dragon Sunlight lifted her head and began concentrating on her spell. In seconds books began flying off the shelves in her golden magic and presented their titles to her searching eyes.
“No,no,no,noNO! Ugh!”

Her patience worn thin by all the wrong books she yelled for her scaly assistant.

“Its here!” she shouted triumphantly from the top of the library’s ladder
*yank*
“Ah” Her search ended, she dropped her magic leaving nearly twenty books and one dragon flat on her face on the blue floor of the library.

“Elements, elements, e, e,e ahha!”

Another search completed she began to read aloud.

“Elements of harmony, see Mare on the Moon?”

Phila, climbing up the library ladder with a pile of books precariously balanced in her claws, looked down at Sunlight.
“But that’s just an old pony’s tale”
Once again flipping through the book Sunlight found the passage she was looking for and read aloud once more.
“The Mare in the Moon: myth from olden pony times. A powerful pony who wanted to rule Equastria, defeated by the Elements of Harmony and imprisoned in the moon. Legend has it that on the longest day of the thousandth year the stars shall aid in her escape and she will bring night time eternal! *gasp* Phila do you know what this means?”
Phila, who was now teetering on the ladder responded with a short “no’ before the ladder fell out from under her and she screamed as she plummeted only to be caught by Sunlight’s back.
“ow”
It turns out unicorn backs aren’t very fun to land on.

“Take a note please “she says, straightening her tail which Phila uses like a mini, hairy diving board.” To the Prince.”
‘Okie dokie”

Once the dragon had a quill and parchment Sunlight began dictating, speaking in a formal tone as the little dragon wrote all she said.
“My dearest teacher,
My continued studies of pony magic have led me to discover that we are on the precipice of disaster!”
“Hold on, presi-prese-“
Coming up blank, Phila looked over to her starburst flanked friend for help.

“Threshold”

“Threee-“

“Uh, brink?”
The dragon stared at her, giving her the “ You’re the smart one” look

“Ugh, that something really bad is going to happen!”

The dragon wrote down the much easier explanaition, glad that her unicorn friend had at least a few small words in her vocabulary.

“For you see, the mythical Mare in the Moon is in fact Nightmare Twilight and she’s about to return to Equastria and bring with her eternal night! Something must be done to make sure this terrible prophecy does not come true!
I await your quick response
Sunlight Shimmer.

Looking out the library's vast windows, her thoughts became full of horrible images of what would happen if that great, big sun in the sky disappeared forever.

“Sun-light-Shim-er, Got it”

“Great, send it.”

“now?”

“Of course!”

Phila, less than convinced of the letter's importance, shrugged her shoulders.

“Uh, I don’t know Sunlight, Prince Shining is a little busy the with Summer sun celebration and it’s like the day after tomorrow!”

Sunlight turned around around, surprised by the dragon's negative response.
“That’s just it Phila, the day after tomorrow is the thousandth year of the summer sun celebration. It’s imperative that the prince is told right away!”

The dragon, once again confused by her friend's vocabulary, started writing down the foreign word trying to figure out how to even say it.
“Impar-impara-impara-“

Sunlight, Fed up with Phila’s lack of understanding, merely yelled ”IMPORTANT” so loud in her ear that the poor dragon went toppling into a bookcase.

“Okay okay” he yelled back (not even half as loud as Sunlight) before taking a deep breath and exhaling a burst of red flame which seemed to have burned up the letter and ruining any chances of it getting anywhere until it turned in to a sparkly cloud of yellow smoke which exited through a small, circular window.

“But I wouldn’t hold your breath” Phila said tauntingly.

“Oh I’m not worried Phila” she replied, a smug look on her face” The Prince trusts me completely and through all the years he’s been my mentor he’s never once doubted me.”

The orange dragon crossed her arms, a snide remark on her tongue when it was halted by a belch and a cloud of yellow smoke bursting from her mouth which then materialized as a scroll with the signature royal seal.

“I know he would want to take immediate action.”

The dragon then scooped up the scroll with her claws, careful not to rip it, cleared her throat and began reading in what she thought was a very strong and masculine voice.

“My dearest most faithful student Sunlight Shimmer
You know that I value your diligence and that I trust you completely!” At this Sunlight made a small sound of agreement.
“But you must stop reading those dusty, old books!”

*dun,dun,dun^

Author's Note

Don't worry the story will get a lot more interesting from here but I just wanted readers to get the general idea of what's going on in this alternate universe.
In case you didn't understand Shining Armor fills the role of Princess Celestia and Twilight as Princess Luna/Nightmare Moon.

The apple

“My dear student Sunlight, there is more to a young pony’s life then reading. So I’m trusting you to supervise the preparations for this year’s Summer Sun Celebration in this year’s location, Ponyville. But I have an even more important task for you to complete, make some friends!”
Sunlight was most certainly not amused!
The most feared villain in all Equastrian history was returning and her teacher wanted her to make friends! Sometimes he could be a real troll!”
“Look on the bright side Sunlight, the Prince arranged for you to stay in a library; doesn’t that make you happy?!”
A library? A library!
“Yes, yes it does! You know why? Because I’m right! I’ll speed through checking the preparations and get to the library to find proof of Nightmare Twilight’s return!”
“Then when will you make friends like the Prince asked?”
“He said to check on preparations; I am his student and I’ll gladly perform my royal duties, but please-- the fate of Equastria dosen’t rely on me making friends.”
At her words the golden sky carriage came in for a landing and Sunlight, followed by Phila, hopped out and thanked the kind stallions who had pulled the carriage.
“Maybe the ponies in Ponyville have interesting things to talk about!” Phila says while gesturing at a middle aged mare with three smiling flowers adorning her flank, who was trotting merrily in their direction.
“That was quite the entrance” the mare joked. “So, what brings you to the humble town of Ponyville?”
Sunlight, hesitant about meeting the cheery mare, shied away from her vast smile.
“Come on Sunlight, just try.”
Somewhat reassured by her friend’s words Sunlight tried to smile as well and stuttered a reply.
“I-I ‘m here t-to check on preparations for t-t-the Summer Sun Celebration, and then I-I’ll be s-staying in the local library.”
“The library? Ah, a fellow scholar I presume.”
This eased Sunlight’s fears about the happy mare. Another educated mare. Maybe she could help her in her search for evidence of Nightmare Twilight?
But the mare seemed to have other plans as she trotted cheerily away. She called “I’ll see you later” before trotting around the corner.

“Summer Sun Celebration official overseer’s checklist--Number one: banquet preparations, Sweet Apple Acres.”
As soon as she ended her sentence, Phila and Sunlight entered through an apple draped gateway into a yard next to a pristine red barn. All around them were miles of apple trees and Sunlight was just a bit overwhelmed.
Speaking of overwhelmed…
Out of nowhere a stallion appeared “Hey there! Welcome to SWEET APPLE ACRES!” he proclaimed while rearing up and flailing his front hooves.
“Um” She was momentarily at a loss for words. Where had the stallion come from?” Good afternoon! I’m Sunlight Shimmer and-“
“Well howdy Sunlight! Names Braeburn and I’m in charge here at SWEET APPLE ACRES.” He reared again.
“Uh yes, right well I’m her-“
“Allow me ta give you the grand tour of SWEET APPLE ACRES!”
Then the crazy stallion shoved Sunlight and Phila with his forehead until they were standing in front of the red barn.
“ Here’s the barn house were mah family and I stay.”
“That’s great but--“
And then he shoved them towards a grove of strange looking trees bare of any fruit.
“And this is where we grow zapapples to make our zapapple jam, I’m sure you’ve had some.”
“Oh yes I have and it--“
He then shoved them over to a large pasture.
“And this is where the cow family lives.”
“Oh I’ve never me- “
Then he shoved them up a small hill so they could see the miles and miles of apple trees.
“And here’s the most wonderful sight in all SWEET APPLE ACRES! Our apple trees.”
“Braeburn.”
“ Harvest will be any day now.”
“ Braeburn!”
“ Good thing too.”
“BRA-“
“Cause we need that grub to live on.”
“ BRAEBURN!”
That shut the yellow stallion up.
“Uh, yes M’am? What can I do ya for?”
”I am, in fact, here to supervise preparations for the Summer Sun Celebrations, and you’re in charge of the food.”
“We sure as shamrock are! Care tah sample some?”
If they were in charge of food then they were in charge of dessert and if they were in charge of dessert then…
“Yes! I mean-ahmen-yes.”
Then they were swept up in a herd of earth colored ponies and somehow ended up at a table with a worn table cloth.
“Now why don’t I introduce the Apple Family.” Then he listed off so many ponies, who each came forward and left one treat on the table, that there were too many to count.
When he nearly finished, there was a pile of plates and food so high that a pony could fit comfortably in the center.
“Big Mac”(A giant red stallion with kind green eyes).”AppleBloom”(an adorable cream filly with red hair and the cutest little bow in her mane).
“Aaaand, Granny Smith.” Granny Smith, an old green mare with a frazzled white mane kept up in a bun, sat rocking in a chair.
“Up and at um Granny, we got guests.”
The old mare snorted and creaked out of her chair before sloooooooowly making her way to the table.
“ Why I’d say they’re already part of the family!”
Enough talk! Time for eating!
Then the mare started grabbing for as much of it as she could carry. After all, she had other things to “supervise.”
‘Where ya goin miss?” Asked adorable Applebloom,” Aren’t ya gunna stay fer brunch?”
‘Oh I’d love to, but I have a lot of things to do…but this food looks deliceuse!”
But it was too late, the filly had busted out “the puppy dog eyes” and there was no way any pony, not even this shy unicorn, was ever going to refuse her.
“Fine” She responded, her good mood ruined by the overbearing family and the too cute filly, but the Apples seemed the opposite of her mood. Cheering like she was the gosh darned Princess!
Well, at least she could eat all this food! Was there such a thing as apple cake?

The lightning

“Food’s all taken care of. Next is weather.”
“Ugh I ate too much pie. But it was totally worth it.”
Sunlight’s belly hangs low over the pavement as she drags her hooves over the unforgiving ground. But, despite all this, her face was the image of bliss.
“Hmmm, there should be a Pegasus named Lightning Dust clearing up the sky.”
Sunlight looks up at the cloud filled sky--lazy Pegasus.
“Well she isn’t doing a very good job now is she?”
*SLAM*
The side of a small home became all Sunlight could see before she blacked out.

“Is she going to be okay?”
“I don’t know. You hit her pretty hard, try that thing again.”
Sunlight felt drops of water fall on her check, was it rain--?“
*SPLASH*
“I’m up I’m up,” She cried, her wet mane flopping over her face and the momentary downpour pooling into a mud puddle around her.
“That might have been…a little too much water.”
“Ya think!”
Today was not a good day for Sunlight, and now she was soaking wet and hoof deep in a mud puddle.
“ Um,oh, how about this.”
Then the spring green mare started flying around Sunlight nearly tornado fast (although Lightning Dust wouldn’t want another incident like last time to happen) leaving a trail of bright orange lightning the same color as her spiky hair over the trail of green which was the same color as her coat and the water was literally sucked right of Sunlight’s small frame.
“My very own patented “Lightning Drier!”
She was indeed all dry but…
“No, no don’t thank me. You’re quite welcome.”
Then Sunlight opened her eyes.
*snort,snort*”BwahahaHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
Sunlight’s mane had borne the brunt of the near tornado speeds and now it was whipped back into an afro like style. Oh great! Now the dragon was laughing.
Sunlight put on her best smile and said politely “Let me guess--you must be Lightning Dust.”
Striking a pose, Lightning said, ”The one and only. Why? Ya heard of me?”
She then leaned in just like the three mares when this crazy assignment started, except she’s flying.
“Well, you see, you’re supposed to be keeping the sky clear.” *sigh* “I’m Sunlight Shimmer and the Prince sent me to check on the weather.”
Lightning Dust, now chilling in a cloud, replied in a casual tone,” Yeah, yeah that’ll be a snap. I’ll do it just as soon as I’m done practicing.”
“Practicing for what?”
The gold Pegasus smiled widely before pointing to a nearby poster. It depicted four Pegasi flying in tight outfits with three in similar attire underneath.
“The Wonder Blitz! They’re gunna perform at the celebration tomorrow and I’m gunna show them my stuff.”
“ The Wonder Blitz, the most talented flyers in all of Equastria?”
“ That’s them!”
“That’s so AWESOME that you would have enough skill to get in the Wonder Blitz!”
Lightning Dust, shocked by the unexpected attitude of the unicorn, was momentarily at a loss for words.
“REALLY! You think so?”
All according to plan.
“I know so! But…”
“But…?”
“Well, with all these clouds in the air they’d probably hesitate to consider you.”
“What, why?”
“They’d never accept a Pegasus who couldn’t keep the sky clear for one day.”
“Yeah, you’re right. I can clear this sky in 10 seconds flat; that’ll prove I can be in the Wonder Blitz!”
And the trap is sprung. Sunlight looks Lightning Dust right in the eye and says,
“Then prove it.”
And she was off, bucking, punching, beating and even biting her way through every cloud. She even mixed in a few tricks or two. But eight seconds later there still were a few clouds left in the sky. Time to push herself a little bit further then she originally planned, but hay, no pain no gain right?
9 seconds later Sunlight stood frozen in place, a look of pure awe stuck on her face. How had she done that? It wasn’t equinely possible!
And yet somehow she had done it.
The Pegasus sat on the road exhausted.
“W-w-what diiid I say *gasp*. I’d…never l-leave Poooonyville…hangin.
She struggled to her hooves before noticing the awestruck mare.
“Ha Ha! You should see the look on your face! Ha Ha! You’re a hoot Sunlight Shimmer.”
How did she-? How was that even?-
“I can’t wait to hang out some more!”
Then the mare rocketed of leaving one amazed dragon and one bemused unicorn. At least her face was no longer frozen in shock.
“Woooow! She’s incredible!”
How--Wait, hang out some more!? Ugh, why were ponies so set on making friends with her! It was like she had become a weirdo pony magnet or something.
The dragon turned back to Sunlight and poked her horrible spiky, Mohawk mane.
*Snort, snort*
That got the dragon laughing again. Sunlight wasn’t going to have any of it. She continued walking to her next location. When would this be over?!
“Wait! It’s kind of pretty once you get used to it.”

“Decorations… beautiful.”
They were indeed beautiful. Colorful tapestry hung from the walls depicting pegasi flying, earth ponies planting bright seeds, and unicorns casting spells. Elaborate bouquets of flowers hung from balcony railings with blue ribbon hanging from each to the next.
“Yes the decor is coming along quite nicely. This should be quick; I’ll be at the library in no time at all. Yes, beautiful indeed.”
‘Not the decor, her!’
The dragon then pointed at the tall, elegant frame of a light pink mare. Her eyes are a deep purple and her mane was soft and flowy, like a cotton candy cloud, and her make-up was absolutely perfect. Sunlight also noticed her cutie mark was three fleur de lis arranged in a pyramid of sorts. A pink one was on top and two yellow on bottom.
“How are my spines? Are they straight?”
Sunlight swears she can see little hearts floating all around her. And were her eyes hearts to?
“Hey now, Phila, les’ be honest here.”

The hater

‘Good afternoon.’
‘Juste une seconde please.’
The elegant mare sorted through a variety of colored ribbon. Varying colors from green to blue flew by her in a baby blue aura until she finally came upon a ruby red ribbon sparkling in the light of the afternoon sun streaming through the windows of town hall.
‘ Parfait, Sparkle always dose the trick, non? Why Fleur you are a talent. Now, how can I...
The mare, Sunlight assumed was Fleur, reared back in horror, screeching incoherently.
‘Oh my stars, whatever happened to your coiffure!’
‘ Oh, you mean my mane. It’s kind of a long story. I’m just here to check on the decorations and then I’ll be out of your hair.’
‘My hair? What about your hair ?!’
And suddenly Sunlight found herself being pushed by a forehead the second time that day, shouting protests and exclamations for help as she was pushed right out the door, a flightless baby dragon right behind her, hearts popping out of her like bubbles as she flew.
‘Too green !’
Who ever wears an outfit exactly like the statue of Liberty?
‘Too yellow !’
How much does this hat weigh?
‘Too poofy!’
What is this the 80’s?
‘Not poofy enough!’
Can I go now?
‘To frilly!’
No wait this one is much heavier.
‘Too shiny!’
Do you think I’m a hippy?
After what seemed like hundreds of dresses had been tried on and discarded, at last the fashion mare found a dress that she actually liked.
‘Now go on dear, you were telling me where you’re from.’
Then she began to choke the life out of poor Sunlight, pulling a strap on the gem covered saddle so far back it pulled her right off her feet, making her stand like a monkey on stilts.
‘ I’ve-uuuaaugh-been sssent ffrom Cantorlot-to--‘
‘Huh?!’
Upon her exclamation Fleur and Sunlight went flying to opposite ends of the boutique. With a crash both mares hit the purple floors. Fleur, somehow unaffected, jumped off the floor and stooped over Sunlight. Her face held a look of pure empathy, but not because she had just been launched all the way across the room by her carelesness.
‘Cantorlot? I am so sorry for you!’
‘The snootiness’
‘The selfishness’
‘The delirium!’
‘J'ai toujours détesté y aller!’
Shaking her head, Sunlight pulled her thoughts together and tried to remember her old French lessens.
‘ Wait, you hate it there? I would think a sophistocated mare like you would love a place like Cantorlot.’
The pink mare seemed absolutely disgusted by the very idea. Pantomiming, in the most lady like fashion she had ever seen, barfing and gagging.
‘ No, no,no,no! I despise that misérable place! Have you ever met any pony who lives there!’
Fleur shouted, seeming to forget that the mare she was shouting at was, in fact, from Cantorlot.
‘ They’re all a bunch of prissy unicorn brats who wouldn’t know manière if walked up to them and asked directions to the train station.’
By then the mare’s eyes were alight with anger and Sunlight thought she saw a vein buldging from her temple. Afraid that any sudden movements or loud noises would provoke the mare, Sunlight sputtered out an almost incoherent reply.
‘W-well they are a-a liiittle s-s-snooty.’
The mare turned to the pink haired unicorn, her anger fogged mind somehow finding an agreement in her stuttered and quiet words.
‘ You think so to0?’
And suddenly Fleur was right next to her, pulling her into a giant bear hug.
‘ We are going to be the best of amis you and I.’
Oh come-!’
‘ Emeralds! What was I thinking ? Let me get some rubys.’
The white mare took that oppurtunity to exit stage right.
‘Quick, before she decides to dye my mane a new color!

Having escaped the clutches of the crazy Cantorlot hating unicorn, Sunlight made her way to the peaceful looking park on the edge of town.
‘Wasn’t she wonderful?’
The love struck dragon sighed, leaning aganst Sunlight’s head while sitting on her back.
‘ Focus Casanova—what’s next on the list?’
Phila cleared her throat dramatically before reading the next item on the list.
‘Music, it’s the last one.’
As the dragon finished reading, coincidently, music began to play. Quietly at first, but louder as they got nearer and nearer to a small clearing where a brownish-grey mare stood playing beautiful music on a well maintained cello. She was so deeply concentrating on her music that she failed to notice the intruders. Sunlight would have been satisfied to merely sit and listen to her incredible music all day if it weren’t for the insistent nudge from Phila to propel her forward.
‘Hello!!’
*Screeech*
The grey mare’s concentration broke at Sunlight’s too loud greeting and the bow somehow clasped in her hoofs went scratching across the cello’s strings. She looked distainfuly at Sunlight, clearly annoyed by the interuption.
‘ Oh my, I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to break your concentration. I’m just here to check up on the music and it’s sounding lovely.
The mare continued to glare at Sunlight as the uncomfortable silence grew.
‘ I’m Sunlight Shimmer.’
‘…’
‘Whats your name?’
‘…’
‘um…’
The mare at last began to speak.
‘ You wish to know my name, unicorn?’
‘Yes.’
‘After defiling my privacy and destroying my concentration?’
‘Um, yes.’
‘Very well then. I am Octavia Adagio Brillante.’
‘Gee, that’s a long name.’ An unhelpful dragon chimed in from the sidelines.
‘My word, a dragon! How peculiar. What would your name be, young drake?
The attention now turned to Phila, whose face went from surprise to smugness in zero seconds flat.
‘The name’s Philomena, but you can just call me Phila.’
But any furthur quistians were cut off as the dragon was lifted from the ground and placed none to gently on Sunlight’s back in an aura of golden magic.
‘Well, anyways we better be going.’
Pony and dragon walked several minutes until Octavia came trotting, as fast as one could trot while lugging a cello case behind oneself, right behind the unicorn riding dragon.
‘Wait! There’s so much more I would like to know!’
Phila was intrigued by the idea of somepony actually being interested in her.
‘What do you wanna know?’
‘ I wish to know absolutely everything!’
‘ Weeellll… All right then. It all started when a mommy dragon and a daddy dragon loved each other very much…’
And so, unicorn, and earth pony began listening to a VERY DETAILED biography about one baby dragon.
Let’s just say that Sunlight was not looking forward to having this conversation again.

The worry

After twenty minutes of walking Sunlight, Phila, and a cello case dragging Octavia at last reach their destination. The library was, indeed, unusual. A giant oak tree with circular windows flickering with soft candle light, and a balcony obviously meant for stargazing.
“And that’s my entire life story and everything I know about dragons.’
“Everything?”
“Well, I do have some theories, wanna hear them?”
“Absolutely!”
But this was not to be as Sunlight turned to the mare, her patience long since demolished by Phila’s monologue.
“Oh I’m sure Phila would just love to tell you all her intriguing theories, but we really need to get working. We have a lot to research after all.”
“Well then, I could--“
But Sunlight wasn’t going to have it, bucking Phila off her back in the most casual way she could.
“I would love that, but as you can see Phila is so excited about the study session I have planned that she can’t even stay on my back. Besides, you would get so bored and I’d hate for that to happen.
She smiled the awkwardest smile she had ever smiled and stepped slowly backwards.
“But I--“
*SLAM*
But her words were cut off as Sunlight made her escape.

“ Phew that was--“
*Bonk*
After escaping the seemingly dragon obsessed cello mare, Sunlight thought she had, at last, found sanctuary in the library when she walked nose first into the back of a chalk board.
Why was there a chalk board in a library?
“Oh, my goodness! Are you okay!”
From across the library the same maroon mare that had disappeared earlier that day held out a helping hoof which Sunlight gladly took.
“I’m fine, I’m fine honestly, my nose is just a little sore, but, why is there a chalk board here in the first place?”
The mare smiled broadly at her question, grabbing a piece of chalk and writing on the board feverishly until Sunlight saw she had written the words “ Ms. Cheerilee” in a swirling white script.
“My name is Ms. Cheerilee. I’m the local teacher here in Ponyville, but I’m also the librarian. Since you’re new in town and staying at the library, I thought it would be lots of fun to teach you all about Ponyville and its history.”
Both Phila and I cringed. Neither one of us had any good experience with teachers. They were always forcing knowledge down our throats and all I ever wanted to do was learn at my own pace or read a good book. Prince Shining was the only teacher who understood that.
Phila just hated learning in general.
In the blink of an eye I was up the stairs and locked in the spare bedroom before you could say “textbook exit.”

Several hours later and Sunlight lay wide awake. The minutes were ticking away until the Summer Sun Celebration and she still had no idea what the Elements of Harmony were.
Across the room the squeaky door opened and Phila, eyes blood shot and twitching staggered in.
“Sunlight, please just come down stairs. Ms. Cheerilee is boring me to tears!”
“ NO! All the ponies in this town are crazy! And yes, I know it’s the eve of the Summer Sun Celebration and we’re supposed to stay up and see the Prince raise the sun!”
With a pop of her horn, Phila was back down the stairs and the door was slammed shut.
“Ugh! Here I thought I had time to learn more about the Elements of Harmony, but, silly me. All these ridiculous ponies trying to be friends has kept me from it!”
Her tirade dies out as her eyes stray to her eye shaped mirror where, like the pupil’s eye, the moon sits cooly. The face of a shadowy mare is ever present. Her anger is swept away by fear as she looks up at that very face and, in a worry filled tone, repeats the words that had been haunting her thoughts all day.
“Legend has it that on the longest day of the thousandth year the stars will aid in her escape and she will bring about ever lasting Twilight.”
Her fear grows ever stronger as she looks at the Mare in the Moon.
“I hope the Prince is right. I hope it really is just an old pony’s tale.”
Her fearful trance is interrupted when Ms. Cheerilee barges into the dark room, her ever present smile just as bright.
“It’s almost time for the sunrise!”

The Ponyville town hall was filled to the brim, as ponies of varying color and species clammered for a position closest to the stage. Fleur’s decorations looked just as beautiful in the moonlight and quite a large group of pegasi hovered close to the hanging tapestries to get a closer look. On several just as lovely decorated tables sat the Apple family’s banquet, with all the treats that Sunlight had gorged all those hours ago. As the last stragglers made their way inside, including Sunlight, Ms. Cheerilee, and Phila, a very familiar yellow stallion simply popped up in front of Sunlight with a smile almost as big as Cheerilee’s.
“Oh gosh ah am so excited, I’ve never bin so excited!”
He probably would have said more if the sound of Octavia’s cello hadn’t cut him off. It was a simple introductory piece from what Sunlight could remember of the itinerary, then the mare would be giving a small speech to welcome the Prince.
Just as she thought it, a brown mare with a puffy grey mane stepped on stage. Once the spotlight fell on her she began speaking in a formal tone to the excited audience.
“Fillies and gentlecolts, as mayor of Ponyville it is my great pleasure to announce the beginning of the Summer Sun Celebration!”
The mayor paused as the crowd cheered.
“In just a few moments our town will witness the magic of the sunrise and celebrate this, the longest day of the year.”
Sunlight turned her head up to the skylight nervously only to see the Mare on the Moon…
“Vanish!”
“And, 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 everyday! The strong, the brave, the bringer of harmony to all Equestria-- Prince Shining!”
With a cue from the mayor Fleur flashed her horn and fireworks popped above the crowd’s head’s as she pulled the curtain to reveal..!
Nothing.

The nightmare

“Remain calm everypony, there must be a reasonable explanation.’
Fear was gripping Sunlight’s heart like a foal grips candy. The seconds dragged by and no regal alicorn appeared on the balcony apologizing for his lateness. Behind her Breadurn shifted nervously and leaned closer to Sunlight.
“Somethin’s not right here--you know the Prince, is somethin’ going on? Is he runnin’ late? Is there something goin’ on? Is he hidin’?”
“He’s gone!”
Fleur’s fearful cry echoed through Town Hall as everpony gasped at the exclamation.
“Did you double check?”
She turned back and poked her head behind the curtain, once more, scanning for a hint of blue mane or a flash of white coat, but there was none. Returning to the balcony, she shook her head solemnly.
“Did you tripaaaagh!”
The stallion’s mood went from smiles to horror instantly as a cloud of purple smoke floated from the darkness.
“Oh no.”
With a great puff the cloud took the form of a lavender alicorn. Her Byzantine mane hung limply to the floor and around her neck was a steel breastplate emblazend with her cutie mark. Her violet draconic eyes scanned the cowering crowd and she stomped a steel horse shoe to silence their whimpering.
“One thousand years, my subjects, one thousand years on the moon. One thousand years plotting my revenge and now, thanks to my unloved stars I have returned to plunge you insolent foals into eternal twilight!
And there is no one left to stop me.”
From the shaking crowd, Lightning Dust burst forward, as if she was ready to take on the sinister mare all by herself, only to be stopped by the iron grip of Ms. Cheerali’s bite on her tail.
“What have you done to the Prince you ugly goat!”
The lavender alicorn seemed unaffected by Lightning Dust’s insult. Instead she chuckled maliciously and smiled a shark toothed grin.
“Why, am I not royal enough for you, Lightning Dust? I am, after all, a Princess. Can’t you see my wings and my horn? Can’t you feel my power?!”
Lightning Dust recoiled when Nightmare Twilight spoke her name, how had she known? As if reading her mind (which was quite likely considering she was an all powerful alicorn) Nightmare Twilight’s smile grew.
“How do I know your name? Well it’s quite simple…
I am the most powerful being IN THE UNIVERSE!! MUHAHAHAHAHHAHA!!
“If you’re the most powerful being in the universe, then how did the Elements of Harmony defeat you?”
“T-That’s not the point I am-!”
“And if you’re all powerful couldn’t you have escaped the moon whenever you wanted?”
“THAT IS NOT THE POINT!!”
*Crash*
Nightmare Twilight uses the royal Cantorlot voice; it is very effective.
“DOES MY CROWN MEAN NOTHING TO YOU! DON’T YOU KNOW WHO I AM!!”
“I know the legend, I saw the signs! I know who you are!”
Nightmare turned to the crowd where Sunlight strode shaking in front of an unconscious Phila. Her eyes were huge saucers, just as surprised by her outburst as Nightmare Twilight.
“So, one among you knows? Well then, cowering foal, who am I?”
“You’re-you’re Nightmare Twilight!”
“ NIGHTMARE MOON?!”
“Nightmare who?”
“Oops, sorry, wrong script. NIGHTMARE TWILIGHT!”
“If you know who I am, then you also know why I’m here.”
Sunlight stepped several paces back, but her eyes remained locked on Nightmare Twilight.
“Y-y-you’re H-here to-to-*gulp*”
Fear finally over took her and she lowered her head in defeat.
“Hahahahaha, remember this day little ponies, for you have been in the presence of a true goddess! And now, to bring eternal Twilight forever more! AHAHAHAHAHAHaghhoo blaargh swallowed a bug, that always ruins a good evil laughter.”
The Mayor at last spoke crying “Seize her! Only she knows were the Prince is!” before diving back stage for cover. With a great WOOOSH several pegasus guards flew full speed ahead towards Nightmare Twilight.
“Stay back you idiots!”
Her eyes blazed a burning pink (very threatening) and a wall of pure energy slammed the soldiers across the room to crash to the floor in battered heaps of dented gold armor.
Transforming once again into a cloud of purple smoke, Nightmare Twilight burst through the doors and into the twilight.
Chaos ensued as ponies panicked and with a final pull Lightning Dust burst free from Cheerali’s grip and zoomed out the door, bent on chasing Nightmare Twilight and personally making the villain tell her where the Prince was.
Plus, kick her flank a little on the side.
But the cloud was already gone and her opportunity missed. For a second, she merely hovered, her tough mare act melting away.
“Twilight, forever?”
From below, a flash of white and pink caught her eye as Sunlight went racing down the street, a sleeping baby dragon balanced on her back.
Now what was she up to?

“We gotta stop Nightmare!” Phila mumbles before dropping off to sleep, a beige blanket laid carefully over her sleeping form.
“You’ve been up all night Phila; you are a baby dragon after all!”
The lights flick off and the door closes.

*CRASH*
“ Elements, elements ugh! How can I stop Nightmare Twilight without the Elements of Harmony!”
Speeding through book after book with her golden magic, Sunlight became more and more desperate as imformation on The Elements of Harmony remained ever rare. She was a library for ponies sake.
“And just what are the Elements of Harmony!” The face of Lightning Dust filled her vision.” Are they some sort of secret weapon? Can we use them to stop Nightmare Twilight? Where are they? How can we get them?”
A gentle pull from Octavia removed Lightning from her face and with a sigh Octavia spoke in a much quieter tone.
“Calm yourself, my friend-- she obviously doesn’t know if she was searching so vigorously. But, she does know something, don’t you Sunlight?”
Behind Octavia four other ponies looked expectantly.
“I-I read all about the prediction of Nightmare Twilight. Some strange objects called The Elements of Harmony are the only things that can stop her. But I don’t know what they are! Where to find them! I don’t even know what they do!”
“The Elements of Harmony, a reference guide!”
From across the room Breaburn held up an old looking red book. On its cover was the ancient symbol for the alicorns surrounded by six gold diamonds. A flash of magic later, the book was in front of Sunlight and Breaburn was on the floor.
“How did you find this?!”
I-It was under e.”
“Oh”
*Facehoof*
Looking down at the floating book, Sunlight begins reading.
“ There are six Elements of Harmony, but only five are known. Kindness, loyalty, Honesty, Generosity, and Laughter. The sixth is a complete mystery. It is said that the last known location of the five elements was in the ancient library of the royal pony siblings. It is located in what is now th-th-the Everfree forest!!”
Little did they know that a cloud of sparkling purple smoke was listening right outside the window.

The lullaby

At the edge of the Everfree, four ponies stand trembling in fear as the sky stands in stagnant twilight. The sounds of nature were quieted by the Everfree’s sinister presence. After several moments, the silence was broken by a collective cry.
“T-the Everfree forest.”\
The Everfree has been a scar on Equastria for hundreds, maybe even thousands of years. Logic is warped and neither the laws of earth magic nor sky magic apply in its infinite darkness. The perfect place to hide items such as the Elements of Harmony. Stepping forth Braburn grimaced as he faced the shadows.
W-w-well we best get goin’ if we wanta find those Elements.”
He was only a few steps into the Everfree’s marshy ground when a call from behind him drew his attention away from the dark forest.
“Wait! Braving through the Everfree and finding the Elements is going to be dangerous; it’s better if you all just go back to your homes and stay safe. I’ll be fine on my own.”
But her valiant proposal did nothing to deter the three earth ponies, one Pegasus, and one unicorn from swallowing their fear and walking towards the forest.
“Yeah,” Lightning Dust said “Let’s all walk single file into the cursed forest to be picked off one-by-one by the ravenous monsters. Have fun at the rear Sunlight.”

The morbid procession walked silently through the woods. Conversation was non-existent and a mere rustle of the bushes would nearly send the group cantering right back out of the forest.
“So none of you have ever gone in here?” Sunlight whispered, fearing any loud noise might bring a manticore barging through the trees.
“ Ugh, heavens non, just look at it, its épouvantable!”
From the front Braeburn spoke up.
“And it ain’t natural, folks say it don’t work like Equastria.”
As he spoke a cloud of purple smoke dissolved into the soil.
“ W-whats that supposed t-to mean?”
Deciding it was the perfect moment for a little pranking, Lightning Dust crept from the shadows, crawling like a spider towards the frightened ponies.
“No pony knoooows. You know why? ..”
“Lightning, stop it!”
“Cause everypony whose come in…
Doesn’t
Come
OUT!”
With a resounding boom the ground underneath them broke away and everypony, even Lightning caught unaware, went tumbling down.

It took her a moment, but Sunlight oriented herself enough to take a few wobbly steps. She was plunged into a thick darkness and, like a thick woolen blanket, a layer of magic was somehow blocking her from seeing a thing.
H-hello?”
Echoing off what she assumed were cavern walls, Sunlight’s voice faded slowly into nothing until a reply bounced back.
“ Sunlight?”
“ Ms. Cheerilee?”
“ Oh thank goodness! But, where are the others?”
Thankfully resounding “ I’m here” and “ I’m oks” rang out as all were present and accounted for.
“Can anypony see a way out? A light or a hole or something?!”
The sound of shifting bodies and shuffling hooves echoed cavernously. Sunlight was becoming more and more panicked. How could they stop Nightmare Twilight stuck in a seemingly inescapable cave? When her rump bumped into something hard…
And scaley!
With a puff of smoke and a yawn, the head of a giant green dragon shifted from the impact of Sunlight’s bottom. And, with that shift the revealed the cave’s entrance which had been blocked by the dragon’s enormous size.
Too bad it was on the other side of the pony-eating dragon.
“ OHMYGOSH, OHMUGOSH, OHMUGOSH, OHMYGOSH!!”
Sunlight’s words became nothing more than whispers as the dragon began to stir once more, one golden eye lazily opening.
“ WHATAREWEGOINGTODO?!WHATAREWEGOINGTODO?-”
Her panicked whispers were hushed by Ms. Cheerilee, who put a hoof to Sunlight’s mouth until she had calmed somewhat, then pulled all the six ponies into a huddle.
“I know how to stop it.” She whispered with confidence,” all we have to do…
Is sing it a lullaby.”
“What?!”
“Its true” Octavia whispered back” Through my studies I believe I came upon this fact.”
Ms. Cheerilee nodded graciously at Octavia, not even questioning why a mare like her would be researching dragons. (Which is a story for another time.)
“ A-are you sure?”
“Trust me, I’m being completely honest”
With a nod from Sunlight, Ms. Cheerilee began to whistle a soft tone and Braburn, whose Mama had been a lovely lullaby singer, know the exact song she was whistling. He began singing in a gentle voice you’d never expect the wild country pony to have.
“Golden slumbers kiss your eyes,
Smiles await you when you rise.
Sleep,
Pretty filly,
Do not cry,
And I will sing a lullaby.”
The surprisingly beautiful voice of Braeburn slid out of his mouth and throughout the cave. The dragon’s eyes began to droop and its body relaxed once more as he started the second verse.
“Cares you know not,
Therefore sleep,
While over you a watch I'll keep.
Sleep,
Pretty darling,
Do not cry,
And I will sing a lullaby.”
With a smoky sigh the dragon fell once more into peaceful slumber, allowing the trespassers to slip silently by and out into the never ending twilight. Little did they know that a cloud of purple smoke rose from the ground and shot into the sky.

The motley crew found itself walking once more through the dismal forest under a purple twilight sky. But, unlike before, their fears had been left behind. After all, how could you be afraid of a few spooky plants when you had just faced a dragon? Above their heads Lightning Dust adamantly retold the story of their brush with a fiery death as if it had happened weeks ago and to a completely different group of ponies.
…And then, Ms. Cheerilee tells us that to stop this huge ferocious dragon we had to sing a lullaby! A lullaby! Can you believe it!”
“ That’s amazing Lightning, I had no idea how awesome your life was!”
“I know—right!”
From the forest there was a sudden SCREEEECH and all other conversation was silenced.

The strange

The band of ponies continued walking. Their hooves were sore and bruises from their fall into the dragon’s cave throbbed from the constant movement. Sunlight nursed a cut on her cheek with a minor healing spell and lagged behind the others. Caught up in her medicinal magic she walked right into the back side of Braeburn who was in the exact position. Looking down the line she saw that everypony sandwiched together while Fleur stood like a stubborn mule. With a grunt a few shoves and whole lot of blushing the group untangled themselves.
“ I am so désolé, but we seem to have reached an impassible obstacle.”
Before her, a massive crack in the earth gaped like the mouth of some great beast bent on eating them.
“Oh, great! Now how are we going to get to the ruins and find the elements?!”
“Don’t be so negative Lightin’; I’m sure Sunlight has some fancy spell ta find a way across.”
Braeburn turned expectantly towards Sunlight, as did the rest of the crew. She blushed and called upon her mentos teachings. “ He must have shown me something,” she thought before gasping and magicing a lightbulb over her head.” Of course! A transformation spell!”
Then with a brightening of her horn, a flash of golden light and a puff of smoke, a white giraffe with pink spots stood where Sunlight had just been.
“W-w-wha?”
“Don’t worry guys, it’s me, Sunlight. I changed myself into a giraffe so I could see above the tree tops and spot a way over.”
“A giraffe?”
“Oh, they’re just pony like creatures that live in Zebrafrica.”
“Like Ambassador Zecora?”
“Yes.”
The group smiled fondly at that name. Zecora was a hero to ponies and Zebras alike. She came all the way from Zebrafrica to cure the cutie pox influenza that had broken out several years past. She moved back to Zebafrica, but the ponies of Equestria never forgot her.”
Sunlight stretched her neck until it began to ache and her idea seemed silly when she spotted a stone structure in the distance.
“ AH-HA! I’ve found our way across guys. There’s a bridge around a quarter mile that-a-way!”
Tired from the massive amount of magic she had just used Sunlight pooped (literally popped) back into a pony shape and sat panting.
“Are you okay Sunlight?”
Octavia reached down with a helping hoof which she gladly took.
“I’m fine. I just used up a lot of magic is all. As long as I don’t conjure up any elephants I’ll be fine. Let’s just get moving.”

After a quarter mile of walking they at last reached the stone bridge. It was ancient with vines curling through the cracked railing and dirt and mud covering almost every inch in varying degrees of thickness.
“ This doesn’t look too safe. Lightning Dust, maybe you could cross it first and see if we can too?”
Lightning Dust stepped boldly onto the bridge. When her second hoof touched the ancient stone a gravelly voice shouted “HALT” from under the bridge. Crawling from the shadows a furry ball of green made its way to the walkway. It stopped and shook itself like a dog to reveal a sagging, bulldog face with two giant tusks. Its eyes were pure blue and lacked either iris or pupil and glared at each one of them.
“Who dares to walk across my bridge. It better not be those idiotic goats again.”
Lightning Dust stumbled backwards at the sight of the strange creature.
“ Whoah, dude. We’re just trying to get to the old library ruins and find the Elements of Harmony. You got a problem with that?”
The creature snarled and charged towards her like an angry minataur. Before she knew what hit her Lightning was smashing face first into a tree.
“ Yes, I do. You shall not PASS!”
Braeburn and Cheerilee galloped forward with a branch clenched between their teeth, prepared to smash right through the monsters defences, only to meet a similar fate.
“Wait.”
Fleur tried to conjure a snake to attack it, but only succeeded in making a very fashionable belt.
“Wait!”
Sunlight tried to join in the fight, charging energy into her horn which only sputtered and sparked. Lightning Dust finally pulled her head out of the tree it had been stuck in. Cheerilee and Braeburn freed themselves from the bush they were stuck in and Flour and Sunlight combined magic to enhance their magical strength and, with a mighty battle cry, went charging towards the snarling beast!
“WAIT!!”
Octavia jumped in front of the five, making them crash into each other much as they had before. She then turned to the monster and smiled gently.
“Please, sir, we need to get across this bridge of yours. Could you please let us pass?”
“Of course. Wait, did you say please?”
“Why, yes.”
The anger on his face dissolved, leaving only sadness behind. The creature sat and sniffed like the word please, had some sort of power over him, and, in a way it did.
“ N-no o-o-one has *sniff*ever said *sniff* please to me b-b-before.”
Octavia continued to smile as she walked slowly towards the crying monster. She laid down beside him and put a hoof around his shoulder.
“Now, why would anypony not say please to you?”
The monster sniffed and wiped blue snot away with a beefy hoof like appendage.
B-because I’m a b-b-ig, hairy, m-m-m-monsterherherherher!”
He began to cry even more violently. Octavia patted him gently until he calmed.
“A monster? I woudn’t call you a monster. You’re just…different. Lots of ponies are different, even me.”
The monster’s tears had stopped and his mouth was hinting at a smile.
“R-really?”
“Really.”
“Now will you please let us through? If you do, I promise that my friends will apologize for trying to attack you.”
The monster sniffed one last time before standing and making way for the group to pass by his massive body. When they were on the other side Octavia poked Lightening who grumbled an apology. Then Cheerilee gave several more, trying to make up for Lightening who was already fluttering into the forest. Finally Braeburn gave an energetic apology before following the rest of the group.

“How did you know?” Sunlight asked Octavia as they continued to walk.
“I didn’t, sometimes we all just need to be shown a little kindness.”