Lunar Eclipse: The Rock Opera

by CrowMagnon

Rating: everyone
Tags: Princess Luna, Cutie Mark Crusaders, Princess Celestia, Iron Will, Main 6, Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Alternate Universe, Sad
Length: 41295

Set in the same universe as "Snowblind". Discover the history of Celestia, Luna and Eclipse presented through the medium of rock opera, with music by The Protomen.

Eclipseverse: One thousand years ago, long before six young mares took up the Elements of Harmony to save Equestria, the royal sisters faced an insidious foe who threatened to cast his shadow across all the land.

Now, the poet Pinkamena Diane Pie and her friends have put together a show to tell that tale as Equestria has never heard it told before. The stage is set, the actors are ready, and the musicians are prepared to unleash the first rock-opera based this dark period in Equestrian history ever produced.*

That's assuming, of course, that everything goes as planned.

* Based on original music by The Protomen, from their album, "The Father of Death".

Published 2013-05-12 20:10:02 UTC
Last updated 2014-07-07 00:36:49 UTC

Part 1 - The Whispers of Eclipse

Lunar Eclipse: The Rock-Opera
by CrowMagnon

Twilight Sparkle kept herself perfectly still, not even daring to breathe. Throughout her short but eventful life, the young Ranger had faced everything from manticores to mad gods. No matter how terrible the foes in her past were, however, there was little that could ease the terror she felt as her mind raced with the countless thousands of ways that her mission could fail.

It was her talent, as well as her curse, to be able to lay out the mission in her mind and consider it from every angle which could lead to success or failure. As a former member of the Guard, and her current role as the ranking member of Luna's Rangers assigned to defending the ponies of Ponyville and its surrounding areas, it was a talent that had saved many lives, including her own. At the moment, though, it definitely felt like it fell more on the "curse" side.

Spotting a familiar grey pegasus out of the corner of her eye, Twilight asked without budging from her spot, "H-hey, D-derpy? Can you, um... h-how many ponies do you think are out there...?"

"I dunno, I'll go take a look," Derpy Hooves cheerfully replied, almost taking wing before a golden aura of magic surrounded her hooves, keeping them adhered to the floor.

"Remember, no flying inside," cautioned Dewdrop Decimal before returning her focus and magic to Twilight. "And you shouldn't even think about the audience. The dress rehearsals went great, and you're all going to be great tonight."

"Right. Right. When you've already proven you're tough, you don't need to sweat the small stuff," she whispered to herself, taking a deep breath as she focused on the little mantra her friend had made up for her.

Meanwhile, Dewdrop's magic finished its work, and the pale lavender librarian smiled before stepping out of the way so that Twilight could see herself in the mirror.

Even though she had seen it before in rehearsals, it always stunned Twilight when she saw herself like this. Instead of the shades of purple which were her natural colors, her coat was a bright white and her short mane, which had already been carefully styled by Aloe and Lotus, shone in the light as if each hair were a thread of spun gold. Even her violet eyes had become a bright sky blue. What was always most astonishing, though, was when she shifted her body in order to get a good look at her flank.

Twilight was no stranger to magic. Magic ran fairly strong in her family, and she had studied obsessively as a filly in the hopes of being a great scholar and innovator like Starswirl the Bearded. Even when that fell through, and she turned out to be something of a late bloomer, she continued to learn what she could in her spare time. After all, in the Rangers it was necessary to be able to adapt quickly in dangerous situations.

For instance, while she had never possessed an affinity for illusion magic, she had studied it extensively in order to recognize when it might be used against her. A skilled illusionist with ill intent could make their victim believe just about anything, warping all of reality in their senses but for one constant. Cutie marks were a representation of a pony's most fundamental nature, and would actively resist any spell intended to obscure or alter it.

In place of the compass rose that was her natural cutie mark, a gleaming golden shield adorned her flank.

"One of these days, you are going to tell me how you do that," Twilight said, prompting a modest giggle from the librarian.

"Sorry, Lieutenant, but a great and powerful magician never reveals her secrets."

A high pitched groan in three-part harmony graced the ears of the unicorns, who looked over to see three little fillies pouting in disappointment.

Twilight started pulling a golden Royal Guard costume toward herself, fitting the pieces over her body with an ease born from constant practice. "Shouldn't you three be with Nocturne and your sisters?" She carefully lifted the last piece, a sheathed sword with a golden handle, and attached it to her armor.

Apple Bloom replied, "They told us we could look around, long as we stayed out of trouble." This earned the fillies a suspicious look from the palette-swapped Ranger, but the little yellow filly didn't seem to notice. "Besides if y'all have a spell that can make cutie marks, why can't you give us some?" She, Sweetie Belle and Scootaloo all looked up at the librarian with wide, pleading eyes.

Dewdrop rolled her own up toward the ceiling. "I keep telling you girls, I can't make real cutie marks appear. It's just an illusion. It doesn't have anything to do with a pony's special talent, and doesn't last very long anyway. Do you really want me to cast a spell on you that doesn't say anything about who you really are, just for the sake of having a mark on your flank?"

The trio blinked at her as if the librarian had just asked the silliest question in the world. "YES," they replied loudly and in perfect unison.

"There you three are!" Drawn to the sound of their voices, Applejack stepped through the door, the businessmare dressed in the ancient finery of a minor noble. Looking sternly at the three fillies, she tapped her hoof in irritation. "Honestly, girls, the princesses themselves are in attendance. Not to mention hundreds of ponies eager to see the show, so just for one night, can you-- Twilight, darling, are you alright?"

"She's hyperventilating," Dewdrop cried out. "Here, Lieutenant, breathe into the bag!"

Meanwhile, Pinkamena walked across the stage to give everything one last inspection. Up above, a few pegasi were double-checking the sets and special effects equipment. Vinyl Scratch was busy doing sound checks with the help of Octavia and Fiddlesticks, the two earth pony cousins wearing identical dresses so that only their coloration and expressions differentiated them.

Out of the corner of her eye, Pinkamena noticed Derpy approach the curtains and stick her head out to wave to the audience. Before she could do anything about it, a pink, white-maned ball of tension suddenly ran up to grip the pegasus's tail in her teeth and yank her away.

"What do you think you're doing?" Spot Light, the irate earth pony mare in charge of providing costumes for the production, glared at Derpy with one eye twitching angrily. "This is a serious production, not a school play for foals! The princesses are going to be watching!"

The bubbly pegasus frowned and dug her hoof against the stage as she replied, "I know... that's why I wanted to wave to them, to say hi!"

Spot Light sputtered incoherently a few times before a hoof gently touched her shoulder. "It's quite alright, my little pony. I took no offense," said a soothing, motherly voice that caused the earth pony to gasp, immediately spinning around and kneeling as low as she could.

"P-princess Celestia! I-i-it's an honor, your h-highness," she stammered fearfully, not even daring to look up.

"Oh, the honor is mine. I had just settled into my seat when I saw this cute little pegasus emerge from behind the curtains. Tell me, are you the star of this show?"

This got a bashful giggle from Derpy, who replied, "Oh, no, your highness, I just help out and make sure everypony gets their scripts!"

"Really! A ravishing beauty like yourself? Such a waste. I must confess... I was captivated by you the moment we looked across the theater and I looked into your lovely eyes. Tell me, have you ever worn a maid outfit before?"

"Oooh, no, I'm no good as a maid. Things break all by themselves whenever I clean things!"

The voice of Celestia took on a sultry purr as she replied, "Oh, that's alright. I like things a little dirty..."

Apparently deciding that the conversation had gotten weird enough to warrant actually looking up at her sovereign, she did so only to growl quietly when she saw that it wasn't the Sun Princess standing over her, but Fluttershy in full royal regalia and false horn. Like Twilight, the pegasus's coat had been magically colored. It was now a slightly pinkish white with Celestia's sun adorning her flanks, though her mane had been left its natural pink, styled like ancient depictions of the princesses before their manes had adopted their current ethereal appearances.

"You know, your highness, you looked taller at a distance," Derpy joked, the two pegasi laughing as Fluttershy offered Spot Light a hoof up.

"You will not see the form of my revenge until it's too late," Spot Light grumbled, nevertheless accepting the assistance as she stood up again.

Pinkamena, upon seeing that the situation was dealt with, walked over and said, "Alright, everypony. Time to get into position. We're opening the curtains in ten minutes."

"The curtains are going up in five minutes! I can't believe it, this is really happening," Rarity practically squealed with nervous joy as she bounced from hoof to hoof, trying to tell herself that it was real. Once again, she looked at the mirror, instead of Rarity Stone the rock farmer, grower and purveyor of fine gems and precious metals, she saw a young Princess Luna grinning at her, even if the wings on her back were merely props.

The mare in the mirror was soon joined by a tiny purple dragon, who hugged her leg tightly and looked up with wide, innocent eyes. "You're a bootiful pwincess, mommy."

Rarity had to bring a hoof to her mouth to muffle the noise that tried to come out of her, her heart threatening to melt in her chest from her adopted son's sheer adorableness. When she was relatively certain that she wouldn't make a scene, she lowered her hoof and patted him on his scaley little head. "Oh, Spikey-wikey..."

"Come on, kiddo, we should get to our seats," came the voice of Carrot Top. Carrot farmer, friend, and occasional dragon-sitter, the curly-maned earth pony came over and gently pried Spike away from Rarity's leg before setting him on her own back. "You'll be getting to see your mommy be a pretty princess for all of Equestria." On her way out, Carrot Top glanced over her shoulder and said, "Knock 'em dead, Rares!"

As she turned back to the open the door, Carrot Top stopped in her tracks as her path was blocked by a pony-shaped mass of darkness which stood in front of her. Inky tendrils of pure darkness flowed and writhed around the living shadow's body as two crimson eyes opened. "Knock them dead...?" it asked in a raspy voice. "Isn't that... my job?"

Both Carrot Top and Spike screamed at the top of their lungs as the equine abomination let out an evil, soul-chilling laugh. At least until Rarity floated a newspaper over toward it in her magic. Rolling up the paper she swung it down against the monster's snout, getting a startled yelp from the monster. "Shame on you, Rainbow! Scaring Spike like that!"

"Ow," the shadow groaned, rubbing her muzzle as her eyes were momentarily knocked back into their rose-colored hue before the spell coloring them turned blood red again. With a chuckle, Rainbow Dash replied, "Aw, come on, Rarity. Dewdrop went to the trouble of making me look scary, so I had to take it for a test run! Besides, Spike's a tough guy, aren't ya, Squirt? If you really thought I was some kind of monster, you'd have fried my mane off, wouldn't you?"

"Y-yeah," the baby dragon stammered. "I-I-I knew it wuzn't real! It's j-just Ms. Rainbow Dash!"

"R-right," Carrot Top replied with a nervous laugh. However, she gave Dash a pointed glare as she added, "just Rainbow Dash the prankster." Sidling past the monstrously disguised pegasus, the trembling Carrot Top made her way to the audience seats.

Once they were out of sight, Rarity huffed, "Rainbow Dash, what in Tartaros made you think that was a good idea?"

"Well, considering what the kid's going to be seeing in a few minutes, I figure it'll be better for him to get a reminder now that it's all make-believe," Rainbow Dash explained. "That way he won't get the idea that he actually does have to torch the place to protect you."

Rarity narrowed her eyes dangerously as she asked, "and did you have to do it by scaring him and my friend half to death...?"

Rainbow Dash felt a chill that made her start to wonder which of them was supposed to be playing the monster in this production. "Ah... heh... well..."

"Hey, everypony! Miss Pie says it's time," Derpy said, sticking her head into the room. Just as suddenly, the pegasus ducked back out and zipped off down the corridor.

"Alright, showtime," Rainbow Dash said, grateful for the interruption.

Sighing to herself, Rarity followed after the pegasus and vowed, "Alright, we'll put this off for now. But if Spike has nightmares tonight, then you'll be seeing me in yours."

By the time all of the actors huddled together backstage, Twilight had just barely managed to stop hyperventilating.

Pinkamena looked around at the others and nodded in approval. "We've put in a lot of practice," she told them. "You, the musicians, the stagehands... I'm so happy that you all agreed to help me put this together. It's going to be great."

Given the lack of passion or enthusiasm in the poet's expression, it would have been easy for most ponies to mistake Pinkamena's atonal pep speech for sarcasm. Knowing the importance she placed in words, however, the amateur actors took what she said at face value. Each of them smiled to make up for the lack of one on Pinkamena's own face, even if some of them were more strained and nervous than others.

"We just have to do as well as we have in rehearsals. I've personally seen how good you all are, so don't worry about what anypony else might think. They're all complete strangers, anyway. And the princesses, of course. And any family or friends who were able to make it here tonight. And the theater critics."

Applejack very politely coughed to interrupt. "Ah, Pinkamena, darling? There are times when you should perhaps quit while you're ahead," she said, gesturing with a tilt of her head toward Twilight, who seemed to be having trouble breathing again.

"Fear not the opinions of lowly rabble. Thou shalt put on a most impressive show, and worry thyself about naught else. Thine princess commands it," Fluttershy exclaimed, doing her best impression of Celestia's voice.

"That's right," Iron Will chimed in, flexing in the black armor he had been outfitted with. "After tonight, all of Equestria is gonna know how we rock! Am I right, girls?"

"YEAH," the Cutie Mark Crusaders shouted. The volume the three fillies put out made Scootaloo's mother, Nocturne Striker, flinch. The thestral Ranger's bat-like ears flattened against her head. Still, she grinned at them and tousled her daughter's mane in a way that made Aloe and Lotus groan in the background at having to style the rambunctious filly's hair again before the Crusaders' scene came up.

Pinkamena nodded, then signaled with her hoof toward Vinyl Scratch, who was working the sound equipment. "Okay. It's showtime," she said as she took her mark at the center of the stage, the others watching her go and either moving to prepare for their opening scenes or settling in to watch.

With a wide grin, the DJ hit some buttons on her console with her magic, and the first strains of music began to play.

~~~~~~~
Prelude
~~~~~~~

(Based on "Act II - Intermission" by The Protomen)

It started with the plucking of a guitar. Soft, lonely tones which set the mood as the firefly lanterns along the walls of the theater were dimmed, and a single spotlight illuminated the center of the stage. The curtains opened while the eyes of everypony in the audience adjusted to the dark, casting Pinkamena alone in the sole spot of radiance.

As the guitar strummed, the poet looked out into the emptiness. Her gaze seemed far away, as though she were herself looking back into the past while the guitar added its emotion to her otherwise atonal speech.

"Once upon a time," she recited, "in the magical land of Equestria, there were two sisters. Each morning, the elder sister would raise the sun, giving the ponies a bright day in which to work and play. Each evening, the younger sister would raise the moon and stars to give the ponies a beautiful, restful night. Together, the two royal sisters brought joy and harmony to all the ponies of Equestria."

More lights slowly illuminated the stage behind Pinkamena, and the ponies in the audience could see the outline of a tower balcony on which a horned and winged figure stood. Her horn glowed in the darkness, allowing them only a glimpse of her features before tiny pinpricks of light began to spring up in the black canvas representing the night sky.

As the "stars" came to life, a bright full moon rose up into view, and the ambient lights brightened enough for everypony to clearly see Princess Luna, or rather Rarity playing the role of her. The gentle strum of the guitar pulled the audience's hearts and thoughts into the scene as they saw the indigo princess set the night sky into place and look upon her work with a wan smile.

Many were so focused on the actress playing Luna that they didn't notice the black, inky shape creeping and slithering toward the base of the tower until it was halfway across the stage, and Pinkamena stepped aside to continue her narration.

"There were other beings, however, which did not appreciate the prosperity and happiness that Equestria enjoyed. The Eclipse, a being of darkness and disharmony, grew to hate the light that the royal sisters shed upon the land. Skulking in the shadows, Eclipse waited until the younger sister was alone, admiring the starry night she had brought forth."

"It is a beautiful night tonight," Eclipse said in a raspy voice which set everypony on edge. "Your nights are always so beautiful. It is a shame there are no ponies here to share it with."

"Who said that? Who is there?" Luna looked around before leaning down over the edge of the balcony, though Eclipse quickly skittered behind a tree so that the alicorn couldn't see it.

"An admirer, your highness. And hopefully one that you will come to call a friend," Eclipse replied. "I greatly love the time and effort that you put into the night. So sad, then... so sad that your little ponies do not share my appreciation for your work."

Luna gasped and briefly reared up, taken aback by this. "Bite thy tongue, whoever thou may be!" The strums of the guitar grew more noticeably more aggressive, but still melancholy as she began to sing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Whispers of Eclipse
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Based on "The Good Doctor" by The Protomen)

Luna:

My dear sister and I have now ruled for many years.

Together we have struggled to earn the respect of our peers.

Our little ponies too have worked, tirelessly, to maintain harmony.

So We take up the mantle of the stars and the cycles of the moon.

Our nights are like an offered blanket. A peaceful respite is Our boon.

We will not hear wicked slander against them all.

They've worked so hard beneath the sun,

Their daily toils now are done.

And now that the night has begun

They can have the rightful rest they've won.

The percussion picked up, jarring harshly for a moment as Eclipse slithered between the trees, always staying just out of Luna's sight as it sang its rebuttal.

Eclipse:

Are you explaining it to me, or is that what you tell yourself?

Do you think the only reason they hide away is for their health?

I hear what they whisper, when far away

From royal ears.

They sing your sister's praises, but you're the one they spurn.

Despite the cool of night soothing the sun's burn.

And all I want, is for you to get the love you've earned.

Luna: They've worked so hard beneath the sun (Eclipse: They've played all day beneath the sun)

Their daily toils now are done. (And now that they have had their fun)

And now that the night has begun (They'll ignore everything you've done.)

They can have the rightful rest they've won. (You know I speak the truth!)

Luna turned to storm away from the voice that would say such things to her, but instead of taking the scant few steps that would be needed to go inside her tower and shut out the shadow, she hesitated. She looked back over her shoulder at the moon and stars she had raised with a frown.

Luna:

What then should We do, if things are as you say?

Perhaps they do not love Our night as they celebrate the day.

Is that really so bad?

Our sister works so hard each day to make the land a better place.

It should be little wonder then, that they have scarcely seen Our face.

Does that mean We're cast aside?

(They are toadies) Our ponies appreciate Us in their own way.

(They are too petty to care) They may not have the time to send their affections Our way

But they do care. (Just look around.)

They are tired and need their rest (Why don't they spare an hour?)

So tomorrow they'll do their best. (They only fear your power.)

We love them dearly. (Only I love you!)

"The princess fell deep in thought as the whispers of Eclipse echoed in her soul," Pinkamena narrated while Luna lowered her head. "It would have been a lie to say that its words did not resonate with her. For years, she had shepherded the night just as her elder sister did the day, but while they came in droves during the day, they quickly left for their homes once night fell. Once again, she spoke the words which gave her work meaning, and yet this time they felt somewhat hollow in her heart."

They've worked so hard beneath the sun,

Their daily toils now are done.

And now that the night has begun

They can have the rightful rest they've won.

Ponies go now to their respite. They do not have time to look up.

No time to see the sky we've raised. No time to see a lonely mare.

As We look upward to the stars, We see them twinkle 'gainst the dark.

We need no admiring throngs, just the touch of friendship's spark.

We shall speak with Our sister

When she wakes to bring the dawn.

She shall prove We are beloved,

So for now, thou should BEGONE!

Luna stomped her hoof and stormed off the balcony as the curtains closed.

To be continued...

Author's Note

I swear, my muse keeps teaming up with my video game addiction to keep me from finishing "Snowblind", but this idea was just too awesome not to run with. I mean sure, I could've just written this as a regular story, but why tell a story when you can ROCK it? And what better way to rock than with the help of The Protomen? So sit back, turn the speakers up, and enjoy the tale of Luna's fall and the battle between Celestia and Eclipse.

Comments and opinions are very welcome.

Part 2 - A Shadow Falls

Lunar Eclipse: The Rock-Opera
by CrowMagnon

While the stagehooves busily worked beyond the curtains to change the set, Pinkamena slowly walked across the stage. The spotlight tracked her as she went, and she turned her head to speak to the audience.

"And so the younger sister rejected the whispers from the shadows, but her thoughts lingered upon what it had said. She tried to take her mind off of the words which were already playing themselves over and over again in her heart, so she decided to hold court. This did not last long, as there were almost no ponies seeking an audience with the Princess of the Night.

"As the night went on, the younger sister's doubts took root deeper and deeper in her thoughts. Like weeds, these doubts drained the strength of conviction with which she had rebuked Eclipse. By the time she saw her elder sister again for their morning meal, it was not the shadow's voice that she heard in her mind, but her own."

As Pinkamena passed the center of the stage, the curtains began to part once more to reveal the actresses playing Luna and Celestia seated at opposite ends of a large banquet table. Luna's expression was downcast while Celestia studied her from across the table.

"You have not yet touched your meal, sister," Celestia observed. "What troubles you this morning?"

Luna glanced up bashfully before looking away, but she made herself hold her sister's gaze, shoulders hunched. "I... I held court last night."

"Oh dear, and it didn't go well? I hope that it wasn't too overwhelming."

Luna's eared flattened as she cast a glare across the table. "How could it be, sister? There was scarcely anypony there."

Trying to make the best of it, Celestia smiled and replied, "Really? Well, that is good, isn't it? During the day, the Court is so overfull that I can scarcely breathe."

"Yes..." Luna muttered. "Every supplicant I met made mention of how overburdened by admirers you were, dear sister. To a pony, they desired an audience with you, but you were so busy that you did not have time to hear them."

Celestia tilted her head, confused by the bitterness in Luna's voice. "Why should that surprise you, dear sister? It is only natural, considering..." The solar princess trailed off into silence.

After several awkward seconds, Luna lifted herself up with her front hooves on the table as she asked, "Considering what, sister? What do you mean by that?"

Celestia glanced off-stage and lowered a hoof beneath the table to hide it from most of the audience when she beckoned somepony over, though some were at the proper angle to see it. "I only meant..." Suddenly, a white, gold-maned unicorn in Guard armor stumbled on-stage as forcefully as if she had been shoved. Adopting a louder and more formal tone, Celestia looked to the unicorn and demanded, "Dame Sungleam! We are breaking fast with Our sister! For what purpose does thou barge in as though thine flank is aflame?"

'Sungleam' swallowed and bowed her head. Her voice stammered slightly as she replied, "My deepest apologies, your highness, but there has been an altercation between the ambassador of the Griffon Empire and Cardinal Minos of the Church of Aurox. A clerical error scheduled them both to meet with you at the same time, and they are about to come to blows over which one shall receive an audience."

Hearing this, Luna offered, "Perhaps I could assist in this matter?" Celestia simply shook her head with a weary sigh, however.

"Nay, sister, there is no need. Allow me to handle this, and do not worry yourself about such things. I will return as soon as I can so that we may continue our conversation, that much I promise you."

Luna pursed her lips before replying, "As you say, sister..." With that, she left the table and sullenly plodded away. As she did, the stage began to rotate so that she stayed in the center while Celestia and Sungleam fell out of sight. In moments, she passed through a curtain into a section painted in deep blue and indigo. A large four-poster bed was waiting for her.

Once alone, Luna let out a pained wail and threw herself onto the bed.

"Why? Why do I allow that pony's words to slither across my heart? And why, Celestia, why would you turn down my offer of help?"

Looking to the side, Luna focused her gaze upon a small box sitting on an end table beside the bed. As she rubbed her weary eyes, the princess reached out to pick it up with her magic.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Shadow Falls
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Based on "Father of Death" by The Protomen)

After carefully moving the box and setting it down on the mattress in front of her, Luna gingerly opened it with her hooves. Once she did, a tinkling melody began to play.

While it played, a cone of light shone upwards from the open box, projecting an image in the air of two alicorns, one dark and one light, circling one another in a joyful chase.

"It was a simple tune. An ancient lullaby passed down from the days of the bygone Unicorn Kingdom," Pinkamena narrated, watching the scene. "The box had been a gift to Luna from her sister. 'We were meant to rule together,' she had said.

"Nevertheless, it was Celestia who took the reins of leadership, tending to her little ponies while Luna herself was cloistered away, devoted to crafting a starscape which few ponies would take the time to appreciate.

"The whispers of Eclipse echoing in her heart, Luna thought back to the years since their coronation and realized that not only had Celestia been growing ever more busy in managing their growing kingdom, but Luna's past offers of assistance had been gently refused by her elder sister. Even as Celestia became a greater part of their subjects' lives, Luna was set aside to fade from their thoughts."

With a despondent frown, Luna ripped her gaze away from the box's projection and shut its lid to stop the melody.

With the music box silenced, however, the jangling sound of guitar strings suddenly erupted from the stage, and Luna leaped up from the bed to angrily pace across the room.

Luna:

What do I say?

Is it true that my own sister just wants for me to keep out of the way?

Is there no place in even Celestia's heart for the warden of night?

No, I just cannot believe the fiend's whispers are true.

I do not want to be all alone.

"Only natural?" With all the friends we have lost, I thought I meant more.

I just wanted to help you.

What good am I here? Do I really just linger

alone in this room nopony ever sees?

I only cared about my night skies

and now nopony cares for me.

A princess in a tower alone!

"Not alone, Princess," said the voice of Eclipse as the music took on a more sinister tone. "You will never need to be alone again, because I am with you."

Luna's ears pricked up as she looked from side to side. "Thou again! Why does thou taunt me from the shadows, spectre? Show thyself!"

"Gladly your highness," Eclipse replied with a dark laugh a mass of inky blackness flowed out from the shadows beneath the bed.

Luna, facing away from the bed, failed to see it as Eclipse rose up, blood-red eyes burning like coals as tendrils of deepest shadow snaked out toward the Princess of the Night. Just as a high, foalish voice from the front row screamed, "Look out behind you," Luna turned to face the dark entity stalking her and reflexively reared back in horror.

"What?! No, this cannot be!" Luna tried to run away, but Eclipse's tendrils wrapped around her body, holding her in place while the monster stalked toward her. She tried to use her magic, but the instant that her horn began to glow, it was snuffed out, wrapped in shadow. She could do nothing but struggle ineffectually as Eclipse walked in a slow circle around her.

Luna: What sorcery is this?! (Eclipse: I shall prove my love now.)

We know not what thou are, (I will be a better you than you are.)

But this attack will not go unpunished

No matter what thou think!

Whatever thou seeks to gain... Thou shan't have it!

Whatever power thou hopes for... Thou shan't have it!

Whatever pain thou wishes to inflict... Thou shan't have it!

No matter what thou does to me... Thou shan't have...

Before Luna could finish, Eclipse spread its shadowy body like a pair of black wings, and enveloped Luna completely in a black embrace. A trumpet wailed as Luna struggled against her captor. The Princess fought in vain just to move, but only succeeded in throwing herself against the side of the bed.

This knocked the music box off to the floor, where it popped open and began to play its melody. The magical image of Celestia and Luna circling each other in balance and harmony shone in the air as Luna's thrashing slowed, eventually ceasing entirely. The audience could only watch in horror as the Princess of the Night became still, wrapped from horn to hoof in Eclipse's darkness.

And then, as one, they gasped when Luna suddenly moved again, pushing herself up to her hooves. As the dark alicorn stood tall, however, they could see that it was not actually Luna... or at least, not as they knew her.

Where Luna's coat was dark, the alicorn standing before the audience now had a coat as black as pitch. Instead of either the lovely blue mane of her youth or the flowing starscape that Luna now possessed, the black mare's mane and tail were inky, writhing mass of primordial darkness. And yet, despite this, the cutie mark which adorned the alicorn's flank was unmistakeably Luna's crescent moon.

Raising up a hoof, the black alicorn brought it down upon the music box, destroying the projection as it was smashed to pieces. She began to laugh loudly enough to be heard over the darkly triumphant blaring of the trumpet as it began anew. It was a cruel, sadistic laughter that bubbled up from the creature. Worst of all, was how it was composed of two clearly recognizable and distinct voices overlaid over one another.

"I shan't, Princess? Oh, but I shall," gloated the voice of Princess Luna, her sweet voice twisted into an evil, sneering tone as it was mixed with the villainous rasp of Eclipse. "From this moment on, it is Eclipse who rules the night!" With that declaration, the black alicorn threw her head back and laughed uncontrollably until the curtains closed.

Author's Note

I'd like to thank a friend of mine who is an even bigger fan of the Protomen than me, for his advice on this section. I'd been torn between using this song as you see it presented here, or showing Luna's fall in a longer, pure-prose section and having this song attached to a scene which will be coming up soon. I hope you like how it turned out, and get ready for a party, because the next song on the playlist is "The Hounds." Granted, it's an EVIL party, but trust me, it's catchy as hell.

I'd also like to take the opportunity to make a few shout-outs. The "Church of Aurox" mentioned during the breakfast scene is loosely based on the Moomons from the ridiculously awesome (and awesomely ridiculous) Cowboy Fantasy webcomic,
The Dreadful.

The character of Sungleam is brazenly borrowed from the mind of FiMfiction author "thatguyvex" and his story, Fate/Lunaverse. Go check his stories out, especially the Lunaverse-canon "The Hero of Oaton"!

Part 3 - Celestia's Nightmare

Lunar Eclipse: The Rock-Opera
by CrowMagnon

Up in the catwalks high above the performance, a lone earth pony named Visible Spectrum worked the stage lights, ensuring that their tint and brightness was just right for each scene. The vantage point also allowed him the opportunity to look down at the lovely mares on stage. He let out a wistful sigh as he watched Fluttershy and Twilight Sparkle take their places behind the curtain.

Working in theater gave Visible the opportunity to see many pretty young actresses, but never before had his services been required by national heroes, each of whom was a vision of equine beauty. The pegasus playing a young Celestia in particular carried herself with the confidence and grace of a supermodel with just a touch of mischief in her smile which set the mind aflame with possibilities.

"You look like you've taken a fancy to our sunny-flanked Princess," whispered a nearby stallion, who was apparently reading his thoughts. With a playful Trottish brogue, the other stallion laughed softly and mused, "Aye, she's a lovely one. Pity she's already spoken for, isn't it?"

Visible felt his face warm at the unexpected teasing, but chuckled and nodded. "Eh, no harm in enjoying the view," he replied. "How about you? You a Fluttershy fan, too?"

"Hmm... well, she's nice and all, but I've worked with the director before, and I find her much more fetching."

Visible looked down at Pinkamena, the moody mare who had put all this together. Rubbing his chin, he mused, "Her? Well, she's certainly easy enough on the eyes, but she'd really be pretty if she smiled more. Or... at all."

"Oh, I take a little time every day to look at her smile. Take my word for it, it is even more beautiful than you can imagine."

Visible blinked in surprise. Granted, he hadn't worked with Pinkamena Pie long, but from what he had heard from the other stagehoofs and the talent, nopony had even heard of the pink poet making a genuine smile. For that matter, nopony else was supposed to be up on the catwalk. The catwalk itself was rickety enough that he should have felt it move if somepony else was up there with him, but he had detected nopony's hoofsteps.

Sure enough, when he looked over his shoulder, nopony was standing right behind him with a mischievous smile on their face.

"Now, I think this show could stand to use a little livening up," nopony said. "So here's what you're going to do..."

When the curtains opened once again, it was on a brighter scene. The set depicted a pathway running through the royal gardens, the sun shining brightly overhead as Celestia and Sungleam walked along and enjoyed a moment of peace and quiet. Or rather, Celestia enjoyed such a moment while Sungleam attentively looked about, guarding her princess.

With a wry grin, Celestia looked to her bodyguard and asked, "Does thou see any threats to Our person among the shrubberies, Dame Sungleam?"

Sungleam set her jaw in response and replied in absolute seriousness, "Nay, your highness! Though I must remain vigilant so long as tensions are high between the griffon and minotaur ambassadors."

Celestia gave a warm chuckle and shook her head. "Oh, dear Sungleam, I will be an old grey mare long before diplomats cease bickering with one another. Though I would have turned grey all the sooner, had I remained in that room any longer."

"If that is so, then why did you not bring Princess Luna with you?" As Celestia turned toward her, Sungleam's eyes widened and she quickly stammered, "Forgive my presumption, your highness, I spoke out of turn!"

Celestia just laughed softly and smiled warmly at unicorn. "Not at all, Sungleam. Of all the ponies in Equestria, the only one who has earned the right to speak their candid thoughts more than you is my beloved sister. And while I am grateful that she is showing more of an interest in sharing the responsibilities of leadership, I can hardly throw her to the timberwolves the instant she does so."

The Princess of the Sun sat down and lifted her head to look up at the sun. "Dear Luna has such a clever mind and beautiful soul that I know she will be admired when she takes a more direct hoof in ruling. At the same time, however, she has always been such a shy, sensitive thing, I fear that she will need time to acclimate to the pressures of dealing with the... 'forceful' personalities of foreign dignitaries, or even our own nobility. Did you know that she held court last night?"

When Sungleam shook her head, Celestia sighed softly. "Indeed, she announced it in the middle of the night, when there was virtually nopony to hear of it. It is only natural that there would be few to plead their case before her under such circumstances, but I fear that she saw it as a personal affront. I do hope that she continues to do so, though. It would do her good to have more interactions with other ponies, and would afford me a little much-needed respite from the same."

Sungleam nodded in understanding. "I am sure that if you told her as much, she would be willing to--"

The unicorn was interrupted mid-sentence when Princess Celestia suddenly cried out, stumbling and nearly falling to the ground as if she had been struck in the head.

Sungleam gasped and quickly hurried to support the alicorn with her magic, giving the Princess a chance to keep her hooves under her. "Your highness! What is wrong?!"

As Celestia gasped and raised a hoof to her head. "A sudden... surge of magic, Sungleam. Dark and overwhelmingly malevolent, but it felt like... when my sister brings the night..." The Princess and Sungleam both looked up to the sky. The sun remained high above, keeping its steady course in the sky, but then they saw the pale sphere of the moon rise up over the horizon.

The distant murmurs of confused ponies could be heard, only growing louder as the moon swiftly arced across the sky. When the two celestial bodies met, Celestia winced but braced herself so that she could stand as the moon encroached on her sun. The murmurs rose up into panicked wails and screams of fright while the moon completely overlaid the bright orb, casting a shadow over the land.

Staring up at the dimmed sky, Celestia's voice turned as hard as diamond as she commanded, "Sungleam, the vault behind the throne. Fetch them."

Sungleam looked back and forth between her sovereign and the darkened sun. "But Princess, my place is here beside--"

"NOW," the Princess shouted with such force and volume that Sungleam staggered back. Bowing her head for a mere moment, the unicorn's horn glowed and she vanished from the spot in a violet flash of magic.

With a flash and a pop, Twilight re-materialized backstage and let out a nervous, ragged sigh. As her eyes quickly adjusted to not having the stage lights shining into them, she noticed several things. Vinyl Scratch and Octavia frowning slightly as they searched through the DJ's record collection. Apple Bloom trying her hoof at juggling the rubber balls which had been painted to resemble the Elements of Harmony as they appeared when they were stone, and the other two Crusaders urging her on.

In more immediate proximity, though, she found Applejack and Iron Will sitting nearby with a tea service and three cups on the floor between them. With a warm smile, Applejack asked, "Well done, darling! Would you care for a sip of tea before you go back on stage?"

Twilight glanced at the earth pony and minotaur before locking onto the tea as if it were a glass of ice water in the middle of the Saddle Arabian desert. "Yes. Thank you," she replied politely, picking up the teapot and an empty cup with her magic. She then judged the size of the cup and, finding it wanting, simply took the teapot between her hooves and started guzzling it straight from the source. When she was done, Applejack reached into a pocket and produced a silk handkerchief, which she offered to the jittery Ranger.

While Twilight anxiously took the handkerchief in her magic so as to wipe her mouth, Iron Will asked, "So, ah... are you sure that you're doing alright there, L.T.? You're looking a little twitchy there."

"Fine! Just fine," Twilight replied, her left eye spasming while her right seemed to be tracking from side to side as if reading an invisible report. "We're only putting on a stage production about the worst day of Princess Celestia's life! Heh heh... but it's okay. After all, Pinkamena went to them first to get approval for this show, right?"

Iron Will nodded, a frown expressing concern for the state of mind of his wife's best friend. "Of course. I mean, they're both here, so that means they're cool with it, right?"

Twilight replied, "Of course... of course... I've been going over the possible scenarios all evening, after all... To the best of my knowledge, there's only one chance in twenty-nine of Princess Celestia suffering from some form of post-traumatic stress as a result of the show, and only one chance in two-thousand-and-fifty-three of it being severe enough that she loses control and incinerates the entire theater!"

In a white blur of motion, Twilight was suddenly snout-to-snout with Applejack, her magically-tinted eyes looking somewhat bloodshot as she stared into the businessmare's increasingly concerned gaze. "Of course the far more likely outcome is that we'll simply be banished from Equestria! And at least that'll be bound to be somewhere on this planet... unless one of the actresses that triggers her traumatic episode happens to be the mare who stabbed her the last time Eclipse was free! Oh wait! ONE OF THEM IS! She's going to buck us into the sun, and it'll be my-!"

While Twilight was in the midst of her mounting panic attack, one of the stage lights suddenly tilted the wrong way. The bright beam flashed across Apple Bloom's eyes, causing her to throw the faux Elements of Harmony away as her hooves came up to cover her face.

The errant balls went off in different directions, but one of them arched toward the unicorn. She saw it coming out of the corner of her eye, but in her agitated state, Twilight's self-defense training kicked in. Rather that simply catching the ball, she reacted as if it were an incoming attack and suddenly whirled around, her horn glowing as she summoned a buckler-sized disc of violet magic. The rubber "Element" hit the shield, which was charged with a kinetic repulsion effect so that it didn't simply bounce off.

"There you are! What the hay were you doing back there? I know I got all my records set up before the show," Vinyl mused as she found the album she had been searching for. She pulled the record from its sleeve with her magic just as the rubber ball ''shot'' away from Twilight's shield.

As if targeting the vinyl disc, the false Element punched right through the record. Vinyl reached up with a hoof to push her trademark tinted shades up to her forehead. Her crimson eyes widened in horror as she stared at the record, cracks snaking up and down from the gaping hole in the middle until the disc simply snapped in half within her magical grasp.

"No no no no no NO NO NO!" The sound of Vinyl's panic overshadowed even Twilight's anxiety as she desperately tried to jam the broken pieces of the record together as though she could simply will them to fuse back into working condition. "No, this can't be happening! We can't do the next number without this song! You just can't have Eclipse gloating at the Princess without an ominous soundtrack! It'll be so lame, I'll be back to working birthday parties for foals! FOALS! Their sticky hooves getting all over my gear..."

Vinyl suddenly felt two hooves start shaking her as Octavia snapped, "Grab yourself, Winyl!" Startled more by the Stalliongrad mare's odd translation than the physical shaking, the magical aura holding the record shards faded, causing them to fall. Vinyl blinked and looked straight into the cellist's purple eyes as Octavia said, "This is not time for freakink it out. You are here to provide background music, and zat is exactly vhat you shall do!"

Hoofsteps approached, belonging to the magically bleached Ranger. "Oh no... oh no, I am so sorry, Vinyl," Twilight exclaimed as she followed the ball's trajectory and saw the shattered record on the floor. She gasped as she realized, "That one has songs for the second half, too! Nooooo, I've ruined the whole play!"

The blue-maned unicorn took a few deep breaths in an attempt to calm herself, pulling her shades back down over her eyes. The familiar feeling and tint of the glasses helped the DJ focus and recover her confidence. "No... no, Tavi's right. Right... right... yeah, I can do this. I know the tunes, so we just get my keyboards, and..."

"AH HA HA HA HAAAAA!!!"

"No time for the keyboards just yet, Winyl," Octavia replied as both musicians realized that the evil laughter meant that Eclipse was seconds away from taking the stage. She glanced at the record collection and immediately pulled out another record. "Here, we use this for next song, then get keyboards!"

Vinyl and Twilight both blinked at the music selection. With a look of worried confusion on her face, Twilight asked, "Um... Miss Philharmonica, doesn't the next scene call for something... darker?"

"Vill haff to do," Octavia replied, pulling the record out with her hooves and placing it on the spindle with more care and delicacy than the unicorn mares could have managed in their respective states of mind. "I used as basis for composing much of this song. Is similar enough, just vith faster tempo. Let us hope that Miss Rarity is good vith ze adaptink."

Twilight hesitated to answer as the needle of Vinyl's turntable was placed on the record. For a moment, she considered her rock-farming friend. On the one hoof, Rarity was clever, artistic, and had a talent for picking up on patterns that other ponies could easily miss. All traits which reflected on her role as the Element of Magic's bearer. On the other hoof, she could also be notoriously fussy about things being just right, and if she couldn't adjust to the altered song, things could get... messy.

The thought made even the Ranger gulp in fear as she replied, "Guess we'll find out..."

Moments ago, on the stage...

With Sungleam gone, Celestia planted her hooves beneath the dimmed rays of the eclipsed sun and looked from side to side before proclaiming, "Reveal thyself, cur!" She projected her words so forcefully with the Royal Canterlot Voice that the ponies in the first five rows felt their chairs vibrate. "We know that thou art near! We could sense thy foul presence the moment thou DARED to touch Our sister's moon! Release it this instant, and we may yet show mercy, but if thou hast harmed Luna in any way, then thou shall face the full fury of the sun!"

"AH HA HA HA HAAAAA!!!"

"That voice...!" Celestia gasped in shock as the laughter erupted from out of nowhere, echoing throughout the theater. "It sounded just like my sister... but I have never heard such malice from her before."

"Nor shall you again, 'dear sister'," replied the Eclipse-possessed Luna's dual voice. A puff of black smoke erupted from the floor, obscuring Rarity's rise from the trap door behind it. As the smoke started to dissipate, a single note rang out.

Fortunately, it remained thick enough to mask her look of surprise when, instead of the dark, pounding orchestral score that Rarity had been expecting, the tune which filled the theater was much more... swinging.

From her position out of the spotlight, Pinkamena raised an eyebrow as she heard the music play. Despite the unexpected change, it certainly could be argued that Fluttershy's stunned expression fit the scene perfectly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Celestia's Nightmare
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Based on "The Hounds" by The Protomen)

After several seconds of standing stock-still while the smoke spread and the swinging music played, Eclipse lifted her legs and approached Celestia with a haughty, mocking gait.

Eclipse:

Hello, Celestia,

What's making you fret and pout?

Is it that your "dear sister"

Will no longer shut the world out?

It's time for deeds instead.

With a toss of her inky mane, Eclipse smirked at Celestia, who could only stare aghast at the creature wearing her sister's face. With a cruel, predatory grin, she advanced, accusingly taunting the Princess of the Sun.

No more crying in her bed.

Celestia stepped back, stumbling away from the abomination before her. She shook her head as if that would deny the shadowy demon that stood before her in Luna's form and return the moon to its rightful place.

"It's only natural" for her to be alone?

No, I could not just stand by

I came to her when she was weak,

and now the sun

shows everypony I have won!

"What hast thou done," Celestia wailed in anguish as Eclipse reared up, pointing a hoof at the moon-shrouded sun.

Eclipse fell back to all fours, then sniffed haughtily and replied, "Isn't it obvious? Just look at me..."

Luna and I are now one!

Eclipse circled around Celestia like a predator, her smile mocking the solar diarch as she smugly strutted to the swinging beat.

The light you shine down so brightly

upon those you stand above

casts a shadow more pitch black than the night.

Now with our union,

I'll show Luna my love!

Eclipse sauntered a few steps away from Celestia before pivoting on her back hoof and bracing herself. A sky-blue aura surrounded her horn as cords of magic shout out from Eclipse to bind Celestia. The white alicorn reared back and struggled to spread her wings, but her sister's magic held her fast. A golden glow surrounded her own horn, only for tendrils of darkness to follow the path of Luna's magic, crawling up Celestia's body to engulf her horn and extinguish its magic.

Now, both of us will claim the sun!

Before Eclipse could engulf Celestia in shadow any farther, however, a violet flash signaled the return of Sungleam, who came with a cloth pouch hanging from her neck. Seeing Celestia in danger, the knight aimed her horn at Eclipse and shot a bright beam of light at the monster.

Eclipse reacted almost as quickly, retracting its tendrils in order to form a dark barrier. Sungleam responded by shifting her aim to punch through a hole in Eclipse's shield before it could form completely.

As the shadow-possessed Princess staggered back, Sungleam hurried to Celestia's side. "Your highness, please lend your strength to mine! If we combine our might, we can easily dispatch this fiend!"

Instead of bringing her sovereign newfound hope and resolve, however, Celestia's face only grew even more pale as her eyes widened with horror. "No... no, NO! We cannot, Sungleam! We must not!"

Startled by Celestia's refusal, Sungleam stared at the white alicorn and found her trembling.

Quickly recovering from the knight's assault, Eclipse let out a dark, mocking laugh.

For every light there is a shadow,

and Luna dwelled in yours all her life.

The darkness that was building in her

summoned me to heal her strife.

"Liar!" Sungleam snapped. Eclipse smugly pointed a hoof at Celestia, though, and the Princess's stricken expression was all that it took to prove that the elder sister found it all too easy to believe the shadow's accusations.

Her loneliness called out to me,

and so I swiftly came.

She let me in and merged with me,

all the while cursing your name!

If you truly love your sister.

then surrender the throne.

Eclipse will now be the master

of all that you now claim to own.

If you try, then, to resist,

if you wish to stand and fight,

just remember it will be Luna

who is struck down by your light!

Sungleam tried in vain to rally her Princess, but Celestia just shook her head, unwilling to fight back against the thing that had stolen her sister's body.

Will you make that sacrifice?

Eclipse taunted Celestia as she stalked toward the white-coated mares.

You won't get the same chance twice!

Tendrils of darkness shot out from Eclipse's body, snaking out toward both Celestia and Sungleam. Before they could reach, however, Sungleam drew her legendary crystal blade from its scabbard. Despite the moon-dimmed sun, it still flashed in the light as she held it in her aura and slashed the tendrils to pieces before opening up her pouch.

"We only need one," the knight defiantly proclaimed as the Elements of Harmony floated in her aura. "Your highness! If you will not fight your sister, then use the Elements to free her from this... Eclipse's clutches!"

Celestia turned her gaze from Eclipse to the Elements, and courage returned to her demeanour. "Yes... quite right, Sungleam." Her horn glowed as she took the elements for herself, and they began to hover in a circle above her head.

Despite this, Eclipse scoffed. "And what makes you think that those rocks will have any effect on me? The Elements of Harmony cannot be wielded by any one pony alone!"

Celestia snapped back, "Not alone! We will not... can not believe that Our sister would willingly align herself with the likes of thou! LUNA! If you can hear me, then fight! Through our sisterly bond, help me unlock the power of the Elements and BANISH THIS FIEND TO THE DARKEST DEPTHS OF TARTAROS!

Eclipse smirked, but the smug grin melted from her face when she saw the Elements begin to glow with their own light. Each one shone with a different color, each one shining a brilliant beam of light which joined and blended with the others to strike Eclipse with a rainbow which forced her rearing back before she fell to the ground.

Celestia glared down at Eclipse as the rainbow beam burned away the darkness that had possessed her sister, patches of her natural coat and mane showing through the shadows.

"Sister..."

Celestia blinked, her concentration faltering as the creature on the ground whimpered that one word. As softly as it was spoken, it carried easily over the sound of the magics at work.

It was Luna's voice. There was no malice or second voice behind it. Nothing but her sister, whimpering in agony.

"Sister... it hurts! Why...? Why are you... doing this to me...?"

Celestia gasped in horror and screamed Luna's name as she immediately cut off the flow of magic through the Elements.

Seeing the beam die, the light collapsing back into the Elements, Sungleam cried out, "Your highness, don't listen! You have to finish--"

The knight was then interrupted when the power of the Elements overloaded, releasing several blinding flashes of light and a booming crash like thunder.

Author's Note

Alternate title for this chapter is "When Things Start to Get Bucked Up." Who the hay is the guy up on the catwalk? Well, it's just nopony, but if nopony can have a voice, I would imagine it sounding just like Robert Carlyle as Mr. Gold from Once Upon A Time.

As for the song in this chapter, "The Hounds" is without a doubt one of my favorite villain songs of all time, and getting to use it for Eclipse was a joy. I really feel like it fits here, because both heavily feature the bad guy lying and manipulating in order to undermine the hero.

In the original, it's about Albert taking control of the media by framing Thomas for a murder that he himself commited. Here, Eclipse is using half-truths and lies that are just believable enough to make Celestia feel too guilty to properly fight back. In both cases, the singer has a sort of smug glee that makes you want to punch them in the face, but at the same time the tune is so catchy, you want to dance to it. Kind of like how the Joker, when written properly, can make you laugh and then make you hate yourself for doing so once you think about the consequences of the "joke".

So, I hope you enjoy this piece, and if you do, please leave a comment!

Part 4 - Sister Dear

Lunar Eclipse: The Rock-Opera
by CrowMagnon

After the blinding explosions of light that had erupted from the Elements of Harmony, the audience was plunged into total darkness as the last echoes of the thunderous booms which had filled the theater faded away.

"Sister?" Celestia's voice broke the silence which filled the building. Her voice was soft, yet carried to everypony in the audience. "Sister? Luna!"

Slowly, the lights returned. The gardens were once again illuminated by the moon-shadowed sun, but more dimly as twin spotlights shone down upon the royal sisters. Celestia lay on the ground, the Elements of Harmony scattered around her as she lifted her head to look at Luna.

In the other spotlight, the Princess of the Night lay prone and unmoving. Gone was the pitch black coloration that had enveloped her, leaving Luna untainted by shadow. Seeing this, Celestia pushed herself up to her hooves and staggered toward her sister. Once she was beside Luna, the Princess smiled and leaned down to nuzzle her sister.

"Thank goodness... thank goodness, the Elements of Harmony worked, sister. That horrible dark presence is gone." When the younger alicorn failed to respond, Celestia's voice cracked. "Luna? Luna, wake up! Wake up, sister!"

When she received no answer, Celestia held her sister in her forelegs and began shaking her. "No! NO! The Elements of Harmony saved you, Luna! They must have saved you!"

"Foolish pony... you didn't even know the nature of the forces you were so clumsily trying to wield."

Celestia, her voice already quavering in her panic and grief, choked when she heard the raspy voice of Eclipse. Once again, the creature crept out of the shadows. Though it stumbled slightly as if it too were weakened, it slowly made its way across the stage toward the alicorn sisters. "No... no, the Elements of Harmony should have banished thou, fiend," she protested.

Eclipse practically spat out the words as it bitterly laughed. "Ha! What made you think that a heart as weak and timid as yours could truly wield the Elements?" Eclipse's voice turned mocking and sarcastic as it whined, "'It hurts, sister! Why are you doing this to me?' The Elements did exactly what they were meant to do. It was you who faltered, Celestia! You refused to allow the Elements to follow through! You rejected them! The Elements may have succeeded in ejecting me from your sister's body, but I still have her soul!"

Celestia clenched her eyes shut and shook her head in a futile attempt to deny Eclipse's lingering presence. "No... no, thou lies! Luna, please, wake up!"

Eclipse scoffed as it drew close, sneering down at the Princess of the Day. "Pathetic. To think that Luna envied you. You were the jealous one, weren't you? You encouraged her to cloister herself away in her tower, to keep her from getting close to any of your precious subjects. Keeping your little ponies dependant on you and you alone for leadership, so that they would never realize what a simpering, insecure diva you really are!"

Celestia flinched at each accusation, either unable or simply unwilling to argue with the dark apparition.

"Still, despite all that, she does love you," Eclipse added as she stood no more than a few hooves away from Celestia. "So I will give you the chance to be reunited with your darling sister once more. The two of you can be happy together for all eternity... THROUGH ME!"

Black, crooked wings flared open from Eclipse's back, and it reached out for Celestia only to be stopped inches from the Princess by a shimmering disc of magic. Touching the shield caused Eclipse to be pushed back enough for Sungleam to teleport between the monster and her Princess, sword drawn and pointed at Eclipse in the unicorn's magical aura.

"Nay, fiend! It is thou who must first go through me! If thou truly possesses Princess Luna's soul, then in her highness Celestia's name, I shall carve her free of thee!"

With a twist of her head, Sungleam swung the crystal blade in an arc toward Eclipse, only for the monster to jump back out of range and hiss venomously at the knight. "Have it your way for now... but know that you have sealed your doom!" Pointing up at the sky, Eclipse proclaimed, "From this day forth, the moon will shadow the sun forever!"

With that, Eclipse swiftly escaped back into the shadows. Sungleam called out after it, but remained by the Princess's side as the lights dimmed and the curtains closed. Though not before the audience saw Celestia throw her head back and let out a heartbreaking wail of despair which echoed through the theater over the thunderous sound of thousands of stomping hooves.

Once the curtains were closed and the stagehooves started moving the set around, Rarity opened her eyes and picked herself up. Rubbing her forehead, she muttered to her friends, "Fluttershy... Twilight... when this show is over, I could really use your help finding a good place to hide whatever's left of Vinyl's corpse."

Twilight coughed nervously, her face flushed deeply, and it was particularly visible through her magically bleached coat. "Ah... heh, yeah. Maybe you shouldn't do anything too hasty, I mean... it might not have been her fault..."

This made the rock farmer arch an eyebrow. "What do you mean by that, Twilight?"

Before Twilight could stammer out a reply, Fluttershy's grief-stricken expression flipped to a bright smile. "Oh, don't worry about it, Rarity. These things happen in show business. Take it from a showmare, being able to improvise when something goes hinky is crucial, and you nailed it!" The faux alicorn let out a giggle and added, "Besides, I liked that version of the song better."

"You would," Rainbow Dash replied, stepping onto the stage while the bed prop was brought back. "I could barely keep up. My singing was all over the place."

"Oh, don't worry about that, Dashie," Fluttershy assured the shadow-shrouded pegasus, putting a wing across her friend's back. "Everypony's attention was on Rarity, so whenever you sang out of synch, it just made it seem more creepy and ominous. Just think of it as a harmless prank that everypony enjoyed.

Twilight's eye twitched. "Y-yeah... and if we're lucky, the Princesses won't think we were making fun of them... Maybe they'll let us pack before we get banished to the sun!"

The other three mares gave Twilight a look of concern. "Twi, sweetie, you shouldn't be worrying yourself about things like that," Rarity said.

"Yeah," Rainbow Dash piped up. "I mean, if they didn't banish the guy who draws those Princess Milflestia & Loony Luna cartoons, I think we're good."

Fluttershy nodded with a chipper smile. "That's right. Besides, you aren't supposed to be Lieutenant Twilight tonight, remember? You've been doing a great job when you're supposed to be Sungleam, Captain of the Guard. Would Sungleam ever let herself get stuck being worried about every little thing?"

Twilight fidgeted a bit, but dared to return a small smile. "Well... no, historically Sungleam was never known for forethought. When she was given a task, she just... did it."

With another encouraging nod, Fluttershy said, "Right! We all love Twilight Sparkle, but tonight is about being the best Sungleam you can be!" Then she overheard bits of Pinkamena's narration from the other side of the curtain and let out a squeak. "And start quickly, because we need to take our places right now!"

As realization suddenly dawned on the mares, they quickly scrambled to their positions, just barely avoiding being caught as the curtain began to open once again.

Moments earlier...

As the last echoes of Celestia's mournful wail faded from everypony's ears, a spotlight shone on the center stage where Pinkamena was waiting to address the audience.

"Though Eclipse was driven away by the brave Sungleam, Luna did not wake. Celestia attempted to restore Luna with the Elements of Harmony, but by refusing to use them to purge her sister of Eclipse's influence completely, she had unwittingly cut off her own connection to them. The Elements, the most powerful magic known to ponykind, were nothing but inert balls of stone to her.

"For hours, Celestia waited by her sister's side for any sign that Luna would return to the waking realm. Hours became days. Days became weeks. Months passed where the Princess did not eat, and only slept when exhaustion overcame her completely. Only her nature as an alicorn whose life force was bound to the sun itself allowed her to survive her grieving fast.

"In the months that followed Luna's fall, the sun never set. Eclipse still controlled the moon, and ensured that no matter where Celestia moved the sun, the moon would forever cast its shadow upon the earth. Without the sun's life-giving rays shining directly upon Equestria, the land could not afford to be deprived of any amount of light, lest it fall into a premature winter.

"In the halls of government, the nobility clashed with the ministers Celestia had hired on to oversee the day-to-day tasks of governance. Under Captain Sungleam's leadership, the Royal Guard were spread thin, split between protection of the castle and the continuing search for Eclipse. Ambassadors from every nation in the world swarmed upon Canterlot to demand that Celestia return the cycle of day and night to its proper schedule.

"The mourning Princess heard of their complaints, but she was paralyzed with grief and guilt. In her absence and inaction, the seeds of rumor and doubt were planted among the populace. Without celestia to quash these rumors, they grew like weeds and choked the halls of Canterlot with whispered accusations."

The spotlight turned off, allowing Pinkamena to leave the stage unseen as the curtains opened once more on the scene of Luna's bedroom. The Princess of the Night lay so peacefully on the bed that she could easily be mistaken for taking a simple nap if not for how Celestia, distraught and haggard, sat in vigil beside the bed.

Most of the audience were focused on the royal sisters, though a few ponies noticed that in the reflection of Luna's mirror, the wall-eyed mare who had poked her head out before the show could be seen looking out at them. She was quickly pulled out of view, however, as Celestia looked down over Princess Luna and the voices of other ponies could be heard.

"Have you heard? The Princesses have both fallen prey to the same sleeping sickness."

"Princess Celestia was stricken by Eclipse's curse, and her body is slowly rotting away."

"The griffons are going to descend upon us while we are weak."

"I don't think there is any 'Eclipse'. Luna tried to usurp the throne, and Princess Celestia struck her down for it."

As the rumors faded away, the soft, lonely tone of a piano sounded out.

~~~~~~~~~~~
Sister Dear
~~~~~~~~~~~

(Based on "The State Vs. Thomas Light" by The Protomen)

Sister dear, a shadow hangs o'er me,

and the whole world is growing dim.

Sister dear, I didn't know your loneliness,

but now I'm lost here in my own.

If I could have only known how it made you feel.

Sister dear, they talk about you now,

but it is not how you would want.

I can only hope that you felt nothing

when that monster ripped you away.

Will I ever see your smile once again?

Will I ever see you frown?

I would take either one if you wake, dear sister

just for the chance to hold you now.

Celestia's mournful voice spread across the audience like a wave of despair. Though they knew that it was only a show, the weight of the Princess of the Day's loss rolled over them from the actress's singing. In the midst of Celestia's lament, however, a hint of movement from behind Luna's mirror caught their eye.

In the mirror's reflection, they could see a second Luna looking through the glass at her elder sister. She placed a hoof against the glass, but could do nothing to push through its surface into the real world, or make herself noticed by Celestia.

Sister dear, I'm left all alone.

Perhaps that's how it's meant to be.

In the mirror, Luna shook her head in denial at her sister's words, but this gesture went completely unseen and unheeded by the elder alicorn.

The words they say now hurt so very badly,

but far less than those I spoke.

What I said opened up your heart to shadow

and I would take them back, but words cannot be unsaid!

Not even for a Princess!

Luna: You are not alone!

Celestia: All of our friends have left before us, dear sister.

Luna: You are not alone!

Celestia: Now I linger here on my own.

Tears flowed down Celestia's face, her shoulders trembling as the Princess visibly struggled to find the will to simply hold herself together. The Luna in the mirror leaned against the glass, her voice carrying throughout the theater, but going unheard by Celestia. Instead, she only lifted her head, and then only slightly, when she heard a knock at the door.

What is that sound?

Who dares to intrude upon us now?

Who dares to try to take me from the side

of my sleeping sister? Go take thy leave!

(Luna: Don't) Together: Leave me!

(Don't) Leave me!

(Don't) Leave me!

Instead of leaving, however, there was a violet flash as Sungleam appeared inside the room. Celestia all but snarled at her Captain of the Guard, glaring at the unicorn with such fury that it seemed as though she would be reduced to ashes on the spot.

"How DARE you, Sungleam? What gives you the right-"

"Forgive me, your highness!" Sungleam bowed as she interrupted her Princess. The simple fact that the famously loyal Guard did so was shocking enough to stop Celestia before she could say another word. "Equestria needs you, your highness. We have just discovered that Eclipse has been rallying and manipulating other nations into moving against us. As we speak, their armies gather at our borders."

There was a pause as Celestia looked down at the sleeping Luna before she glanced back up at Sungleam and asked, "Which borders?"

When Sungleam hesitated to answer, Celestia asked again. "Which borders, Dame Sungleam? Which nations rally against us?"

The unicorn swallowed and replied, "All of them, your highness."

Part 5 - Take Back the Sun

Lunar Eclipse: The Rock-Opera
by CrowMagnon

While Fluttershy wailed in despair on the stage, the generally upbeat pegasus portraying Celestia's mourning with impressive passion, Carrot Top felt Spike's little claws reaching over to hug her leg for comfort. Aside from his earlier outburst, the baby dragon had been extremely well-behaved. Now, though, the farmer saw that he was sniffling sadly. When he saw that he had Carrot Top's attention, he pointed toward the mirror from which 'Princess Luna' tried in vain to get Celestia's attention.

"She's w-wight there," he whispered as quietly as he could, having been chastised after his attempt to warn his mother about Eclipse's appearance. "W-Why can't the Pwincess see her...?"

Carrot Top hugged the baby dragon and whispered back, "Back then, Princess Luna was stuck in the dream world. She was too weak for anypony to notice her, but don't worry... It all turned out okay, thanks to your mommy."

"But... she's wight there..." Spike protested, his eyes watering as he sniffled more loudly.

Carrot Top produced a tissue and gently dabbed at Spike's eyes to dry them. "Shhh, I know, but it's just a show. It's sad right now, but it gets better, I promise. Can you watch quietly for the rest of the play?" When he nodded, she placed the tissue over his nose and mouth. "Okay, now blow."

Spike did so just as 'Sungleam' announced, "All of them, your highness." Carrot Top smiled, but then barely stifled a surprised yelp as she felt heat against her hoof. As Spike blew his nose, the tissue she was holding suddenly went up in a flash of green flame, which thankfully evaporated in a puff of smoke and magic before it could do more harm than startling his temporary foalsitter and distracting the ponies nearby.

Those who did keep their focus on the stage, however, were treated to an even more entertaining sight as the curtains closed. Before they could shut completely, 'Princess Luna' suddenly went cross-eyed, her cheeks bulging as purple smoke started leaking out of her nostrils and the corners of her mouth. The instant that the stage was completely hidden, the scene which had ended so ominously was punctuated by a belch forceful enough to make the curtains wave.

Backstage, Vinyl let out a sigh of relief as she got through another song. Meanwhile, Octavia finished explaining to her cousin why the DJ was on her keyboards instead of playing the record they'd made.

"Well, dang. Looks like Ah picked the wrong time ta visit the li'l filly's room," Fiddlesticks mused, immediately before Rarity's burp rocked the backstage area.

Moments later, Rarity came back to join them. The unicorn coughed the last bits of magic smoke out of her lungs while holding Carrot Top's tissue in her magic. "Will somepony... please explain... just what is going on...?"

Everypony gulped, none of them wanting to incur the wrath of a pony who could quite literally spit fire when angry.

Ultimately, it was Sweetie Belle and her friends who stepped forward. Simultaneously inhaling, they started rattling out explanations of what had occured, from Apple Bloom getting momentarily blinded, to the damage to Vinyl's soundtrack, to the last-second improvisations. Somehow, despite each of them saying it in a different way, resulting in a cacaphony of non-sequitors and babble to anypony trying to unpack their confession, they all chose the exact same moment to conclude, "And we're really sorry."

Rarity blinked, having failed to understand any bit of it. Only that they were apologizing and giving her the biggest, wettest puppy eyes she'd seen since she cracked open a boulder full of emeralds in front of Spike. "Well. That's... That's alright, girls. Just be a little less rambunctious now, and wait for your part to come up. Pinkamena's worked so hard for this, and nopony wants to make things more difficult for her, right?"

To ensure that the next scene went off well, nopony was allowed back in the dressing room aside from Rainbow Dash and Dewdrop Decimal. The unicorn librarian's horn was encased in a tight, focused glow as she magically crafted a second layer of illusion over the inky shadows that already covered the pegasus. It was going to be one of the more impressive special effects in the show, and Dewdrop wanted to get it exactly right as she surrounded Dash's form with the beak, feathers and claws of a griffon.

It was very intricate work, setting up illusions for so many ponies at once, and layering two on a single pony was all the more difficult. Still, as long as everything went as planned, it would be great for the show. That was why nopony was allowed to come in until it was time for Dash to get back on stage. Nopony could disturb them and break her concentration.

Nopony whispered in her ear as she worked her magic.

"Done! You're good to go now, Dash," the blonde unicorn said with a smile as she stepped back. Rainbow Dash looked herself over and lifted a foreleg, which now looked like it ended in a griffon's talons. She couldn't move the appendages or grip anything with them, but as long as she was just going to be walking around, the illusion would do its job.

The librarian's good mood dimmed somewhat when Dash asked in a panic, "Dewdrop, what're you thinking? I can't go out looking like this! Have you been drinking?"

Dewdrop gave a little frown as she looked Rainbow Dash over. She had worked hard at the griffon guise, and try as she might to see what it was that Rainbow Dash was protesting (in rhyme, no less), it all looked right to her. "What are you talking about, Dash? You look-"

Suddenly, the door opened and Derpy poked her head in. "Hiiii, Rainbow Dash! It's almost time for your..." The wall-eyed pegasus trailed off as one eye focused on Rainbow Dash, and even convinced the other to lock onto the same sight, it was that surprising. Once she realized she was actually seeing what she thought she was, Derpy let out a snort of badly-restrained laughter before erupting into a full-blown giggle fit.

Even through the multiple layers of illusion magic, Rainbow Dash's face flushed with humiliation. "It's not funny! Derpy, y-you aren't even supposed to be back here! Dewdrop, fix this, you hear?"

Dewdrop blinked at Dash's sudden recalcitrance and rolled her eyes. Whatever it was that was bothering her, Dewdrop couldn't see it, so she placed her hooves on Dash's shoulders and ushered her out of the room. "Relax, it looks fine," she assured the disguised pegasus. "Everypony's going to think you look great."

Dash's jaw dropped as she was pushed out into the hall, where Derpy was still staring and giggling at her. "Wh-wha? Have you gone insane? Just look at what you did to my mane!" The only response she got was the door shutting in her face.

Dewdrop sighed and shook her head as she took a seat so that she could recover a little from all the magic she had been asked to use thus far. "Probably just stage fright... she does have a history with griffons, so she's going to be more picky about it than other ponies."

"Quite," nopony agreed. "Personally, I think she looks perfect."

Iron Will gaped as he looked at the diguised pegasus that he was about to enter the upcoming scene with. "Rainbow Dash? What the hay?"

"Don't ask me! Ask Dewdrop! She made me look like this, then pushed me out into the hall!" She reared up on her hind legs and spread her wings to better showcase what 'like this' meant, but the neon green with bright pink polka dots which covered her body needed no assistance in drawing attention to the problem at hoof. "I look like some sort of clown doll..."

"Rainbow Dash! What the hay?!" Applejack asked as she came up behind her.

"Arrrgh!"

Iron Will smacked a fist against his open palm. "Alright, the librarian's gone crazy, and we don't have time to get you back to the dressing room to fix things... but we can still save this!"

Unaware of what was going on backstage, Pinkamena filled in the brief lull with her narration.

"Dame Sungleam's dire news pierced through the shroud of Celestia's grief, and the Princess of the Sun pushed herself to action. Together, they hurried to the embassy of Equestria's staunchest ally, the fledgeling Griffon Empire. However, what they found when they arrived shocked them both to the core."

The curtains opened once more upon a new backdrop. The eclipsed sun illuminated a tower surrounded by a stone gate. Unlike the glamorous, ornate structures of marble and precious metals which were so common in Canterlot, this tower appeared to be made of heavy granite blocks, and designed in a manner which evoked the image of a craggy mountaintop. Painted on the backdrop were lines of armored griffons standing at attention, which made Iron Will's presence even more striking as the armored minotaur loomed over Celestia and Sungleam.

Hefting a large axe, Iron Will bellowed, "HALT! You have no business here!"

Celestia stopped short, glaring so hard at the minotaur that even the audience thought that he might burst into flame at any moment. "By what authority do you claim to bar us entry into the griffon embassy?"

Standing defiantly against the Sun Princess, either out of bravery or stupidity, Iron Will thumped his fist against the breastplate of his armor. "His worship, Cardinal Minos, is entreating with the ambassador at this moment and is not to be disturbed! Not even by the Tyrant Sun!"

Celestia stiffened with shock from the harsh words, but Sungleam went into action immediately. Drawing her sword with her magic so fast that it barely appeared to move before the shining blade was held in front of the minotaur's face. "Mind thy slanderous tongue, lest I remove it," she threatened, her voice lowering to a fiercely protective growl.

"Lower your blade, Dame Sungleam," Celestia ordered to keep matters from escalating as the minotaur's grip tightened on his axe. Taking wing, she flew up toward a balcony jutting from the tower and hovered there as she called out, "Ambassador! Equestria has ever been a staunch friend and ally to both the minotaur people and the Griffon Empire! What, then, has brought about this sudden hostility?"

Fluttershy, expecting to see Rainbow Dash step out onto the balcony in her griffon disguise, was genuinely surprised when a white sheet separated her from her friend, a bright light from the other side casting a griffon-shaped sillhouette against its surface. "I should ask the same of you, Princess Celestia," came the faux-griffon's reply. "Long have you and your sister been entrusted with the cycle of day and night. Trust that was earned, we thought, through centuries of good stewardship. Folly! Folly! Folly on all of our parts, as the sky above now proves! How long have you plotted, Celestia? Was it not enough to rule over the most prosperous nation in the world? Was it not enough to command the life-giving sun itself?"

Celestia shook her head. "Nay, ambassador, this is no doing of mine! The moon was stolen--"

"From your sister, who despite supposedly being one of the rulers of Equestria, has scarcely been seen since my father was a hatchling." The ambassador's voice took on a sly, mocking tone. "A griffon's eyes are sharp, your highness, and a diplomat's must be all the sharper. I have seen how your sister was kept cloistered away in her tower, only occasionally brought out as a prop. I have seen her stare up to the night sky, alone and lamenting her lot. And what a coincidence that the very day she attempted to take a larger role in ruling, she is attacked by a 'monster' seen by none save you and your pet zealot! It is clear to me that you are the one who struck down your sister, so we shall stand firm and take control of the celestial bodies from you. In that way... we will show your 'dear sister' our love."

While the ambassador spoke that last sentence, Celestia gasped as she saw the sillhouette shift unnaturally, tendrils of shadow sprouting from the griffon's outline. "What are you...? No...! You! You! ECLIPSE!" The Sun Princess stared in shock, but then slid swiftly through confusion into the wrath of a furious god. Her horn became surrounded with a bright golden glow, and a beam of light shot out of it toward Eclipse's shadow.

Eclipse screamed, and the stage lights dimmed slightly, making the beam shooting out of Fluttershy's false horn seem brighter by comparison. The lights then flashed brightly before plunging the stage into total darkness and silence. The audience practically held their breath, waiting to see what would come next, so when they heard Eclipse's voice coming to them from the darkness, many of them would later say that it felt as though spiders were crawling over them.

"You lose again, Celestia. First your sister. Then the sky. Now your allies. Next, it will be your kingdom. But I am not merciless, Celestia. You can have it all back... through me. Let me show you my love. Give me back my Luna, and you can be together, again. Forever."

As the word 'forever' echoed throughout the theater, the fading word was slowly replaced by a low, angry muttering which grew in volume as the lights slowly illuminated the stage once more. Celestia was on the ground while Sungleam stood protectively over her, holding the armored minotaur at bay with her sword. Looking around, the Princess heard the mutterings all around her turn into angered shouts.

"She's attacked the ambassador!"

"The ambassador is alive, but will not wake!"

"This means war! Equestria has declared war against us!"

Celestia weakly stood. "No... no, it was Eclipse! Eclipse possessed your ambassador, just as it did my sister! You must--"

"Enough, your highness! That is not what they saw." As she struggled to defend herself against the accusations, Princess Celestia found herself interrupted by none other than Sungleam. "As Captain of the Guard, I am charged with your safety above all else, and to that end we must retreat to the palace at once."

The minotaur angrily roared and bellowed, "Don't think that you can run away from your crimes, Tyrant Sun! The minotaurs stand with our griffon friends! Aurox, guide my arm!" Letting out a ferocious war cry, the minotaur swung his axe down toward Sungleam and Celestia.

Before it could strike, Sungleam's horn flashed as the two ponies teleported away, leaving the axe to cleave nothing but air.

Hefting his axe up, the minotaur showed the audience a fiendish smirk. The tinkling of a piano began to play, and with Eclipse's raspy voice overlayed on top of his own, he mused, "Run away, Celestia, but you cannot escape me any more than you can escape your own shadow. It is only a matter of time before you give me everything I desire."

He then raised his axe high overhead, and purely in his own voice, bellowed along with a choir to represent the griffons painted onto the backdrop.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Take Back the Sun
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Based on "Give Us the Rope" by The Protomen)

Take down the Princess!

Take back the sun!

Take back the sky!

Take back the land!

Take down the Princess!

Take back the sun!

Accompanying the cries of the Eclipse-possessed minotaur and the griffons that he had whipped into a frenzy, a trumpet blared triumphantly, as if to signal the moment that the shadow's manipulation of the crowd fully took root. As he waving his axe over his head, the bloodlust in the choir's voices only grew.

Tear down her throne!

Tear off her crown!

Take off her head!

Take down the Princess!

Take back the sun!

Author's Note

And so it returns! After a long hiatus that I used to finish Snowblind, it's good to be back working on this one. A big part of why I felt the need to finish that one first was because I had the scene with Rarity and Spike in mind, and didn't want to spoil the dragonfire connection between them until it was revealed as a plot point in the other story.

For those who need further explanation, my take on the Eclipseverse's Rarity and her abilities as the Element of Magic is that her special talent is in finding the hidden beauty and potential in others. Through a combination of empathy and understanding, she is able to instinctively mimic some forms of magic, even abilities belonging to other species. She doesn't have much more magical strength than an average unicorn, and her mimicked spells can be rather hit-or-miss, but her strong connection to Spike gives her access to a form of his magic flame. And as you can see in this chapter, it's a direct connection, as opposed to whatever spell the canon Celestia came up with that causes the letters Spike sends her to simply appear out of thin air.

Part 6 - The Shadow Over Equestria

Lunar Eclipse: The Rock-Opera
by CrowMagnon

As the lights dimmed and the curtains closed on the possessed minotaur, a slower, almost mournful strain of violin and cello accompanied Pinkamena while she once again took center stage and looked out to the audience.

"Once again, Eclipse slipped from Celestia's grasp and manipulated all around it, turning former friends against her by speaking to the doubts and fears that lurked in the shadows of their hearts. And just like a shadow, Eclipse could not be captured. Whenever it was found possessing a new body, it would abandon its host, leaving behind nothing but soulless husks in its wake. All the while, it continued to spread poisonous slander against Celestia and Equestria.

"And so the curtain sets on Equestria's darkest hour, but this is not the end of the story. We will be taking a brief intermission, so please take the opportunity to stretch your legs or visit the concessions stand. We will be starting again in twenty minutes."

With that, the house lights brightened up the theater one more, and ponies began milling about and conversing with one another. In the far back of the theater, surrounded by large, stern-looking stallions in golden armor, a trio of alicorns sat in the balcony above the crowds. Those who looked up at the princesses could see them leaning in to talk, but a privacy spell surrounding the balcony kept their voices from carrying beyond their immediate vicinity.

Taking the middle seat, Princess Luna stared in the direction of the stage. Celestia and Cadance both looked at her with concern. Reaching out with her wing, the pink alicorn placed it across Luna's shoulders. "It's quite a show, isn't it, Luna? ... What do you think?"

Celestia did the same from the other side. Her face wrinkled with worry as Luna showed no outward sign of being aware of them. "Luna? Sister...? Oh, I should have known that it was too soon. I'm so sorry, we can--" Her apology trailed off as she saw Luna's lips move, forming words too softly for her to hear. "Luna?"

The Princess of the Night turned and looked to the other two alicorns, suddenly becoming aware of their wing-embrace. "Oh! Yes, I would very much like to partake of the 'popped corn' for sale downstairs! May we purchase some?" She smiled to her sister and 'niece', letting out a hopeful squeak.

Celestia blinked a few times, but then laughed and nodded her head. "Of course, sister. Shining Armor, would you be so kind?"

Princess Cadance leaned over to get a better look at the handsome unicorn guard that Celestia was addressing. "And could you please get me a bag of jellybeans while you're down there?"

Shining Armor saluted, a grin breaking through the stone-faced expression typical of the Royal Guard. "It would be my pleasure. Should I get anything for you, Princess Celestia?"

Celestia sighed softly and settled back into her seat. "Thank you, Shining, but I don't need any snacks. Oh, but if you happen to make a small detour to visit the actors, be sure to tell them that they are doing a fine job."

Shining's grin widened. "I'll be sure to do that, Princess," he replied gratefully. Having served Celestia closely for several years, he picked up on her unspoken suggestion, Go see your sister and give her my regards, fairly easily. With that, he cast a fond glance past Celestia to the Princess beside her and said, "I won't take long," before leaving the balcony.

Cadance giggled softly into her hoof as Shining Armor left. While the Princess of the Night was being relatively lucid, she asked, "So, aunt Luna... what do you think of the show?"

After a moment of thought, Luna pushed herself up from underneath the other alicorns' wings so that she could rear up and spread her own wide. "I VERY MUCH WISH TO SEE THIS THROUGH TO ITS CONCLUSION," she shouted, her voice testing the limits of the privacy spell. "I feel myself swept away by the passion of the actors! The quality of their guises! The desire to HOOF-PUNCH ECLIPSE INTO PASTE! And the music!" Setting her hooves back down, she turned to the pink alicorn and pointed at her, "Cadance, you are of this modern generation! I need you to teach me the ways of rock!"

Twilight peeked out from behind the curtains and whimpered as she saw Princess Luna rearing up, screaming at the top of her lungs. She couldn't hear exactly what the Princess of the Night was saying, but she didn't feel she had to.

Pulling back, Twilight fretfully danced around on the tips of her hooves, whimpering with fear as Pinkamena came back to join the others. "Oh this is bad... this is so, so, so, so bad! Princess Luna is furious!"

Pinkamena tilted her head and took a peek, herself. "Are you sure? Maybe she's just enthusiastic. You know how she can be since she came back," the poet/narrator calmly assured her friend.

Twilight shook her head. "I don't think so. She looked like she was screaming." Just to be sure, she peeked out again and gasped. "And now she's yelling at Princess Cadenza!"

"Who's yelling at Cadance?" A stallion's voice asked, causing Twilight to freeze.

Pinkamena turned to see the golden-armored unicorn coming up to join them. "Oh, you're one of the Guard accompanying the princesses?"

Behind her, Twilight reflexively stood at attention and saluted. "Shi-... Major Armor! I... I'm sorry for whatever you were sent here to deal with, and I take full responsibility!"

Shining Armor tilted his head and looked at Twilight with a bemused grin. He walked up to the trembling, Sungleam-colored unicorn, then nuzzled her to the shock of everypony looking, causing a few of the stagehooves to drop whatever they were carrying.

Chuckling softly, Shining Armor told her, "At ease, Twiley. You don't work for me anymore, remember? I'm just here to see my little sister."

"Oh... oh, of course," Twilight stammered, letting out a tense laugh. "Of course, my big brother's just here to show his support! And not to drag us all off to be banished from Equestria! ...Right?"

As Shining Armor shook his head, Pinkamena said, "Well, I have to go check on everypony else, so I'll let you two chat for a bit. Just remember the curtains go up again in twenty." She took a step, but then turned back and pulled Shining Armor away from Twilight. "Actually, just one moment first."

The stallion blinked in surprise, but went along with the poet as she took him a few steps away from his sister, then stopped and looked him straight in the eye. Despite himself, Shining Armor felt a chill from the piercing gaze of one of her pale blue eyes, the other momentarily hidden behind a waterfall of long, pink hair.

As the one visible eye widened, fixing him with a stare so intense that it felt like it was pinning him in place, the poet quietly asked, "Twilight has spoken of you, Shining Armor..."

Shining Armor tried to blink, but found that he couldn't. Shining Armor tried to swallow, but found that his throat had gone dry. Beads of nervous perspiration started forming on his forehead as a feeling of undefinable dread transfixed him like the gaze of a cockatrice. The poet's stare... that single, baleful eye seemed to grow as the rest of the world vanished.

"I see how much you mean to her," Pinkamena whispered in a voice that crawled against his bones. "I know exactly how much she looks up to you. She is my friend, and I care about her very... very much."

Shining Armor's lips parted slightly as he felt himself struggling to breathe. There was so little air... so little of everything but the eye. He felt like a prisoner, even if he didn't know what his crime was. It didn't matter. The only thing that mattered was doing whatever it took to breathe freely again, but he was powerless and insignificant beneath that gaze. Pushing what little breath he had out, he asked, "Wha... what do you want from me...?"

There was a pause of seconds. Hours. Weeks. Years. Time was meaningless. All was meaningless. For a moment, Shining Armor realized that he was staring into the very face of existence's futility. There was no world, only the eye. The eye was everything that had been or ever would be. Everything else was an illusion. The pony that thought of itself as Shining Armor was nothing but--

"Pinkamena! What the hay do you think you're doing?"

The eye was yanked away, and for a moment it felt as though Shining Armor was falling, tumbling through an endless void without form or substance. It took him a second to realize that no, he was still standing on all four hooves, which were themselves resting on solid matter as conventional reality seemed to re-assemble itself. It was a few seconds more before he realized that his body was shaking in a cold sweat while, just a few feet away, his sister was talking to the pink poet.

"Pinkamena, what do you think you're doing to my brother?"

Pinkamena blinked. "I was just going to say that since you won't be returning to Canterlot for your birthday, he and your parents should come to Ponyville to celebrate. Is that too presumptuous?"

Twilight sighed, but smiled a little as she shook her head. "Really? Wow, that's really sweet of you..." Her expression turned stern again as she told her friend, "But dial down the intensity, okay? You were doing the eye thing again."

Pinkamena hesitated a moment before asking, "I was?" When Twilight nodded, she turned back to Shining Armor, who reflexively flinched before she could make eye contact again. "Oh... I sincerely apologize, Shining Armor. We've had a few issues, and I allowed the stress to get the better of me."

The stallion still felt the lingering effects of the existential dread that had consumed him, and Pinkamena's voice carried none of the intonations that usually accompanied an apology, but he struggled to turn his head back to her and meet her eyes again. Once he did, though, he found that while her facial expression hadn't changed in the slightest, her eyes looked softer and sadder. "Umm... a-apology accepted," he stammered, still in a state of lingering shock. "I will make sure that we can attend Twiley's birthday..."

Twilight smiled and nuzzled her brother. "Thanks, Shining... And don't worry, it wears off eventually."

A small twinkle lit up Pinkamena's eyes, but went unnoticed by the siblings as she turned around. "Well, I'd better check on a few things," she said, leaving them to chat a little longer while she walked over toward the musicians.

"Be the wall, Vinyl... be the wall," the DJ whispered to herself, keeping anypony from getting too close to Fiddlesticks and Octavia while the earth ponies played their signature instruments to make up for the loss of the soundtrack record. The two string performers were playing into a microphone, so Vinyl had to do her best to keep out other ambient noises.

She saw Pinkamena coming and felt her blood chill in her veins. Pinkamena looked straight at her, then at the music equipment and the remains of the record on the floor next to it. Vinyl gulped and prepared herself to have to explain...

Pinkamena paused in front of Vinyl and whispered, "Can you handle the second half?"

Vinyl blinked behind her purple-tinted glasses and nodded.

Pinkamena gave a nod in return and simply whispered, "Thank you," before continuing on.

As Pinkamena walked by, Vinyl lifted up her glasses and watched her go. "Huh... I was expecting the eye thing..." she mused to herself once the poet was out of sight.

Farther backstage, away from the trials of the musicians, a loud argument was taking place. At its center was Dewdrop Decimal, who was surrounded by Rainbow Dash, Derpy, Iron Will and Fluttershy. At the librarian's side, her friend Spot Light was trying to shout an irate Rainbow Dash down in Dewdrop's defense while the shadow-shrouded pegasus rattled off accusations. The rest of the participants on both sides mostly just stood on the sidelines, intimidated by the heated ferocity of the arguing mares.

Pinkamena couldn't make out what either of the mares were screaming as she approached, so she simply stepped in between them. Surprisingly, Spot Light and Rainbow Dash continued to shout at each other around her until she turned her head and gave each of them a Look. The Look, similar to the effect it had on Shining Armor, was consciously focused this time. As a result, each of them were shaken enough to stop their argument and notice her presence. "Now, then..." Pinkamena said once she had their attention. "What is this all about?"

Spot Light looked like she was about to start up again, but Dewdrop put a hoof on her earth pony friend's shoulder and cleared her throat. "Rainbow Dash wasn't satisfied with the griffon illusion I made for her."

"You sabotaged me," Rainbow retorted angrily, but she stopped when Pinkamena turned toward her again. Not with a Look, but the threat of one remained present, so she restrained herself somewhat as she concluded, "I would've been a laughingstock in front of everypony..."

"It was pretty silly," Derpy giggled.

Pinkamena raised an eyebrow slightly and turned to Dewdrop. "Can you show me?"

The librarian sighed. "I don't know, it took a lot out of me just putting it on over the Eclipse illusion the first time. Trying to do it again could wipe me out to the point all the disguises would drop."

"Just a small one," Pinkamena urged. "And not over Rainbow Dash. Just something to show me what you did."

Dewdrop nodded a little and took a deep breath. As her horn lit up with a golden glow, she formed a small disc of light in the air, and began 'drawing' on it with her magic. It was simple and stylized like a cartoon, but clearly took on the image of a griffon with the same garish, spotted coloration that she had put on Rainbow Dash. Spot Light's jaw dropped open as her friend said, "See? It looks fine."

The gathered ponies and minotaur stared in stunned silence, more by Dewdrop's casual assertion that the colors were normal than by the image itself. The silence was finally broken by Fluttershy snorting before breaking out into uncontrollable laughter, which Derpy soon joined in on.

Dewdrop frowned slightly, furrowing her brow at the giggly pegasi. "What? What?"

"Dewy... you mean you actually did do that?" Spot Light asked, taking the librarian by surprise. "What were you think--"

Spot Light was cut off by Pinkamena raising a hoof. "Dewdrop... please describe this for us."

Dewdrop looked slightly confused, but did as she was asked. "Well, it's a griffon. Part eagle, part lion, with a green coat, and... I mean, a brown coat, but... it's... green... with... spots...?" Her face scrunched up in confusion that grew into worry as she looked at the image she had created. "It looks fine, but... it's... supposed to be brown...? I... I don't understand..."

The librarian's golden eyes clenched shut, then opened again and looked at the magical doodle in front of her. As if seeing it clearly for the first time, she gasped. "Sweet Luna... is that what I made you look like, Rainbow? I don't... I didn't mean to..."

Rainbow blinked in surprise. Hearing the distress in Dewdrop's voice, her voice and expression softened. "You really didn't realize it?"

When Dewdrop shook her head, Pinkamena assured her, "You've been working very hard. Sometimes our minds play tricks on us. Make us miss things that are right in front of our faces. Nopony is to blame. The important thing is that, despite anything that's gone wrong, everypony's been pulling together and thinking fast to keep the show running. If we can just get through the second half, everything will be fine. Okay?"

There were some murmurs of agreement, some of apology, and a general nodding of heads as the tense mood lifted.

Pinkamena said, "Alright. Fluttershy, I'll need you on the throne for the next little scene. Rainbow Dash, your next scenes aren't for a little while, so take some time to relax. I'll see you all later. Now if you'll excuse me, I just want to check in on Nocturne and the Crusaders before the curtains go back up."

With that, she left the group and made her way through the back of the theater. Instead of going straight to where Nocturne and her young charges would be waiting, however, she ducked into a little side-corridor and looked around. Finding nopony there, she said, "As I was walking up the stair, I met someone who wasn't there."

She waited for several seconds, but when nothing happened, she simply turned and went back on her way.

Once she was gone, nopony wondered aloud, "Well... what was that about?"

Several minutes later...

Shining Armor returned to the balcony, a tub of popcorn and bag of jellybeans held in his magic. He offered each to the princess who had asked for them, but did so with a faraway look in his eyes as he took his place and simply stared straight ahead at the stage.

Seeing her soldier's stunned look, Celestia blinked and asked, "Shining Armor...? Are you alright?"

"Twiley will be holding her birthday party in Ponyville," Shining Armor replied in a somewhat distant voice. "I would like it if my parents and I could attend."

Celestia furrowed her brow in concern. "Of course... I'll see to it that you have that day off, but..."

Cadance opened her bag of candy with her magic while leaning over to get a better look at the stricken stallion. "Shining, are you... feeling well?"

"All shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well," he replied.

Princess Luna, who had taken the popcorn tub into her own magic and started experimentally licking the cardboard, perked her ears up when she heard this. "Verily? I am glad to hear it! I had been wondering. Now, by any chance can you help expand on what Cadance has been telling me of this 'rock music?' She was telling me of his majesty, the King, and how despite his title, he did not in fact rule over any nations?"

"No, Luna," Cadance explained patiently. "He didn't have a formal noble title of any kind, though aunt Celestia did knight him at one point. In fact, weren't there rumors of something between the two of you?"

Celestia grinned, a touch of pink on her ivory white cheeks. "What can I say? He made me feel young."

"Ahh, I see," Luna replied, nodding sagely. "And then, as your champion, he slew many foes in the battle between bands?"

"N-no, aunt Luna, a 'battle of the bands' is when-- Oh! The show is starting again," Cadance observed as the house lights dimmed once again, and everypony who wasn't in their seats hurriedly shuffled back into place.

Pinkamena once again took her place in the center of the stage, a spotlight shining down on her while the string music that had been playing slowly transitioned into an electronic sound.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Shadow Over Equestria
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Based on "How the World Fell Under Darkness" by The Protomen)

"Many months passed, though time began to lose meaning with the sun and moon both permanently affixed in the sky. With the moon's shadow eternally cast over the land, Princess Celestia dared not allow the sun to set, for fear that it would bring about a winter not seen since the days of the Windigoes. The griffons and minotaurs, driven to arm themselves by Eclipse's manipulations, cast another shadow over the borders of our nation, and Equestria was forced to ready itself for war.

"Under Sungleam's command, able-bodied ponies were conscripted and armed to guard the borders. Those who could not be made ready to fight became refugees in their own country, forced to uproot from their homes and congregate far away from the regions where battle was most likely. To further bolster their numbers, Sungleam sought out the elusive fourth tribe, the thestrals who made their home in caves and mountains far apart from other ponies."

Behind Pinkamena, the curtains opened to reveal Celestia sitting upon her throne while Sungleam bowed before her. Celestia's lips moved, asking a silent question of her Captain of the Guard, and the similarly silent reply left Celestia drooping her head in sorrow.

"Sadly, rumor had traveled much faster than Sungleam's swiftest pegasi. The thestrals, being creatures of the night, had long revered and honored Princess Luna. Debates raged in their colonies about whether or not it was true that Princess Luna had been struck down by her own sister, or if it was the work of a spirit of shadow. In the end, unable to determine friend from foe, the thestrals agreed to remain neutral, neither helping nor directly hindering the other three tribes.

"But even though it was the will of the thestrals as a whole to remain hidden away in their colonies, not all were content to sit idly by. A few, fearing that inaction would lead to their ruin as well as the rest of Equestria's, left their homes to join Celestia's forces. Some others, believing that Celestia was the villain Eclipse had made her out to be, defected to take up arms alongside the griffons.

"And then there was one thestral, who answered a different call. A lone dreamer who was tasked with a mission of her own to restore the night sky.

"Her name... was Nyx."

Author's Note

Why do I do this to myself, working on two fics at the same time? Because I'm an idiot, that's why.

You know what isn't idiotic? Nightrise, by Epsilon-Delta. If you like thestrals, moori, batponies, or whatever your preferred term is, go check it out! It's a story that explores the isolated culture of batponies and their views, set a few months prior to season one of the show. I think it's a cool story, and definitely should get more love, so check it out.

Part 7 - Won't Give Up

Lunar Eclipse: The Rock-Opera
by CrowMagnon

As Celestia and Sungleam held their silent conversation, another pony stepped out of the shadows and approached them, though neither the princess nor the soldier gave any indication of noticing her. Those who knew her instantly recognized the purple-coated thestral as Nocturne Striker, especially given that she hadn't received the same costmetic alterations that many of the other actors had.

"Is this what I am meant to see, Princess?" she asked, though there was no audible response. "I can't hear them. What are they saying?"

She moved closer, flicking her ears as she came right up next to Sungleam and leaned in close. Oblivious to this, the unicorn continued speaking silently to Celestia. Still hearing nothing, she stepped back and looked upward. "I don't understand, Princess. What is it that you want me to see? What is it that you want me to do?"

While she spoke, all of the lights except one which was focused on her and another focused on Celestia, began to dim. The light on celestia was aimed so as to cast a deep shadow against the backdrop, and Eclipse's form began to slither out of that shadow.

Taken aback, Nocturne stepped back. "Is this... Eclipse? Emerging from your sister's shadow? I do not understand, Princess, how can such a deep darkness exist in Celestia's light? Are you guiding me to help her, or are you saying that Eclipse is a creation of your sister's? Please, help me to understand!"

But no reply came to her. And as she waited for one, Eclipse's inky form slithered closer and closer to her. Nocturne braced herself, spreading her leathery wings and baring her fangs at the apparition until a gruff male voice called out, "Nyx! Nyx, answer me!"

With a sound like a giant soap bubble popping, the light illuminating Eclipse cut out, and the shadowy monster vanished into the darkness. 'Nyx' folded her wings back against her sides and looked up. "I hear you, Elder. How did you find me?"

The voice of the Elder replied, "I taught you everything you know of the dreaming, Nyx. Even after abandoning us, you are still merely a student. Now please, set aside these delusions--"

"It is not a delusion!" Nyx snapped. "I follow Princess Luna's call!"

Nyx's ears flattened against her head when the Elder's voice retorted, "A call that the most skilled dreamwalkers of our colony have never heard. Do you think that we have not scoured the dreaming for our Princess from the first moment that she was lost to us? Do you think that we love her any less than you? Do not be so egotistical, child! What you are hearing is not her voice, but your own desire to change what we all must accept... that Princess Luna was taken from us."

The Elder's voice softened as Nyx sat on her haunches, then lay down on the ground. "Come back to us, Nyx. Come back to the colony. To your family. Wherever the Princess may be now, it is beyond our reach. We need you. Wake up and come home. Wake up. Wake up."

"Wake up! Wake up," another voice began saying. A filly's voice that rang over that of the Elder. Nyx raised her head, and the stage lights brightened again, showing that the backdrop of Celestia's throne room had been replaced by one depicting a rural village. This also revealed that the filly speaking to her was Scootaloo, who was flanked by her two friends. All three of them were dressed in simple country dresses appropriate for the era that hid Scootaloo's tiny wings, and a bonnet concealing Sweetie Belle's horn.

"This is so unbelievably lame. If they needed some earth pony fillies, they should have just come to us instead of dressing up those no-talent losers." Diamond Tiara 'whispered' to Silver Spoon as the rich fillies and their families watched the show from the front row. Being so close, it was easy enough for her to project her voice at precisely the right volume that the Crusaders could hear, knowing that the blank-flanked fillies couldn't respond without messing up the show.

"Oh, I know," Silver Spoon replied with a snicker. "But then we'd have to wear those lame costumes. Seriously, they look like something Sweetie Belle's bumpkin sister would make."

All four ponies on the stage flicked their tails in annoyance at the heckling from the two brats. Nocturne, who was able to hear it more clearly than the fillies, shared a look and a tiny nod with her daughter before giving her next line. "Oh, hello, children. What time is it?"

Scootaloo replied, "The same time it's always been since the sun and moon stopped moving in the sky. Why are you sleeping out in the open like that, anyway, moooo..." Realizing that she was slipping up by nearly saying 'mom' in front of everypony, Scootaloo dragged the syllable out as her mind raced, quickly improvising in a bad imitation of Apple Bloom's country accent, "Maaaaaah thestral friend, whose name is Nyx?"

'Nyx' stood up and stretched her legs and wings, using one to momentarily cover her face as she gave her daughter a wink of approval for her quick thinking. "Ahh... Just sleeping under Luna's stars, little ones."

"Luna's stars?" Sweetie Belle asked, her voice squeaking more than usual as a hint of stage fright crept into her performance. "B-but there ain't no stars no more, boy howdy!"

Looking aghast at her unicorn friend, Apple Bloom whispered out of the corner of her mouth, "Why're ya tryin' ta sound lahk me?"

"Scootaloo did! I thought we were supposed to!" Sweetie Belle whispered back.

Nocturne said her next line loudly to remind the girls of where they were before they could get too far sidetracked. "The stars are there, children. Even if the sky is too bright to see them, the stars are above us just the same. In the same way, I am sure that Princess Luna can still be saved. She's calling out for help, but most ponies can't hear it."

"But how do ya know fer sure?" Apple Bloom asked.

"I don't know. Not in any way that I could explain," Nocturned replied as the sound of a piano and pounding drums began to play. "But it's what I believe."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Won't Give Up
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Based on "Breaking out" by The Protomen)

The princess lays down in her castle

Wrapped up in silken sheets.

They say that she will remain there,

Forever in an endless sleep.

They say she's lost in Eclipse's shadow,

But I can hear her spirit weep.

So I won't give up on the night.

No, I won't give up!

The twang of an electric guitar joined Nyx as she practically shouted her last line and took wing, hovering above the fillies as she sang.

The whole world's been set against us,

So we should break down in fear.

Just cower down in our caves

When the shadow draws near.

But I cannot just do nothing

While she's crying silent tears,

So I won't give up on the night.

I'm gonna wake her up.

There's so much tension now,

Like a coiled spring.

I'm sure that something has to give

(Fillies: Something has to give.)

But when it gives, I cannot know

Where all the parts will fly.

Time is running out.

(Time is running out.)

Will I find where I need to be

Before everything snaps?

I hope that you all can see, girls.

(Time is running out.)

Before Equestria falls apart,

I'll fight and pray to save her soul.

Nyx set back down on the ground and hugged the three fillies with her leathery wings as the music hit a momentary lull, with only the piano accompanying her words.

This town has treated me well,

But now it's time to move on.

There's a shadow in my dreams,

And I need to see it gone.

So farewell all,

And take care of yourselves.

Pray for Luna.

Save her from this spell.

One day soon, we'll all see the stars

And bask in moon's pale light.

No, I won't give up on the night!

I won't give up on the night!

I won't give up on the night!

I won't give up on the night.

Nyx let go of the fillies and once again took wing, swooping and fluttering around the stage just as Applejack stepped onstage, her attire fancier than that of the fillies, and a green cravat that the Ponyville residents in the audience immediately identified as being nearly identical to the sort that their own mayor was fond of wearing.

As Nyx banked over her, the 'Mayor' gave a startled yelp and quickly ducked. The glare that she shot the thestral's way was so over-dramatic that there was no doubt that this was a choreographed move.

Less so was when the tip of Nocturne's hoof accidentally caught on the edge of Sweetie Belle's bonnet, yanking it off the little unicorn's head. Sweetie Belle's look of shock, combined with Scootaloo stifling a yelp as she pointed at her exposed horn, drew a laugh from the audience as this made it look like her being a unicorn was some shocking secret. Then again when Nocturne hastily swooped back down and hastily shoved the bonnet back onto Sweetie Belle, only to have it fall across her face.

Struggling not to lose her place, Nocturne stumbled a bit into the next verse, but managed to get her rhythm back after the first line.

I'm so tired of waking up

Into a half-lit twilight world.

And though I don't know where to go,

I know that I am being led.

I'll follow Luna's voice to the end,

And when all has been done and said,

I won't give up on the night.

Wake up...

The Mayor made her way to help Sweetie Belle put her bonnet back on while ducking and weaving around Nyx whenever the thestral swooped low. Scowling up at Nyx, she joined her own voice to the song.

{Mayor: We don't have time for this nonsense.

We don't have time for this nonsense.

We don't have time for this nonsense.}

I won't give up on all

The thestrals in their caverns.

{We don't have time for this nonsense.}

I won't give up on all

The lovers under the moonlight.

{We don't have time for this nonsense.}

I won't give up on all

The soldiers fighting.

{We don't have time for this nonsense.}

I won't give up on all

The ponies who still believe.

Nyx hovered low above the ground, ignoring the Mayor as she looked into the glass of the windows of one of the buildings painted onto the backdrop. To many ponies' surprise, the face of Luna's actress seemed to be reflected on the glass, much as she had been in the mirror in her chambers earlier.

None of the other ponies on stage showed any sign of seeing this, but Nyx leaned in close as if she were singing directly to the vision of Luna.

I can't just stand idly by

When it's all gone so wrong.

The Princess has been taken

From us all for far too long.

I don't care at all what you might believe.

I will not rest until Luna is free.

And no matter where I go from here,

I will not cower in fright!

I will not give up on the night!

I know she's crying out for someone.

Waiting for a hero.

And if nopony else will stand up...

If nopony else will do,

Then I will gladly take that role.

I've seen you dreaming of happy endings.

I've seen you dreaming of Equestria's tomorrow.

So believe in us who believe in you.

Just give me a guiding star to pierce this shadowed light.

I've seen you dreaming...

{We don't have time for this nonsense.}

So believe in us who believe in you.

{We don't have time for this nonsense.}

So believe in us who believe in you.

Just give me a guiding star to pierce this shadowed light.

{We don't have time for this nonsense.

We don't have time for this nonsense.}

Just give me a guiding star to pierce this shadowed light.

<I have seen you dreaming.

I have seen you dreaming.

I have seen you dreaming.>

{We don't have time for this nonsense!}

The Mayor finally raised her voice and approached Nyx directly, reaching out to yank her away from the glass.

When she did so, Princess Luna's visage vanished from sight, and the Mayor held Nyx's face close enough that they were practically nose-to-nose while the music cut out except for the drums, which thumped like a heartbeat.

"I've been hearing this big talk from you ever since you wandered into this town," the Mayor said, glowering at Nyx. "If anypony is going to bring Princess Luna back, it will be Princess Celestia, not some self-aggrandizing drifter spreading tales of false hope!"

Seeing their friend in trouble, the three fillies ran up to the Mayor and began pestering her. "Hey! Let Nyx go," Sweetie Belle squeaked.

"Yeah, she didn't do nothin' wrong!" Apple Bloom added.

"Nyx is gonna save Princess Luna," Scootaloo passionately shouted, only for all three of them to shrink back when the Mayor glared down at them.

"That's enough," the Mayor said, letting go of Nyx and sighing before looking her in the eye. "Listen, Nyx, this town has real problems to deal with. The minotaurs are coming this way, and the army will not be able to intercept them in time to stop them. We took you in when you wandered into this town looking for food and shelter, so if you truly want to do some good, then give up on this fantasy of being some sort of 'chosen one' and help us evacuate."

Nyx narrowed her eyes. "I'm grateful to you, Madam Mayor, but I will never give up on saving Princess Luna."

The Mayor grimaced and turned around in disgust. As she started to stomp away, however, Nyx added, "But I also won't give up on you. I'll help with whatever you need for the evacuation."

The Mayor stopped and looked over her shoulder, nodding to the thestral. "Thank you. We need to work quickly, though. The minotaurs will be upon us soon, if we do not hurry."

Part 8 - Wake Up, Nyx

Lunar Eclipse: The Rock-Opera
by CrowMagnon

Backstage, Fluttershy and Iron Will sat with Twilight and Dewdrop while they all watched the scene playing out. Twilight winced whenever something went off the rails, but Fluttershy was there to reassure her as the fillies and two adults on stage covered for each other. "See? They're doing great! Trust me, ponies love it when you flub a little, as long as you can roll with it. Now, if they were freezing up, that would be bad."

"Well... you are the expert," Twilight conceded, though she still did a full-body clench when Sweetie Belle's bonnet was knocked off. Turning to Dewdrop, she asked the young librarian, "And are you good to go? I mean, if you're still too tired to do the illusions, maybe you should just rest up until the big finale?"

Dewdrop shook her head. "No... no, I'm fine. Watch." Her horn glowed, and as it did so, Iron Will's bulky frame became wreathed in tendrils of writhing shadow. Just as quickly and easily, she turned it off without showing any sign of fatigue. She gave the others a hopeful smile, and the looks on their faces were all she needed to tell that she had pulled it off without any complications. "So don't worry about me. How about you, Mr. Will? Ready to be the bad guy?"

The minotaur flexed, growling menacingly at the ponies. "I was born ready!"

Fluttershy swooned, making a show of falling back, though she flapped her wings at the last second to keep herself from hitting the floor. "Eek, the mighty barbarian is here to ravish us," she purred.

"Just you, 'Princess,'" Iron Will said as he reached down to scoop her up.

They started to lean in toward each other to kiss, but Twilight loudly cleared her throat and stuck a magic barrier between them. Her cheeks flushing slightly, she said, "Sorry, but we need Will for the next scene, and it won't work if you spend the next twenty minutes tongue-wrestling."

Fluttershy giggled and cutely stuck her tongue out at her friend. "Spoilsport. I think it would add whole new dimensions to our characters."

Twilight groaned and put a hoof to her forehead. "Yes... the idea that Princess Celestia was a nymphomaniac who did all of her arch-nemeses."

"Just the hunky ones," Fluttershy insisted, causing Twilight to groan again and shake her head, though Fluttershy grinned and leaned in close. "Oh? What's this? I see a smiiillle~!"

"Sh-shut up," Twilight said, suddenly struggling to suppress the little grin trying to form on her face. "If I'm banished for getting the giggles on stage, I'll make sure you go down with me!"

The pegasus gave Twilight a wing-hug and a friendly nuzzle, silently taking note of how the Ranger was showing signs of progress if she was able to joke about such things instead of assuming the worst and taking it seriously.

That same sense of pride in the unicorn's growing confidence, of course, tempted Fluttershy to tease, "Twilight, are you asking me to run away with you? I'm a married mare!"

Twilight's temporarily whitened cheeks immediately glowed a bright red, forcing Dewdrop and Iron Will to cover their mouths to hide their mirth at the way she reflexively tried to stammer out some sort of denial, only for the words to keep dying in her throat. Finally, she managed to murmur, "You're evil..."

"And I'd get away with it, too, if it weren't for you meddling Rangers," Fluttershy replied with a wink. "Speaking of which, who knew Nocturne was such an actress?"

Twilight turned her attention to the stage, where they were wrapping up their song. "Yeah, she's been practicing her flank off to impress Scootaloo. I even caught her singing under her breath while we were relocating that owlbear last week."

Dewdrop giggled softly. "That must have been one confused owlbear." Giving Iron Will and Twilight each a nod, she added, "Well, looks like the scene's wrapping up, so get ready to break a leg, you two."

On stage, the three Crusaders made their appearance again by poking their heads out from behind a cardboard tree, with Apple Bloom on the bottom and Scootaloo on top. In the middle, Sweetie Belle squeaked, "I'm really, really not sure about this..."

"Come on, we aren't going to take on the whole minotaur army or anything," Scootaloo replied. "We're just going to look around and see where they are."

Apple Bloom nodded. "We'll just scout 'em out. Plus, maybe we'll find somethin' out ta help Nyx in her quest!"

Sweetie Belle reluctantly nodded in agreement. "Okay... but if we see something scary, we run straight home."

With that, the three fillies started sneaking out from behind the tree, only to jump in fright moments later when they heard the clomping of hooves coming their way. Quick as a blink, the trio were back behind the tree and peeking out as Iron Will stomped into view. Stopping about a third of the way across the stage, the armored minotaur shaded his eyes with one hand as he looked ahead. He then turned back and bellowed to an unseen crowd.

"That pony settlement is just a few miles away! Remember, they may act like innocent villagers, but they've been hiding soldiers and weapons there, plotting to sneak into our lands and butcher our cows and calves in their sleep! They are cowards and liars, the lot of them, and deserve no mercy! May Aurox bless us as we bring JUSTICE to this blighted kingdom!"

When the minotaur received the sound of cheers and the clanging applause of metal weapons banging against shields, he turned toward the audience with a fiendish smirk on his face. As he did so, tendrils of shadow appeared around his bulky frame.

"That's right. Eat it up like the cattle you are. Destroy and pillage! Slaughter the 'soldiers' and 'weapon smugglers' down to the last foal. Drive the Sun Princess over the precipice of despair, until she has no choice but to surrender herself to me! When sun and moon are in my thrall, I will no longer have anything to fear. The age of shadow unending will begin! The reign of Eclipse!"

From their hiding spot, the three fillies gasped in shock. "Eclipse?! He's here?!" Scootaloo exclaimed.

"An' with an army o' minotaurs chompin' at the bit ta wipe out everypony," Apple Bloom added.

Sweetie Belle fretfully protested, "But... he's lying to them! We don't have any soldiers or weapons!"

"That won't matter once the fighting starts," Scootaloo retorted. "We've got to go back and warn the town!"

While they spoke, Eclipse's ear perked up as he overheard their chatter. As they focused on their conversation, the shadowy minotaur crept around to the other side of the tree so that when they turned to head back home, they ran right into his armored legs. When they tumbled to the ground and looked up at Eclipse looming over them, they whimpered and scrambled back away from him.

"And where are you going, little spies?" Eclipse asked with a sneer as he reached down to snatch Scootaloo and Apple Bloom up by the scruff of their necks like a couple of kittens. "Are you afraid that I am going to hurt you? Don't fret... I love children. And since I am sure that I can find a use for at least one of you, I would be happy to show you my love. Just as I did for Princess Luna!"

While Apple Bloom and Scootaloo struggled in Eclipse's grip, Sweetie Belle seemed paralyzed. She simply sat back, trembling with terror while Eclipse threatened her friends. As soon as he mentioned Princess Luna, however, the little unicorn threw back her head and screamed at the top of her lungs:

"Nyyyyyyyx! HEEEEEEELP!"

The very next moment, Nyx flew onto the stage from behind Eclipse, throwing herself against his armored back and startling him into dropping the two fillies in his grip. While Apple Bloom and Scootaloo dropped roughly to the floor, Sweetie Belle gasped with delight. "Nyx! How'd you find us?!"

Eclipse growled and swung a backhand at Nyx, but the thestral nimbly dodged the blow and stage-kicked him in the head, sending the shadowy minotaur reeling. "I heard trouble! An army of minotaurs isn't exactly stealthy. Not to these ears, anyway. I was just about to fly back when I heard your scream."

Recovering quickly from the kick, Eclipse let out an angry bellow. Her ears flattening against her head, Nyx helped the fillies get back on their hooves. "In any case, we have to get out of here! Quickly, hold onto me!" As the fillies latched onto her, Nyx took wing and began flapping hard, hovering in place while an offstage fan provided the illusion of flying at high speed.

Likewise, Eclipse gave chase by running in place after them. Though this did have the effect of looking rather silly for those who weren't already fully invested in the scene, the pounding of drums rose up in the background, once again sounding like a furiously pounding heartbeat, added to the tension of the chase. It was soon joined by the whine of a synthesizer as a set-piece in the shape of a cave's mouth was pushed into view.

"Nyx! What are you doing?!" Scootaloo asked as the thestral flew them into the cave. "We can't see! We could be trapped in here!"

"Shhh," Nyx replied as the fan cut out and she set the fillies down. "Trust me, girls. I can't fly fast enough while carrying all three of you, but I can guide you to safety through the blackest darkness. I promise you, in Princess Luna's name, I won't let any harm come to you."

"O-okay..." Sweetie Belle replied, though uncertainty remained in her voice.

Apple Bloom protested, "But we can't jus' hide! Eclipse an' those minotaurs are gonna attack our town! They're gonna kill everypony, just ta make Princess Celestia sad enough that he can possess her, an' then he won't be afraid o' nothin'!"

Nyx turned to look at Apple Bloom in surprise at her words. "Possess Celestia so that it won't have anything to fear? Those were Eclipse's words?"

Apple Bloom nodded vigorously. "Yeah, so we've gotta warn everypony before it's too--"

Nyx cut her off by placing a hoof against her mouth before she could finish, turning her attention toward the cave entrance as the minotaur 'caught up' and approached. Peering inside, Eclipse bellowed, "I know you are in there, ponies! Do you think that darkness is any barrier to me? I am Eclipse! I was born of shadow! You have done nothing but trap yourselves where I can get you any time I want. The only thing that changes is that you will not see me coming!"

Apple Bloom whimpered with fright. "H-he's right! We're trapped, an' he's gonna come in after us! We should make a break for it! He can't catch all of us if we run!"

Just as the little farm filly looked like she was about to bolt, Nyx cut her off by holding her back with her hoof. "Wait here... and follow my lead." As she stepped forward, the three fillies clung to each other for courage.

~~~~~~~~~~~~
Wake up, Nyx
~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Based on "Keep Quiet" by The Protomen)

Nyx:

I hear your threats and your bluster.

I see you standing out there on the threshold of this dark cave.

You have stolen the night from us.

You've put this kingdom in fear

and loudly pounded the dread drums of war.

Played everyone for fools.

I've heard that you cannot be killed.

I've heard that you collect the souls of all those that you've possessed.

All those that you've possessed...

But from where I stand, I do not see that,

for I have dreamed of your coming, shadow spawn, and I know what you are.

I've heard...

(Filles: This shadow) Your shadow

(it extends) it extends

all across (all across)

this kingdom. (this kingdom.)

In my dreams (In her dreams)

the Princess (the Princess)

brought me here to this place. (brought her here.)

To this place.

Even so (Even so)

they told me (They told her)

to give up. ("Wake up, Nyx.")

It may be there's no destiny!

It may be there's no greater plan.

But I'll follow my dreams

to the end of this twisted road we're on.

I'm gonna take back the Princess's soul!

I'm gonna make sure she wakes to a world where you're gone!

I'll make my dream a reality.

Now I know what to do

to make you suffer for your crimes.

You will pay!

I've heard...

(This shadow) Your shadow

(it extends) it extends

all across (all across)

this kingdom. (this kingdom.)

In my dreams (In her dreams)

the Princess (the Princess)

brought me here to this place. (brought her here)

To this place. (to this place.)

So take me!

Take me!

If you even can!

Eclipse growled as the thestral arrogantly taunted it, and made as if to change into the cave to get her. The fillies squeaked in fright and clenched their eyes shut as they hugged each other tighter, but the shadow-possessed minotaur's hooves skidded to a stop before it could cross over into the cave. For a moment, Eclipse's bulky borrowed body overbalanced, and in that moment, Nyx launched herself into action.

Bursting out of the cave with the force of a coiled spring, she flew past Eclipse, then swiftly pulled a hairpin turn and threw all of her weight against the minotaur's back. The fillies screamed and scattered out of the way as Eclipse tumbled forward into the cave. Rather than pick itself up and mount a counter-attack, however, the minotaur roared in what sounded like agony as he began rolling on the floor and crawling toward the exit.

Instead of letting him reach the outside of the cave, however, Nyx landed in front of him and held him from moving forward while the fillies watched with expressions of stunned disbelief.

I see it's true! (This shadow)

Your shadow (it extends)

stretches far. (all across)

But not here! (this kingdom.)

In my dreams (In her dreams)

(the Princess) the Princess brought me here to this place! (brought her here.)

To this place. (To this place.)

(Even so) So get up.

(They told her) Face me!

("Wake up, Nyx.") See all your schemes undone by a mortal! ("Wake up, Nyx.")

Eclipse snarled at the thestral and struggled to push itself up on its hands and knees. With a deep, distorted voice, it retorted against Nyx's bravado.

[Eclipse: My shadow

it extends

all across

this kingdom.

You ponies

cannot run

from my love.]

Though weakened, Eclipse continued to repeat its threat like a mantra to give itself the strength to rise. In response, Nyx twisted around to buck it back, but the minotaur's body still proved to have enough strength to catch her hoof and swing her by her hind leg to throw her deeper into the cave. Breathing heavily, Eclipse rose up onto his hooves and staggered back to the mouth of the cave.

Once out of the darkness, Eclipse stretched his arms out wide and took a deep breath as he regained his strength. Turning back to point menacingly at the ponies, he threatened, "This is not over! Do not forget that I command a legion of minotaurs who will annihilate your puny village and visit horrors you have never even imagined upon you! You will barely live long enough to regret earning the anger of Ecl--"

Before he could finish, there was a flash of light as Sungleam suddenly appeared behind the minotaur and stabbed him through the back with her crystal blade.

With a choked roar, the shadows wreathing Eclipse's minotaur body gradually vanished, and the bovine corpse fell lifelessly to the ground.

"To think that Eclipse itself would be found here. If only that were the end of it," Sungleam bitterly muttered as she sheathed her blade and shone a light from her horn into the cave. "Children, you are safe! Thank providence... My name is Sungleam, Captain of her highness Princess Celestia's Royal Guard! I came to warn your township of the imminent threat, but your families stubbornly refused to evacuate unless I swore upon my honor and mine blade that I would seek you out."

"Thank providence indeed," Nyx replied as she stepped back into view, wincing as she limped on the hind leg Eclipse had swung her by. "You could not have arrived at a better time, Dame Sungleam! We must hurry and get these girls back to their families, but then you must take me to Princess Celestia!"

Sungleam narrowed her eyes as the thestral made her presence known. Warily, she asked, "And who are thou, to so brazenly demand an audience with her highness?"

Nyx grinned back at the white unicorn. "My name is Nyx, Dame Sungleam. And Princess Celestia will want to grant me an audience because I can save her sister. Princess Luna has shown me how to defeat Eclipse once and for all!"

Author's Note

Behold, more of the hot-blooded awesomeness that is Joe-- I mean, Nyx. I had a little trouble figuring out exactly how to make this scene play out so that it would work, both in the sense of the narrative and to thematically approach the stubborn defiance of the original song. All in all, I think this one turned out well, and I hope you readers agree!

And I'm really looking forward to writing the next one, because next up is my absolute favorite song on the album, even more than The Hounds. Next chapter, we'll be picking up with the Eclipseverse adaptation of Light Up the Night.

Part 9 - Take Back the Night

Lunar Eclipse: The Rock-Opera
by CrowMagnon

Sungleam's look of apprehension and shock as she stepped back from Nyx was plainly visible, even in the farthest rows of the theater. As was her anger when she immediately followed it up by magically drawing her crystal blade and pointing it at the thestral.

"Thou dares to seek an audience with her highness while bandying about her sister's name so frivolously?! Does thou have no shame nor sympathy for our sovereign's mourning?"

Seeing Sungleam threaten their protector, the three fillies ran up between them and began protesting on Nyx's behalf. "Don't hurt her," Scootaloo pleaded. "She's a hero!"

Sungleam narrowed her eyes, but slowly drew her sword back and returned it to its sheathe. "Aye. Thou protected these fillies, and that is why I shall not meet thy skull with the flat of my blade. Thou possesses the bravery to stand 'gainst Eclipse itself..." Nyx smiled, only for Sungleam to angrily add, "... but thy words suggest that it is a courage borne of either foolishness or insanity! The Princess of the Night is lost in a sleep without end, and her highness's grief also knows no limit. I shall not torment her further with the nonsensical ravings of a madmare, so speak and explain thyself! If thou refuses, or fail to meet my satisfaction with thy answer, then I shall see these children returned safely to their families and then return to Canterlot alone."

Nyx hesitated a moment. She looked fondly at the fillies, then back into Sungleam's harsh but earnest glare. "Eclipse fears Princess Celestia. For all its bluster and threats, it is driven by its terror of her. Her highness can put an end to it, or at least weaken it to the point that Eclipse can be defeated with ease."

Sungleam paused for a moment, then sheathed her sword. "Thou speakest truly...? Her highness will wish to know of this. How may it be done?"

Nyx stepped forward as she replied, "By doing the one thing that only Princess Celestia can." She then leaned in so that she could whisper into Sungleam's ear.

The unicorn's jaw dropped open as she listened to whatever secret Nyx shared with her. When Nyx finished and stepped back, she told the thestral, "I was correct before. Thou are truly mad!"

It was with that pronouncement echoing through the theater that the curtains closed on the mares.

Once the curtains were closed, Apple Bloom and Sweetie Belle scampered off the stage to where their sisters were waiting for them. Scootaloo held back to give her mom a hug before following her friends, tugging at her costume the whole way so that she could yank it off and dump the garments onto the floor. "Finally! My wings were starting to cramp up," she complained, rapidly buzzing her little wings once they were exposed to the open air again.

"Oh, come on. Ain't lahk those costumes were all that tight," Apple Bloom retorted. The next moment, she was lightly whapped by the tail of her friend's Mare-Do-Well cape as Scootaloo put it on. "Hey!"

"It's a big deal for pegasi. Wearing something that keeps you from spreading your wings is like... uh..." She looked at Apple Bloom's hooves, but finding herself unable come up with an appropriate simile, she pointed to Sweetie Belle. "Like a unicorn keeping a vice clamped around their horn!" This thought elicited a frightened squeak from the little white filly, who clung tightly to her big sister.

Approaching the group after giving her husband a congratulatory hug, Fluttershy pitched in, "Yes, and you should only do either with somepony you trust very, very much."

Rarity and Applejack both gasped at Fluttersy's comment put their hooves over their sisters' ears, much to the little Crusaders' confusion. Fluttershy's as well, as she asked, "What?"

Clearing his throat, Iron Will quickly clarified, "There was a stage magician who used to do a warm-up act for us. The guy liked his wine and insisted on using Flutters as his 'lovely assistant'. Of course, she was overqualified..." Everypony else rolled their eyes when Fluttershy cooed affectionately at the compliment "... but let's just say red wine and escape tricks are a bad combination."

Fluttershy giggled and looked past the others to see Twilight frantically trying to wave her over. "Whoops, Rarity and I have to get into place! Let's go!"

"Nyx and Sungleam saw the fillies to safety," Pinkamena narrated while the stagehooves behind the curtain worked quickly to set the next scene. The sound of crackling flames was accompanied by red and orange spotlights. "With Eclipse temporarily rendered bodiless, the invading minotaurs were left without a commander, and their confusion granted the ponies time to evacuate to safety.

"Meanwhile, despite her misgivings about Nyx, Captain Sungleam nevertheless saw enough merit in what she suggested to accompany Nyx to Canterlot and bring her before Princess Celestia."

When the curtain opened, the stage had been transformed into Princess Celestia's throne room, where a stained-glass window was painted onto the backdrop depicting Princess Luna's sleeping form. Fluttershy sat upon the throne, her gaze distant and her voice bearing a dull, detached quality as Nyx and Sungleam knelt before her.

"Rise, Dame Sungleam. How fare the refugees?" Celestia asked of her knight.

Sungleam lifted her head and stood as she reported, "Their village was sacked and burnt by the minotaur hordes, your highness. Their homes are lost, but we succeeded in bringing the ponies themselves to safety."

Celestia nodded unethusiastically. "Good. Yes, that is very good. And who is this?" She pointed a hoof down at Nyx. "Rise, thestral. Do you come as a messenger from the colonies, or as a lone volunteer seeking to join the war effort?"

"A little of both, but nearer to the latter, your highness," Nyx replied as she stood before the Princess of the Sun. "I do come as an emissary, as well as to see an end put to Eclipse. Much as I would wish to come with the blessing of my colony, though, it is a higher authority who guides me here."

Sungleam gave the thestral a warning look. "Guard thy tongue, Nyx. We spoke of this 'pon the road. Thou are only to share thy information, and not overburden her highness's heart with these fancies."

Celestia startled Sungleam by scoffing in derision at that notion. "And what burden could either of thee possibly place upon mine heart that would be more than a gnat's weight upon that which We already bear? If it is thy intention to preserve me from despair, Dame Sungleam, then thou art already a blundering incompetent of the highest order!"

Nyx stepped back in shock at Celestia's wrathful tone, but Sungleam regarded her sovereign with calm stoicism and simply bowed her head. "It is as you say, your highness."

Celestia looked down at Sungleam, and though the knight couldn't see it, the princess's expression twisted in self-loathing at her outburst before she hid it behind a mask of cold stoicism. "We trust that We are understood, then. Nyx, is it? Speak thy peace, and do so plainly or not at all."

For possibly the first time, Nyx showed signs of doubt in her mission. Nevertheless, she stepped forward and looked up at Celestia. "Your highness, before the evacuation, I was led to the village whose ponies your forces just saved. While there, I was fated to encounter Eclipse, so that I could report to you its true nature. Three fillies and I were chased by the monster until we took refuge in a cavern, where it could not follow."

Celestia tilted her head, Nyx's testimony having finally aroused her interest. "Speak on. What was it about this cavern which repelled the spirit?"

"Absolutely nothing, your highness," Nyx replied, "except that the sun's light did not reach its interior."

At that, Celestia bristled. "And what doest thou mean to imply by that? Eclipse is a spirit of darkness! It stole Our sister's moon to block Our light from the land!"

Nyx quickly shook her head. "Neigh, your highness. Eclipse is a being of shadow. It stole Princess Luna's moon not to bring darkness, but to cast a shadow across all the realm so that it might move freely. A shadow cannot exist in complete darkness any more than it can in direct light. This was revealed to me before, but I did not understand it until then."

"Revealed?" Celestia asked. "In what manner was this revealed to you?"

Nyx took a deep breath before answering. As confident as she had been before, facing the Sun Princess gave her pause for a moment. "It came to me in dreams, your highness. In them, Eclipse always stalked near you. For a time, I did not understand why, but now I do. Eclipse needs you because it fears what you might do. It sows war and despair in your kingdom so that a shadow will grow in your heart that it can inhabit. Once it takes you as it did your sister, it will have absolute control of the celestial bodies it needs to rule forever. That is why Princess Luna charged me with delivering this information to you!"

In the aftermath of Nyx's claim, the throne room fell utterly silent. Celestia's eyes widened with shock before narrowing on the thestral, her face struggling not to twist in absolute fury. "Dame Sungleam," she said softly, her voice cracking under the weight of the emotions she was trying to keep in check. "Remove this pony from Our sight, lest We do something which We fear We shall not regret."

Sungleam looked between her ruler and Nyx, and then moved toward the thestral. Instead of escorting her away, however, Sungleam drew up alongside Nyx and stood to face her sovereign. "Neigh, your highness. Instead, I beg thee to hear her further."

Once again, shock won out on Celestia's face at Sungleam's refusal. "What madness has overtaken you, Sungleam? For what purpose would you have Us listen to this false prophet whose words are a poisoned dagger in Our heart? Have you become so desperate that you would have me take council from mediums and hoof-readers as well?!"

Sungleam shook her head, just once. "Neigh, your highness, but I have seen first-hoof how she held Eclipse at bay. How it was weakened when pushed out of the shadowed light. I have seen her bravery against our enemy, so no, I am not desperate enough to seek out the advice of charlatans. However, I am precisely desperate enough to incur the wrath of the crown if it means that your highness will hear what must be done."

"AND WHAT WOULD THOU HAVE US DO, SUNGLEAM?" Celestia demanded in the Royal Canterlot Voice, which practically shook the theater with her anger. "SET THE SUN AND FORCE OUR SUBJECTS TO ENDURE THE COLD AND THE DARK IN THE HOPES THAT DOING SO WILL LEAD TO ECLIPSE'S DEMISE?!"

"Neigh, your highness," Sungleam replied, raising her voice to be heard over the echoes of her sovereign. "If Eclipse were to see the sun approach the horizon, it would hide itself away and wait, knowing that you would not abide the suffering of your little ponies. It would wait for the sun to rise once more, and then we would be right back where we began. I propose that we instead make it believe that it is in a position to claim thee. Draw Eclipse out into the open, and then when it has nothing to hide behind, instead of setting the sun... snuff it out."

"... Thou art mad... both of thee," Celestia said, her voice little more than a quavering whisper now. "'Tis dangerous enough to set the sun in this state, but to snuff it like a candle... such a thing has never been done. None know the sun and its power better than We, and to extinguish the sun, then to re-kindle its flame... who could believe that I even have that power?"

Behind the ponies, the image of Luna seemed to pulse with a momentary glow, and her whispering voice replied, "I do..." though the ponies showed no sign of hearing it.

"Princess Luna does," Nyx replied. "She believes, your highness."

Celestia's anger returned again at Nyx's words, and she practically snarled, "Again thou dares to speak Our sister's will? To claim that she speaks to thee and thee alone? If thou seest her face in thy dreams, then..." She choked back a sob before snapping, "Then why has she not visited in mine, these many nights I have spent by her side?! Is she punishing me for my failures?! What grants thee such insight over those who love her most dearly?"

Nyx looked up at Celestia, her ears flattening in sympathy at the sight of the princess's grief. "I... do not know, your highness." Turning to look up at the window bearing Luna's image, she explained, "I have never even seen her face or heard her voice. Not even in my dreams. There, I feel a... a 'presence'. When I was a filly, my mother would take me out of the colony to see the moon and stars at night. She would tell me of the majestic Princess of the Night who ruled over those skies, and it would never cease to fill me with awe and wonder.

"In my dreams of late, I am shown many things. You. Eclipse. The village in which I resided when Dame Sungleam met me. No matter what images are shown to me, though, I always feel that same presence of majesty, and I know that she still dreams. Even if I don't know why, those dreams led me where I needed to be to face Eclipse. They led me here, to help in any and every way that I can. I believe that I serve Princess Luna... and even if I am wrong, then please, let me do as I believe she would wish by helping the one pony she loves most in this world."

As Nyx turned away from the window to face Celestia, the image of Luna began to glow again. "Eclipse shan't have thee..." the whispered voice vowed.

Sungleam gave Nyx a nod as she stepped forward to address the princess. "And while I cannot say that I fully believe her, your majesty... so far as what she says about Eclipse's nature seems to ring true with what we have seen with our own eyes. Thus far, war has only touched our lands lightly. Nothing has been lost which cannot be rebuilt. If we can expose Eclipse and put an end to its slanderous manipulations, we can end this war before it consumes us. Nyx offers us our best chance, if we have the will to seize it."

While Sungleam spoke, a fast, pounding beat of drums and synthesizers built up in the background.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Take Back the Night
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Based on "Light Up the Night" by The Protomen)

Sungleam:

Eclipse's shadow dims the sun's light like the veil of a funeral shroud.

What happens when we cannot go on living and the last of our hope gives out?

If we fail then all is lost

but we cannot fail to try.

As it is, Equestria slowly dies.

Celestia:

To protect Our little ponies We would gladly give up our soul.

And give even more than that if We could but see Our dear sister whole!

Speak your peace and walk away.

Call me a coward if thou please...

Hollow words cannot persuade me

to follow such a plan.

Celestia clenched her eyes shut and flattened her ears to shut out the other ponies, but Nyx refused to back down as she stepped forward to plead with the Sun Princess.

Nyx:

Princess please...

Take back the night!

Don't turn away from what you know to be right!

I tell you Eclipse is afraid that you'll stand.

Afraid that you will not fall in the end.

Just trust in me. Your sister too.

It comes down to you.

You know it to be true.

Only you can take back the night.

The other stage lights dimmed, illuminating the three mares while also drawing the eyes of the audience to the stained-glass image of Luna, which seemed to pulse to the rhythm of the music. Even without her on stage, her voice rang out to join Nyx's.

(Luna:) Nyx:

(Eclipse hides in the shadows!)

Eclipse hides in the shadow that it's created through its theft of your sister's moon.

(But it's a pretender to my power.)

But it's a pretender to her power who is weakened by night's dark gloom.

(The deepest shadow needs a light.)

The deepest shadow needs a light. It needs the sun if it's to exist.

And with this knowledge we can resist.

I'm aware of your doubt,

but if you're willing to believe that Luna still dreams

(Believe in me and take a leap of faith)

believe in me and take a leap of faith.

Eclipse will wither up in the dark.

(If you deprive it of the light)

If you deprive it of the light, then it knows no shadow can be cast.

It preys on your fears and hopes to outlast.

Take it back.

Take back the night.

Though she showed no outward sign of being able to hear her sister's voice, Celestia's hard expression softened slightly, her ears picking up a little as if Nyx's pleas were beginning to pierce through the wall around her heart that her grief and mourning had built. Sungleam took advantage of that to help press their case.

Sungleam:

Don't turn away from what you know to be right.

I tell you Eclipse is afraid that you'll stand.

Afraid that you will not fall in the end.

All of our faith in you is true.

It all rests on you.

You can take back the night.

Luna:

Take back the night.

Take back the night.

Though still pained, Celestia felt her resolve weaken. While Nyx and Sungleam continued to sing, accompanied by Luna's voice, she looked up at the window bearing her sister's image.

Nyx:

Only you can take back the night!

Nyx, Sungleam & Luna:

Don't turn away from what you know to be right.

I tell you Eclipse is afraid that you'll stand.

Afraid that you will not fall in the end.

All of our faith in you is true.

It all rests on you.

You can take back the night.

Don't turn away from what you know to be right.

It casts a shadow in your heart and prays that you will falter, but our faith in you is true.

We will stand beside you.

Because you...

Because you...

You can take back the night.

At last, Celestia looked down, and shook her head. As painful as she might have found Nyx's claims, it was clear from the look on her face that there was only one true option to protect her little ponies.

Celestia:

I cannot turn from what I know to be right...

Deep in this shadow of my doubts, there's a voice that speaks to me. I hear it speak in my heart.

Luna's still in my heart,

and for her...

Yes, for her...

We will take back the night.

Author's Note

I absolutely love this song. This is the only case so far where I've done the re-written lyrics portion before writing out any of the framing story leading up to it.

Part 10 - The Shadow Falls

Lunar Eclipse: The Rock-Opera
by CrowMagnon

Up in their balcony, the royal sisters leaned against one another, gently nuzzling each other's cheeks to comfort one another as each had tears welling up in their eyes. As the curtains closed on the stage below, Luna asked Celestia, "Is that truly as it was for you, sister...? I am so sorry... It was never my intention to put you through such sorrow."

Smiling wistfully, which made the wrinkles at the corners of her eyes more pronounced, Celestia assured her sister, "Shush, you did nothing wrong, Luna. We are together now, and no monster will take us from each other again."

Luna nodded and sniffled, lowering her head to press her muzzle against her sister's shoulder. Celestia responded by wrapping one of her downy white wings around her. After a moment of being embraced like a filly being held by a mother pegasus, Luna asked, "Captain Sungleam... did she really stand up to you? I would have expected her to swallow her blade, first."

Celestia let out a soft, sad laugh. "Yes, I was as surprised as you were, though it took much more than a song to bring me back to a state where I was ready and able to truly listen to them." Looking down at the stage, she admitted, "In the moment, I treated her as though she were a traitor. I... reached a much lower point than they depicted on the stage, but Sungleam and Nyx withstood it long enough for me to hit bottom, then saw to it that I could raise myself up again. It is thanks to their efforts so long ago that we are together again today."

Luna shyly ducked her muzzle under her sister's wing. "This Nyx. I... I do not remember her. She saved those fillies and stood up to Eclipse in my name. She did so thinking that I guided her, but..."

Off to the side, Shining Armor continued to stare off into the distance as he softly muttered, "You will remember when time is right. The eye has seen it, and I have seen the eye. All shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well. Probably."

With a concerned tone, Princess Cadenza--who had been silent to allow the royal sisters to comfort one another--asked, "Shining, are you sure that you're alright? Maybe you should lay down for a bit."

"I can't," he replied. "The shadows are laughing."

Turning her eyes toward Shining Armor, Luna asked, "But our own laughter shall drown it out, shall it not?"

"Yes, when we all come home from the circus."

Celestia rolled her eyes as she recognized Shining Armor's symptoms. "I really shouldn't have to tell Pinkamena not to break my Captain of the Guard's sanity," she muttered under her breath, but then felt Luna's cheeks grow warmer against her feathers while her muzzle turned up into a hidden smile. Leaning in to nuzzle Luna's starry mane, she thought, Then again, I suppose that as long as it wears off soon, it wouldn't hurt to have somepony who can talk to Luna on her own terms for a while...

Especially with the scene to come.

Backstage, Dewdrop Decimal once again took a mental inventory of the spells she would need to use. It was her job to make it look convincingly like Fluttershy had alicorn magic, and though she had pulled it off numerous times in rehearsals, the incident with Rainbow Dash's griffon disguise had shaken her confidence. Her friend Spot Light was by her side, though, providing support.

The earth pony fashionista nudged her and said, "Don't worry about a thing. You just had a brain fart earlier, but you've done this before. Your special effects are going to be amazing, because I'm right here... and I will personally wring your neck if anything goes wrong with this production after all the work I put into those costumes."

If the desired effect was to keep Dewdrop from getting lost inside her own head, it worked as the librarian was jolted out of her ruminating by the harsh tone and glare of her friend. The funny thing was that, even though she wasn't entirely sure that Spot Light was kidding, that just made Dewdrop snort with laughter, easing her tension. "You never change, do you?"

Spot Light gave a haughty sniff and smirked at her friend. "Why should I? I'm awesome! And now your awesome friend is going to go get us some drinks. Just remember that I will throttle you if given just cause."

Dewdrop grinned and waved Spot Light off. "I know, I know," she replied, musing (not for the first time) about the earth pony's seemingly tenuous grasp on the concept of what it meant to be a good friend. "But it's okay. I'll do fine," she said aloud to nopony in particular.

"Of course you will, my little pony," nopony replied as a crimson hand reached down to pat her on the head. "You will give them a show they will never forget."

"Time fer the big finish," Fiddlesticks mused to her fellow musicians. "Y'all ready for it?"

"Buck yeah! That last song went great. Now we just need to carry it through the finale," Vinyl exclaimed enthusiastically. Despite the earlier problems with the production, things had been going well enough that the DJ was feeling confident again. "How about you, Tavs? Ready to rock?"

Octavia stared flatly at Vinyl. The refined earth pony, whose every conscious movement exuded class and poise, stood up on her hind legs as she raised up her forelegs, each of which had a drumstick strapped to them. "Da. Ve vill make many ponies veep this night."

Vinyl snickered. "That's the Stalliongrad cheer we know and love. Let's do this thing!"

Pinkamena stood in front of the closed curtains. Despite the blinding spotlight, she looked around at the shapes of ponies in their seats and spoke to them.

"With Princess Celestia's acceptance of their plan, Nyx and Sungleam set to work preparing for the battle to come. Not against the armies that marched upon Equestria's borders, but against the enemy of all creatures. They knew that if Eclipse were to gain full control over both sun and moon, it would not stop with the subjugation of the ponies. With nothing left to fear from the royal sisters, it would no longer have to resort to manipulation and trickery to seize power over the entire realm.

"They would journey with the princess, taking only a small retinue of guards with them. The majority of Equestria's armies would hold the line in defense of the kingdom while Princess Celestia went out to face the minotaurs' commander. None but Celestia, Sungleam and Nyx knew the true purpose of this action, and those left behind thought that their princess had finally gone mad with grief. Rumors were whispered in the halls of Canterlot that the shadow of despair had grown so great in Celestia's heart that she now sought her own death at the hands and hooves of Equestria's enemies.

"Princess Celestia, Sungleam, and Nyx were the only ponies who knew the truth. That these whispers would make their way to Eclipse, and lure the fiend to them. Once it drew near, it would not be able to resist.

"There was no chance that it would resist the temptation, for these three knew what other ponies only speculated. They knew that a shadow grew in Princess Celestia's heart."

With those ominous words said, Pinkamena stepped off of the stage. The curtains drew open behind her to reveal Fluttershy, Twilight and Nocturne in their guises as they stood against a backdrop of rolling hills illuminated by the eclipsed sun.

Fluttershy, standing tall and proud as Celestia, lifted her wings high. "How fares thy blade, Dame Sungleam?"

Using her magic, Twilight drew her sword from its scabbard and made several twirling swings of the blade, which seemed to glow under the spotlights. "Well enough, your highness. Sundrinker sips slowly upon this shadowed light, but it shall shine brightly when it is needed."

Celestia nodded. "Very good. Just remember... if Eclipse were to actually claim my body and magic as it did my sister's, all would be lost."

Sungleam stomped her hoof at that. "It is my duty to ensure that such a thing never comes to pass, your highness. I swear upon my very soul that your sister shall sit upon Equestria's throne long after Eclipse and the events of this day are nothing more than a nightmare evaporated by the morning's waking light."

To that, Celestia gave Sungleam a tired smile. "I thank you, Sungleam..." Turning her head toward the thestral on her other side, she added, "And you as well, Nyx. Whether it be providence or fancy which set you on this path, I am still unsure. That you have brought hope to Equestria and the realms beyond, however, is no longer in question."

Instead of responding, Nyx simply stood with her large ears trained on the far distance. After several seconds, Sungleam sternly told her, "Nyx! A compliment received from a princess of Equestria is best returned with gratitude!"

As if woken from a daydream, Nyx shook her head. "Oh? My apologies. I heard the minotaurs' commander approaching from beyond the hill." Pointing a hoof out, she added, "See? He comes now bearing the white flag."

Sungleam narrowed her eyes. "He seeks to parley? Be wary, your highness. He may serve as a host to that parasite, and be hiding behind the white flag as a ploy to bring Eclipse near you."

"Perhaps, but whatever occurs, we must not be the ones to make the first strike. 'Twas my attack upon Eclipse when it wore the body of the griffon ambassador which turned our allies against us. To do so again toward a commander who flies the flag of parley would only make their cause more righteous in their eyes."

"Understood, your highness," Sungleam replied, though her horn and the hilt of her sword both glowed with the aura of her magic, demonstrating that she was keeping it at the ready.

Moments later, Iron Will stepped onto the stage once more, though his armor had bright red epaulets added onto the shoulders, as well as a red cape. He held a large battle axe, but did so with the blade held down and a white flag tied to the butt end. Soon, he and 'Celestia' were facing one another. When he spoke, his voice was as booming as ever, but it was obvious that he was trying to affect a tone that was less gruff and more cultured.

"Princess Celestia! I didn't expect to see you until we marched on Canterlot. Certainly not without more ponies than this at your side. Have you come to surrender the sun and moon for the sake of your subjects?"

Celestia looked up at the minotaur and proclaimed, "As a matter of fact, We have. But not to thee." When the minotaur tensed, she elaborated, "Please understand that We would not even know how to grant stewardship of the sun and moon to thee. What We have done is taken steps to return the spells for raising the sun and moon back to the unicorn tribe. Once We have been removed, these spells shall be spread throughout the populace."

The minotaur asked, "'Removed?' You're stepping down from the throne, then?"

To that, Celestia shook her head. "Neigh. Our magic... Our very life force is inextricably bound to the sun. To give Our little ponies the spells would be meaningless so long as We live. Dame Sungleam."

Sungleam winced and turned her gaze down to the ground at her hooves, but she drew her crystal blade, Sundrinker. The minotaur commander reflexively tensed and began to raise his axe, but hesitated when the sword levitated in the air with its edge aimed not at him, but at Celestia herself.

"Once We are gone," Celestia calmly told the minotaur, "there will no longer be any creature in all the realm that will be able to claim sole dominion over the celestial bodies. That duty will fall upon the unicorns once more, and together they will be able to overpower any would-be usurper."

The commander stared for a few moments, then lowered his axe once more. "They told me you were crazy. Seems they were right... but at least this is a kind of crazy I can respect."

Celestia asked, "And will this satisfy thee? We are the one who has offended thee and thy people. When We are gone, will thou extend thy hand toward my little ponies with the open palm of friendship, rather than the fist of war?"

The minotaur replied, "I'll be honest with you, Princess. A few of the brass back home will complain, but mostly we just want the day and night back on schedule. What you're offering here is honorable, so as long as we work things out with the unicorns, anytaur that tries to push an invasion will see the blade of my axe up close. By Minos, Taura and Aurox, I give you my word of honor on that."

Celestia gave a relieved smile at that. "We thank thee, commander." She then raised her head high and closed her eyes. "Captain Sungleam. Please do thy duty."

Spot Light returned with three cups of tea balanced on a tray on her back. She wasn't sure why she had brought three, though. Aside from herself and Dewdrop, there was nopony.

Ignoring her, nopony leaned down to whisper into Dewdrop's ear, "It's time." He then placed his hand upon her head once more, and this time it felt as though something had pushed through skull and began clawing at her brain.

Spot Light let out a startled yelp, rearing back and spilling the hot tea on the floor as her friend's body shuddered and twisted as though under the effects of some sort of seizure. It was no mere seizure that caused her horn to flare up, though. Her eyes shone with a painfully bright golden light as she began to rise up into the air, a powerful magical surge wracking her form.

Celestia took a deep breath and sighed as she watched the play down below. The aged alicorn had told her sister about how Eclipse had been defeated and exiled the first time, so Luna knew what was going to happen. To hear it spoken and to see it play out before her eyes were two very different things, however.

Not that it was particularly difficult for Celestia to bear, and she had been present for those events. Despite Lt. Sparkle's fears, there had been many, many dramatizations of Eclipse's defeat over the past thousand years. Pinkamena's approach to the subject was novel, but certainly no more traumatizing than some of the interpretations that she had seen over the centuries.

While she thought on the topic, however, Princess Celestia's enjoyment of the play was interrupted by a bright flash which forced her to close her eyes.

When she opened them again, she was no longer in the theater. She could no longer feel Luna pressed up against her side. Instead, she gazed out upon grassy hills in the dim light of a darkened sky. Looking up, Celestia gasped at the sight of the sun... her sun blocked from view by her sister's moon.

"No!" From just beneath her gaze, a raspy voice slithered into her ears. "No, no, no! Celestia belongs to me!" Tilting her head down, the Sun Princess's pupils shrank, and she let out a terrified, gasping wheeze as she saw Sundrinker, her former Captain's crystal blade, pointed at her throat. That was not what scared her, however.

That dubious honor belonged to the tendrils of blackest shadow which curled around the sword's hilt, and the loathesome beast from which they emanated.

Eclipse snarled up at her as it wrested Sungleam's blade from the unicorn's magical grip, and with a single twist of its tendrils, Celestia's ears were filled with the sound of Sundrinker sinking deep into pony flesh.

Rainbow Dash grinned, hearing the gasps of the crowd after her trick of rising up from under a hidden floor panel so that she could grab the prop sword in her mouth and turn it on 'Sungleam'. The trick blade did its job, with the tip collapsing inward when jammed against Twilight's armor. She was pretty sure that she could hear Spike crying out particularly loudly, though, so she just hoped that the little guy wouldn't have nightmares about it.

If he did, Rarity would kill her.

"Aurox's horns...!" Behind her, Iron Will hefted up his axe again. "It's real!"

"Sungleam! No," Nocturne shouted, throwing herself at Rainbow Dash, who jumped out of the way and used her good wing to give her some extra distance.

Twilight brought a hoof up to her chest, holding it over where she had been 'stabbed'. Some rudimentary sleight-of-hoof and a small packet of thick red dye provided the illusion of bleeding as Twilight coughed and pretended to struggle to stay upright.

At the same time, Fluttershy shrieked, "Eclipse, you monster! I stand right here before thee! Thou had no need to harm her!"

"But I did," Rainbow Dash retorted around the hilt in her mouth with a tone of false concern. "That interfering nag was going to kill you before I could show you my love! That power of yours belongs to me, not a herd of horned rabble!" A bellow from Iron Will prompted her to juke to the right as his prop axe swung down right where she had been standing. With a hiss, she crouched low. "You would turn your blade on me, commander? Fine! I was going to offer you a reward for the services you minotaurs have done for me, but now, once Princess Celestia and I are one, your people will be shown no mercy!"

"LIKE I CARE," Iron Will bellowed. "You play my people for fools, I teach you the rules! And rule one is: Lead a minotaur by the nose, expect to get the horns!"

"Fine then," Rainbow Dash replied. "I'll just kill you first, then take Celestia for myself once you're out of the way!"

Before she could make good on that threat, though, a golden beam of magic shot at the stage near her hooves. "NEIGH, THOU SHAN'T!" Fluttershy proclaimed. "Thou art exposed, villain! Thou hast veiled thyself behind shrouds of lies and doubt, but the time when thou couldst hide in the shadows is passed! The era of Eclipse ends now!"

While the audience below were enraptured by the performance, leaning forward in their seats to see the grand finale, the spells granting privacy to Equestria's princesses prevented anypony from noticing that Celestia had begun to sob uncontrollably. The eldest princess let out a loud, guttural whine as she thrashed about in her seat, her great wings knocking aside the startled guards who attempted to keep her from harming herself.

Luna, Cadenza and Shining Armor had modestly better luck once the stallion was pulled out of his Pinkamena-induced stupor to respond to the situation. By forming a magical shield around her, Shining Armor was able to at least keep Celestia from falling out of the balcony. Nothing seemed to stop the tears from flowing down her face, however, as she let out a grief-stricken wail while her eyes seemed focused on something far away.

In the midst of their panic, nopony stood calmly at the balcony's entrance. A cruel smirk spread across his face as even Luna and Cadenza failed to notice him, and he leaned in to tell Celestia, "You know what you have to do..."

... Snuff it out.

Princess Celestia felt as though her heart were about to split open. She could see Nyx struggling to keep Captain Sungleam from bleeding out onto the grass while the minotaurs and griffons that had been invited to meet with her on that fateful day did battle with the foul shadow alongside her small contingent of bodyguards.

She tried to remind herself that it could not be happening again. These were events that had played out a thousand years prior, but it was all so vivid to her senses that to the greater part of her mind, she had been sent back in the flesh to relive that painful memory. All that she could feel was grief over her failure to sense Eclipse hiding in the shadow of her dearest retainer, and the terror of having seen it rise up from Sungleam's shadow to pierce the faithful knight's lung with her own blade.

The same blade that Celestia gifted Sungleam with for her loyal service had been wielded by Eclipse against her, just as that monster had taken advantage of Celestia's failure to properly respond to her sister's growing desire for responsibility and acknowledgement. Eclipse may have been the enemy of them all, but Celestia had given it the weapons it needed to succeed.

But no more.

Letting out a cry of rage and grief, Celestia reached outward and upward toward the sun. At the same time, she reached inward to the core of her being where the spark at the core of that celestial body had been made one with her by the Elements of Harmony all those centuries ago. She held the sun with her magic. It surrounded her completely.

When Nyx and Sungleam had come to her with the idea, had they realized how integral she and the sun were to one another? How much like a death it was for her to reach into her very soul, where the giver of light and life burned inside her, and to squeeze that ember until it sputtered and faded into oblivion?

Even if they had, Celestia had been driven to the point where she did not fear death, so long as it ensured Eclipse's destruction. She began to squeeze, and the sun's light flickered in the sky above.

Luna shuddered and gasped, feeling a powerful magical imbalance coming from her sister, even through Shining Armor's shield. Though her own domain was the opposite of Celestia's, the two sisters were close enough in heart and spirit to sense when something was truly wrong. "The sun! She is trying to extinguish it," she blurted out.

Nearby, nopony continued to whisper to Celestia. "You want to see Luna again, don't you? You want to make Eclipse suffer and perish? Yes, you know what to do. Grasp the sun... hold it in your magic and--"

Without warning, a pair of steel hoofguards slammed into nopony's face with enough force to knock him away from Celestia. "Shut! Up!" Shining Armor snapped, looking straight at him. "We are trying to watch the play!"

Rubbing his jaw with a crimson hand, nopony looked up at Shining Armor in utter bafflement. "Wha... what?! How can you see me?"

"I have seen the eye," Shining Armor replied. "I saw you in its reflection... I know... I... I think I know..." Shining shook his head as his brain felt like a leg that he had slept on improperly, and he was now getting the pins-and-needles sensation of blood flow returning to it. In the process, the world slowly grew more focused around him, even as the presence of the creature before him grew more indistinct.

"Shining, who are you talking to?" Princess Cadenza asked frantically. "There's nopony there, and we need your help with aunt Celestia!"

Luna also looked in the same direction as Shining Armor, though, and tilted her head quizzically. "Nopony, or... no pony...?" She narrowed her eyes at where nopony was sprawled upon the floor.

For a moment, there was nopony to meet her gaze. But only for a moment. After that, nopony sank into the shadows and the darkness, and then there was nothing there at all.

Celestia closed her eyes, and felt as though she were trapped in a vice. Merely putting a small amount of pressure on the sun was agonizing.

Sister, calm yourself.

Celestia's eyes opened, and she looked around. All about her was battle and death. Ponies, minotaurs and griffons alike lay wounded or worse upon the grassy hills, as Eclipse was proving to be unbeatable beneath the moon's shadow. Even so, for a moment, she could have sworn that she heard--

'Tis but a show, sister. We can leave if you need to.

Luna's voice. But not quite the shy, timid tone that she most associated with her younger sister. Besides, Luna was gone. Stolen from her by the monster that now terrorized the battlefield, and if nothing was done, it would--

Very well, then. Tia, you leave me little recourse!

Despite the dire scene playing out before her, Celestia heard the sound of her sister inhaling deeply, then blowing into something. Just as Eclipse tossed a griffon spearman aside and turned its baleful gaze upon her, the alicorn's senses were overwhelmed by a loud explosion.

At the same time, while Spot Light fretfully looked around and practically danced in place trying to find somepony to help, the light went out in Dewdrop's eyes. The blond-maned unicorn collapsed back to the floor, looking thoroughly exhausted and slightly singed.

"Dewdrop? Dewdrop, talk to me," Spot Light said, quickly propping up her friend's head. "Say something, or Luna help me, I will strangle you!"

Dewdrop coughed, which transitioned into a weak chuckle. "You've... really got to come up with some more imaginative threats," she told the fashionista before rubbing her forehead. "What happened? Felt like..."

"... A crazy magic surge out of nowhere?" When a panicked look crossed Dewdrop's face, Spot Light hastily replied, "Nopony saw... not sure how we got that lucky, but you just zoned out when I came back with the tea and went nuts! I don't even know how you kept the special effects on stage going, or what you were doing with all that magic, aside from pumping out a lot of it. I don't even care if it ruins the big finale, we need--"

Dewdrop blinked, her eyes widening. "The finale? We haven't done that yet? Ack! I need to--"

"You need to get to a doctor," Spot Light asserted.

Dewdrop shook her head. "No! No doctors, you know that! I... I'll be fine. I'm just a little frazzled. Just let me get some caffeine in my system and..." She trailed off as she looked at the tea her friend had brought, now spilled on the floor. She tilted her head when she spotted something puzzling, and asked, "Spot? Why did you bring three cups?"

Meanwhile, the ponies on stage were utterly oblivious to the drama occurring out of sight. When 'Celestia' snuffed out the sun, plunging the stage into darkness, ultraviolet bulbs replaced the stage lights to illuminate the actors by making them seem to glow in the otherwise blackened stage. Even the illusion surrounding Rainbow Dash caused 'Eclipse' to appear to be glowing a deep violet color that made her visible to the audience.

Eclipse writhed upon the ground, Eclipse let out an ear-piercing shriek. Despite weakening in the total darkness, it managed to find its bearings and begin shambling toward Celestia. "No! You can't... escape me, Celestia! Join me! Join... your sister! Together we'll... re-ignite the sun... and rule this world forever!"

Celestia, looking similarly exhausted from the spell she had just cast, defiantly replied, "Never... Thou shall never have me, monster!"

Eclipse drew closer to the princess and raised Sundrinker up. "You can't stop me...! That shadow in your heart... all that guilt... all that self-loathing... it's inviting me in. You can deny it... but part of you wants me to claim you and take away all that pain! All I need... is to open a doorway!"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Shadow Falls
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Based on "The Fall" by The Protomen)

Before Eclipse could strike with the crystal blade, Nyx cried out, "Sungleam! Do it!" A beam of purple magic momentarily lit up the stage, striking Sundrinker and knocking it away from Eclipse. This action was accompanied by the peal of an electric guitar, accompanied by synthesizers and pounding drums.

"Still have... a bit of fight to share with thee," Sungleam retorted with a chuckle that turned into a wracking cough. "'Tis your turn, Nyx!"

"I know," the thestral replied, flapping her wings and flying toward Eclipse. Weakened as it was, the shadowy fiend was unable to do more than hiss in protest as Nyx grabbed onto it and began to rise up into the air. As Eclipse was dragged higher, thrashing and cursing against Nyx's grip, the actors below raised their heads and voices.

Fly

Fly

"This is... pointless!" Eclipse shrieked. "I'll just... take you for my new body... then fly down and claim Celestia!

"If you could, you would have already," Nyx replied. "You'll find no shadow in my heart!"

Into the night, where shadows

Eclipse continued to struggle. "How? How?! Do you honestly believe that your precious Luna sent you on this quest? She did not! Her soul has been digesting within me this entire time! I am all that is left of Luna!"

"Maybe... but maybe not. I won't know for sure until we've gotten rid of you for good," Nyx replied, lifted higher and higher by the song that the others sang.

Can never be cast. Rise up high...

Eclipse snarled at the thestral. "And that... is something you will never accomplish!"

Pushing against Nyx with all its strength, Eclipse was able to twist out of the thestral's grip and began tumbling back to the ground below. After shaking it off, Nyx quickly turned around and began flying down after it.

Fly

Fly

Into the night, where shadows

Can never be cast. Rise up high...

Down below, Sungleam limped on three legs toward Celestia while keeping one hoof pressed against her wound. The minotaur commander joined them, and knelt down to keep the unicorn propped up. Between tired coughs, Sungleam told her sovereign, "Your highness... you have to... finish... now, while... while Nyx has Eclipse..."

Celestia frowned and made a face of intense concentration, gritting her teeth as she struggled. "I... I can't," she exclaimed, dropping the royal 'we'. "When I extinguished the sun, its spark inside me died as well. Just as it was with the Elements of Harmony when I failed to save my sister with them... Without that spark, I have no means of re-igniting it!"

"You mean you snuffed out the sun without a backup plan?!" the minotaur bellowed in disbelief. Reaching for his belt, he pulled out a dagger. "Even a greenhorn knows you don't go to war with only one weapon!"

As the music swelled louder, Sungleam let out a tortured laugh. "A... backup weapon...? A spark...? Heh... I brought... both!" Tilting her head toward Sundrinker, she used her magic to pick up the crystal blade. "Sundrinker... has enough sunlight stored in it... for a spark," she said, punctuating it with a wracking cough that caused the blade to waver in the air.

Celestia looked to her knight and smiled. "If it shines as brightly as its wielder, it will be more than enough," she told Sungleam. "But as I am now, you will need to channel its power into the very core of my being. Do you understand what that entails, Dame Sungleam...?"

The unicorn gave her princess a single nod, which seemed to be all that she could offer. "You will... see your sister again. I... swear it... your highness," she managed to wheeze out before plunging Sundrinker into Celestia's chest. Celestia threw her head back when it struck her heart, and the three of them sang up to the sky.

Fly

Fly

High above, Eclipse tumbled through a sky blacker than night, using what strength it had to guide its descent toward Celestia. Right behind it, Nyx clenched her jaw and put everything that she had into catching up to the shadow. As she gained velocity, the friction of her speeding body against the atmosphere caused colorful sparks to start forming in front of her.

Into the night, where shadows

Can never be cast. Rise up high...

Down below, Sungleam channeled her magic into Sundrinker, which began to glow with a bright golden shine. Quickly growing bright enough that it was uncomfortable to look at directly in the darkened theater, it poured its light into Celestia, whose horn began to glow with the same intensity.

And when the sun shines

On the land, look up and you'll see the shadow's fall.

Celestia then tilted her horn straight up toward Eclipse just as Nyx, surrounded by an aura of rainbow-colored sparks, caught up to it. A beam of sunlight shot up from Celestia's horn at the same time the prismatic energy coalesced around Nyx.

Eclipse was caught in the middle when Nyx seemed to explode in a colorful burst of magic, and the thestral ended up passing by Eclipse completely as she tilted up to fly over the audience, trailing rainbow sparks behind her like a comet.

At the same time, Eclipse let out an agonizing scream as it was struck by Celestia's beam, which lit up the theater and sent the shadow hurtling upward toward the backdrop's moon. When the bright beam of light finally faded, there was no sign of Eclipse, but the moon was marked with an amorphous shadow.

After doing a few laps around the theater, Nyx flew back to the stage and looked up at the sky, which began to brighten again. "You did it, your highness! You re-ignited the sun and destroyed Eclipse!"

"Neigh... not destroyed," Celestia replied. "The effort of restoring the sun left me too weak to destroy it utterly, but look! It is now banished to the moon's shadow."

Celestia's horn glowed, and before everypony's eyes, the sun and moon began to drift away from one another. It seemed to take some considerable effort on her part, but as she separated the two celestial bodies and moved them to opposite ends of the sky, the dark blot on the moon's face faded away.

"Now, Eclipse will nevermore trouble Equestria, or any nation in the realm," the princess said with a weary, but relieved sigh. "So long as the sun and moon do not meet and cast their shadow upon the land, that fiend will never be able to escape its prison. My sister and I shall see to it that the cycle of day and night resumes so that such a thing can never occur." Turning toward the minotaur commander, she asked, "I... hope that this is the end of Equestria's troubles...?"

The commander looked at the dagger in his hand, then returned it to its sheathe. "My soldiers and I'll spread the word about what happened here today, princess. And how Eclipse tried to make saps out of us in the first place. Way I figure it, we owe you ponies for putting day and night back on track. It helps you've got some darn good soldiers on your side." He patted Sungleam, who was still leaning against him.

As he did so, this jostled the unicorn enough that her hooves slid out from under her. Sungleam slumped lifelessly to the ground with a heavy thud.

The curtains closed, and from behind them, the audience could hear Celestia cry out in a choking voice, "Sungleam? Sungleam, open your eyes!"

Author's Note

Whew, this one almost got away from me a couple of times. Even though the song itself doesn't have many lyrics to it, I needed to try to capture the proper emotion and feel of a final battle between our heroes and Eclipse, which required a lot of setup, as well as a couple of re-writes to get it going in the right direction.

It also felt like the right time for the efforts of our mysterious meddler to come to a head, and show what he was after something much bigger than simply messing with a stage production. I'm sure there are still plenty of questions, but I'll try to wrap that up as much as is fitting by the end of the story.

Because even though we've had the big climax, there's still the aftermath.

Part 11 - Luna's Return

Lunar Eclipse: The Rock-Opera
by CrowMagnon

"Nngh... my ears..."

Luna smiled nervously, her ears flattening as she lowered her head in contrition. "I apologize, sister, but you seemed in a dire state. I had to wake you somehow."

Celestia shook her head, the images of battles from the distant past fading from her mind like a bad dream. "No, no, I believe you Luna. I don't even know what came over me. One moment I was simply watching our little ponies' play, and the next it was as if I were..." Glancing down at the shredded scraps of rubber at her hooves, she elected to change topics. "Why did you even have a balloon in the first place?"

Luna smiled as she magically pulled several uninflated balloons from under her regalia. "A gift from Fluttershy 'pon our last meeting! If I ever have cause to think that I might be once more trapped in the realm of dreams, I only need to blow into one until it bursts. If I do not jolt awake from the noise, then it means that I am still in the waking world."

"Well, it certainly worked. That was good thinking," Shining Armor interjected, having largely recovered his sense of lucidity. He grinned warmly toward Luna, whose cheeks flushed a deep purple from the praise before hiding them behind one of her wings.

On the other side of the eldest alicorn, Princess Cadenza fretted, "I'm just concerned about you, auntie. I know you've seen plays about this story before, but this is the first time you've done so since the attack on Canterlot. Maybe that opened up old scars? We should probably leave."

Princess Celestia shook her head. "No... no, that wouldn't do. How would our dear Captain's sister react if she found out I left early?"

Somehow, Shining Armor's white coat somehow managed to turn a shade paler. "The words 'doom spiral' spring to mind," he replied, eliciting a sad little smile from Celestia.

"And we can't have that. Don't worry, Cadance. I'll be sure to get a check-up tomorrow, but for now we'll just enjoy the rest of the play. But, Shining Armor?"

"Yes, Princess?"

Celestia narrowed her eyes and ordered, "I just want to be sure about something. Send your fastest messengers to the Gates of Tartaros. There are creatures there who would fight in the battlefield of the mind, and I want to be absolutely certain that they are all right where they belong."

Shining Armor's eyes widened with startlement at the mention of Tartaros, where the most vicious fiends and criminals alive were imprisoned. When he realized that she was serious, he nodded and turned to one of the pegasi assigned to the small guard detail he had brought with him. "Sentry, you can get there and back faster than it would take to relay to a messenger in Canterlot. You know the route?"

Flash Sentry snapped a salute. "Yes, sir. Back in a 'flash', Captain!"

Once he was gone, Shining Armor brought a hoof to his forehead. "I still can't believe Twiley dated that guy," he muttered to the quiet amusement of the other ponies present. He then noticed Princess Celestia rising to her hooves. "Princess?"

"Come with me, Captain Armor. The rest of you can stay here. We just need a minute to take care of one little thing."

Meanwhile, Iron Will cradled Twilight Sparkle in his arms and carried her off the stage. Once the scene was over and the ranger no longer had anything to do, she had turned into a jelly-kneed pile of nerves. "I'm sorry... this is so embarassing," she muttered.

"Eh, don't worry about it. You aren't the first pony I've had to carry off the stage after a big show." The mintaur laughed and shifted his grip to ruffle Twilight's mane. "You saved your breakdown for after the curtains closed, so trust me, you did everything right."

Twilight laughed a little at that and lightly hoof-punched Iron Will in the shoulder. "Well... there is that, I suppose. I just..."

From not too far away, Twilight heard Princess Celestia say, "Rise, my little ponies." This elicited a startled squeak from the unicorn, who immediately teleported out of Iron Will's grip. She misjudged her distance from the floor, however, and didn't have time to right herself before landing on her back. She winced and looked up, finding herself staring straight into the violet eyes of the princess herself. "Hello, Lieutenant. Allow me to help you up," she said with an amused smile.

Twilight let out a small, nervous laugh as Celestia lifted her up in the golden aura of her magic, righting her and setting her back down near Dewdrop and Spot Light. "What... what brings you back here, Princess...?" She hung her head low and closed her eyes. "If... if my performance distressed you in any way..."

"No, Twilight, quite the opposite. I am here to thank you," Celestia assured her, reaching out with a hoof to raise the unicorn's head. Celestia looked at her whitened coat and shining blonde mane fondly. "You know, I have seen many Sungleams over the years, but so few truly bring her spirit to life as you did tonight."

Twilight looked upon Celestia's beaming, motherly face and felt her eyes watering as though she were looking into the sun itself. "I just... Waking Night... I never wanted to hurt you..." she whispered.

"I know, Twilight. But trust me when I say that the role you played was one of my favorite parts of the entire production." Bringing her hoof to her chest, Celestia looked down and smiled. "The scars I bear will always be a reminder of those times, but I have never once regretted them. Do you know why?"

When Twilight slowly shook her head, Celestia answered. "Because they always remind me of a pony who was the very embodiment of loyalty. A pony who loved Equestria... and its princess... to the very end, and beyond. It is because these scars exist that our realm was never ruled by Eclipse. My sister and dearest friends have returned to me. Equestria is already beginning to experience changes which could usher in a true golden age of harmony and prosperity. Because of these scars, I may yet live to see that come to pass. So thank you, Twilight. From the bottom of my heart, I thank you."

Celestia tilted her head downward in gratitude, causing Twilight's mouth to hang open. "I... no, but... I..."

Stepping out from behind the princess, Shining Armor teased, "A compliment received from a princess of Equestria is best returned with gratitude, remember? Or maybe it's the other way around in this case."

Startled out of her stammering, Twilight's face flushed as she gave Celestia a formal bow, as she had many times under her brother's command. "It was an honor, your highness. I-I'm happy you enjoyed it."

Celestia smiled warmly, then looked around. "Well then, I'm quite looking forward to seeing the finale. Take care, my little ponies." In a flash of magic, both she and Shining Armor vanished from sight.

Celestia re-materialized in her seat with Shining Armor at her side shortly after the curtains had already re-opened. Down below, a single spotlight shone directly down on 'Luna' as she lay in repose on a bed of silken sheets. Resting on her chest was a replica of her music box from before. Its tinkling melody slowly played while Celestia's on-stage counterpart, along with 'Nyx', sat at her bedside.

The stage Celestia trembled, clearly struggling to keep herself from sobbing.

"This was to be our happy ending," Celestia said, her voice pained and halting. "You... you were to open your eyes... and you would see me. And Captain Sungleam, and Nyx here, who fought so bravely in your name... You were to see us and smile. I was never supposed to lay another sister to rest. Especially not on the same day that we lost such a treasured friend as Sungleam was..."

Turning toward Nyx, Celestia snapped, "And thou! Thou strode up to me, speaking as though thou were meant to be some sort of chosen hero! Thou gave us hope, and Sungleam died for it! What doest thou have to say? What further venom doest coat thy poisonous tongue!"

Nyx didn't even look at Celestia. Instead, she stared at Luna's sleeping form while the music box's tune wound down, to be replaced by the strum of a guitar. It was a brief refrain of the song she had sung back in the earth pony village, but quieter. Sadder.

"I won't give up, princess," Nyx vowed. "Eclipse is gone, but things still aren't back to the way they should be. Without you, there are going to be things that think they can prey on ponies in the night. I won't let them. I won't give up on believing that you'll wake up and take the night back. Until that time comes, I'll keep it safe for your little ponies."

With that, Nyx slowly turned and walked away into the darkness while the guitar faded into a dark, heavy tone of Vinyl's synthesizers. Celestia let out a pained moan before shouting, "Aye, leave! LEAVE! Thou hast brought naught but misery upon us! If ever we lay eyes upon thee again..."

Rather than form the implied threat into words, Celestia slowly turned toward Luna and took a deep breath.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Luna's Return
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Based on "Here Comes the Arm" by The Protomen)

Sister dear... I would not bring you pain

But there is something I must say.

For your foregiveness, I... I cannot start to ask.

I do not even dare to pray.

Sungleam died, so sure she'd save us,

Gave her life so there would be another day,

But, foolish mare, that life was spent in vain...

Her life was spent in vain.

Celestia brought a hoof to her chest and winced in pain, the wounds still fresh.

Though my heart still beats, the spark is dim.

I can feel it fade in time.

I know one day that it will die,

And the light will die with me.

I feel as though our foe Eclipse still has a hold on me,

That even now it laughs at us,

And there is naught that I can do.

And while Celestia lamented her loss and failure, another shape once more stepped out of the darkness. Its tendrils writhing around it, Eclipse crept out of the shadows behind Celestia. A scream from the front row startled her, and it was soon echoed by other fretful voices from the audience as she turned around to see the monster returned.

Instead of cringing in fear or lashing out against Eclipse, however, Celestia started to step toward it.

And even now, the shadows fall upon my heart,

And all our victories mean nothing.

Eclipse had won right from the start.

Let us put an end to the fighting.

At least we won't be apart.

Take me...

Take me...

Just let it end.

There was very little distance between Celestia and Eclipse to begin with, but what little there was slowly diminished as Celestia took slow, resolute steps toward the shadow. Eclipse also reached out to her, its tendrils stretching toward the Princess of the Sun before a second, pale beam of light shot down from above to surround Eclipse, accompanied by the quiet, wistful intrusion of a piano.

Eclipse recoiled back, hissing as though it had been struck. It made feral, furtive motions toward Celestia, but was unable to move beyond the pillar of moonlight that now surrounded it. Soon, the piano was joined by another voice which caused Celestia to simply stop in her tracks and slowly turn her head toward the bed where her sister lay.

Though Luna continued to sleep, not moving even to breathe, it was her voice that pierced through the gloom.

Luna:

Sister, please, do not give in.

This is not all that you have left.

Remember our dear friends and the dreams we shared.

We are not dead and gone.

We shall return one day,

And when we wake up, you'll be there

To say, "Welcome home," I pray.

Eclipse has no claim on us that we do not allow.

My soul remains my own.

When Harmony returns, you'll see

The bright rainbow through the dark.

You can not give up hope.

You can not give up hope!

All around the stage, similar pillars of light began to appear, ever so slowly, revealing that Celestia was not alone. Dim as they were, it seemed as though the princess were surrounded on all sides by shadowy silhouettes. Instead of supporting Eclipse, however, they sang out with Luna.

(Chorus:) Luna:

(You can not)

You can not

As the lights brightened around each of the silhouettes, they could be more clearly seen. Instead of shadows, they were ponies. Nyx. The earth pony mayor. The trio of fillies that Nyx had saved, though thankfully few noticed the tail end of Scootaloo's cape sticking out from the back of her peasant clothes, or how hastily she had been put back into costume.

(You can not)

You can not

From out of the darkness, another light shone through the pitch black. This light was formed around the horn of a unicorn, however, as Celestia saw Sungleam illuminate herself and join her voice among those urging the princess on. Eclipse hissed again, slithering away to escape as Celestia began to walk toward her knight.

(You can not)

You can not

In an instant, the lights suddenly went black, once more plunging the set into darkness. It was only a second or two before they began to illuminate the stage once more, though, to reveal that all of the ponies were gone. The only one remaining lay in the bed, but instead of Luna, it was Celestia who was sleeping there. She began to rouse as the choir pleaded one last time.

(You can not)

As Celestia began to sit up, the echoes of Luna's voice called out "You can not" one last time, though it faded and distorted as she woke and sat up.

Celestia looked from side to side, finding herself alone before she looked straight ahead to the audience. Her voice simmering with purpose and intensity, she said:

No... to see my sister,

I can not give up hope.

I will not fail again.

With that, Celestia threw the sheets from her body, the music growing in intensity as she reared up defiantly on her hind legs, colorful lights flashing all around her while the curtains closed.

When the music faded, Pinkamena stepped up in front of the curtains once again.

"True to her word, Princess Celestia held on to hope. Though her sister's absence left a void that could not entirely be filled, she continued toward a brighter future for Equestria and its allies. A better world for her sister to awaken into.

"In making that brighter world, the shadow slowly faded from her heart. Even as the centuries following her desperate gambit took their toll, the hope that Luna would one day regain her freedom only grew.

"This spirit of hope was also carried on by Nyx, who devoted her life to guarding the ponies of Equestria against the dangers which lurked in the darkest corners of the night. In doing so, others gathered around her cause. Working together in the name of the Princess of the Night, Luna's Rangers have protected the innocent ponies of Equestria ever since.

"Today, we can say that the work and sacrifice of every pony that has held onto that hope has been rewarded. On Waking Night, on the thousandth year since its banishment, Eclipse returned, only to be defeated for good. On that night, for the first time in a millennium, Princess Luna opened her eyes.

"It is in honor of the royal sisters of Equestria that we dedicate this play. I would like to thank them for attending..." A wave of applause rippled through the theater as everypony turned to look up at the princesses in their balcony seat. "... I would also like to thank the Manehattan Playhouse for hosting this event, and of course my friends who joined me in making it a reality."

Ponies began stomping anew once the actors began to file out from behind the curtains. Whistles and cheers filled the theater for each of them, even when Scootaloo ripped off her costume in the middle of the big bow they gave the audience in order to let her little wings flap free.

They also applauded loudly when Vinyl, Octavia and Fiddlesticks were brought out and introduced as the musicians for the play. Octavia attempted to retain a dignified, graceful air, only to get yanked into a group hug with her near-identical cousin, courtesy of Vinyl Scratch, who was wearing a grin that could have lit up the Las Pegasus strip.

The biggest cheer of the night, however, came at the end. Few noticed the director/narrator once she shuffled off to the side to make way for the actors, as she did so very quietly, making no attempt to draw attention to herself. That changed when Fluttershy and Nocturne took her by surprise, flapping over to either side of her and lifting her up off the ground. Her typically stoic demeanour made her startled expression all the more priceless as they flew her over Iron Will, who pointed up at the pink poet and shouted, "Let's give it up for the mare who put this all together, PINKAMENA DIANE PIE!"

If Pinkamena was startled by her sudden airlift, then the sheer wave of stomping hooves and cheering whistles completely took her off guard.

At no point did a smile touch her lips, but her friends could see the twinkle in her big blue eyes, and the blush on her cheeks as she gratefully bowed her head to the audience.

Author's Note

And here we have the closing of the show, along with the final song of the album. It isn't quite the end of story, though.

Part 12 - The After Party

Lunar Eclipse: The Rock-Opera
by CrowMagnon

"Sweet Celestia, it's huge," Rarity exclaimed, her mouth gaping open. From his perch atop her back, Spike mirrored his mother's expression.

"Hey, that's exactly what I said on my honeymoon," Fluttershy said with a giggle. When Rarity looked at her with a scandalized look on her face, she stuck her tongue out and added, "About our room, silly! Will and I scored a gorgeous suite at the Shetlandton over in Neighagra Falls. It wasn't anywhere nearly as big as this one, though."

"This one" was the penthouse at the top of the Orange Hotel. Two stories of class and luxury sat atop the building like a small mansion, surrounded by spacious balconies and an outdoor swimming pool. At the moment, everypony who had been involved with producing their musical, as well as every one of their friends and families who could be present, were crowding around the entrance. All except for Applejack, who led the way inside and called out, "No need to be shy, dears! My aunt and uncle own this hotel, so feel free to make yourselves at home."

Nocturne shook her head as the crowd started to make their way inside and spread out to explore the opulent common room. "I'm pretty sure this place is bigger than my house," she replied before her daughter pushed past her to race toward the pool. "Hey! Scootaloo, don't run around! And take off your cape before you--!" She brought a hoof to her face when an audible splash was the only response she got.

While Sweetie Belle squealed with delight and started urging her big sister and adopted nephew to get into the water with her, Apple Bloom soaked in the sight of the fancy furnishings and paintings adorning the wall before she turned to the two other earth pony fillies who had joined her and her friends after the show. "Wow, Tangerine, it sure is swell of yer folks ta let us stay here while we're in town!"

Tangerine, a light orange filly with a verdant mane, smiled softly before replying in the crisp, precise accent common among Manehattan high society. "It is no trouble, cousin. Even if it were not the 'off-season', we are very happy to have you all here. It was entirely worth it for the chance to see your play."

"Yeah, but if ya needed a couple of earth ponies fillies, ya could've called on us, ya know," Babs Seed teased in her much rougher voice while playfully elbowing Apple Bloom in the barrel. "But the bit with the bonnet was pretty funny."

Apple Bloom snorted with laughter at the memory. "Yeah, and ya would've been willin' an' able ta make the commute all the way ta Ponyville fer the rehearsals? Sure. Besides, if'n Scootaloo an' Sweetie Belle hadn't called dibs on account o' Rarity an' Scootaloo's mom bein' in it, Ah probably would've had ta act alongside Diamond Tiara an' Silver Spoon!"

All three cousins shuddered at the thought, Babs and Tangerine thinking about their recent visit to Ponyville and their subsequent encounters with the duo in question.

Babs blurted out, "Well, I gotta wash that feelin' off. Last one in the pool's a rotten apple!"

Tangerine eeped and protested, "We are not supposed to run beside the pool!" It didn't stop her from trying to catch up to her cousins, though, or laughing as she leaped into the water.

It wasn't long before everypony had found a place for themselves in the huge penthouse. Vinyl and Octavia were playing some light background music through the room's sound system while Fiddlesticks slowly danced along to it with her fiancee, Caramel. Conversations were held in small clusters with ponies periodically milling about, joining in or breaking off from these groups.

The fillies and Spike were outside, happily splashing around in the pool. The others who were nearby all cheered along while Scootaloo and Babs, balancing themselves atop Nocturne and Applejack's backs, tried to shove each other into the water. They seemed evenly matched, but Babs eventually overextended herself. Scootaloo immediately took advantage, and as Babs splashed into the water, the triumphant pegasus reared up on her hind legs and crowed, "Woohoo! I am Scootaloo, queen of chicken-fighting! Bow before me!"

She danced around on her mother's back a bit, before turning to see everypony outside of the pool facing her and kneeling. Though surprised at first, Scootaloo soon grinned and proudly posed. At least until she heard another pony ask, "Does that order extend to us as well, my queen?"

Turning around to see the three princesses flying down to land on the balcony beside the pool, Scootaloo reflexively tried to bow, which sent her pitching face-first into the water herself. Luna immediately gasped and dove into the water, splashing everypony in the vicinity before rising up again with Scootaloo perched atop her head and clinging to the princess's horn. "Fear not, fair Nocturne! As your forebear Nyx would have, I return your child to you, safe and unharmed."

Nocturne grinned and reached out with her wings to pull Scootaloo off of Luna's head. "Well, uh... thank you, Princess, but you didn't need to worry. Scootaloo's a good swimmer, and... um... couldn't you have just picked her up with your magic if you had to?"

Luna cocked her head slightly. "Hmm... perhaps," she admitted before flapping her wings a few times in the water to create waves. "But you seemed to be enjoying yourselves so much in here, I hope you don't mind me joining you. Look! I am controlling the tides!"

While the other ponies laughed and bobbed with the waves that the princess created, the elevator opened and allowed Shining Armor, along with a few other unicorn and earth pony guards, to get out. "Hey, Twiley," he said when he saw his sister. "Sorry about that. One minute, Princess Celestia says she wants to stretch her wings, the next, the three of them are giggling like schoolfillies and flying off to sur... prise... you..."

His speech grew sluggish and distracted as happened to look outside to see Princess Luna laughing and splashing around in the pool, her mane wet and glistening as she threw her head about in slow motion. Droplet of water flew from her, each one seemingly infused with the light of the stars in her mane to create a galaxy of light and beauty that spun dizzyingly as it radiated out from the beautiful mare at its center.

Twilight waved her hoof in front of her big brother's face as he suddenly trailed off and started staring off into space. When the only response she got out of him was a line of drool dribbling out of the corner of his mouth, she snapped, "Darn it, Pinkamena, he's having a relapse! Rainbow Dash, please tell me you brought your herbs with you! I need something to snap him out of it, stat!"

The night went on, the princesses and their guards graciously welcomed into the party. As the children started to droop tiredly from the late hour, they were about to be put to bed when Fluttershy stepped up to the microphone on Vinyl's sound system, her false Celestia horn once again adorning her head. "Hey, everypony, I know things are getting late, but I've got a special present for all of you, especially the princesses."

Off in the far corner of the room, where she and her friend Dewdrop had been spending most of the night, Spot Light was saying to Princess Cadenza, "... and if you liked what I did with the costumes, you should visit the Best Pony Boutique some time. You won't just get a new dress, there, either. I mean, anypony can throw some scraps of cloth together, but my special talent is accessorizing, so I can help you put together a full look to--" She stopped in mid-pitch when she heard and saw Fluttershy take the microphone. "Oh no. Is she doing what I think she's doing?"

Without warning, Derpy suddenly stuck her head down in front of Spot Light's and asked, "I dunno, what do you think she's doing, Spotty?"

Startled by the sudden appearance of the blond pegasus, who was hovering upside-down, Spot Light let out a startled whinny. "Derpy! Where the buck did you come from?" She then frowned and corrected, "And it's Spot Light!"

Dewdrop asked, "Actually... that is a good question. Where did you come from, Derpy? I haven't seen you since the mix-up with Dash's griffon illusion."

Derpy flipped right-side-up and landed beside the blond-maned unicorn. "I thought I saw Rainbow Dash walking around when she was supposed to be acting, so I followed her and..." Derpy gave a bashful grin as she admitted, "I... kinda got lost."

"Oh, you're the pony who waved to us before the show started," Cadenza said with a smile, recognizing the cheerful, wall-eyed pegasus. Turning back to Spot Light, she asked, "So, what is it that you think Fluttershy is about to do, again?"

The earth pony didn't need to respond, though, because Vinyl was grinning behind her DJ gear and put a record on the turntable while Fluttershy herself sent a beaming smile toward Celestia and Luna. "Here's a little something that I wrote... by which I mean Vinyl here did most of the work."

"Darn straight!"

"We didn't work it into the main play, but I really wanted to perform it for you, because... well... the only thing that determines whether a story is a sad one or a happy one is where you choose to end it. Vinyl, hit it!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Moving On
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(Based on "Beards Going Nowhere" by The Protomen)

When all your hopes begin to fade into the past

When your dreams vanish from your view

When you reach out for the friends who've gone

And there's nothing that you can lean upon

The darkness seems be laughing at you

And there are so many who will need you

The crown is a burden few can bear

And no one can say if my choices were the right ones

But in the darkness of the night

My sister, I hope you hear my prayer

Moving on

Nevermore will I waste my life suffering

Our ponies need me now

I will not fail them and defile your memory

Sister dear, my light

Will be a beacon to guide you

No matter how far away your spirit may be from here

My love will never fade away as years pass us by

Our ponies will come together and make this realm a haven

And I will see it happen

With my own very eyes

I will dream of the days before us when we'll walk side by side

You'll see, we'll make miracles come to life

So open up your lovely eyes

No matter happens now

No matter how long it takes

I will wait for you

As you follow the path back to the waking world

Just follow the voices of those who sing you awake

Moving on

Into a future unknown, but I know

That you are not alone

The path is paved with the love of ponies

Each one an unbreakable stone

Equestria will grow strong and beautiful

So that wherever you roam

All the ponies who are waiting for you

Their dreams will light your way home!

As Fluttershy belted out the lyrics, Pinkamena walked up to her, giving the pegasus a flat stare... and then sidled up next to Fluttershy in order to sing back-up for her friend.

(We'll stand strong) We'll stand strong

(We'll stand true) We'll stand true

However long it takes, we'll wait for you

(We'll stand strong) We'll stand strong

(We'll stand true) We'll stand true

However long it takes, we'll wait for you

(We'll stand strong) We'll stand strong

(We'll stand true) We'll stand true

However long it takes, we'll wait for you

(We'll stand strong) We'll stand strong

(We'll stand true) Baby, we'll stand true!

Grabbing the microphone from its stand with her wing, Fluttershy snatched it and clenched her eyes shut as she arched her back and practically shouted into it.

Luna, it's time for me to do what only a princess can do! My little ponies need food and shelter and affordable health care! And fancy coffee shops on every street corner! And I'll make it happen.

And cinema, which isn't a thing yet but holy buck, when you wake up you need to see 'Space Ponies' like fifty times, and go to the conventions where I'll be dressed as Princess Hay-a competing against three hundred pound stallions in the same outfit! But it's cool. It's all in good fun.

And then after that we'll eat fudge sundaes while we look out at the city skyline under the stars, and you'll say 'I'm so proud of you, sister!'

'I'm so proud of you.'

Bringing it through the big finale, Fluttershy took a moment to catch her breath and opened her eyes. Somehow, as she had spent the time with her eyes closed gyrating and throwing her body around to the music, she had ended up in front of Celestia and Luna, who just stared at her blinking for a moment.

Eventually, Princess Celestia grinned and told her, "Well, that was certainly... catchy. But I think it got away from you toward the end there. Just a tiny bit."

Fluttershy giggled cutely as she tossed the mic back toward Vinyl, who caught it in her magic and returned it to its stand. "Yeah, it's a work in progress."

Princess Luna leaned up to nuzzle her sister's cheek. "Well, it is true. I am nothing but proud of my sister for all that she has done during my absence. Though... is it true what she said about taking part in masquerades with overweight stallions?"

Celestia leaned into the nuzzle and smiled serenely. "No comment."

Hours later, when even the hardiest of ponies felt the need to sleep, Pinkamena finished brushing her teeth and stepped out into the dimly lit hallway of the penthouse's second story, where most of the sleeping space was. As she turned toward the room where she was going to be sleeping, she saw nopony in the shadows.

Staring straight ahead, she kept her voice low to keep from waking anypony as she said, "As I was walking up the stair, I saw someone who wasn't there."

Out of the darkness, nopony replied, "He wasn't there again today. Oh how I wish he'd go away."

Pinkamena nodded and approached the shadow. As she did so, it slowly took on shape and definition. It wasn't truly there, she knew, but as it took the form of a shadowy centaur, she decided to treat it as though it were, anyway. "I saw you earlier, but you didn't know the rhyme. Why were you skulking around the theater back then?"

"... Hubris, mostly," the centaur admitted. "Having devised a means of getting close to your princesses undetected, it also served as an opportunity to test its limitations by interfering with your play. The end goal was always to complete the preparations for my public return, though. Thank you for doing your part in preventing it."

Pinkamena cocked her head. "Preventing it? How? All you asked me to do was invite Shining Armor... Wait. Why was it so important that I ask Twilight's family to come to her birthday party?"

The centaur chuckled tiredly and sat down on his haunches. "Well, aside from being rather fond of her... I knew that in your state of agitation, you would be more likely to 'do the eye thing' as your friends call it."

Pinkamena sat down. "You manipulated me... made me do that to my friend's brother."

"Yes. A necessary evil, I am afraid. I know that you cannot control it consciously, but because of your gaze, for a brief time he was able to see the true shape of this world. Even if he does not know it now, he prevented something truly terrible from coming to pass."

Pinkamena stared at the shadow for a while longer before asking, "If that's true, then why are you talking to me now? If I stopped you from whatever it is you were planning to do, then the 'you' that knows that rhyme shouldn't exist."

The centaur shook his head. "No. No, the greater scheme still continues. Nothing can prevent that completely, but by forcing me to abandon the original plan, the events to come are now in a state of flux. In the end, it will be up to you to determine whether I am real... or just your own mind playing a trick on you." With that, the shadow faded from Pinkamena's perception.

Elswhere, the centaur known as Mr. Trick stepped out of the shadows and into the room where he kept his most prized collections on display. Lining the walls were shelves upon shelves of items. To another creature, their contents would have appeared to be little more than random trinkets, but to him... well, they were still largely random trinkets. It was not for him to assign value to them, however, as each object on his shelves was of indescribable value, even if only to someone else.

There were a few items in his collection which even Mr. Trick considered to be precious, though. One of them was glass bottle which glowed from within with an inner light. Mr. Trick growled furiously to himself as he approached the bottle, rubbing the spot on his face where Shining Armor had bucked him. "That insolent unicorn! I don't know how he saw through my veils, but he nearly ruined everything! If Princess Luna had fully seen me..."

Mr. Trick took a deep breath and lowered his hand as the hoof-shaped bruises on his face faded to nothing. "Regardless, I will simply have to move to 'Plan B'. Celestia will give me what I need."

He reached out to cradle the bottle in his hands, feeling warmth and happiness radiating from it. The smile which spread across his visage held none of those properties, however, being nothing but a sinister rictus. "And Pinkamena will be my instrument in getting it."

Author's Note

Here you go, the denouement, a little revelation of what was going on behind the scenes, vague hints of what's to come, and a bonus song.

The presence of Tangerine Orange is a shout-out to the 'Life in Manehattan' series, which is another very fun AU. Go check it out.

Epilogue

Lunar Eclipse: The Rock-Opera
by CrowMagnon

Princess Celestia drank her morning tea slowly, savoring its flavor as it helped her to stay alert, given that she had not slept at all during the previous night. Not that going a night or two without sleep was particularly strenuous for her, especially with the gradual restoration of her health and youth. Even so, she had wanted to receive the report she was expecting as soon as possible.

Right around the time that she was expecting, there was a knock at the door of the royal dining hall. "Come in," she said, projecting her voice so that it could be heard on the other side of the door. Immediately after that, the large doors swung inward as Flash Sentry stepped inside and removed his helmet.

Celestia carefully looked over the pegasus's face, and saw that he had a vacant, stricken expression. This wasn't at all unusual among those who were sent on errands to the Gates of Tartaros. In the dark realm beyond that place, there were creatures (and even ponies) whose twisted natures could sicken the hearts of the most resolute guardponies. Out of concern for his well-being, Celestia asked, "Do you need to sit down?"

To his credit, Flash politely shook his head despite his obvious discomfort. "No, I... thank you, but no, your highness."

Celestia nodded. "Alright, then please deliver your report."

Flash swallowed. "I went to the Gates as instructed, Princess. Once I got there, I told Lord Hades about the attack on you, and we spent the next several hours inspecting the prisoners to ensure that all of the ones who could have carried it out were accounted for. Then... then we got to Mesmer Eyes, and..."

Celestia frowned at the name. "The illusionist? He is the one behind last night?"

Flash shook his head. "No! No, we made absolutely sure that he was locked up like the rest, but... the creature he was with..."

Hours earlier...

Flash Sentry kept his head high, despite how hard his heart was pounding in his chest. Tartaros was no place for a pony. Well, not for any sane ponies, at least. Even though he wasn't physically there, the enchantments which granted him an illusory, incorporeal form with which to inspect the prison realm didn't feel like enough. It certainly didn't prevent him from seeing and hearing things that would haunt his nightmares for a good long time.

Still, he was almost finished checking off the list that Lord Hades had given him. The last one he had to find was Mesmer Eyes, a vampony unicorn who had taken part in numerous plots against Princess Celestia over the past few centuries. Waking Night had put an end to that, along with most of his brethren, at least.

He finally found Mesmer seated in front of a chess table. He was a thin, almost sallow unicorn by all outward appearances. At least until Flash saw the vertical slits that he had for pupils, and the sharp fangs that he bared when he used his magic to move his rook into place. "Checkmate in four moves," he announced to his opponent.

On the other side of the chessboard was a tall centaur with a lean build. Bringing a crimson-skinned hand up to his long black beard, the centaur thoughtfully stroked his facial hair. "So it would seem. You are quite a skilled opponent," he conceded. But then a sphere of magic formed in the space between the curved horns which rose up from the sides of his head. "You would have to be, to have masked the true position of your pieces for the last thirty-seven turns."

Mesmer's triumphant expression turned to shock, then terror as a beam of raw, destructive magic shot out of the glowing orb and struck him straight in the eye. The vampony was thrown back and writhed on the ground, clutching where his eye had been while the illusions cast over the pieces faded away. Ignoring his opponent's pain, the centaur moved his bishop to take Mesmer's king. "And that is game."

When Mesmer failed to respond in any way more meaningful than a pained whimper, the centaur rolled his eyes and began putting away the pieces. "Oh, don't lay there whining all day. Besides, it's rude to cheat in front of guests. Isn't that right?"

Flash gulped as he saw the centaur turn to face him. He knew that he wasn't physically there, and that there was nothing that the prisoners of Tartaros could do to affect him in any way, but as the centaur turned a predatory grin toward his illusory projection, he felt less and less sure of his own safety.

That terror only grew when the centaur spoke. "Hello there, little knight. And what brings you to Tartaros? Did Celestia send you to check up on her dear old friend, 'Mr. Trick,' or are you here on other business?"

Flash felt his throat run dry. "O... other business," he croaked out before turned his attention to the maimed vampony.

"Ah, what a shame. My old friends never come to visit me anymore," Tirek mused while Flash carefully studied Mesmer, swallowing his disgust over the vampony's injury to inspect every detail that he could think of. The reaction to pain, the way the burnt flesh looked, even the way his writhing body scuffed the rocky ground beneath him. Everything he needed to convince himself that it was indeed the illusionist.

The very instant that he was done, Flash turned around to leave as quickly as he could.

"Flash Sentry."

Flash froze, and not just by stopping in place. The blood in his veins felt as though it had turned to ice when the centaur, the former Element of Honesty known as Tirek, spoke his name.

"Oh, good," Tirek chuckled. "I was hoping I would get your name right. All of you would-be romantic interests get jumbled together so badly, the only reason I remembered you was repetition. Honestly, I don't even know what she sees in you."

"What... who?" Flash looked back over his shoulder. "How did you know my--"

Tirek hadn't made a sound, but suddenly he was standing right behind Flash. Leaning down to look the pegasus in the eye, he asked, "Tell me, Flash Sentry... how is Twilight Sparkle these days?"

Rather than answer, Flash felt his body seize up. The next thing he knew, he was racing as fast as his legs and wings would take him back to Tartaros's exit.

But no matter how fast he went, the sound of Tirek's laughter followed him until he was halfway back to Canterlot.

Whatever her thoughts were about this, Celestia hid them behind an impenetrable mask of calm. Setting her tea down, she said, "I see... Thank you for your report. You should go rest now, you've been up all night."

Flash nodded, but asked, "Thank you, but... should I tell Captain Armor about this? Or send a message to Twilight?"

Celestia gently but firmly told him, "No. I will tell Shining Armor personally. Knowing him, he would want to immediately confront Tirek himself over this, but that is most likely the exact reaction that Tirek wanted to get. Even when we fought side-by-side, his talent for manipulation was his greatest strength, and I won't have my best soldier rushing off to meet him while he is emotionally compromised. Go. Rest, and I will deal with this."

Flash nodded again and saluted before leaving the dining hall. Once he was gone, Celestia slumped down in her seat. Though she had regained much of her lost youth and vitality over the months since Waking Night, in that moment the weight of centuries fell upon her once more.

"Tirek... what are you plotting now...?"