The Battle of Ponyville

The Nightmare Night Festival continued without interruption.  That is, until an explosive flash of blue light appeared.  The ponies watched anxiously as to see who caused the flash (but they all knew inside who it was).  The blue light then morphed into a blue silhouette of an alicorn.  Lo and behold, Princess Luna stood before them, mighty and proud.  Her expressionless face intimidated the frightened ponyfolk to no end.

She looked around the area, noticing that all the participants of the festivities stopped what they were doing.  Even the music was dead silent by her sudden appearance.  The ponyfolk were frozen with fear that they forgot to bow down to her royal highness.  Luckily, a sole mare bowed, which started a chain reaction of instant bowing.  Luna stood over her subjects as they grovel to her.  What threw her off was the sight of frightened children bowing to her, especially a little white unicorn who was afraid to look at her in the eye.

Why are they always like this when I’m around them? She thought to herself.  Luna answered her own question when she finally caught herself giving a cold frown to her terrified subjects.  She slowly curled her lips to force a disjointed smile.  Nopony that night dared chuckle at her expense.  She cleared her throat and, remembering to not use the Royal Canterlot Voice around these ponies, began her queen-like speech of... whatever was happening tonight.

“Citizens of Ponyville,” Luna announced without using the Royal Voice but loud enough so everypony could hear.  “As you well know, I am the Princess of the Night.  And this is the second time I have come to this festival dedicated to the evil spirit that possessed me, Nightmare Moon.  Earlier this night, I have witnessed a group of children offering me sweets to ease my hunger of foals.”  When she said that last part, she glanced at the reactions of two fillies - a pegasus and a unicorn.  The orange pegasus appeared to have an upside-down letter U on her face.  The white unicorn could not help but to stare at her direction blankly.  Luna shifted uncomfortably when their eyes met.  “So, it is with great pleasure that I, Princess Luna, shall return to you... your candy!”

Using her magic, Luna’s horn glowed and a mountain of candy materialized from thin-air.  The once sadden cries of little children soon turned into clamors of jollity.  The costumed kids (and a few teenagers) gathered around the Night Princess.  She happily refilled half bags of candy much to their amazement.  While more children ran to Luna, she instantly recognized a familiar face.  Pipsqueak the Boy Pirate innocently held out his bag of sweets.  It was in that moment she actually gave anypony a genuine smile.

Next in line was Apple Bloom in her Discord costume.  Though the red-headed filly have never been this close to Luna before, she showed no fear and stood strong.  The Princess admired such bravery at a young age.

“I believe you to be the young sibling of Applejack, Bearer of the Element of Honesty?” Luna asked out of curiosity.

“Sure am!  Um, I mean - yes, your highness,” Apple Bloom quickly corrected herself.  Luna giggled at the filly’s adorable attempt at royal formality.

“You should be very proud to have a sister such as Applejack, young Apple Bloom.  I am sure you will grow to be just as strong and wise as she is.”  As Luna said those words, she thought about her own elder sister.  She then made candy magically appear in Bloom’s bag.  Her little hooves could not contain the heavy bag, but she was not complaining.  “By the way, you have wonderful Discord costume,” Luna warmly complimented.

“Thank you Princess,” Apple Bloom said while trying to lift the heavy bag.  The next pony in line was Sweetie Belle in her princess costume.  Unlike Apple Bloom, her body trembled from terror as she slowly approached the Moon Princess.

“And you must be the young sister of Rarity, the Bearer of the Element of Generosity?” she asked in the same manner as before.  Nodding her head “yes” was all Belle could do.  Luna saw a tremendous amount of fear in the little filly’s eyes and took pity on her.  She slowly kneel down to her eye level and presented a gentle smile.  “There is no need to be frightened of me, little one.  I am not here to do harm to anypony.  Especially children,” she said sweetly.  Using her magic, candy materialize into her bag, refilling it greatly.  The fear in her eyes were suddenly replaced with joy.  “That’s better,” Luna commented.  Before Sweetie Belle walked away, Luna had one last thing to say to her.  “Remember child, princesses show no fear in times of adversity.  A princess must stand tall, proud, and unafraid.”  She then winked at Sweetie Belle.

“Yes, your majesty,” Belle happily replied.  Luna smiled to herself for what she has done for the filly.  She could not put her hoof on it, but somehow it felt... it felt good.

The next pony in line was Scootaloo in her Wonderbolt costume.  The orange pegasus had a nervous expression on her face.  She looked up at Luna, uncertain of what she might say to her.

“And I suppose you are the sister of Rainbow Dash, Bearer of the Element of Loyalty?”

“Well, um, you see, I’m... no.  I’m not her sister.  We’re not even related.  But sometimes, I like to imagine we’re sisters,” Scoot solemnly explained.

“What are you talking about?  You’re practically like a sister to me more than anything,” a familiar voice called from behind.  Scoots turned her head around and spotted Rainbow Dash in her Daring Do costume and beside her was a pouty looking Fluttershy.  Scootaloo giggled at Dash’s statement and Luna refilled her bag with even more candy than she had before.  This pleased Scootaloo greatly.

“Thank you Princess!  Um, I’m sorry for what I said earlier about you stealing my candy and me deserving justice and all,” she apologized.  “I was being, you know, melodramatic and stuff.”

“That’s quite alright child,” Luna giggled.  “I was full of the same passion you have when I was your age.”

“Wow, really?” Scoots asked in amazement.

“Of course.  How did you think I became Nightmare Moon?”

“... what?”

“C’mon squirt, we’re gonna show Fluttershy a scaring good time!”  Rainbow Dash said as she pulled the Littlest Wonderbolt into her.

“Easy for you to say,” Fluttershy mumbled under her breath.  Princess Luna watched Scootaloo walk off with her “big sister.”  She laughed quietly to herself and continued to give out more candy to the children (and Pinkie Pie to an extent).

************************

Snips and Snails ran across town, banging on doors and windows, warning their neighbors of the imminent alien attack.  Their constant yelling and ruckus awoken the unfortunate souls whom were trying to get a good night’s rest.  The boys rapidly approached the Cake’s home and knocked repeatedly on the door, calling for Mr. and Mrs. Cake.  The door flung open to reveal the Cake Patriarch - and he was not happy.

“Boys!  Do you have any idea what time it is?!” a tired Mr. Cake angrily asked.

“We’re sorry Mr. Cake, but we’re here to warn you about the aliens!” Snails explained.  “The aliens are coming to invade Equestria!”

...

“... wha?”

“It’s true!” Snips added.  “An enemy spacecraft crashed landed in Fillydelphia!  And it killed innocent ponies and a poor news reporter!  He was just trying to report the news!” Snips cried.

...

“... huh?”

“Lock your doors! and hold your wife and children tight!  We’re at war!” Snails proclaimed.  Snips and Snails them embraced Mr. Cake with a great bear hug, much to his utter confusion.  “Hold them tight,” Snails whispered.  The colts then ran off to warn other ponies of the alien invasion.  Mr. Cake stood on the front door like a stone, bewildered and trying to comprehend what happened.

“Dear, who was that?” Mrs. Cake called from their bedroom.

…

“... Youth wasted on the young, honey.  Youth wasted on the young.”

******************

Their next target was the home of one of their close friends, Featherweight.  He lived in a small one story house that was just walking distance from the school they all attend.  The two colts approached the front door and repeated banged loudly until somepony arrived.

“My goodness, more kids at this hour?” a feminine voice said from inside the house.  A cream colored female pegasus with an orange mane opened the door.  This was Featherweight’s mother.

“Excuse us, but is Featherweight home?” Snips asked frantically.

“No, he’s not home at the moment.  I think he’s still out with his father and little sister.  Why, is there anything wrong?”

“Yes there is!” Snails answered loudly.  “It’s the end of the world as we know it, and aliens are coming to annihilate us all!”

“Watch out for any strange goings ons!  The evil aliens could be anywhere at anytime!” Snips cautioned to the confused mother.  The two boys ran faster than a speeding bullet and searched desperately for their best friend.

“Hey, wait!  Don’t you boys want your candy?”

***************

The colts ran as fast as their little hooves could carry them.  They ran all night warning all about the attack on earth.  They were both tired, hungry, and exhausted.  However, the Dynamic Duo was determined to not rest until all are warned.  Snips and Snails continued to run straight into the night until they crashed and burn onto a passing mare.

When the little birdies flying around their heads disappeared, the three ponies got a good look at each other.  The mare the colts bumped into was a unicorn, just like them.  Her coat was minty-green, and her mane was a pale-grayish-cyan color.  Her cutie-mark was a harp of some kind.  They recognized her as the resident oddball, one that would give Derpy Hooves a run for her money, Lyra Heartstrings.

“Lyra!  Sorry we bumped into you.  Are you okay?” Snips asked.

“Oh I’m fine.  I was on a very important mission.  What are you guys doing this here this late?” she asked.

“We’re also on a mission!” Snails exclaimed.  “Me and Snips are trying to warn everypony about the alien invasion!”

Lyra gasped.  “You mean, you guys know about too?!”

“Oh course!  We heard it on the radio!” Snips explained.

“Me too!  I was running all around trying to warn everypony about the aliens too!  I sent Bon Bon off too get some food and supplies in case Equestria fall to the aliens.  She didn’t seem happy about it.”  While the three were conversing amongst themselves, two suspicious looking characters slowly approached the trio of the dim-witted unicorns.  The two characters were stallions taking a late-night stroll.  One of the stallions was the one Twilight met earlier - the one wrapped in strips of white sheets and wore a black leather jacket with sunglasses.  The other was a beige stallion with a cool looking mustache, a bowler hat, and adorned a nice looking black suit ensemble with a red bow-tie.  The unicorn trio put their conversation on hold as the two approached them.

“Umm... hi?” Lyra awkwardly greeted.  The two stallions said nothing.  “Uh, you two wouldn’t happen to know anything about an alien invasion, have you?” she asked nervously.  Again, the stallions were silent.

“Snips, I feel weird,” Snails quietly said with fear in his voice.

“Mee too.  What do they want?” Snips questioned.

“Please sirs, what do you want from us?  Did we do anything wrong?” Lyra asked frantically.

“Hushhhhh...” the toilet paper stallion said.

“Oh no!  This guy must be a government agent who doesn’t want anypony to know about the invasion!” Lyra concluded.

“Or worse... that guy is an ALIEN!” Snips yelled.  Cold chills ran down Snails and Lyra’s spine at the frightening possibility.  The three then turned eyes at the bowler hat stallion.  What the stallion was about to was going to haunt their dream for the rest of their lives.  The bowler hat stallion started dancing wildly, scatting, and singing incomprehensible gibberish.

Ska-ba-daba-dee-doo-wadda-ba-doom, skabba-daba-dee-doom-wadda-ba-doom, skabba-daba-doo-walla-ba-dee-doom-ski-ska-skee-dabba-dabba-doo-skibba-dee-doo!

“What is that?!” Lyra shrieked in fear.

“I don’t know!  Maybe some crazy alien language!” Snips tried to answered.

“I think it’s trying to call the armada!” Snails fearfully concluded.  The three unicorns did the only thing they were able to do in a crisis such as this - panic and run.  The trio ran away from the stallions while screaming their lungs out.  They yelled to the night that it was too late, the aliens have arrived.  The stallions stood there, confused and shocked at the ordeal.

…

“... What’s their problem?” toilet paper pony asked.

“I don’t know.  Kids these days.”