Demons
“So I have been shown the greatest curse of my kind. In light of the shadow that has consumed my beloved sister; I now understand the order that must be established. In my vanity I was forced to banish the only family I have ever known, and because of me she is gone. The shadow of evil makes its home in all of us, and it only requires a spark to escape. But, in my case, and that of Princess Luna, we cannot allow our inner chaos to be unleashed; for we alone have the power to protect this world, and the power to destroy it. To avoid suffering her fate we must all take great care to not draw from hiding our demons.”
-Princess Celestia, Goddess of the sun
In response to the destruction wrought by Nightmare Moon,
And the tragic undoing of Princess Luna
Luna the young princess, goddess of the night, the dark lady, stands vigilant perched atop the highest tower of Canterlot city. Her long iridescent blue hair flows in a breeze that doesn’t blow; the stars themselves twinkle in her locks. Her large teal eyes coldly skim the vast countryside of Equestria. The crescent moon hangs high above, offering little light but her ancient eyes are able to pierce the blackest of nights easily. Her face is young and pale, yet is shadowed by wisdom that cannot be gathered in ten lifetimes. She wears a simple deep blue night suit, a large black steel necklace marked with a shimmering moon hangs from her neck, and she holds in her hand a small black crown. A pair of large, blue feathered wings hang down from her shoulder blades, twitching slightly every so often. She risks a glance up at her marvelous gem: the moon. Sadness fills her eyes. Her heart begins to ache, she is forced to tear her gaze away from the crescent, from her ancient prison. She is haunted still by fleeting memories of death and shadows, when over a thousand years ago she took on the demonic visage and power of Nightmare Moon. A thousand years she spent locked inside the moon after she was banished there by her older sister. Years ago she had returned, hell bent on shrouding the world in eternal night when the young heroine: Twilight Sparkle and her companions had used the relic Elements of Harmony to purge the corruption from Luna.
“Princess,” a deep voice calls calmly from behind. Suddenly all sadness, all shadows of any emotion evaporate from the ancient goddess’s youthful face. She turns her now cold and unreadable mask toward the speaker. A man dressed in purple and black scale armor, kneels in a respectful bow in the doorway to the balcony.
“Captain BlackBlade, I trust you have made the preparations I requested.” Luna says her voice soft yet carrying enough force to stun an army.
“Yes, my lady, the hall of relics is cleared of your sister’s agents and my men now stand watchful. The Horn is prepared, though many of my guards have been too fearful to enter the chamber.” The warrior replies still kneeling, he raises his head to look upon his mistress; his eyes glow yellow and are split like those of a cat or reptile.
“They are correct to be wary, now come quickly captain we have precious hours before my sister wakes to raise the sun,” Luna states flatly while striding quickly toward the door. The guard rises to his feet, he is a large man but no mortal could measure up to the princess of the night, who stands now at eight and a half feet tall. The two figures make their way through a series of small hallways, darkened with the black of night; both of their eyes are unnaturally tuned to the darkness. The two move quickly yet perfectly silent as to not startle even an insect. The princess feels something in her head, a small voice knocking on the walls of her mind; she seamlessly parts the barriers to allow the voice in.
“My Princess, if I may ask, why the secrecy in regards to Princess Celestia, do you perceive some threat from her?” BlackBlade’s voice asks inside her conscience
“Some questions are best kept to yourself captain.” She replies back not awaiting the mortal to let her in his mind, she can hear a slight change in the captains breathing as he winces in pain. Even at a mental whisper the power of Luna’s magic is enough to shatter a mortals mind. “But, if you must know I see no threat from my sister, but she can be quite foolish at times, her methods are to slow and too careful. I would prefer to leave her out of this affair all together.”
“Of course Princess, I meant no disrespect,” The captain replies. The two figures minds are silent as they continue to descend downwards through the massive Canterlot Tower. They continue winding through hallways and staircases until they reach a large golden double door, far below the surface of the city above. Two guards dressed similarly as the Captain stand at the door, they both kneel at the approach of the tall woman.
“Rise, open the gates,” she commands, the two hurriedly push the doors open, which creak just slightly. She strides past the large gateway and its guards.
“Shall I accompany you, my lady?” Captain BlackBlade asks slightly worried.
“No,” Luna says not turning to face the shadowy warrior “close the gate behind me, no one enters.” She orders. Then she turns to face the guard “No one,” She repeats making the guard quake with slight fear.
“Y-yes Princess, no one,” BlackBlade stammers, Luna begins moving once more into the room as the large doors slam shut behind her. Even my own guards, who I trained myself, are wary of me; will I never be rid of my sins? I am truly a creature of fear. Luna thinks to herself, her cold mask melts away like snow to reveal her saddened expression beneath.
The room before her is littered with shelves stocked high with ancient tapestries, magical scrolls, ancient jewelry, gems, ornate boxes, and everything in between, In the chambers center however, on a golden pedestal rests, a small, simple black box. Luna eyes the box wearily and begins moving towards it. Suddenly out of the corner of her eye she spies a dark figure, a black skinned figure moving toward her just at the edge of her peripherals. She snaps her body toward the assailant with supernatural speed, arms raised ready for battle. But when she moves to meet the figure, she is faced only with a tall girl. The girls face is pale, and her hair flows like water and shimmers with a deep blue.
Wide eyed, Luna places her palm against the cold surface of polished glass; the girl on the other side too rests her palm against it. She simply stares at the reflection, solemnly lost in thought. Her brow furrows in slight irritation, and she gives a snarl as she moves past the mirror. She strides the short distance to the black box, her hands are calm and steady as she removes the lid to the container. She slides the heavy metal lid from the case and sets it gently beside. Gibbering whispers and demonic cries carried on an unknown wind escape the casket as the inside is revealed.
The innards of the case are soft red velvet, and resting in its embrace: a long bony blade starting at the tip as an iridescent blood red and slowly fading to black closer to the base. The base of the appendage is broken and charred, and it resonates with a dark aura. “The horn of King Sombra,” Luna breathes, a tingle of fear taking hold. It was a thousand years ago when she faced the dark emperor with her sister and cast him down into the frozen depths. It was his black magic, his corruption that brought about her own demonic change so long ago. He had returned recently but Equestria’s champions had destroyed him. All, but his horn were reduced to cinders. The horn however, was the source of Sombra’s corruption and his spirit yet can survive in the broken relic.
Even now Luna can here the chaotic whispers of the Shadow lord chattering at her from all sides, she hears her name more than once. The goddess ignores the incessant jabbering. Her sister Celestia was always one to be over cautious and so she wished the horn to be studied and perhaps used on the side of good. But, Celestia had not felt the power of this relic upon her; she didn’t know how terrible it truly was the way Luna did. “Time to be rid of it once and for all,” Luna says angrily
The mistress of the night raises her hands above the object; soon she can feel the power of magic flowing through her body. With a thought the feeling of power changes to a burning sensation behind the princesses eyes. Her pupils vanish from her orbs, which turn a bright luminescent green. Tendrils of shadow pour from the backs of her eyes as if the Princess had begun to weep darkness. Volts of blue-purple lighting begin to dance along her hands. Sadistic visions fill her mind; her anger and sorrow begin to grow radically inside her chest. She breathes in and out calmly. The only way to be rid of a relic of dark magic was to destroy it using its own power against it.
Black mist showers down from the Goddesses delicate hands, flowing over the horn. Suddenly pain rips into Luna’s hands, burning her like hellfire. She grits her teeth and grunts with pain; the voices around her begin to shriek in agony as she unravels the horns existence. She focuses more of her power into the relic, and so too her own pain increases as the horn fights back against her. Candles place around the room begin to dim, their flames continue burning but no longer produce light. There is the sound of tearing metal when small jagged pillars of black crystal start to erupt from the ground around her. With one final force of effort Luna sends a shockwave of shadowy magic down into the horn, and with a great roaring death throe the evil relic is gone. Luna releases her power, her eyes fade to normal and the cascade of darkness from her palms ceases.
Luna pants heavily sweat beading on her brow. She looks down into the case, and finds nothing but a small mound of grey ash. Light flows back into the chamber slowly; Luna turns her head to take in the miniature forest of dark crystals she has made. There is a pounding on the door to the chamber
“Princess… Princess Luna are you alright?” The voice of captain BlackBlade calls. Luna breathes heavily and makes her way toward the door without a word, taking care to avoid the dark shards littering the chamber. “She’s not responding, I’m going to open the door, be ready!” The captain orders his guards outside. Luna wrenches open the doors suddenly, catching BlackBlade off guard. The night watcher staggers back away from her in shock, he looks at her wide eyed.
“It… is done,” Luna says tiredly between pants, she has all but forgotten to put on her cold emotionless mask that she uses to address underlings. A large grin is appearing on her face, she cannot contain her joy at finally having destroyed the monster that ruined her life years ago.
“We heard screaming within and I felt a nightmarish power emanating from that room, are you well?” The captain asks his yellow eyes still wide with shock.
“That was me,” Luna states calmly only widening the eyes of the guards “I was forced to use black magic in order to destroy the horn,” She finishes.
“V-very well then… Mistress, would you like me to escort you back to your room?” he asks slowly, slack jawed from shock
“No captain I know the way, you must stay here and dispose of these crystals.” Luna says regaining her composure, suddenly her face becomes a blank mask once more and her voice replenishes its commanding power. “They are a side effect of using dark magic, break them down and they will dissipate, repair the rents in the flooring and leave no traces that we were here.”
After leaving her guards to their work, Luna returns to her chambers. The sun will be rising soon and Luna will need full rest to do her duty tonight. As she closes the large door to her private chamber, and crawls wearily into her massive royal bed, she smiles and her heart swells with pride. Knowing she has done the right thing and ended a great evil, the Princess of the night drifts off into her empire of dreams. Luna’s sleep is unlike any others in the entire world, to her she simply takes on a new form in a different world, her physical body regains energy like sleep, but she feels as real as any other hour. In her sleep Luna enters the dreams of all the sleeping Equestrians, aiding them in defeating their nightmares and ensuring that sleep is good for all her subjects and even her own sister. But, inside Luna’s mind there are no dreams, only an endless black void, as the goddess of the night she can peer into the subconscious of all those under her rule and around her, but she cannot make dreams of her own. Luna has often wished to be able to dream, but there is no time for doting on what could be, so she uses the time spent in the black of her mind for meditation
However, this time, it isn’t an empty void. After inspecting the dreams of her subjects and loved ones, Luna returns to her own mind to get some peace. And there she finds herself. Amid the endless dark there she seats, in front of herself like a reflection, but this reflection wears a sinister grin, and is garbed in an intricate and embarrassingly revealing suit of black mail armor. The doppelganger simply stares at Luna unblinking. Luna is greatly confused and frightened.
“W-who are you?” She calls to the figure of herself.
“We are you of course,” The figure replies in a voice entirely unfamiliar to Luna
“You can’t be me, I’m me. How did you get here?” Luna asks back
“You’re not so much you as you are us.” The thing giggles “And we’ve always been here Luna,”
“What do you mean we?”
“It is proper language is it not,” the creature asks mockingly, Luna understands, once in ancient times it was traditional for royalty to speak as multiple beings. When Luna had first returned to the world she was mocked by others for speaking in ancient tongues, and this thing obviously sought to insult her. Luna is terrified now; no one has ever been in her mind like this. In her physical body she would smite this nave for its mockery but in the dream she is incapable of harming others, and she does not know if this other her has such limitations.
“I do not know how you have entered my mind like this, but it is irrelevant, begone!” Luna commands, the thing only laughs. It begins to step towards her; Luna tries to back away but finds she can’t escape the thing; her legs simply won’t obey her! As the evil image of herself draws near, it raises its hand slowly. Luna cannot defend herself against it, and she feels its hand clasp around her throat.
The thing pulls its face in close to her own, and she can feel its breath on her. The two identical women stand for a moment, one terrified and unable to move, the other grinning slyly with its hand placed on the first’s neck. With one swift movement the nightmare doppelganger’s mouth expands to horrific proportions, and Luna is devoured instantly. The Princess screams as she enters sudden pain and darkness, and horrid laughter resounds all around.
Luna’s eyes open quickly; she draws in a sharp breath through aching lungs. Cold sweat runs down her face, and she shakes violently with fear. “W-was that a nightmare?” She asks groggily to no one in particular. Then Luna notices she’s not in her bed. In fact, she’s not even lying down. The haze of deep sleep sloughs off from the young Princess and her she takes in her surroundings.
She stands now on what feels like a stone road, it is cracked and pitted, even torn out entirely in places. All around her is strewn with rubble from various statues and small storage buildings reduced to gravel. She recognizes this place: The Canterlot Sculpture Garden, but why? A path of destruction is carved through the area all around her, and she can sense a heavy blanket of magic residue everywhere. Something incredibly powerful leveled this entire area, and recently. She concludes. But, how did I get out here? The question appears in her mind. The sun is just beginning to rise, and it is barely starting to push the night away.
“Luna?” A familiar voice questions from behind. Luna turns quickly to face the speaker. A massively tall and beautiful woman stands now on the broken path, the top of her head easily reaching ten feet. Like Luna the woman’s age is impossible to guess, her face is youthful yet holds unfathomable years. The woman wears a long white night gown; hair billows down to her ankles and flows unnaturally like the wind. Her hair is constantly shifting from blue, to green, to violet, and her bright magenta eyes are wide with shock. A pair of white angelic wings stretches out from the woman’s back. And she carries a huge, ornate golden sword in one hand; its hilt marked with an icon of the sun.
“Celestia?” Luna breathes wide eyed at seeing her big sister in this place. Luna takes a step forward to greet her beloved older sibling. But, as she strides forward, Celestia moves back. “What is the matter sister?” Luna inquires confused “Sheathe your weapon sister, whatever did this is gone,” Luna says, her words sound hollow to her own ears.
“Do not take another step, Luna” Celestia says her ordinary, motherly tone all but gone, replaced by worry. “Why did you come out here Luna?”
“We…” She catches her habit “I… don’t know I just awoke, I think I had a nightmare, sister.”
“You don’t dream Luna,” Celestia says, a hint of anger is present in the sun goddess’s voice.
“I never have but I think I can… Come sister put that blade away. There are more pressing matters than my sleep patterns right now, we must find out how this destruction was caused.” Luna says taking another step towards her sibling, Celestia raises her blade threateningly. Luna stops, confusion and sadness fill her. “Why do you threaten us, sister?” Luna asks in a shaking voice, ignoring her speech. Celestia’s face softens, the two sisters have always loved each other and it is no easy thing for one to draw a blade against the other.
“I already know how this happened, Luna. Now, stay where you are.” Celestia commands, her voice quivering. The sound of footsteps reaches Luna’s ears; she turns and sees a full battalion of royal guards, dressed in both solar and lunar armor. At the forefront is Shining Armor: Captain of the entire Royal Honor Guard, both to Luna and Celestia. Dozens of armed soldiers begin to flood in, and begin forming a tight circle around Luna and Celestia. Many of their faces have scowls, others bear saddened eyes, but all are drowning in fear. Luna turns back to face Celestia, lost in confusion.
“What is this?” Luna asks venom in her tone. Celestia stands, blade still raised
“Luna calm down,”
“Traitors,” Luna spits, turning to face the soldiers “Traitors every one of you!” Luna shouts, her supernatural voice echoing loudly and rippling the air in front of her face.
“There’s only one traitor here Luna!” Shining Armor shouts angrily from behind, Luna turns to face him, hatred plastered on her face.
“Princess Luna, under the laws of Canterlot, Equestria, and society as a whole, I hereby place you under arrest! For the murder of Night watch captain BlackBlade, and the threat you pose to us all.” Luna blood freezes in her veins, and she faces her sister slowly.
“BlackBlade… Murdered?” Luna asks shaking
“Your own personal body guard and you vaporized him!” Shining Armor shouts angrily, Luna can barely hear him.
“Shining Armor, that’s enough!” Celestia commands
“No we… I couldn’t have. I’ve been training him since he was a boy.” Luna says disbelievingly. Suddenly her heart swells with anger, burning rage flows through her veins. “No I wouldn’t, I couldn’t! What trickery is this, what horrid mockery? Is this you’re doing sister? More knavish pranking you enjoy so much?” Luna screams, lightning flashes across the sky and thunder rumbles deafeningly.
“Luna calm do…”
“No, no sister you have done me injustice and now you will pay!” Luna shrieks, the ground begins to quake with the goddess’s fury. With supernatural speed the Princess lunges forth, her wings beating up a massive blast of wind behind her, and the ground beneath her feet erupts into a shower of earth as she leaves it. Celestia’s eyes widen just as her sister’s body smashes into her with earth shattering force. The blade tumbles out of her hand. Celestia’s feet grind into the pavement, she skids to a halt, her body aching and Luna’s shoulder still smashed into her abdomen. She grunts in pain, and still caught off guard she feels one of Luna’s hands on her throat, the other on her shoulder. Luna looks up at her sister, hatred burning in her heart. The guards begin to sprint toward the royal brawl “Let’s lose this crowd,” Luna says through gritted teeth
With a blinding flash, and an evocation of magic, the two sisters vanish from the ruined garden. When the light dies down around the sisters they find themselves in the large royal throne room. The ceiling to this chamber is massively tall; the walls are lined with stained glass windows depicting the great triumphs of Equestria’s heroes. A long crimson carpet runs the length of the room from the large wooden double-doors to the raised dais upon which sits Celestia’s massive throne. The two tall figures, now standing in the center of the chamber, break away from each other quickly.
“Luna, this is your last warning: stop this foolishness now! You’re not thinking clearly, little sister. We have to find out what’s wrong with you.” Celestia shouts with fire in her words, lowering her fists and leaving her combat stance.
“Oh, now you claim that I am at fault. You always were self-righteous, but this…” Luna retorts, the young Princesses eyes are wild, madness and anger turning her vision red. With another burst of speed the goddess of the night sprints forth once more, delivering a powerful blow from her fist to the elder sister’s jaw. The attack sends a rippling shockwave through the room, and a series of ornate windows are blasted apart by it. Celestia’s body is thrown violently into her own throne, cracking the stone around it and warping the royal chair severely. She brings herself back to her feet slowly and shoots a piercing gaze at her younger sister; Luna pants heavily, drool begins to pour down her chin and she has the wild eyes of a crazed animal.
“I am a fair leader, and I am a fair sister, Luna,” Celestia says slowly, her angelic wings twitch and their joints pop audibly. She wipes a thin trickle of blood running from her mouth with a gloved hand “but even my patience has limits.” Suddenly Luna feels a massive ripple of pain through her body as Celestia’s fist is driven into her diaphragm. Luna feels her legs give out, and her breath fail her. But, before she can retaliate she feels fingers clasp around her blue mane. She his wrenched from the ground painfully by her hair, and brought to eye level with the goddess of the sun. With her free hand Celestia crushingly bludgeons Luna’s face, letting her hair go and sending the younger Princess sailing across the room. There is a loud snap as Luna’s nose is shattered, followed by the crash of the doors being smashed down by her rapidly accelerating body.
The wooden doors fall from their mountings with Luna lying on top of them, blood pouring from her broken face. She raises herself up and glares menacingly at her older sister, blood dripping down to stain her night suit. Luna places a hand on her broken nose and swiftly pulls the bone back into correct placement, holding it there for a moment. Her bones begin clicking loudly as the fuse back together, healing at a rate beyond that of even a god. When she pulls her hand away, the wound is gone but for a small scar running along her ridge. Celestia’s eyes widen slightly out of shock.
Luna chuckles too maddened to question the unnatural healing factor but proud to have received it. “What’s wrong sister, getting too old to be fighting?” Luna inquires mockingly in a savage tone.
“Enough Luna, I am far more powerful than you are. You cannot win this battle; it’s time to give up.” Celestia says softly in her natural motherly voice. Luna looks away from her, knowing that she is weaker than her older sister. She looks about frantically hoping to find some miracle; she doesn’t have to look far, because she soon spies the key to victory.
“I might not be strong enough to beat you…” She pauses to cackle manically “but I know someone who is.” She says raising her other arm, one hidden until now from Celestia’s sight. Luna is filled with satisfaction at seeing the horrified look on her sisters face, as she shows her arm which has grown to disfigured proportions and its skin has become black as midnight. A single tear runs down Celestia’s cheek
“No, not again, Luna why? We had made amends, how have I driven you to this again?” Celestia asks silently, on the verge of weeping. Luna closes her eyes, and tears stream down her face even as she laughs insanely. But, when she opens her eyes they are different. Their whites are gone, filled by her massive pupils which now are reptilian in shape and glow a vibrant teal. Luna’s veins begin to bulge out across her skin; cracks in her pale flesh begin forming. Black ichor oozes from the wounds and slowly seeps across her. The loud cracking of bones fills the room as Luna’s smaller body begins to grow. She stands her body is mired with patches of black and her eyes glow with fury, she grins to reveal her suddenly sharpened teeth. She flaps her blue wings; even now the feathers are clinging together with dark ichor.
“Yes sister, and by midday my transformation will be complete. You however will be long dead by that point,” Luna says in the voice of the doppelganger from her vision.
“And so our nightmare continues, but you will be stopped. Twilight and the other elements of Harmony will hunt you down and destroy you again.” Celestia states coldly, her voice suddenly low and threatening. She raises her fists, and takes a combat stance.
“I underestimated those wretches once; I do not intend to do so again.” The demon cackles “But, what I do know for certain: you don’t have your precious Elements of Harmony, so there’s nothing to stop me from finally ending you.”
“Luna would not have chosen this path, not now. She has earned the love of the people as their Princess, and respect has been brought to her precious night sky; the only things she ever truly wanted. So then Nightmare, how did you force your way back?” Celestia asks not expectant of a response.
“Enough talk” the larval monster roars, and raises its newly clawed hands. There is a shift in the air, and glowing violet energy begins to dance across Nightmare Moon’s blackening arms. A sphere of white light breaks forth between the corrupted’s palms, spiting gouts of blue lighting which crack and burn the ground and walls where they strike. The sphere begins to expand and a low humming sound drowns the room as the air becomes electrified. The sphere quickly reaches as size much larger than the hands cradling it, and with a loud booming thunder clap, the sphere becomes a beam of blue violet light. The blast races toward the elder Goddess, the ground beneath it begins to recede and dissolve from the raw power of the attack.
Celestia quickly raises her own hands, and without a moment of preparation an equally massive beam of golden sunray erupts from her palms. The two beams collide with destructive force, at the point of meeting the magic rays churn and mix together to form a ball of blinding light. The ground for miles around quakes with bone jarring ferocity, while the two deities grit their teeth in exertion. The two forces power begins to fracture, as the beams push against one another jets of white energy sear forth at random directions; massive chunks of wall and flooring are disintegrated, and colorful windows are blasted from their panes. Lightning crackles along anything in the royal chamber that can conduct it, while tapestries and rugs catch fire in the hellish heat. The two Princesses grunt and grind their teeth in anger as they force more and more of their unreal power at the other.
The rays continue to push against each other, the ground continues to shake horribly, and the sky itself feels the battle, as the sun and moon clash Equestria begins to darken. Both Princesses can feel the pain running through their bodies, but Celestia most of all. Normally being the elder she is far stronger than her sister, and once Luna knew this. So, in an attempt to gain strength she bargained with dark king Sombra for a touch of his power to unlock a strange inner darkness. That day was over a thousand years ago, and that was when Nightmare Moon was born. Celestia knows that she cannot defeat her sister now; she is already too deep in corruption.
With a great primal roar, Nightmare Moon unleashes her full power. Her attack increases in size to daunting proportions, its bulk now encompassing the majority of the throne chamber. Celestia is taken off guard fatally. And her defense is knocked aside easily. The monstrous beam engulfs the sun goddess completely, carrying onward. The blast explodes from the rear wall of the Throne room, exiting the rear wall of Canterlot tower and fading off into the horizon. The blast dissipates rapidly, leaving Nightmare Moon panting as she lowers her arms. The dark lady begins to laugh maniacally when her eyes fall upon Celestia’s broken form. The sun Princess lies on her back in the ruins of the beautiful throne room, much of her regal white dress has been incinerated; her body is burned and raked in many places. Her large magenta eyes still stare at Nightmare Moon, her breast rises and falls with ragged breath, and blood runs from her mouth and nose.
“Still alive are you?” Nightmare asks in a weary tone. “Let’s fix that, shall we?” Her tone is evil and she quickly strides to the prone Celestia. She kneels down over Equestria’s broken leader, places one bladed hand on her throat and raises the other to the now open ceiling. She gives a jagged grin as crackling energy envelopes her raised fist. Celestia only stares up with sad eyes; tears begin to stream down her cheeks. “What,” her executioner scoffs “tears? So faced with death we see Celestia’s true colors. You’re a coward,”
“N-not tears for me… little sister.” The Princess chokes out. Nightmare’s reptilian eyes widen, and her own salty tears begin to fall.
“Big sister,” the monster says in Luna’s natural velvety voice “h-help us,” she squeaks out like a frightened child. Celestia too widens her eyes
“I can’t Luna, only you can. Be rid of her sister, force her back!” Celestia’s screams in desperation. A scream escapes from Nightmare Moon’s maw, a shriek of agony in the monsters voice. The energy fades from its fist, and its hand latch on to its head. It closes its large eyes and bellows in rage.
“No, you’re mine, you’re a weakling! You can’t take this body from me, not like this!” Nightmare Moon roars, falling away from the stunned Celestia.
“You’re not in control anymore,” Luna’s voice is heard from everywhere at once. Not using the mouth of her body, her telepathic speech floods the room with its booming fury. “You think you are strong, you had only survived as long as you did before because I allow it! Without me you are nothing, and now for your evil I rebuke you!” Luna shouts defiantly from within her own mind. Celestia can only stare slack jawed at the writhing form of her possessed sister. Suddenly the deformed girl stops shouting, stops moving, and opens her eyes. She looks up at Celestia with two teal orbs, two glittering human eyes.
“Luna?” Celestia asks shocked. Luna only sobs loudly, clenching her eyes as tears pour from them.
“I’m so sorry Celestia; there is no greater fool than I.” Luna cries, pulling her legs in close to her chest. Like a child the goddess curls herself into a ball to weep over her guilt at breaking the rules. “This was my fault, I wanted so badly to see the curse lifted forever, that I… I destroyed the horn of King Sombra, but the magic must have backlashed. Once again I have damned myself!”
“That’s enough Luna, you are not damned. You did what you believed to be right. It’s over now and you’re safe.” Celestia says still unable to move, using her legendary soothing voice, like a loving mother to all.
“No, it’s not over yet, I’m afraid.” Luna shakes, Celestia furrows her brow as if asking why. “That monster, Nightmare Moon is still here. I can feel her in my head, trying to get out. I won’t be able to hold her for long, she will escape again. Only one thing can undo this.” She states grudgingly
“Luna no, the Elements changed you back the last time,” Celestia says pulling herself up to a sitting position, wincing in pain of her shattered ribs “but there’s no telling what they will do this time. What if you’re imprisoned again, or worse?”
“Celestia there is no other option!” Luna shouts “Send for Twilight and the others, only the Elements can stop me now.” Luna rises to her feet; she looks down at her still darkening hands. She balls her clawed hands into fists in anger, and turns to the door.
“Please stay Luna. We can fix this together. There’s always another option.” Celestia begs, she tries to stand but her body is too damaged and pain brings her back down. “I won’t use the Elements on you again, I can’t lose you again!” Celestia begins to weep. Luna turns back to face her
“Then I will kill you,” she says coldly, menacingly “I will kill you, Twilight, and all of her friends.” Celestia lowers her head in defeat. “And, in time if it comes to me ending the lives of my loved ones… I will have died with you.” Celestia knows that her sister speaks true, for her kingdom she must risk losing her little sister. Luna turns back to the ravaged exit “I will be back, and when I am pray that the Elements of Harmony are ready. They defeated Nightmare Moon easily before, but this time won’t be so easy.” She finishes flatly. Suddenly the air shifts, and crackling energy surrounds the Princess of the night.
“Luna wait, I…” Celestia is cut off by a loud crack and a flash of light as her sister teleports as far away as she can. The room turns silent once more and the Goddess of the sun is alone. “…love you.” She finishes, letting one last tear fall.
Days later, mages and construction workers toil to rebuild the shattered throne room; and high above resting on the very peak of Canterlot tower two large figures rest. One figure, a giant ten foot tall woman with shifting hair and angelic wings wears a mask of sorrow. Her powerful magic carries the bright yellow sun below the horizon, setting the sky alight with the vibrant hues of sunset. Beside her sits another large woman, this girl is much younger and only comes to six and a half feet at full height. Her name is Twilight Sparkle, the heroine of Equestria.
Twilight is the youngest of the four Goddesses; born a mortal she spent the majority of her life as Celestia’s protégé and a master sorceress. But in unleashing an ancient and powerful spell, as well as completing the magic, she ascended to godhood. She is the Goddess of magic, friendship, and heroism. Her short cropped hair is a black blue hue, a pink and a purple stripe run through her locks. A pair of large, violet feathered wings protrude from her back. And, upon her head she wears a large golden tiara, with a massive purple gem intricately woven into its frame. The gem is shaped as a six pointed star, and it pulses with light like a heartbeat. The two deities watch as the sun sets in silence.
“When do you think she will be back,” Celestia asks in a somber tone.
“Impossible to say Princ… uh, Celestia.” Twilight responds, still not used to addressing Celestia as an equal rather than her Princess. “I know so little about Nightmare Moon, and Luna for that matter. But, the others and I are prepared to do what we must.”
“That’s what I’m afraid of. You’re immortal now Twilight, and one day you will understand just how long a thousand years is too live.” Celestia says sadly “You can’t imagine what it’s like to lose someone for that long, to be the one who was the instrument of their destruction.”
“I am sorry Princess, Luna is a friend, and so I will only order the use of the Elements as a last resort. But, the Equestrian people are now my people as well, and I will do what I must to guarantee their safety.” Twilight says with conviction. The sun finally disappears beyond the horizon, and soon enough the stars begin to come into being, and behind the full moon shines up over the peaks of mountains. The two Princesses turn to look at the large orb. “There’s not supposed to be a full moon tonight,” Twilight being ever fond of astronomy states
“She has changed,” Celestia breathes to herself silently.
“How can you tell?” Twilight looks to her former mentor
“I can just feel it; this night will not end until Nightmare Moon is destroyed.” Celestia says angrily
“Then we will destroy her, once and for all. And, we will save Luna from her grasp. I promise you that Celestia.” Twilight says confidently. And, as the long night began two goddesses left the tower, to prepare for their sisters arrival, and to banish the demon from her soul. But, far from the shinning city the creature stirs. Nightmare Moon hovers amid the night sky, her flesh now fully blackened and her body clothed in deep blue armor. Her bat like wings flap to keep her aloft, she stares at the large full moon longingly.
“I cannot defeat the Elements alone.” She states to no one in particular “They are too powerful, and too pure for me to control. But,” she begins thinking, her ancient mind devising a nefarious scheme. “Twilight Sparkle can command them. And, with her upbringing to immortality, who’s to say she doesn’t have her own demon inside of her.” Nightmare grins slyly “All I have to do is bring it out to play.” She laughs thunderously into the night. And, with a great flap of her dark wings she sets off to put her plans into motion.
Sanction
"Celestia had a growing empire, uniting the human tribes and cities. We marched across Equestria, destroying any who refused to bow to her. Our base was in the greatest of fortresses: Everfree castle, before the unnatural forest had grown there. As I recall, the regal city of Canterlot, and the young, thriving settlement of Fillydelphia were the most recent to kneel before our banner. She was a conqueror then, so long ago; honored by her subjects and feared by everyone else. It is so strange, a thousand years later, she's so different. She talks constantly that the old ways failed, that peace and diplomacy have proved to be far more useful, and war should be left behind. It's like she's a whole different person. I don't know how I will fare in this new time, it is true that peace has accomplished much more than conflict. But, I was always the soldier, the tactician, Celestia trusted me with organizing and leading the armies. Now I feel, quite honestly, useless. Perhaps it is best that I have nothing, I still remember the last war I ever waged. In the frozen north, my sister had given me sanction to invade the Crystal Empire, it was there that I discovered the power I had to shape my own destiny..."
-Personal Journal: Princess Luna,
One Thousand years ago
The freezing snow creates a haze of white in all directions. Through the blinding storm, a large dark mass is visible. Writhing and shifting it's way slowly across the snow covered fields. The legion of armored bodies moves slowly, in perfect unison. At it's head stands a tall, slender figure. She is easily taller than any of the other warriors in the army, her body is wrapped in long billowing robes, clipped together at her chest with a medallion in the shape of a crescent moon. Her face is hid from view by a thick cowl. Her large wings are tucked against her back tightly. She strides at a brisk pace, far ahead of her army. Her eyes trail absent minded at the white blanket below, it is useless even for her to try and see through the blizzard. The icy wind blows through her cloak, but she hardly notices the chill.
As she marches another figure drops from the air, crashing to the ground, and flinging snow in all directions. The figure rises to full height, she is incredibly tall for a mortal, reaching almost six and a half feet. A pair of copper colored wings still beat lightly at her back, and she wears a heavy suit of black and gold armor. Her helmet leaves her aged face exposed, and it brings her black hair up to form a thick mohawk sprouting from the top of her helm.
"Ah, commander Hurricane. What news?" Princess Luna greets the warrior, her voice just loud enough to pierce the gale.
The commander salutes rigidly then replies "My lady, the Crystal Empire is within sight. The storm appears to have masked our approach, they are unprepared for an assault." She has to shout to be heard "Shall I have my valkyries clear the sky?"
"No, I want you and your fliers to make the preliminary attack. I will clear the storm myself, and then I will join the battle. We will break their defenses, then the humans and mages will follow us in to finish the job." Luna states, barely above a whisper and she can be heard easily.
"Your going to clear this storm by yourself?" Hurricane asks in disbelief
"Do you doubt my abilities, commander?" Luna inquires coldly
"N-no, Ma'am!" Hurricane shouts, taking a respective military stance, averting her gaze from the princess "Forgive my rudeness, I will prepare my forces at once." Luna nods to her, an invisible smirk on her young, hidden face. Commander Hurricane leaps from the earth, her wings beating furiously as she disappears into the sky. Luna turns her eyes upward, she raises her freehand. Power floods through her veins, a cascade of energy rushes into her outstretched palm. Shimmering blue energy surrounds her body, as the snow begins to race faster and faster, and the wind changes direction suddenly. For miles around, the storm closes in on itself, all of it is pulled rapidly towards the Princess of the night. A sphere of ice and condensed wind builds around her hand. As more and more of the blizzard is pulled into the grey orb, the haze of white dims. In the distance the looming form of the Crystal Empire materializes, as does the hundreds of winged forms high above. Much of the snow upon the ground lifts up as well, erasing many of the large dunes and leaving only a foot or two left on the earth. After a few moments the storm has completely died out, and Luna holds in her palm a sphere of ice encircled by an atmosphere of rushing air, roughly the size a bowling ball, and weighing over three tons. Luna admires the sphere intently, an entire blizzard condensed down to a pinprick of it's normal size, but maintaining the same weight.
She looks ahead to get a clear view of the city before her. The occupied city seems to form a ring around the main palace, with large roads forming an intricate web cris-crossing the city. The surrounding buildings seemed to be an assortment of black, jagged crystal buildings, of varying sizes. The city She narrows her eyes at the dark, sprawling central palace. It was the tallest structure she had ever seen, it's black jagged tip scrapes the grey clouds, and it's base is split into thin spokes that somehow support the entire structure. The scope of the building is immense, even from this distance. Not only in height but sheer scope, even to Luna, it is daunting. The top of the palace leaks an inky black vapor into the sky, which dissolves into grey smoke, forming the unnatural clouds here. Celestia had once told Luna that for reasons yet to be discovered, the condition of the citizens in the Crystal Empire affected the land around them. Under the tyrannical rule of king Sombra, the land around the empire is dying, freezing over, and each day the blight spreads further into Equestria.
Ahead she can see her fliers have nearly reached the city, and she knows they will need her support to clear a path for the rest of the army. She looks back to see her battalion of ground forces, hastily making their way towards the city. Seeing everything is in order, she kneels down slowly, extending her long wings and inhaling deeply. And, in an instant leaps from the ground explosively. Kicking up a wave of snow and chunks of frozen earth in all directions. The air cracks ferociously, and a visible wave of energy radiates outward. She breaks the sound barrier an instant after leaving the ground, and disappearing from the sight of her forces.
She quickly reaches the formations of valkyries and speeds to the head. Her robes are whipped about by the rushing air from her flight, her wings beat rapidly. She comes up alongside Commander Hurricane, the Crystal Empire rushes towards them. Below they can see the hasty gathering of forces, mobilized at the sight of a wave of attackers. From this height the slave soldiers appear to be little more than insects. Though as the thought crosses her mind, Luna chuckles, mortals had always seemed like insects to her. Celestia had an affiliation, almost a love for them, which might explain why she hardly went to battle personally anymore.
No, now it was Luna's duty to exterminate Equestria's roaches. What credit did she get for all the wars she had fought, all the battles won in her sisters name? She was labelled a monster, a slayer of men. Almost no one in Equestria even knew of her existence, they all think that the night is made and inhabited by demons. Those that did know of her, they thought that she was the demon. Her blood begins to boil, rage fills her chest. Just at thinking of the injustice, at the senseless hatred of her and the night, she could feel blood pounding in her temples. Shadows whispered to her, they always had, voices in her head. Whenever she felt rage, jealousy, even brief moments of lust, the voices were there. She never could make out what exactly they spoke of, but their intangible words fueled her darker emotions.
She noticed the attack force begin to slow, and decided to pull her mind away from anger, and the voices. She slowed with her valkyries. "Commander, secure the outlying roads and buildings, smash the defenders. I will capture the main road myself." Luna shouts to Hurricane, to which she is met with a curt nod. The valkyries begin disappearing in all directions, most squadrons head towards the ground, including Hurricane herself. But, a few individuals make for the clouds high above; a tactic Luna devised herself long ago, for the valkyries to use their control over weather to call down tactical lightning strikes. Luna herself looked down at the main road leading to the monstrous palace. It is swarming with slave soldiers, taking poorly executed battle positions. Luna grips the storm sphere in her hand tightly, before letting her wings snap back together.Her descent is rapid, without her wings beating she falls at intense speed. She closes her eyes, and feels he peace of the air rushing past her youthful face.
Far below the battalion of ragged soldiers looks skyward in confusion. They see a single winged body free falling. Their eyes track the doomed warrior intently, as its body smashes into the street. A large crater is formed when its body is pulverized into the stone street. A cloud of dust and a shower of gravel is thrown high into the air. The slaves all begin running to inspect the poor fool who had fallen to their death. The dust settles rapidly, and by the time they arrive to see the not-so-poor fool. A woman kneels in the center of the crater, clutching a large ball of ice in her hand. Her body is clothed in dark robes, the cowl hides her lowered head, and her wings are tucked neatly against her back. They all stare in amazement.
Luna rises from her crouching position. She sees the horde of gathered soldiers staring with dumb curiosity. All of them have a strange consistency to their skin. It is said that the people of the Crystal Empire actually had skin made of crystal. But, these people had skin made of stone. All of them had a strange rock like appearance to them, but smooth, like dull pearl. The astounded looks on their faces change into wide eyed masks of terror as she comes to full height. From beneath her cowl her teal eyes skim the crowd. With one long stride she is free from the crater. The mortified soldiers all back away from the enormous woman, no doubt mistaking her for Celestia. With her free hand Luna reaches up, and grasps the moon shaped clip, holding her robes together. With a quick tug the clip is removed, she gives a rip and the robes are sent flying away all together. The fabric settles some feet away, but the soldiers can only look at the sight before them.
Luna stands confidently, her body clothed in a grim suit of armor. The black armor fits tightly around her lithe torso, accentuating her perfect beautiful figure. The shoulders of the armor extend far out, rows of spikes rise wickedly from their surface. All long the breastplate of the armor warped faces and skulls shriek silently, scenes of battle play out in memorials across the demonic looking, black armor. A thick necklace hangs down, marked with a crescent moon. The armor is sleeveless and legless, allowing for increased mobility. Her arms are exposed down to a pair of spiked gauntlets, similarly her legs are bare except for a set of wicked grieves. Running down the flanks of her hips, a long black kilt adorned with stars hangs down to her calves, complete at the center with an equally long tabard featuring an ornate design of the night sky. Her short blue, short cropped hair flutters in the wind over her right eye. Her pale skin reflects the cold sunlight brilliantly, making her look almost to be made of snow.
She scans back and forth amongst the gathering of her slack-jawed enemies, before selecting her target. An older looking man, wielding a spear. "Catch." She commands nonchalantly, tossing the compressed storm to him like a softball. He has good reflexes, he drops his spear immediately and reaches out to catch the object. All of the other slaves track the balls movement towards the target. As he catches the sphere, his body is thrown back with massive force, the intense weight of the compressed storm hitting him like an avalanche. His body goes sailing down the street, before hitting the ground and bouncing. The intense momentum of the storm continues to carry his body through the army until it becomes too distant to see, pulping any unfortunate enough to get in its way.
The second the sphere strikes its target, Luna leaps forward. Her fist crushing the skull of the first man within reach, she quickly darts to the next, kicking him hundreds of feet upward into the sky. By now the others have looked back to see the goddess bearing down on them. Faster than any of them could blink, let alone raise their swords, her fists, feet, forearms, and knees carve into them. In a flurry of movement she moves, her attacks crushing bones, severing limbs, throwing men hundreds of feet in all directions. She darts back and forth, each step brings one of her blows into deadly contact, silencing another enemies cries of terror. Dozens of soldiers are scythed down by the goddess, as she powers through the army of mortals like a knife through butter, they begin retreating. When the full battalion within reach lies scattered about, the majority of them dead, she sprints to the next far ahead.
She passes by two craters in the street, created by her makeshift weapon's bouncing. The troops ahead attempt to flee, but none can outrun the lady of the night. She quickly reaches them, they run as fast as they are able, like a heard of frightened cattle. She raises one of her hands, suddenly a fork of lightning leaps outward. The blinding bolts strike out at the men, causing their bodies to thrash violently before their corpses hit the earth. The bolts chain outward, striking more men with each one already struck. Within seconds another battalion lies defeated, a single bead of sweat runs down the side of Luna's face. The next battalion is closer now, its members fleeing, as does the next, and the next after that. Luna rushes forward once more.
She catches the nearest man, gripping the back of his tunic in her large fist. She raises him up like a rag doll, before punching his helpless body down through the street. Shattering stone with his weak, mortal frame. The rest of the battalion turns their mortified eyes toward her, obviously fearful of suffering a similar end. Luna looks upon them, their fear sickens her. It is plain that they are unaware that if they actually attacked, they might have a chance of beating her. She is a goddess, but that didn't mean she is invincible. She decides to take pity on them.
"Be still!" Her massive booming voice can be heard to every battalion from the main road to the palace, the air ripples in front of her face. The men beyond the ones already starring at her look back, for hundreds of feet they all look to see the speaker. "Surrender now you curs, and we shall spare your lives." Her thunderous voice calls out once more. Almost immediately the poor excuses for soldiers drop their weapons, and raise their hands. Every single one. This too sickens Luna, though she must remind herself that most of them are slave soldiers, not real troops. She is however, happy to be rid of this distraction, now able to focus on reaching the real target. "Good, your decision pleases your new Princess." She says to them mockingly. "Now get out of our way!" She commands fiercely. The soldiers all make for the edges of the road, parting the way for the princess as quickly as possible.
She strides at a brisk pace, her long pale legs taking massive strides. She passes more craters, following them she searches for her lost weapon. The palace is close now, with hundreds of frightened prisoners all around, she finds the sphere lying in a heap of remains. From this distance she can see the large balcony of the palace, as well as the dark figure waiting there. She narrows her eyes at the high up form, and continues watching it even as it turns and enters back into the palace. She quickly snatches up the fallen storm in her hand, her wrist still aching from throwing it earlier. She winds up powerfully, then with a burst of strength, hurls it with all her might. Sharp pain stabs through her arm, she grimaces slightly. The sphere closes the gap between Luna and the palace in a second. It strikes the balcony with such force that it blasts a hole the size of a Canterlot mansion through the face of the dark crystalline tower. The tiny sphere erupts like a cannon ball from the opposite side of the palace, sending it and a hail storm of debris into the sky. The loud thunderclap from the sphere breaking the sound barrier resonates across the Empire.
"Wait here, keep your weapons on the ground. Fail to disobey this order and the rest of our army will kill you, comply and you will remain unharmed." Luna shouts simply to the soldiers around her, a few muttered responses greet her. She wastes no more time, her wings snap outward, and she rockets from the ground towards the palace. With just a few flaps of her icy blue wings, Luna reaches the breach in the palace wall. Slowing down she hovers cautiously through the monstrous hole. Chunks of debris continue to rain down from the rim of the breach. The inside Luna finds herself in a large chamber. It's black, crystal walls adorned with tapestries of King Sombra, and at the far end sat his grim throne. The throne itself had been almost completely demolished by the collision, the grey sky could be seen through the blast zone in the wall.
Luna lowers herself to her feet, moving slowly, cautiously. Her keen eyes easily able to pierce the dark of the palace, she searches intently for signs of life. In here she notices, the sounds of the outside world seem to diminish, even with a pair of large holes in the walls. The thunder from lightning strikes, and the cries of battle are diminished to almost nothing, the only real sound that Luna can hear is her own heartbeat thundering in her ears. It begins to annoy her, grate on her nerves. She scowls at the air in the room.
"I was wondering when Celestia would send for me." A low, calm voice says from behind. Luna turns sharply on her heel to face the speaker. Standing there a tall man, for a mortal, looks at her blankly. His flesh appears as the crystal citizens did, only darker, more sombre, like dark grey marble. His steel crown frames his face, and holds back his long flowing hair, dark as pitch. His blood red eyes weep purple mist from their corners, and he is dressed like a true king, in red silk, and white furs. A long bloody spoke extends from his forehead, it seems to resonate with dark power.
"It was I who deemed it necessary to silence you, Sombra." Luna states coldly. "My sister merely gave the order." She says with more venom than intended, venom directed not at Sombra.
"So you're a lap dog then?" Sombra asks with a guttural laugh, pacing towards her slowly. Luna narrows her eyes at him.
"I am no pet, I am Luna, Princess of the night, Goddess of the moon, sister to Celestia." Luna speaks with obvious pride, but Sombra's eyes see more lies than truth.
"Yes, of course you are. Proud, faithful Luna." Sombra whispers methodically, beginning to let his feet carry him slowly in a wide circle around her. Luna stays constantly face to face with him, he grins slightly, revealing his sharpened teeth. "Do not play games with me, Luna." He says knowingly. "I can see through you, you're nothing but an open book. You carry a great deal of pride on your shoulders. Pride for your family, pride for your country, pride for your people. But, what is the truth?" His mocking tone burns Luna to her core, she can feel her rage starting to surface once more. The pounding of her own heartbeat only helps to quicken her anger. The voices begin chanting once more, invisible chattering, rattling about in her skull. Sombra continues to pace around her. Her fists are balled up at her sides crushingly.
"The truth is you have about five seconds left to live." Luna growls menacingly, the voices in her head grow louder. Sombra only laughs.
"My magic is rare, Luna." He says ignoring her threat. "Rare, and powerful. It revolves around hate, jealousy, and spite. I can see these things in all beings, even one as powerful as yourself." His gaze is drawn to a large portrait of himself hanging on his wall. Luna only stares at him. "And, you are absolutely brimming with them, my dear." He finishes, still not looking at her.
"Don't call me dear, I am hundreds of years older than you. You're but an insect compared to me." Luna spits
"Then, if I am such an insect, why am I not dead yet?" He questions looking at her. Her anger flares again, release me, she picks the phrase out of the incessant babbling in her head. "Is it because this insect is the only one who truly understands?" His voice is soft now, almost nurturing, yet predatory at the same time. "The plight you've faced since you were a child. Oh yes, I can see it all. Every ounce of jealousy you have ever had, every drip of resentment for others. Living in your sisters shadow." Luna's face softens at hearing this, but her rage only builds. Now images of Celestia surrounded by crowds who would give anything just to see her with their own eyes, while they shunned Luna as a monster. Unleash, tangible words begin appearing more and more now. She can't say anything, she grits her teeth in anger, her fury burning white hot in her heart. Lash out, the command is compelling, but she cannot. She knows the King speaks the truth.
"No one would ever listen to you, the naive little girl. No one would ever respect you, the lesser of two children." Sombra continues, his voice grows slower, and softer with every word. "No one would ever love you, the monster who fell in love with the night." At the last word, Luna's rage explodes, kill! She lets loose a deafening cry, launching herself at breakneck speed. She slams Sombra against one of the chamber walls, cracks lance out across the dark crystal. Sombra grunts in pain, Luna holds him there by his shoulders. Tears stream down her cheeks as she stares daggers into him. "But, it doesn't have to be that way." He grunts. "I can help you." He says raggedly. Release me.
"How can you help me?" Luna inquires with a shaking voice.
"I can see your fear too. You fear a great many things, though you don't want to admit it. But, above all else you fear, hate, and loath Celestia." He coughs. Cold, so cold. "You cannot challenge her, because she is stronger than you, and she always will be." Luna gives no response other than a murderous stare. "I can make you stronger." Luna's eyes narrow at this, her grasp releases. Sombra slides down to his feet, free from her clutches.
"How?" She questions, suddenly interested.
"Dark magic has a way of... unlocking hidden potential." He states, breathing wearily. Burn the liar.
"Ah, I see." Luna says disbelievingly, her hand lashes upward, clasping around Sombra's throat suddenly. He chokes out a gurgled breath as he is lifted from his feet once more. "You just want to make me into one of your shadow puppets." Live in the shadows.
"No." He gasps out. "Won't... work... not on... you." He chokes
"Do you take me for an idiot, thinking that I'd believe you would help me for nothing in return?" She shouts
"Didn't say... nothing... in.... return." Luna releases him down to the floor once more. He breathes in deeply, coughing violently.
"What do you want?" Luna asks, looming over him, ready to attack again. The voices in her mind begin to dim, the conversation acting as a perfect distraction from her anger.
"There's a nine foot tall goddess in my throne room, here to kill me. What do you think I want?" He spits in an annoyed tone.
"So, I spare you... you give me this power?" She asks, her eyes still narrowed.
"Yes, you let me live, and tell Celestia that I'm dead. Do that, and I will gift you with my power. The power to overthrow her, and forge your own destiny. If the people of Equestria will not love Luna, then make them!" She contemplates his words carefully. All her life she had lived in Celestia's shadow, jealousy was a feeling she had always held closely. But, she also knew that Celestia hated her, it was obvious there was no love in her sisters heart, except for herself. Luna knew this is what she wanted, but how could she? She knew she would have to kill Celestia, it was the only way for Equestria to love her. She clenches her eyes shut, squeezing out a single tear.
"Damn you 'Tia, for making me do this." Luna whispered to the air.
"I take it we have an agreement then?" Sombra asks still with an irritated tone.
Luna nods. "Get out quickly and quietly, Celestia will think you are dead." She says solemnly.
"Good, then I too will uphold my end of the bargain." Sombra says with a fanged grin. "Shall we begin?"
"No." Luna states flatly, Sombra gives a confused look. "I will give Celestia one last chance, and if I do decide to do this, it must be at the right moment." Luna decides, knowing full well that when she receives the power it will be obvious to Celestia. Sombra laughs.
"Delicious." Sombra says liking his teeth. "I have the perfect thing for you." He says, suddenly his horn becomes coated in a thick black aura. From near the destroyed throne, a small case is lifted from the ground by an invisible hand. "There were only four in existence." He explains when the case reaches his hands. The lid from the case opens to reveal a soft velvet interior. Held inside were three glass prisms. One rectangular, one triangular, the third an orb. Within each of the prisms a thick black liquid flowed. A fourth space, in the shape of a star also inhabited the case. "I used the first on myself, and the others I have saved for special occasions." Luna admires the objects.
"The Vilanthyr." Luna breathes. "The source of dark magic, thought to be lost destroyed thousands of years ago." She stammers wide eyed.
Sombra delicately takes the orb from the case in his hands. "When the time is right, destroy the orb. The shadows within will be released, and they will latch onto the hatred within you. Do not waste this gift, it will bring about a more powerful change than you can possibly imaging." Sombra instructs, the two admire the orb for a long time after. Luna takes the orb in her larger hand. With a flash of magic the orb evaporates into the air. "What was that?" Sombra asks wide eyed, staring at the space where the relic had just been.
"Pocket dimension. Makes for an excellent carrying space. Celestia will not be able to detect its power while it is contained within." Luna explains.
"You are more cunning than I thought, Princess." Sombra says with a laugh. " I should go, before your forces completely destroy the city." He says turning to leave.
"I will inform my sister of your death." Luna states walking the opposite way.
"Oh, and should our paths ever cross again, perhaps it will be on better terms." Sombra says turning back to her, she looks back at him, one eyebrow cocked. "And, perhaps we could use your sisters bed, it must be massive." He says with a booming laugh, Luna chuckles, secretly disgusted.
"Perhaps." She says humoring him, trying to hold herself back from ripping his head off with her bare hands. She turns and lift off back into the air, leaving Sombra blissfully unaware that she had placed a magical ward on him, and now she could find him anywhere in Equestria. High in the air, overlooking the scarred ruin of the empire, she could see her full army was well into the city now, the majority of Sombra's forces had been either dealt with or taken prisoner. "Time for your test 'Tia, let's see if you have an ounce of love for me left." Luna mutters under her breath, she stops mid air, hovering. She scans the city, searching for commander Hurricane. She quickly locates the warrior, at the rear of the forces, no doubt issuing orders. Luna takes a deep breath. "Okay." She says on the exhale. She closes her eyes and raises her fist. With all her strength she drives her fist into her own chest, severely denting her ornate breastplate. The sound and feeling of two of her ribs cracking reaches her.
Crying out in agony, she clutches the wound. She screams for a few moments, she looks back to Commander Hurricane. Breathing heavily through broken bones and splintered armor, she turns her back on the direction of the commander. With one great flap of her wings she is suddenly speeding backwards through the air. After a time of sailing through the air, wincing and clutching her self inflicted wound in pain, she feels the ground below. Her body strikes the earth, kicking up a shower of rock, before bouncing like a doll. Her body lands a second time, stopping instantly. She screams as pain attacks her chest once more. She waits there for what feels like an eternity, breathing raggedly. Soon a group of winged Valkyries rushes over to her, including Hurricane.
"Princess! What happened?" The commander shouts, kneeling beside Luna.
"Damn that Sombra!" Luna coughs through gritted teeth "Tricked me, used the condensed storm against me. He's more powerful than we thought." She grunts, breathing unsteadily. "Order the mages to send a telepathic message to my sister: I need immediate support from her!" Luna commands, trying to sit up. Hurricane barks the orders to her Valkyries, then she turns back to help Luna up.
"Will you be alright, my lady?" Hurricane asks, sounding just somewhat concerned.
"I've had worse, it'll be fine." Luna grunts, rising unsteadily to her feet. A robed woman rushes up, gives a quick bow, and says:
"Princess Luna, your message has been received. Princess Celestia informs us that support is inboun-" The mage is cut off by a sudden blinding light. Golden rays of light shine out across the whole empire, all of the soldiers shield their eyes quickly. From the epicenter of the light appears a single figure. "I... I didn't think she'd be coming her personally." The mage stammers wildly.
As the golden rays begin to dim the figure lowers itself to the ground. All across the Crystal Empire hundreds of soldiers bow their heads in respect for the descending figure. Every soul in the empire shows respect, except for Luna. She smiles upward at the angelic form of her sister. Celestia lands gracefully, across from Luna. Celestia wears a simple white dress, her golden necklace and crown still upon her head. She had teleported directly from the throne room, Luna realized, she really wanted to get here. Her massive stature was daunting, even to Luna. Her pink hair hung down to the base of her back, and she wore an expression of extreme disappointment. Luna's smile faded slowly at the sight of her sisters expression. Celestia turned her head slowly to look out upon the Empire.
"Forces of Everfree!" Celestia addressed, the art of 'The Royal Canterlot Voice' made her voice shake the ground below them, the air rippled with power around Celestia. Every soldier currently in the Empire could hear her easily. "Return home! Leave the prisoners, they can all rot in this frozen wasteland!" Celestia shouts, eliciting a cheer from the soldiers, and painful sorrow from their prisoners. Celestia turned back to Luna. "Commander Hurricane, you may leave as well. My sister and I will deal with Sombra from here." She said, returning to her normal tone, not breaking eye contact with Luna.
"Yes, ma'am" Hurricane saluted formally before leaping into the air.
Soon enough the forces surrounding the sisters had left in a hurry, and the rest of the force was mobilizing to leave as well. The air between the goddesses was electric. Luna with her ashamed look, and silent burning anger. While Celestia simply stared at her. "Beaten by a mere man." Celestia states coldly, finally breaking the silence.
"He tricked me, I'm sorry. I underestimated him." Luna winces, still not looking at her sister. "I did manage to place a tracking ward on him, we can still find him." She says, a hint of hope in her words.
"We? What makes you think I want you to face him again?" Celestia asks in a scolding tone.
"He... I... but Celestia you'll need my help." Luna stammers, not knowing what to say.
"Luna I gave you control of the armies because I thought you could handle combat without me." Celestia says, averting her gaze from her little sister
"But I ca-"
"No, you can't. You did fine in skirmishes, but when you have to fight a real foe, it seems you fall short. You will accompany me to find him, but then, you've lost your command." Celestia said harshly, turning her back on Luna.
"You can't do this, 'Tia." Luna says sorrowfully, tears welling up in her eyes.
"Yes I can, Luna!" Celestia shouts, the anger in her voice betrayed by the sad expression on her face. She doesn't allow Luna to see her own eyes grow watery as well. "That is my right as ruler, and your elder." She finishes silently. "Come then, let's find this king and be done here." Luna nods, sniffling. Set me free.
The two fly over the Empire at a moderate pace, Luna scours the snowy wasteland beyond the empire for the King. Sniffing out the traces of magical essence left on him like a hound, she tracks Sombra to a remote glacier. The flight is silent for the two sisters, Luna's thoughts drawn to the relic in hiding. It was obvious that Celestia knew nothing of forgiveness. Now Luna had no other choice. Anger and sorrow were flooding her system, so much that it was difficult for her to hold back tears. The night.
Finally they had found a solitary figure, trekking out in the snow. Luna recognized Sombra instantly, signalling Celestia that they found him. The two let their speed drop, descending slowly down to the king. They landed just behind him, both staring cold and unblinking.
"King Sombra!" Celestia shouts. The dark mage whips around, his red eyes going wide at the sight of them both.
"Celestia." He breathes in terror. "And, Luna?" He questions in confusion, before his dark sight allows him to see the deceit in the younger princesses heart. "Oh, you are far more cunning than I thought." He growls.
"You have been sentenced to execution, do you have any final words?" Celestia asks formally.
"I do." Luna pipes in, Celestia turns to loo at her with a questioning gaze. "King Sombra does not deserve death." Luna states silently, only appearing to make Celestia angrier and more confused. Sombra as well raises an eyebrow at this. "I suggest we give him a fate worse than death: the millennium exile." Luna finishes forcefully, staring at Sombra. Celestia seems to contemplate this for a moment.
"Very well." She says nodding. "King Sombra, you shall suffer the millennium exile. Your physical body will be stripped down, until age can no longer affect you." She begins, raising her right hand to the air.
"And, you shall be imprisoned in this blight that you have created, for one thousand years. Your mind will break down, and when you are free, death will be your only desire." Luna finishes coldly, raising her left hand, and giving a smirk only Sombra could see.
A sphere of yellow light appears around Celestia's raised hand. From her palm she spouts a cone of brilliant white light. As the light strikes Sombra it begins to sear his flesh, he shrieks in agony. His body begins to burn away, revealing only a swirling cloud of shadows. He howls as more and more of his body is reduced to vapor. From Luna's outstretched hand a beam of violet energy leaps forth, striking the snowy earth below the king. The ground begins to quake, and a great tear forms in the ice. The ground pulls itself apart, creating a massive trench. With his body fully destroyed, only Sombra's head remains.
"You may be rid of me... But, you will never have my city!" Sombra roars, his horn begins to glow with a bloody red illumination. The two energy beams from the Princesses merge together as one, pulling the shadowy king down into the trench bellow. With one final effort, the jaws of ice snap shut, imprisoning the king for the next thousand years...
Present Day
Twilight closed the small blue book silently, reciting the last lines of the log as she did. "Imprisoning the king for the next thousand years, and with him his city vanished from Equestria." She sighed out wearily. She set the book down next to her, written on its cover in elegant letters: Luna's Journal. Twilight took her head in her hands, rubbing her temples to alleviate some of the pain pounding in her skull. She sits on the newly repaired royal throne, Celestia's throne. The royal chamber is empty except for her. She looks outside through one of the new windows, seeing the full moon high in the night sky. Most of the repairs on the throne room had been complete since Nightmare Moon's last attack.
It was strange, everything was so surreal since then. Coming to Canterlot, finding the destruction, and Celestia torn apart. Nothing felt real anymore. Celestia had taken only a few days to heal, but since that day she had locked herself in her private chambers, refusing to see any body. Twilight, being the only Princess left, took up stewardship of Canterlot. The task was daunting, but Twilight always was a natural born leader. But, the stress was getting to her. It had been weeks since the attack, and there had been no sign of Nightmare Moon anywhere. Which meant the moon wasn't going down until Twilight devised a way to take control from Luna, which she is convinced is impossible. And, to make matters worse, she is losing sleep, and consequently had begun hearing things lately. At first it seemed like nothing nothing, Twilight never was a stranger to sleep deprivation, but after reading that journal entry...
"Hey Twilight, watchya reading?" A familiar voice asks. Twilight is taken away from her thoughts, and looks to see Rainbow Dash standing in the doorway to the throne room. Her cool, calm, collected attitude showing as she leans against the door frame with her arms crossed over her chest. Twilight hadn't even noticed her come in.
"Oh, hi Rainbow." Twilight sighs. "Luna's journal, I was trying to see if there was anything in here that could help us find a way to beat Nightmare Moon. But, the info I've found has been limited." Twilight states sadly. With a few flaps of her blue wings, Dash lowers herself down next to Twilight, siting on the armrest of the throne.
"Hey, we'll find a way." She reassures, placing her hand on Twilight's shoulder. "You need to get some rest, with the sudden, temporary, eternal night thing going on, everybody's been a bit thrown off on sleeping schedules." Dash says with a warm chuckle.
Twilight shakes her head. " You know Celestia went a thousand years without sleep, so she could raise the sun and the moon constantly. Doing a little research isn't going to kill me." Twilight says, her head beginning to sag with weariness.
"Celestia had hundreds, if not thousands of years under her belt at that point. You don't need to do this to yourself." Dash says softly.
"I suppose you're right, Dash." Twilight says with a yawn. "Release me..." She grumbles, smacking her lips as she falls into slumber.
"What was that, Twilight?" Rainbow whispers, until she hears Twilight's light snoring. She chuckles to herself. "Good night, Princess Sparkle." Dash says, falling asleep herself. Her body slumps over, and she unknowingly wraps her arms around Twilight. Both of their snoring providing the only noise in the hall.
