The Crystal Rebellion

Chapter 1: Binge and Purge

When you were married to a princess every meal was a feast.

Shining Armor was stuffed. Every night there was a delicious banquet of leaves, grass, hay, flowers, and pastries of all textures, sizes, and flavors. There was a little niggling of guilt at the back of his mind as he enjoyed such extravagances, knowing many ponies would never be able to eat so well in their entire lives, which kept him from overeating. He and his wife then made sure to have any leftovers donated to hungry citizens. No sense in letting it go to waste. There had been some more donations lately with Cadance excusing herself from meals earlier. That night she had barely touched her food at all. It was time he talked to her about that. Maybe she wasn't enjoying the food as much but didn't want to hurt the feelings of their cooks by telling them to change the recipes. He loved her compassion, but to be an effective ruler one had to be firm at the right times.

Shining allowed himself a small burp as he trotted to his bedchambers. Cadance was no where in sight, but his nose caught a whiff of something unpleasantly acrid hanging in the air. More alarming were the quiet gagging noises coming from the water closet. “Candance?” he inquired, growing worried.

Something choked in the bathroom. His cerulean eyes widening, Shining dashed to the water closet door and with a single swing from his strong hoof knocked the door open. The smell that poured out stung his nostrils, but it was nothing compared to what he saw. His wife, Princess Cadance, was bent over the toilet, vomiting profusely into the trough. Her eyes were squeezed shut, tears building up at the corners, her beautiful mane disheveled and limp. Her barrel heaved as she emptied the meager contents of her stomach into the toilet.

“C-Cadance?” Shining asked, baffled. “Are you all right?”

Her greyish purple eyes fluttered open and regarded him wearily. “No, I'm not all right!” she croaked, a strand of puke dribbling from her mouth. “I'm so fat now! How can you even look at me any more? I can't even look at myself in the mirror!”

Shining's jaw dropped as Cadance sobbed pitifully. So that's what she wasn't eating for? “Cadance, you look fine!” he insisted. “Stop that right now! What's gotten into you?”

“I've just let myself go since our marriage,” Cadance said tearfully. “I just keep getting fatter, and going on a diet isn't working fast enough! I need to slim down for you—for everypony in the empire! I can't let everypony see how fat I'm getting!”

That was enough. Without another word, Shining marched over, and with his strong forelegs plucked Cadance from the toilet. She squirmed and and shouted, but her gestures were weak. He plopped her down on the floor, blocking her path to the toilet.

“Cadance, you aren't fat, and even if you were, nopony would care!” he told her in a stern voice. His expression softened. “OK? I would love you no matter what you looked like, but I am concerned when you start doing unhealthy things like skipping meals and throwing up on purpose.”

Cadance stared up at him, her eyes watery and wide. She let out a throaty gasp and shut her eyes, crying.

“Oh, Shining Armor!” she sobbed. “I don't know what's happening to me anymore! I'm so sorry for acting like an idiot!”

He embraced her gently. “It's all right, it's all right,” he whispered in her ear. “I forgive you.”

“I've been feeling weird all week,” Cadance admitted. “One day I was looking in the mirror and I looked so huge, and I became obsessed with losing weight!”

She panted, lolling in Shining's forelegs. She let out a weak moan, her eyes fluttered.

“Cadance!”

“I'm just so hungry, and my head hurts,” she told him. “I...I didn't realize how weak I am. Oh, that was stupid of me! I'm starving now!”

“We'll get you cleaned up and give you a proper meal,” Shining told her with a relieved smile.

With shaking hooves, Cadance pushed herself up, taking deep breaths. Shining stepped back, giving her room. She saw her reflection in a mirror and shuddered. “I look horrid,” she said. “I'll wash up before eating. I'm sure I'll feel better after getting some food in me.” She smiled weakly, blinking away her tears.

Feeling much happier, Shining left the water closet. “Just shout if you need any help,” he told her. “Love you, darling!”

“Love you too!”

With him gone, Cadance inspected her reflection. She was a mess, but she certainly wasn't fat. How could she have done that to herself? Had it just been her imagination that she put on weight? It had seemed so real when a few days before she looked the size of a boat. If she had really gained that much weight then she couldn't have lost it so quickly.

Cadance shook her head, feeling rather faint. The water closet spun around her. Her stomach was a yawning void, crying for sustenance. Her skull pounded like a jackhammer was lodged inside. Hunger and weakness pressed upon her, Cadance's strength fleeing her frail body. Her eyes rolled back and she collapsed on the floor in a swoon.

Shining paced around the kitchen nervously. Cadance's new meal was almost done, and he hadn't heard anything out of her since leaving her to clean up.

That's it; I'm checking up on her.

His hooves nearly silent on the padded carpeting, Shining ran back to their bedchamber. “Cadance?” he called.

No answer.

He cursed himself for leaving her. Cadance had been so weak that she might have suffered an accident.

“Princess Cadance!” he called, barging into the bedchamber. His magic reached for the water closet door, but it swung open of its own accord. Standing there was Cadance, beaming and radiant, her mane perfect and her coat clean. She wore a sultry smile as she stepped out, a slight but noticeable wiggle in her walk, her buttocks and tail swaying. He stared, his heart rate taking a sudden increase.

“Mmmm, I feel much better now,” she said, her tone throaty and deep. “I could really go for a nice, big salad and some chocolate cake.”

She strolled past Shining, her fluffy tail whipping out to brush his muzzle. She smelled...divine. How did she clean herself up so well?

“I hear chocolate can be an aphrodisiac,” Cadance mentioned off-offhandedly. She turned her head to give him an inviting glance. “Let's see if it's true after dinner, Dear.”

“Y-yeah,” he stuttered, his passion for his wife rising to painful levels. “I'm...really glad you feel better.”

“Just a phase,” she said dismissively. “That's all.”

“Has Twilight told you about her book?” Celestia asked.

Luna turned her head, a little too fast, at the mention of Twilight Sparkle's name. “Yes, yes she has,” she answered, trying to keep the excitement out of her voice. Ever since that awful Hearth's Warming Eve debacle where Twilight was falsely accused of stealing a book by Starswirl the Bearded as part of a plot to turn Twilight into a new Nightmare Moon, Luna's mind had turned to the young alicorn often. A warm, protective feeling would come over her when she thought about Twilight, as though Luna were her guardian. It was silly since Celestia was so much closer to the little scholar, and Twilight had proven again and again that she needed no guardian, even after her friend Rarity really did transform into a new Nightmare Moon.

“She's thinking of calling it Equestria Girls: Through the Mirror,” Celestia mentioned. “I had to get her to promise not to divulge the location of the mirror though; I don't need scores of curious ponies begging Princess Cadance to let them see what's on the other side every 30 moons.”

“Very wise of you, Sister.” Luna turned back to the star-filled night sky, at the huge silver Moon hanging against the darkness. She hoped that with the Moon creatures' freedom from the nightmare forces then Nightmare Moon was at last gone for good, but she hadn't been able to destroy The Way of Blackmirror. The accursed tome vanished during the final battle with the evil three-eyed alicorn Queen Blackmirror, and even though Blackmirror's mirror had been destroyed, her book could teach somepony how to enchant another mirror, giving the queen another window into Equestria. Given enough time, Blackmirror could make another Nightmare Moon.

She thought of Twilight, young and innocent, reading her books at the Golden Oak Library where she insisted on staying instead of moving to a secure castle, when some new Blackmirror-created horror would burst in and ponynap her. Would Twilight be able to escape on her own? Blackmirror was careful, so it might be a long time before anypony found any leads, or—

Stop thinking about that! Luna ordered herself. Twilight is safe, and can handle herself! Why are you being so overprotective about her anyway?

Celestia trotted to Luna's side, looking at the Moon with her. “So how was the wedding?” she asked.

“It was beautiful,” Luna answered. “Larry and Jerome were jubilant that I precised over their ceremony. They are happy to finally be who they really are after spending so long under the thrall of the nightmare forces.”

Luna looked away, her expression sad. “How selfish of me that I gave not one thought to the Moon creatures contaminated by Nightmare Moon's evil after returning to normal. I thought nightmare forces would wither and die without me. At least the creatures are free now.”

“It's partially my fault,” Celestia told her, her voice guilty. “I should have considered the life on the Moon when I banished you. I didn't think to check that.”

Luna sighed, and forced a smile. “We learned better after our negligence came back to haunt us.”

“You're worried about the book, aren't you,” Celestia stated bluntly.

Luna frowned, embarrassed at being so transparent. “It is that easy to tell, Sister?”

“When it's on your mind you start to go on about Nightmare Moon.” Celestia's wing curled around Luna protectively, and she lead them from the balcony to inside the castle.

“I cannot help but worry!” Luna insisted. “Even Sherlock Hooves knows not where the book is now!”

The intensive questioning given to the evil former detective made it clear that the book had flown off to a random location after he cast a spell on it. He couldn't help them even if he wanted to. There wasn't much else to do but leave him in the dungeon to rot for his heinous crimes.

“If anypony has found it then we will learn eventually,” Celestia assured. “We can destroy it for good then.”

“Yes, Sister. I hope I can do it myself. I owe Equestria as much after the horrors I unleashed with it.”

The elder princess let out a small yawn, her wing daintily covering her mouth. “Well, I ought to be going to bed,” Celestia told Luna. “Watch over Equestria, my sister.”

“If somepony tries to summon the nightmare forces again I shall be the first to know,” Luna answered. She peered up at the sky again. “I only wish that somepony was there to...keep me company.”

Celestia gave her a cheeky smile. “Keep you company during your long nights? Well, let's go looking for somepony tomorrow then. Somepony...special.”

Luna swallowed nervously, hoping Celestia hadn't seen that. “Just a friend!” she insisted. “Maybe! Yes! Definitely a friend!”

Celestia tittered. “Good night, my sister!”

“Good night!” Luna called, taking off from the balcony. Flustered, she wondered about the longing in her heart, and her thoughts turned to Twilight Sparkle again. The new princess had been such a help in adjusting Luna to contemporary times, and she never could have overcome Blackmirror or Nightmare Rarity without her.

Perhaps I ought to pay her a visit, she thought.

Closing her eyes, Luna left the waking world and entered the dreams of Equestria. Focusing on Twilight, she slipped through the jumble of immaterial dreamscapes, the desires and anxieties of Equestria laid bare for her to see. Sometimes she saw some very surprising things in there (the times she had wandered in on visions of Celestia or even herself performing sex acts with obsessed followers were numerous enough that it barely phased her any more), so she had learned to be detached from it unless something looked like real trouble.

The misty dreamscapes cleared, solidifying into a tan corridor with grey floors, the walls lined with green metal cabinets with combination locks on them. Bizarre bipedal creatures passed her by, lacking coats but possessing full manes, and all them wearing clothes. Instead of hooves they had five prehensile digits growing from the weak-looking forelegs, while the much stronger hind legs were clad in shoes.

One of the bipeds caught her eye, a slim purple-skinned one with long, straight bluish-purple hair. Just like Twilight actually. It even had Twilight's cutie mark imprinted on its purple skirt. The creature was talking to another, much taller one with a short spiky blue mane and yellow skin. They sounded nervous, and the voice coming from the Twilight creature was definitely that of the real Twilight Sparkle.

Is this what she saw on the other side of the mirror? Luna asked herself.

“So, erm, I was wondering,” the blue-maned creature said, shifting its feet nervously. Its voice was clearly male. He looked very unsure of himself as he continued. “If you aren't already going with somebody, wanna go to the Fall Formal with me tomorrow night?”

The Twilight creature let out a nervous laugh, blushing deeply. “Whoa! No, I, erm, don't have anybody right now! I mean...I'd love to go with you, Flash!”

Luna smiled. Even as a hairless monkey creature Twilight was the same. So awkward even with all that intelligence. Not that Luna was any better. Even Twilight had to teach her about contemporary etiquette.

Luna approached them. Twilight noticed her and gasped, turning to look at Luna. “Princess Luna!?” she uttered, confused. “Is that really you or am I just dreaming about you?”

Extending her digits, she poked Luna's horn and muzzle. Luna winced, backing out of range. “Ouch! It is indeed I, Princess Luna!” she announced. “Protecting the dreams of Equestria!”

“Erm, Twilight?” the Flash creature began. “What's with the talking pony?”

Twilight made a frustrated groan, and the creatures in the corridor vanished, leaving Luna and Twilight alone.

“Was this a bad time?” Luna asked, beginning feel guilty about interrupting the dream.

Twilight sat on the floor, folding her hind legs to her slim barrel. “I'm sorry, Princess Luna,” she said. “I've been working hard on my book, so I'm trying to recall everything that happened to me at Equestria High. It seems like every night I'm going back to that one moment with Flash Sentry, saying something different each time.”

She made a sad sigh, looking downward. “Princess Luna, was there anypony you wanted to be close too, but couldn't be?”

“I...” Luna wasn't sure how to respond to that.

“I guess I keep going back to that moment because I wish I had more time with Flash,” Twilight continued. “I just felt...different around him.”

I feel different around you, Twilight.

“And now I don't know if I'll ever see him again. Not the one I got to know.” Twilight sighed, tapping her digits on the knees of her hind legs.

Luna decided to make her move. “Twilight Sparkle,” she started, “even with my growing friendships I feel alone at night, with everypony going to sleep. I was wondering if you would like to join me sometime, perhaps for dinner?”

Twilight blinked and smiled. Luna felt her heart flutter at the sight. “Eh? That does sound nice. Maybe I should take my mind off Through the Mirror for a little while. Oh, that's the name of my book.”

Luna smiled. “Yes, I know. Celestia told me about it.”

“Tomorrow it is then!” Twilight agreed. “See you there! Your dreams or mine?”

“I was thinking in reality,” Luna answered. “It is much easier for you to eat in reality.”

“Good point! I'm looking forward to it!”

A warmth spread through Luna's barrel. She took a leap into another dream. “As am I. Farewell, Twilight Sparkle!” she called to the young princess as she faded into the distance. The corridor changed to a bedroom, grunting noises coming from the bed.

Who's dream is this? Luna wondered.

Trotting over to the bed, she found a dream version of herself bent over as a weedy stallion furiously pumped at her rump. “Oh yeah!” the stallion wheezed. “You call yourself a princess, but you're really just a filthy whore!”

“Yes Master!” the debased dream Luna squealed tearfully. “I need it so bad!”

Luna winced. She did not need to see that. Her horn lit up and with a loud bang her magic exploded the dream Luna into dark blue confetti, drifting all over the room and the bewildered stallion.

“Eh?” he asked, dismayed. “Luna?”

“Seriously,” Luna deadpanned, “get a fillyfriend.” And she galloped away to other dreamscapes.

Midnight Twinkle didn't know how long she had been kept in the cold darkness. How long had she been in the cave? It was impossible to tell without the Sun to tell her. She had begged and pleaded with her captors to let her go, but they had just laughed at her. Three shadowed figures lurking in the darkness, whispering to each other. Sometimes she heard ugly soft noises coming from them, like they chewed too loud.

Every day Midnight told herself that Princess Celestia was going to rescue her just like she did when she made Midnight a real pony, saving her from shattering into nonexistence as an illusion created by Blackmirror. An elaborate clone of Twilight Sparkle meant to frame the real one, Midnight had been given a life of her own after the real Twilight brought her to the merciful Celestia. After that she had gone to find her cutie mark, but when she was experimenting with rubish collection a big female griffon and a blue unicorn mare had abducted her and brought her to her prison.

The griffon watched through the bars with a smirk. “What a lameo,” the griffon spat. “Sitting there all day, hoping some pony princess'll save her. Hey Trix, why'd we nab this dork again?”

“Because our masters weren't pleased with how we handled Twilight Sparkle's crystal necklace,” the unicorn said.

“Oh yeah,” the griffon grumbled.

Three cloaked ponies emerged from the darkness, stealing up besides the griffon and unicorn. “You two idiots were supposed to fill the necklace with negativity and turn Sparkle's heart black as night so she would join us!” a harsh-sounding mare berated. “Instead you played around with her and replaced cider with lily pad slime as part of a scam! That wasn't anywhere in our instructions!”

“We did it because it was funny. Duh.” the griffon mouthed off, rolling her arrogant golden eyes.

The huge mare stared the griffon in the face. “Are you talking back to us, Gilda?” she hissed. “You wanna have a go? I'd love to because I'm really in the mood for roasted chicken wings tonight!”

The mare bared her teeth and hissed. Instead of the blunt teeth ponies usually had her mouth was filled with wicked fangs.

Another one of the hooded ponies giggled madly. “Kill the griffon!” she cheered. “Kill her and eat her!”

“I'd like to see you chumps try!” Gilda challenged, raising her talons.

“Enough, Sisters,” the leader said. “Clearly I must renew my spell.”

“Eh? What spell?” Gilda asked.

“This one.” The leader fired twin violet beams of light from under her hood into Gilda's face. The griffon froze in place, her face frozen in a look of shock. The spell faded and Gilda fell back, her wide eyes now violet like the spell.

“Sorry, Mistress,” Gilda muttered, her voice monotone and drained of emotion.

The unicorn shrank away, but the leader turned the spell on her too.

“We still can use your services, so please remain obedient slaves for the time being,” the leader told them.

The two flunkies nodded and marched off further back. Midnight watched them, then looked to the three evil mares.

“What do you want from me?” she asked.

“Even if you're a pony now,” the leader said, “there's still a large well of Queen Blackmirror's power inside you. It took a great deal of dream essence to create a dreamspawn of your detail. We're going to drain it all out of you.”

The two other mares chuckled darkly. “Let's eat her afterwords!” the giggling one suggested.

Midnight backed up further into her cage, her face twisted with horror. “Even after I'm free, Blackmirror still wants to use me,” she sobbed. “I'm not her tool any more!”

“Dreamspawn are hers to do as she wishes,” the leader said. “You can never escape the Nightmare Queen. Not Sombra, not Luna, not Twilight, and especially not trash like you!”

“There were some hiccups in the plan,” the huge mare gloated, “but it's back on track now, and the upcoming battle's gonna be glorious! Equestria will be ours!”

“Praise Queen Blackmirror!” the giggling one laughed.

Midnight sank down, covering her face. If only she could warn the ones who saved her...

Author's Note

So after watching Equestria Girls I decided enough pieces were in place for a sequel to The Magic and the Night. I hope you all enjoy this one. I plan for a much more ambitious story here, and it is combining a lot of different threads from the various expanded universe stories. I wish the site would allow me to chose more than five character tags because this is going to have quite a cast.