The Master of Shadows

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5

Chapter 1

In an ornate bedroom in Canterlot Castle, Princess Luna spoke to Twilight Sparkle, saying, "Make yourself comfortable now, and We will tell you a tale of the ancient world, not long after Celestia and We moved to Canterlot from the Everfree Forest. It is a tale of a younger and rougher Equestria, long before We succumbed to evil and became Night Mare Moon. But you must promise Us that you will never tell another pony, not even Princess Celestia. Indeed, Celestia least of all."

“Why not, Princess?”

“Because she does not know it, and We would not have her know. When We reach the end of the story you may understand.”

“All right, I promise,” said Twilight, and she got into bed and snuggled under the covers, listening as the princess began her story.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It all began (Luna said) as We had finished lowering the Moon in preparation for yielding the sky to Our sister. One of the palace assistants came to Us and said, "Princess, there is a messenger from Saddlebrook who carries an urgent communication."

"Let him enter and report."

A white stallion came in the room gasping for breath. He bore the marks of having galloped a great distance. We called out to the servants, "A drink for the messenger, that he may find his voice!" And turning back to him said, "Now, take your time and tell Us what is so urgent."

Water was brought, and after he had drained it, the messenger spoke. "Your highness, a guard station on the border of Equestria was attacked two days prior. The report was relayed through several of the swiftest ponies at various way stations, but they believe the invading force was making its way toward Saddlebrook.”

We spoke again to the attending servant. “Rouse Our sister, if she is not yet awake, and have her hear this.”

When Celestia had entered and the message was retold, she was ready to fly into action. “I will go at once to repel this!”

“Nay, sister,” We said. “You have not yet raised the sun for today, and there are many duties here in Canterlot that will require your attention. We will go and take charge. Hopefully it is naught but a few brigands, and We shall return forthwith.”

“Very well, Luna. Take care and be safe.”

We received the exact location of the attack from the messenger and flew off into the newly rising sun. When need strikes, We can fly faster and with more endurance than can most of Our subjects. We reached the outpost within half a day.

The border of Equestria in that time lay at a vast untamed wood, not unlike the Everfree Forest of today. Along the edge of the forest several small garrisons had been established to dispel any dangerous creatures that would wander out of the forest. It was to one of these that We traveled. As We landed, We could see the grief and fear on the faces of the eight stallions that met Us at the barracks.

“Who is in command here?” We asked.

One of the stallions stepped forward. “Hail to you, Princess Luna. I am in charge, Guard Captain Summer Storm at your service, your highness.”

“Tell Us what occurred.”

“Ten ponies are stationed at this watch-post regularly, your highness. On each shift, two go to the very edge of the border to keep watch while the remaining eight stay here in the barracks. Two days ago, the pair of watchers on duty saw what appeared to be some of the others emerging from the wood. They were curious as to why others of the troop would enter the woods without them being made aware of it. They hailed the others, but received no response. We have in this guard certain signs and salutes that serve to identify us to each other at need. The two offered some of these signs, but did not receive the proper countersign. At this point they took an aggressive stance. Seeing that their subterfuge was not effective, the enemies formed rank and began hurling weapons. The two guards raised an alarm and the rest of us came galloping to their aid. When we arrived we could see that the enemy comprised nine ponies. What power of illusion they had I do not know, but each of us saw the nine as the other members of the guard, exclusive of himself. We are close friends here and it did us ill to have to attack the faces of our friends. Still, we had the high ground and I believe we could have won the day, but the opposing force was joined by a tenth. None of us got a clear look at him, but I believe he was a great black beast, a bit larger than a pony, and he brought a chill to all hearts. He hurled a spear himself at one of us, and it flew true to its mark, or would have, had another not leaped in front of the first. He took the spear to his heart, and fell.

“The drawn blood seemed to give an unnatural strength and will to the enemy, or perhaps it drained ours. They charged forth and overran us. The black beast moved to the van, too fast for us to get a clear view of him. They marched swiftly on toward Saddlebrook. We raised a large black flag of distress that can be seen from that town, and they sent a small troop to us. I told them what I told you, and they agreed to array the town in defense, and send a message to Canterlot.”

So he concluded his report. We looked upon the ponies, and saw that though their wounds were deep, they wore countenances of hope. We shuddered to think that We were the source of that hope, for We were not quite sure what to do. We spoke again to the captain.

“Ten you say were garrisoned here, and one fell. Yet before Us stand only eight.”

“The other is called Forest Path, your highness. The one who fell was his younger brother. He has refused to leave the body, and I have not seen fit to order him to do so. He has had the watch for two days and has not slept nor eaten.”

“Lead Us to him.”

We had three designs in this request. First, to comfort the soldier whose brother had been slain. Second, to see the site of battle Ourselves, if perhaps it could give Us some clue as to the identity of the assailants. But mostly to buy Us time to think of Our course of action.

As we approached We saw the one called Forest Path, whose green coat had been dyed red with blood. Captain Storm called his name, and he stood to attention.

“Be at ease, soldier,” We said.

He knelt before Us, both out of deference and fatigue. “Your highness,” he said, “forgive me for being absent from my post, but my grief was overwhelming. My brother, you see, took a deathblow meant for me. It is not for the elder brother to bury the younger.” Tears welled in his eyes.

“What was his name, soldier?”

“River, your highness.”

We looked at the body. The dark blue coat bore a terrible wound in its side. We did not wish to look upon such things, but We could not show cowardice by turning Our head.

We stepped back from the others and bent Our head to the ground. With Our horn We caused a mass of earth to rise out of the ground and set itself down next to the hole.

“Forest Path, if you will carry your brother to this resting place, We shall lay such spells upon him as to preserve the body for many years.” He acceded to this, as the other members of his troop bowed their heads.

When the body was lowered We performed the rites We had mentioned, then spoke:

“Farewell, River Path, faithful Equestrian, faithful soldier, faithful brother! To the skies above we commend his soul, to be watched over by Us in the night, by Our sister in the day. From now till the end of time, he shall never be alone, and shall be a beacon for his companions.”

And We moved the displaced earth back into the grave, and shed a tear over the mound to hallow it.

Then We addressed the troop again. “Now We must ask you to put aside your grief. We march at once to Saddlebrook to meet the force again in battle. But some must remain. The march carries a great risk of death, the maintenance relative safety. Who would come with Us?”

All nine of the troop stood to attention and raised a hoof.

“So be it. Captain Storm, have these stallions draw lots for assignments. The two short straws will remain here. But add only six long straws. Forest Path, you are exempt from the draw, and will march at Our side.” He bowed his head in thanks.

When this was done, We faced the two who would stay. “You now hold this station not in defense, but as scouts. If any other invader crosses the border, flee at once to Saddlebrook and find Us, or whoever is in charge. One message has changed the outcome of battles more often than two spears.”

“For you others, gallop with Us now, gallop to Saddlebrook!

Chapter 2

“I’ve never been to Saddlebrook,” said Twilight. “What was the town like?”

"As it happens," said Luna, "it had a major similarity with your hometown of Ponyville, in that both were founded on a magical crop. For Ponyville, of course, you have the zap apples. In the case of Saddlebrook, the crop was flood maple syrup. Halfway up a mountain called Mount Upandride, there was a vast lake. During the spring thaws, the lake would flood the land below. Over many years this had produced fertile land on which grew magical maple trees. The settlers of the town discovered the taste of the syrup that was tapped from them to be superior to anything that existed then or now. They had dammed the lake so that the irrigation was now controlled, and built their town further down the mountain, below the trees.

“The town had been laid out with its major roads as a kind of bent square. Two roads traveling east and west followed the curve of the mountain, and at either terminus connecting roads ran north and south. Because of the limitations of flat ground for building space, the homes and shops were tall, some reaching three or four stories, and the alleys that connected the town in between the square outer roads were narrow. Both the western and eastern roads continued north into the trees. At the northwest corner was the town square, and it was there that we gathered for a counsel of battle.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We stood in the town hall and conferred with the mayor of the town and Captain Storm. We had expected to find battle already in progress, but were informed that it was yet to come.

“We believe that the enemy is mustering his strength,” the mayor had said, “for it is not a long distance to the border where they broke through. Yet In the three nights since the crossing we have seen campfires moving steadily up the mountain and increasing in number as they come. Where they are finding their numbers nopony knows, but if the rate of progress goes as it has, then this day we shall be reached by an army equal in number to all the ponies in this town. And then we’ll know whether they mean to invade or to besiege us.”

“Let us hope that they are foolish enough to attempt a siege,” We said. “At the first sign of such We can fly back to Canterlot and obtain reinforcements that can ride upon their rear in only two days and grind them to dust. It will be the shortest siege in history.”

“If they do attack, they must come up the west road, as it is the only road that continues down the mountain. I have told our strongest ponies to barricade themselves at the entry point and make our stand there, to stop them from dispersing throughout the town.”

Captain Storm spoke up. “It is a good plan, but depends on hoof-to-hoof fighting at a single point, and if you’ll forgive me, mayor, you are farmers, not fighters. If the nerve of our line breaks, they can overrun us and disperse as you say.”

“What would you suggest?”

“Let us instead plan for our failure and fail in our own time. Fell trees and use them to block the entries along the southern, eastern, and northern roads. Then take the largest tree you have and stand it at the southwest corner where they must come to. We can feint a retreat there, and drop the tree to block that road as well, forcing the enemy to take the long way around the town. As they spread out, we can attack from the upper floors of the buildings along those roads for attrition, then make our final stand here.”

“Our trees are our livelihood. The ponies of this town will be loath to see them felled.”

“It is a question of your livelihood versus your lives, mayor.”

“What if they have pegasi? Road access will not matter to them.”

“They cannot stop the interdiction from the houses along the roads, and as for the town square itself,” The captain thought a moment. “How many pegasi do we have?”

“Perhaps a dozen who will fight.”

“That will suffice unless the enemy are all pegasi, and if that were the case they would not be following the road. We will still be working downhill and they uphill, and our ponies in the air will stop them as they come up. They will have to.”

“And we will have the only spellcaster in the air,” We said.

The mayor turned to Us. “I am no tactician. It seems a good plan, but I cannot decide such things.”

“We are also not experienced in battles. But We will trust this campaigner and follow his plan. Captain, will you take three of the guard troop and lead the feint at the front gate, and ask Forest Path and the others to lead the stand in the square? We will trust to strategy at first, and passion at the last.”

“Agreed.”

It was a good plan, and yet it was doomed to failure because of inexcusable errors on Our part. We had forgotten or ignored the report of how the enemy came upon the guard post in the guise of friends, and of this We failed to inform the defenders of the town. We joined with fifteen pegasi in the air defense, and their spirits were high at Our presence. They felt that they were invincible with a princess of Canterlot in their ranks, and We were not about to lower their morale by confessing Our trepidation.

The marching force of earth ponies and unicorns fell into the feint as we had hoped, though the trap was sprung sooner than we had thought it would. We hoped that the blocking of the western road would trap some of the invaders who came too far forward too soon, but instead, seeing ponies who looked like their kin attacking them, confusion reigned. The captain, rather than see the plan fail and the town overrun along the west road, ordered our defense to fall back and drop the blockage immediately. The enemy column turned along and took the long path, moving swiftly. But then We had no time to pay attention to the ground, for the opposing pegasi came up, and that was when We had a great shock, for leading the opposition, We saw Princess Celestia.

Many things that We did or failed to do that day warrant great shame, but of one thing We are proud: We did not for a moment think that Our sister was truly in the ranks of Our enemies. We recognized it for a foul doppelganger, and, led the charge down the mountain, enraged.

We had said in the counsel that our side would have the only aerial spellcaster, and in that We were wrong. Though the mockery was not the equal of Our sister in magic, it was still a dangerous foe, and We struggled to neutralize it. For many minutes we fought hoof and wing and horn, and the shade taunted Us.

“Why, dear sister, how ever can you bring yourself to stand against your beloved Celestia?”

“Speak not that name, filth! You have corrupted yourself enough by assuming a form well above your station. Say rather why you lead an attack against a peaceful town!”

“Lead? Oh, no, sister of mine, I do not lead. We attack with one will, the will of one who will soon be lord of all Equestria!”

It was then that We remembered the black beast spoken of by Captain Storm, and from the corner of Our eye saw the shadow of its figure in the line that was advancing north along the eastern road.

“The ponies of this town are brave, strong, and intelligent,” We said, returning the taunts of the imitator. “They will never yield this town to you!”

“Ha! So be it. You and yours may hold this town until you die. But we may see that that comes sooner than you like!”

But its boasting was its undoing, as this kindled even greater rage in Our heart. We cast from Our horn a spell which pierced all its defenses. As We threw it to the ground it lost its usurped form and crumbled into dust.

The rest of the battle had been a stalemate. Our advantages of tactics and height had been nullified through hesitation or fear of striking a companion. Every pony saw in the enemy the face of some loved one, and was loath to attack. The fighting had reached the town square as planned, but it was much closer than hoped.

But in the midst of the chaos a voice rang out loud and true. Young Forest Path had been tussling with one of the enemy that had taken the face of the fallen brother whose grave We had hallowed. He raged and felt no fear, and he struck down his target, then climbed on a fallen stone and called out:

“Citizens of Saddlebrook! Do not allow your love of your kin to be your undoing! Each of us in our hearts knows love from hate! Mark not the faces of the enemy but their deeds, and fear not to strike against those who come to take this town. Charge!”

Perhaps this battle cry held magic We wot not, for as if it had lifted the veil from all of our eyes, we saw the enemy for themselves and no longer hesitated. Stampeding upon them, the ponies of Saddlebrook won the charge with fire in their eyes and drove the enemy in shambles back along the road and down the mountain.

But another veil fell from Our eyes as We saw that the leader of the enemy had not made the turn along the northern road, but continued north through the trees, climbing the mountain, until it was nearly at the dam. Then all the devices of the enemy became clear, and we took to the sky to reach it first. As we alit we saw for the first time clearly the leader of the opposition.

As a great black bull he appeared, and his hoof-stamps rent the ground as he trampled. Long horns spread out from his gnarled head, and his eyes glowed a sinister crimson. He snorted and We dove in to challenge him.

The spells We cast were to displace, and then to damage him, but whether because of some malevolent defense he possessed or whether his hide was so thick that We could not penetrate it, he shrugged them off. On he came through the maple trees like a juggernaut, and endlessly We tacked to the air to get in front of his path. Where it finally burst out to the dam itself We placed Our body and prepared for hoof fighting, but he gained unnatural speed and shouldered Us out of the way until We crashed to the ground. Then he took his position at the eastern end of the dam and turned to face the town.

He looked down on Saddlebrook and a deep laughter came from him, his voice shaking the mountain like an earthquake.

“Foolish ponies, your playful dance with my shades gave me a fine opportunity to sneak past you up the road. Cower before me in your last seconds of life! Now perish, but know the name of who has bested you. I am Taur, Master of Shadows!”

And he ran along the dam, striking its supports and piercing it until a torrent of water shattered the structure completely, flowing down the mountain. It was to consume the trees, the livelihood of Saddlebrook, and then it was to consume its ponies.

We soared down the way We had come as fast as We could fly. The call went up throughout the doomed town. “Flee! Run for your lives! Save the mares and foals!” Brave deeds had been done in the battle, but at this moment when all was lost the true spirit of the town came to the fore. Earth ponies carried loads of foals far beyond what should have broken their backs, and charged down the mountain toward safety. Pegasi, who could have easily flown above the flood and saved their own lives, dove back in time and time again to carry out those who had no wings. More than one was overtaken by the water before they could reach the sky. And as the water broke upon the road that led down, a dozen unicorn stallions, in full knowledge of the consequences, faced north and cast a spell to create a tunnel which held back the water, until it rushed in from the east to drown them. The act bought only seconds, but how many ponies’ lives were saved by those seconds none can say.

We dove into the town, landing near a home where many mares had fled with their young. They thrust the foals toward Us, begging for aid. Without stopping to think of those we could not reach, lest We hesitate and doom all including Ourselves, We grabbed those We could and bore them on Our back and in Our hooves, then flew down to where the others were gathering. Some distance beyond the entrance there was a higher plateau that might have eventually served as an expansion to the town. Now, as the flood flowed past, it was to be where the ponies looked upon their homes for the last time. As We landed and deposited the wailing colts and fillies, We turned as well to witness the carnage. The torrent had calmed, but the waters had reached all but the highest structures. The town of Saddlebrook was destroyed.

Chapter 3

“Looking back from the present, Twilight Sparkle, We think that Our failure to anticipate the destruction of the dam was due to wishful thinking. We very much wanted this to be a mere border skirmish, something We could dispel in a day and return to peace in Our home. We were not the first to make such a mistake, but it is still a grievous error.”

“It wasn’t really your fault, Princess. Nopony else there thought of it either,” said Twilight.

“No, perhaps not, but part of being royalty and getting the finest clothes and the best home is taking responsibility for the realm. In any case, it is a sad fact about battles that no one comes round afterward to sort out which side only made perfectly legitimate mistakes that ought to be canceled out, while docking the other side who fought with devious tactics and evil motivation. In this sense it was Our fault. We had been so convinced that the enemy sought the crop of the flood maples for themselves that we had not thought of a lower motive.”

“But still, if the ponies hadn’t fought so bravely, they would have lost outright and Taur would have gotten the town and the maples.”

“Would he? We do not think that either factored into his plans at all. We looked in his eyes, you see, and while We can never be sure, We think that there was no desire for anything good in this world. In that attack, all he sought was body count.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We surveyed the survivors. Not more than a tithe of the population had fallen in battle, but only twice that had escaped the deluge. We did not see the mayor. We did not see any of the soldiers of the garrison.

A young mare had the courage to ask of Us the question all were thinking. “What are we to do now?”

“Does anypony here know the road to Canterlot?” We asked.

A few of the survivors nodded their heads or raised their hooves. We continued, “Make your way along that road. We will fly back immediately. We are not abandoning you, but Princess Celestia must know what has occurred here. When We reach the city, We will send out a party to meet you on the road with provisions and protection. The journey will likely take you at least two days, but when you arrive there will be a place for you to stay.”

“Forgive me, highness,” the mare said, “but that was not what I meant. I mean, what are we to do now?”

We understood. “You may yet return to rebuild. Saddlebrook may rise once more, though your return may be along a different path. Or you may find new homes in Canterlot, or settle elsewhere in Equestria. So long as we have our hooves, our horns, our wings, and our freedom, there is always something to do. But the last of these is threatened, and before we do anything else we must continue the struggle to be free ponies.”

Our capacity for bolstering the spirits of ponies who had suffered was being stretched. We wished very much that We could have some pony greater than Us to turn to for comfort. We were tired. We missed Celestia deeply and were eager to return home. When We trusted that the survivors were set on their way, We ascended.

The return trip was several hours, and We were alone with Our thoughts. We had hoped the incident would be a chance to show Our mettle. Now all We had shown was that We were incompetent and unworthy of Our crown. We regretted not allowing Celestia to go in Our place. We felt she would have seen what We were too blind to see, and prevented it.

When We finally reached Canterlot castle, We flew directly into the main chamber. Celestia was there to greet Us, and We collapsed into her hooves.

“Luna, dear sister, You’re alive! We all feared the worst.”

“Then, you know of the incident at Saddlebrook?”

“No, but ill tidings have been coming in from all over. What happened, sister?”

We recounted all that had taken place and ordered the search for the survivors of Saddlebrook. We emphasized Our folly and failure, but Celestia was comforting.

“Do not berate yourself, Luna. Both of us underestimated the strength and the depravity of our enemy, this Taur as you name him, and our subjects have paid a bitter price.”

“What other injuries upon the land has he wrought?”

“Two other towns, San Anponyo and Flankfort, fell in battles while you were gone. There were few survivors, but they too reported being overrun by shades that looked like their loved ones.”

“Then this campaign threatens all of Equestria! Beloved sister, is this our end? What are we to do?” We heard the echo of despair of the Saddlebrook ponies in Our voice.

“We have called for the evacuation of all nearby towns into Canterlot. All that remains of Equestria will stand or fall here. We will not be caught unawares, and we will fight to the last pony if need be.”

And Our sister’s words gave Us hope yet again. We began to consider the practical aspects of what was said.

“Will we have room in Canterlot for so many refugees?”

“Hopefully. Every home in the city has opened its doors and the stores of food are being emptied and rationed. But you say now more are coming from Saddlebrook? This is good news, but creates a greater need for space.”

We pondered the problem, until an idea came to Us. “Celestia, if you will allow. . . “

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

The dungeons of Canterlot Castle had been hewn from the rock itself. We rarely had occasion to visit them, and since Equestria had been at peace before the invasion of Taur and his shadow-ponies, the cells contained only petty thieves, con-artists, and vandals. We entered and spoke to the prisoners.

“By royal decree of Princess Celestia, all of your sentences are hereby commuted. You are free to go, though We direct you to make no more mischief.”

The doors of the cells had been sealed by Celestia herself, and only alicorn magic could open them. We concentrated and unlocked all of them at once.

Most of the ponies headed quickly for the doors, but one of the inmates, a brown-coated unicorn who fancied himself the leader, bristled and spoke coarsely. “Watch it, clods. Stay where you are. What is this, lady, some kind of trick?! We step out those doors and you throw us back in for attempting escape?”

“There is no trickery. Vacate the cells at once.”

“Yeah, right. If Celestia wants to free us, let her bring her royal highness down here herself.”

We were tired and had been through too much. Our patience had run out. We stepped into the cell with this boor and faced him down. “Princess Celestia has better things to do than to treat with a dishonored criminal, and these rooms have better duties ahead of them than shielding you from the rain! Now leave before We hurl you out the window.”

Our anger cowed him. The prisoners continued trotting out into the hall, and We brought in bedrolls and supplies on a cart, and began to clean the cells. As the line of criminals reached the door, the sharp-tongued one turned back.

“What’s with all the bedding, Princess?”

“It is none of your concern.”

He paused and looked. “Something’s gone wrong, hasn’t it? There’s some disaster and you need the cells to house ponies who have nowhere else to go. Is that it?”

We raised Our head and looked, marveling at his perception. “Yes,” We said.

“Well, it’ll take you all day to make them up on your own.” And he came back into the cell block and began to lay out bedrolls.

Several of the others had lingered, and taking their cue from the gruff unicorn, returned as well. I found myself the unwitting leader of a work detail, as we scrubbed and made ready the refugee camp. When no more could be done, We addressed him once again.

“Give Us your name, fellow.”

“They just call me Brownie, Princess.”

“Well, good pony Brownie, and all of you fine citizens of Canterlot, you were given your freedom today, but you have earned your honor, and can now truly call yourselves free. But We would ask more of you. If you would stand as proud Equestrians, go now and aid in the defense of this city. We do not order this, for you are free to go as you wish, but if you do, and if We live out this struggle, then should you return to this castle you will be welcome in a new capacity: that of honored guest.

And then the freed ponies did leave, and We thought in wonder at how much good there was left in Our land, and how much We desperately wanted to save it. But We had little time, and We hurried to return to Our sister and set ourselves for the battle to come. When We told her of the events below, she said, “I am grateful to them for sparing you much work, and now I would spare you more. You have traveled long and had little rest over these last days. Lie down and sleep for a bit, for we will both need to be at our peaks soon, lest we fall.”

The fatigue We felt on the journey from the ruins of Saddlebrook had given way to new vigor as we worked. Now that Celestia had spoken of it, We noticed once more how tired We were. We acceded and retired to Our chambers, but not before saying to her, “We hold no fear of a fall. We have perfect faith in you, sister. And you may have it in Us.”

Chapter 4

“It’s a bit ironic, Princess, that one group of vandals help you in fighting another, isn’t it?” said Twilight.

Luna sat up and thought about the question for a moment.

“Twilight Sparkle, one of the things you must learn as you grow—will learn, for We know that you are a pony of excellent quality—is why ponies do what they do. Putting yourself in the other pony’s horseshoes is the phrase used. Having been born to the purple as it were, We have never known what it is like to be hungry or homeless or impotent. There is no excuse for denying another pony the use of his property, but there may be reasons.

“This is the difficulty of a ruler. As much as Celestia and We try to govern ponies by rules and laws, and to let them be as free as possible, ultimately power is in our hooves and we have to decide where it should be used. If the prisoners in the dungeons were to have walked out at the first, it might have worked out anyway that they turned over a new leaf. But that they didn’t gave Us confidence that the decision to let them go was the right one, though made out of necessity. And conversely We never had any compunction about fighting Taur as hard as we could and showing no mercy. No rule-based justification can be given, but We feel that one party can be judged to one result and another to a different one.

“And when somepony has shown time and again that even when they wrong you they’re doing it for an understandable reason, it becomes easier to judge them. Such is the case with Our sister. There have been many things she has done that We considered to be slights against Us, but in all cases We saw at the time, or came to realize later, that it was done out of protection and love. That is why We understood why, in despite of Our power and Our desperate desire to help in the defense of Canterlot, when the battle came, she let Us sleep through it.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

It was the only time since We had assumed Our royal duties that We woke in darkness, having neglected to raise the moon. And yet darkness did not reign entirely. From the window could be seen fires raging throughout the city. Canterlot was burning.

We hurried to the main chamber, where Celestia was issuing orders to countless guardsponies and soldiers running in and out, and accosted her. “Why did you not wake Us sooner?!”

“They came upon us so sudden, I have been directing our defense unceasingly. Had I but a moment to spare I would have.” We saw this as a white lie, but had no time to argue the matter.

“’Tis no matter; We are here now. Direct Us.”

“Luna, I love you and would fain have you in as little danger as possible. Stay here where it is safe.”

“We cannot hide while Canterlot burns!”

“Then attend to your nightly chore and raise the moon that we might have better light, but pray, stay above the battle, and return at need!”

We moved to the window to take wing. “Have you the Elements of Harmony at the ready?”

She patted an ornate wooden box with her hoof. “Right here. When the beast Taur shows himself, I will stop him, and I want you at my side.”

“Then until we meet again, beloved sister.”

And with that We soared into the air. With all haste We cast the spell to raise the moon, and as its first light poured over the horizon, We saw a sight to raise Our spirits.

On the road that led to Saddlebrook, a lead of five guards racing toward the city, and in their train the mares that survived the flood, galloping with blazing speed and with rage in their eyes. They had not camped or slowed, but galloped with all haste, scarcely arriving sooner than We could.

The shadow-clones of Taur had lost all their power to dazzle our soldiers or dissuade them from fighting, and the tactical matter of the battle was going our way. As this cavalry charge entered the city they trampled through, effortlessly picking out the false ponies from their fellow Equestrians.

But We knew that all this was only a prelude, and the true contest would not occur until the beast showed himself.

And as though Our thought had set it off, from the same direction We heard the rumble of hooves and saw a black shadow eclipse Our beloved moon, and fear struck Us again, for by some evil sorcery Taur had grown to many times his prior size, and could bestride a house as we ponies would a stone. And his voice trembled the very foundations of the land, as he spoke cruel mockeries.

“Thank you so kindly for gathering in one spot. Know now that your running gives me speed and your cowardice gives me size. We have grown fast on your folly and fat on your fear! And now, the last city of the ponies shall fall!” And he charged into the city.

Canterlot Castle stood, as it does now, on a promontory jutting out from the side of a mountain, and is narrowest at its base. Taur threw his shoulder into this lowest part, and we saw a fissure form between the castle and the wall of rock as its weight was no longer supported. We screamed in terror, “Celestia!” as the towers foundered and landed on their side.

But Celestia flew out of one of the windows even as the castle was traveling down. We thought of all the others who had not escaped, and it was a terrible feeling of guilt that We could not summon the same grief for them as we had for the ponies We had already seen fall. They were merely more casualties.

We soared to embrace Celestia, but as we neared, she called out, “The Elements! They are still in the main chamber!” We diverted Our flight, calling back, “We will get them! Buy Us some time!”

We found a window and entered. Navigating Our home when on its side, damaged, and denied light was no easy task, but not for naught are We called Princess of the Night. We made Our way through sideways doors and inverted halls, past shattered priceless treasures and shattered bodies worth even more, until we reached the main chamber and found the wood box laying on its side by Celestia’s throne.

We smashed the box with a hoof. At the time the five known elements were all bound on one necklace instead of spread as they are today. We grabbed it in Our teeth and flew back the way We came.

As we ascended once again into the night We saw Our sister battling with Taur. Though with his monstrous size he could have crushed her, she was swift and agile, never letting him get close to her and forcing him to turn his bloated body every which way. We streaked toward Celestia, but Taur noticed Us and raised a large hoof to strike Us down. Celestia flew high in the air and with all Our strength We hurled the Elements of Harmony up as the blow landed, knocking Us out of the sky to crash among the rubble. But the necklace had followed its course and a blinding light spread across the city. All action ceased, and Taur was rooted to the spot where he stood.

We have not to this day seen Our sister show anger as she did then. She lowered herself to the ground, and we were separated by a distance of some yards. From the blow of Taur’s hoof or from the crash Our legs and wings were broken. We crawled toward Celestia as she spoke masterfully.

“Thrice-accursed and damned be you, Taur! Your crimes are unforgivable! You have seen fit to rape our land, murder our subjects, and strike a royal personage whom I love more than my life! Your reign of terror ends now! You can no longer create your golems in the shape of Equestrians!”

And a pulse of light flew out from the Elements, and every false pony who did not belong in that city was turned to dust. All the citizens who remained looked on in wonder. And still We crawled on.

“You will no longer molest our homes!”

Another pulse of light burst from Celestia’s neck, and every fire in the city was put out at once. Only the clean, pale light of the moon remained. And still We crawled on.

“You shall no longer take a stance above anypony based on fear!”

A third pulse came forth, but this one lingered and surrounded Taur. And the foul black body shrank until he was no taller than Celestia herself. They stood mere inches from each other.

And still We crawled on. We wanted to be by her side in her moment of triumph.

“You are banished from this land henceforth. Leave now with your head bowed, or in the name of these Elements of Harmony you will be struck down where you stand!”

Taur did bow his head, but then he let forth a low chuckle. “Honesty. Laughter. Generosity. Kindness. Loyalty. Fine sentiments all. They have but one drawback.”

Our crawl had ended. We had reached Celestia. We held out a hoof to her.

“They cannot be used. . . by one who is dead!”

And so quick than nopony could react, Taur raised his head, and with his great bull’s horns he gored Celestia right through her heart.

Chapter 5

“Twilight Sparkle, We were trained long ago in the art of storytelling, and We hope we are showing you some of that art, but We must admit failure in being able to describe Our feelings at that moment. Celestia is the most precious thing in all of Equestria—in all of existence--to Us. It is likely that Our first word was her name. When We discovered Our cutie mark, it was to Celestia that We ran first. Even when she banished Us to the moon, not for one thousand years did we ever wish ill upon her specifically. To have her yield to Us, certainly, but never to see her suffer. And now she was mortally wounded while We were next to her.

“What happened next was decided in the moment when the black horn entered the white chest. A second before, We would have considered what We were about to do impossible. A second later, We considered it inevitable.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Celestia was still breathing. We leaned her head against Us. Our first duty was to comfort her in her last moments. She struggled to speak.

“Luna. . . beloved Luna. .. tell me. . . at the last. . .”

“Anything, dearest Celestia.”

“Were you ever jealous. . . that I was the ruler of Equestria. . . and not you? I always felt your love for me. . . but I could never be sure. . . that I wasn’t holding you back. . . You would have been a great ruler. . . and you will be now. . . in the last hours of Equestria.”

“Celestia, doubt not Our love for you, and fear not for the future of Equestria. The land will bloom many years hence. It is our bond as sisters, and your grace as a ruler, that will save us all. I am the dark Princess, and there is forbidden magic in the night that is not for a ruler to know, but which can be kept by a vice-regent. This thing of evil that even now thinks himself master of all is soon to learn that he is alone and powerless, while We have victory in Our hooves. Now lay your head down and rest without worry, for We will make you a promise on Our love for you.”

And We leaned in close, and spoke softly but with determination into Celestia’s ear.

“We swear to you, you shall raise the sun again.”

And in her eyes We saw peace and acceptance, as her breathing stopped and her life extinguished. We laid the white head on the ground with all care. Then We faced the black bull, and began to climb on Our feet.

Taur had climbed onto the fallen tower of Canterlot Castle and was addressing the ponies.

“Your Princess, your goddess, lies dead in the city. I am the master now. Nopony now shall abide in this land who is not either my creation or my slave! Choose now whether to live in servitude, or to line up to be slaughtered as your former ruler was!”

We rose to Our full height. Though Our legs cried out in pain, they would support Us. And very soon, it would all be over.

“Hold your tongue, Taur!” We said. “You do not give orders to the subjects of Celestia! She has given you an ultimatum to leave or be struck down. You have defied her. Now you shall take the consequences.” Our horn glowed, and We wreaked Our ultimate.

There is a color that is darker than black, a color that shall not be seen unless grave misfortune ever reaches this land again. It is a black that consumes even the black of night, leaves no trace of anything behind. This color flowed from Our horn. It fell from the sky. It sprang from the ground. From all directions it came over the horizon. And it burst forth from every particle in the world. Everything was wiped out except for Us, and Taur. There were no more sights or sounds to be seen or heard.

“What devilry is this, pony-witch?” he cried out, “Where are we?”

“We are in a Moment of Darkness, and this moment is to be your prison for all eternity.”

“What have you done?”

“We have cast a forbidden spell, a spell of great Un-happening. We have torn apart the very logic that holds existence together. We have rent asunder the chains of cause and effect. Everything you have done from the moment you entered Equestria has had no purchase, and your evil deeds have slipped from the world. You shall not even be a memory.”

“You lie!”

“We do not have to. You struck Us down, yet Our limbs are whole and intact. Canterlot Castle stands proud above the city. The town of Saddlebrook thrives, and the mighty dam still holds back the lake. You have killed nopony, you have destroyed no property, you have inspired no fear that shall last beyond this moment. And at a guard-post on the border of Equestria a young colt called River Path is being comforted by his brother.”

“I don’t believe you! I destroyed Equestria! I own Equestria!”

“We are not responsible for your beliefs or for anything you do anymore. You shall walk in darkness forever, impotent as you have been, seeking to cause ill to others, but finding it all undone before you complete it. You shall live in endless frustration.”

And as he surveyed the blackness, seeking vainly for a means of escape, the truth of Our words struck him through his flailing disbelief. In desperation, he grasped at a last hope.

“But you are trapped here too! If this darkness is endless then you have no way out!”

We looked him square in the eyes, and We leaned in very close.

“You have understood nothing. This is a Moment of Darkness, and such moments precede only the Dawn. Right now Celestia, who breathes and whose heart still beats, is preparing to raise the sun. In the depths of your ignorance, if you learn nothing else for all time, know this:

“There is no place we could go that we would not feel Our sister’s horn casting that spell. We felt it at Our birth. We have felt it every day of Our life. It is a beacon that will carry Us home to the one We love above all, and will seal you, who have no love for anyone, here alone.

And We turned Our back on him, and never looked upon the likeness of Taur, the master of shadows, again.

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

Out of the rising sun We flew, and alit on the balcony of the castle where Celestia greeted Us.

“How now, Luna? Out for a flight at morning? Stretching your wings before you turn in?”

“Something like that. We confess to being tired. It has been a long night for Us,” We said as We trotted in toward Our bedchamber.

“For me also. I was troubled by visions as I slept. Before you lie down, can I ask you something?”

We paused at that. If We had cast the spell right, then nopony, not even Celestia, should have any memory of anything that had been undone. Only We would know what hadn’t happened. But we looked back and said, “Anything, dearest Celestia.”

"Do you find raising and lowering the moon a tedious job?"

We were relieved that she did not ask Us the same question as before. "Not at all. The only thing We would have be different is to extend the time when the sun and the moon in are the sky at the same time, so that We could spend more time with you. But We know that cannot be, and consider it a worthy sacrifice for our land."

We went off to lower the moon, and Celestia came to Us and gave Us a kiss goodnight.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“And there the tale ends, Twilight Sparkle, very much as it began, with the rising of the sun. We heard rumors of other ponies who had vague recollections of the terrible events, but all could plainly see that Equestria was untouched by such evil. Eventually other horrifying events would seem to occur while ponies slept, but always they would be undone by morning. The ponies, not entirely inaccurately, began to credit Us with watching over them in the night, and to wake after witnessing some terror only to find it undone was called, ‘the blessing of the night mare.’ But over the years other ponies took a different tack and blamed Us for the terrors themselves, and nightmare became the name for them.

“It was partially this which drove Us to submit to evil Ourselves and become Nightmare Moon, but that is another story. And since it was you who redeemed Us, we felt it was right for you to know where it began.

“I have one question,” said Twilight. “Why was the spell forbidden? If you could undo all the ills of the world, why didn’t you do it sooner?”

“Don’t you understand, Twilight Sparkle? None of the events I told you happened. Everypony discounted them as mere dreams, if indeed they remembered any of it.

“That means that Forest Path never found out that his younger brother was willing to lay down his life out of love. The residents of Saddlebrook never got to show their courage. Captain Storm lived out his life as a humble guard, never knowing that he could plan out a brilliant defense of a town against an invasion. The mares that fled Saddlebrook never knew that their colts, sires, and husbands could face down a wall of water for a split second that might mean their lives, before they themselves led a charge into battle. The outlaws of Canterlot Castle never received their freedom, nor did they win back their honor by showing that they could care for others.

“And those are only the deeds We know of! How many in the other towns that fell never found out that they had heroes inside them, but forever thought that they might be cowards in a pinch? How many ponies, fearing the end, took that time to fall in love, who never confessed their feelings in the world that did survive? How would the ponies of Equestria, had we won by might, have rebuilt the land, and would it not be greater than it is now?

“We must carry the burden of that knowledge and those questions alone. And we have one more to carry. For We know that no matter what love we show Our sister, Celestia always has her doubts that We do not desire her power.”

“Will you never be able to tell her?” asked Twilight.

“When can We make her believe it? When she is dying again? But if that were the case We think We would probably use the Un-happening spell again. Carrying the burden is nothing compared to that of losing her.”

“I think I know what you mean. I don’t want to lose any of the friends I’ve made, including you, Princess. Even though we first met by fighting, I’ve come to love you as much as anypony.”

“And We-“ Luna cut herself off. “And I love you too, Twilight. And so does Celestia. I’ve learned from her how to love somepony who cared for me, and I’ve learned from you how to love somepony who needs me to abandon my selfishness and care for them.”

Then Luna went to Twilight and gave her a kiss goodnight