Come Little Children

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11

Chapter 1

"Come Little Children"
By: Blue Eyed Melloon
Chapter One

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After he was defeated, not much of our beautiful home was left.

The roar that seemed to shake the very air around them was abruptly cut off as stone devoured the head of Discord. Frozen in a pose of disbelief, the dragonequus stared at his captors with wide, unblinking eyes. On either side of him, an alicorn stood, crown atop their head. The smaller alicorn was the first to move, dropping to her knees and gasping for air. Her midnight coat was lathered with sweat, and when she turned her deep blue eyes to the elder of the two, they were dull, but large with excitement.

“We did it sister.”

The other alicorn’s wings dropped to the ground, primary feathers brushing the blackened earth and stirring up ashes. Her head also lowered until the flowing pink mane that seemed to have a life of its own was billowing just inches from the ground, and her horn almost poked the earth. Her breath too came in sharp reports, and between inhales, she said “Yes little sister. It is done. Discord is defeated.” The two sisters remained in their respective poses for some time, while Discord watched them recover from his position in the middle. The younger alicorn, called Luna, lifted her head to gaze at the statue.

It had taken weeks for the royal sisters to locate him. His chaotic magic spread quickly over the land, making tracking him ever more frustrating. After casting countless spells and untangling leads, they had cornered the dragonequus in a town far from their castle and edged by forest on most sides. Discord himself was a picture of chaos; his body parts came from so many different animals, it was impossible to tell which creature he had originally been. When he realized that he had been found, his magic turned from widespread to concentrated in the snap of a clawed finger. The fight had been long, but in the end, the Elements of Harmony that were wielded against him had proven to be more powerful than his chaotic powers. Now Luna and her elder sister Celestia stood the victors, and around them Discord’s power was beginning to wane. The sky changed from polka dots to deep blue, and stars appeared in the velvet of the night sky. The moon shone brightly on the horizon, and Ponyville began to settle back into normalcy. Cheers could be heard from the town as ponies realized that the magic was breaking. Soon word would reach all of Equestria that it was the two princesses that had brought the world back into routine.

Finally Celestia stirred, raising her head and looking to Luna.

“Come Luna, we must return to the castle. There is much to be done now that Discord is no longer a threat.” She lifted her wings and flapped a couple of times, returning the blood to the delicate veins within them. Luna wearily rose to her feet and too lifted her wings, following her sister into the sky as they wheeled higher and higher above the earth. Celestia glanced at the disfigured statue below, and decided that she would send guards to watch over him tonight. She would return for him in the morning. Together the princesses straightened their course for the castle in the center of their large capitol city.

Equestria was in shambles. Discord’s reign had left towns destroyed, buildings left to ruins and families torn apart. A slew of orphans were being sent to the orphanages that still stood, their parents lost to the attack on Equestria. Crops had wilted under the stress of the rapidly changing weather patterns, and roads were destroyed by flooding due to the chocolate milk rain that had lasted for two weeks. The animals had fled to the Everfree Forest, the only part of Equestria that wasn’t affected by Discord’s power. Ponies avoided it like the plague; withstanding Discord was a good indicator that there was other magic at work that nopony wanted to get involved with. Throughout the land came cries for help; citizens sent letters and representatives to the castle to beg the royal sisters for help. Celestia and Luna were besieged by requests, and had to turn away many of them for sheer lack of provisions. As time went on, starvation fell rampant, and the once thriving nation stared out through gaunt eyes and hobbled around on weak legs.

Luna and Celestia were weary with emotion. Day and night, they struggled to attend to courtly manners, and assist the nation in rebuilding itself. When Luna searched the dreams of their subjects, she found that many were troubled by nightmares fed by the worry of food and home. It brought pain to her very soul to see the heartache that their subjects were feeling, and when she expressed this to her older sister, Celestia nodded, eyes reflecting the want to help back to Luna, but still she felt that the other alicorn didn't truly understand what was going on.

She sees them in the daytime. When they put on a smiling face for neighbors and children, act like nothing is wrong. But none can control their dreams. I see them as they really are, afraid and hungry. Celestia does not understand these ponies the way that I do.

Author's Note

Feedback is so encouraged! I really want to know what you guys think! I know it is short, I'm hoping to expand it a bit more as my brain works and through suggestions.

Chapter 2

"Come Little Children"
By: Blue Eyed Melloon
Chapter Two

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One day, the younger one, saddened by their daily struggles, proposed to form a new colony where all of them would grow strong and happy. But the elder one forbade it, for she felt it would divide and shatter the weakened kingdom. Forever.

The door quietly opened to the throne room. Celestia was practically wrapped in paperwork, letters and petitions piled around her in a muddled cacophony of desperation. The pink haired princess herself was barely visible beneath the avalanche, and as Luna approached, she called out softly so as not to startle her.

“Celestia?” she called, stopping a few feet from the gilded throne. There was no response, and she took a few steps forward. “Celestia? Art thou in there?”

There was movement, and Celestia’s head rose from the papers. “Ah Luna. Good to see you. I apologize for not responding. The kingdom is becoming desperate, and we are trying to mediate their problems while avoiding favoritism.” There were bags under her eyes, and it was apparent to Luna that her elder had spent many a sleepless night deciding which requests to grant. She smiled sympathetically, and said “You have done thine kingdom well. However, we have a proposition that might benefit the kingdom more than granting endless requests.”

This gathered Celestia’s full attention. Her white ears perked forward and she rose to her hooves, stepping over the parchment piles to face Luna fully. The midnight pony realized with bitterness that Celestia was much taller than herself, though they weren’t that far apart in age. She was to remain smaller than her sister, and she kept her head down out of nervousness more than respect.

“Pray tell little sister, what plan have thee designed?”

Luna took a deep breath, and then lifted her gaze to lock with Celestia’s. “Sister, we wish to make our own colony. One that we can watch over personally and help grow.” Celestia did not say a word, though her brow furrowed. Luna chose to ignore this warning sign and pressed on. “By taking ponies of our choice, we can relieve some of the stress on supplies that are being sent to help. We can assure the safety of our colony so that all of Equestria may begin to rebuild.” She finished her speech and stared at Celestia hopefully. She had not voiced her final reason for wanting a colony of her own. While she loved her dear sister, she was jealous of the attention that Celestia received because of her duty as the keeper of the sun. Ponies frolicked and reveled in the warm sunlight, but when Luna brought forth the moon, they retreated into their homes and ignored the beauty of night to sleep. A colony of her own would love her night as much, or perhaps more than Celestia’s day, and finally she would get the attention as a true Princess.

There was a long uninterrupted pause, and the more time that elapsed, the more nervous the Princess of the Night became. Celestia’s brow furrowed even more, until it seemed like she was having trouble seeing Luna more than thinking. When she finally spoke, it was with a firm tone, one that did not invite argument.

“We cannot allow it Luna. While thy heart is of good intent, creating another colony will not bring the Kingdom together. Nay, it would split Equestria in a way that our powers combined cannot remedy.” She sighed as the hurt of rejection crossed the starry-haired alicorn’s face. She did not want to deny her own sister, but separating ponies into another colony would simply create dissonance between those who were chosen to go and those who were to remain behind. And with tensions as they were, even the smallest ripple could lead to an all-out feud.

“I am sorry sister, but for the good of the Kingdom, we must deny thy request.” She closed her eyes and turned away from the disappointed pony, using her magic to bring a stack of papers to her eyes. She glanced backwards, but Luna had not left. She was still staring at the ground, eyes cast downward. Celestia sighed, and went back to her papers, uncomfortable with her sister’s sadness. She knew that Luna was only trying to help, but she couldn’t grant her request.

Luna stood still for a while, a flicker of hope crossing when Celestia looked back. But her decision remained firm, and she finally turned away and let the elder do her work, shuffling her feet to the guarded doors. Tears threatened at the corners of her eyes, and she sniffed petulantly, roughly wiping a hoof over her lids to prevent them from falling. Celestia was wrong.

An unfamiliar feeling poked a tendril into her heart. Something wavered there, teasing her emotions. Celestia was wrong, Luna was right. What kind of ruler would not allow somepony to help even just one subject? You should be angry.

"Please sister, allow us to try. This plan could save lives." She turned back once more, forsaking formality and pleading to her as a family member.

"Save lives, possibly. But it may also end lives as well." The sun princess's eyes hardened upon her sister. "What of those who are not chosen for this colony? Wouldst thou leave them to suffer while thy chosen subjects are coddled by thy help? What method doest thee have for choosing these ponies? No Luna, thy plan is flawed and will bring nothing but heartache to this already weakened kingdom. We cannot allow it." Her voice became harsh, and though she hated to do it, Celestia stared down her co-ruler. On this, she would not waver.

Luna knew in her heart that her own colony would help Equestria, not hinder it. But with the commanding gaze of Celestia upon her, Luna hung her head in defeat. "I understand." She trotted to her room, opening and closing the door with magic. There she flopped onto her bed, sprawled in a very unprincess-like manner until it was her time to raise the moon. As she went to her balcony and began the spell to bring it forth, she watched Celestia lower the sun from her own balcony. Then her eyes went to the kingdom below, and she watched with sadness as ponies withdrew into their houses for the night, forsaking the beautiful thing that she was bringing into the sky and ignoring the stars that had begun to twinkle.

She felt sorrow in her heart, and after the moon was in place, Luna spread her wings and flew down to the city below.

Canterlot was a shell of its former self. The buildings were bedraggled; the thatched roofs thin and open to the air in some places. Ragged curtains hung in windows, and not a soul was on the streets. Everything was deathly quiet but for Luna’s silver shoed hooves clickty clacking on the cobblestones. Now and then she would see the light of a candle, hear the hushed tones of parents lamenting about finances and where their budget could be cut while children slept, unaware of the trouble that plagued mommy and daddy’s minds. Occasionally a cardboard tent would signal the location of someone whose misfortune had taken the ultimate turn. Homeless ponies were practically unheard of before Discord, but now more and more slapdash homes were appearing just out of sight of the guards.

Luna stopped in the town square, sadness and despair reaching a peak. This town used to bustle with activity during the day. Hundreds came from miles around to the Equestria renowned theaters and the market days on the weekends. Now instead of slumbering excitement, desperation as all she could feel from the lonely streets. It hovered in the wind, and moaned down alleyways, as if the city itself were crying out for its lost glory. Luna squeezed her eyes shut. Nopony should have to live in squalor like this. She stood alone in the square for what felt like hours, though it was only a few minutes.

Suddenly her eyes opened, and instead of sadness, determination sparkled in her eyes. She must save her people. A plan began to form in her mind, hastened by her desire to help the ponies she helped to rule over. The alicorn lifted off, circling to gain height before soaring back to her balcony. Once inside her darkened room, Luna drew the shades, lighting a candle and levitating a piece of parchment to her as well as a quill. She began to scribble words, her brain working faster than her quill. She stuck out her tongue, and scratched out a thought, revising it. All night she worked, until at last her plan was formed. With the rising of the sun, she took to her bed, parchment folded and tucked under his pillow where none would dare search. She would help her people, even if it meant defying her sister.

Equestria came first.

Chapter 3

"Come Little Children"
By: Blue Eyed Melloon
Chapter Three

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Come little children, I’ll take thee away, into a land of enchantment.
Come little children, the time’s come to play. Here in my garden of shadows.

Night had fully waxed, with the full moon shining large and white in the sky. Princess Luna stood upon her balcony, twinkling hair a facsimile of the stars above. It swayed and moved with abandon, powered by magic and her status as a royal princess. Tonight was the night. Months of planning all came down to now.

The night ruler took a deep breath, closing her eyes as the spell worked its way from her horn. A deep blue aura expanded from her body. It took the form of a soft moonbeam that wove its way into the windows surrounding Celestia’s tower. As the soft light fell upon the guards at the sun princess’s door, they began to yawn and waver in their posts. The faint dust in the air shimmered as, one by one, each guard fell into a deepening sleep.

From another window, the moonbeam fell upon Celestia herself. Though asleep already, she felt herself falling farther into slumber, and briefly wondered why she was suddenly exhausted. Her breathing became slower, and her heart rate slowed as a deep sleep overtook her.

Luna waited after finishing her spell for an alarm or a sign that something didn't go right. But no bell rang out, there was no shouting. Everyone was as they should be, and where they would remain until the sun hit their muzzles. As an extra precaution, Luna drew herself into the dream realm, seeking the dreams of those under her slumber spell in the grey expanse. The guards were none the wiser, and as she walked the misty plane between their dreams, she cast out her thoughts for her sister. Celestia would know if Luna dove into her dream, so when she discovered the wavering cloud that was the sun princess, Luna barely poked her head inside.

"Goodnight, sister." the young princess whispered, and from her dream, Celestia smiled. Luna was watching over her dreams, a reassuring thought.

Satisfied with her spell, Luna withdrew from the dream realm and into her body, spread her great blue wings and sprung from the balcony, gliding down the side of the tower before pulling up just above the ground, gaining momentum with the move. Her mane and tail flowed behind her, and the starlight glinted silver off of her crown, chestplate and elaborate shoes. She soared through the streets, and as she flew, cast another spell that encompassed all of Canterlot. Another moonbeam fell to earth, but this time, she did not know where it was going. This spell was designed to find her ponies that were worthy of her attention. The alicorn slowly glided down streets, and at first, nothing happened. Fear gripped her chest. Perhaps this was not going to work.

Then the beam materialized into something more than a wisp, and fell softly upon a window. Luna paused to look within the ramshackle bedroom. A filly was fast asleep in her bed, clutching a stuffed bear and smiling through her dreams. Luna gazed upon the filly for a moment, and was satisfied that she would be acceptable. This filly would be one of her own. Relief replacing fear like a cool bath on a summer day, she smiled. Yes, this was happening. She flew on, watching the beam land wherever it chose to, motes of dust sparkling like her mane and tail.

She noticed a pattern to the spell’s choices. It chose only foals, those young ones that were in poverty or orphaned. She took note of this. Perhaps this was what her colony could be, a family to those who had none. This inspired her to find a particular building. She flew above the rooftops, hooves moving below her as if she were walking on the air even as her wings flapped gracefully up and down. When the desired location came into view, she landed, trotting several paces to slow her inertia. The orphanage was a dreary place; few ponies had enough bits for themselves, let alone to donate to parent-less foals that had no means of income. The gates were overrun with weeds, and the siding of the building was broken in several places. Luna aimed the spell toward the building, and watched as windows began to glow in soft light as the appropriate foals were chosen. Once the spell was done choosing her followers, Luna began to whisper, foals all over town began to stir. The time had come.

Chapter 4

"Come Little Children"
By: Blue Eyed Melloon
Chapter Four

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Follow sweet children, I’ll show thee the way through all the pain and the sorrows.
Weep not for children, for life is this way, murdering beauty and passion.

When Lilly Flute rolled over, her teddy was released. In her mind, she thought she heard someone whisper to her. Her eyelids fluttered, and thought not fully awake, she rose into a sitting position. One hoof rubbed her eye, the other went to her teddy. Who was whispering? After her eyes were devoid of sleep, Lilly Flute looked around her room, but saw nothing but a lonely chest of drawers and a dusty rug. The tattered curtains billowed gently as a breeze from the open window caught them. The pink haired filly shifted uncomfortably in her bed, the feeling of someone watching her making her want to hide away under the covers. Her ears twitched and twisted. The voice floated just out of reach, and Lilly frantically looked to and fro in a vain effort to find the whisperer.

Follow sweet children, I’ll show thee the way…

Brownie Points felt the wind shift against his cardboard abode, threatening to roll the rocks that held the pieces of his home together. He shivered and the vibration of his body woke his brain. He blinked wearily, scooting backwards into the makeshift tent to escape the biting wind. The beam of light was soft, not blinding him like similar lights should. Instead of scooting farther back, he inched forward, searching for the source of the illumination. The breeze carried a voice, whispering to him, drawing him farther out of the cardboard. The alleyway and attached street were empty but for a skinny cat rubbing against a broken cobblestone. Brownie frowned, swearing that he had heard someone speaking. He even hazarded a look above him in case it turned out to be a Pegasus playing a trick on him. Tumbler or Wind Whistle perhaps. But the air above him was empty as well, and his frown turned into a grim face of worry. The voice came again, and he shriveled to the ground in fear.

Through all the pain and the sorrows…

There was a knock on the door, and Fireball groaned, thrashing in bed before mumbling “Come in.”

The door slid open, and a filly with pigtails scuttled into his bedroom, strands of hair sticking out all over and fear in her eyes.

“Big Bwother?” she said, scooting closer to his bed and putting a hoof on the sheets. She fumbled with the numerous holes in the bedding until Fireball sighed, saying “What Cocoa Butter?”

“I…I heard a sownd.” Came a soft reply while she shrunk down to put her chin on the bed. “It sownded like somewon talking. A-and I got scared.” Her eyes filled with tears and Fireball rolled his eyes, throwing back the covers and tapping the mattress with a hoof.

“C’mon Cocoa. You can sleep with me.”

Cocoa jumped into the bed, snuggling close to her older brother as he brought the blankets over the two of them. He felt her breathing slow, and smiled when she sighed. “Mommy and Daddy would be really pwoud of you. If only they were here to see.” They both fell back asleep, Fireball wrapped protectively around his little sister.

A light made Fireball wake. Could it be morning already? When he opened his eyes, it wasn’t sunlight, but moonlight flowing into his open window. Strange. He hadn’t left his window open…

Fireball froze mid-thought. He really hadn’t left the window open. But how was it open now? Without moving his head, he swept his eyes across the room. There was nopony there. But how….? His heart began to race as a whispering sound floated through the window. Cocoa Butter shifted, mumbling slightly as the voice got louder. When she opened her eyes, Fireball was staring at the moon, mouth open.

“Big Bwother?” she whispered, poking him in the side. When he didn’t respond, she grew afraid. “Big Bwother? Fireball?” She waved a hoof in front of him, and then looked out the window. The moon was round and full. Its girth almost took up the entire view. Her eyes widened, the shining orb reflecting in her pupils.

“It’s the singing Fireball. That’s the song I heard.”

Follow sweet children, I’ll show thee the way…

Spirit was the first in the room to be roused by the strange song. Her body reacted first, pushing herself up before her eyes opened. “Wha?” she muttered, rubbing her eyes. Two other ponies were also waking, all on the top bunks of the room. They looked at each other, then to the window. It was illuminated with light, a welcoming light that called them from their beds and to the front door of the orphanage. Their hooves clicked on the dirty tiles as they wandered the halls. Once they reached the main entrance, the foal with deep blue hair and an electric stripe in the middle whispered “What is going on?”

“I dunno.” The third foal, a unicorn, said. “I just woke up and heard something…”

They stood in a line, staring up at the window while it gently swung open of its own accord. The middle pony’s eyes widened in shock, while the others were frozen in their hooves with fear. What was happening? The moon was calling to them, while music flowed through their bodies and into their very hearts. It was a song of longing, and beckoning. The three foals wanted to follow it, and slowly, happiness replaced the fear. They were going to go somewhere. The music wanted them to go with it. All three closed their eyes, and felt the moonbeam warm them in a way that the sun never had.

Through all the pain and the sorrows…

Chapter 5

"Come Little Children"
By: Blue Eyed Melloon
Chapter Five

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Hush now dear children, it must be this way, too weary of life and deceptions.
Rest now dear children, for soon we’ll away, into the calm and the quiet.

Luna completed her singing when the beams no longer fell upon the town. After the orphanage, she had flown over the rest of the city to find her other subjects. Now the spell was complete. They were chosen.

The night princess was tired, but she cast yet another spell, one that would bring her children to her. The beams brightened and pulsed, and the ponies inside them felt themselves rising from the ground, surrounded by a magical aura. Lilly Flute let the blankets fall away from her as she started to float. She squealed as she dropped a few feet out of the window, but the magic caught her, and she found herself rising higher and higher above the city.

Brownie Points too felt the magic take hold of him, and he struggled against it, gripping the rocks around him with his hooves. His head was spinning with panic. His arms were starting to burn as the magic tugged at him impatiently. He gritted his teeth, but his grip slipped, and he found himself spinning upward into the beam.

Fireball held his sister tight as they left their home behind. She was shivering, but with excitement, not fear. Neither of them had wings, so flying was something new and shiny, like a toy just out of the box. Finally they released each other, and floated side by side, somersaulting a couple of times to test out their new found ability. Cocoa Butter giggled, slowly rotating on the spot. “This is fun!” she said, covering her mouth with a hoof. Fireball nodded, and turned to face the beam. This would tell them where they were going.

The three fillies at the orphanage were joined by another colt from the opposite side of the building when they made their way through the window. He waved, moving his legs as if he were running. "Isn't this great!?" he called, doing a barrel roll. The foursome laughed and dove after each other, all the while wondering just who was bringing them upwards, and if they should be scared. Something about the way the magic held them gave them reassurance that they were safe.

Ponies began to come into view and Luna’s heart skipped a beat. Twenty foals in all. They were rising to her, soaring above the rooftops to join her in creating a new colony. A new place where they would grow into happy ponies, away from the hunger, the pain and the desperation. She wanted to shout with happiness, but instead she kept her calm, beckoning the foals closer with a hoof and more singing. Her back was to the moon, and the foals couldn't tell who was calling them, only that they wanted to follow them, they would follow them. To the ends of the earth if they had to.

Celestia was wrong. You ARE the rightful Princess of these ponies. Lead them away to their new home.

Spirit was the first to recognize the princess. She nudged one of the other fillies from the orphanage and whispered “It’s Princess Luna!” excitedly. The realization made its way through the crowd of floating foals, and by the time they were within earshot of her, everypony was aware of who had called them, but not why.

“Come with me little ones, we are going on an adventure!” She didn’t wait for them to answer before turning to face the moon, flapping her wings and soaring higher into the sky. The foals felt the magic tug them along like an invisible string, and those who had gotten used to being in the air began to enjoy themselves, frolicking and twisting in the air behind Luna. She made sure to fly within the cloud cover to hide their escape. The clouds were monoliths of the sky, soft and pliable, yet from far away looked solid and formidable. The foals remained close together as they passed through them, and spread out when open sky greeted them. Through the flight, Luna sang.

She was their compass, and their wings. They were an unusual flock of birds, led by a siren whose song echoed off of the stars and brought comfort to the foals when the magic allowed the unpleasant trickle of doubt to enter their hearts.

And when they were tired they slept, cradled by the wind. The song that had captured them became a lullaby. As the night went on, slumbering foals bobbed and drifted on the invisible waves in the sky with the night princess as their tugboat and guide. Half of the night was spent in this fashion until all recognizable landmarks were on the horizon behind them.

Chapter 6

"Come Little Children"
By: Blue Eyed Melloon
Chapter Six

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Come little children, I’ll take thee away, into a land of enchantment.
Come little children, the time’s come to play, here in my garden of shadows.

Luna began to circle downward as the moon reached its apex in the sky. The fillies and colts were awoken by the change in temperature as they sunk from the sky. As they passed the canopy of the forest, it became increasingly darker. They were in a part of Equestria that was largely undiscovered, a place that grew wild and free. When all hooves were on the ground safely, the foals huddled together in the forest gloom, eyes wide with the fear of what lurked in the dark just out of eyesight.

“Fear not children.” Luna said as she made herself visible. The foals were silent, awed by the proximity of the princess. “I have brought thee here to create a new colony. One that will revel in the night instead of the daytime.”

Lily Flute raised her hoof timidly. “B-ut Princess. What about our families? What will happen to my mommy and daddy?” The foals that still had parents nodded in agreement, while the orphans avoided eye contact with expressions of anger or sadness. Fireball and Cocoa Butter in particular did not like the other filly bringing up parents, as their loss was still a fresh wound.

“Thy family will go on as usual.” Luna said simply, turning away from her brood and walking between the trees. “They would be honored that their foal wouldst be a part of a new generation, a new ideal.” This confused Lilly Flute more than reassured her.

“Where are we?” a colt called out. This was echoed by many small voices, and Luna paused in her footsteps, looking over her shoulder.

“Why, this is thy new home.” She said, expecting joy or awe. Instead, she got confusion, and fear.

“New home?” one piped, “But there aren’t any houses!”

“What about timber wolves?”

“Won’t we get hungry?”

“I wanna go home!”

“Enough!” the shout silenced the foals, leaving them shivering on the ground. Luna took a deep breath, and when she opened her eyes, they were full of kindness. “Thy needs will be taken care of whilst you grow. Trust in us children. Trust in thy princess.”

The words calmed the crowd, and when Luna resumed her pace, the foals trotted behind her, near enough to take comfort in her presence, but far enough away to feel safe from her wrath should it come about again. She was a princess, why shouldn’t they trust her? Her job was to keep them safe after all.

The walk took some time, though how much time, nopony could tell. The ever present gloom of the forest kept the moon and stars from view. Hooves began to shuffle and stumble; a small nap in the sky was not enough for a growing foal to live off of, and these ones were weary with travel. Luna sympathized with them, but continued on. They must reach their new home before sunrise, and Celestia was able to find them.

Suddenly, the night princess stopped. The foals bumped into each other, unaware that their leader had ceased walking. There was muttering and yawning until Spirit gazed around Luna’s legs, and gasped.

Before them was a clearing, allowing them to see much better in the moonlight. To the other end of the clearing grew a grove of trees, though they were unlike anything the ponies had seen before. Sapphire blue, they grew silver leaves that shimmered in the starlight like the bright scales of a dragon. They were quite tall; each one could have towered over the buildings of Canterlot. The foals shuffled from hoof to hoof, unsure of what to do, but dearly wanting to investigate the strange trees. When Luna smiled and nodded her head, they all ran forward, leaping over the great roots and laughing.

“Look! The bark really IS blue!”

“The leaves are so soft! But aren’t they made of silver?”

“There's a door here!”

All activity stopped and eyes fell upon Brownie Points, who shriveled under the collective gaze.

“Uhm, r-right here.” He mumbled, pointing a hoof to the dark space under a particularly large root. The group scampered over to stare at the door. A door in a tree, whoever heard of such a thing?

Magpie was the first to move closer. She grasped at the handle, and tugged with all of her might. But the door wouldn’t budge.

“It won’t open yet children.” Luna said from behind the crowd. A large portion of them jumped, and Magpie lifted her head. “Why won’t it open?”

“Because you have not made us a promise.” Luna replied, and all eyes went to her instead of the door. “In order to enter the tree homes, all of thee must promise that you may never go looking for the cities of the sun again. And if somepony were to enter this garden, thy duty will be to hide, and never make contact until the password is given. You are to be our children of the night. Make this promise, and the door will open.”

The foals alternated staring into the deep eyes of Luna and glancing at each other, wondering who was to make the first move. Brownie Points saw no reason not to make the promise, but dearly did not want to be the first one to do it. Fireball was frantically whispering to his sister about going home. Cocoa was shaking her head, pointing at the tree with a hoof excitedly. There were whispers and glances all around. Do they dare? Do they leave the world of the sun behind? What did that mean anyway?

A colt with electric blue hair was the first to step forward. “I-I’ll do it.” He said, puffing out his chest and trying to look larger than he actually was. Luna smiled as soon the others followed suit, lining up to make their promise. One that would bind them to this place forever. The alicorn lowered her head and passed over each foal, speaking the binding words of the spell.

“Dost thee promise to never leave our garden?”

“We promise.”

“Dost thee promise never to seek the cities of the sun?”

“We promise.”

“And dost thee promise that if another pony were to stumble upon this place without the given password, thy reaction will be to run and hide?”

“We promise.”

With each promise given, a pulse of light exited Luna’s horn, driving itself into the center of the foals’ chests. Cocoa gave a little squeak when the light hit her; Fireball remained silent and grim. The preparations complete, Luna implored them to try the door once more. This time, it opened without hesitation, and all of the foals clambered inside.

The inside of the tree was mostly bare, but cozy and warm. There were blankets piled around along with pillows, and each foal wasted no time in claiming their own set. Once each foal was set up with sleeping materials, Luna bade them all farewell.
“But, but Princess Luna.” Spirit croaked out. “What about food? And furniture? And school?”

“Fear not Spirit. We shall take care of all of these things. Any want thy has, make it heard, and we shall do our best to grant thy wish. But for now children, sleep. There is much exploring to do tomorrow night.” She closed the door behind her and waited a minute or two, hearing the foals whispering excitedly before drifting off to sleep. She galloped from the clearing, and jumped into the sky, wheeling a few times overhead before beginning the long journey back to Canterlot. She must make it home before the sunlight hit the muzzles of the ponies under her spell.

Unbeknownst to Luna, her brief interlude into Celestia’s dreams had left a hoof print, so to speak. So when Luna cast her magic, a trickle was drawn back to Celestia, and at first the sun princess thought nothing of it. As time went on, she began to have visions of empty beds, and open windows. The visions became real enough that she thought she was on the street staring at them with her actual eyes rather than her dream ones.

Come little children, I’ll take the away…

Celestia awoke with a start, heart pounding. What had scared her that badly? She turned to look out her balcony doors at the bright moon, feeling anxiety deep in her chest. Something was not right with her dreams.

“Luna.” She whispered, gazed locked on the white orb making its way through the night sky. “What have thee done?”

Chapter 7

"Come Little Children"
By: Blue Eyed Melloon
Chapter Seven

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Once upon a time, there were two regal sisters who ruled together and created harmony throughout the land.
To do this, the eldest used her unicorn powers to raise the sun at dawn. The younger brought out the moon at night. Thus the two sisters maintained balance for their kingdom and their subjects, all with different types of ponies.

But as time went on, the younger sister became resentful.

The headlines spoke of the new Captain of the Guard. He was promoted after negotiating with the Griffon nation to prevent a war from breaking out. The picture of him receiving his captain’s helmet took up a large portion of the front page. On the second page of the Canterlot News, a column dedicated to the foal-napping incident a month prior told readers that so far, no leads had proven fruitful in the case. The average pony would scan the column and sigh. Some would shake their heads and a few might even engage the pony next to them or across the table about the update. What precious information had been released was hashed and re-hashed among the population of Canterlot until more rumors than facts were being circulated. And now even those were wilting away as other news was reported. Life went back to normal.

Except for Celestia. The reports of missing foals on the night of her visions troubled the princess the more that she thought about it. The usual measures were taken; search parties were sent out, the parents (if any were present) were questioned, and a substantial reward was offered for any leads toward the foals’ location. But nopony had anything to offer. The foals had simply vanished from their beds. Celestia poured over the paperwork, wrote out connections and spent many nights sleeplessly counting and recounting the accounts by the ponies questioned.

One possibility teased the back of Celestia’s mind. It was a scenario that she did her best to avoid, yet as she went over the information again and again, it dogged her thoughts. Why had Luna come into her dream that night? Why was her sleep so deep? And what were the visions that she had experienced before waking in a panic?

Luna saw that Celestia was investigating the missing foals with more than just idle interest or royal duty, and began to worry that her colony may now be safe. That night, she returned to the garden, landing just outside the clearing and walking forward. The foals were growing to like their new home with each passing night. The most difficulty came with adjusting to sleeping during the day instead of taking to their beds when the moon rose.

When Luna became visible, there were shouts of excitement and the thundering of hooves as the foals rushed forward. They were shaggy and dirty, but looked happier than they had ever been in their lives. Luna smiled, running a shoed hoof over a couple ruffled manes and said “Dear children, how art thee? Dost thy have any news?”

These are your children Luna. Celestia has no hold here. They cherish you as they have never cherished your sister.

“Princess, we found the flowers that you said were nearby.” Piped a filly, interrupting the voice in the princess's head while indicating freshly dug earth off to the right. “We planted them just like you asked.”

“Will they grow fast?” wondered another out loud, waving her hoof in the air wildly.

“If they are cared for, they will grow. And it is these flowers that thy gardening skills will be practiced on. When thee has proven that plants will be cared for, we shall bring you seeds to grow for food.”

There was excited chatter, and Luna let it go for a minute or two before raising a hoof. “Come pray thee, is there anything else? Has anypony come that was not welcome?”

The crowd went silent as they all shook their heads. Luna let out the breath she didn’t know she had been holding, and her smile widened. Celestia had not found her secret. “Good. Well then let us go inside. We have brought food to replenish thy stocks and it is time for lessons.” There was a collective groan. Many of the foals assumed that without proper schools, there would be no need for learning. But Luna proved to be an eager teacher and brought them books from the Canterlot Library to study.

Once the food had been put away in its proper places, Luna gathered her classroom around her for their lesson. There had been a fireplace inside all of the trees for when the weather turned cold, and now it crackled with warmth and light to push away the outside gloom. Foals were sprawled out on the floor, some with pillows and others with notebooks crudely made out of parchment Luna brought with her on one of her many trips between the two places.

She opened the book, holding it aloft with magic, and began “Long ago, when Equestria was still new, a troop of Griffons scouted their location, and sent emissaries to talk to the three rulers….”

Back in Canterlot, Celestia watched her sister fly away as she so often did nowadays. Her brow furrowed, and she lifted her wings as if to follow. But something held her back. Sneaking and spying was not the way to gather the truth. She would have to confront her younger sister. She turned her back to the window, sighing sadly. Something inside Luna was causing her to be sneaky and deceitful. Celestia quietly dreaded Luna's return, for it meant that their relationship was going to change.

Chapter 8

"Come Little Children"
By: Blue Eyed Melloon
Chapter Eight

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The ponies relished and played in the day her elder sister brought forth, but shunned and slept through her beautiful night.

Luna watched wearily as Canterlot bustled with activity. With the coming of morning, shopkeepers opened their doors and the early birds hurried through the streets intent on specials at the grocers and discounts at restaurants for the senior citizens. Foals were sleepily tottering next to parents on their way to school. A lovely mist had seeped in between the buildings, creating a golden hue in the air that seemed tangible. The night princess yawned heavily. Her nights were spent ferrying supplies back and forth to her colony. Early morning saw her avoiding Celestia’s summons until the morning was far enough gone that her elder sister gave up and let the lunar alicorn sleep. The moon was raised on the run as she flew over other towns in the outlaying countryside.

Two months had now passed since her colony was established, and Luna found that choosing only foals had significant downsides. Their tiny bodies were unable to do the work necessary to improve their living conditions, and they could only put forth enough energy to maintain a small garden plot, not enough to keep them fed over the winter. Luna adjusted the spell that had pointed them out to her the first time, and had located adults that she then carried to her colony. These adults were more reluctant than the foals, but soon warmed up to her garden as the younger ones had. They too became her children, and took care of the foals so that Luna did not have to make so many trips out of the castle.

She raised a hoof to her mouth to cover a second yawn, and turned from the window, sliding the thick royal blue curtains closed behind her. Sleep was a welcome mistress, and as she glided between her satin sheets, she again thought of her children. They would be sleeping as well, ignoring the day even as the rest of the pony population ignored the night.

Celestia pressed the door of her younger sister’s room open with a hoof, and peered into the dark abyss. Luna was fast asleep, smiling in her dreams. The elder sister sighed, and shut the door quietly. She waved a guard over, and whispered “When Princess Luna awakes, we want to be informed. We have business to attend with her.” The guard nodded, and took a post directly adjacent to the door, staring straight ahead with an expression of stern concentration. Celestia nodded in approval, and went to her own chambers. Her council meeting would not start for another hour, giving her time to relax before beginning the duel of politics.

But the sun princess could not rest. Not when she had such poisonous thoughts in her heart. She sincerely wanted to exonerate Luna of what she secretly accused her of, but her behavior only added fuel to the fire. And with more abductions from outlying towns, Celestia began to fear the worst for the ponies that disappeared. She collapsed on a velvet couch, sprawling her limbs everywhere which-way in the epitome of un-ladylike behavior and sighed.

When the daily duties were done, and twilight was coming across the land, Luna woke from her slumber. She sat up and yawned, stretching her wings out behind her until her back cracked. She rolled out of bed, and opened her door to find a guard walking down the hallway. She crouched down and waited until he had turned a corner before exiting her room and making her way to the kitchen.

She had just entered the vast dining room when the doors on the other side where thrown open. Celestia strode her way into the room, and Luna’s heart picked up pace. She hid her nerves behind a mask of indifference, and said “Hello sister. How art thou?”

“We are troubled.” Celestia said with no hint of familial love. “Have thou not seen the number of abductions that have scared the citizens? Our kingdom is in a state of panic.” She brought forth a stack of newspapers and placed them at Luna’s feet. Each headline spoke of another pony going missing, some with pictures. Luna avoided the newspapers as if they carried a disease, and said “We have not heard of this. But then, we hardly hear of things that go on in the daytime.”

Because thy daytime is so precious to everypony.

“Strange. We thought that maybe dream-walking had brought about evidence we have not found.” Celestia said slyly, shutting the doors behind her with subtle magic.

Luna blinked a couple of times. “No sister, we have not seen anything. But then, we have not dream-walked in some time.”

“And why is that?”

“We have been tired. This is a difficult time within the kingdom. We have been trying to help the residents back onto their hooves.”

“Surely not by doing manual labor.” Celestia countered, her voice growing cold. “Pray tell us how thine help had been asked for? What have thou been doing all this time when away from the castle?”

She noticed our disappearances. She does not approve? But why?

“And why can we not go off on our own?” Luna said, full of false bravado. She took a couple of steps away from Celestia and toward one of the many stained glass windows. She gazed at it as if her sister’s questions were not of concern. “Are we not a Princess as well, despite our subjects’ aversion to our gift?”

Now you’ve gone and said it.

“Aversion?” Celestia said with confusion, tilting her head to one side. “What is thou talking about? Our subjects love the night as much as the day.”

“Liar!” Luna shouted suddenly, twisting to face her sister. The voice inside expanded just a bit, a form that lifted its head within her soul as if to sniff for opportunity. Soon.

Celestia was taken aback by the sudden outburst, and lost her words. Luna used this as an opportunity to keep talking.

“The citizens do not appreciate us the way that they appreciate thou. Days are spent outside, whilst our nights are ignored! The stars are left alone to twinkle at no one, the darkness is forsaken by foals who are afraid! No one loves the night the way that we do until now!” She finished her tirade with another shout, and stood in front of Celestia, sides heaving and eyes wild. Celestia’s eyes were soft and sad.

“So it is true then. Our own sister is behind the foal-nappings.” It was not a question, but a statement. Her pink mane drooped as if the wind was released from it. The betrayal Celestia felt burned her heart.

Luna said nothing, only stared at her sister as her eyes shrunk down to pinpricks. Celestia knew. She figured it out.

“Sister, thou must understand…”

“No, Luna, it is not us who must understand. It is thou. This crime cannot go unpunished. Thy orders are to wait in thine room until we can come up with a judgment.” Celestia’s eyes were narrowed and cruel. “Our heart is betrayed, and by our sister no less! Go Luna, we wish not to see thy face. Thou is not a Princess that this kingdom needs.” She turned away to prevent the tears from falling. Now was not the time to cry.

Luna stared at her sister in disbelief. How could she say such things? They were sisters! And Luna was only doing what was best for her colony, her children. Celestia was treating her like a child.

“This is not right Celestia! We are a Princess as well! We deserve to make decisions!”

“We said go!” Celestia shouted, shutting her eyes tightly. Luna stopped abruptly, mouth hanging open. Her eyes watered, and narrowed.

“Fine. But this is not the end sister. Not. At. All.”

Luna stomped away, throwing the doors open and slamming them shut hard enough to crack the wood. Celestia flinched as the wood splintered, then opened her own pair of doors and went silently to her room.

Luna ran to her room, practically blasting the door open. “How can Celestia do this!” she screamed to the air, thrashing about. She kicked the nightstand, and stood huffing in the middle of her room.

Celestia is wrong.

The voice had finally spoken up. It uncoiled, silky smooth, and began to speak.

Dear Luna, thy sister is wrong. We are just as capable of making decisions. She will not give us a chance. How unfair. Luna paused in her rampage, ears perked. The voice was making sense.

“We ARE capable of ruling, perhaps better than our dear sister.” She said, voice dripping malice. “Perhaps it is Celestia who is unfit to rule the kingdom.”

Indeed. the voice cooed, feeling its power increasing. Maybe it is us who should rule. Take the throne maybe?
Luna shuddered, a cold sweat breaking out. “But we can’t. We are not more powerful than our elder sister. How would we accomplish this?”

Anything can be accomplished if one tries hard enough. the voice insisted, pressing its luck. Then we can be the rightful leader. We can teach the kingdom of the beauty nightfall brings. We can show them how foolish they have been for ignoring our lovely darkness.

Luna looked at her door, seeking answers in the knotted wood. Show them…she could show them all their errors…

The voice retreated for a moment, satisfied with the thoughts implanted in the princess’s head. The time had come.

Chapter 9

"Come Little Children"
By: Blue Eyed Melloon
Chapter Nine

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One fateful day, the younger unicorn refused to lower the moon to make way for the dawn. The elder sister tried to reason with her, but the bitterness in the young one's heart had transformed her into a wicked mare of darkness..

Not another word was said about the argument by Celestia for the remainder of the evening. The staff however, was all abuzz with the gossip that had been thrown to them like a ripe carrot. Soon the news that it had been Luna who had foal-napped the foals was being debated and chewed over by almost everypony in the castle when they weren’t within earshot of Celestia or the door that opened into Luna’s room.

“Princess Luna was the foal-napper? What was she thinking?”

“Do you think the little ones are alright?”

“Where did she take them?”

Questions wizzed and buzzed through the vast hallways until it seemed that the very cobblestones were vibrating with rumors. Celestia ignored this, intent on figuring out just why her sister had committed such crimes.

The idea that Luna thought the kingdom preferred Celestia confounded her. Why, didn’t Luna realize what happened at night? The plants recuperated, ponies dreamt of their futures, lovers sought each other. Why didn’t her sister understand? Celestia sighed and rose from her couch. She must talk to Luna today.

She walked slowly to her sister’s room in the opposite tower, dreading the moment that was to come. When she knocked on the door however, there was no response. Celestia nudged it open to find the room dark and completely empty. Where was Luna? Her heart dropped a bit. What if she ran away?

Celestia began to search the castle room by room, but found no evidence that her younger sister had been there. The more room she searched, the more worried she became. Luna was nowhere to be found.

Finally all that was left was the throne room. As Celestia entered, it lit up with magical lights that turned on automatically once she was inside. The windows were flush with sunlight; multi-hued facets of light painted the ground in a broken rainbow. She was halfway to the throne when a voice rang out.

“Not another step.”

Celestia started, and looked up at the center of the room. From behind the regal chair came a familiar face set in an unfamiliar scowl.

“Luna! There thee are! we have been looking-“

Luna cut her off with an outstretched hoof. There was malice in her eyes, and something that the elder one had never seen before. Something that wasn’t right.

“Did you really expect me to sit idly by while they all basked in your precious light?” Her voice dripped sarcasm and threat. Her hair billowed out from her head in a mass of dark mane that sparkled with pseudo starlight. Celestia took a step backwards, saying “Luna? What is the matter with thee?” Her sister spoke differently, walked with more purpose. There was dread growing in her the longer she was in Luna’s presence.

Luna came to the pedestal used for announcements. Her eyes flashed with power, and she could feel the voice inside her preparing, gathering its strength.

Do it Luna. Do it now.

“There can only be one Princess in Equestria.” She reared up on her back legs, waving her front hooves threateningly.

”And that Princess will be ME!”

The pedestal shattered into a thousand wooden fragments, sending shards every which way and throwing the gems that were inset into it across the room. Celestia jumped, dodging a large piece of wood. She stared at her sister with horror, eyes widening as the beast inside Luna roared out. Cracks snaked their way along the wall behind the throne. They shattered mortar and sent pieces raining down in a cloud of debris. Then it reached the window. The window that showed the two sisters ruling as yin and yang; one for the sun and one for the moon. The window exploded into a rain of rainbow glass, coating the ground with twinkling shards.

In the shell of the window, the moon began to rise. It slipped upwards even as its ruler rose into the air, wings outstretched while new power coursed through her veins, filling her body with darkness. Luna panicked when the power pushed her conscious, wanting to take control of her body. Darkness began to twist itself around her, forming a ball.

What are thee doing?

You want to rule Equestria yes? There can only be one Princess? I can make this happen.

But this is our body! We are the masters of it!

Not since you let me in.

Celestia watched as Luna’s face lost its anger for a moment. “Luna!” She shouted, and galloped forward. But the moon reached its peak, covering the sun and releasing rays of darkness that pressed Celestia back like a barrier. “Luna NO!”

Luna cradled her head in her hooves. Fighting with the voice was giving her a splitting headache. But she felt her power waning, and the voice pressed the advantage, filling her with more anger and hatred. Luna began to retreat, concentrating her being into a solid sphere with a protection spell. The voice pressed until it felt nothing more could be done, and left her tiny bit of true self to wallow in pity and guilt.

What did she release?

The voice fully in control, it let the dark rays take hold of her, wrapping her body in tendrils until she was completely engulfed in a sphere of darkness. As the sphere rose, Celestia pushed against the barrier, tears beginning to form in her eyes.

Thundering hooves behind her announced the arrival of the castle guards, who bashed into the room only to be frozen with a shout of “STOP!” by their leader. Many of them didn’t need to be told twice. The scene before them elicited no response from them other to stand, mouths agape.

Swirling clouds of magic joined the darkness, twisting and whirling in a sickening view. They began to fade, and a curled body was seen inside the sphere.

“Luna!” Celestia shouted, attacking the barrier with magic. It held, then began to crumble. She pushed her way through as the magic broke, and her sister was released.

But it was not her sister that floated downward. Round eyes became cat-like slits, teeth were ground to points that created a sinister grin. The pony that stood before Celestia was midnight black, and her mane and tail flowed outward threateningly like smoke. Upon her head and chest was armor of silver blue, the only hint of the true owner of the body trapped inside. Her laughter was devious; it clanged like metal pots and pans. Celestia froze in shock.

“Well Celestia, how do you like me now?” the creature asked, unfurling her darkened wings. Her voice was silky smooth and dangerous.

“Luna, what have thee done?” Celestia said pitifully, lost in shock and sadness.

“I am Luna no longer!” She crowed, throwing her head back to point her horn at the eclipse. “I am Nightmare Moon, and with this new power, I shall create an everlasting night!”

Celestia watched as Nightmare Moon’s horned glowed, and her smoky mane wrapped around her body. In the next blink of an eye, she was gone, flying into the sky with another bout of maniacal laughter. Once the laughter had faded, the shocked guards shook their heads, running to their princess.

“Celestia, what do we do?”

“Was that Princess Luna?”

“Give us orders!”

Celestia fell to her knees in the center of the crowd. She lowered her head as the tears began to fall. How could she not see the jealousy eating away at Luna? How could she let this happen? What could she do?

“Luna…..dear Luna.” She whispered, letting her horn touch the ground as she mourned the loss of her sister.

Chapter 10

"Come Little Children"
By: Blue Eyed Melloon
Chapter Ten

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She vowed that she would shroud the land in eternal night. Reluctantly, the elder sister harnessed the most powerful magic known to ponydom: The Elements of Harmony.

The first pony to notice the eclipse was the mailmare, who pointed up at the sky and shouted “What’s going on!?” This sentiment was echoed by more and more ponies as all eyes turned to the sky and the phenomenon taking place above them. Mothers held their children closer, ushering them inside when they were close enough to home. After the sun was completely blocked, the stars could be seen overhead, twinkling innocently in the suddenly dark sky. Those who were inside come out of their houses, curious. Was this supposed to happen?

The answer came in laughter. Laughter that started out quiet, but quickly rose in decibels as its origin flew through the already broken window of the castle. Ponies began to shout. “Princess Luna! It’s Princess Luna!” But the alicorn that rose above them, flapping black wings and laughing madly was not their night princess. She was a mare of darkness, and she was out for revenge.

“I am Luna no longer!” She shouted, using a spell to amplify her voice. “Luna has been shut away. I am your new ruler. And with my reign, the night will last forever!” Lightning flashes as citizens screamed, cowering before the evil princess. Nightmare Moon smirked; this was how it should be.

“I am Nightmare Moon, and you will bow to me and me only. Love my night as you once loved the day!” She pointed her horn to the eclipse and laughed again, flapping her wings and rising higher into the sky. There was much of Equestria that needed to be visited, enlightened to the recent change of power. As she flew away, Nightmare Moon hazarded a look back on her ponies. They had gotten past the frozen fear and were now running around blindly in panic, shouting and raising the alarm. The night ruler chuckled; yes, all was going well so far.

Celestia stared from her window, wings lifeless at her side. The guards had been dismissed, confusing questions of action and protocol silenced with a gaze look from their Princess. Celestia focused on the eclipse. How had that, that monster taken over her sister? She thought back to what was not yet an hour ago. Was her jealousy that deep? Did the river of hatred within Luna run that swiftly? Celestia sighed, a tear falling onto her cheek and freezing among the others that had already dried.

She must take action. Her heart ached to do so, but as a Princess of Equestria, it was her duty to save her subjects.

Even if it meant fighting someone she held dear.

The restless guards were startled when the throne room doors flew open, and Celestia galloped from the room, pink mane streaming behind her as she raced up the spiral staircase to the next floor. They followed her, trying to keep up with the alicorn mare. But her legs were longer and despite their training, she reached her destination a full minute before they came staggering up the staircase. When they found her, all shouted questions were silenced at what they beheld.

This was a room none of them had been in, but many had stood watch over. It was a room of magical artifacts gathered from all over the world. A necklace was encased in glass on a shelf next to a mirror shaped like a horseshoe. Many suits of armor, dusty books and things wrapped in burlap scattered the room. But Celestia was ignoring all of these. Her focus was on a door at the end of the room. Encrusted in gems and standing higher than even the Princess, it showed a stylized image of the sun and moon, and the alicorns that were fated to protect them. The side depicting the moon and Luna of old was devoid of color; grey replaced royal blues and the shimmering silver was dulled. Even the white stars were somehow subdued, each gem withdrawing its shimmer.

Celestia cast her magic upon the door, and the side with the sun began to glow. There was a series of ticking sounds, and the door slid open. The Sun Princess stepped inside, revealing a box that was equally encrusted in jewels. As the guards looked on in awe, she opened the box to reveal what was inside.

Two crowns, one larger and golden, the other, smaller one in silver sat in the velvet lined container. Each crown was intricately designed and held three gems. Celestia’s breath caught as her eyes found the silver crown. Luna’s crown. But Luna was no more.

She lifted both crowns from the box, casting it aside as if it were nothing more than yesterday’s newspaper. It clattered across the ground and skidded to a halt at the commander’s feet, who opened his mouth as if to speak. One look from his ruler shut his mouth quite firmly, and convinced that she would not be interrupted again, went back to her work. Her heart swelled with anger as she used her magic to tear the gems from the silver crown. Why must she do this? To her sister no less! Her only family...

The gems resisted, bound by magic, but her own magic pressed harder and, one by one, they released. Once all three were freed from their setting, she stared at the twisted silver in her magical aura, and another tear traced its way through her white fur. She gritted her teeth, shutting her eyes and throwing the crown away like the box.

The three gems were woven into the golden crown, pressed into the metal until all six gems sparkled in unison. The Elements of Harmony would be wielded by her, and her alone. Celestia placed her finished piece upon her head. It hummed with magical energy, and she felt its power reverberate through her body. When she turned to her guards, she was emotionless, cold.

“Commander Dustwing.” She said flatly, and Dustwing came forward.

“Y-yes Princess?”

“Take your troops into town. Calm our subjects as much as possible. Get them indoors.”

“Yes Princess.”

“Go to it.” She said, walking past her guards without so much as a glance their way. The guards remained where they were, looking at the discarded items with wonder and a little bit of fear. Slowly they filed out and ran into town to calm the fears of the ponies that were running rampant.

Celestia went to her balcony, and once again gazed upon the eclipse. She didn’t move for a minute or two, letting the power of The Elements wash over her. She was her sister no longer.

And now.. Celestia thought as she spread her great white wings and took flight. She must be stopped.

Chapter 11

"Come Little Children"
By: Blue Eyed Melloon
Chapter Eleven

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Using the magic of the Elements of Harmony, she defeated her younger sister, and banished her permanently in the moon.

It turned out that Celestia didn't have to go far to find Nightmare Moon. She was done making her rounds for the moment, and was on her way back to the castle. There was much work to be done, and it all started with one task.

Destroying Celestia.

She dove through the hole in the ceiling, landing with a crash that shook the rafters.

“Celestia?” She shouted, turning in a circle. “Come out! I have business to attend with you!” The faded light of the eclipse drenched the hall in shadows. It felt as if the room were filled to capacity, even though no other soul inhabited it. Nightmare Moon glared, turning again. “Celestia! Show yourself!”

There was a flash of light above. Nightmare Moon covered her eyes with a blackened wing to prevent being blinded. Celestia crashed through the same hole her sister had come through, pulling her wings downward to slow her decent. Her face was set into determination; it held none of the love she felt tug at her heart even as she looked upon the creature that Luna had become. The golden crown atop her head glittered, and Nightmare Moon eyed it with arrogance.

“So you've finally shown up.” She took a couple of steps toward her elder sister, twisted horn glowing with a fearful blue hue. “Excellent. Now we can show thee the power we have obtained!”

“I will not fight you Luna!” Celestia said, “This will not end in one of us being destroyed!”

“That is exactly how this will end!” Nightmare Moon snarled, firing a blast of magic toward the white alicorn. Celestia's own horn shown with gold, and the floor rose up to shield her, rubble blasting sideways as the magic hit. The rocks bounced, some hitting windows, and others shattering them. Falling glass created even more noise that combined with another blast from Nightmare Moon. This time Celestia jumped upwards, letting the wall behind explode in a shower of rocks. Nightmare Moon watched her sister rise into the air, and fired a single beam toward the ceiling. The rocks splintered, creating a hole that followed the beam across the ceiling. Celestia looked up in fear. She was trying to collapse the ceiling on top of her! She dove, shooting upwards into the open sky as the roof began to rumble, dropping giant boulders on the hallway below.

The guards throughout the castle looked toward the commotion, seeing part of the castle crumble. They began to shout, and ran throughout the remaining halls evacuating anypony they found. A flash of blue caused a few to pause and look toward the sky. Nightmare Moon chased Celestia around the turrets, magical blasts thundering through the air. The sky became a battlefield, the castle an unfortunate civilian casualty. An entire turret swayed, the roof falling over end over end and crashing to the ground. There was the steady drumbeat of magic blasts for the screams of the ponies below to contend with. Magical residue made the air sparkle and crackle with energy.

Nightmare Moon snarled, throwing her head in frustration. “Stop running you coward!” she screamed, pouring energy into her wings to catch up with Celestia. “FACE ME!”

She fired yet another blast, and this time, the energy flew true, striking Celestia in the wing. Now it was her turn to scream as the wing muscles seized and locked, making her left wing useless. She spiraled downward, flapping her other wing to try and slow her body's decent. The pain made her see spots, and then everything went black as she crashed into the floor below.

Nightmare Moon stared from above, watching the dust settle around her sister's body. When Celestia did not rise, a grin showed the evil princess's newly sharpened teeth. She laughed, a deep booming threat to all those who heard it. “You see!? I am stronger than my sister! I have always been stronger! Now you will all BOW. TO. ME!” Her laughter echoed through the magic-filled air. The few ponies that had yet to escape the grounds stared in horror as the night seemed to grow darker. Nightmare Moon's glittering mane and tail wound its way around the mare as if it had a life of it's own.

….......

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Wh....what happened?

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Who...who is that? Luna? What's so funny?...

The world was nothing but a mass of dark shapes. Celestia blinked rapidly, but the actual shapes of things didn't come into focus until much later. The pain came first.

It started as a weak thrum in her side. Then it hitched the ride through her veins, and soon each feather seemed to be aflame. Celestia moaned, rolling to her stomach and looking at her battered wing. It hung limply from her side until with great effort, she managed to tuck it away. Her ears rang from the crash, and much of her body sported an assortment of cuts and bruises.

The laughter reached her ears from above, and she lifted her head to see who it was. “Luna...?”

The reality of the situation hit her with enough force to bring spots back to her eyes. No! She wasn't Luna any longer. This was Nightmare Moon, and it was up to Celestia to defeat her. The battered alicorn shivered, feeling her aching muscles protest even that slight movement. Her white coat rippled with another shiver as she gathered her hooves underneath her body. With shaking legs, Celestia rose to her hooves, head facing downward as she grunted with the effort. Her crown containing the Elements of Harmony lay a few yards from her, knocked off of her head by the impact. She limped to it, lifting it to her head with shaky magic. The Element magic seeped into her body, easing the smaller of her aches and pains. The next shiver was one of relief. Celestia again looked at her sister above, laughing maniacally.

Luna....

Her flapping was weak, but it got her into the sky. Soon she was level again with Nightmare Moon, who stopped laughing to look at Celestia with what seemed to be pity.

Celestia called upon the magic of the Elements, which reacted by glowing brightly. The removed themselves from the crown, circling the alicorn.

My dearest Luna....

Now Nightmare Moon looked taken aback. What magic was Celestia using? How pitiful! Locked away inside, Luna felt the presence of the Elements, and knew what was happening. She shrunk further in on herself, knowing that she had failed her sister.

Celestia felt the magic reach it's peak, and began to direct toward Nightmare Moon. This wouldn't save her sister, it couldn't free her. It could only prevent further destruction of their kingdom. Tears welled into her sorrowful eyes and fell unnoticed.

The magic was ready.

I'm sorry Luna.

The rainbow beam flew with such speed that Nightmare Moon had no time to react except to scream. She felt the burn of the magic as it swept her up, pulling her in and transporting her away. She shouted her defiance, the voice lost in the roar of the spell. Now a golden comet with a rainbow tail, Nightmare Moon was shot into the sky, and with a thud that that whole world felt, landing upon the moon. Her collision created a crater, and moved great boulders. The landscape of the moon was forever changed; it now held the image of a unicorn.

The spell completed, Celestia fell to the ground, too exhausted to maintain her alititude. The Elements shone, and lowered her gently to the earth, where she collapsed into a ball. Were there anypony about, they would have heard the most agonized scream ever released from one pony's mouth. Celestia's grief overwhelmed her, and all she could do was shout as the tears streamed from her eyes.

“LUNA!”