Recognition

Celestia flew past the fires and destruction of her small towns. The thought of everypony that was ripped from their homes by this creature enraged her and filled her heart with sadness. Her lands were crumbling before her and had not done anything about it. Finally Celestia neared the castle with the large beam of magic shooting out. She descended from the roof directly into the throne room and landed behind the chair. Celestia called out,

“Luna! Luna please stop this immediately! You have caused enough destruction and mayhem.” There was a pause and from behind the throne Nightmare Moon walked out and approached Celestia.

“Ah, dearest Celestia. How good it is to see you, have you come to witness first hand the crowning of Equestria’s new Queen?”

“No, I came to take my sister back. I have nothing to say to you monster besides to leave my sisters body at once!”

“Aw Celestia, you’re going to make your sister cry. Don’t you recognize me? I’m right here?” For a moment Celestia let her guard down, but then raised it again not willing to be fooled.

“No you are a monster in my sisters body. Leave now, and return my citizens to normalcy!” The creature laughed evilly and said,

“Oh Celestia, you need not to be so formal. You may call us Nightmare Moon!”

“Then leave my sister Nightmare Moon, before I blast you out of her!” Celestia dug her hooves into the stone and readied her horn with a blasting spell.

“But you wouldn’t hurt your precious sister would you? Technically this is still her body, so any damage done to me is done to her.” Celestia did not back down however and still readied her spell.

“Oh Celestia don’t be droll now. Yet answer me something, if you could get me out of your sisters body, why haven’t you done it yet?” Celestia did not move, and only stared hard at Nightmare Moon.

“Or for that matter, if you’re strong enough to defeat me. Why don’t you raise the sun and end my fun? Go ahead raise the sun and everything will be over in an instant.” Celestia only reapplied her footing ready to go at a moments notice.

“Could it be…that I am more powerful than you now Celestia? I think that’s exactly it. I think you are helpless to defeat me, and you are simply acting strong.”

“Luna I know you’re in there somewhere please, fight back, gain control again and stop it!”

“Oh no Celstia I’m afraid that’s not going to work! Luna is tucked away within layer and layers of my own subconscious. She’ll never find her way out, let alone take control again. No sister the moon will remain in the sky for all eternity!”

“You are not my sister!” Celestia yelled back.

“Think of it Celestia! An eternal night where the sun never shines. Finally the peasants that we lord over will appreciate my hard work and we shall be the new favorite. What do you say sister? Is that a fair trade?”

Celestia had heard enough from Nightmare Moon and launched her spell right at her. However the mare dodge it with ease and launched a counter spell of her own. Celestia gasped and flew up to avoid being hit. Nightmare Moon continued a barrage of spells and Celestia had to fly at her top speed, using all her maneuvers to avoid being hit. Celestia finally found an opening and shot a spell at Nightmare Moon again.

However Nightmare countered with another spell, and when the two collided they rebounded and hit the sides of the building. The building was hit so hard that rubble blew off of it and was headed right toward Nightmare Moon. Celestia cried out, “LUNA!” and dove to push her out of the way of the falling rocks.

Luckily she was fast enough and managed to get her sister and herself out of the way. After a moment, Nightmare Moon realized that Celestia was on top of her and levitated her with magic. Celestia was unable to break the levitation spell and was flung toward the wall of the throne room.

Yet before she hit the wall she was also hit with a blast of Nightmare Moons horn. The blast was powerful and nearly knocked Celestia unconscious. Her sight blurry from the hit Celestia looked up to see that Nightmare Moon was charging another attack. Celestia struggled to stand and just before the blast made impact, she gave a mighty flap of her wings, which rocketed her out of the way of the blast and out of the castle.

“Aw what’s wrong Celestia, done playing already? Well I’m not!” Nightmare Moon flew up as well and chased after Celestia. They flew at top speeds over the battles that were taking place below, between the royal guard and the possessed ponies. Celestia had enough of a head start to be far away from Nightmare Moon, but she was also weakened and Nightmare Moon was sure to catch up eventually.

Canterlot came into view and Celestia spared no energy as she focused mainly on flying and getting on the other side of the barrier.  Nightmare Moon was now closing in on Celestia and charging a blast from her horn to hit her with. Just as Nightmare Moon got close enough to lock on and fired the blast, Celestia entered the protective barrier and was shielding from the attack. Nightmare hit the barrier as well, but even with her strength it did not shatter

“This barrier will only protect you for so long sister!” Nightmare Moon called out as Celestia glided back to the balcony with the Doctor and Derpy. Once she cleared the lading she collapsed onto the floor and panted heavily.

“Princess Celestia!” Derpy cried out and rushed to her side.

“I am okay… my little pony- just weakened… is all.” Celestia said in between deep breaths.  The Doctor approached and looked down at Princess Celestia disappointed.

“I know Doctor, I just wanted to believe…I wanted to believe that somewhere my sister was till in there, fighting her way out.”

“I know your highness I do too, however we have to deal with this realistically now.”

“What is the plan then Doctor?” Celestia asked. The Doctor put his hoof up to his mouth and thought for a minute, looking up to see Nightmare Moon continuing to try and blast the barrier open.

“To be honest, I haven’t the slightest clue. We are in a real bind.”

“Doctor!” Derpy exclaimed, he shifted his attention toward her and she continued. “The legend remember? It said that the sister of the sun wielded the elements of harmony and imprisoned the other in the moon!”

“Blimey that’s right, what is wrong with me!” The Doctor said hoof palming his face. “She’s right, Princess Celestia you must get the Elements of Harmony and use their power to defeat Nightmare Moon.”

“That’s all easier said than done Doctor. However I cannot wield the Elements of Harmony. Not without Luna.”

“Princess I’m sorry, but right now she is much more powerful than you are, and you’re going to need to whatever amount of power from elements to stop her.”

“I’m fully aware of that Doctor! Yet I literally cannot access the elements power without my sister, for she is my other half. She is what brings harmony to myself and to the world, without her there is just chaos.”  The Doctor glanced up frustrated then got down to eye level with the Princess.

“I know how hard this must be Princess. Yet I’m asking you to try, for your kingdom, for you citizens, for the rest of the world.” Celestia studied the Doctor’s face for a moment and then got to her hooves.

“Fine, follow me I’ll need your assistance.”