Twilight sighed, levitating a book over from her bookshelf. She yawned, getting cosy under her star duvet. She took hold of the book and began to read. She read all night, until she fell asleep, the book lying over her face. She began to snore. Meanwhile, Spike was doing some late night tidying, sorting out all the books. Maybe Twilight would award him in the morning? Suddenly, he felt a burp coming along. He burped, green flames falling out of his mouth. A letter appeared in front of him. He took the piece of rolled up parchment and ran up the stairs to Twilight's bedroom.
"Twilight!" He cried, pushing the door open. The purple mare didn't move. Spike sighed, walking up to her and shaking her awake.
Twilight groaned.
"Spike?! What is it?!" She moaned. Spike held up the letter.
"Letter from Princess Celestia"
"At this time?" Twilight sat up, looking at the clock on her wall. It was 11:35pm. She rubbed her eyes, taking the letter from Spike. She opened it and read carefully, suddenly, she gasped. "Oh my, Spike, get a letter! Tell the Princess that we're on our way!"
Once Spike had sent the letter, Twilight slipped on a yellow raincoat and hat, levitating over an umbrella. She turned to Spike.
"Come on!" Spike pulled on some red boots and hopped on Twilights back. Twilight bolted out the door, letting the wind swing it shut. She she ran, the heavy rain hit her face like knives. She finally reached Sugarcube corner, banging on the door. Pinkie opened the door.
"Hey Twilight!" She smiled. Twilight had to time to chat.
"Pinkie, take my umbrella and come on, we need to get to Canterlot. I'll explain later!" Twilight ran off, leaving her umbrella behind. Confused, Pinkie took it and ran after her.
Rarity yawned, curling up under her silk duvet sheets when there were 3 loud bangs on the door. Followed by another 3. She groaned.
"Who could that be at this time?!" She stormed over to the door, opening it. There stood Twilight and Pinkie. "Girls? What on earth are you doing?!" Twilight sighed.
"There's no time to explain. Get something to keep you dry and we'll meet you at the train station. Twilight ran off. Pinkie looked and Rarity and shrugged before running after her.
Meanwhile, Applejack was making some Apple pie for Granny Smith, who had caught a nasty cold. She walked into the room. Granny Smith was sound asleep. Applejack laid the pie by the fire and was about to wake her up, but then she heard someone at the door. It was Twilight and Pinkie. Twilight did exactly what she did to Rarity, but this time Pinkie stayed with Applejack. Spike shivered.
"H-hurry Twilight! It's freezing!"
Finally, when all six ponies were on the train on their way to Canterlot, Twilight began to explain.
"Ok, so I got a letter from Princess Celestia. This is what she said:
Dear Princess Twilight Sparkle;
You must come to Canterlot at once! Nightmare Moon has returned. I fear she is more powerful this time. I have managed to keep her occupied for now, she is on her way to the moon, but she won't be there for long. I will expect you here in at least an hour. Please hurry, the fate of Equestria is at stake here!
You're loving princess,
Celestia"
Twilight looked up. All 5 of her friends were gaping. Rarity did her dramatic faint, Rainbow Dash gave a determined smirk.
"If we've done it once we can do it again!" She cried. Twilight cut her off.
"But Celestia she that she might be much more powerful. She had to send her to the moon with the elements, but said she wouldn't be up there for long. I think I know who we can-" Suddenly, the lights went off. It was pitch black. The girls gasped. Fluttershy whimpered.
The train stopped, and the mane 6 were waiting for it to go again. After 15 minutes, Twilight stood up.
"That's it! We need to get to Canterlot immediately. Girls, hold each other hooves and DO NOT let go!" Twilight closed her eyes, concentrating. Her horn began to glow. Suddenly, there was a huge purple flash, and they were at the Canterlot Castle.
"Why didn't you do that in the first place Twilight?!" Applejack groaned, rubbing her head. Twilight coughed, falling over on her side. The spell had drained her energy. They all gasped.
"Twilight!" Rainbow cried, picking up her front hooves. "Fluttershy, help me"
Rainbow and Fluttershy carried Twilight up the stairs, followed by Applejack, Rarity and Pinkie. They burst into Celestia's throne room. When Celestia saw Twilight's state, she gasped.
"Twilight? Are you okay?!" Fluttershy sighed.
"We were on the train on the way to Canterlot when it broke down. Twilight used a transformation spell to bring us here. When we did arrive, she collapsed!" Celestia nodded.
"Okay, I can heal her."
Celestia kneeled down and pressed her horn against Twilights. She closed her eyes and murmured a couple words. Suddenly, Twilight's eyes began to flutter open. Celestia smiled, standing up. Twilight jolted awake.
"Princess Celestia?" She cried.
"Yes Twilight, it is I." Celestia bowed her head. "I must prepare for Nightmare Moon's return" She turned to the guards and nodded. "Send in Silver."
{Prolouge} Through the painting.
As the sun went down, the moon came up. Luna, princess of the night looked across Canterlot, staring into the horizon, concentrating on lifting her glorious moon. When the moon was at it's highest peak, the horn aura around the alicorns horn faded away. She admired it for a seconds, then turned. Bidding her sister goodnight. Princess Celestia smiled, yawned and walked out of the door, the colours in her mane and tail fading. It went to a light pink, and the flowing slowed down till it was still. It hung down like any ordinary mane. Luna sighed, watching her sister leave the circular room. She turned and walked out onto the balcony.
There was a slight breeze blowing from the balcony. The air felt moist, and cold. The sun had only been lowered, yet Luna felt.. different. She sighed and walked back inside, through the circular room and into the stretched corridor. She kept walking for a while, then she stopped at a room full of paintings. She walked through the gallery, admiring the works. She had always loved coming here as a filly. Suddenly, Luna stopped, looking up at a larger painting hung by itself. It was a family picture. Queen Galaxia, King Cosmos, Celestia and herself. She stared at it.
Tear formed in her eyes. Suddenly, she felt an overwhelming pain in her body. She cried, falling to her knees. She gritted her teeth, looking up at the painting. Her crown fell from her head, clattering on the floor. Suddenly, the paintings began to move. Her parents looked at her with disgust.
We never loved you, whispered a voice in their head. As the voices spoke, her mothers lips moved. It's as if they were talking to her telepathically.
You would never truly be one of us, her father spat.
Celestia is the chosen one. Queen Galaxia began to laugh, and so did King Cosmos. Then, Celestia began to laugh. Then, Baby Luna began to cry, looking at herself through the painting.
Luna looked into her own sad eyes, then looked away. She looked back and screamed.
"NO!" She lunged at the painting, ripping it open with her sharp horn. Guards came running her through, both solar and lunar guards. The pulled her back, but Luna pushed them away with mighty strength. The voices still whispered in her head. Horrible threats. Then they stopped, one creepy voice spoke.
Niiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiightmare.
Luna growled at the guards, her once innocent sea-blue eyes became darker, the black pupils shirking to slits. Luna screamed again. Her body rose into the air, a white glow surrounding her. It lifted her up, and Luna began to fade away. Suddenly, a huge ball of light burst out as she was gone. The guards gasped, lifting their legs up to cover their eyes. When the light was gone, they slowly lowered their hooves to see a tall, black mare.
The mare looked down at herself with a smirk.
"Come, my servants!" She cried. "The nightmare has returned! The night will rule!"
