Being the ruler of night in Equestria can be very tiring. Luna, however, does not seem to ever become tired. This worried Celestia, she was afraid her sister was too tired to do her duties properly. One beautiful morning, Celestia confronted Luna.
"Luna, how are you feeling?" Celestia asked.
"I am feeling very well this morning, sister, thank you." answered Luna.
"That is very good to hear, my sister, but you haven't rested ever since you were freed from the moon. Are you tired at all?" Celestia asked worryingly.
"I do feel tired, of course, but I will always fulfill my duties no matter what." Luna replied.
"I appreciate how loyal you are to your tasks, but you need rest. While you watch over the night, I rest. You should do the same during the day." Celestia suggested.
"Thank you for your concern, but I am quite alright being awake." Luna replied with a bit of annoyance in her voice.
"Whatever suits you best." Celestia sighed.
What Celestia doesn't know is that Luna's dreams torment her. Luna is afraid that she will be tormented once more in her sleep, so she refuses to rest. How could she rest anyway? Tonight was Nightmare Night, a whole night celebrating her! She was very excited but once again, also very tired.
...
Later in Ponyville.
"Is everything ready for Nightmare Night, Spike?" asked Twilight.
"Just about...your forgetting one thing..." said Spike with exhaustion.
"Oh, right! My costume! Thanks Spike!" said Twilight as she dashed to fetch her costume.
This year, Twilight decided to dress up as Pony Potter, for a combination of her two favorite things. Since Pony Potter was from a book AND he knew magic, he would be perfect for her costume. The only weird thing was that Pony Potter was a boy, but so was Star Swirl the Bearded, so it was fine.
...
Pinkie Pie just finished the cookies. She was making cookies with moons on them in honor of Princess Luna.
"There we go! Oooooh, they look so delicious..." Pinkie Pie said as she went to eat one.
"Pinkie!" Mrs. Cake yelled.
"Sorry, they just look soooooooooo good! I wanna eat 'em all!" Pinkie said, her mouth watering.
"You can't! Remember, they are for everypony for tonight! Did you remember the cupcakes, too?" Mrs. Cake asked.
"Oh Fudge Cakes! I forgot! I'll get right on those super-duper tasty treats! Pumpkin Cake would be perfect for them!" Pinkie Pie cheered.
"For what?" Mrs. Cake asked.
"Nothing." Pinkie Pie said quickly. She then began to work on the treats.
...
"There you go, Sweetie Belle." Rarity said.
"They look great! Thanks Rarity!" Sweetie Belle said as she dashed off to meet the Cutie Mark Crusaders. Rarity made special Nightmare Night costumes for Sweetie Belle and her friends.
"Alright, now to make my costume!" Rarity said as she began to sew.
...
"Careful, now. You don't want to get a full tummy now." Fluttershy said as she gave Angel Bunny some candy.
"I can't wait for tonight, we're gonna have so much fun! I made some games and snacks for all of you tonight since you can't really go out for candy...and especially the scaring." Fluttershy said to all her animal friends. They all made their sounds as if they were saying "Yay!"
"I'm glad your all excited." Fluttershy said as she returned to her preparations.
...
"And that's the last of the apples." Applejack said as she finishes harvesting the final apple tree.
"Hopefully now those darn fillies won't steal our apples!" Applejack said jokingly.
"Eeeeyup." Big Macintosh said in agreement.
"Now it's time to make the apple game that I came up with. Seeya tonight, Big Macintosh!" Applejack yelled as she started trotting down to the middle of Ponyville where the events for Nightmare Night were being set up.
"Eeeeyup." Big Macintosh said as he turned to go back inside the barn.
...
Rainbow Dash just finished clearing the final clouds.
"Whew, hard work!" she said. Then she noticed a storm coming in.
"Aw, great. Well, no matter how bad the storm is, I'm going to clear it!" as she dashed to clear the storm.
...
"Oh, and Twilight, I forgot to mention something. Princess Luna won't be coming tonight." said Spike.
"Wh-WHAT?" Twilight screamed.
"It was on the letter Celestia sent. Supposedly Luna can't come because she needs rest or something. I can go get the note if you want me to--" Spike was cut off.
"No, this is Luna's special night, Nightmare Night! She just can't bail like that! Spike, take a letter." Twilight commanded.
"Alright...ready." said Spike lazily.
"Dear Princess Celestia, I understand that Luna may be a bit overwhelmed by everything up in Canterlot, but that's why she has to attend Nightmare Night! This is a night where she can relax and have fun. Please ask her if she could reconsider. Your Faithful Student, Twilight Sparkle." finished Twilight.
"...Twilight Sparkle. There, I'll send it right now!" Spike yelled.
Spike blew into the parchment and it was sent to Celestia. Twilight just hopes that Luna can still attend.
...
Just then in Canterlot.
"I'm sorry Twilight, but she is too tired to attend! Maybe next year she will be able to come, but not this yea-" Celestia stopped.
"Sister, I told you, I'm fine! Tonight is a special night where I can do what I wish. Stop deciding matters for me!" Luna yelled in anger.
"Sister, I know how much this night was going to be to you, but you haven't been yourself lately...maybe it's for the best you get some rest, just for the rest of the day?" Celestia asked.
Luna sighed, "I suppose your right. I'll get to rest right away. No disturbances please."
"No disturbances, I'll make sure everything goes perfectly tonight. You may want to make it dark early though so I don't have to wake you later." Celestia suggested.
"Alright then." Luna agreed.
The two slicing princesses walked out onto the balcony of the castle. Celestia lowered the sun while Luna raised the moon.
"Who knows, maybe my bad thoughts have vanished and I'll be safe while I rest." thought Luna.
When the moon was fully raised, Luna went to her quarters where she lied down in bed. Within seconds she was asleep.
...
Luna gasped for air. She was in her dream zone. She got up and noticed she was in the same place where she fell asleep. She left her quarters to see the outside. When she stepped outside there were ponies just staring up at her. They stared at her for a good two minutes, and then began to cry and walk away.
"Huh? Citizens, don't be alarmed! It is your ruler, Nightmare Moon!" Luna yelled to her subjects.
"Wait, I said Luna, not Nightmare, Luna!" Luna said in worry.
She dashed into her palace to look into her mirror. The citizens were right, she IS Nghtmare Moon.
"Get away!" a voice yelled behind her.
"You are never welcome here again! Leave at once!" Celestia said to her sister.
"Sister, it is I, Lu-" Luna could no longer control her tongue.
"I am the ruler of this kingdom now, YOU are the one who is not welcome here anymore!" Nightmare Moon screamed at Celestia as she used her magic to throw Celestia to the nearby wall. She then crushed her sister with the rubble she had made. Luna screamed and cried, but there was nothing the controlled mare could do. There lied the body of the once known "Goddess". Nightmare Moon walked away with a smirk on her face.
Nightmare Moon then flew out of her castle and began attacking her citizens left and right. The Luna inside could hear the screams of families and screamed to stop, but Nightmare Moon could not hear Luna. Nightmare Moon destroyed houses and ended lives.
"This is what you are bound to do, Luna." Nightmare Moon said aloud.
Luna closed her eyes and screamed "No, NOOO!"
Then, she opened her eyes and was in a pit surrounded by many ponies including Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Celestia. All of the ponies were screaming things like "We hate you.." and "You should've never come here.." Luna was confused, furious, and angry...which were all the elements to bring out the inner Nightmare Moon.
...
Nightmare Moon woke up furious. Guard ponies came in to see what was wrong but then realized they just made a huge mistake. They were thrown into the wallas as Nightmare Moon ran out if her quarters. Then she met Celestia.
"Luna! What is wrong? Why have you become...her?" Celestia asked worryingly.
"Unleash who?" Nightmare asked in her demonic voice. Then she tackled Celestia. Celestia used her magic to throw Nightmare Moon off of her. Nightmare countered by getting up, tackling her again, and biting her horn. While biting her horn, it broke, and Celestia cried in pain. Celestia had no means of defense now.
"You...you MONSTER!" screamed Celestia.
"You should've let me stay awake!" Nightmare said demonically before she smashed a piece of rubble into Celestia, killing her just as in her dream. The impossible had become possible.
...
Nightmare Moon walked the path to Ponyville, destroying everything in her way...including Canterlot. Families, guards, homes, all destroyed by Nightmare Moon. By the time she reached Ponyville, no one had known about the tragedy. Everypony was partying and having fun, and thought Nightmare Moon was there to bring joy, or so they thought.
Nightmare Moon began destroying everything just like in Canterlot, and everypony was running for their lives.
"I thought you were here to celebrate me, come back!" Nightmare Moon said sneakyingly. She then used her magic to pick up all of the ponies that ran away. She then brought them up high and was about to drop them when Twilight and her friends appeared, wearing their Elements if Harmony.
"Stop Nightmare Moon! Let those ponies go!" commanded Twilght.
"Alright, I'll just let them...go..." Nightmare Moon said laughing as she literally let them go.
"No!" screamed the Mane 6, as Rainbow Dash zoomed in and caught everypony and put them in a safe place.
"Get out of here, all of you!" yelled Rainbow. They all listened and darted away.
"You little pest! Nopony meddles in my plans!" screamed Nightmare Moon as she threw Rainbow Dash into the school building.
"Rainbow!" Applejack yelled as she went to check on Rainbow Dash.
"You alright, Sugarcube?" Applejack asked jokingly.
"Ugh...ya, but we gotta stop her!" Rainbow Dash yelled as she flew back over to her friends along with Applejack.
"You all will never stop me, I am invincible!" Nightmare Moon said proudly. As she attacked the ponies. She first went after Twilight who jumped out of the way when she went to tackle her. Then Applejack ran up and kicked Nightmare Moon over to Pinkie Pie who began to annoy her by talking really fast. She then ran away from the awful noise only to be tackled by Rainbow Dash. Rainbow smacked Nightmare Moon with her wings. Fluttershy ran up and said "I'm gonna give you the state! Only if that's alright with you though..." Fluttershy whimpered. Rarity then came up and began to whine like she did to the dogs who captured her and her jems. Then, Twilight used her magic to throw Nightmare Moon into a tree, in hope to make her stop fighting. The impact of her meeting the tree was so great that she couldn't get up.
"We have the Elements of Harmony, and your going down like a creepy clown!" Pinkie Pie said as she activated her element.
"You destroyed countless, beautiful buildings...that is a crime against FASHION! Fashion for homes at least." Rarity yelled as she activated her element.
"You almost killed that group of ponies! That was NOT cool." Rainbow Dash bellowed as she activated her element.
"You destroyed most if the Everfree Forest, which was home to many animals!" Fluttershy yelled loudly, which surprised her friends, and activated her element.
"You frightened most of our families and so many others. That is just awful!" Applejack said with a sniffle, and activated her element.
"You did all of these things on a special night that celebrated you. This is not the Luna I know, and you are not the Luna YOU know." Twilight yelled as she activated her element.
"Generosity, Laughter, Kindness, Loyalty, Honesty, and Magic. The traits that Proncess Luna know and follow, but not the traits that you know!" yelled Twilight as they shot a colorful beam at Nightmare Moon, transforming her back into Luna.
"Huh? Where am I?" Luna asked.
"Luna!" Celestia yelled as she arrived in her Chariot with a bandaged horn.
"Celestia! She...she killed you! How are you still alive." Luna asked through tears.
"Please, a small boulder can't kill me. It took awhile for the ponymedics to fix me up, but I'm alright." Celestia reassured.
Luna turned to Twilight and her friends. "I apologize with all my heart for having her released. I have no control over it, and I am deeply sorry."
"It's ok now Luna! With a second blow from the Elements of Harmony, we have permanently removed Nightmare Moon from you." Twilight said happily. All of her friends smiled and looked at Luna.
"Thank you so much, Twilight, but it still doesn't change the fact that I technically hurt many ponies anddestroyed many homes..." Luna said sadly.
"Don't worry, sister. With my magic and help from Twilight and he friends, we can build and heal them up in no time." Celestia reassured.
"I suppose you are right...thank you once again for your help, fellow ponies.
...
It has been 6 months since the awful Nightmare Night. One step at a time Canterlot and Ponyville were rebuilt and were thriving once again. Applejack helped rebuild homes and shops. Rarity helped make banners and such to hang up around Canterlot. Fluttershy nursed all the animals in the Everfree Forest back to health. Rainbow Dash and Pinkie Pie made the citizens happy again by doing air shows and making sweets. Twilight helped Luna and Celestia get the kingdom back on track. Luna has been resting during the day and was happy again. Things were looking up in Equestria and the future looked bright.
THE END