The Nightbringer Saga

Nightfall: Rise of the Fallen Prince

Twilight Sparkle stood in her study struggling to absorb and understand everything that had transpired over that past day. After a quick look around, everything seemed to be in place and normal. She looked on her desk to find that the book about the Dream Realm was gone. Was it all a dream or did she really doom Equestria by letting Nightbringer have it and the others? The events seemed to blur together and the last few moments went by so fast that it was a struggle to make out what exactly happened. A sound like thunder came from outside and Twilight hurried to the window to see dark, menacing clouds beginning to cover the sky. She rushed to the balcony for a better grasp of the situation and saw darkness claiming the land. She followed the darkness towards Canterlot to see a black spot where it all originated. Clarity and realization struck Twilight like a tremor and she slumped to the floor.

“It was all real. I really did doom Equestria. This is all my fault.” Tears rolled down her face as guilt and remorse overwhelmed the young princess.

"Twilight!”

Hearing her named called snapped Twilight out of her grief. She looked down from the balcony to see Applejack and the others running towards the library with Spike leading. A smile came to Twilight’s face. She knew she could fix all of this with her friends help. Before she could say anything, Rainbow Dash came flying in at top speed and grabbed her in a tight hug.

“We’ve been looking all over for you. I was…I mean…” the pegasus caught herself and let go of Twilight, an embarrassed look on her face. “The others were worried sick about you. But, uh, I knew you were alright the whole time.”

Rainbow put on a brave look to save face but Twilight knew that Rainbow had been just as worried as the others. This lifted her spirit all the more and she brushed away her tears before flying down with Rainbow to see the others. After a warming group hug, Twilight’s friends began their string of questions.

“Are you alright, sugar cube?”

“What’s going on here Twilight?”

“Where you abducted? Is this some magical storm? Is it going to rain chocolate milk like with Discord? I love chocolate milk!”

“What happened to you, darling?”

“This awful mess has frightened all of the animals. What are we going to do?”

“Girls please!” Twilight shouted. Her head ached from everything that was happing already and her friends’ constant questions only made things worse. “If we’re going to fix this then we need to get to Canterlot as quick as possible. I’ll explain everything on the way there.”

The pony friends ran to the train station to find that every pony had run and hid from the coming storm and were forced to operate the train themselves. They all piled into the engine as Rainbow Dash and Applejack began shoveling coal. As they made their way towards Canterlot, Twilight told her friends what had happened, everything from wandering the Dream Realm to Nightbringer regaining his power. But as she told the story she caught herself, only after the fact, changing around some parts and leaving others out entirely. She had left out that she helped free Nightbringer and had brought together all three books with his power. As for her encounter with him in her home, since Spike had witnessed some of it, she changed around the events, shortening it and saying that she escaped soon after seeing him.

Twilight thought about why she only told part of the story to her friends. Was she worried that they would view her as partially responsible? She hoped that her friends would forgive her for being tricked but she could not bring herself to tell them.

“I can’t risk it,” she said to herself.

“What was that sugar cube?” Applejack asked.

“Nothing, we’re here anyway.” Twilight pushed her fears aside as she and her friends stepped out of the train. Once this is over I won’t have anything to worry about. It will all just be a bad dream.

The ponies looked at the once great royal city which was now engulfed in darkness and overrun by shadows. It was a though Twilight was looking at the Nightmare Zone again but this time an image of Canterlot stood within.

Having never seen the Nightmare Zone, all of Twilight’s friends were terrified at what they saw. Darkness was all around as shadows danced across the streets and buildings. The Canterlot citizens and Royal Guard where nowhere to be found. Only darkness and shadows were about. The palace itself was engulfed by an orb of total darkness.

Terror had overtaken each of Twilight’s friends as they looked on in horror. Fluttershy cowered and whimpered behind Rainbow Dash who was unable to hide her own fear. Applejack’s legs shook, threatening to give way as she stared in terror, mouth gaping. Rarity was frozen in fear unable to even blink much less shake. Even the ever-moving Pinkie Pie could hardly move a muscle, too frightened to even attempt a smile. Despite her friends’ fears, Twilight felt the same alluring draw that she felt when she saw the Nightmare Zone.

“Well, well. If it isn’t Twilight Sparkle and her Ponyville friends.” The familiar voiced snapped Twilight out of her trance. “I was wondering when you would show up.”

The ponies looked around to find Discord standing in the middle of them. The sight of Discord provided a pleasant distraction from the fears the others had.

“Discord!” shouted Rainbow, having all but forgotten the terror she had recently experienced. “I should have known you were behind this!”

“But Rainbow,” whispered Fluttershy, “don’t you remember that Discord is good now?”

“Yes, Rainbow Dash, don’t you remember? Must we go through this with each disaster whenever I show up?” Discord echoed.

Twilight spoke up, frustrated slightly at the pegasus. “First, we turned Discord good. Second, did you forget everything that I told you on the way here?”

Despite her frustration, she understood Rainbow’s reaction. The recent events were frightening and the others could barely comprehend what was happening. Discord provided something they could understand easier and was far less frightening. Rainbow Dash fluttered to the ground, quiet and embarrassed.

“Here,” said Discord, “I’ll prove my good intentions and help you at the same time.” He pulled out a white box wrapped in a pink bow and held it out towards Twilight. “A present from me to you.”

Twilight opened the box, apprehensive about what could be inside. Worry gave way to excitement when she saw the Elements of Harmony inside. “Ta da!” exclaimed Discord.

“I can’t believe I forgot about the Elements,” Twilight said as she passed out the Elements to her friends. She hardly cared how Discord came into possession of the Elements given the circumstances. “Now we can fight this darkness.” Even as Twilight said this, she found a small part of herself that did not want to dispel the darkness.

Armed with the Elements of Harmony, Twilight regained her confidence and was ready to face Nightbringer and end this nightmare. “Let’s go girls!” Just as the pony friends charged off to the palace Discord asked a haunting question.

“Are you sure you know who the real villain is?”

Twilight stopped and pondered the strange question as her friends ran ahead. “Of course,” she replied, though with little faith in her answer. “Why would you ask a question like that?”

Discord’s response was more cryptic than his question. “Each pony in there believes that they are right and the other is wrong. It’s about perception and deception. From the right point-of-view, the truth can be hidden. With this, the true evil and the motives of said evil remain in shadow and unseen. Off you go.”

With that Discord disappeared leaving Twilight alone. She was more confused now then she had ever been before. Was she wrong about Nightbringer or was Discord just messing with her? As she pondered, Rainbow shouted back at her.

“Come on Twilight let’s go!” Twilight pushed her thoughts aside to focus on the goal at hand and hurried to catch up to her friends.

Twilight and her friends charged into the palace ready to faceoff with Nightbringer. Once inside, Twilight saw the darkness here was greater than anywhere else.

“Alright girls, let’s…”

Her voice trailed off when she looked back to see that she was alone. The darkness and moving shadows seemed to change the appearance and size of the room she was in. The constant movement made her sick, but she had to find her friends. She wandered, disoriented and halfway in a daze, calling for her friends. Despite her efforts she became lost and felt her confidence fail once again.

The large, open room she stood in seemed to grow and shrink. Twilight felt both confined and alone in a void. A voice brought some reality back.

“I’m glad you finally made it Twilight Sparkle.”

The voiced echoed all around, becoming slightly distorted, but Twilight still recognized it.

“Nightbringer,” she said with a slight hiss in her voice.

“I can hear the anger and feelings of betrayal in your voice. I understand them but who are they directed towards I wonder?” Nightbringer materialized before Twilight, walking out of a shadow on the wall.

Without hesitation, Twilight fired a beam of magic at the dark stallion. Feelings of anger, frustration, confusion, and the sense of being alone overwhelmed the young princess. But Nightbringer never flinched as the beam simply passed through him striking a display stand holding an ornate vase sending shattered pieces of wood and pottery everywhere.

“Calm down and try not to waste your energy,” Nightbringer said, now standing a few feet from Twilight.

“Calm down!?” Twilight screamed, anger building inside. “How am I supposed to stay calm when I am losing so much?” Tears welled up as sadness mixed with the anger.

“You think you know loss?” Nightbringer’s answer was quick, striking Twilight with an almost physical blow. “Allow me to explain and clarify everything.” Twilight stood, stunned and unable to respond. “Let me first clarify some things about myself.” Nightbringer began to slowly circle Twilight as he spoke.

“I’ll start by correcting some things that Celestia told you.” Twilight wanted to fight or run and find her friends, but she stood and listened, both unable and unwilling to act. “While it is true that I used to be known as Nova, I was not just some talented pony. The truth is I was an alicorn, a royal. More than that, I am Celestia’s twin brother.”

The shock of hearing this knocked Twilight onto the floor. Not only had she never heard of such a thing, let alone considered it, this was yet one more secret that Celestia had withheld from her. Nightbringer continued as Twilight sat, speechless.

“When I gathered the dark magic within the Dream Realm and created the Nightmare Zone, I was trying to keep it from corrupting all of Equestria and beyond. When I discovered that the Nightmare Zone allowed for a more focused corruption I needed to study it, to learn how to bring it under control. I knew the risks and I knew the effects that it had upon me. However, Celestia acted too hastily and instead of aiding me she banished me. She acted out of fear and even jealousy, knowing that I was gaining more magical power than her.”

Twilight struggled to take in all of this new information. Could it all be true? As more and more questions filled her mind, Nightbringer continued.

“Without even thinking about the consequences, Celestia threw all of Equestria out of balance.” Nightbringer’s voice was filled with anger as he made this strange statement and quickly change the subject before explaining. “Do you know why you are the one here Twilight Sparkle? Do you know why you are the one to hold the most powerful of the Elements of Harmony? Do you know why it was you who was chosen to face the various trials that you have, both the great and the small?”

Instead of answers, Twilight only had more questions and remained silent.

“Allow me to provide some examples. Consider the timing for when Nightmare Moon escaped from her banishment, when Discord was released, the attack of the Changelings, even the return of the Crystal Empire and King Sombra. Each was carefully timed so that you would be the one to face these challenges and overcome them.”

“But it took me and my friends to stop Nightmare Moon and Discord. Cadence’s and my brother’s love and combined magic ultimately stop the Changelings. As for the Crystal Empire and King Sombra, Spike was the one who returned the Crystal Heart to its rightful place.”

Twilight’s confidence in her response was dashed by Nightbringer’s response.

“The power of the Elements of Harmony is channeled through the wielder of the Element of Magic, you were the only one to see through Chrysalis’s disguise, and you were the one who led the way to restore the Crystal Empire and prevent Sombra from reclaiming it. It still comes back to you. Were it not for you, then all would have been lost.”

Twilight carefully considered everything that Nightbringer was saying. Everything made sense but there seemed to be more to it.

“You were destined for greatness,” Nightbringer continued. “But sometimes destiny needs some assistance. That is where I come in.”

“What do you mean by that?” Twilight asked, confused at such a boastful statement.

Nightbringer answered her query. “I was the one who chose the time that Nightmare Moon would return and aided in her return. I released Discord from his stone prison. I organized the Changelings’ take-over of Canterlot. I returned the Crystal Empire and released King Sombra. I did all of this knowing you would face and overcome each challenge.”

Twilight dropped to the ground and covered her head. “This can’t be true!”

“I was shown a vision in the Dream Realm of a pony who would bring back the balance of magic that was lost.”

Twilight tried to block out everything Nightbringer said, refusing to believe anything.

“The day you received your Cutie Mark, I, as well as Celestia, saw the great potential in you.”

Twilight shook her head. There was no way she was that special.

“While Celestia took you on as a pupil I orchestrated each trial to draw out your full potential.”

“Enough!”

Twilight shouted and let loose a burst of magic that lit the whole room driving away the darkness and shadows. When she opened her eyes, Nightbringer was gone and she stood in front of the doors leading to the throne room. It was time to end this.

Twilight threw open the doors to the throne room only to have darkness and shadows come flooding out. The darkness enveloped the floor, walls, and ceiling while the shadows poured out, flying in all directions. With time against her, Twilight pushed her way inside against the rushing forces of the dark. Once inside, she felt as though she had passed into the heart of darkness itself. Darkness surrounded the young princess while shadows circled her like hungry vultures. A dark power weighed upon Twilight as she struggled to find Celestia and Nightbringer. The next few steps seemed to take an eternity.

As Twilight moved forward Nightbringer, Celestia, and Luna all came into view. Nightbringer and Celestia stared down one another while Luna lay on the floor to the side appearing to fight something trying to possess her. Luna turned to Twilight, tears in her eyes, revealing that half of her body had taken the form of Nightmare Moon. Twilight remembered the wall carving in the library, of Luna’s image being split between the opposing light and dark. She also recalled her vision of the two ponies facing off that she received in the Nightmare Zone. Seeing Celestia and Nightbringer facing off, Twilight knew now that they were the ponies she had seen.

“Twilight Sparkle, hurry to my side!” Celestia called never once taking her eyes off her opponent.

“Twilight, you must help me. You cannot trust her,” Nightbringer responded, his eyes fixed on Celestia.

“What’s going on here? What’s happened to Princess Luna?” Twilight cried. Confusion and fear flooded the young princess’s mind.

“Nightbringer plans to envelop all of Equestria in eternal darkness. We must stop him here and now.”

“Do not listen to her lies. I am trying to restore the balance of magic.”

Neither Celestia nor Nightbringer seemed to care for what was happening to Luna. Sadness built up inside the young princess as a she watched Celestia become like the one she faced.

“Twi…light…”

The voice was weak and full of pain. Twilight looked over to Luna who struggled to remain conscious.

“They have been at odds with one another since we were young,” Luna said, her voice a blend of her own and Nightmare Moon. “Their fight has thrown the balance of magic into chaos.” She cringed as the darkness threatened to overtake her. “They represent the forces of light and darkness.” She cringed again. “You must stop their fighting and bring them together, back to the way I once knew.” With this she faded into unconsciousness as a dark shadow engulfed her.

“LUNA!” Twilight shouted, but there was nothing she could do as the night princess vanished.

Twilight thought back to when Nightbringer said that she would restore the balance of magic. There was only one way to know if this was true and now was as good a time as any to test it. The young princess readied herself and shouted at the twins.

“This has to stop now!”

The twins turned to Twilight, shocked that she had not chosen a side.

“You two are supposed to be brother and sister so why don’t you act like it?” Twilight’s confidence was quickly shredded at the response.

“Do you even understand the situation?” Nightbringer asked. “My so-called sister betrayed me. More than that, years later she betrays our younger sister as well.”

Twilight heart began to sink as she heard this.

“You were working with forces that should have been left alone,” Celestia retorted.

“I was trying to stop the dark forces from harming Equestria and your response was to banish me instead of helping. This seemed to become common practice as you banished Sombra and even our own sister.”

Celestia took a step back as Nightbringer spoke. It was obvious who was winning the argument.

“Did you ever care for anyone but yourself?” Nightbringer continued his barrage.

Just then, Twilight noticed that his eyes had changed. They were no longer the demonic eyes that he had before but had become normal. Though they retained the crimson red color they otherwise appeared like any other pony’s eyes. There was also a look of sorrow and betrayal on his face.

“You were always stuck up and proud. You always looked down on us as though we were beneath you. Banishing me took away more than my power and royalty. I lost my family and my sisters. I lost my name, my very identity.”

Nightbringer’s barrage brought Celestia to her knees. Twilight could not believe any of this, but one look at Celestia showed it all to be true. Regret and sorrow covered the face of the once mighty princess.

Tears welled up in Twilight’s eyes. Her mentor whom she had put so much trust and faith in was defeated. Everything she thought she knew about the princess of the sun was shattered. Both Celestia and Nightbringer looked to Twilight now. On Celestia’s face was a look of defeat and pleading while Nightbringer’s eyes had return to the demonic appearance once more.

“Twilight…please,” Celestia pleaded for help from the young princess.

“Twilight, now is the time!” Nightbringer cried, seeking aid.

Twilight was now caught between the two unsure of what was true and what was lies.

“Twilight.”

“Twilight!”

Each called for her again and again until the voices blended and became distorted. The young princess dropped to the ground covering her head as the voices surrounded her, echoing in her head. Tears rolled down her cheeks as sorrow, confusion, frustration, betrayal, and anger overtook her. Time seemed to stop as Twilight searched for an answer.

Where are my friends? I don’t know what to do without them.

She struggled to find clarity and understanding but all she found was confusion. She was lost in the midst of a place she did not know. There was no way out as each option only led to more suffering. The cries by Celestia and Nightbringer, the emotions that overwhelmed her, the darkness she was in was too much to take. She let the magic within her overtake her as she let out a great cry and let loose a burst of magic. Light and darkness blended and covered everything, even sound. The magic silently overtook everything until nothing remained. When it was over, Twilight sat in a sea of nothing.

Twilight pondered the sea of grey around her as it shifted between black to white but mostly remained a relative grey.

Where am I?

She looked at her hoof wondering if it was real or not.

What happened?

The events seemed to blur and fade as though it had all been a bad dream, yet she knew it had all happened. As she floated she thought back to the last few moments when she loosed her magic. Did she stop Nightbringer or was all lost? As she stared at the blankness surrounding her, nothing seemed to matter. Success or failure, nothing mattered anymore.

Twilight.

A voice called to her within her head. She looked but saw only the blank nothing around her.

Twilight Sparkle.

The voice continued to call but still Twilight could not find its source.

Have you given up so easily? What about your friends and all of the others you care for?

“Nothing matters anymore. I must have failed so I don’t deserve my friends.”

Twilight closed her eyes wanting nothing more than to be absorbed by the sea of grey.

Are you so certain you failed? Do you know where you are?

“I don’t care! Now leave me alone!”

Tears filled the young princess’s eyes. She truly wished for her friends, to hear their caring voices, to feel their warm embrace. She wanted to hear their forgiveness for abandoning them and letting them down. As the tears fell down her face she curled into a ball and wept.

Fear not young princess, for you have not failed nor are you lost to your friends.

Twilight stopped crying for a moment, hope restored.

Your action separated Nightbringer from his power once again, scattering it across Equestria in the form of the three books. But you have also scattered the Elements of Harmony.

The first set of news lifted Twilight’s spirit while the latter sunk it once again.

You now have a choice to use the Elements of Harmony and prevent Nightbringer from regaining his power. Or you can restore his power keeping the Elements away from Celestia.

Confusion once again overtook Twilight. “Who are you and why are you giving me this choice? Wasn’t I supposed to restore the balance to magic?”

The answers you seek will soon be revealed but a choice must be made. Your journey begins soon.

Twilight began to ask more question but her words were lost as she began to fade away. The last thing she saw was a white beard.

Twilight awoke in her bed back in Ponyville. Everything seemed normal as she walked downstairs. When she arrived she found her friends gathered, waiting for her. Upon seeing her they rushed over giving her a warm group hug. Each told of their relief that Twilight was okay before releasing her.

“What happened you guys?”

“You told us a bunch of stuff about a dark pony and dream places after all this dark stuff started happening,” Rainbow Dash answered.

“After we got to Canterlot we met Discord, got the Elements of Harmony, and went to stop it all but then, nothing,” Applejack continued.

“We found ourselves back here and you were unconscious,” Fluttershy finished.

“Sorry to make you guys worry. I’ll tell you what happened later but right now I have a lot to think about.” Twilight needed time and space to think and make her decision and her friends, though comforting, were a distraction.

“Well tell us if you need anything, darling.” Rarity pushed the others out to give Twilight her space.

Once her friends were gone Twilight contemplated everything that had happened. She needed to decide what to do but still needed some more time and information.