Forever Night

Twilight reared her head back valiantly. "You think you can destroy the Elements like that? Well, you're wrong, because the spirits of the Elements are right here."

Despite the brave words, she felt her heart ache inside. These ponies weren't really her friends. She had known them for less than a day. Did she really want to place her faith in them when she only knew them a little?

"Applejack, who reassured me in doubt, represents the Element of...Honesty!"

Nothing.

Applejack looked around as Nightmare Moon stared on. "What?"

"Something should be happening," Rainbow Dash cried.

"Uh..." Twilight began, deciding to skip it. "Fluttershy, who tamed the manticore with her compassion, represents the Element of...Kindness!"

Still nothing. Nightmare Moon cackled maniacally as she walked around the shattered Elements.

"Twilight, think of something!" yelled Pinkie Pie.

"Um, uh, Pinkie Pie, who-"

"ENOUGH!" Nightmare Moon smashed her hooves down on the floor, sending cracks up the wall. "I see now that you are all miserable foals. Thinking that your friendship will tie the Elements to you. But no." Her horn lit up with magic. "You failed, Twilight Sparkle. "You and your miserable friends!"

"No!" Rainbow Dash sped forward, yelling at the top of her lungs. Nightmare Moon laughed as she sent the pegasus flying back into a wall.

"Your Princess Celestia is gone for now," smirked the black alicorn. "Now I shall take my position as Queen of Equestria! All shall bow...to ME!!!" Her wings spread out as her mane swirled around her.

Twilight looked on, then at the shattered Elements. "How...?" she began weakly. Rarity trotted up, placing a hoof on her shoulder.

"Oh Tartarus," Applejack cursed. "We need to get the hay out of here!" She ran towards Rainbow Dash. Twilight wished they would stop.

Applejack then froze as a magical aura surrounded her. "Not so fast, farmer," hissed Nightmare Moon. "The pegasus is under arrest for direct assault to the Queen, and high treason."

"Hey!" Pinkie Pie jumped up in anger. "You can't arrest her!" She said it with such courage that Twilight had to encourage her. Mentally, at least.

Nightmare Moon laughed. "Foals. I am the Queen of Equestria! All shall bow to me!" Then she turned to Twilight. "Twilight Sparkle. Visit me in Canterlot. You shall become my Royal Archmage."

Twilight felt a little bit of her die inside.

"And the night...shall last...FOREVER!" Nightmare Moon screamed as she burst into a mist and vanished.

Equestria changed the next year.

The most grating change was the currency-food became the new bits, used to pay for labour or a service. Because of this, bakers like the Cakes and farmers like the Apple family became influential people, but even they needed to eat, and food was running out.

Another major change was the way society was run. Positions of power were thrown out of office, leaving gaping holes. As such, ponies were forced to take charge, with Nightmare Moon choosing representatives to make major decisions for their respective townsand cities.

Travel between cities became practically impossible thanks to the darkness. In fact, unicorn magic soon became a necessity, with each unicorn learning spells on how to light up the space around them. Most unicorns continued to do this for pegasi and earth ponies for food.

The weather company became bankrupt, as the use of weather was practically useless. As such, the weather became a poor-paying job.

The Grand Galloping Gala was issued, with the guests members of the newly renewed Night Court, with a series of twenty-one ponies making decisions for all of Equestria, with Nightmare Moon's decision being final. The Gala was a terrible night, filled with fear and tension.

And the first year concluded.

The second year started with an ancient chaos deity known as Discord rose from his prison. Instead of destroying him, Nightmare Moon sealed an alliance-she gave him Manehatten and Fillydelphia in exchange for his powers. He accepted. Both of those cities are now wastelands, filled with strange and eerie creations, with the ponies there driven completely insane and worship Discord as their god and king.

It was in this time that the food really began to weaken, with unicorns forced to learn spells to accelerate growth to find something to eat. During this time, ponies were brought to their absolute lowest-or so they thought.

Later in the year, Nightmare Moon created the death penalty and subjected one of her subjects, a member of the Night Court named Charming Crescent, to it for him daring to try and raise the sun. He was replaced by Fancypants, easily one of the wisest moves made in the Night Court. Fancypants became a voice of reason and wisdom inside a court filled with paranoia and fear.

Close to the end of the year, Queen Chrysalis arrived and made a deal with the Queen of Equestria-her changelings would transform into ordinary ponies and patrol around Equestria, feeding off the love it gave. In return for this luxury, they would snuff out any thoughts of rebellion quietly.

Meanwhile, Princess Cadance developed a charity organisation planning to attempt to feed the poor in Equestria. Her coltfriend, Shining Armour, was soon arrested for treason, to keep her in line and to make sure his thoughts of rebellion did not break her control. However, Shining Armour became a symbol of hope for Equestria, a national hero.

At the beginning of the third year, the Crystal Empire and King Sombra returned. Queen Chrysalis restored his body and sanity and made him protect the Crystal Heart for her.

Ponies became forced to eat their own lawns to survive, their ultimate lowest. Soon Sweet Apple Acres began to rely on unicorn magic to grow food.

And the third year continues...

"Royal Archmage!" Spike yelled the words at the top of his lungs. Twilight slowly walked out of her room in the castle.

"The Night Court awaits!" He explained to her. His neck was ensnared with a collar-any disobedience and it would choke him.

She trotted down the corridor, her head held high to shine the magenta light from her horn. It was merely instinct nlw-she had adjusted well to the darkness.

The Night Court was already in heated debate as she took her seat.

"This is ridiculous!" cried Twinkleshine in her seat. "Discord cannot move beyond his territory! That was in the agreement!"

Nightmare Moon stamped her hoof. She sat in the centre of the seats. "This is absurd. We shall refuse the topic! Next discussion!"

The stallion, Archive, nodded. "Yes. Uh, the discussion of the Crystal Empire."

Twilight raised a hoof. "Your Majesty, the Crystal Empire is a veritable fountain of magic. We need to harness that magic and use it for our own purposes."

The Queen shook her head. "We'll leave it as it is. Next!"

"The changelings."

"Tell Chrysalis that she needs more of them of duty! Next!"

Fancypants raised a hoof. "I believe that's all, Your Grace."

"Excellent! We shall meet again tomorrow!" And with that, the Court ended.

Twilight walked up to her room, sighing as she collapsed on the bed. She remembered the old days, with the sun and Princess Celestia. But Celestia had been gone for years. So had the sun.

Twilight shuddered and remembered that awful, terrible day when the Elements had failed. And everything had gone to Tartarus from there.

She cried into her pillow as she slept, weeping silently.