Prologue - Friendship is Magic
Once upon a time, in the magical land of Equestria, there were two regal sisters who ruled together and created harmony for all the land. To do this, the elder used her unicorn powers to raise the sun at dawn; the younger brought out the moon to begin the night.
Thus, the two sisters maintained balance for their kingdom and their subjects, all the different types of ponies.
But as time went on, the older sister became resentful. The ponies admired and gazed at the moon her younger sister brought forth, but avoided staring at her beautiful sun, for it would blind them if they did.
One fateful day, the elder unicorn refused to lower the sun to make way for the moon. The younger sister tried to reason with her, but the bitterness in the old one's heart had transformed her into a wicked mare of burning hatred, Solar Flare. She vowed that she would bake the land in eternal day.
A great war was fought, for Solar Flare knew where her bane was hidden, but Luna, her gentle and kind sister, dutifully protected the area, even though she never knew that what was hidden there could defeat the mare.
Nopony gained advantage in the constant battle, and to this day, the battle still rages on, neither side winning, neither side losing. Yet harmony still exists, and though friendship is tested every day, magic reigns above all else. For everypony knows that Friendship is Magic.
Princess Celestia paced, silently planning what she was about to do. Flare, how should I do this? She mentally asked. How am I supposed to get her to understand that she's inferior to me? Do I just ignore her when she walks in? No. A deeper voice replied. You need to distract her so she cannot, or will not, interfere. But how am I supposed to do that?!? Celestia asked, exasperated. The voice snarled. She's your sister, think of something!
The sound of approaching hoofsteps sent a shiver of excitement through Celestia as she took up her planned position behind her throne. The hoofsteps paused before the Throne Room doors gently eased open, revealing a dark blue alicorn, slightly shorter than Celestia. Princess Luna glanced around, looking for her elder sister, then shrugged and trotted up to the small set of steps leading to her throne. She made it halfway when Celestia stepped out of hiding.
"Not another step." The white alicorn's voice echoed throughout the room. "Oh Tia, there you are! I was wondering if you would be joining me tonight." Luna said with a smile. Her happiness was short-lived.
"Of course I would be here. Do you really expect me to sit idly by while they all rejoice in your precious night?" Luna's eyes grew wide. "Tia?" She whispered. Celestia kept going. "I am the eldest! ME! They should love *ME!"* Suddenly Celestia realized something. "There can only be one ruler of Equestria." She whispered. Her voice gained power as she continued, laughing as her eye pupils shrunk. "And I shall be the one! ME!" She burst into evil laughter and magically grabbed the sun, slowly but surely making it rise. Luna realized what her sister was trying to do and leaped into action. Her horn sparked as she charged at Celestia, trying to break her concentration.
"NO!" The white mare screamed. "YOU SHALL NOT INTERFERE!" The immense power behind her words gave the elder princess a sudden boost of magical energy, and the sun rose in the sky, covering the moon completely. Extreme waves of pure solar magic emanated from the fiery orb, and Celestia was engulfed in a ball of fire.
YES! YES! FREE AT LAST!" Solar Flare cackled as Celestia's mind shut down, receding to a small alcove of safety deep within her soul. Seizing an opportunity, Flare jumped into the weakened pony's body, taking control.
Within the magical orb, Celestia's mane and tail burst into flames.
As the magical fire died down, Luna backed away in horror. Solar Flare opened her new pony eyes, and they shrunk to reptilian slits, allowing her to see finer details. She blinked a few times to adjust to the sudden gloom, and when she opened them Princess Luna was standing before her, a glistening silver sword at Flare's throat. "What have you done with my sister?" The dark alicorn spat. Flare looked at Luna pleadingly, mimicking Celestia's voice perfectly. "Lulu, it's me! It's your big sister!" "Don't toy with me, monster." Luna growled. "I've seen your kind before in many a pony's nightmare. Disappear back to the shadows where you belong, and release my sister!" With that, Luna's horn shone brightly and the whole room lit up with a blindingly bright spell.
When the light cleared, Solar Flare was still there, a smug look on her face. Luna gasped. "No....how.....NO! My spell should have destroyed you!" The white mare laughed. "If I was a creature of the shadows, your spell might have worked. Although if I were attracted to darkness I would have chosen you as my host, Night Princess. I am no Nightmare. I. AM. SOLAR FLARE!" She screamed. Luna's magic faltered, and the blade dropped to the floor. A black shadow started creeping up her legs. "No......" She whispered. "No, sister.....TIA!" She charged up her horn, filling it with all her anger and sorrow, until she couldn't hold it anymore, and the room was plunged into darkness.
2 - To The Death......Of The Pegasus
Solar Flare glanced around. Even with her reptilian eyes she couldn't penetrate the darkness that surrounded her. "E-enough of this, Luna!" She stammered as she lit her horn with an illumination spell. The light did nothing, and black vines of dark magic wrapped around her horn, snuffing out her magic. Two teal green eyes opened in the darkness, and laughter echoed around the terrified mare. "Scared of the dark, Flare? My, what a pity."
Solar Flare took a step backwards and tripped on the steps, tumbling down and landing hard on her side. The dark tendrils wrapped around her legs and crept upwards, pinning her down. As they reached her neck and started applying pressure, the Throne Room doors burst open, revealing a single pegasus soldier. She saw the scene and gasped, rushing over to "help". "Princess Celestia! Are you alright?" Luna snarled. "She's not my sister, Moonlit Wind. Get out of here, NOW!" Too late, the light spilling from the open doors gave Solar Flare enough strength to break free of the black vines, and she rushed forward to the light.
The white alicorn lit her horn and aimed her magic at the pegasus, crippling her wing. Wind gritted her teeth and looked defiantly at Flare. "You will not harm Princess Luna." She said. "And who's going to stop me? You? Ahahaha!" Solar Flare grabbed Wind's broken wing with her magic and dragged her towards the open door. The pegasus cried out in pain and fell to the floor, where Flare's magic wrapped around her neck, ready to end her life. "Do anything I don't like, Luna, and this soldier dies. Stay where you are and stop your magic, or I snap her neck." The darkness stayed the same. "Like a twig." Flare added, grinning.
The shadows slowly faded away, allowing light into the room, revealing a pony who could only be Princess Luna, but ever so slightly resembled Solar Flare. Tall and black, with dark purple appaloosa splotches, and a flowing mane made from the stars themselves. Suited in silver armor, the details that allowed Solar Flare to know it was Luna were the mare's round teal eyes and her crescent moon cutie mark.
