The Era of Equis

by timeblitz

Rating: everyone
Tags: Adventure, Sad, Princess Luna, Original Character, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark
Length: 2747

The Era of Equis has started. Both Princess Luna and Celestia have fallen. A small filly may hold what little hope is left to this country.

The Era of Equis has started. Both Princess Luna and Celestia have fallen. A small filly may hold what little hope is left to this country.

This is a sequel of Death of the Moon. You can find it here : http://www.fimfiction.net/story/181500/death-of-the-moon
Picture by vanille913 on deviantART

Published 2014-04-14 20:10:02 UTC
Last updated 2014-04-17 19:54:11 UTC

Chapter 1

Rain pounded on the cold stone roads of Canterlot. Rebel forces marched up and down the streets. A single filly ran down one of the back roads. She was muddy and tears streamed down her face. Her small bat wings fluttered at her side, not yet ready to lift her off the ground. Her messy light blue mane streamed out behind her and her dark gray coat was ruffled. No cutie mark could be spotted on her flank. The feature that stood out the most were her bright yellow slits for eyes that seemed to glow into the night. She was quietly sobbing, hoping to find shelter. She had just seen her best friend slaughtered. Shot in the neck. In fact she was more like a big sister than a friend. But it didn't matter now.

Up ahead a bright light came into view. The small filly stumbled in her desperate attempt to hide. She fell onto the cold stone earning herself scrapes and several bruises. Two ponies rounded the corner each wearing the rebel insignia. At the sight of the small filly laying on the ground the two ponies ran straight up to her. The bright orange unicorn knelt down by the filly and hoisted her onto his back. He looked over to his companion, a light purple pegasus and said "This one may be eligible. She has the signs of Luna." His partner nodded and the two took off towards the rebel base.

The small filly lay limp in the middle of a hard cold cell. Moonlight streamed in through metal bars and a bucket of lukewarm water sat in the corner. As the small pony opened her eyes she grimaced at the pain in her head. She felt the back of her head only to find a small bump. She gazed wearily around her surroundings and wasn't surprised to see the prison she was enclosed in. She wobbled over to the bucket and took a sip to help sooth her sore throat. A loud creaking noise sounded out through the enclosure as the big wooden door opened. The small filly jumped back as a face appeared in it's frame. It was one of a stallion. An earth pony by the looks of it. He had a murky green coat and an amber colored mane.

"I thought I heard something." he said nodding to the filly. "Anyways you need to come with me." Knowing better then to resist the filly reluctantly followed the pony through the door. He looked over to her and when he saw she was in pain picked her up off the ground and dropped her onto his back. He then proceeded to walk down the stone halls. Only after about ten minutes of navigating the labyrinth of cells did he stop.

In front of the two stood a large wooden door with intricate designs swirling about. The earth pony knocked on the door and after hearing a loud "Enter" proceeded. He walked into a large room with unicorns seated all around a slightly raised podium. The earth pony stepped up onto the middle then set the small filly down in the center. He then exited the room closing the door behind him. After the door was firmly back in place the unicorns turned their attention back to the filly. A small yellow female stepped forward and her horn started to glow. A refreshing light absorbed the filly and vanished a second later. All the bruises disappeared within a few seconds. The filly relaxed just a bit at this gesture.

"Now young one," the yellow unicorn said "what is your name?"

"N-Nightshade." The uncertain filly stuttered."Why do you need to know?"

"No reason." The yellow mare nodded to a unicorn across from her. "Now Nightshade, we're going to conduct a little experiment. No reason to panic. Okay?"

Nightshade remained silent afraid of what might happen to her if she refused. The yellow mare once again nodded and everypony took up their positions. A loud humming noise could be heard as the unicorns lit up their horns with magic. The magic flew out of every horn upwards until they all met in the center above the filly. They formed a bright ball of magic that slowly expanded. It grew until it was about the size of a full grown mare.The filly looked up at the blinding magic, squinting in it's light. It blast down onto the filly with flashing rainbow colors. Nightshade let out a scream of pain as the magic struck her. The pure power flung her onto her stomach. She sank down even lower as the brilliant light attacked her. She felt like a thousand swords were all piercing her and a sicking feeling came to her. As if this wasn't enough a sharp pain smacked her head as a glowing point came out. A horn was forming onto her forehead absorbing the magic. While the pain in her body started to fade the splitting headache grew. Her vision blurred and everything went black.

Chapter 2

Warmth. She was warm but her head was ringing. Maybe it had all been a bad dream. Maybe Luna hadn't died. Maybe she wasn't kidnapped. Perhaps it was all a nightmare and she was really snuggled into her nice warm bed at home. These thoughts all rung inside Nightshade's mind. She toyed with them in her head before slowly opening her eyes. To her disappointment this wasn't her room. It was far from it. For starters instead on her little bed with a simple pillow and red blanket she was resting in a huge round bed with a lunar array of colors. The room was a bland tan color with simple starts painted on the ceiling. On second glance Nightshade realized where she was. Princess Luna's room. She should know, after all she had been to this very spot many times with her "big sister". Nightshade groggily pulled herself out of bed. She trotted across the room and pulled open the door. A guard turned around and looked down at the filly.

"I see you have awoken. If you don't mind coming with me I'll take you to somepony who can explain this to you." The guard started walking down the hall at a brisk pace. Nightshade followed closely behind. The guard stopped outside what Nightshade knew as the meeting room. He opened the door and Nightshade went inside. A single pony sat at the end of the table. It was the same yellow unicorn mare as before.

"I suppose you want answers, correct?" She said slowly Nightshade nodded her head. "We'll start with your new looks."

"New looks?"

The yellow mare chuckled."I guess you haven't seen yourself lately huh? Good thing I came prepared." The yellow horse pulled a small hoof-held mirror out of her saddle bag. She levitated it in front of Nightshade who then took it into her own hooves. She let out a loud gasp and dropped the mirror. It shattered upon impact.

"I-I have a horn! And my eyes!" She stuttered. The small filly felt her new horn with gentle hooves. It just was sitting there, a horn! Her eyes were also transformed from a brilliant yellow to a deep crimson red. She had become an alicorn.

A smile spread across the yellow mare's face as she said "Look at your flank."

Nightshade looked down and let out another gasp of surprize. On her flank a crescent moon with a single black star in the middle had appeared. Her cutie mark had shown up. "My cutie mark!" the small filly exclaimed.

"Now that we have that out of the way, my name's Equis." the yellow mare said. "We turned you into an alicorn because we have a very special task for you."

"Why me? I'm not anything special. And what's this task?" Nightshade asked, regaining her composure.

"You had the marks of Luna. You had a chance to survive the test. As for the task, you'll become the new moon goddess." Equis said.

"Wait. Marks of Luna? Moon goddess? What?" Nightshade asked confused.

"Yes. You should know, after all my forces spotted you at the sight of Luna's defeat. Now that Princess Luna and Celestia are out of the picture we can rule this country how it should be ruled. You will be a gate of sorts. We gained information on you after the conversion last night. Did you know Princess Luna was going to take you in as her apprentice? She called it being her student. She had big plans for you Nightshade. We're simply carrying them out for her."

"But couldn't Luna have carried her plans out by herself if she were still alive?" Nightshade asked cautiously.

"Maybe. But we are ensuring that it happens. Besides we have other plans that don't just concern you. As I said earlier we will rule this world as it should be. You'll be like an image."Equis smiled widely then said "This will be the Era of Equis!"

Nightshade nodded. "Oh, if I raise and lower the moon who will take care of the sun?"

"Don't worry. Right now we are searching for a suitable pony to take up that job. As for you, lessons shall begin tomorrow to teach you to control your magic."

"Okay."Nightshade said "Can I meet them when you find them?"

Equis nodded her head. "Now please go back to your room. A guard shall escort you there." Nightshade trotted to the door and opened it. Outside a guard stood and when she exited the meeting hall he took her back. Once in the room she realized she was really tired and so she snuggled back into the covers and drifted off into a deep sleep.

Chapter 3

Nightshade was standing alone in a blueish purple area. She saw no floor yet she seemed to be standing. She glanced around trying to figure out what was happening. She took a few steps forward then plummeted downwards. She let out a cry and desperately tried to slow her descent. Her little wings flapped a mile an hour but it did little to stop her fall. Just when she thought she was done for a shadowy figure swooped down below her. Nightshade fell onto the creature with a thud and the wind was knocked out of her. The creature who had saved her began to slowly float down towards the ground. Nightshade realized this creature was wearing a cotton cloak of sorts. She gently lay the filly down before throwing back her hood. The face revealed was one Nightshade thought she may never see again. "Luna!" she cried out flinging her tiny hooves around the mare's neck. "I missed you so much." Tears of joy started to streak down the filly's face as she cried out to her lost friend.

"Shh. Do not cry Nightshade. As you know I was shot but only my physical form died. I am a moon goddess, I will still roam these dreams for years to come." Luna sat down with the filly still clinging on to her.

"W -wait. Dream?" Nightshade asked "You mean I'm asleep?"

"Yes young one. I have become what one may call a spirit. I am goddess after all." Luna gave the filly a gentle smile before continuing. "I see you have become an alicorn."

"Ya. I guess if you know about that you know how I'm supposed to take your place. I'm sorry Luna."

"What for little filly? You have done nothing wrong. They told you I was planning to take you in as my student, correct?" Nightshade nodded her head. "That was true. If you were successful I would have made you my prodige. Once I would have died, whether it was from battle or just age, you would have taken my place. I just never expected it to happen so soon."

"Wait, age? I thought alicorns lived forever!" Nightshade exclaimed.

"Quite a few ponies think that but truth be told we don't. I will admit that we live for a very long time however." Luna stood up letting the small filly tumble down to the ground. "Nightshade, a new prophecy has been told. The stars whisper to me that the Era of Equis shall soon begin. You Nightshade shall spread the light. You are the hope of Equestria now. Take pride in your role and remember that I shall guide you in your dreams. I must go now, take care."

With that Luna began to fade into the blue shades of this dream. "Wait! Luna don't go! I still have so many questions!" Nightshade shouted to the disappearing figure. It was to no use though as Luna still faded until there was nothing left. The world of dreams started to darken and swirl. Nightshade stumbled to the ground before blacking out.

Nightshade awoke with a groan and she stumbled out of her bed. She fell to the cold ground and opened her eyes. As she slowly got up she realized that Luna had just appeared in her dreams. A small smile played on her lips as she walked over to the mirror hanging on the wall. Her hair was a mess and she looked horrible. Nopony could really blame her though, after all she had just woken up. A knock at the door signaled it was time to come out for her breakfast. Nightshade hastily brushed her mane then ran out the door. Today she was going to learn magic.

Chapter 4

Nightshade groggily sat up in the high up chair she was forced upon. She had been hastily taken to a room with a black board and books everywhere. It kinda resembled a classroom minus the desks. A female unicorn was standing directly in front of her. She had a dull gray coat and a white mane in a bun. She was giving Nightshade a stern look and was tapping a ruler with her magic. "You're late." She said at last. Nightshade shrunk down in her chair now fully awake. This pony meant business.

"I'm sorry Miss. I overslept." Nightshade's stomach decided this was a great time to show how hungry it was and let out a loud gurgle. Unfortunately Nightshade was bustled over to this room without breakfast. "Sorry.." Nightshade shrunk even lower into the chair.

The pony gave her a burning glare before sighing. "I guess it can't be helped. Sit up, you're supposed to be a princess you know." The pony set down the ruler before returning to the front of the room. "I'm Miss IceSpell. You however shall refer to me as Miss Spell. I specialize in elemental magic and shall be teaching you to control your lunar magic." Miss Spell turned to a board and wrote her name in big swirling letters. "Any questions?"

"Actually yes." squeaked Nightshade. "I noticed the sun up this morning but the princesses are, umm."

"Yes, yes. No need to say any of that. Until you are capable of raising and lowering the moon we have resorted to lesser methods. Before the former princesses ruled us unicorns gathered in masses to raise and lower the sun and moon. Unfortunately this is very straining on our magic so I hope you're a fast learner." Miss Spell nodded at the filly "I do however believe that you are considering you managed to ask a noteworthy question."

"Thanks, I guess." Nightshade said before straightening up. "What are we going to learn today?"

"Today we shall be performing a simple levitation spell. We need to ease you into magic seeing how you were originally a normal bat pony." After that small exchange the two ponies began the day's lesson. Luckily for Nightshade she caught on quickly and was able to lift up about anything in the room at the end of the day.

"Tomorrow you will be lifting weighted sandbags to increase your strength. Your day shall consist of lessons and meals. At least until you learn important magic." Nightshade let out a small groan that went unheard. She went back to her room and collapsed on the bed. One could hardly blame her as she was new to magic and was only a filly. She was exhausted. Nightshade quickly fell into a dreamless sleep just as the moon began its ascent into the sky.

Author's Note

Sorry this chapters shorter. I don't know why, it just is. That's okay though! ^_^