Author's Note

Page two! Feedback appreciated!

Page 2

The windows burst. Everyone sitting inside the courtroom was shrouded in dust and glass particles. The main doors swung open and soldiers poured in from both the windows, and from the entrance. Celestia's guards rushed to protect her, and they fought. As Twilight sought cover from the onslaught, she caught sight of the mare leaving through one of the shattered windows. Where is she going? Who is she? She made up for mind, she was going after her. Suddenly, the room darkened. It shook. I purple-black smoke filled the air and everyone watched in awe for a second. “HAHAHA! SISTER, THIS IS YOUR DEMISE! NIGHTMARE MOON IS BACK!” Twilight took cover behind the podium. What is going on? Why is happening so suddenly? Why is this happening at all?! She lunged out of the window, and spread her wings. As Twilight leaped from the exquisitely decorated building, she saw Celestia and Nightmare Moon fight for what might be the last time. Hatred filled Nightmare Moon's eyes, but when Twilight looked at Celestia, she saw nothing but sadness and pain. The Elements! She went full speed into Cloudsdale, thinking, Rainbow Dash will be able to help me find everypony else! As she approached her house, she noticed something... off. She landed and rushed inside. She was right, something was off. Tables were on their side, and there were broken plates and picture frames littering the floor. Someone was here. “RAINBOW DASH!” Twilight shouted. THUMP! She heard hushed murmurs from upstairs. She slowly made her way up, and cast an invisibility spell. There were three ponies, searching for something. They were all black outfits with holes cut for wings and they looked strong. Rainbow Dash, unconscious, was laying on the floor. “Who was that?” One of them asked, in a hushed, raggedy voice. “Don't ask me, just hurry up!” This pony, the one who replied, seemed to be the leader of this small group.

What am I going to do? She wondered. Then she remembered what happened at the trial today, and realized all rules on these kinds of things are off. She cast a blinding spell into the room, and ran in. Twilight rushed in and swiftly incapacitated the thugs. “Rainbow Dash!” She unbound her, and woke her up. “...Twi...Twilight...” Was all she was able to muster. Her eyes were devoid a color, a side effect of the Life Prolongation spell. She teleported them to someplace safe. Someplace long forgotten. Ponyville. After the last battle with Discord, the town was destroyed. There were ruins amongst the rubble, but very little was left. One building remained standing. My library, Twilight thought. Charred, battered, and weathered, the tree stood amongst to ruins like a memorial. No leaves, no windows left, and the door was barely attached to the frame. They sat near the fireplace, with Twilight patiently waiting for Rainbow Dash to awake. She began to think. What is happening at Canterlot? Who is winning? Is Celestia dead? What will happen to the empire? Is Equestria doomed? Her title meant nothing. Princess. Now there is only Twilight Sparkle. That is all I need. Rainbow Dash stirred. In the morning, they would find the rest of the ponies. For now, she needed to rest. The candle withered. The wind blew. The night seemed to last forever.

As the sun rose in the morning, Twilight knew Celestia was struggling. It was slow, and seemed to have a hard time making it into the sky. Something wasn't right. She turned and noticed it almost immediately. The moon. The moon sat in the sky opposite the sun, giving off a feel of despair. Rainbow Dash was up now, eating. Not much food here, she thought, we'll have to go elsewhere for shelter. Fluttershy had taken refuge in the Everfree forest with Zecora. Word of mouth is that she hasn't spoken since the Discord incident, and Secludes herself in a hut she made. “Rainbow Dash! We're heading to Zecora's!” Twilight hollered through the door at her. “One moment Twi!” Soon enough they were heading out, looking for the other Pegasus of their group. “Twi, how much help do you think Fluttershy will actually be? What if she doesn't agree to help? Rainbow Dash was trying to make conversation as they flew through the air. “Will we even be able to stop her again? What if she wins? What if nopony wins?” “Rainbow! Twilight shouted, “We really do not need that kind of conversation right now.” They flew in silence until they spotted an old, damaged hut. A small string of smoke escaped from the makeshift chimney on its roof, so they new somepony was home. They landed, hard, in front of it and rushed through the door. “FLUTTERSHY!” They both shouted. They silver, colorless eyes of the yellow pony screamed open. They obviously startled her. She looked a mess. Her mane, usually maintained in a wonderful flowing style, was now uncontrolled and wild. It hung in front of her face, covering most of it.

She stared at us, almost as if she was trying to remember who we even were. She came to realize who was standing there and shifted slightly and tilted her head, as if asking, Why are you even here? Twilight started. “Fluttershy, we need you. We need the Elements one more time. Nightmare Moon is back, and she has an army. We believe that she may have taken over Canterlot, and is planning an eternal night again-” “Yea, it's completely insane!” Rainbow Dash interjected. There was a tremor. Unusual,Twilight thought, for something like this to happen. Are we even near a fault line? She tried to recall her studies. No. They weren't near any fault lines. Fluttershy sat there, without speaking, was able to say a thousand words with her eyes alone. They showed something rarely seen in such a pony. Hatred, pain, and anger. Her face was soft, her eyes hard, like a blade crafted from the toughest of diamonds, and they cut through the other two ponies. She nodded.