Shine Bright Like A Diamond

So, as I was saying, me and Silver Spoon were entering our preteen years, and as we did, cutie marks began to pop up like gophers, but I wasn’t worried. Me and Silver Spoon were still blank flanks. To be honest, I didn’t know what fear was.

Well, at least not until the Summer Sun Celebration that year…

~

“So, what are you going to wear for the Summer Sun Celebration?” asked Silver Spoon.

Before Diamond Tiara could respond, something caught her eye. It was a royal carriage from Canterlot. But, that wasn’t the princess. It was a unicorn mare with a lavender coat and a dark blue mane and tail, both of which had a pink highlight. And… was that a dragon?

“Hey, Silver, who do you suppose that is? A lady from Celestia’s court?” asked Diamond.

Silver Spoon shrugged. “Well, judging from the fact that she just arrived in a Canterlot royal carriage, I’m willing to bet she’s from Canterlot, but how important she is, I don’t know. Let’s get closer,” she said.

Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon hid in some nearby bushes. A pink Earth Pony that the fillies recognized as Pinkie Pie walked up to the dragon and unicorn.

“Come on, Twilight, just try,” coaxed the dragon.

The unicorn, Twilight, smiled nervously and said, “Um… hi?”

Pinkie Pie, much to everypony present’s surprise, let out a loud gasp and ran off like lightning.

“Well, that was interesting all right,” said Twilight.

I’ll say, thought Diamond.

“Hey, it’s Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon, right?” said a voice behind the fillies, making them both jump.

It was Pinkie Pie, who had somehow found her way into their bushes. “Did you guys see that new unicorn? I’ve never seen her before, so that means she’s new, and if she’s new, that means she doesn’t have any friends, which made me so sad, so I decided to throw a party for her! You wanna come?” said Pinkie.

Diamond and Silver looked at each other. “Uh, sure, I guess,” said Diamond.

~

That night, after the party, Diamond Tiara and Silver Spoon were among those in the crowd at the Summer Sun Celebration. They’d just pulled back the curtain, only to find that the Princess Celestia had vanished.

“Remain calm, everypony,” urged Mayor Mare. “I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation.”

“Ooh, ooh, I love guessing games! Is she hiding?” said Pinkie Pie.

“She’s GONE!” said a white unicorn mare with a curly purple mane and tail.

“Ooh, she’s good,” said Pinkie Pie, before she let out a yelp of  fright.

It quickly became obvious what had frightened Pinkie. A cloud of purple smoke had appeared and was solidifying into an alicorn mare that looked like she was wearing black and midnight blue armor.

“Oh, no,” whimpered Twilight. “Nightmare Moon.”

Spike, the dragon that was on her back fainted dead away.

“Oh, my beloved subjects! It’s been so long since I’ve seen your precious little sun-loving faces,” said Nightmare Moon.

“What did you do with our princess!?” demanded a pegasus named Rainbow Dash, who tried to fly up to Nightmare, but was held back by an Earth Pony wearing a cowboy hat named Applejack.

“Why? Am I not royal enough for you? Don’t you know who I am?” asked Nightmare Moon.

“Oooh, more guessing games! How about Hokey Smokes? How about Queen Meanie? No, Black Snooty, Black Snooty!” yelled Pinkie Pie before Applejack shoved a cupcake into her mouth.

“ Did you not recall the legend? Did you not see the signs?” asked Nightmare Moon.

“I did! And I know who you are. You’re the Mare in the Moon: Nightmare Moon!” said Twilight.

Everypony in the room gasped.

“Well, well… somepony who remembers me. Then, you also know why I’m here!” said Nightmare.

“You’re here to… to…” said Twilight.

Nightmare chuckled. “Remember this day, little ponies, for it was your last. From this moment forth, the night… will last… forever! Ah ha ha ha ha ha!”

Above the wicked mare, a cloud of shadow formed a whirlpool above her head.

“Seize her! Only she knows where the princess is!” yelled Mayor Mare.

Several Royal Guard ponies flew at Nightmare.

“Stand back, you fools!” yelled Nightmare.

Several bolts of lightning struck the guards. With that, Nightmare became smoke again and flew out the window, with Rainbow Dash in hot pursuit, quickly followed by Twilight.

Meanwhile, everypony else was in full-blown panic mode.

“Diamond Tiara! What are we gonna do?! WHAT ARE WE GONNA DO?!” wailed Silver Spoon.

Diamond sighed. “There’s only one thing I can think of doing… we’re gonna have to be-” whatever Diamond Tiara said next came out with great difficulty.

“Huh?” said Silver.

“We’re going to have to be… the G-word,” whimpered Diamond.

Silver gasped. “If you say so,” she said.

Diamond Tiara took a deep breath, gathered what courage she could, and took the stage. “Everypony, listen up! Until the sun returns, you’re more than… welcome… to stay… at… my place. We have plenty of food,” Diamond said with great difficulty.

~

Luckily for Diamond, her unwilling houseguest were only chewing through her food for about an hour, when somepony mentioned the sun was back.

Diamond looked out the window. Sure enough, the sun was back, and coming from what looked like the Everfree Forest was Princess Celestia, six other ponies, and a smaller version of Nightmare Moon.

“Thank Faust. Now, then… GET OUT OF MY HOUSE!!!!” screeched Diamond Tiara.

I’ll never really forget that party. Who knew Celestia had a sister? But, my greatest challenge was yet to come: getting my cutie mark.