Son of Chaosby TheNomadChapters[E] Prologue[E] Chapter ![E] Chapter @ [Not Edited]Chapter #[Not Edited]Bonus Chapter[Not Edited]Chapter $[Not Edited] Chapter %[Not Edited] Chapter ^[Self Edited] Chapter & Good Bye [Part 1][E] PrologueDiscord sat on his throne, happily laughing at the misfortune of the ponies around him as he listened to his phonograph. A mare and her foal ran from a giant peppermint trying to eat them. Discord laughed; candy trying to eat foals instead the other way around. However, he never would let them get eaten. After all, it was just a joke. He watched the mare throw her foal out of the way to save her, but just before she was crushed the peppermint burst into bubbles. Discord was almost dying of laughter; she tried sacrificing her life so her... foal... could live. Discord looked around; so much chaos, so much fun, yet no one to share it with. Was there even anyone that shared his love of chaos? That's when an idea came to his mind, a terribly chaotic, brilliant idea. Discord back-flipped off of his throne and landed behind it. Now looking at the back of his throne he pulled out a pencil and began to draw a door. Opening up the door, he saw that it led to a pencil drawn staircase. He descended the staircase into a large room and saw what looked to be a massive MRI scanner with water floating vertically in it’s entry. On the side it said "Not a Stargate TM", and in smaller letters it read "not a stolen Stargate". Call it the heat of the moment or just plain stupidity but Discord walked up to the portal. This was no gate through the stars, but a passageway through the realms. But before he walked through the gate a thought came to his mind, 'Is this the best thing to do? Is risking my life with a possibly defective portal really worth it?... Yes, yes it is.' With that, he walked through. As he entered the new realm, the realm of these "humans", he looked around to find himself in a small alleyway on a rainy night. He truly loved this realm; the humans were always so chaotic, emotions so random and jumbled at times. There was always a war or crime so different than the last. A human friend was the answer. A human... Discord looked to himself noticing he was still a draconequus; he quickly hid himself from any peeping eyes. He used his chaos magic and looked for the highest levels of chaos. He got a signal right away. He levitated following the trail of chaos which just seemed to dance through the air. Walking through the street was a teenage girl in a zipped up black hoodie. Alas, it was not the girl that seemed to radiate the wonderful chaos but the newborn child in her arms. She quickly walked, not caring that she was soaked. Discord followed her until she stopped outside of an orphanage. She set the child on the orphanage's doorstep and knocked before quickly running away. Discord waited for a few minutes, no one came to the door. He walked up to the newborn. It was a sleeping boy. 'Why do children always have the most chaos in them?' Discord thought. 'Let’s have a look, shall we?’ he thought with a grin. With a snap of his claws he looked into the past of the child. A young teenage girl was raped by her boyfriend and his friends. Her parents only cared what the outside world thought of them. She was kept home and locked in her room so no one would know of her child. And then the child was a born and given the this orphanage. He was truly born in chaos. Discord smiled and said "You were born in chaos, so let you be raised in chaos.” The child's eye slowly opened, a soft cry escaped his lips. "It's okay! Just, uh... just go back to sleep." Discord said worriedly, the babies cries only getting louder. "Uh... Uh... umm... ah-HA of course you’re just hungry." Discord said took one of his two fangs, turned it into a bottle, and gave it to the baby. The small babies crying stopped instantly. "See? Now come on, you're coming home with me." With that they left for Discord's 'Not a Stargate'. On the other side of the gate Discord looked down at his human baby and found a new born draconequus. "What? How did this happen?" he whispered as he lifted up the draconequus, finding no human in sight. He looked at the draconequus and noticed something, it looked just like him, but only missing a tooth. This led to a sudden realization by Discord. ‘The Stargate must have recognized a foreign body that wasn’t compatible with this world, and so it created a new body based on any nearby information, in this case being the DNA from my tooth-bottle. Brilliant!’ "You're my... my... uhh... You need a name don't you?" Discord asked the baby draconequus, who replied with a giggle. "You'll be... my son... MY Strife." One Hundred Years Later "Happy hundredth birthday!" Discord shouted to Strife as he jumped out of a giant cake. Strife squealed in happiness. "You are now officially a centenarian! I'm just soo~ happy!" Discord said, picking up Strife and twirling him around. Strife was so small that he didn't even have his horns in yet, but he just LOVED chaos. "Now come on, let's cut the cake." Discord said happily, putting Strife on his head. Discord pulled out a giant butter knife and began to cut the cake. Discord cut a small slice, big enough for Strife. Strife clapped his hands together teleporting the slice over to him. A grin bigger than any chaos could bring formed on Discord’s face. "YOU CAN CHAOS!?" He shouted happily, grabbing strife and hugging him. "Looks like we need to start your training." Strife happily squealed, and then he snatched the floating cake and began eating it. He also got more on himself and Discord than in his mouth, but they didn't care; today was a happy day. Yes, a happy day indeed. Discord started up a phonograph and happily played with his son. Six Hundred Years Later "Strife~" Discord said in a sing-song way as he creaked open his son’s door. "Five more minutes?" Strife groaned into his pillow. "Come on! Guess what day it is?~" "Let Strife sleep in day?" "Nooo~" "Then I don't know." "It's take your son to work day!" Discord said, happily kicking the door open. The sudden slam made Strife fall out of his bed. "AHG-oohwf" he cried, hitting the floor. "Phf-BAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Discord fell to the floor, tears in his eyes. "Shut-up!" Strife's voice cracked. Hearing the break in his son’s voice, Discord quickly slammed a paw to his mouth. "ch-hahaHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!" "Can we just go to your work already?" Strife said angrily, walking past the now crying of laughter Discord. "Oh, haha... of course. Let’s go!" and with a snap of Discord's claw they were at his throne. "Now let’s have some-" Discord’s entire body began to shake. "Oh no..." "Dad, what's wrong?" Strife asked worriedly. "Strife, two bad ponies are coming here to try and get me." Strife's eyes widened with fear. "B-but you can take 'em, right?" "Strife, don't worry. Both you and I know that I can take on anyone! Because I have a plan!" Discord then showed Strife a small bag with black seeds in it. "But I do need you to do something, alright?" Strife gave a salute "Yes, sir!" "I need you to hide and do not interfere. No matter what!" "Are you sure?" "Yes, now hide!" Strife snapped his claw and disappeared. Discord sighed to himself, he knew that there was a high chance that he wouldn't be coming back. ‘However,’ he thought, ‘I must find a way, if not for anything else, for my son’. Discord grabbed his chair and turned it away from where the alicorns would be coming. He sat down and waited. He heard their hoof-steps approach. He spun his chair around, "Oh, this is so much fun. How about a game of ‘Pin the Tail on the Pony’?" Discord mocked, showing them Celestia's tail in his paw. She let out a small gasp. "Play time is over for you, Discord!" "Oh I doubt that." He said, throwing some seeds into his mouth. "Hungry?" he asked, throwing a few at the alicorns, they didn't reply. "Suit yourselves," he said as he shoved a claw- full of seeds into his mouth. The alicorns opened their bag and levitated three gems each. Discord was intrigued by this. "Oh, what have you got there?" He asked putting a claw to his chin. "The Elements of Harmony." Said Celestia "With them, we shall defeat you!" Luna said "BAHAHA! You should see yourselves right now." Discord now knew he was going to win. "The expressions on your face. So intense. So sure of yourselves, Ahahah!" The two alicorns put their horns together, and a large rainbow swirled in the air. It launched itself at Discord "Hilarious!" As the magic hit him, he was turned to stone, his laughing pose frozen in time. Strife sat there, his jaw literally hitting the floor. He didn't know what to think; he just saw his father just get murdered. 'I... don't know what to do,' he thought. For the first time in his seven hundred year life, he didn't know what to do. One thing was evident: he was angry. He didn't know what to do and he was absolutely livid. 'I'll KILL THEM!' he mentally shouted. With snap of his claws and a poof of smoke he was invisible. He crept up on the alicorns as they talked and he pulled out a long blade. The two alicorns stood in amazement as the world around them changed to a grass plain. Houses fell from the sky back into place, fish stopped flying, and there was no more Discord. "It's... wonderful," said Celestia. "I never thought I would see the day," said Luna. Strife was right behind them, he raised his blade and- stopped. He looked to his father and remembered what he was taught, 'You never kill. After all, it's just a joke,' he remembered. It was his father’s number one rule. Strife lowered his blade and he walked over to his father. That's when he felt it, chaos. It was coming from the statue. His dad wasn't dead, just imprisoned. But the magic keeping him there was too strong. It would take a thousand years of chaos to break through that. Strife did the one thing that he could think to do and left. Before he left, he gave his dad a farewell gift: his father’s old phonograph, preloaded with his dad’s favorite song. [E] Chapter !The surface of the moon was quiet. The Equis hung over the star spotted night sky. The Moon was lifeless all except for two beings. The first of the two being a pitch black alicorn named Nightmare Moon. She had a tall, lean figure that could bring a stallion to their knees. Her mane was a slice of the night sky, it seemed to flow in an invisible breeze. Her eyes teal and had cat-like slits. Her cutie mark covered her flank a dark purple with a crescent moon. Finally, she wore light blue battle armor. The other being was much stranger, his body like a snake, but covered in brown fur. His tail was red, shaped like a dragon’s and had a white tuft of hair at the end of it. His right leg was an alligator's and his left was an antelope's. His left hand was a eagle's claw and his right was a lion's paw. He had a blue pegasus wing and a bat's wing. He had a head like that of a goat/pony, his mane was black, yet his bangs were a snow white. His eyes were yellow and his pupils were red, as well one pupil was larger than the other. Finally he had an antler and a blue goat horn atop his head (but unlike his father he had no facial hair). This one's name was Strife. They having a one-sided conversation, as Nightmare Moon seemed to be on a rant. When Nightmare Moon first met Strife she hated him. But after a year or so with him she decided some company would be better than none. Strife was the only being to seem even remotely interested in the alicorn. She didn't know why, but it was nice to talk to someone. However, sadly, even he had to go sometimes, and then she would be left to her thoughts. She hated being alone, but when Strife came back he would always have a gift for her. She didn't know why he was so nice. In fact, she didn't know much of him or why he did what he did, after a few hundred years his antics dwindled down to “Strife just being Strife". "-and she dare say that I was in the wrong!" Nightmare Moon finished, breathing heavily. Strife rubbed his chin, deep in thought. "But Nightmare, if the world was trapped in everlasting night, wouldn't everything freeze over?" He asked softly. Nightmare Moon looked at him blankly. "... I guess I never thought that far..." Strife gasped "Idea!~" "What?" "Oh... never mind. It’s nothing..." "Obviously it wasn't nothing!" She said angrily. "Well, I was just thinking that, you know, with my--” Strife snapped his claw and a feather appeared, falling to the ground like a rock '--powers and all I could make it work. But... No, never mind. It probably would never work. With y'know, Celestia and all..." At the name of her ex-sister Nightmare Moon gritted her teeth, "Oh when I get free I don't think we'll have to worry about her!" At hearing this an evil smile appeared on Strife's face as he snapped his claw. Nightmare Moon blinked a few times before letting out a soft yawn. "I think I shall go to sleep," she started for her bed (it was one of the first gifts Strife gave her). "Let me," Strife said, snapping his claw once more. In a flash, Nightmare Moon found herself in her bed. "Comfortable?" "Yes indeed.” She let out a unladylike yawn and shut her eyes. “Sleep well... friend..." she said as her eyes drifted shut. Strife stood there, blinking once, then twice. His eyes were wide in shock. "Friend?" he whispered before disappearing in a cloud of smoke. Canterlot The city of Canterlot was beautiful. White buildings covered the streets, the worst looking buildings were a dull grey. The streets were bustling even though the sun began to dip below the horizon. Alas, no one was in the castle courtyard, where there stood a garden of statues. A large puff of smoke appeared next to a particularly unique sculpture. From the smoke stood Strife, a solemn look in his eyes. He looked to the statue, knowing that it was more than just a piece of some artists strange imagination. He looked before the prison of his father, Discord. Strife conjured a wooden bench and sat down. "Hey dad, sorry for not visiting for so long. But if you didn't notice I've been trying to get you out." He began to smile. "I had an idea... after a few hundred years of spreading little bits of chaos everywhere, I thought 'why not one large moment of chaos!' So I have been trying to get Nightmare Moon off the moon, but I can't... the spell keeping her there is just too strong... I don't know how to say this but," he took in a deep breath, "she called me her friend." He paused as if waiting for a response. "I just don't know what to do. The last thing I ever called a friend was over eight hundred years ago! ... I just- ugh! feel like getting her out is... something more? I just... “‘ he sighed’” Thanks for listening dad..." Strife looked up at his dad and sighed before getting up. He held out his claw, "See ya dad." As he snapped his claw, he disappeared. The Moon The smell of something wonderful flittered through the air, causing Nightmare Moon’s eyes to slowly open. She groggily looked around. She saw Strife cooking... she didn't know what they were but they looked flat, tan, and circular. They smelled wonderful and the stranger part was there were thousands of them, in gigantic piles. Strife inhaled deeply and sighed "... I love the smell of three hundred seventy-two thousand eight hundred forty-four pancakes in the morning... Smells like victory!" he said proudly. "Strife, what are you doing?" Nightmare Moon asked. "Oh! Morning, Nightmare! I was just making you some breakfast." "Oh! Thank you," she said surprisedly as she began to get out of bed. "But what did you make?" "Pancakes! Trust me, you'll like them," he said, conjuring two chairs and a table. He set down the plates and silverware and placed six pancakes on each plate. "Okay..." She sat down, grabbing a fork as she began to cu- "Wait! they still need syrup and butter." He quickly added a cut of butter and covered the pancakes in syrup. "Now dig in," he said, smiling. Nightmare Moon began to eat her pancakes, and she couldn't lie, they were pretty good. Swallowing her mouth full she voiced her compliments. "It was nothing, but thank you!" he said, happily. Time passed as they ate in silence. "Do you miss being on Equis?" he asked suddenly. "What ever do you mean?" "It's just... it's your home right? So don't you miss it?" A slight frown formed on Nightmare Moon's face. "Of course I do." "I'm sorry..." "Huh?" "I'm sorry." "What for?" she asked, confused. "You're trapped here and I can't help you..." He stood out of his chair "what kind of friend am I?" Strife whispered the last part looking away. Strife felt a hoof on his shoulder, he looked to see Nightmare moon, a heart melting smile on her face. He returned the smile, and with a snap of his claw they were sitting at the top of a crater. They sat there looking at Epuis. Strife spoke up "I've never told you anything about me have I?" Nightmare Moon shook her head. "Do you want to know?" she nodded. "Okay, but just to warn you this is gonna get deep... So the main story of my life began nine hundred years ago, when my father died..." [E] Chapter @ [E] Chapter @ After watching my father's defeat, I did one of the only things I knew (or could do); I took a walk. I needed time to think, to recollect my thoughts. I can still remember the fields I walked through, empty. That was the only word to really describe them, empty. Even without the constant chatter of nearby birds as I blankly walked for who knows how long, thinking about what to do next was one of the hardest things I've done. I couldn't think; I was angry, confused, and I wanted to have dad back. I remember thinking that he was gone... not dead, but he may as well be. Even if I were to talk to him, would he answer back? Would he be able to hear me at all? A millennium of being trapped in his own body. Would he even be the same when he returned? "Trapped in his own body? What do you mean?" Nightmare Moon asked. "Well the unicorns that attacked him... used a spell." "But a paralyze spell would have worn off in a few hours." "Well, these unicorns had these... gems that focused a spell. It paralyzed him indefinitely." "Being trapped in your own body, I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy" "Yeah... of course you wouldn’t." Strife softly whispered. If someone was watching me, I can only imagine what they saw. My eyes narrowed, burning with fire. 'Who would do that? Knowing what's going on, but not being able to do anything about it?' I thought, body slightly shaking in anger. 'But an eye for an eye... right?' So I just kept walking, minutes turned to hours and hours to days. “Days?” "Just listen to the story!" I didn't talk, I didn't even divert from my path. All I wanted to do walked and let my mind think. I don't remember when I finally fell asleep but when I awoke I was in bed. 'Was it all a dream?' I thought as I looked around. 'D-did dad change my room? O-of course he di-d' My eyes went wide as they darted around the room. My tail curled up in between my legs and I held it in my arms. I couldn't hold it back as my eyes started to water, and I silently cried myself back to sleep. "You cried yourself to sleep? How old were you?" "Hey! I was only seven hundred!" "Yeah, hundred!" Strife slapped a paw to his face. "In Draqonoques years I was seven... it's NOT that hard to understand. I was also the size of the foal. I was just a little kid." "...Oh..." When I woke up I was being held in the arms of a griffin (to this day I still don't know how she held a foal like that...). She smiled, "Don't worry, it’s okay, I'm here." Her voice sounded like an angel’s. "Really?" "Of course," a calm and much deeper voice said. I looked over to see a grey pegasus, his mane a darker grey. "Who were they?" "If you let me finished I'll tell you!" Strife said, irritated. "Well... to make a long story a bit shorter, for some of the more impatient ponies." Strife shot a glare at Nightmare Moon before continuing. "They were together for three years, but could never had kids. They prayed over and over again, but then I came. They said I was their own little gift from Faust. They became a second family to me. Grey Cloud was like a father and Elizabeth a mother. Every day we sat down at the dinner table like real family, every Sunday we went to church. But they got older and older, and I stayed the same." *sniff* "Are you okay?" "Yeah... I'm fine it's just back then I never really thought about the life span of ponies. One day Grey Cloud got sick he was only thirty-six... But I'll never forget what Elizabeth said to me..." She was crying, I could hear it from my room. I couldn't stand to hear her cry. I creeped out into the hallway. It was after sun down, and I should have been in bed... but I couldn't stand it... When I got to her door I slowly pushed it open. I saw her on her bed crying her eyes out. "Mom?" I asked weakly "You okay?" "H-Honey! I didn't *sniff* hear you come in." "Are you okay?" "Yes of course d-dear." "A-are you sure." At the time I thought about how my mom would never tell a lie, but how could she seem so sad if she said she wasn’t? I hopped onto her bed and lay on her lap. She started to pet my mane, her breath was shaky. "H-honey?" "Yeah?" "When I grow old, will... will you buy me a house of gold?" "Anything for you!" I said cheerfully, she laughed at that. "A-and when your father die- turns to... stone, will you take care of me?" "Of course..." "Of course at the time she didn't know it, but the stone struck a little too close to home. Then years later they both died... and I tried to make friends but soon they died too. I couldn't go through anyone close to me dying anymore so I stopped making friends..." "I'm sorry to hear that... If I can do anything, just ask." Strife was shaking slightly, his paw clenched. He took a deep breath, "Thank you, it means a lot. You have no idea." He smiled, "But I wont be needing it, had nine hundred years to deal." "Alright then..." Nightmare Moon leaned back, together she and Strife watched the Equis float across the sky. Strife looked over to Nightmare Moon, his mind couldn't help but drift to the first time they met. The Moon, Seven hundred year back. Nightmare Moon sat on the moon, no one else could be seen for miles. It was an empty wasteland. It was around six hundred years into her banishment. She just sat there and talked. "So I walked up to her and told her exactly how she feels! we say 'Did you really expect me to sit idly by as they all basked in your precious light?!' and at this point I am pissed 'There can be only one princess in Equestria, and that princess IS ME!' and then I attacked." she stared at the pale of rocks(that happened to be in the vague shape of a pony) and waited for an answer. "*sigh* I should really stop doing this." "Well I think you have a bigger problem." Nightmare Moon spun around, eyes wide. "Who goes there?!" Her voice was strong yet had a slight waver. "What? You don't want to know what your 'bigger' problem is?" "Tell me who you are!" she demanded, looking around the empty landscape. "Right behind you," the voice whispered. Nightmare Moon spun around, blind firing. A draconequus stood in front of Nightmare moon, a large burnt hole through his stomach. He looked down at the hole then at the pony in front of him. He then proceeded to stick a paw through the hole. "Do you think that's gonna need stitches?" "Wait?" . "I said 'Do you think'-" "I know what you said!" "Oh! Sorry, I can be a little thick at times," he said, snapping his fingers and turning into a brick wall. "What in tartarus are you anyway?" "Really?" he deadpanned. "I think I would remember a walking mosh pit of animals." "Well then it looks like you have two problems then..." "And what, pray tell, are they?" "HA!" He snapped his claw. "Bet you would like to know that!" he scoffed. "That's for me to know and you to find out." "How long?" she asked coldly. "Huh? 'How long' what?" "’Till I find out, or you tell me." "Straight to the point I see..." he sighed, pulling out a calculator. "Givin' you obviously don't like me, and I'll be giving you clues... a couple hundred years... Or weeks... days? I really don't know." He shrugged. "Oh Faust... How long are you going to be here?" A non-evil-what-so-ever-definitely-just-a-regular-grin formed on his lips "As long as I need to. The name’s Strife by the way." "I don't care!" she called as she began to walk away. *Poof* *THUD* Nightmare Moon turned around to see a queen sized bed, the sheets a dark purple, the bed posts went up higher and connected into a square frame with view covers hanging off the top frame. It was truly a bed fit for a queen. Nightmare Moon looked out were strife last stood, and said quitly “Maybe this wont be so bad...” [Not Edited]Chapter #Canterlot was shrouded in darkness. But if one were to look at a clock it would say it would be only a couple of minutes before noon. In one of the many halls of the large castle, and in one of the many rooms was the room of the Princess. In the bed room, in the bed was the sleeping form of Princess Celestia herself. Her chest rose and fell harshly, her bed sheets were soaked and tossed aside. Tossing and turning she jolted awake. Her eyes darted across the room, seeing nothing was out of place she slowing got out of bed. With shaking legs she slowly walked to her bathroom. She looked at the mirror her magenta eyes stared back, her crown still atop her head(for what ever reason), her muted rainbow color hair not flowing, but it rested at her hooves. Her eyes were red as well her face was covered in dried tears. Turning the sink on, she put her hooves under the cold stream of water. Rubbing her face clean of sleeping. Looking back up at the mirror she found the face in the mirror was not her own, but her sisters. She jumped back in fright. "Luna?" she choked. Getting back on her hooves she looked back into the mirror; she found her own refection once again. Seeing in the mirror her crown fell off she let out a shaky chuckle and used her magic- 'What?' she tried to use her magic once more... nothing. Her eyes shot open, if she had any traces of sleep left it was gone now. Her breath sped up looking at mirror she found her mane not flowing. 'If my mane isn't flowing then...' "M-My magic is low..." She finished out load. "But if my magic is low then how can I raise the sun in the morning!" Galloping out of the bathroom she(picked up her crown on the way and) looked at the grandfather clock next to her door. The time was five before noon. "no." She whispered just before, she grunted as she gripped her head in her hooves, falling to the ground. She could feel her magic flow back into her along with some old and new memories. "I remember..." she stated softly. "Heave!" Yelled a muffled voice, Celestia's door shook. "Heave!!" Yelled the voice again, a loud crack could be heard as a great weight slammed into it. "HEAVE!!!" The voice yelled one last time before the door came crashing inwards and a dozen of Celestia's personal guards came hurtling into the room. "Princess!" A white unicorn guard came rushing towards the downed Celestia. "I need help!" He called over to the other guards, he and the other guards using there magic started to lift Celestia. "Thank you." She said softly as the guards supporting her the best they could. "what happened? We've been trying to get in here since six!" The unicorn from before said all most shouting but quickly apologized afterwards. "Don't apologize it's alright I can understand your frustration... wait six?" "Yes your highness, the room was sealed up with over a hundred runes and spells! My head still hurts like crazy..." he mumbled the last part rubbing his head. "You were able to disable my sist- Nightmare Moon's spells?" "My special talent is shields- wait Nightmare Moon? She's REAL?!" "WHAT?!" Yelled a few other guards. "Yes, she is and she is back." Once she finished several guards fainted. The guard in front of her was the only one still standing strong,. "Princess, what did she to you?" "Luna- no Nightmare Moon, came to me before the Summer Sun Celebration, she placed me in my worst nightmare. But thanks to you destroying those runes I was able to awake." "Princess... all the spells were protection spells not dream spells..." Said the guard. The princess's eyes widened "Then that can only mean... she did it." Her spirit seemed to lift ten fold as she literately took a jump for joy. "Who?" "My student!" She said overjoyed "What did Twilight do?" "Fix every thing." The princess said before bolting out of the room. But quickly hopped backing before asking, "How do I look?" "Fine..." The guard said confused. "Good!" She left once more before picking her head in again, "Wait, do you know Twilight?" "Yeah, she's my sister." The guard said flatly. "Shining?" "Yeah." he said taking off his helmet. "It's been a long time, how have you been?" "Radical." Shining Armor stated. "Good." She said run out once more before peeking in one last time to say. "Oh by the way, I think your due for a promotion!" She stated smiling before leaving. And Shining stood there bug eyed just before- Thud The Everfree Forest "Ugh... my head." Groaned a rainbow manned pegasus by the name of Rainbow Dash. "thga... is everypony okay?" Asked the blond, orange earthpony named Apple Jack. "Oh thank goodness!" said the white unicorn fashionista, completely ignoring Apple Jack's concern. "Oh Rarity it's so lovely!" The butter yellow pegasus called Fluttershy complimented. "Oh I know! and I'll never part with it again." Rarity said happily swishing her new tail back and forth. "No, Your necklaces, it looks just like your cutie mark!" She said pointing to the necklace now around her friends neck. "Huh? So does yours!" She said pointing out Fluttershy's necklaces. At that moment a Pinkie Pie, a pony completely colored pink hopped around happily saying, "Look at mine, Look at mine!" as she showed off her element of harmony. "Ahhhhhh yeah!" Rainbow said happily looking at her element. Around the room everypony had an element-necklace except for Twilight Sparkle who had a golden crown with her element as a star colored gem crown. "Gee Twilight, I thought you were just spouting a lot of hoo-wee, but I reckon we really do represent the elements of friendship!" Applejack stated. "Indeed you do!" Said a regal Voice coming from a broken window. The ponies with in the room could see the sun began to rise and a bright light appear. Only one pony truly knew what it was, and that was Twilight. The bright light was a spell. A teleportation spell to be exact. I soon the light dissipated and there stood Princess Celestia herself. Every pony in the room stretched out there forelegs and lowered their heads, bowing to the Princess. Every pony except Twilight, who looked up to the Princess with glee. "Princess Celestia!" she announced even though everyone knew who she was, and walked up to her. She leaned against the Princess. "Twilight sparkle, my faithful student." The Princess said back lowing herself to nuzzle Twilight. "I knew you could so it." Twilight backed away from her mentor, "But you told me that it was all an old wives' tale." she said confused. "No, Twilight I told you, that you needed to make some friends. Nothing more." Celestia replied with a soft smile. She began to look out to the other ponies in the room as they got up one by one. "I saw the signs of Nightmare Moon's return and I knew that you had the magic in side to defeat her. But you could not unleash it until you let true friendship into your heart." Celestia stated. Twilight light looked over to her friends smiling, and the smiled back, but before words could be said Celestia spoke up. "Now only if another would as well." She looked over to a small pony, her coat was light blue and she sat in the smoking remains of shattered armor. "Princess Luna," She stated firmly, jolting the alicorn awake. The now named Princess Luna looked up to Celestia in fear. "It has been a thousand years since I've last seen you like this." Celestia knelt down to meet Luna Face to Face. "We were meant to rule this kingdom together, sister." Everypony in the room gasped, as Twilight was utterly flabbergasted. If Celestia heard them she didn't show it. Celestia Stood up and finished "Luna will you except my hoof in friendship?" Everypony leaned forward in concern, Including the pink party mare to lean I little to much and fell over. Luna looked downward for only a second before jumping over to her sister trapping her in a hug. "I'm sorry, so very sorry! I missed you so much. Please forgive me Tia!" "Of course I do, Lulu of course I do." The two mares began to softly crying as they held each other, as if for dear life. Celestia heard Pinkie Pie began to cry, but her crying soon stopped and she began. "Do you know what that means?" Then she went quiet for a few seconds just before jumping up and saying. "A party!!!" She began to trot happily to the door. Her friends looked at the mare leave out the door... to most deadly forest ever know... with a smile plastered on her face. Celestia opened her eyes, she looked at her sister. The sister she lost all those years ago, the sister she loved. Moving her eyes upwards. Then she saw it. She saw him. The draconequus stood there his face had a cold look. His body was ragged and worn. His hands were clenched tightly, shaking slightly. He mouthed the words 'Everybody deserves a happy moment.' and before Celestia could do anything he snapped his fingers and vanished. "Come on Princess!" The party mare called out. Celestia looked around and saw everypony was oblivious to the danger that was just in the room. She sighed softly and spoke "I'll take us to town", with that she charged a teleportation spell. [Not Edited]Bonus ChapterPonies rejoiced over the return of princess Luna and the recent defeat of Nightmare Moon. Ponies ran through the street whooping and cheering. The Summer Sun Celebration was finally complete when the sun rose no less that at noon. Ponies sung happily greeting the new princess with open arms, as well they cheered for the sun that had finally come back up. But some ponies went on with there day like any other, just outside the train station an earth pony stallion sat on a wooden bench. His mud brown coat match his mane and dirt brown eyes. His tail and mane were cut short but his mane was buzzed along its sides in a strange way. He wore a light blue flannel and a white blazer. Next to him was a suitcase and a white box filled with a random assortment of chocolates. Finally on his flank was a tree stump Cutie Mark. The earthpony sat there, his face filled with mirth. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath as he listened to the birds. He could hear the sounds of the town's ponies celebrating. He would celebrate as well but he had places to be and griffins to see. Opening his eyes he looked out to the train tracks, then to a nearby field. A few fouls played ball in said field. A soft smile spread across his face. 'Ah always did enjoy the small things in life.' he thought happily. He heard the soft clip-clop of hooves approaching him. He looked over to see a tall lanky stallion. The stallion sat down and with a huff he blew his white bangs out of his face and with his hoof he patted down his black messy mane. The earthpony looked at the strangers simple grey coat then it his blue unicorn horn. 'That's strange...' He thought. A dull expression was plastered on the unicorn's face, his bright red eyes blinked blinked slowly. The unicorns Cutie Mark was a yellow smiley face with its tongue sticking out and a fake arrow going through its head. The brown earth pony spoke up first "Hello, My names Forest, Forest Stump. What's yours?" The unicorn looked over at Forest "My name is..." He paused before saying simply "Strife." Forest opened his small white box and held it out to Strife saying "You wanna chocolate Mr. Strife?" "I'm fine-" He started to say cutting him self off before saying "Why not?" A purple aura coated his horn as he levitated a single piece of chocolate to his muzzle uttering a quick "Thank you" before popping it into his mouth. "There good aren't they?" Said the earth pony getting a 'mm'hm' from Strife. "Ah could just eat a million and a half of them." Forest smiled. He grabbed a chocolate saying "My momma always said life's like a box of chocolates." Eating one he quoted his momma "You never know what you gonna get." "She sounds very smart." The unicorn said calmly. "She was.. Now that Ah think of it she also said 'there's an awful lot you can tell about a pony's hooves. Where they goin', where they been.'" He looked at Strife and he looked back. "So where've you been?" Strife look down, with a frown "Through a lot." he stated simply. "Me too.." the smallest of frowns crossed his lips just before it was replaced by a smile. "Ya know... it's funny how something's you can remember and others you can't. Ah can't recall when Ah got my Cutie Mark, or when Ah went to my first outdoor picnic... but Ah do remember the first time Ah ran and the first time Ah herd the sweetest voice in the world." Strife sucked in a deep breath and let it out "Me too." He let his head rest against the back if the bench as he closed his eyes. "Her name was Jenny she was a griffin, and we were friends all the way up to high school. Ah couldn't run till Ah met her. and after that Ah ran every where!" He exclaimed. "It used to be Ah ran to get where Ah was goin'... Ah never thought it would me anywhere. Ah went so many places, cross Equestria and back... and met so many great ponies." "I've met hundreds of great ponies, griffins, and many others..." The grey pony said softly, his eyes still shut. Forest opened his mouth to say something but he was cut off as the sound of a train whistle could be heard. Not to long the screeching of wheels could be heard and a train now sat in front of the two ponies. A crowd of ponies stampeded out of the train as the the conductor yelled "ALL ABOARD!" Once this was said a few ponies that were milling around began to enter the train. The brown stallion got up and walked over to the conductor asking. "Is this the number nine train?" "Yes sir indeed, it is" "Thank you" Forest began to get on the train but not before "Have a nice day, Mr. Strife." He said with a wave . Strife opened his eyes a waved back "You too Forest, you too." He sighed and with that he was gone, pulling out a small wooden box with a crank. It looked as if the paint it once held all since fell off long ago. He set it next to him and started moving the crank with his magic. He listened to the song play and a small smile formed on his face. It soon disappeared though. 'Once again... in my twenty one hundred year life, I'm alone...' he sighed closing his eyes and thought about what happened before Nightmare Mon got out as he let the song play. [Not Edited]Chapter $ The following story has not been edited in any way read my bad grammar and spelling at your own risk. But feel free to point out any of my errors. I have no idea how many there are... The Day Before Nightmare Moon's return "Now... Where do I begin?" Strife asked himself as he paced back and forth in front of a chalk board. "You could always just build a cannon... no... yeah no that would NOT work." Said the draconequus "The opposite of harmony is chaos. But you already know this." He grumbled to a near by mirror. "Now I'm just spit balling here, how about you take a break. hmm?" Suggested the reflection. "What?! I can't!" His inverted friend raised an eye brow. "Can't or wont?" Strife gritted his teeth. "Wont." The mirrored man sighed "You need a break, get some sleep! Staying up 24/7 will not help anyone!" Strife glared at the mirror. "Not working won't help either!" His counter part just pinched the bridge of his nose, before turning back into a simple refection. Strife conjured a chair, and sat down. With a sigh and a snap if his claw a wine glass appeared in his hand. "Maybe..." He began "I should take a break... There is no use in arguing with myself." He then poured some water into his glass. "But where would I go?" He wondered as he took a sip. "What would I do?" He pondered. "I could rest under a tree; in a hammock! I could listen to the birds and... and uh... read a book!" "Normal ponies do that. They also go sight seeing! Well... I've already see most of the world..." He sighed "Well whats wrong with reruns?" He said to on one. "Well. now that I think of it." With a snap of his claw- Tome Finder walked through the Canterlot Archive as he did on many days. The Light brown Unicorn didn't mind his job, in fact he loved it. All he had to do was walk and use his magic to feel the book. Strange job to those who didn't under stand its importance. All he had to do was feel all the books and write down if they were there or not. Simple. So far he had went over 10 million books of the over 15 million books in the collection. Only 24 of the 10 million books were not in the library at this time; due to the small amount of ponies even aloud in. "Almost done." He sighed happily. The dead silence of the library was interrupted by a soft ding. The dark wooded book selves allowed sound to traverse the silent halls with ease. Tome Finder's dull grey eyes widen behind his glasses as he looked back through the towering hall of literature. Alas he knew what that bell was, "Coming!" He yelled, as he quickly backtracked through the halls. After a few minuets he was at the entrance of the Archive. A large semi-circle desk sat about ten feet in front of the entrance's large wooden doors. The desk had scatted papers strewn across it's surface. Standing in front of the desk was a young lavender mare. "Hello, you rang?" He asked in his monotone voice as he walked up to the desk. "Yes, I wanted to ask if you had the book 'Lore; Equestria Edition'?" Levitating a clip board off the desk he asked "Name?" "Mr. Finder you already know my name." She deadpanned. "Name?" He repeated "Twilight Sparkle." She sighed "May I see your Cutie Mark?" He asked. She reply with a turn of her body to get him the best view of her Cutie Mark. Looking between his Clipboard and the mare's flank he asked "Why would you like that book Mrs. Sparkle?" "The Princess recommended it." "LIES!" He snapped at her. Twilight took a step back, "wha-what?" Mr. Finder's angry expression faded away and fell into a grin before he let out a fit of load laughter. "Ah-HAHAHA I GOT YOU THERE HAHAHA, THE LOOK ON YOUR FACE!" The lavender mare winced at the stallion's very very loud laughter. "HA... hahaha...ha Sorry Twilight, It just couldn't be helped, not much to talk to except the book." He said smiling. "Come with me, I'll get the book." Tome Finder lit his horn and began down one of the hallways of books as Miss Sparkle begrudgingly followed. After a moment or two she caught up with the brown unicorn. "You really should lighten up Twilight, it was just a joke after all." "Well It wasn't funny." She grumbled "O' come on, it's not like it killed you or anything." Tome's only response was a few angry grumbles. "Hey calm down we're almost to your book." After a few minuets Tome Finder pulled out a hefty looking book with his magic and tossed it to Twilight. He then turned around and began his way down the forest of books. "Where are you going?" she asked catching the thrown book. "Back to checking all the books." He said as he dissipated down the dusty halls of books. Twilight stood there. Alone in the empty section of the library. Twilight shivered and took a quick glance around. "I forgot how creepy this place is when" she made an audible gulping noise. "you're... alone." Her breathing increased and her eyes began to shrink as she felt as if something was watching her. Reading out every single one of her moves, right down to the amount of sweat droplets beginning to form on her now panicked face. Six, six droplets of sweat formed and began so slowly make their way down her face. "Now I would love to read all these book I thinkIneedtogetgoingokaythanksBYE!!!" she quickly said before bolting out of the labyrinth of books with her new book in tow. The door made a loud slamming noise as the panicking mare put her full body weight on the door. Twilight breathed loudly as her eyes darted between the two confused guards. "Miss Sparkle?" Asked the first guards. "y-yes?" "Did something happen?" Asked the second guard. "Yes..." "What happened?" The first guard asked. "Well... It's hard to explain." "Try me." Said the second guard, before looking to the other guard. "Us. Try us." "Well, it seems rather silly now but I felt like I was being watched ha... ha." "Get going." The First guard deadpanned. Twilight walked away with a sheepish look. As Twilight walked down the hall she didn't hear the guards continue to talk. "I told you I wasn't the only one." Said the second guard. "Shut up." Said the First. Twilight made her way thought the maze that was a castle. If she didn't come here almost everyday for almost more than half her life she knew she would have been lost. She made her way out of the castle. On her way out she said "Hello." to the guards she passed, they gave her a nod in return. She existed one of the many side entrance, the door let out into the southwester area of the gardens. A small ways away, Twilight could see the famous Canterlot statue garden, sitting right next too the also famous Canterlot Maze. Taking a left, Twilight left to gardens through a servant entrance and started her way to her favorite "spot" to read. The "spot" was right next to one of Canterlot's many parks, but not so close ponies would disturb her reading. It sat under an old tree that was there long before she was born. The tree is self was right next to a stream and only a few feet away from the bridge that let you cross the stream. The bridge was never crowded with ponies, because the bridge, tree, stream, and park were all located in the Noble's area of Canterlot. As she made her way to the "spot" she couldn't help but get giddy as she approached her reading spot. She levitated the book infront of her, she traced a hoof over the old, but well maintained book cover. "What do you hold? And why would the Princess want me to read you?" She asked to her self before putting the book back into her saddle bags. She looked to see her "spot" and somepony else in her "spot". Twilight continued her way to her "spot" and began to get a clearer image of the Unicorn in it. He was lying on a white hammock that was tied to the tree and a newly put pole. His grey coat was easily spotted on the white surface of the white sheet... wait... as Twilight got closer she could see that the hammock was not made of a sheet but of clouds. She could see the Unicorn's blue horn clear as day through his black and white mane. Twilight picked up her pace, blinked a few extra times as she closed in on the unicorn. 'Unicorns can't lay down on clouds! It's impossible! Only pegasi can walk on clouds... well unless you have a cloud walking spell. But even I don't know that! Not yet anyway.' She thought to her self. As she got closer she began to hear a soft tune. The sound was coming from a small music box. It was just a little bit bigger than her hoof. The wooden box was simple yet elegant. The think that was moving the golden handle to play the box was less elegant. It was a potted cactus with sunglasses and a sombrero, it moved the handle with on of it's cactus arms. 'Enough of this craziness, Twilight! First we're going to find out how he's on that cloud. Then we're getting "our spot" back!' With that small bit of encouragement to herself she was next to the Unicorn. His eyes were shut and he softly kicked one of his back hooves to keep the hammock swinging slowly. Twilight got the strangers atation by clearing her throat. "Ahem." The grey colt opened one red eye. "Yes~?" "You may not know this, but you are in my spot." The lavender mare said. The Stallion sat up and looked at Twilight. "Oh really?" "Yes, you are. But I completely understand that you didn't know. So if you could kindly move I would appreciate it very much." "Oh yes, I'll do that right now." The grey pony said as he put his fore hooves behind his head and snuggles deeper into the cloud. "Uh... You're not moving are you?" "What gave you that idea?" He asked with a mocking look of sympathy. Twilight gave the stallion a glare. "If looks could kill I bet I'd be half way to hell right now. But they don't so... you can go a shoo off." "UGH! You're a real jerk!" She said firmly. "Says the one trying to kick someone out of their seat." he stated obviously. "You know what? I'll be nice." With a flash of his magic the hammock was gone. The male Unicorn looked down as Twilight (It was quite easy do to the fact he stood a full head taller than Twilight). "Wha... wha... what?! That was a transmutation spell! I can't even do that!" "Just because you can't doesn't mean I can't." With another flash Twilight saw her self standing on a picnic blanket. She looked as the stallion (who now had a picnic basket) as he began to speak. "I'm not moving. But you can sit with me if you like. This is a nice as I'm willing to get." 'If I want to sit here I'm going to have to deal with him...' "Ugh fine." She sat down on the blanket. "So what is your name?" "The name is... Better... Days... yes, It's Better Days." He gave the mare a smile. He started walking in a circle on the blanket before sitting down (much like how a cat or dog would). "I'm Twilight Sparkle." "It's nice to meet you Miss Sparkle." He said taking food out of the basket. "Care for some food?" "No thank you." "More for me then." He said taking a bite out of the basket. The mare gave Better Days an uneasy look." "What?" He asked swallowing the basket. "You... just..." "Just what?" He asked confused. "Nev- never mind. Just let me read, please." Twilight said taking out her book. "Read? Mind if I join?" "Why?" She asked looking into his puppy dog eyes. "Sure." "YAY!" He took the book from Twilight and began to read. "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. This book is already boring... To do this, the eldest 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. All this talk of balance and harmony in going to make me throw up! But as time went on, the younger sister became resentful. Oh I think I hit the good part!" "You know what? Let me read it!" Twilight said angerly. "NO!" "Yes!" Twilight then forcefully took the book out of his hooves and started reading. "The ponies relished and played in the day her elder sister brought forth, but shunned and slept through her beautiful night. One fateful day, the younger unicorn refused to lower the moon to make way for the dawn. The elder sister tried to reason with her, but the bitterness in the young one's heart had transformed her into a wicked mare of darkness: Nightmare Moon." CRACK! Twilight jumped at the sound of lighting, the book flew in the air before Better Days caught it with a smirk, and started reading once more. "She vowed that she would shroud the land in eternal night. Reluctantly, the elder sister harnessed the most powerful magic known to ponydom: the Elements of Harmony. Using the magic of the Elements of Harmony, she defeated her younger sister, and banished her permanently in the moon. The elder sister took on responsibility for both sun and moon... and harmony has been maintained in Equestria for generations since." "Elements of harmony. I know I've heard of those before... but where?" Twilight said to her self. "I don't know... but I'd love to know about this prophecy." "What prophecy?" "Oh nothing, this is probable just some old wives tale!" He laughed. "Well look at the time!" He said staring straight into the sun, looking back to Twilight with burnt eyes he said "It was nice meeting you Miss Sparkle, but I really must get going, I have to help a friend." finally with a burst of light he was gone. Twilight looked at the spot where the stallion once stood. "Note to self, if I every find that pony again(or any one like him) study them!" [Not Edited] Chapter %Strife ran through the streets in his pony form Better Days. He dodged and weaved between ponies as he ran. Many of these ponies just ignored him or yelled at him. He didn't care though, he just kept running with an angered look. "I can't believe I was so blind." He mumbled "She controls the moon for Faust's sake!" Strife looked up, the sun was high in the sky, almost noon. 'I need more time!' He thought. 'I know I'm going to regret this.' "Whelp here goes nothing." He sighed and made a sharp turn, then he headed for Canterlot Castle. "Canterlot Castle isn't all that bad. INfact I kinda like it." Strife said aloud. "Kinda, not completely, to much... white. Not saying white is a bad thing, it's just hard not to grab the nearest pack of crayons and start drawing. But besides all the white the the placement of the Castle is quite lovely. Built on the side of a mountain, and with no balloons to keep it there too! But if you knock out even one support then it will all come down. That would be- oh I'm here." Better Days looked out at the large doors that lead into Canterlot Castle. In front of them was a long line of mostly ponies, some being poor, well off, or of noble birth, all for the same reason. To talk to the princess, but sadly since it was almost lunch the Princess's day court was out for an hour or so. So she could eat of course. As well the line was slowly dissipating. He sighed "I don't have time for this." He pulled out an old dust brown scarf out of his old patch ridden saddle bags. Once that was on he put on a pare of goggles. Taking a hoof full of dirt he began to powder it all over his face and body. "Dirty, check. Goggles, check. Scarf, check. Bags, check. Looking good at looking poor? So checked!" Strife said looking at his attire. Running in a circle for a bit he bolted to the Castle's front door. He was stopped by the guards at the gate. His breathing was ragged "Ah'msosorry! ThetrainwasrunninglateandAhhadtodoextraworkdownintheminesdownatAppleloosasoAhcouldn'tgethereintimeand-" The guard cut him off "I'm sorry sir but like everyone else you're going to have to come back later." "Ah can't!" The dirtied stallion almost yelled. "Peace Ah only have an hour left in Canterlot then Ah havetoheadbacktoAppleloosaIthenAhwontbeabletoask-" "Sir Calm down" The guard asked. The other stallion started to hyperventilate. "Oh Faust oh Faust! Please sir! You have to let me in! Ah made the reservations to talk to the Princess almost three mouths ago! Ah have to see her! Please!" The Stallion was on the verge of tears. "Three mouths?" He only nodded. The guard took out the 'VIP' list, only to see a name he could swear wasn't their before, "Better Days?" "Yea that's me!" The tattered stallion said. "So you'll let me in now? "Her highness does need to eat as well, so I'm sorry but-" The stallion started to cry, he then feel down at the guard's hooves "ThetrainwasrunninglateandAhhadtodoextraworkdowninthemines! Ahcouldn'tgethereintime! Itwasn'tmyfault! Ahmadereservations!" The guard looked at the empty court yard and said "Let me see if her highness can have you. But I make no promises." "Oh thank you!" The crying stallion gave the guard a hug before the guard walked inside. He looked back and forth before seeing a maid, "Miss!" He called out. "Yes?" "Go tell the princess she has a VIP the wishes to see her." "All right." The guard walked back out side and said "I sent her a message, but don't hold you breath." Her highness Princess Celestia sat at a long table. She nibbled on some bread sticks waiting for her meal. Today's court still fresh in her mind. 'For all the trouble I have with Day court it's not always so bad.' She let out a light giggle, 'The one mare was so shy! Oh what was her name... Cheerilee? Yes I think it was, I simple must find a time for her class to visit the castle. A little field trip always seems to liven this place up. A soft knocking brought The Princess out of her thoughts. At one of the side doors was a maid, and she began to speak. "Your highness, I was told to tell you that there is a VIP to see you." Celestia looked at the maid and sighed, "Do I really have too? These nobles are starting to ware me out! I'm going to have to burn that VIP list, all it does is make nobles think they're better than everyone else!" She got up and walked up to the maid. "I'll be with them in one minute." "Yes, your highness." She then took off. "I do dislike these nobles." She said aloud to her self as she walked to the throne room. "Oh I can't look at the sun, it hurts my eyes!" She said in a fake snooty voice, "Why is there only ten types of of cheeses at the gala and not all of them? Why can't I be a princes like Blueblood?" She grumbled all the why to the throne before sitting down. Taking a deep breath and making herself look as regale as possible she said, "Let them in." 'I think I just might let this noble have...' She then saw a grey stallion walk in, he wore an old scarf and bag, obviously hand-me-downs. He was caked in dirt and wore goggles. '... a piece of my mind.' The stallion hesitantly walked to the princess, before dropping a bow. TH-WACK The princess grimace as the nervous unicorn rubbed his sore muzzle. "Yer Highness, Ah'm sorry that I was late." He gulped. "It justthatAhreservedthisandAhhatetomeetwithya-" "It's fine, do not worry." She smiled at the clumsy stallion. "You came he for a reason, so please tell me, what is it?" "Well ya see," He rubbed the back of his head. "Two years and two hundred seventy days ago I met the gal of ma life. Also being the thousandth Summer Sun Celebration Ah thought maybe you could make the night last longer." He gulped. Celestia's eyes widened only by a millimeter. A small bit, but still just enough. "Make the night last longer?" "Yeah, you see my gal she just loves the stars. Ah wanted to propose and Ah thought she would love a dance under the stars. But It bein' summer and what not, night time is just so short and Ah just want to make it perfect. Ya know? I understand if you don't want to make the night longer fer tonight, but please ah'm asking, no beggin' ya. Please." He was on his knees and had his hooves together in the classic begging motion. Celestia looked down at the stallion a smile began to make it's way to her lips. She got off her throne and walked up to the stallion. "I think I can you that." She said as she placed on hoof on his shoulder. "Oh thank ya!" The stallion cried pulling the Princess into a hug so tight that a bear trap would be jealous. He let go, and a blush tinted his cheeks. "Sorry yer highness, Ah got a bit carried away." She laughed. "It's alright. But please do tell me, what is this lucky mare like?" "Ah could go on and on about Moon! She's one of the smartest gals Ah know! She also knows just when to listen and just what to say. Her eyes oh how they sparkle!" He looked at the ground, "Sorry fer troubling you, princess. I'll git goin'" "Oh it's fine. It was wonderful meeting you. I give you the best of wishes on your proposal." "Oh thank ya Princess! Ah really can't thank ya enough!" He waved as he left, and he left the castle the a spring in his step. The Princess went back to her lunch a smile still plastered onto her face. 'I can't believe she was right... I can't believe it.' The princess thought. Strife skipped down the streets of Canterlot. His smile was as plane as day. 'Glad that's over, but you know, who still got it? That's right, I still got it! That was easier than shooting fish in a barrel!' The sun still high in the sky, and Strife knew just what to do. "It's all coming together. Soon... So soon." A soft chuckle rose to his lips, soon that chuckle became a strong laughter, then it faded away all together as he let out a sigh. "Today is the day." He said to himself as he walked, he just couldn't help himself. With a double tap from his right hoof music began to play, and he begun to sing. "Fly me to the moon! Let me play among the stars. Let me see what spring is like on a-Jupiter and Mars." The rest of the song wasn't heard as he turned into dust and flew of on the wind. [Not Edited] Chapter ^Chapter ^ Nightmare Moon's eyes shot open as she was startled by the loud sound of brass instruments. She tumbled out of her bed and hit the wooden floor. She looked up and saw Strife in a suit while he was surrounded by floating instruments. He tapped his foot as the music quieted. "What's the matter with you?!" Nightmare Moon asked sharply. She she answered with another sharp blare of brass music. "No... there's more?" Strife grinned as the drum kicked in for a but then sung once again. "Fill my heart with song! Let me sing fo~or ever more!" Strife started started to make his way to the dark alicorn. "You are all I long for All I worship and adore." At hearing this the dark mare's cheeks began to tint just the tiniest bit pink. "In other words, please be truu~~~u~~~" The music was blaring now. "~~~u~~~ue- *IN** other words, in other words! I~I lo~ove..." The music was quite once more. Strife was leaning right into he face, before whipping out a mirror and pointing at it. "you.*" He then busted into laughter, and the instruments just turned into confetti. Nightmare Moon gritted her teeth and let out a sharp growl. She got up and walked out of her bedroom and into the hallway. "Oi'! It was funny!" Strife called out. He snapped his claw and was floating next to Nightmare Moon as she went down the hall. "IT was meant to make you laugh." Strife frowned at his friend's glare. "Come on Nighty, turn that frown," He said frowning, "Upside down!" He then took his head and twisted it so it would be upside down. "Nighty" didn't respond to his shenanigans and with a snap he was gone. She went down a stair case and walked into the Dinning Room. The room was just a small carpeted room with china cabinets, and a small table with two chairs. She walked out of the Dinning Room and into the Kitchen. In said Kitchen was Strife in a chefs uniform, he also had a fine and thin mustache. "Bonjour, Mademoiselle! Would will you be having to day?" Ignoring him she walked over to the soda fountain. Grabbing a mug she put in under the spout that read "Nightmare Moon's Favorite". It began to fill her mug with coffee. "Oh come on! You can't ignore me forever!" He said ripping off his mustache and chefs uniform. Still ignoring him she walked back to the Dinning Room. She sat down and began to drink her coffee. Strife sat in the black and white tiled Kitchen. He paced back and forth for a bit with his hands made into fists. He punched the air a couple of times before letting out a silent yell. Snapping his claw he was in front of Nightmare Moon, he took in a breath. "Hey, Moon I'm sorry for scaring you this morning. You forgive me?" He put his are into the universal signal for a hug. "Yes." Moon, replied accepting the hug. After letting go from the hug she said "So what will we be having for breakfast?" Strife put a chefs hat onto his head once more and said "Well Mademoiselle, we will find out together." He held out his hand. The alicorn mare set her hoof in the palm of his claw, "Alright, then let's find out." Strife smiled and with a snap of his claw they were both in the kitchen. Strife went for the fridge and started to pull out things at random, all the ingredients fell into a basket being held in Moon's magic. "Thanks." He said grabbing the basket, and closing the fridge with a snap. Taking a running start Strife dived into the basket. His head popped out of the basket with a glowing soda bottle lodged in his mouth. Grabbing it with his hand he looked at the label. "Quantum" he mumbled, shrugging he threw it on the counter and jumped out of the basket with a hand full of other ingredients. Conjuring a pan onto the stove he threw a few egg onto the stove. A knife and cutting board jumped from the drying rack and hopped over to the counter and began cutting up some cheese. Throwing in a pinch of salt and two rainbow peppers, he mixed it with the eggs. Grabbing the chopped cheese he filled the pan with it. Flipping the omelette Strife spoke. "Sit, I'll be out in a few seconds." "Alright." Moon said as she left the room. Entering the dinning room she sat down at her seat. About two minutes later Strife floats in, with two omelettes. Setting one in front of Nightmare Moon, he then placed his on the other end of the table. Hopping onto the chair it began to float as he let his legs dangle off the back rest and his head hung just next to the omelette. "Why do you sit like that?" "Like what?" "Like That! all unside down." "Oh like this! Well, that is a very easy question to answer. It just makes the food taste better." He gave Nighty a smile before his fork grew legs and fed Strife. Nightmare Moon looked at the fork feed Strife and sighed. A ghost of a smile crossed her face as she ate her omelette. After they were done Strife took the plates and left for the kitchen. Setting the dishes into the sink he went back to Nightmare Moon. "Hey Moony, I wanted to show you something." Raising an eyebrow she asked "Oh really?" "Yeah!" "Will it explode?" Strife rubbed the back of his head with a claw and said, "I hope not!" "Then I'll come." "Perfect!" Strife grabbed a cloth from behind his back and tied it over her eyes. "What are you doing?!" "Just come on!" Strife responded, then with a paw he grabbed Nightmare Moon's hoof and drug her through the house. The sound of a door opening and closing met Nightmare's ears before Strife said she could remove it. What stood before her was not what she expected. In front of her was an unholy amount of dresses. All of them were different sizes, some too large and some so small only a foal would fit. "Strife where did you get all of these." Nightmare Moon asked in disbelief. "Does it matter?" "Well I would guess not-" "Good! So you pick a dress you like and I'll be back!" And with a poof the draconequus was gone. [Self Edited] Chapter & Good Bye [Part 1]Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
[E] PrologueDiscord sat on his throne, happily laughing at the misfortune of the ponies around him as he listened to his phonograph. A mare and her foal ran from a giant peppermint trying to eat them. Discord laughed; candy trying to eat foals instead the other way around. However, he never would let them get eaten. After all, it was just a joke. He watched the mare throw her foal out of the way to save her, but just before she was crushed the peppermint burst into bubbles. Discord was almost dying of laughter; she tried sacrificing her life so her... foal... could live. Discord looked around; so much chaos, so much fun, yet no one to share it with. Was there even anyone that shared his love of chaos? That's when an idea came to his mind, a terribly chaotic, brilliant idea. Discord back-flipped off of his throne and landed behind it. Now looking at the back of his throne he pulled out a pencil and began to draw a door. Opening up the door, he saw that it led to a pencil drawn staircase. He descended the staircase into a large room and saw what looked to be a massive MRI scanner with water floating vertically in it’s entry. On the side it said "Not a Stargate TM", and in smaller letters it read "not a stolen Stargate". Call it the heat of the moment or just plain stupidity but Discord walked up to the portal. This was no gate through the stars, but a passageway through the realms. But before he walked through the gate a thought came to his mind, 'Is this the best thing to do? Is risking my life with a possibly defective portal really worth it?... Yes, yes it is.' With that, he walked through. As he entered the new realm, the realm of these "humans", he looked around to find himself in a small alleyway on a rainy night. He truly loved this realm; the humans were always so chaotic, emotions so random and jumbled at times. There was always a war or crime so different than the last. A human friend was the answer. A human... Discord looked to himself noticing he was still a draconequus; he quickly hid himself from any peeping eyes. He used his chaos magic and looked for the highest levels of chaos. He got a signal right away. He levitated following the trail of chaos which just seemed to dance through the air. Walking through the street was a teenage girl in a zipped up black hoodie. Alas, it was not the girl that seemed to radiate the wonderful chaos but the newborn child in her arms. She quickly walked, not caring that she was soaked. Discord followed her until she stopped outside of an orphanage. She set the child on the orphanage's doorstep and knocked before quickly running away. Discord waited for a few minutes, no one came to the door. He walked up to the newborn. It was a sleeping boy. 'Why do children always have the most chaos in them?' Discord thought. 'Let’s have a look, shall we?’ he thought with a grin. With a snap of his claws he looked into the past of the child. A young teenage girl was raped by her boyfriend and his friends. Her parents only cared what the outside world thought of them. She was kept home and locked in her room so no one would know of her child. And then the child was a born and given the this orphanage. He was truly born in chaos. Discord smiled and said "You were born in chaos, so let you be raised in chaos.” The child's eye slowly opened, a soft cry escaped his lips. "It's okay! Just, uh... just go back to sleep." Discord said worriedly, the babies cries only getting louder. "Uh... Uh... umm... ah-HA of course you’re just hungry." Discord said took one of his two fangs, turned it into a bottle, and gave it to the baby. The small babies crying stopped instantly. "See? Now come on, you're coming home with me." With that they left for Discord's 'Not a Stargate'. On the other side of the gate Discord looked down at his human baby and found a new born draconequus. "What? How did this happen?" he whispered as he lifted up the draconequus, finding no human in sight. He looked at the draconequus and noticed something, it looked just like him, but only missing a tooth. This led to a sudden realization by Discord. ‘The Stargate must have recognized a foreign body that wasn’t compatible with this world, and so it created a new body based on any nearby information, in this case being the DNA from my tooth-bottle. Brilliant!’ "You're my... my... uhh... You need a name don't you?" Discord asked the baby draconequus, who replied with a giggle. "You'll be... my son... MY Strife." One Hundred Years Later "Happy hundredth birthday!" Discord shouted to Strife as he jumped out of a giant cake. Strife squealed in happiness. "You are now officially a centenarian! I'm just soo~ happy!" Discord said, picking up Strife and twirling him around. Strife was so small that he didn't even have his horns in yet, but he just LOVED chaos. "Now come on, let's cut the cake." Discord said happily, putting Strife on his head. Discord pulled out a giant butter knife and began to cut the cake. Discord cut a small slice, big enough for Strife. Strife clapped his hands together teleporting the slice over to him. A grin bigger than any chaos could bring formed on Discord’s face. "YOU CAN CHAOS!?" He shouted happily, grabbing strife and hugging him. "Looks like we need to start your training." Strife happily squealed, and then he snatched the floating cake and began eating it. He also got more on himself and Discord than in his mouth, but they didn't care; today was a happy day. Yes, a happy day indeed. Discord started up a phonograph and happily played with his son. Six Hundred Years Later "Strife~" Discord said in a sing-song way as he creaked open his son’s door. "Five more minutes?" Strife groaned into his pillow. "Come on! Guess what day it is?~" "Let Strife sleep in day?" "Nooo~" "Then I don't know." "It's take your son to work day!" Discord said, happily kicking the door open. The sudden slam made Strife fall out of his bed. "AHG-oohwf" he cried, hitting the floor. "Phf-BAHAHAHAHAHAHA!" Discord fell to the floor, tears in his eyes. "Shut-up!" Strife's voice cracked. Hearing the break in his son’s voice, Discord quickly slammed a paw to his mouth. "ch-hahaHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!" "Can we just go to your work already?" Strife said angrily, walking past the now crying of laughter Discord. "Oh, haha... of course. Let’s go!" and with a snap of Discord's claw they were at his throne. "Now let’s have some-" Discord’s entire body began to shake. "Oh no..." "Dad, what's wrong?" Strife asked worriedly. "Strife, two bad ponies are coming here to try and get me." Strife's eyes widened with fear. "B-but you can take 'em, right?" "Strife, don't worry. Both you and I know that I can take on anyone! Because I have a plan!" Discord then showed Strife a small bag with black seeds in it. "But I do need you to do something, alright?" Strife gave a salute "Yes, sir!" "I need you to hide and do not interfere. No matter what!" "Are you sure?" "Yes, now hide!" Strife snapped his claw and disappeared. Discord sighed to himself, he knew that there was a high chance that he wouldn't be coming back. ‘However,’ he thought, ‘I must find a way, if not for anything else, for my son’. Discord grabbed his chair and turned it away from where the alicorns would be coming. He sat down and waited. He heard their hoof-steps approach. He spun his chair around, "Oh, this is so much fun. How about a game of ‘Pin the Tail on the Pony’?" Discord mocked, showing them Celestia's tail in his paw. She let out a small gasp. "Play time is over for you, Discord!" "Oh I doubt that." He said, throwing some seeds into his mouth. "Hungry?" he asked, throwing a few at the alicorns, they didn't reply. "Suit yourselves," he said as he shoved a claw- full of seeds into his mouth. The alicorns opened their bag and levitated three gems each. Discord was intrigued by this. "Oh, what have you got there?" He asked putting a claw to his chin. "The Elements of Harmony." Said Celestia "With them, we shall defeat you!" Luna said "BAHAHA! You should see yourselves right now." Discord now knew he was going to win. "The expressions on your face. So intense. So sure of yourselves, Ahahah!" The two alicorns put their horns together, and a large rainbow swirled in the air. It launched itself at Discord "Hilarious!" As the magic hit him, he was turned to stone, his laughing pose frozen in time. Strife sat there, his jaw literally hitting the floor. He didn't know what to think; he just saw his father just get murdered. 'I... don't know what to do,' he thought. For the first time in his seven hundred year life, he didn't know what to do. One thing was evident: he was angry. He didn't know what to do and he was absolutely livid. 'I'll KILL THEM!' he mentally shouted. With snap of his claws and a poof of smoke he was invisible. He crept up on the alicorns as they talked and he pulled out a long blade. The two alicorns stood in amazement as the world around them changed to a grass plain. Houses fell from the sky back into place, fish stopped flying, and there was no more Discord. "It's... wonderful," said Celestia. "I never thought I would see the day," said Luna. Strife was right behind them, he raised his blade and- stopped. He looked to his father and remembered what he was taught, 'You never kill. After all, it's just a joke,' he remembered. It was his father’s number one rule. Strife lowered his blade and he walked over to his father. That's when he felt it, chaos. It was coming from the statue. His dad wasn't dead, just imprisoned. But the magic keeping him there was too strong. It would take a thousand years of chaos to break through that. Strife did the one thing that he could think to do and left. Before he left, he gave his dad a farewell gift: his father’s old phonograph, preloaded with his dad’s favorite song.
[E] Chapter !The surface of the moon was quiet. The Equis hung over the star spotted night sky. The Moon was lifeless all except for two beings. The first of the two being a pitch black alicorn named Nightmare Moon. She had a tall, lean figure that could bring a stallion to their knees. Her mane was a slice of the night sky, it seemed to flow in an invisible breeze. Her eyes teal and had cat-like slits. Her cutie mark covered her flank a dark purple with a crescent moon. Finally, she wore light blue battle armor. The other being was much stranger, his body like a snake, but covered in brown fur. His tail was red, shaped like a dragon’s and had a white tuft of hair at the end of it. His right leg was an alligator's and his left was an antelope's. His left hand was a eagle's claw and his right was a lion's paw. He had a blue pegasus wing and a bat's wing. He had a head like that of a goat/pony, his mane was black, yet his bangs were a snow white. His eyes were yellow and his pupils were red, as well one pupil was larger than the other. Finally he had an antler and a blue goat horn atop his head (but unlike his father he had no facial hair). This one's name was Strife. They having a one-sided conversation, as Nightmare Moon seemed to be on a rant. When Nightmare Moon first met Strife she hated him. But after a year or so with him she decided some company would be better than none. Strife was the only being to seem even remotely interested in the alicorn. She didn't know why, but it was nice to talk to someone. However, sadly, even he had to go sometimes, and then she would be left to her thoughts. She hated being alone, but when Strife came back he would always have a gift for her. She didn't know why he was so nice. In fact, she didn't know much of him or why he did what he did, after a few hundred years his antics dwindled down to “Strife just being Strife". "-and she dare say that I was in the wrong!" Nightmare Moon finished, breathing heavily. Strife rubbed his chin, deep in thought. "But Nightmare, if the world was trapped in everlasting night, wouldn't everything freeze over?" He asked softly. Nightmare Moon looked at him blankly. "... I guess I never thought that far..." Strife gasped "Idea!~" "What?" "Oh... never mind. It’s nothing..." "Obviously it wasn't nothing!" She said angrily. "Well, I was just thinking that, you know, with my--” Strife snapped his claw and a feather appeared, falling to the ground like a rock '--powers and all I could make it work. But... No, never mind. It probably would never work. With y'know, Celestia and all..." At the name of her ex-sister Nightmare Moon gritted her teeth, "Oh when I get free I don't think we'll have to worry about her!" At hearing this an evil smile appeared on Strife's face as he snapped his claw. Nightmare Moon blinked a few times before letting out a soft yawn. "I think I shall go to sleep," she started for her bed (it was one of the first gifts Strife gave her). "Let me," Strife said, snapping his claw once more. In a flash, Nightmare Moon found herself in her bed. "Comfortable?" "Yes indeed.” She let out a unladylike yawn and shut her eyes. “Sleep well... friend..." she said as her eyes drifted shut. Strife stood there, blinking once, then twice. His eyes were wide in shock. "Friend?" he whispered before disappearing in a cloud of smoke. Canterlot The city of Canterlot was beautiful. White buildings covered the streets, the worst looking buildings were a dull grey. The streets were bustling even though the sun began to dip below the horizon. Alas, no one was in the castle courtyard, where there stood a garden of statues. A large puff of smoke appeared next to a particularly unique sculpture. From the smoke stood Strife, a solemn look in his eyes. He looked to the statue, knowing that it was more than just a piece of some artists strange imagination. He looked before the prison of his father, Discord. Strife conjured a wooden bench and sat down. "Hey dad, sorry for not visiting for so long. But if you didn't notice I've been trying to get you out." He began to smile. "I had an idea... after a few hundred years of spreading little bits of chaos everywhere, I thought 'why not one large moment of chaos!' So I have been trying to get Nightmare Moon off the moon, but I can't... the spell keeping her there is just too strong... I don't know how to say this but," he took in a deep breath, "she called me her friend." He paused as if waiting for a response. "I just don't know what to do. The last thing I ever called a friend was over eight hundred years ago! ... I just- ugh! feel like getting her out is... something more? I just... “‘ he sighed’” Thanks for listening dad..." Strife looked up at his dad and sighed before getting up. He held out his claw, "See ya dad." As he snapped his claw, he disappeared. The Moon The smell of something wonderful flittered through the air, causing Nightmare Moon’s eyes to slowly open. She groggily looked around. She saw Strife cooking... she didn't know what they were but they looked flat, tan, and circular. They smelled wonderful and the stranger part was there were thousands of them, in gigantic piles. Strife inhaled deeply and sighed "... I love the smell of three hundred seventy-two thousand eight hundred forty-four pancakes in the morning... Smells like victory!" he said proudly. "Strife, what are you doing?" Nightmare Moon asked. "Oh! Morning, Nightmare! I was just making you some breakfast." "Oh! Thank you," she said surprisedly as she began to get out of bed. "But what did you make?" "Pancakes! Trust me, you'll like them," he said, conjuring two chairs and a table. He set down the plates and silverware and placed six pancakes on each plate. "Okay..." She sat down, grabbing a fork as she began to cu- "Wait! they still need syrup and butter." He quickly added a cut of butter and covered the pancakes in syrup. "Now dig in," he said, smiling. Nightmare Moon began to eat her pancakes, and she couldn't lie, they were pretty good. Swallowing her mouth full she voiced her compliments. "It was nothing, but thank you!" he said, happily. Time passed as they ate in silence. "Do you miss being on Equis?" he asked suddenly. "What ever do you mean?" "It's just... it's your home right? So don't you miss it?" A slight frown formed on Nightmare Moon's face. "Of course I do." "I'm sorry..." "Huh?" "I'm sorry." "What for?" she asked, confused. "You're trapped here and I can't help you..." He stood out of his chair "what kind of friend am I?" Strife whispered the last part looking away. Strife felt a hoof on his shoulder, he looked to see Nightmare moon, a heart melting smile on her face. He returned the smile, and with a snap of his claw they were sitting at the top of a crater. They sat there looking at Epuis. Strife spoke up "I've never told you anything about me have I?" Nightmare Moon shook her head. "Do you want to know?" she nodded. "Okay, but just to warn you this is gonna get deep... So the main story of my life began nine hundred years ago, when my father died..."
[E] Chapter @ [E] Chapter @ After watching my father's defeat, I did one of the only things I knew (or could do); I took a walk. I needed time to think, to recollect my thoughts. I can still remember the fields I walked through, empty. That was the only word to really describe them, empty. Even without the constant chatter of nearby birds as I blankly walked for who knows how long, thinking about what to do next was one of the hardest things I've done. I couldn't think; I was angry, confused, and I wanted to have dad back. I remember thinking that he was gone... not dead, but he may as well be. Even if I were to talk to him, would he answer back? Would he be able to hear me at all? A millennium of being trapped in his own body. Would he even be the same when he returned? "Trapped in his own body? What do you mean?" Nightmare Moon asked. "Well the unicorns that attacked him... used a spell." "But a paralyze spell would have worn off in a few hours." "Well, these unicorns had these... gems that focused a spell. It paralyzed him indefinitely." "Being trapped in your own body, I wouldn't wish that on my worst enemy" "Yeah... of course you wouldn’t." Strife softly whispered. If someone was watching me, I can only imagine what they saw. My eyes narrowed, burning with fire. 'Who would do that? Knowing what's going on, but not being able to do anything about it?' I thought, body slightly shaking in anger. 'But an eye for an eye... right?' So I just kept walking, minutes turned to hours and hours to days. “Days?” "Just listen to the story!" I didn't talk, I didn't even divert from my path. All I wanted to do walked and let my mind think. I don't remember when I finally fell asleep but when I awoke I was in bed. 'Was it all a dream?' I thought as I looked around. 'D-did dad change my room? O-of course he di-d' My eyes went wide as they darted around the room. My tail curled up in between my legs and I held it in my arms. I couldn't hold it back as my eyes started to water, and I silently cried myself back to sleep. "You cried yourself to sleep? How old were you?" "Hey! I was only seven hundred!" "Yeah, hundred!" Strife slapped a paw to his face. "In Draqonoques years I was seven... it's NOT that hard to understand. I was also the size of the foal. I was just a little kid." "...Oh..." When I woke up I was being held in the arms of a griffin (to this day I still don't know how she held a foal like that...). She smiled, "Don't worry, it’s okay, I'm here." Her voice sounded like an angel’s. "Really?" "Of course," a calm and much deeper voice said. I looked over to see a grey pegasus, his mane a darker grey. "Who were they?" "If you let me finished I'll tell you!" Strife said, irritated. "Well... to make a long story a bit shorter, for some of the more impatient ponies." Strife shot a glare at Nightmare Moon before continuing. "They were together for three years, but could never had kids. They prayed over and over again, but then I came. They said I was their own little gift from Faust. They became a second family to me. Grey Cloud was like a father and Elizabeth a mother. Every day we sat down at the dinner table like real family, every Sunday we went to church. But they got older and older, and I stayed the same." *sniff* "Are you okay?" "Yeah... I'm fine it's just back then I never really thought about the life span of ponies. One day Grey Cloud got sick he was only thirty-six... But I'll never forget what Elizabeth said to me..." She was crying, I could hear it from my room. I couldn't stand to hear her cry. I creeped out into the hallway. It was after sun down, and I should have been in bed... but I couldn't stand it... When I got to her door I slowly pushed it open. I saw her on her bed crying her eyes out. "Mom?" I asked weakly "You okay?" "H-Honey! I didn't *sniff* hear you come in." "Are you okay?" "Yes of course d-dear." "A-are you sure." At the time I thought about how my mom would never tell a lie, but how could she seem so sad if she said she wasn’t? I hopped onto her bed and lay on her lap. She started to pet my mane, her breath was shaky. "H-honey?" "Yeah?" "When I grow old, will... will you buy me a house of gold?" "Anything for you!" I said cheerfully, she laughed at that. "A-and when your father die- turns to... stone, will you take care of me?" "Of course..." "Of course at the time she didn't know it, but the stone struck a little too close to home. Then years later they both died... and I tried to make friends but soon they died too. I couldn't go through anyone close to me dying anymore so I stopped making friends..." "I'm sorry to hear that... If I can do anything, just ask." Strife was shaking slightly, his paw clenched. He took a deep breath, "Thank you, it means a lot. You have no idea." He smiled, "But I wont be needing it, had nine hundred years to deal." "Alright then..." Nightmare Moon leaned back, together she and Strife watched the Equis float across the sky. Strife looked over to Nightmare Moon, his mind couldn't help but drift to the first time they met. The Moon, Seven hundred year back. Nightmare Moon sat on the moon, no one else could be seen for miles. It was an empty wasteland. It was around six hundred years into her banishment. She just sat there and talked. "So I walked up to her and told her exactly how she feels! we say 'Did you really expect me to sit idly by as they all basked in your precious light?!' and at this point I am pissed 'There can be only one princess in Equestria, and that princess IS ME!' and then I attacked." she stared at the pale of rocks(that happened to be in the vague shape of a pony) and waited for an answer. "*sigh* I should really stop doing this." "Well I think you have a bigger problem." Nightmare Moon spun around, eyes wide. "Who goes there?!" Her voice was strong yet had a slight waver. "What? You don't want to know what your 'bigger' problem is?" "Tell me who you are!" she demanded, looking around the empty landscape. "Right behind you," the voice whispered. Nightmare Moon spun around, blind firing. A draconequus stood in front of Nightmare moon, a large burnt hole through his stomach. He looked down at the hole then at the pony in front of him. He then proceeded to stick a paw through the hole. "Do you think that's gonna need stitches?" "Wait?" . "I said 'Do you think'-" "I know what you said!" "Oh! Sorry, I can be a little thick at times," he said, snapping his fingers and turning into a brick wall. "What in tartarus are you anyway?" "Really?" he deadpanned. "I think I would remember a walking mosh pit of animals." "Well then it looks like you have two problems then..." "And what, pray tell, are they?" "HA!" He snapped his claw. "Bet you would like to know that!" he scoffed. "That's for me to know and you to find out." "How long?" she asked coldly. "Huh? 'How long' what?" "’Till I find out, or you tell me." "Straight to the point I see..." he sighed, pulling out a calculator. "Givin' you obviously don't like me, and I'll be giving you clues... a couple hundred years... Or weeks... days? I really don't know." He shrugged. "Oh Faust... How long are you going to be here?" A non-evil-what-so-ever-definitely-just-a-regular-grin formed on his lips "As long as I need to. The name’s Strife by the way." "I don't care!" she called as she began to walk away. *Poof* *THUD* Nightmare Moon turned around to see a queen sized bed, the sheets a dark purple, the bed posts went up higher and connected into a square frame with view covers hanging off the top frame. It was truly a bed fit for a queen. Nightmare Moon looked out were strife last stood, and said quitly “Maybe this wont be so bad...”
[Not Edited]Chapter #Canterlot was shrouded in darkness. But if one were to look at a clock it would say it would be only a couple of minutes before noon. In one of the many halls of the large castle, and in one of the many rooms was the room of the Princess. In the bed room, in the bed was the sleeping form of Princess Celestia herself. Her chest rose and fell harshly, her bed sheets were soaked and tossed aside. Tossing and turning she jolted awake. Her eyes darted across the room, seeing nothing was out of place she slowing got out of bed. With shaking legs she slowly walked to her bathroom. She looked at the mirror her magenta eyes stared back, her crown still atop her head(for what ever reason), her muted rainbow color hair not flowing, but it rested at her hooves. Her eyes were red as well her face was covered in dried tears. Turning the sink on, she put her hooves under the cold stream of water. Rubbing her face clean of sleeping. Looking back up at the mirror she found the face in the mirror was not her own, but her sisters. She jumped back in fright. "Luna?" she choked. Getting back on her hooves she looked back into the mirror; she found her own refection once again. Seeing in the mirror her crown fell off she let out a shaky chuckle and used her magic- 'What?' she tried to use her magic once more... nothing. Her eyes shot open, if she had any traces of sleep left it was gone now. Her breath sped up looking at mirror she found her mane not flowing. 'If my mane isn't flowing then...' "M-My magic is low..." She finished out load. "But if my magic is low then how can I raise the sun in the morning!" Galloping out of the bathroom she(picked up her crown on the way and) looked at the grandfather clock next to her door. The time was five before noon. "no." She whispered just before, she grunted as she gripped her head in her hooves, falling to the ground. She could feel her magic flow back into her along with some old and new memories. "I remember..." she stated softly. "Heave!" Yelled a muffled voice, Celestia's door shook. "Heave!!" Yelled the voice again, a loud crack could be heard as a great weight slammed into it. "HEAVE!!!" The voice yelled one last time before the door came crashing inwards and a dozen of Celestia's personal guards came hurtling into the room. "Princess!" A white unicorn guard came rushing towards the downed Celestia. "I need help!" He called over to the other guards, he and the other guards using there magic started to lift Celestia. "Thank you." She said softly as the guards supporting her the best they could. "what happened? We've been trying to get in here since six!" The unicorn from before said all most shouting but quickly apologized afterwards. "Don't apologize it's alright I can understand your frustration... wait six?" "Yes your highness, the room was sealed up with over a hundred runes and spells! My head still hurts like crazy..." he mumbled the last part rubbing his head. "You were able to disable my sist- Nightmare Moon's spells?" "My special talent is shields- wait Nightmare Moon? She's REAL?!" "WHAT?!" Yelled a few other guards. "Yes, she is and she is back." Once she finished several guards fainted. The guard in front of her was the only one still standing strong,. "Princess, what did she to you?" "Luna- no Nightmare Moon, came to me before the Summer Sun Celebration, she placed me in my worst nightmare. But thanks to you destroying those runes I was able to awake." "Princess... all the spells were protection spells not dream spells..." Said the guard. The princess's eyes widened "Then that can only mean... she did it." Her spirit seemed to lift ten fold as she literately took a jump for joy. "Who?" "My student!" She said overjoyed "What did Twilight do?" "Fix every thing." The princess said before bolting out of the room. But quickly hopped backing before asking, "How do I look?" "Fine..." The guard said confused. "Good!" She left once more before picking her head in again, "Wait, do you know Twilight?" "Yeah, she's my sister." The guard said flatly. "Shining?" "Yeah." he said taking off his helmet. "It's been a long time, how have you been?" "Radical." Shining Armor stated. "Good." She said run out once more before peeking in one last time to say. "Oh by the way, I think your due for a promotion!" She stated smiling before leaving. And Shining stood there bug eyed just before- Thud The Everfree Forest "Ugh... my head." Groaned a rainbow manned pegasus by the name of Rainbow Dash. "thga... is everypony okay?" Asked the blond, orange earthpony named Apple Jack. "Oh thank goodness!" said the white unicorn fashionista, completely ignoring Apple Jack's concern. "Oh Rarity it's so lovely!" The butter yellow pegasus called Fluttershy complimented. "Oh I know! and I'll never part with it again." Rarity said happily swishing her new tail back and forth. "No, Your necklaces, it looks just like your cutie mark!" She said pointing to the necklace now around her friends neck. "Huh? So does yours!" She said pointing out Fluttershy's necklaces. At that moment a Pinkie Pie, a pony completely colored pink hopped around happily saying, "Look at mine, Look at mine!" as she showed off her element of harmony. "Ahhhhhh yeah!" Rainbow said happily looking at her element. Around the room everypony had an element-necklace except for Twilight Sparkle who had a golden crown with her element as a star colored gem crown. "Gee Twilight, I thought you were just spouting a lot of hoo-wee, but I reckon we really do represent the elements of friendship!" Applejack stated. "Indeed you do!" Said a regal Voice coming from a broken window. The ponies with in the room could see the sun began to rise and a bright light appear. Only one pony truly knew what it was, and that was Twilight. The bright light was a spell. A teleportation spell to be exact. I soon the light dissipated and there stood Princess Celestia herself. Every pony in the room stretched out there forelegs and lowered their heads, bowing to the Princess. Every pony except Twilight, who looked up to the Princess with glee. "Princess Celestia!" she announced even though everyone knew who she was, and walked up to her. She leaned against the Princess. "Twilight sparkle, my faithful student." The Princess said back lowing herself to nuzzle Twilight. "I knew you could so it." Twilight backed away from her mentor, "But you told me that it was all an old wives' tale." she said confused. "No, Twilight I told you, that you needed to make some friends. Nothing more." Celestia replied with a soft smile. She began to look out to the other ponies in the room as they got up one by one. "I saw the signs of Nightmare Moon's return and I knew that you had the magic in side to defeat her. But you could not unleash it until you let true friendship into your heart." Celestia stated. Twilight light looked over to her friends smiling, and the smiled back, but before words could be said Celestia spoke up. "Now only if another would as well." She looked over to a small pony, her coat was light blue and she sat in the smoking remains of shattered armor. "Princess Luna," She stated firmly, jolting the alicorn awake. The now named Princess Luna looked up to Celestia in fear. "It has been a thousand years since I've last seen you like this." Celestia knelt down to meet Luna Face to Face. "We were meant to rule this kingdom together, sister." Everypony in the room gasped, as Twilight was utterly flabbergasted. If Celestia heard them she didn't show it. Celestia Stood up and finished "Luna will you except my hoof in friendship?" Everypony leaned forward in concern, Including the pink party mare to lean I little to much and fell over. Luna looked downward for only a second before jumping over to her sister trapping her in a hug. "I'm sorry, so very sorry! I missed you so much. Please forgive me Tia!" "Of course I do, Lulu of course I do." The two mares began to softly crying as they held each other, as if for dear life. Celestia heard Pinkie Pie began to cry, but her crying soon stopped and she began. "Do you know what that means?" Then she went quiet for a few seconds just before jumping up and saying. "A party!!!" She began to trot happily to the door. Her friends looked at the mare leave out the door... to most deadly forest ever know... with a smile plastered on her face. Celestia opened her eyes, she looked at her sister. The sister she lost all those years ago, the sister she loved. Moving her eyes upwards. Then she saw it. She saw him. The draconequus stood there his face had a cold look. His body was ragged and worn. His hands were clenched tightly, shaking slightly. He mouthed the words 'Everybody deserves a happy moment.' and before Celestia could do anything he snapped his fingers and vanished. "Come on Princess!" The party mare called out. Celestia looked around and saw everypony was oblivious to the danger that was just in the room. She sighed softly and spoke "I'll take us to town", with that she charged a teleportation spell.
[Not Edited]Bonus ChapterPonies rejoiced over the return of princess Luna and the recent defeat of Nightmare Moon. Ponies ran through the street whooping and cheering. The Summer Sun Celebration was finally complete when the sun rose no less that at noon. Ponies sung happily greeting the new princess with open arms, as well they cheered for the sun that had finally come back up. But some ponies went on with there day like any other, just outside the train station an earth pony stallion sat on a wooden bench. His mud brown coat match his mane and dirt brown eyes. His tail and mane were cut short but his mane was buzzed along its sides in a strange way. He wore a light blue flannel and a white blazer. Next to him was a suitcase and a white box filled with a random assortment of chocolates. Finally on his flank was a tree stump Cutie Mark. The earthpony sat there, his face filled with mirth. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath as he listened to the birds. He could hear the sounds of the town's ponies celebrating. He would celebrate as well but he had places to be and griffins to see. Opening his eyes he looked out to the train tracks, then to a nearby field. A few fouls played ball in said field. A soft smile spread across his face. 'Ah always did enjoy the small things in life.' he thought happily. He heard the soft clip-clop of hooves approaching him. He looked over to see a tall lanky stallion. The stallion sat down and with a huff he blew his white bangs out of his face and with his hoof he patted down his black messy mane. The earthpony looked at the strangers simple grey coat then it his blue unicorn horn. 'That's strange...' He thought. A dull expression was plastered on the unicorn's face, his bright red eyes blinked blinked slowly. The unicorns Cutie Mark was a yellow smiley face with its tongue sticking out and a fake arrow going through its head. The brown earth pony spoke up first "Hello, My names Forest, Forest Stump. What's yours?" The unicorn looked over at Forest "My name is..." He paused before saying simply "Strife." Forest opened his small white box and held it out to Strife saying "You wanna chocolate Mr. Strife?" "I'm fine-" He started to say cutting him self off before saying "Why not?" A purple aura coated his horn as he levitated a single piece of chocolate to his muzzle uttering a quick "Thank you" before popping it into his mouth. "There good aren't they?" Said the earth pony getting a 'mm'hm' from Strife. "Ah could just eat a million and a half of them." Forest smiled. He grabbed a chocolate saying "My momma always said life's like a box of chocolates." Eating one he quoted his momma "You never know what you gonna get." "She sounds very smart." The unicorn said calmly. "She was.. Now that Ah think of it she also said 'there's an awful lot you can tell about a pony's hooves. Where they goin', where they been.'" He looked at Strife and he looked back. "So where've you been?" Strife look down, with a frown "Through a lot." he stated simply. "Me too.." the smallest of frowns crossed his lips just before it was replaced by a smile. "Ya know... it's funny how something's you can remember and others you can't. Ah can't recall when Ah got my Cutie Mark, or when Ah went to my first outdoor picnic... but Ah do remember the first time Ah ran and the first time Ah herd the sweetest voice in the world." Strife sucked in a deep breath and let it out "Me too." He let his head rest against the back if the bench as he closed his eyes. "Her name was Jenny she was a griffin, and we were friends all the way up to high school. Ah couldn't run till Ah met her. and after that Ah ran every where!" He exclaimed. "It used to be Ah ran to get where Ah was goin'... Ah never thought it would me anywhere. Ah went so many places, cross Equestria and back... and met so many great ponies." "I've met hundreds of great ponies, griffins, and many others..." The grey pony said softly, his eyes still shut. Forest opened his mouth to say something but he was cut off as the sound of a train whistle could be heard. Not to long the screeching of wheels could be heard and a train now sat in front of the two ponies. A crowd of ponies stampeded out of the train as the the conductor yelled "ALL ABOARD!" Once this was said a few ponies that were milling around began to enter the train. The brown stallion got up and walked over to the conductor asking. "Is this the number nine train?" "Yes sir indeed, it is" "Thank you" Forest began to get on the train but not before "Have a nice day, Mr. Strife." He said with a wave . Strife opened his eyes a waved back "You too Forest, you too." He sighed and with that he was gone, pulling out a small wooden box with a crank. It looked as if the paint it once held all since fell off long ago. He set it next to him and started moving the crank with his magic. He listened to the song play and a small smile formed on his face. It soon disappeared though. 'Once again... in my twenty one hundred year life, I'm alone...' he sighed closing his eyes and thought about what happened before Nightmare Mon got out as he let the song play.
[Not Edited]Chapter $ The following story has not been edited in any way read my bad grammar and spelling at your own risk. But feel free to point out any of my errors. I have no idea how many there are... The Day Before Nightmare Moon's return "Now... Where do I begin?" Strife asked himself as he paced back and forth in front of a chalk board. "You could always just build a cannon... no... yeah no that would NOT work." Said the draconequus "The opposite of harmony is chaos. But you already know this." He grumbled to a near by mirror. "Now I'm just spit balling here, how about you take a break. hmm?" Suggested the reflection. "What?! I can't!" His inverted friend raised an eye brow. "Can't or wont?" Strife gritted his teeth. "Wont." The mirrored man sighed "You need a break, get some sleep! Staying up 24/7 will not help anyone!" Strife glared at the mirror. "Not working won't help either!" His counter part just pinched the bridge of his nose, before turning back into a simple refection. Strife conjured a chair, and sat down. With a sigh and a snap if his claw a wine glass appeared in his hand. "Maybe..." He began "I should take a break... There is no use in arguing with myself." He then poured some water into his glass. "But where would I go?" He wondered as he took a sip. "What would I do?" He pondered. "I could rest under a tree; in a hammock! I could listen to the birds and... and uh... read a book!" "Normal ponies do that. They also go sight seeing! Well... I've already see most of the world..." He sighed "Well whats wrong with reruns?" He said to on one. "Well. now that I think of it." With a snap of his claw- Tome Finder walked through the Canterlot Archive as he did on many days. The Light brown Unicorn didn't mind his job, in fact he loved it. All he had to do was walk and use his magic to feel the book. Strange job to those who didn't under stand its importance. All he had to do was feel all the books and write down if they were there or not. Simple. So far he had went over 10 million books of the over 15 million books in the collection. Only 24 of the 10 million books were not in the library at this time; due to the small amount of ponies even aloud in. "Almost done." He sighed happily. The dead silence of the library was interrupted by a soft ding. The dark wooded book selves allowed sound to traverse the silent halls with ease. Tome Finder's dull grey eyes widen behind his glasses as he looked back through the towering hall of literature. Alas he knew what that bell was, "Coming!" He yelled, as he quickly backtracked through the halls. After a few minuets he was at the entrance of the Archive. A large semi-circle desk sat about ten feet in front of the entrance's large wooden doors. The desk had scatted papers strewn across it's surface. Standing in front of the desk was a young lavender mare. "Hello, you rang?" He asked in his monotone voice as he walked up to the desk. "Yes, I wanted to ask if you had the book 'Lore; Equestria Edition'?" Levitating a clip board off the desk he asked "Name?" "Mr. Finder you already know my name." She deadpanned. "Name?" He repeated "Twilight Sparkle." She sighed "May I see your Cutie Mark?" He asked. She reply with a turn of her body to get him the best view of her Cutie Mark. Looking between his Clipboard and the mare's flank he asked "Why would you like that book Mrs. Sparkle?" "The Princess recommended it." "LIES!" He snapped at her. Twilight took a step back, "wha-what?" Mr. Finder's angry expression faded away and fell into a grin before he let out a fit of load laughter. "Ah-HAHAHA I GOT YOU THERE HAHAHA, THE LOOK ON YOUR FACE!" The lavender mare winced at the stallion's very very loud laughter. "HA... hahaha...ha Sorry Twilight, It just couldn't be helped, not much to talk to except the book." He said smiling. "Come with me, I'll get the book." Tome Finder lit his horn and began down one of the hallways of books as Miss Sparkle begrudgingly followed. After a moment or two she caught up with the brown unicorn. "You really should lighten up Twilight, it was just a joke after all." "Well It wasn't funny." She grumbled "O' come on, it's not like it killed you or anything." Tome's only response was a few angry grumbles. "Hey calm down we're almost to your book." After a few minuets Tome Finder pulled out a hefty looking book with his magic and tossed it to Twilight. He then turned around and began his way down the forest of books. "Where are you going?" she asked catching the thrown book. "Back to checking all the books." He said as he dissipated down the dusty halls of books. Twilight stood there. Alone in the empty section of the library. Twilight shivered and took a quick glance around. "I forgot how creepy this place is when" she made an audible gulping noise. "you're... alone." Her breathing increased and her eyes began to shrink as she felt as if something was watching her. Reading out every single one of her moves, right down to the amount of sweat droplets beginning to form on her now panicked face. Six, six droplets of sweat formed and began so slowly make their way down her face. "Now I would love to read all these book I thinkIneedtogetgoingokaythanksBYE!!!" she quickly said before bolting out of the labyrinth of books with her new book in tow. The door made a loud slamming noise as the panicking mare put her full body weight on the door. Twilight breathed loudly as her eyes darted between the two confused guards. "Miss Sparkle?" Asked the first guards. "y-yes?" "Did something happen?" Asked the second guard. "Yes..." "What happened?" The first guard asked. "Well... It's hard to explain." "Try me." Said the second guard, before looking to the other guard. "Us. Try us." "Well, it seems rather silly now but I felt like I was being watched ha... ha." "Get going." The First guard deadpanned. Twilight walked away with a sheepish look. As Twilight walked down the hall she didn't hear the guards continue to talk. "I told you I wasn't the only one." Said the second guard. "Shut up." Said the First. Twilight made her way thought the maze that was a castle. If she didn't come here almost everyday for almost more than half her life she knew she would have been lost. She made her way out of the castle. On her way out she said "Hello." to the guards she passed, they gave her a nod in return. She existed one of the many side entrance, the door let out into the southwester area of the gardens. A small ways away, Twilight could see the famous Canterlot statue garden, sitting right next too the also famous Canterlot Maze. Taking a left, Twilight left to gardens through a servant entrance and started her way to her favorite "spot" to read. The "spot" was right next to one of Canterlot's many parks, but not so close ponies would disturb her reading. It sat under an old tree that was there long before she was born. The tree is self was right next to a stream and only a few feet away from the bridge that let you cross the stream. The bridge was never crowded with ponies, because the bridge, tree, stream, and park were all located in the Noble's area of Canterlot. As she made her way to the "spot" she couldn't help but get giddy as she approached her reading spot. She levitated the book infront of her, she traced a hoof over the old, but well maintained book cover. "What do you hold? And why would the Princess want me to read you?" She asked to her self before putting the book back into her saddle bags. She looked to see her "spot" and somepony else in her "spot". Twilight continued her way to her "spot" and began to get a clearer image of the Unicorn in it. He was lying on a white hammock that was tied to the tree and a newly put pole. His grey coat was easily spotted on the white surface of the white sheet... wait... as Twilight got closer she could see that the hammock was not made of a sheet but of clouds. She could see the Unicorn's blue horn clear as day through his black and white mane. Twilight picked up her pace, blinked a few extra times as she closed in on the unicorn. 'Unicorns can't lay down on clouds! It's impossible! Only pegasi can walk on clouds... well unless you have a cloud walking spell. But even I don't know that! Not yet anyway.' She thought to her self. As she got closer she began to hear a soft tune. The sound was coming from a small music box. It was just a little bit bigger than her hoof. The wooden box was simple yet elegant. The think that was moving the golden handle to play the box was less elegant. It was a potted cactus with sunglasses and a sombrero, it moved the handle with on of it's cactus arms. 'Enough of this craziness, Twilight! First we're going to find out how he's on that cloud. Then we're getting "our spot" back!' With that small bit of encouragement to herself she was next to the Unicorn. His eyes were shut and he softly kicked one of his back hooves to keep the hammock swinging slowly. Twilight got the strangers atation by clearing her throat. "Ahem." The grey colt opened one red eye. "Yes~?" "You may not know this, but you are in my spot." The lavender mare said. The Stallion sat up and looked at Twilight. "Oh really?" "Yes, you are. But I completely understand that you didn't know. So if you could kindly move I would appreciate it very much." "Oh yes, I'll do that right now." The grey pony said as he put his fore hooves behind his head and snuggles deeper into the cloud. "Uh... You're not moving are you?" "What gave you that idea?" He asked with a mocking look of sympathy. Twilight gave the stallion a glare. "If looks could kill I bet I'd be half way to hell right now. But they don't so... you can go a shoo off." "UGH! You're a real jerk!" She said firmly. "Says the one trying to kick someone out of their seat." he stated obviously. "You know what? I'll be nice." With a flash of his magic the hammock was gone. The male Unicorn looked down as Twilight (It was quite easy do to the fact he stood a full head taller than Twilight). "Wha... wha... what?! That was a transmutation spell! I can't even do that!" "Just because you can't doesn't mean I can't." With another flash Twilight saw her self standing on a picnic blanket. She looked as the stallion (who now had a picnic basket) as he began to speak. "I'm not moving. But you can sit with me if you like. This is a nice as I'm willing to get." 'If I want to sit here I'm going to have to deal with him...' "Ugh fine." She sat down on the blanket. "So what is your name?" "The name is... Better... Days... yes, It's Better Days." He gave the mare a smile. He started walking in a circle on the blanket before sitting down (much like how a cat or dog would). "I'm Twilight Sparkle." "It's nice to meet you Miss Sparkle." He said taking food out of the basket. "Care for some food?" "No thank you." "More for me then." He said taking a bite out of the basket. The mare gave Better Days an uneasy look." "What?" He asked swallowing the basket. "You... just..." "Just what?" He asked confused. "Nev- never mind. Just let me read, please." Twilight said taking out her book. "Read? Mind if I join?" "Why?" She asked looking into his puppy dog eyes. "Sure." "YAY!" He took the book from Twilight and began to read. "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. This book is already boring... To do this, the eldest 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. All this talk of balance and harmony in going to make me throw up! But as time went on, the younger sister became resentful. Oh I think I hit the good part!" "You know what? Let me read it!" Twilight said angerly. "NO!" "Yes!" Twilight then forcefully took the book out of his hooves and started reading. "The ponies relished and played in the day her elder sister brought forth, but shunned and slept through her beautiful night. One fateful day, the younger unicorn refused to lower the moon to make way for the dawn. The elder sister tried to reason with her, but the bitterness in the young one's heart had transformed her into a wicked mare of darkness: Nightmare Moon." CRACK! Twilight jumped at the sound of lighting, the book flew in the air before Better Days caught it with a smirk, and started reading once more. "She vowed that she would shroud the land in eternal night. Reluctantly, the elder sister harnessed the most powerful magic known to ponydom: the Elements of Harmony. Using the magic of the Elements of Harmony, she defeated her younger sister, and banished her permanently in the moon. The elder sister took on responsibility for both sun and moon... and harmony has been maintained in Equestria for generations since." "Elements of harmony. I know I've heard of those before... but where?" Twilight said to her self. "I don't know... but I'd love to know about this prophecy." "What prophecy?" "Oh nothing, this is probable just some old wives tale!" He laughed. "Well look at the time!" He said staring straight into the sun, looking back to Twilight with burnt eyes he said "It was nice meeting you Miss Sparkle, but I really must get going, I have to help a friend." finally with a burst of light he was gone. Twilight looked at the spot where the stallion once stood. "Note to self, if I every find that pony again(or any one like him) study them!"
[Not Edited] Chapter %Strife ran through the streets in his pony form Better Days. He dodged and weaved between ponies as he ran. Many of these ponies just ignored him or yelled at him. He didn't care though, he just kept running with an angered look. "I can't believe I was so blind." He mumbled "She controls the moon for Faust's sake!" Strife looked up, the sun was high in the sky, almost noon. 'I need more time!' He thought. 'I know I'm going to regret this.' "Whelp here goes nothing." He sighed and made a sharp turn, then he headed for Canterlot Castle. "Canterlot Castle isn't all that bad. INfact I kinda like it." Strife said aloud. "Kinda, not completely, to much... white. Not saying white is a bad thing, it's just hard not to grab the nearest pack of crayons and start drawing. But besides all the white the the placement of the Castle is quite lovely. Built on the side of a mountain, and with no balloons to keep it there too! But if you knock out even one support then it will all come down. That would be- oh I'm here." Better Days looked out at the large doors that lead into Canterlot Castle. In front of them was a long line of mostly ponies, some being poor, well off, or of noble birth, all for the same reason. To talk to the princess, but sadly since it was almost lunch the Princess's day court was out for an hour or so. So she could eat of course. As well the line was slowly dissipating. He sighed "I don't have time for this." He pulled out an old dust brown scarf out of his old patch ridden saddle bags. Once that was on he put on a pare of goggles. Taking a hoof full of dirt he began to powder it all over his face and body. "Dirty, check. Goggles, check. Scarf, check. Bags, check. Looking good at looking poor? So checked!" Strife said looking at his attire. Running in a circle for a bit he bolted to the Castle's front door. He was stopped by the guards at the gate. His breathing was ragged "Ah'msosorry! ThetrainwasrunninglateandAhhadtodoextraworkdownintheminesdownatAppleloosasoAhcouldn'tgethereintimeand-" The guard cut him off "I'm sorry sir but like everyone else you're going to have to come back later." "Ah can't!" The dirtied stallion almost yelled. "Peace Ah only have an hour left in Canterlot then Ah havetoheadbacktoAppleloosaIthenAhwontbeabletoask-" "Sir Calm down" The guard asked. The other stallion started to hyperventilate. "Oh Faust oh Faust! Please sir! You have to let me in! Ah made the reservations to talk to the Princess almost three mouths ago! Ah have to see her! Please!" The Stallion was on the verge of tears. "Three mouths?" He only nodded. The guard took out the 'VIP' list, only to see a name he could swear wasn't their before, "Better Days?" "Yea that's me!" The tattered stallion said. "So you'll let me in now? "Her highness does need to eat as well, so I'm sorry but-" The stallion started to cry, he then feel down at the guard's hooves "ThetrainwasrunninglateandAhhadtodoextraworkdowninthemines! Ahcouldn'tgethereintime! Itwasn'tmyfault! Ahmadereservations!" The guard looked at the empty court yard and said "Let me see if her highness can have you. But I make no promises." "Oh thank you!" The crying stallion gave the guard a hug before the guard walked inside. He looked back and forth before seeing a maid, "Miss!" He called out. "Yes?" "Go tell the princess she has a VIP the wishes to see her." "All right." The guard walked back out side and said "I sent her a message, but don't hold you breath." Her highness Princess Celestia sat at a long table. She nibbled on some bread sticks waiting for her meal. Today's court still fresh in her mind. 'For all the trouble I have with Day court it's not always so bad.' She let out a light giggle, 'The one mare was so shy! Oh what was her name... Cheerilee? Yes I think it was, I simple must find a time for her class to visit the castle. A little field trip always seems to liven this place up. A soft knocking brought The Princess out of her thoughts. At one of the side doors was a maid, and she began to speak. "Your highness, I was told to tell you that there is a VIP to see you." Celestia looked at the maid and sighed, "Do I really have too? These nobles are starting to ware me out! I'm going to have to burn that VIP list, all it does is make nobles think they're better than everyone else!" She got up and walked up to the maid. "I'll be with them in one minute." "Yes, your highness." She then took off. "I do dislike these nobles." She said aloud to her self as she walked to the throne room. "Oh I can't look at the sun, it hurts my eyes!" She said in a fake snooty voice, "Why is there only ten types of of cheeses at the gala and not all of them? Why can't I be a princes like Blueblood?" She grumbled all the why to the throne before sitting down. Taking a deep breath and making herself look as regale as possible she said, "Let them in." 'I think I just might let this noble have...' She then saw a grey stallion walk in, he wore an old scarf and bag, obviously hand-me-downs. He was caked in dirt and wore goggles. '... a piece of my mind.' The stallion hesitantly walked to the princess, before dropping a bow. TH-WACK The princess grimace as the nervous unicorn rubbed his sore muzzle. "Yer Highness, Ah'm sorry that I was late." He gulped. "It justthatAhreservedthisandAhhatetomeetwithya-" "It's fine, do not worry." She smiled at the clumsy stallion. "You came he for a reason, so please tell me, what is it?" "Well ya see," He rubbed the back of his head. "Two years and two hundred seventy days ago I met the gal of ma life. Also being the thousandth Summer Sun Celebration Ah thought maybe you could make the night last longer." He gulped. Celestia's eyes widened only by a millimeter. A small bit, but still just enough. "Make the night last longer?" "Yeah, you see my gal she just loves the stars. Ah wanted to propose and Ah thought she would love a dance under the stars. But It bein' summer and what not, night time is just so short and Ah just want to make it perfect. Ya know? I understand if you don't want to make the night longer fer tonight, but please ah'm asking, no beggin' ya. Please." He was on his knees and had his hooves together in the classic begging motion. Celestia looked down at the stallion a smile began to make it's way to her lips. She got off her throne and walked up to the stallion. "I think I can you that." She said as she placed on hoof on his shoulder. "Oh thank ya!" The stallion cried pulling the Princess into a hug so tight that a bear trap would be jealous. He let go, and a blush tinted his cheeks. "Sorry yer highness, Ah got a bit carried away." She laughed. "It's alright. But please do tell me, what is this lucky mare like?" "Ah could go on and on about Moon! She's one of the smartest gals Ah know! She also knows just when to listen and just what to say. Her eyes oh how they sparkle!" He looked at the ground, "Sorry fer troubling you, princess. I'll git goin'" "Oh it's fine. It was wonderful meeting you. I give you the best of wishes on your proposal." "Oh thank ya Princess! Ah really can't thank ya enough!" He waved as he left, and he left the castle the a spring in his step. The Princess went back to her lunch a smile still plastered onto her face. 'I can't believe she was right... I can't believe it.' The princess thought. Strife skipped down the streets of Canterlot. His smile was as plane as day. 'Glad that's over, but you know, who still got it? That's right, I still got it! That was easier than shooting fish in a barrel!' The sun still high in the sky, and Strife knew just what to do. "It's all coming together. Soon... So soon." A soft chuckle rose to his lips, soon that chuckle became a strong laughter, then it faded away all together as he let out a sigh. "Today is the day." He said to himself as he walked, he just couldn't help himself. With a double tap from his right hoof music began to play, and he begun to sing. "Fly me to the moon! Let me play among the stars. Let me see what spring is like on a-Jupiter and Mars." The rest of the song wasn't heard as he turned into dust and flew of on the wind.
[Not Edited] Chapter ^Chapter ^ Nightmare Moon's eyes shot open as she was startled by the loud sound of brass instruments. She tumbled out of her bed and hit the wooden floor. She looked up and saw Strife in a suit while he was surrounded by floating instruments. He tapped his foot as the music quieted. "What's the matter with you?!" Nightmare Moon asked sharply. She she answered with another sharp blare of brass music. "No... there's more?" Strife grinned as the drum kicked in for a but then sung once again. "Fill my heart with song! Let me sing fo~or ever more!" Strife started started to make his way to the dark alicorn. "You are all I long for All I worship and adore." At hearing this the dark mare's cheeks began to tint just the tiniest bit pink. "In other words, please be truu~~~u~~~" The music was blaring now. "~~~u~~~ue- *IN** other words, in other words! I~I lo~ove..." The music was quite once more. Strife was leaning right into he face, before whipping out a mirror and pointing at it. "you.*" He then busted into laughter, and the instruments just turned into confetti. Nightmare Moon gritted her teeth and let out a sharp growl. She got up and walked out of her bedroom and into the hallway. "Oi'! It was funny!" Strife called out. He snapped his claw and was floating next to Nightmare Moon as she went down the hall. "IT was meant to make you laugh." Strife frowned at his friend's glare. "Come on Nighty, turn that frown," He said frowning, "Upside down!" He then took his head and twisted it so it would be upside down. "Nighty" didn't respond to his shenanigans and with a snap he was gone. She went down a stair case and walked into the Dinning Room. The room was just a small carpeted room with china cabinets, and a small table with two chairs. She walked out of the Dinning Room and into the Kitchen. In said Kitchen was Strife in a chefs uniform, he also had a fine and thin mustache. "Bonjour, Mademoiselle! Would will you be having to day?" Ignoring him she walked over to the soda fountain. Grabbing a mug she put in under the spout that read "Nightmare Moon's Favorite". It began to fill her mug with coffee. "Oh come on! You can't ignore me forever!" He said ripping off his mustache and chefs uniform. Still ignoring him she walked back to the Dinning Room. She sat down and began to drink her coffee. Strife sat in the black and white tiled Kitchen. He paced back and forth for a bit with his hands made into fists. He punched the air a couple of times before letting out a silent yell. Snapping his claw he was in front of Nightmare Moon, he took in a breath. "Hey, Moon I'm sorry for scaring you this morning. You forgive me?" He put his are into the universal signal for a hug. "Yes." Moon, replied accepting the hug. After letting go from the hug she said "So what will we be having for breakfast?" Strife put a chefs hat onto his head once more and said "Well Mademoiselle, we will find out together." He held out his hand. The alicorn mare set her hoof in the palm of his claw, "Alright, then let's find out." Strife smiled and with a snap of his claw they were both in the kitchen. Strife went for the fridge and started to pull out things at random, all the ingredients fell into a basket being held in Moon's magic. "Thanks." He said grabbing the basket, and closing the fridge with a snap. Taking a running start Strife dived into the basket. His head popped out of the basket with a glowing soda bottle lodged in his mouth. Grabbing it with his hand he looked at the label. "Quantum" he mumbled, shrugging he threw it on the counter and jumped out of the basket with a hand full of other ingredients. Conjuring a pan onto the stove he threw a few egg onto the stove. A knife and cutting board jumped from the drying rack and hopped over to the counter and began cutting up some cheese. Throwing in a pinch of salt and two rainbow peppers, he mixed it with the eggs. Grabbing the chopped cheese he filled the pan with it. Flipping the omelette Strife spoke. "Sit, I'll be out in a few seconds." "Alright." Moon said as she left the room. Entering the dinning room she sat down at her seat. About two minutes later Strife floats in, with two omelettes. Setting one in front of Nightmare Moon, he then placed his on the other end of the table. Hopping onto the chair it began to float as he let his legs dangle off the back rest and his head hung just next to the omelette. "Why do you sit like that?" "Like what?" "Like That! all unside down." "Oh like this! Well, that is a very easy question to answer. It just makes the food taste better." He gave Nighty a smile before his fork grew legs and fed Strife. Nightmare Moon looked at the fork feed Strife and sighed. A ghost of a smile crossed her face as she ate her omelette. After they were done Strife took the plates and left for the kitchen. Setting the dishes into the sink he went back to Nightmare Moon. "Hey Moony, I wanted to show you something." Raising an eyebrow she asked "Oh really?" "Yeah!" "Will it explode?" Strife rubbed the back of his head with a claw and said, "I hope not!" "Then I'll come." "Perfect!" Strife grabbed a cloth from behind his back and tied it over her eyes. "What are you doing?!" "Just come on!" Strife responded, then with a paw he grabbed Nightmare Moon's hoof and drug her through the house. The sound of a door opening and closing met Nightmare's ears before Strife said she could remove it. What stood before her was not what she expected. In front of her was an unholy amount of dresses. All of them were different sizes, some too large and some so small only a foal would fit. "Strife where did you get all of these." Nightmare Moon asked in disbelief. "Does it matter?" "Well I would guess not-" "Good! So you pick a dress you like and I'll be back!" And with a poof the draconequus was gone.
[Self Edited] Chapter & Good Bye [Part 1]Something has gone wrong. We don't seem to have an archived copy of that chapter.
