“Luna, you shall not have your freedom! By my power I enforce you to stay as you are and to never trouble anypony anymore. You are banished, and you shall remain banished.” A regal mare sternly shouts towards the moon. On this night, the darkness is darker than it ever has been before, though it’s odd for as the moon is also the brightest it has ever been. The moon’s radiance gives off so much energy; it almost seems larger, or closer.
Nearly one thousand years ago now, Princess Celestia, the ruler of Equestria, banished her sister, Princess Luna, to the moon due to her unruly and oppressive approach on her duty. Luna wished for eternal darkness, to bathe in her own comfort, and to be joyous over her subjects. The dark had always been feared by almost everypony since anypony could remember. They always had a sense that the darkness would bring about something cruel and devilish.
This unique night, the night that marks one thousand years of worry free sun fall, cast an eerie feeling about everypony across Equestria. Only a few of them remembered the tale of the Mare in the Moon. Twilight Sparkle of course always took heed to danger and was the only reason the disaster of the reincarnate Nightmare Moon ruining the joyous sun laden Equestria didn’t happen. Princess Celestia knew of what was to happen, but rejected the worries of the ponies in an attempt to keep everypony in a calm nature. This night though, she prepared for a night that she would not enjoy.
“The power and support these harmonious ponies share shall not be phased by your evil demeanor, Luna! I shall not allow you off of your damned prison. Face your defeat and be gone from our minds, we do not need you here!” Princess Celestia booms, summoning all the power she can muster. Twilight stood in awe at her side, along with five other unlikely ponies. Celestia had called upon six unique mares to assist with her task. She knew of the only power to be able to hold back Nightmare Moon from returning. That power was The Elements of Harmony. Honesty, Loyalty, Generosity, Kindness, Laughter, and Magic, all present in the ponies she had chosen.
“Thank you all so very much for being able to assist me in this very important matter. I will see to it that you are properly rewarded.” The princess calmly assures the six mares.
“But princess, we hardly did nuthin.’ I mean, ya said we together had the Elements uh Harmony, but I jus’ don’ see how. Whad’ we do tuh help?” The orange, farm-whipped earth pony beckons. The tone in her voice entails that she doesn’t mean to be troublesome.
“Well, I’m actually quite glad you asked me that question Applejack. You see, you each possess a unique power that is nearly impossible to find in such a perfect form as you have it. As for you Applejack, you hold the power of honesty. I know that you would never tell anypony a lie of any sort. The Elements of Harmony consist of your powers and in order for them to work; I need you presence and power.” Celestia thoroughly explains her meaning behind this gathering. You see, tonight was the night that Nightmare Moon, my sister, although I know her by her real name of Luna, was supposed to return to Equestria. I could not allow her evil to corrupt the hearts of ponies ever again.”
“Princess Celestia, how can you be sure that this worked? I mean I know the Elements of Harmony hold the most powerful magic in all of Equestria, but where’s the guarantee?” The studious purple pony prods. Her confidence in the princess is not weakened due to her obedience and trust in her mentor.
“Trust me my dear Twilight; there has never been anything to break past the power of the Elements of Harmony.” Celestia says while patting Twilight Sparkle’s snout. She then trots away from the ponies in a swift manner. The room falls to silence as the six ponies begin to exchange glances. None of the ponies had ever met before, excluding Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy, they grew up together on Cloudsdale, the home of the Pegasi. The six ponies decide to introduce themselves to one another now that the fearful night has ended.
Two years have passed since the six ponies had met and Nightmare Moon was kept imprisoned. Now the ponies have become best of friends and have protected Ponyville, the town that they all now live in, from numerous disasters. Today is Hearth’s Warming Eve, the anniversary and remembrance of the founding of Equestria. Twilight Sparkle and her friends were chosen to put on a play to re-enact the founding. Spirits throughout all of Equestria are high and everypony is content and happy with their lives; true harmony.
The gang had planned to take a stroll around Canterlot after the play was over to go shopping and other recreational things. After Canterlot Pinkie Pie had promised to throw a ‘job-well-done’ party at Sugar Cube Corner just for the six of them, but all this while, something was on Twilight’s mind that just wouldn’t stop bothering her. Just before leaving Canterlot she told the other ponies that she would meet them back in Ponyville after she talked to Princess Celestia about something she had on her mind. The other five beckoned for her to make it hasty, they didn’t want her to miss out on any of the fun.
“This cannot be happening! How could the moon be missing?! Why is it missing?! Tonight is supposed to be a full moon, what is going on!?” Celestia frantically utters to herself while pacing her room.
“Princess, is there something wrong?” Twilight asks on a random appearance, noticing Celestia’s frantic pacing.
“Yes-! Yes, there’s something very wrong! Look outside, tell me what you see in the sky.” She demands with a severely paranoid look on her face. Twilight walks to the window and gazes at the blackened night sky but isn’t affected as Celestia was.
“I don’t see anything Princess. Am I suppo-““Exactly! Nothing! There’s nothing! But there shouldn’t be. There should be a full moon out there, a full beautiful glowing moon. Where is it?!” Celestia rants, cutting off Twilight and adding to her confusion. Twilight looks back out the window and realizes that there is no moon, but isn’t immediately frightened.
“Princess, are you sure there’s supposed to be a full moon? I mean, the moon couldn’t have just up and left.” Twilight states, walking to the princess in an attempt to comfort her, but with a small epiphany forming in her head relevant to her discomfort earlier.
“Yes, yes I’m sure there’s supposed to be a full moon. What do you think I am, stupid? I’m responsible for the lunar and solar cycle, and I know for sure that I pulled the moon up.” She quickly retorts with a frustrated form manifesting on her snout. She walks towards the window and gazes into the night sky again. “You don’t think Luna got out do you?” She asks, turning her head to Twilight with a terrified expression on her face.
“No of course not, you even said yourself that nothing can defeat the Elements of Harmony. So there is absolutely positively no way that she could have escaped.” Twilight says with a bit of aggression, more to assure herself more than the princess. She joins the princess’ side to gaze out at the sky in contemplation.
“Twilight, this doesn’t feel right. Even though the Elements are so powerful, I just don’t feel comfortable. Do you have any ideas?” Celestia solemnly admits to her most prized student. She plods towards her bed in the most depressing manner imaginable.
“Princess, please don’t speak like that. I can’t stand to see you this upset.” Twilight says with utmost concern. She again walks to be alongside the princess. “Maybe you should get some rest. You could just be tired, today was a big day after all.” She suggests hesitantly.
“I suppose so Twilight. Thank you for finding your way to me. Let us hope that this is just a simple misunderstanding that will not result in any sort of chaos.” Celestia says while climbing into bed and position herself to be comfortable. Her violet eyes glisten but seem to be endless in thought. Her eyelids close and her body loosens into the royal mattress. Her vibrant mane’s glow dims in tune with her slumber, as if it were a separate entity choosing its own course of life. Twilight stands sternly by her bedside with an ache in her heart. She closes her eyes for a moment to wish for the best. She grabs the blanket with her mouth gently and pulls it closer to Celestia’s shoulders.
“Good night princess.” She says in a voice so soft it seems supernatural. She plods away from Celestia’s slumber; her head hung low in grief. She could feel the piece of the princess slip away; she knew that something serious was really going on. After exiting the castle, Twilight decides to quicken her pace to reach her friends.
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“Gee, Twilight sure is taking her time up there. Do you think she could speed it up a little?” The cyan pony mentions in impatience while hovering over her friends. In this darkness she could be the most efficient assassin the world has known, and her deep violet eyes seem non-existent.
“Oh relax Rainbow Dash, there’s no need to be so pushy. She will be here soon enough, just be patient.” The prissy white pony pipes up with elegance that catches the attention of the other four ponies. “You know she wouldn’t abandon us without giving us any sort of notification. Just calm your horses, please.”
“She’s righ,’ there ain’t no need to doubt.” Applejack interjects with a powerful shadow casting over her face causing her to seem almost enraged. She looks back for a moment to see nothing but darkness and begins to doubt as well. She happens to lag behind the other ponies for a moment but quickly trots to their side.
“Oh, you don’t think she got lost in this horrible dark night do you? I’d be so worried; I know I’d be terrified out there alone. Do you think we should go look for her?” The yellow mare says with her head hung low and a soft, worried tone in her voice. She keeps to the back of the group in fear of getting in the others’ way.
“You think I don’t know my way around Ponyville by now, Fluttershy? I’ve been here for six years. Have a little faith.” A voice suddenly appears next to the skittish pony. She immediately dashes to the front of the herd while giving out a quick yelp. Fluttershy’s ears flatten and she begins to whimper, still unsure as to whom the new being is. “Fluttershy, it’s me, Twilight, calm down.” Twilight says walking towards Fluttershy with remorse.
“Oh, I’m sorry Twilight; I didn’t realize it was you. It’s just so dark out, and I wasn’t sure who had snuck up on me.” Fluttershy said in her usual reserved nature. The six unusual mares continue on to Pinkie Pie’s party to ease the dark night away. Twilight still had thoughts of the moon in the back of her mind the entire time, and she worried for what may happen to Celestia’s sanity.
