Chapters The Ruler of the Night;Equestria's True Queen
"Luna? Luna?! Luna!! What are you-" Celestia screamed. Luna raised her horn and screeched, "I have dealt with your overshadowing for too long!! Now you shall know the pain you brought unto me 1,000 years ago!!" There was a flash of purple light. Luna gasped when she saw what she had done. Celestia was gone. "Great job, my sweet," said Nightmare Moon. "Now we will take the crown for our own!!"
Queen Luna looks back on that day all the time. The day she banished Celestia. She looked up at the sun. Luna has special eyes with allow her to look at the sun. She saw a Mare In The Moon type pattern on the surface. She sighed. "What's wrong my sweet?" said her alternate self, Nightmare Moon. "You've had what you wanted for 998 years! 2 years and then we have to return the crown. Why not make the sentence longer?" Luna was angry. "I WANT YOU OUT OF MY HEAD!!!" she screamed. Her daughter, a young mare around Cadance's age when she'd foalsat Twilight, came to see her mom out in the garden. "Are you ok, mom?" she asked. Her name was North Star. She was a faded blue and had a black mane. Her eyes were red and her cutie mark was the North Star. Luna had named her daughter after her favorite aunt, who'd happened to have a very similar cutie mark. Luna turned to her daughter and hugged her. "I'm fine, honey. Go tell your dad it's almost time for the ceremony," Luna told North. "Of course momma!" North said. She bounded off, all happy. North Star was the 2nd in line for the throne. Her older sister, Golden Globe, wasn't proud of her stature. Golden Globe was a goldish brown alicorn with a gold, purple, and green magic flowing mane. Her cutie mark was a globe with only 2 latitude lines and 3 longitude. The globe was golden. Golden Globe liked to stay in her room all the time. She isn't like others, her younger alicorn sister deserves the glory. She brings out the North Star during the Summer Sun Celebration. All Golden Globe does is fly in circles to create a golden globe shape in the sky to accent North Star's show. Luna knows that Golden Globe isn't accepting her role. Luna looked at the sky and sighed. "What do I do sister? I banished you, for no reason, and now, 998 years later, I'm asking for guidance. Please, sister. Help me," she said.
Luna and her 2 daughters went to the host city for this year, The Crystal Empire. Cadance was waiting specially for Luna. Cadance had been careful around Luna since Celestia disappeared. All Equestria knows is that Celestia tried to kill Luna, so she was trapped in the sun for all eternity. Luna told nopony the truth. Today, she intended on telling Cadance. "Cadance? Can I speak with you in private after the celebration?" Luna asked her. "Of course Aunt Luna. And how are North and Golden?" Cadance said. "Oh same as usual. North being the perky self she always is, quite like Celestia, and Golden refusing to accept her role. I don't think they'll ever change," Luna sighed. Then, they heard the trumpets for the celebration. Luna hung her head and walked slowly to the stage. Then, she pretended to be happy and rose the sun, while her daughters put on a wonderful show. That's how it always went. But today was different. Luna was weak. When she rose the sun, she gasped and fell. She knew this. This was the feeling of celestial locks breaking. She looked at the sun. With teary eyes she whispered, "Are you coming home sister?" Then she fainted.
Luna woke up in the royal hospital. She was hysterical. "Is Celestia home?! Where is she?! I need her!!" She screamed. The nurse calmed her down then told her, "Celestia was your foe whom you trapped in the sun for eternity after she tried to kill you, my Queen." Luna sighed, thinking of the day she had been banished and the day she banished Celestia. "Nurse, I need Queen Cadance in here. Now." The nurse nodded, bowed, then ran to get Cadance. When Cadance came in, she knew there was something up. Luna was laying on her side. She was quietly sobbing. "Luna? What's wrong?" Cadance asked. Luna muttered something, but Cadance couldn't make it out. "What?" she said. "I fell because I felt the celestial locks being picked. Celestia is in the sun because of me. I banished her because Nightmare Moon was in my head, tempting me. Celestia must be escaping because its been almost 1,000 years. Nopony knows the truth, Cadance. Nopony can know the truth," Luna said. Cadance was shocked. "But-You-" she stammered. Finally, she was calm enough to get the words out. "YOU BANISHED YOUR OWN SISTER FOR NO REASON?!"
Luna nodded shamefully. "Cadence please keep your voice down. Nopony can know the truth. My friends are in danger now. With the Elements back into pony hooves, Equestria is facing threats from Everfree. The animals are threatening to leave the forest if Celestia does not return within 3 years," Luna said. Cadance smiled a little. "But Celestia should be back by then, right? If she was banished for 1,000 years, and it's been 998, she should be back." Luna looked at Cadance with teary eyes. "That's not always the deal. When you banish a celestial pony into their source of power, as mine is the moon and Celestia's is the sun, you make a bargain with the universe. The bargain is you lose power the closer it gets to the pony's return. If the pony is failed to be defeated, you either die or lose all power you ever had, making you an Earth Pony," she explained. Cadance gasped. She had no idea the bargain was that terrible. "Defeat? How can you defeat Celestia?" Luna sighed. "I would have to strip her of her power so she is like I was when I returned to Equestria. She would be young again. She could still raise the sun, yes, but not as quickly as she used to until she gets her power back. Cadance, can you call in Spike please?" Luna said. When Spike came in, he was about twice the size he was when she'd last seen him, which was in Ponyville the day Twilight died. He was still a baby then. But he remembers her like she was his mother. With Luna around as Queen, Spike forgot about Celestia not being there and took notes to Luna. He bowed. Luna only laughed. "Spike, my friend, you do not have to bow. I do not want you to. You may be my messenger, but you are still my friend," she told him. She sat up. "Spike, do you remember how to send messages to Celestia? You used green fire correct? Not the purple you use for me. Am I correct?" Spike nodded, very confused. "Why Queen Luna?" Luna looked at the sky. Spike looked. He looked with his special dragon eyes. And he saw it. "But Luna!" He was shocked. Luna nodded. "I need to you send a message to the sun, Spike.
"My Dear Sister,
I need your guidance. You are escaping, I feel it. My daughter Golden Globe is refusing her royal stature. She thinks North Star, my other daughter, deserves every bit of glory the princesses get. Please, write me back. I need you right now. Please do this for Equestria.
Signed, Your Loving Sister,
Queen Luna Moon of Equestria"
When Luna was done and Spike sent the letter, Luna dismissed Spike. He said to her jokingly, "If I could have a mustache..." He cocked his eyebrow at Luna. She threw her head back and laughed. "Spike when the doctors have cleared me to go home, maybe you can get a mustache," she said. Cadance came back in the room. She smiled at Luna. "The doctors are saying you can leave tomorrow, Luna. Get a good nights rest," she said. Then she walked out of the room. Luna looked at the sun and said, "Tia, I need you here... Help me sister..."
The Ruler of the Night;Equestria's True Queen
Nightmare sulked in the back of Luna's mind. She was plotting ways to take over Luna's mind and body again. It would be easier, since Celestia would return soon and she's weak. Luna will be easy to corrupt when she's weak. "Don't even think about it Nightmare. I know what you are planning. You cannot take me over. I may be weak in power, but I am quite strong in will. I will not be as easy prey as you think," Luna said. Nightmare scoffed. Luna still underestimates the darker alicorn of herself. Does Luna not remember how much power she had as Nightmare Moon? Apparently not. Nightmare searched in Luna's memories, but finds no trace. I know just how to show her how much power she can have, Nightmare thought. Luna was sleeping so she could think freely. Nightmare had a secret ability, though. She may be trapped inside Luna's mind as a shadow, but she can still manifest herself as she once was. Nightmare decides to do that. Nightmare summons her power, temporarily stripping Luna of it, and flows through Luna's magic mane out into the chambers. Nightmare doesn't think it safe to manifest here, so she went out on the balcony into the moonlight. She used her magic to manifest into a body. When she was complete, she stretched her wings and popped her neck. Then, she hid in Luna's closet until morning, when Luna would take a dress from the closet for her birthday.
Luna stretched and got up. She set the moon with ease, but felt a pull on the sun. Like it was telling her something. Luna looked at it, confused. She gasped. She looked all over the surface, but it was gone. Celestia must be free!! Luna jumped with joy. She ran to her closet to get a dress, because it was her birthday after all. When she got there, she stopped. Oh no.... Nightmare got free?! How did she escape my head?! Luna thought. She went into Celestia's old chambers instead and got a dress from there. Then she ran down the stairs and was beaming. The maids had never seen her this happy. Luna went to Spike and told him to take a note. "My dearest Lightning Shine, come to Canterlot at once. Celestia has escaped her imprisonment and must be defeated. Bring me the Elements. I must fight her alone. When you bring the Elements and I have them in safe hooves, you may go back to Ponyville to your friends. Do not argue, for it is not your battle. It is mine. Your teacher and mentor, Queen Luna" Spike read it over to Luna and she nodded. "Good. It sounds like I am truly worried. Thank you Spike. Now your reward," she said. Luna winked at him then used her magic to give him what he loved. A mustache!
Nightmare was furious. Luna didn't go to her own closet! Nightmare had no choice but to return to Luna's mind. So she became a shadow again and flowed through the castle. She found Luna by herself reading. As Nightmare was getting ready to head in, Luna turned and spoke. "Nightmare you are not allowed in my mind any longer. Celestia has returned and she and I will destroy you once and for all. Is my threat to you clear?" Nightmare gulped. She feared Celestia more than she hated her. Nightmare manifested and frowned. "I thought you wanted power? I can give you power. I can give you anything. I've given you-" she started. But Luna was prepared for Nightmare's snake tongue. Luna lashed out on Nightmare, pinning her against the wall with her wing. "You gave me nothing. You took my sister, you took my pride, and you took my joy of being home. I had joy before I knew you were still there, and I've known since a year after she was freed," Nightmare was shocked. This wasn't Luna. This was Celestia!! Celestia used her magic to shed her disguise. "A trick I absorbed from Chrysalis. Have you anything to say before Luna and I destroy you?" Nightmare couldn't breathe. She shook her head. Celestia smirked. Then she used her magic to take the Elements from the table. Loyalty, Kindness, and Honesty. Luna came from the shadows with Generosity, Laughter, and Magic. Together they created a force so great, nothing could stop them. Except one thing... Betrayal.
The Ruler of the Night;Equestria's True Queen
Chapter 3:Monster Behind the Mask
Luna turned to Celestia, striking her with her hooves. Celestia fell to the ground and dropped her Elements. Luna laughed. Nightmare looked down at the floor in shame. Celestia looked back and forth between the two, and she realized. They switched roles. Luna used magic to disguise as Nightmare, and Nightmare as Luna. The real Luna looked at Celestia. "I'm so sorry, sister," she said. "I will not ask forgiveness, for I am not worthy." Celestia looked at Nightmare with teary eyes. "And she is the one you chose to control? The Miasma takes the strongest ponies, but it is evident Luna is weak. You still hold her as your host?" she inquired. Nightmare stepped back, shocked. She's right... Luna is becoming too weak for our power.... she thought. When Nightmare stepped back, Celestia saw her chance. She struck down Nightmare with her magic. She was crying now. "You took so much from me so long ago. Then you have the nerve to show yourself!! Now you disguise as my sister to defeat me!!! That is three steps too far!!" Celestia screamed. Nightmare looked truly frightened. She should be, Celestia thought. She fired up her magic on hatred and sorrow. She struck Nightmare in the forehead. Nightmare passed out and shifted into normal form. Luna shifted back as well. Celestia looked at Luna. Luna was hanging her head to the ground in shame. She had started crying. Celestia went over to Luna and hugged her. "Luna, I watched over you for 998 years. I watched you grow in power, stature, and love. I watched you become Queen. I watched you be happy. I watched you be angry. I even watched you be sad," she said. Celestia turned Luna's face to her. "But I will not stand for watching you be sad right in front of you." Luna smiled. She was so happy her sister was back.
Celestia and Luna locked Nightmare in a room with no cracks where she could escape. They also put an anti-magic brace on her horn and neck. Luna looked at Nightmare through the glass. It was different seeing Nightmare and not being Nightmare. Celestia walked up behind her. "Should we call her in?" she asked. Luna nodded. Celestia went to the castle guard quarters. She told her Captain that he needed to "Buy the snuffly cake from the brick store." Celestia said no more. He knew this code word. He slowly nodded. He flew off to accomplish his task. Celestia sighed. She walked to her chambers. She was shocked when she opened the door. Luna was sitting on Celestia's bed. Celestia giggled. Luna looked up at Celestia with teary eyes. Celestia got worried. "What's wrong Luna?" Luna looked down. "Nightmare is taking control. She left enough of her shadow in my mind to figure out how to corrupt my mind. In a few hours I'll be her servant. I hope Eclipse gets here soon.
Eclipse Star of the Astrological Kingdom was shocked. She would only be called back if Nightmare Moon had returned a second time. Eclipse was a gray and white alicorn princess. Her eyes were bright yellow. Her mane was gold and white. Her eyes didn't really matter, as she was blind. "Tell Celestia I will be there on the morrow," she said. Celestia's Captain bowed and ran out. Eclipse sighed. Is it bad enough she didn't know Cadance was her sister but she now had to figure out how to deal with Nightmare Moon? What a year she was having!! She called in her guards and asked them to bring her her Morphos. A Morphos is a bird which can change shape depending on the region or kingdom they are in. Eclipse attached a note to the bird and set her off to the Changeling Empire.
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The Ruler of the Night;Equestria's True Queen
Chapter 4: Eclipse Star, Nightmare Moon, and Chrysalis
Eclipse Star climbed into her carriage and off she flew. She would go to Canterlot soon enough. First she needed to stop in the Changeling Empire. Chrysalis was waiting for Eclipse outside the castle. "Shall we go, my dear friend?" Chrysalis asked. Eclipse nodded and together they rode the winds all the way to Canterlot. When they arrived, the guards were confused and almost attacked Chrysalis. Eclipse heard their movements and screeched, "Under the order of the Princess of the Astrological Kingdom I demand you stand down!!" She took a few deep breaths and said in a calmer tone, "Queen Chrysalis is my guest. The guards of Canterlot are not to attack her under any circumstances. I would wager Chrysalis would like to see what I have been worried about for so long." The guards nodded and bowed. Eclipse needed Chrysalis for another reason, too. Well really two reasons. Chrysalis was needed for the spell, and she knows the way to the solitary confinement center of the prison.
Celestia was reluctant, but she allowed Chrysalis to stay in Canterlot. Eclipse seemed concerned. "Now do you see why I have been so worried, Chryssi?" she said. Eclipse heard Nightmare Moon's breathing. Chrysalis stepped back, shocked. "But.... But how ?!" she cried. "Nightmare has always been a part of Luna! How is she out here, in the real world, seperate of Luna?!" Eclipse lifted a hoof. Chrysalis was too busy staring at Nightmare to notice the goo dripping from the ceiling. Eclipse heard and felt it. Celestia looked up, but saw only blackness. She lit her horn and searched the rafters. All she found was a leak in the shield spell she had up. Luna was still staring through the glass at Nightmare. My envy and jealousy. The embodiment of my hatred toward Celestia. Why did she strike then? Why did she wait? she thought.
By the time the four alicorns left her, Nightmare Moon was curled up in a ball, asleep. Soon she started writhing. It was almost as if she were in pain. She saw death. Only death. Celestia, Chrysalis, even Eclipse. Then she turned and saw Luna. She was on the ground, bleeding out. Looking up at Nightmare, she murmered, "Run...." She closed her eyes and stopped breathing. The four dead ponies around Nightmare disintegrated in a golden mist. She heard laughing. She walked around, attempting to find the source. She found six ponies. Twilight Sparkle, Fluttershy, Pinkie Pie, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, and Rarity. But they're dead , she thought. I watched them die! The six had dark coats, stained red with alicorn blood. Twilight cackled. She opened her wings and attacked Nightmare with her magic. Nightmare had no chance of survival. Nightmare woke, screaming bloody murder. Why would they attack me? she thought. Then she shook her head. No. It was just a dream. They are long dead.
The Ruler of the Night;Equestria's True Queen
Chapter 5:A Change of Heart
She sat in her cell, pondering all of the terrible choices she'd made over the years. Then she heard keys jingling. She saw a guard unlocking her cell door. Confused, she got up and trotted over. "Under orders of Princess Celestia and Queen Luna, you are hereby released from the Canterlot prison," he said. He also took off the anti-magic braces. Nightmare galloped up the stairs and into the Canterlot throne room. She wanted to thank Celestia and accept her punishment. Rushing to the door, she slowed her pace. Calm yourself, Nightmare, she thought. She opened the door. Walking over to Celestia, she bowed her head. "I am ready to accept my punishment," she said, loud enough for Luna, Eclipse, and Chrysalis to hear as well. Celestia was slightly shocked. What made Nightmare change so much? "What did you say?" she squeaked. Nightmare looked up and said, "I am ready to accept punishment, no matter how severe. I deserve the worst you can throw at me after all the torment I've caused. I am a plague upon this world. I am a flame, destroying lives and homes. You are the water, saving the ponies by drenching me. I am at your mercy."
Barely breathing, Luna walked over to Celestia. "Maybe she saw something that made her change," she whispered. Celestia looked doubtful. Yet even she couldn't deny the power of Nightmare's eyes. They had changed. They looked more like Luna's eyes now. The slit pupil had widened to a more natural size. The whites had tinted white . Nightmare was currently standing next to Chrysalis, discussing the dream Nightmare had had. Celestia looked over her shoulder at her then looked at Luna. "Maybe..... Maybe you're right. As much as I hate to say it," she sighed, "Nightmare seems more like an innocent pony than a tyrannical beast." Luna nodded, smiling. She called over Chrysalis and Eclipse. Nightmare started setting up some flowers she'd knocked down during a rampage.
"You want to WHAT?! " Chrysalis practically screamed. "Keep it down!" Luna said. Celestia took a deep breath in. "I honestly believe she should be freed. Only stripped of her powers. She could be a Pegasus or a unicorn, but never an alicorn ever again." Eclipse nodded. Being a pacifist, she resented the idea that they had to punish Nightmare. It just wasn't right. With her smooth, soothing voice, "I agree. A power stripping ritual would work better than a banishment." Luna was ecstatic. If they banished Nightmare, Luna would be considerably weaker. But she still needed to strip Celestia of power. She hadn't addressed this problem. She would later. Chrysalis was still furious. Trying to whisper, she said, "Why would we allow her to live in Canterlot exactly? Won't ponies recognize her?" Luna cut in. "If this was 1,000 years ago, maybe. But nopony even remembers the tale of Nightmare Moon. All they remember is a lie I told them about my banishment of Celestia." Celestia froze at the mention of her name. She still had her youthful look, while Luna had aged. Both ponies were the same height, which was strange. Celestia still had a multi-colored magic mane, but Luna had the Northern Lights against a black & blue night! As these thoughs ran through Celestia's head, Nightmare was thinking of something else entirely.
What if they think I'm faking? Will they banish me again? Why did Chrysalis scream? Nightmare thought. Questions just kept circling through her head. Calm down, Nightmare. Breathe, she said to herself. Breathing deep, she decided she would calmly wait until the four princesses finished debating. She didn't have to wait long. "Nightmare?" Luna called softly. Head hung low, Nightmare walked over to Luna. Celestia looked down at Nightmare. "Nightmare Moon. You convinced Luna to trap me in the sun for 1,000 years. Correct?" Nightmare nodded. "You tried to corrupt her again. Correct?" Nod. "You tried to kill me when you realized I was free. Correct?" Nod. "Are you ready to hear your punishment?" Nod.
Celestia took her hoof and raised Nightmare's head with it. "Nightmare Moon. I hereby sentence you to a life stripped of power. You will grow up with unicorn parents. You will be a unicorn yourself. You will never be able to return to your current alicorn stature. Do you understand the terms?" Nightmare looked Celestia in the eyes. "Yes," she said. Celestia nodded at Luna. She raised the Elements of Harmony with her magic. Luna, Chrysalis, and Eclipse fired magical lasers at the center Element, the Element of Magic. Nightmare curled into a ball. Celestia fired a laser into the Element. A bright white light shone across all of Equestria that night. And it would never be the same. Not ever again.
