Princesses of the Night

Moonlight's P.O.V

The sun rises higher into the sky as my sisters and I board the train to visit Ponyville.  Sometimes I wonder how much longer my sister Midnight would keep in her powers.  Would the townspeople know that she's posing as a different alicorn instead of the cursed alicorn?  If they do, then she may still be feared?

As we enter the Ponyville Cafe, the ponies in there immediately recognize us.  "Moonlight Sonata! Nightlight Sparkle! The princesses and protectors of Equestria, oh my gosh! I finally get to see them," A youthful voice exclaimed, "And not counting the smallest alicorn though."

I turn my head to the left, and standing there is a filly.  "What are you doing here?" Midnight asked.

The filly backs up at the sight of Midnight.  How can she recognize my sister if my sister has just been transformed? "It's okay. She won't hurt you," I assured.

"That's good, heh heh. May I have your autograph?" The filly replied, "My name's Jade Star."

"That's a cool name," Nightlight said.

"Thanks," The filly responded as Nightlight and I sign her autograph.  The filly then runs off a second later.

"Why must they hate me so?" Midnight asked.

"They don't really hate you. They probably don't recognize you, Midnight....... If you feel like using your powers just now, just resist the temptation. Conceal, don't feel......." I told her.

"Don't let them know," Nightlight said.

"They already know about her other form," I reminded her.

We notice a mysterious pony in the dark corner of the building.  Midnight seems very curious, and starts to approach the pony.  "No! Don't talk to this pony," Nightlight warned, "This could be Nightmare Moon! She could tempt you."

"Why not? There's nothing wrong with having a little advice........ Though," Midnight replied as her eyes dart around.  She seems nervous- she could be lying.  She even lets out a nervous chuckle as she approaches the pony.

More and more foals surround me and Nightlight, and their parents seem to approve.  "Can I have an autograph? You're the best princesses ever! You're always our heroes," The foals chanted.

I smile in response.  I didn't expect this to happen- but Nightlight loves getting the attention.  Frankly, I think that's because she is a hero.

Midnight's P.O.V

This pony turns out to be Nightmare Moon.  She creates a door with her magic, and then she allows me to go through the door, though I hesitate at first because I know she could give me nightmares- she cursed me at birth- and now my powers are getting worse.  Hopefully my sisters someday purge out all of the evil that is inside of me, and restore my powers with good magic.

I have a feeling that the temptation is too strong to resist- even though my sisters and my mothers advise me to "conceal, don't feel."  I enter a strange room with no windows, but with some lights.  Nightmare Moon appears out of nowhere, and gives me an evil smirk.

"Greetings, Midnight. We meet again...... This is a door closer to your destiny," She said, "A very dark destiny."

I don't know what to say.  "Actually, I want to go back......" I said.

"And what do you mean by wanting to go back?! You belong here, in the darkness.  The world of shadows........ The palace of evil......... You will gain this very special gift........"

"A special gift?"

"Yes. This is what you will have when you turn to the dark side, Midnight."

Nightmare Moon takes off her helmet, and I gasp for a second.  So, that is what she looks like without the helmet? Her eyes are glowing with evil as she hands me the helmet.  "You think me a beautiful nightmare?" She asked.

"Maybe so," I replied, "But you're also creepy in a way."

She levitates the helmet with her magic, and then she places it on my head.  It feels a bit heavy.  Negative thoughts fill my mind, and I sense a kind of power conflicting with another power.  I unconsciously smile evilly as I take off the special necklace.  "Look in the mirror," Nightmare Moon said, "This....... Is your destiny....... To become like me!"

I gasp as I regain my consciousness.  I notice myself in the mirror.  I see that same pony from a vision.  I immediately levitate the special necklace, and then I place it on my neck in less than a flash.  I quickly take off the helmet with my magic as I try to find a way out.  "You shall stay evil........ Forever!" Nightmare Moon's voice echoed throughout the room as I rush through the door.

"I....... Stay evil....... Forever?!" I asked myself as I enter the cafe once again, "This couldn't be true........"

I think there is a huge weight in my saddlebag, and I open the saddlebag to see what's in there.  I gasp in horror- it's the Nightmare helmet! "What's in there?" Nightlight asked.

"Yeah, what is that?" Moonlight added in.

My heart beats much faster as they continue asking questions.  I'm not supposed to tell of what happened........ Right? How would they feel about me after they notice the helmet in my saddlebag? Would they shun me even more? If my mothers find out, would they banish me to the moon for a thousand years as my aunt once did to my lunar mother?

"I.......... I............" I whispered.

"What is it?" Moonlight asked.

I sense the special necklace being lifted off of my neck.  "No, no, no, no!" I screamed as I look around.  One of the fillies is apparently interested in my necklace.  "Give it back!" I demanded.

The ponies then notice my true form.  They gasp in horror, and I glare angrily at them. "You dare me to spit it out, sisters?! The gathering's over," I declared as magic spews out of my horn.

"The darkness shall last forever!" I concluded without thinking as I slam my hooves on the floor.

As a result, the moon blocks the sun, and the place becomes dark as a result.  No! This couldn't be! No....... I thought as I quickly fly out of Ponyville.  I fly higher into the night sky, and then I fly farther away from the town.  The sky seems to get darker each second, and I realize that I'm getting closer to the moon.  "The moon..... Where they'll never find me," I whispered.

Nightlight's P.O.V

Moonlight and I fly back to Canterlot Castle, where we would find our mothers.  To our surprise, our nocturnal mother is in the air as she seems to search for something.  "Midnight has revealed her powers because a filly took off her special necklace.  How can we save her, if she seems to have completely turned to the dark side?" I asked my mother.

"I wouldn't blame it on her, but Nightmare Moon seems to have won over Midnight's soul and mind," Mother replied, "You must find Midnight on the moon- and stop Nightmare Moon's curse that is affecting Midnight negatively."

"By using the Elements?" Moonlight asked.

"Aren't we a bit afraid of the dark?" I asked my sister.

"You shouldn't be. Everypony has fears, and they must face them," My mother said as she looks up at the moon once again.

Moonlight and I fly into the castle to find the Elements of Harmony.  Our younger mother is standing near the secret door, and she uses her magic to activate it.  "Take them and save your sister from the Nightmares," She said.

The Elements of Harmony are placed into my saddlebag and my sister's saddlebag.  We fly out of the castle a minute later.  Our lunar mother isn't there for some reason.  "Did Nightmare Moon kidnap her?" Moonlight asked.

Nightmare Moon appears out of nowhere.  "I have taken your mother, and she is imprisoned inside the moon castle's dungeon," She said.

"And she couldn't escape? How could you?!" I retorted, "Stop taking away our family!"

"Never......." She flies into the castle.

This doesn't look good at all.  Moonlight and I enter the castle once again, and our younger mother is imprisoned in a magical prison.  Nightmare Moon chuckles evilly as she flies away with our imprisoned mother.  "Stop!" Moonlight and I shouted in unison.

"Follow me," I told my sister as I start flying higher into the sky.