Prologue
“Has it really been so long?” Princess Celestia, ruler of Equestria, gazed toward the moon in the sky. The silhouette of the mare in the moon stood vividly across the moon. “One thousand long years, and the pain of that day has not softened. She turned from the window as loud knocking came from the chamber door.
“Your highness! Preparations are nearly complete for the Summer Sun Celebration. We shall be ready to leave for Ponyville momentarily.”
“I shall also be ready. I only require a few minutes more to prepare.” At the princess’ behest, the guard took his leave to finish his tasks. Celestia herself walked up to her vanity. She could see a glimpse of the fatigue that always accompanied this night. As she gazed into her reflection, she could not help but remember the tragic night that gave birth to the holiday she now prepared for.
“To this day I still wonder, I still question myself. Was there anything I could have done? Could I have seen the signs sooner? I never wanted things to turn out the way they did. How could I banish my precious sister, my Luna?”
“Yes, a fitting question. But you are wrong about one little detail.” A mare with a mane flowing like the night sky, piercing eyes, and a crescent moon cutie mark now stood, emerging from a cloud of darkness. Her very presence seemed to darken the room and bring a bitter chill to the air. “My name is Nightmare Moon!”
Celestia slowly approached the mare of darkness before her. Her eyes brimmed with tears. “Oh, Luna! I’ve missed you so much over these many years.”
“One thousand. One thousand years,” she said in a deadpan tone. “You claim to have missed me? You claim to be happy to see my return? Ha! To think that one as traitorous as you would have the audacity to claim feelings of longing, it would be humorous if not so pathetic.”
“Luna, I truly have missed you. Not a day has gone by where I have not longed to have you at my side. Not a day passes where I do not feel guilt for having to banish you, but you left me no choice”
Nightmare Moon scoffed as she slowly paced around her sister. “Excuses! Perhaps you have forgotten the events of so long ago. Perhaps a little reminder is in order.” Celestia screamed as several tendrils of darkness sprung up from the floor, constricting her, and pulling her down into the well of darkness that opened beneath her hooves.
“You plotted against me! You conspired to make all our subjects love you and fear me! Everypony adored your day and my beloved night was made the realm of fear and apprehension. I spent every waking night protecting those ingrates from those who would bring them harm, and all I received in return was their terror!”
Celestia struggled to get a secure hoofhold, but the murky darkness offered her no perch. “I did no such thing. Everypony loved you just as much as they did myself. They were even “
“Silence!” As Nightmare Moon stomped her hoof down the tendril lurched downward, pulling Celestia deeper into the darkness. “I will tolerate you lies no longer. This day has been postponed for far too long. Those ingrates will finally learn to respect the night, for you and your precious light will never rise again. This night will be,” Nightmare Moon leaned in and whispered into Celestia’s ear, “eternal.”
Celestia gasped as the darkness dragged her down even faster. She struggled, “No! My sister, please!”
“Farewell, my dear sister.” The room filled with Nightmare Moon’s diabolical laughter.
Celestia, her tears now flowing, watched as helplessly as she was dragged under. Her vision began to fade as the darkness consumed her. The last thing she could hear was Nightmare Moon’s echoing laugh. “Twilight, its up to you now.”
As Celestia fell deeper into the darkness, everything began to grow numb. She could see nothing and hear nothing. All that lay before her was void. Even as she fell, her thoughts turned once again to the past. “Luna, my precious sister, I remember those days long past perfectly clear. I remember when you used to smile and all the adventures we had. I also remember the day I lost you.”
Even in the void, Celestia could still feel the warmth of her tears flowing down her face. “If I knew what I know now, perhaps all of this never would have come to pass. I don’t really know. What I do know is that it all began with a Somber Night.”