Nightfall

I was laying down on my bed, enjoying the silence of my room.

Sunday. The one day I hate in the week because the next day is Monday, when school starts again.

I let out a sigh. I couldn't say things were bad for me; it was actually the opposite. I had several friends at school, I wasn't bullied, my family was normal -- as much as a unicorn married with an earth pony could be in Canterlot.

But it didn't affect the fact that I hated Sundays.

"Better get ready for tomorrow," I said out loud to myself.

The school bell rang as I entered the classroom. The teacher looked at me with the usual 'try to be on time next time' look. I gave him a sheepish smile and went to my desk.

I sat down, and I was instantaneously swarmed by my two friends.

"Hey, Eclipse! How are ya?" A deep, masculine voice told me from my right.

That was Juggernaut, a huge, muscular earth pony stallion. He had a dark red coat, yellow eyes, and a short, unkempt dark blue mane with a matching tail. He was the strongest of my friends, but also the kindest and most quiet.

"Jug, leave him alone. I am sure he was about to tell us anyway," a suave feminine voice scolded.

That was Crystal Shard, a slender and petite pegasus mare. She had a dark orange coat, yellow eyes, and a long -- about shoulder length -- silvery mane with a matching tail. She was fast and agile, despite her small stature, and she was also strong-headed.

"I'm fine, really... Just hate mondays, is all," I told them.

Then, the intercom chimed, annoucing the beginning of the message period, where the principal told the students all the news for the day at the school.

"Good morning, students," the principal said via the intercom, his deep and pleasant voice always welcomed on mondays. "This week, our school will be introducing the newest ‘sport’ as a parascholar activity. The sign up for it will take place today and tomorrow all day long. You can either sign up in solo or team categories. In team category, you must form a team of three in order to be eligible. That is all for today, and have a nice day."

The principal's message got everyone in the class to whisper about the message, my friends included.

"Is the principal serious?!" Crystal asked.

"Looks like it," Jug replied.

I rolled my eyes, and laid my head on my desk.

That newest ‘sport' was something called Magical Battles, despite the fact there were several earth ponies and pegasi competing. Those ‘Magical Battles’ took place in a special combat arena and consisted in a sparring match between two individuals or teams. The winner was the one who managed to knock their opponent unconscious.

In the previous months, the ‘sport’ gained a lot of popularity. What began as sparring matches between guards evolved into an official sport, with a pro league, and most high schools, colleges and universities creating their own small championships.

I was not really into those things, mostly because I lacked what most unicorns called ‘real’ magic, it being replaced by elemental magic.

I was a unicorn. I had a dark blue coat, a short, messy navy blue mane with a black streak in it, a long tail with the same colour scheme as my mane, and teal eyes. I was fit, but not muscular. I wasn't an athlete either, but I could still fend for myself if the need ever arose.

I then realised that the teacher was looking at me, as were the other students. I smiled sheepishly at the teacher, and he rolled his eyes, resuming the lesson.

At lunch, my friends and I were talking about the possibility of signing up for Magical Battles as a team.

"I really think we'd be a great team, and an almost unbeatable one at that," Crystal said for the umpteenth time.

"I repeat, I will NOT participate," I replied, stubborn as always.

"But think about it, Eclipse. I'm strong, Crystal's fast, and you're pretty good with your powers," Jug tried to get me on their side.

"No," I rolled my eyes.

Crystal closed her eyes for a few seconds, and when she opened them, I froze. She was giving sad puppy dog eyes. I tried to look away, but I found myself unable to. I sighed.

"Fine. You win," I conceded.

Crystal cheered, her puppy dog eyes gone. I shook my head, wondering what I had gotten myself into.

The rest of the day was uneventful. Jug and I were waiting just outside the main gate of the school for Crystal, who had volunteered to go and sign up for all of us.

Soon, she came back, running with a piece of paper in one hand and a big smile on her face.

"We're in!" she called to us.

"And?" I asked as soon as she reached Jug and I.

"We are now one of the ten official teams of our school. We are the Silver Stars," she explained after she regained control over her breathing.

"Well, that's great and all, but when --" I began before Crystal interrupted me.

"Tomorrow's our first battle. We're up against the Blue Moons."

The next day, right after school, Crystal, Jug and I went to the newly refurbished gym that was to be used as both the training grounds and the arena, at least until a real arena was built.

We were already wearing the armour the school gave us. It was, like the name of our team suggested it, silver with white highlights. The armour was lightweight and allowed for great agility while still being strong enough to not break apart.

As the minutes ticked by, we sat in the small room at our end of the arena, from which we would walk in the arena in front of the gathered crowd.

As we chatted about our expectations from our first, and hopefully not last, fight, a referee came and told us we had five more minutes until we would have to go in the arena.

As soon as the stallion left us, a mare walked in, a package in her hands. She placed it down and spoke to me.

"Dear Eclipse, in this box is something you will need for the future. Make good use of it, and protect the world from evil."

With that, the mysterious alicorn left the room. My mind was rushing to find an explanation, and we were soon called in the arena under the thunderous applause of several dozens of ponies.

"Fillies and gentlecolts, welcome to the first ever Magical Battle of the Starswirl District High School! Tonight, two teams will be up against each other in an attempt to win some precious points and get a chance to represent the school in the next Magical Battles Tournament for Canterlot's High Schools! Those teams are the Silver Stars and the Blue Moons!" The announcer said, marking our cue to walk in.

My friends and I went to the middle of the arena, as were our three opponents. They were wearing dark blue with black highlights armour of the same style as us. I saw a unicorn, a griffon and an earth pony.

The arena had been altered to look like a mountainous field, with boulders of all sizes scattered around. I guessed that the arena' environment allowed for environment boosts on some spells.

"The members of the Silver Stars are Crystal Shard, pegasus, and Juggernaut, earth pony. Their team captain is Eclipse, unicorn."

I internally rolled my eyes. On a big screen where all three of our pictures, as well as some stats about our abilities.

"The members of the Blue Moons are Reika, griffon, and Grinder, earth pony. Their team leader is Luna, unicorn."

Once again, I rolled my eyes. We were up against those we, and everypony else at school, considered like our nemesis. It was certainly the setting for an interesting battle.

A unicorn referee walked to the six of us. He looked at both teams before speaking.

"I want all of you to be fair. No illegal moves. Understood?"

We all nodded, and he took a step back. I tensed up, ready for anything. The unicorn referee shot a magical flare upwards, and the battle begun.

I immediately jumped to the side to avoid a magical blast from Luna. Crystal had already taken to the air and was currently chased by Reika. Juggernaut and Grinder were both trying to punch each other out.

Something exploded by my side. I jumped to the side again as Luna charged yet another magical blast.

I had to retaliate, and fast. Thus, I did the first thing that came to my mind.

My horn glowed for a brief moment as I switched from regular magic to elemental magic. Elemental magic, unlike regular unicorn magic, was controlled by hands and not by horn.

I quickly gathered a ball of fire in my palm, and I threw it at Luna, who sidestepped to dodge it.

"So you want to fight using elemental magic, huh?" Luna said.

Before she could attack again, I created a strong gust of wind that threw her off-balance.

I took the opportunity to get some distance between the two of us as I was lame in a close quarter fight.

Luna quickly regained her balance and shot her own fireball at me.

I turned around in time, and I doused it with water.

Luna immediately shot lightning at me.

The water at my feet caused me to get zapped by the lightning bolt.

I fell to a knee, panting heavily.

"It looks like Eclipse is in difficulty. Will he be able to get back up?"

I slowly got back up, and I used the elemental spell I just learned.

I put my hand on the ground, and I turned my hand counter-clockwise of ninety degrees.

The ground under Luna moved, then it suddenly turned the same way my hand had, causing Luna to lose her footing.

I got back on my two feet and I shot a bolt of lightning at the figure of Luna.

"That was great!" My sister said as we walked in our home.

The fight did take much longer after I shot lightning at Luna. Jug had managed to throw own of his signature jab, sending Grinder to the ground. Crystal had more difficulties with Reika, but after a nose dive on her part, she managed to buck Reicka straight in the guts.

All in all, it was a sweet victory for the Silver Stars.

I went upstairs to my room. When I had closed the door and sat on my bed, I let out a big sigh. It was time to open the package.

The box itself was devoid of anything that could have made it stand out. As such, I proceeded to open the box. Inside were small pendants, each one a different colour and shape. I took one out, a silver moon crescent with a star. A piece of paper then caught my attention in the box.

Setting the pendant aside on my bed, I grabbed the paper. It was a note. On it were only a few words I am sure I heard somepony say to me.

Protect the world.

I looked on the other side of the paper, but I found nothing. I shrugged and I prepared myself to go to sleep.

Late at night, I woke up with a start. I was panting and sweating. I got up and went in the bathroom to splash so cold water on my face.

But as I was about to leave my room, I spotted something odd.

The pendant I had taken from the box was glowing. Oblivious to all common sense, I went to it and picked the pendant up, only to find myself teleported.

I reappeared in a park just outside the city, the lights of the several skyscrapers visible. I got to my feet, glad I had put on a shirt just before going out of my room. It was really cold, and my pajamas was not enough to keep me warm.

Then, somepony cleared their throat. I looked up to see a familiar face standing on top of one of the game modules.

"Luna, care to explain why I'm here?"

"Simple," Luna said before an ominous dark blue mist engulfed her.

Several seconds later, Luna had changed and was now an alicorn. She cackled madly.

"Pathetic fool. You think yourself so bright for faking not knowing why I brought you here."

"Care to explain, Luna?"

"Shut up! I am no longer Luna. When I am in this form, I am Nightmare Moon. And you. Shall. DIE!"

Nightmare Moon charged and threw a magical blast at me. I closed my eyes, wishing for it to end quickly. However, after several seconds, I still felt nothing. I opened my eyes, and I got an answer to the question ‘why?’

Still in my hands, the pendant was glowing even brighter now through my fingers. Just as I opened my hands to look at it, it levitated, and I was soon encased by light.

I was quite a fan of mangas and animes. I loved the style. And, of course, I did watch my fair share of magical filly anime. Everything that was happening at the moment were all signs of a magical filly -- or was that magical colt in my case -- transformation.

And so, changes occured. I gained wings, thus turning into an alicorn. I also gained some pieces of armour, though it protected not much. I also felt my powers increase tenfold.

I was halfway unconscious when the transformation ended, and I think I blasted Nightmare Moon to the other side of the city. After that, though, nothing.

I woke up in a strange place. As I got to my feet, the woman who brought me the box appeared out of thin air. She looked at me, then spoke.

"I see you have gained access to your pendant, Eclipse."

"Who are you?"

"My name is Celestia. I am what you could call your ‘Guide’ or ‘Guardian’." She winked at me.

"Why am I here?"

"I needed to talk to you. I fear the evils that were banished from this world are coming back sooner than I thought. You will fight several evil creatures, some stronger than others. And you will also have to face my mortal enemy, Discord, and his own team of warriors. I will explain more in due time, but for now, you should wake up."

I woke up with a start, again. I was in my bed, barechest, and the sun was slowly crawling up over the horizon. I looked at my alarm clock. 6:32 AM. I got out of my bed, school starting in about three and a half hours.

I then felt something cold on my chest. Looking down, I saw the silver pendant. I shone for a few seconds before becoming normal again.

I sighed. Something I had to hide from my friends at school.

Great. What could possibly go wrong?

I facepalmed, feeling like my life was under the control of some sadistic, takes-pleasure-in-torturing-his-characters author.

My life definitely took a turn for the worst.