Solar Eclipse

by InkRose

Rating: everyone
Tags: Adventure, Dark, Sad
Length: 3480

The day of the next Solar Eclipse is fast approaching. Beware of the rise of Nightmare Moon.

The day of the next Solar Eclipse is fast approaching. It occurs when the moon passes over the sun, sending the world into total darkness for a short time. Princess Celestia is worried about what will happen on this fateful day, because before Nightmare Moon was defeated, she put a curse on the sun and moon, so that the princess's magic could not interfere with the eclipse. Why did Nightmare Moon set this dreadful curse? It has no purpose… at least, that's what it seems. Celestia fears for the safety of her sister Luna.

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2012-06-21 21:48:59 UTC

Breakfast and Books

Chapter One: Breakfast and Books

Princess Luna

“Luna, where are you?” asked the elegant Princess Celestia as she stood near the table she dined at.

“We are coming!” said the Princess of the Night as she flew into the cavernous dining room, and sat on a gilded chair.

The dining room was a large hall with huge gleaming windows from celing to floor, looking out upon all of Canterlot. A long table was threaded across the expanse of the room, beautifully baked breakfast treats lain on silver and gold plates. On one end sat the Princess of the Sun, her colorful flowing mane giving a glowing aura. Luna sat at the other end, smiling softly as she looked down through one of the windows and saw some foals playing with a ball as they pranced through the streets of the capital city.

“How are you doing today, sister?” Celestia asked, looking at her sister with dark pink eyes.

“We-we are fine,” said Luna, looking away from the foals and at her sibling all the way at the other end of the table.  “We have been reading a few books on the subject of Equestrian history.”

Celestia’s eyes widened a bit, almost unnoticeably. “Oh. Have you enjoyed it thus far?”

Luna looked down on her plate, using her magic to grab several breakfast items from the buffet in front of her. “We are most displeased with the unfactual historians who have written this set of stories,” she commented, taking a small bite from a muffin.

“I see,” said Celestia, also looking downward. She sipped a cup of Canterlotian tea.

Luna sighed and raised her head after a minute or so. “Dear sister, thou must know that it twas’ not really us that became the horrid monster of nightmares. Somepony else hath controlled us,” the Alicorn explained, setting her muffin down.

Celestia’s eyes were still downcast, but Luna still saw a small number of tears dripping from them, moistening the silk tablecloth.

Luna sighed again. Things always seemed to lead to this conversation someway or another. What had happened to her was going to scar her and her sister for the rest of their seemingly everlasting life.

“We are sorry for bringing it up,” she calmly stated.

“It is... forgiven, sister,” the Sun Princess said, giving a weak smile.

Another silence followed.

“That twas’ quite a wedding a week ago, wasn’t it?” Luna said, again looking outside as flashes of memory from Princess Cadence’s wedding appeared before her eyes. Unfortunately, she had been away while most of the events had occured.

Princess Celestia nodded in agreement, her mane rippling in waves as her head bobbed up and down. “It is most fortunate that the bride and groom had my student and her friends there to help.”

“Speaking of which, what is the latest letter sent from thou’s own student?” Luna asked, wiping her mouth with a laced napkin.

The two princesses talked more about how Twilight and her friends were doing, about the manticore found roaming around Manehattan, and Luna particularly enjoyed talking about the DJ pony Vinyl Scratch and her new songs that she had played at the wedding.

But something dark and abnormal was brewing in the back of the moon princesses’ mind, something she could only just barely sense, which she just passed off as tiredness.

Princess Celestia

Reading in the castle library was one of Celestia’s favorite things to do. Even though her age surpassed any other pony in Equestria, she still was learning new things every time she cracked open an unread book.

This time she had decided to read the history text that Luna had commented on reading earlier. Celestia took a deep breath as she used her magic to open to the first page. Vivid illustrations drew her into the book, captivating her mind with the stories they told. Stories of the birth of Equestria, which was created by a white Alicorn with a golden mane, who didn’t have a specific name, except the First. Stories about Celestia’s and Luna’s ancestors, all of which who harnessed the sun and moon and controlled them with power given by the First. Even Celestia’s and Luna’s Mother and Father were in the text, and how they created the capital of Canterlot and built it with their bare hooves and horns. Then came stories of how Luna and Celestia came to power, how their Mother and Father went to live with the First in the stars, creating new worlds with her and their ancestors.

Luna’s Fall. That’s what the historians called it. Celestia’s eyebrows knit together as she read about her sister transforming into the hideous beast of Nightmare Moon. The historians said it was all her fault, and that her jealousy had consumed her and made her what she became.

“No,” the princess of Equestria declared, closing the large volume loudly. “That’s not what happened.” The princess tried to stop the tears, but they came anyway. She was silent as they watered her eyes and continued to moisten her cheeks. The historians were wrong. It couldn’t have been Luna’s fault. They were sisters.

Putting the book back into its proper place, Celestia remembered something. Today was the annual solar eclipse. Blinking back amazement, Celestia wondered how she had forgotten. She hoped Luna would be pleased... and yet, she dreaded solar eclipses. Luna most likely did not remember this, but the night Nightmare Moon had been banished to the moon, the evil mare  had lain a curse. A curse on both the sun and the moon. She had done it with the last remaining power she had gathered before the Elements of Harmony were unleashed. The curse prevented Celestia or Luna from interfearing with solar eclipses no matter how much magic they used. So as a result, the eclipses regularly ocurred, and lasted longer than they had before. A solid half-hour.

Celetia was afraid what could happen when the sun was not under her control. She had no idea why Nightmare Moon had done that particular spell, it seemed to have no particular purpose except to give anxiety to Celestia.

“Sister?” a voice called from the first floor of the library.

Celestia looked down from her perch on a stack of pillows on a library balcony. Luna was staring up at the Sun Princess, a small smile on her lips.

“Dear sister, the solar eclipse is today. All of Equestria will be waiting for you and us to make it happen,” Luna said, “We must get ready! We have been looking forward to this most joyous occasion ever since being turned back.”

“I...” the blood ran out of Celestia’s face. She had not told her sister about the control of the sun and moon that was not hers or her sister’s on this fateful day. “Luna... There is something I must-”

“Come along! We only have a scant half-hour before the celebration begins!” And with that, Luna trotted out of the room, expecting Celestia to follow her.

Celestia spread her white wings and glided down towards the colossal doors of the royal library. She landed softly, her hooves clopping against the tiled floor. “Luna.”

“Yes?” Luna asked, turning her head around.

Celestia took a deep breath. If she didn’t tell Luna now, she would find out when she tried to control the moon later, in front of all of Canterlot. “Sister, we won’t be controlling them,” Celestia stated flatly, and then she told Luna of the curse.

Luna’s eyes widened to big black pools. “But... why would we do that?”

Celestia winced. “I don’t know.”

A Ruined Celebration

Chapter Two: A Ruined Celebration

Princess Luna

After getting her traditional collar, shoes, and crown, Luna looked half-heartedly into her vanity mirror. A servant was styling and brushing her mane, while another was adding eyeliner and mascara to the eyes of the Princess of the Moon. Yet, the more makeup that was added, the more Luna knew she could never hide or cover up the fact that she had used to be a Nightmare, and had put this wretched curse upon the sun and moon.

Could she undo it? After all, wasn’t it she that had lain it in the first place? She told the servants to stop, and they left the room obediently. Luna looked up at the crown that graced her head. It sparkled in the bright sunlight of the room, the crescent moon gleaming white upon the black background of the tiara. She wondered if she deserved such a thing of beauty.

Those days of torture when she was Nightmare Moon were... awful. She remembered bits and pieces of them, betraying her sister and terrorizing the ponies of Equestria. The memories were all recorded under a blanket of panic and hatred, pure hatred, something she had not ever experienced before. She had been polluted by something foreign. Something had taken control over her body, and poisoned her mind during those dark times... but what?

Luna shuddered as she remembered that voice... that frightful, evil voice. It had whispered lies into her mind that had helped it to take over by making her doubt herself and her sister.

Shivers ran through her body. This whole curse about the solar eclipse was NOT good, that was for sure. The way the reasoning behind it was shrouded from her made it even more maddening.

THUMP THUMP THUMP! A pounding on the door awoke Luna from her daydream... or more like daytime nightmare. Luna opened the door with her magic, and a pink Alicorn stepped through.

“Cadence. Why art thou here?” Luna asked.

Cadence smiled. “It’s time for the celebration! Everypony in Canterlot is waiting outside under the balcony!”

“We see. We will be out there in a minute,” Luna calmly replied, and Cadence nodded, stepped out of the room, and closed the door.

Luna took a deep breath. It was time to face her fears.

Princess Celestia

The Princess of the Sun stepped forward onto the grand balcony extending from one of the castle’s tallest and widest towers. As the ponies below saw her, they gave a resounding cheer, blocking out any other sound. Even more praise exploded from the audience when Celestia snapped her wings open, their massive span almost touching both ends of balcony.

Her heart warmed as she saw all of the mares and stallions looking up at her. She loved all of her adoring subjects, and a lump formed in her throat as she prayed that this eclipse would not harm any of them.

The princess of the moon trotted onto the balcony beside her sister, and also extended her wings. The crowd clapped their hooves in admiration, a few whistles sounded here and there. Luna smiled, and raised her head high.

Trumpets blew magestic-sounding notes as they announced the beginning of the solar eclipse celebration.

Celestia looked down at her smaller sibling. They exchanged a meaningful look, and then gazed at the sky. Their unicorn magic activated, but it was not actually doing anything. They had to make it appear as if everything was under control, so the city would not resolve to panic.

And it happened. The moon slipped slowly over the sun, sending the whole of Canterlot into shadow. Celestia had to admit it looked beautiful. But then she looked over at Luna and gasped. The moon princess collapsed, sending her tiara skittering across the balcony. Her pupils contracted, making them alarmingly miniscule. Giving a cry, the sun princess used her magic to carry her sister off of the balcony and into the castle before anypony had noticed, as the ponies were too busy gazing upon the eclipse to notice the newfound dilemma.

“Luna? Sister? Are you alright?!” Celestia cried, kneeling near her collapsed sibling.

Luna shakily stood up, and giving a blood-curdling scream, looked wildly at her sister, her blue eyes showing the level of intense pain she was experiencing. She looked down, and then skittered away from the sun princess, running as fast as she could down the castle hall. “NO! NOT ag-g-gain! STOP IT! STOOOP!”

Celestia followed her sister, frantically flapping her wings to try to catch up with the moon princess.

“LUNA!”

Princess Luna

The voice. It was there, scratching at her mind, telling her how nice it was to be back. It seeped into her thoughts, sending panic wracking through her body. The pain! The searing pain was the worst, the voice causing as much pain as it could inside Luna. It used sharp claws to fill her body with shudders and cries. She was burning, and then she was numb with cold.

And so she ran, her vision fogged with hallucination. She saw screaming spirits, crying ponies, and the sun blasting into pieces.

She saw Nightmare Moon.

Running into her room, Luna slammed the door behind her, and locked it. She knew what was happening, and had to protect her sister from it.

Princess Celestia

Celestia slammed against the door before she could stop her flying body. The tall door shuddered violently. Celestia growled as she tried to open it, but found it bolted shut.

“D-D-DON’T COME IN!!!” Luna sobbed from behind the mass of wood, “It-it’s happening again!” And she burst into pained tears.

Celestia pawed at the door, her pointed golden shoes leaving long gashes on the door. “SISTER! You MUST let me help you! Whatever is happening to you, I-I can help! I MUST help!” she screamed, and with that, she stabbed her horn into the hard wood of the door, cutting straight through. She did it over and over, weakening the door’s structure.

“No!” Luna gasped, “I can’t hurt you again!”

Celestia backed away from the door, and with a haggard breath, stampeded towards it. With her full force, she crashed into it, breaking the blockade into wooden splinters. She whipped her head back and forth, but Luna was nowhere to be found. Her balcony doors were open, the dark haze of the eclipse bringing day to night. Celestia cursed, and galloped to the balcony. Laying on it was a dark black tiara, with a crescent moon emblazoned on its crest.

Princess Luna

Luna flapped her wings in the dark of the eclipse, tears cooling her hot face as they dripped from her eyes. Groaning in agony, she looked down at her coat to find its color slowly changing from its normal blue/purple to a sickening shade of black. She could see her veins, even from under her coat. Her breath came out in even quicker gasps, her eyes darting from side to side to make sure her persistent yet loyal sister was not following her... it was too dangerous for Celestia to be there when... it happened. Holding back a cry, she landed clumsily into the dreary place her instincts had told her to go. The Castle of the Royal Pony Sisters.

A Nightmare Returns

Chapter Three: A Nightmare Returns

Princess Celestia

Her brow creasing with frustration and panic, Celestia used her horn to try to locate the lost sister. Taking a deep breath, she focused her nervous energy into a tracking spell. She closed her eyes, a pulsating beat of energy catching her attention through the spell. The energy pulse was... Luna’s, and yet it was not. Something dark and malevolent was slowly changing Luna’s very identity.

Celestia knew where the night princess was now, the tracking spell had told her that much. She was in the castle the two had lived in before the tragedy had occurred, The place they had played in as children, with their parents and servants. The home that had given them the childhood that had influenced the rest of their immortal lives.

It was the fortress in which she and Nightmare Moon had first battled.

Shivering from the unforgettable torment of a memory, Celestia cleared her throat and snapped open her pristine white wings, swinging them downward as she burst up into the cold air.

Princess Luna

Resist. She had to resist. But she knew she was slipping away... it seemed hopeless to try. Already her pupils had narrowed to slits, her coat was the color of coal, and her mane had become untamed and wild, the gleaming clumps of stars floating inside of it expanding and receding rapidly. With her last ounce of strength, she huddled into a fetal position. As the voice pushed Luna’s consciousness away into the dark rececesses of her mind, the last thing she heard was the clopping of her sister’s hooves on the stone floor behind her, but her body was no longer hers to control, so she was not able take one last glance upon the face of her beloved sister.

Princess Celestia

Celestia looked down at her smaller sibling, who was collapsed on the floor of the throne room in front of her. Was she too late? Gulping down a sob, Celestia slowly and quietly walked over to the fallen Alicorn. She kneeled next to her sister, cautious that the transformation had already been completed.

“Luna...?”

With a sudden gnash of biting teeth, the younger Alicorn leapt at Celestia, tackling her to the hard stone ground. Pinning Celestia beneath her hooves, Nightmare Moon snarled cruely.

“Luna is... no longer the caretaker of this body, my dear Celestia, or did you forget that I have possessed her just like I did 1000 agonizing years ago?" the black Alicorn sneered.

          Celestia gave a cry as Nightmare Moon pressed her hooves violently against her chest. She still managed to gasp a sentence out, even when she could hardly breath. "How did you... Come back...after the Elements-"

          "HA! Did you really think that your petty little student and her wimpy friends could truly defeat the substance of Nightmares with a bunch of sparkly rocks?" Nightmare Moon questioned as she gave a small smirk. "You really must be getting old, princess."

          With that, Celestia raised her back legs and kicked at the mare, sending her flying across the room. She landed with her back slamming into a column, and despite that, she sprang right back up, looking not even the slightest bit dishelved. She snorted in agitation, and charged at Celestia once again.

           Scrambling back to her hooves quickly, Celestia backed away from the charging mare, still quite surprised at Nightmare's return. But surprise soon gave way to anger, and she met the other Alicorn head on, their horns slamming against each other with frightening force. Nightmare Moon gave a guttural growl as she pressed against Celestia's horn, her eyes narrowing to slits.

But Celestia had no intention of letting Nightmare Moon win. As she pressed with all of her might against the other Alicorn, she thought of Twilight and her friends. She thought of Ponyville, and Canterlot, and all her subjects living in all of the cities she ruled alongside with-

Celestia’s eyes grew wide.

Luna.

She was fighting... and hurting... Luna.

Nightmare Moon smiled as if she knew what Celestia was thinking. Pressing harder onto the other Alicorn’s horn, she gave a small cry. “Sister... why are you doing this to me?” She asked in Luna’s voice.

Celestia gasped in surprise, and her pressure against the other mare’s horn lessened for only a second. But Nightmare Moon took full advantage of it, and slammed her front hooves into Celestia’s chest. The Princess of the Sun fell back onto the hard tile, her ribs hurting her badly. She quickly mustered up a healing spell, but was interrupted by another hit from Nightmare Moon, who sent her hooves colliding into Celestia’s chest again. And again.

“How does THAT feel, PRINCESS?” Nightmare Moon crowed, “to be defeated so easily by your YOUNGER sister? I would kill you now... but you are quite FUN to torture! After what you did to me 1000 years ago, your death will be as PAINFUL as possible.”

Pain shooting up her spine every time she took a breath, Celestia looked woefully at the dark figure. Closing her eyes, she tried to muster up her strength to cast a heat ray spell when the castle suddenly lit up. Nightmare Moon cried out as rays of blinding sunlight hit her.

The eclipse had ended, and the sun was shining once again.

Growling in anger, Nightmare Moon gave one last hateful look at Celestia before using her horn to transform into a cloud of star matter and darting away into the shadows.

Giving a groan, Celestia painfully rested there, on the floor of the throne room. The rays of her beautiful sun gave her strength. After an hour or so, Celestia had the energy to cast a healing spell upon herself, healing her broken ribs and damaged innards. Standing up shakily, she closed her eyes and used a transportation spell to take her back to the castle.

She had to warn her student of the impending danger.